Signings, Suggestions & Rumours Discussion

[thegbone]

If you were there, You would remember he imported mostly when he got to the Panthers as well.....
Whatever his reasoning - It's worked, And they're now set for 20 years.

Gus won't lose anyone from the dogs he doesn't want to....

Gus’s vision for the panthers was Moylan, Blake, DWZ, Mansour, CHN, Cartwright, Peachey, RCG etc on massive back ended contracts. The panthers only came good once they sold them all (whilst fitting a huge part of the bill).

He may have done great things with their juniours, I don’t know, but he also had a Junior base which is roughly 3 times the size of the second largest Sydney one. Basically it’s like crediting the guy In charge of USA Olympics for them getting more medals than Australia.

Meanwhile the Dogs Flegg, Ball and Matt’s teams all finished below one of ours in 2022.

 

[Tiger_claws]

Would it be fair to say he plays out of the nick politis handbook?

Looks that way doesn’t it. Nick and Gus are very close. I know Tim Grant got offered a “restructured” contract which Tim made the same money but less on the books when at Panthers. Creative accounting or a good TPA came in but to TGs credit he said no. Thats just one example I know of Gus tactics. I believe our approach is good. Trust me I wasn’t totally convinced on Sheens return at first but he has the junior reps onside and pumping to play for us

 

[Camel2281]

Then you have to consider if he would be blocking the progression of younger players such as Matamua and Faagutu. Clearly the answer is he would be and that is before you consider the salary cap implications. There is a lot of work balancing a squad.

I thought Douehi and Moses were a really good combination for Lebanon. I think they'd compliment each other perfectly, as long as AD gets back to his 2021 form and uses that as a baseline performance. Last year for the Tigers he wasn't good enough

 

[Tiger_claws]

Gus’s vision for the panthers was Moylan, Blake, DWZ, Mansour, CHN, Cartwright, Peachey, RCG etc on massive back ended contracts. The panthers only came good once they sold them all (whilst fitting a huge part of the bill).

He may have done great things with their juniours, I don’t know, but he also had a Junior base which is roughly 3 times the size of the second largest Sydney one. Basically it’s like crediting the guy In charge of USA Olympics for them getting more medals than Australia.

Meanwhile the Dogs Flegg, Ball and Matt’s teams all finished below one of ours in 2022.

Their best Junior imo (Joey O’Neill) wont hang around now they have signed and given a top 30 spot to the young Bronco. O’Neill is better than any of our Flegg & Reggies halves. He is just one of several outstanding players they will lose.

 

[Camel2281]

Good post. We are not the Salvation army. Why keep persevering with ordinary players on good coin. We must duplicate the top sides, and continue to promote or buy the best where possible. To do this as you have said,is down to salary cap implications and roster balance. We cannot progress young players if we are tied to dead wood, and there are no vacancies. We have a few players that either perform or be let go!

Whilst I agree with the sentiment of your post. Your 100s of posts backing Luke Brooks tends me to form the opinion that you are an enormous hypocrite

 

[Camel2281]

Your opinion of course but I heavily disagree….with everything.
Cleary is a step higher in kicking ability.
Cleary is a damaging runner and good ball player.
Luai is a foil only as witnessed in the World Cup.
Cleary is an all round better player, and leader as detailed in the 2021 SOO series. With him present, NSW were a 35 point better team on average across games 1 and 2. Moses came in for game 3 and with the same side got beaten.

To be fair to Moses, he also came into that side with a new 5/8 in Jack Wighton who was horrendous that night

 

[tigermate]

Fyi

Moses on a 5 yr deal is better than klemmer and Bateman on 4 yr deals. Even at 1.4M. That’s the price you pay for losing him in the first place.

Gus has done an amazing job with the dogs to date (in 12 months!!) and all this “they’ll lose players and he’s messed up their cap” is absolute one sided WT mediocrity. He has signed who’s he’s wanted (bar MM) and hasn’t lost a player to date. And he transformed panthers by securing funding from Packer. Wish Pascoe and Lee had thought of bringing him in before Dogs did… but losers don’t win.

Also we need two more marquee players in the backs to be a top 8 eight contender - at least one in halves.

 

[Tigers_Wests]

Their best Junior imo (Joey O’Neill) wont hang around now they have signed and given a top 30 spot to the young Bronco. O’Neill is better than any of our Flegg & Reggies halves. He is just one of several outstanding players they will lose.

