Signings, Suggestions & Rumours Discussion

Mighty_Tiger said:
100% agree to a point. Releasing players shouldn’t be regular unless we gain an advantage.

Joffa yes agree especially after we just resigned him and hands down was our best player last year whilst having no one inbound signed on.

Staines though joined for 1yr is out injured for a while if he signs with another club for next year whats the fuss in letting him go early. I don’t see much benefit in holding onto him for a handful of games if he gets back on the park from injury anyway this year.
Click to expand...

Agree, good teams don't do this as regularly as us.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Eca
pawsandclaws1 said:
I posted on the Bula thread that offloading players to retain the cream of our best - Bula, Tupou, Pole and Utoikamanu and head off the approaches certain to come from the stronger clubs is fine. I like Ofahengaue but Bateman did all of his work plus a whole lot more last night.
Click to expand...

how are our halves looking for depth now?

do you think having Hastings still at the club would be handy?

there seems to be plenty of money available already to extend these guys..

I don’t see other teams releasing players mid term to extend their juniors right?
 
When we cast off players to other clubs who see value in them, that are ahead of us on the ladder and we get nothing back in return when we are sitting at the bottom of the table - how long do you expect players to bust the arses for the club? Losing Api could break them.
It didn't do us any favours last year and makes us no more desirable as a club this year.
Worst of all it makes a mockery of the fans that invest their hard earned in hope of a better year than the last.
 
pawsandclaws1 said:
I posted on the Bula thread that offloading players to retain the cream of our best - Bula, Tupou, Pole and Utoikamanu and head off the approaches certain to come from the stronger clubs is fine. I like Ofahengaue but Bateman did all of his work plus a whole lot more last night.
Click to expand...
I find it hard to believe that were struggling to meet the demands of those young players at this stage of their careers without the need to release Ofa.
Additionally, Bateman did not replicate Ofa's work last night. He may have in quantity but not in quality. His lack of size as middle defender will continue to work against him. He was a target all night for any big forward looking for a quick play the ball. His attacking game was blunted as a result of his workrate and being in the middle limits the opportunity to use his footwork coming back inside.
His ball playing in the middle could be an asset, but only in games where we are winning the physical battle.
 
I'll add, I don't know why no coaches have players alternate positions for different parts of the game anymore.

I wouldn't mind Bateman swapping between edge (always in defence) and middle at different stages in attack.

There was a time when such interchanging was common. As was young outside backs slotting into ball playing roles in attacking situations or hiding smaller halves on the wing in defence. Now it seems you are assigned your position and you adapt or you're gone.
 
gregjm87 said:
I find it hard to believe that were struggling to meet the demands of those young players at this stage of their careers without the need to release Ofa.
Additionally, Bateman did not replicate Ofa's work last night. He may have in quantity but not in quality. His lack of size as middle defender will continue to work against him. He was a target all night for any big forward looking for a quick play the ball. His attacking game was blunted as a result of his workrate and being in the middle limits the opportunity to use his footwork coming back inside.
His ball playing in the middle could be an asset, but only in games where we are winning the physical battle.
Click to expand...
Didn't Ofahengaue want to take up an offer with the Eels? I have no issue with releasing him. I liked him but he wasn't in our top 17 at the time of departure. He would have been on a healthy contract as well which is another issue.

Cameron Murray and Victor Radley are 13s of more moderate proportions who compete, like Bateman. Sometimes we get caught up with size. Bateman did work hard last night, perhaps harder than he should have due to a couple of his team mates not performing. His mobility compared to a prop playing 13 eg Ofahengaue was noticeable.
 
Tom Shines said:
how are our halves looking for depth now?

do you think having Hastings still at the club would be handy?

there seems to be plenty of money available already to extend these guys..

I don’t see other teams releasing players mid term to extend their juniors right?
Click to expand...
No I don't want Hastings. In fact, Hastings didn't want us as he wanted to take up the deal with the Knights.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Latest posts

Members online

Total: 547 (members: 6, guests: 541)
Back
Top