Played with the Saukuru brothers at Westfields SHS. Well known to Wayne Lambkin and off contract at end of 2023.

 

[loklok]

Will be interesting to see if sheens has the guts to drop players if they aren't performing if we string a few losses this year .

 

[Tiger_claws]

Played with the Saukuru brothers at Westfields SHS. Well known to Wayne Lambkin and off contract at end of 2023.

Your 100% right. Will have a few clubs chasing him. Brilliant player.

 

[KCtiger]

Their best Junior imo (Joey O’Neill) wont hang around now they have signed and given a top 30 spot to the young Bronco. O’Neill is better than any of our Flegg & Reggies halves. He is just one of several outstanding players they will lose

Hopefully sheens will be keeping an eye on the situation and takes any of the good juniors who want out of the dogs

 

[crazycat]

Actually I see a Brooks / Moses combination being very similar to what Todd has done with Dearden and Townsend.

Honestly nothing alike.

Moses is a more gritty player, Townsend is very much an organiser.

Dearden isn't Brooks. I see Brooks as a lot more like Mitchell Pearce then any other player on the field (IMHO). Moses, as much as I don't think he is right for our team, he does have a bit of Tommy in him!

 

[bathursttiger1]

Talk about TPA’s surly Harry has hundreds of contractors working for him that with a gentle twist of an arm they could offer a couple of TPA’s to a few of WT’s players.

 

[sleeve]

Whilst I agree with the sentiment of your post. Your 100s of posts backing Luke Brooks tends me to form the opinion that you are an enormous hypocrite

If you read my posts, i basically have always said, don't blame the half in a poor side. I am willing to see how he goes with a decent forward pack , and spine. AD, was not great , Laurie was not great, our 9 was not great, and our forwards were butter soft. Plus our backline was the worst i;ve ever seen. You live on negatives and mud slinging, and that is obvious with you and the cave people who support you. This year will determine if a FB now playing 5/8, a small and inexperienced player playing FB , will perform better with a good pack. Then we will see who makes the grade in this side. I think Brooks deserves the chance, just like all the players, if not , let them go.

 

[Roar_Power]

In all seriousness, Moses makes us a much better team. I'm excited if he comes. He knows how to play. A top 4-5 half. We get some experience in the backs and there is no reason why we won't be entrenched in the top 8 for years. Plenty of depth now which we didn't have before thanks to finally giving the junior pathways some attention.

 

[Roar_Power]

Talk about TPA’s surly Harry has hundreds of contractors working for him that with a gentle twist of an arm they could offer a couple of TPA’s to a few of WT’s players.

I often wonder about Harry. Comes across as a tight ass and I say that 'tongue in cheek' as I know he has put plenty of money into the club previously. You'd think at his age and with his sizable purse that he'd give TPA's a red hot crack to see another GF appearance.

 

[sleeve]

I thought Douehi and Moses were a really good combination for Lebanon. I think they'd compliment each other perfectly, as long as AD gets back to his 2021 form and uses that as a baseline performance. Last year for the Tigers he wasn't good enough

The Lebo connection again ? your not biased , ha!

 

[tony soprano]

Looks that way doesn’t it. Nick and Gus are very close. I know Tim Grant got offered a “restructured” contract which Tim made the same money but less on the books when at Panthers. Creative accounting or a good TPA came in but to TGs credit he said no. Thats just one example I know of Gus tactics. I believe our approach is good. Trust me I wasn’t totally convinced on Sheens return at first but he has the junior reps onside and pumping to play for us

Appreciate your insight

 

[gallagher]

Talk about TPA’s surly Harry has hundreds of contractors working for him that with a gentle twist of an arm they could offer a couple of TPA’s to a few of WT’s players.

Who's to say he doesn't?

 

[TillLindemann]

and now.

The Dolphins 2023 NRL squad and development players | Sporting News Australia

Dolphins coach Wayne Bennett has added three more names to his squad for 2023.

www.sportingnews.com

There is Zero way you are getting Jesse + Kenneth Bromwich, Felise Kaufusi, Mark Nichols, the Dolphins have an impressive front row.

Spine is Marshall + Sean O'Sullivan + Anthony Milford + Jaymayne Isakko

Add Hammer and others, The dolphins have a great squad that they would be no where near getting without Wayne Bennett.

Yes they did not sign Munster, etc. They will sign a "gun". Wayne is building his sides right. I expect them to be top 8 minimum.

No spine with Milford in it makes the 8, he is worse than Brooks.