Signings, Suggestions & Rumours Discussion

[The-moP]

I agree on Faataape, very impressive in attack just hope he can aim up in defence. If so, he could be something out of the box!

What are your thoughts on the Fainu brothers from what you have seen at training @The-moP ?

All 3 of the Fainu brothers have slotted in well so far .. it helped having the eldest already at the club. Latu especially is impressive to watch .. every time i see Sam he reminds of Stephano Utoikamanu hitting the ball up. Benji is watching him like a hawk .. it would not surprise if Latu is named on the bench come our first game Rd2 in Canberra. ;-)

 

[gregjm87]

Manly are certainties for the 8 if Turbo stays fit

Wouldn't go with certainties as I think their middle forwards are questionable and will struggle if depth is tested.
But, If their pack stands up and Turbo stays fit then I'd have them in my top 8 also.

 

[AdelaideTiger]

We may have paid less for Api initially (though I'd doubt it) but I'd guess we probably would have paid more when extending.

Ah I just had a look and my memory was totally wrong, you're correct most outlets think that he's (Mahoney) getting $600k/year over 4 years.
And I reckon you're right about Api too.
Either way we are getting far better value out of Api then they are getting for Reed.

 

[GNR4LIFE]

Wouldn't go with certainties as I think their middle forwards are questionable and will struggle if depth is tested.
But, If their pack stands up and Turbo stays fit then I'd have them in my top 8 also.

Bookmark it

 

[gregjm87]

Ah I just had a look and my memory was totally wrong, you're correct most outlets think that he's (Mahoney) getting $600k/year over 4 years.
And I reckon you're right about Api too.
Either way we are getting far better value out of Api then they are getting for Reed.

Yeah, significantly better value. Mahoney has been trash without a rep forward pack to play behind whilst Api has only Harry Grant as a contender to best hooker in the comp claims imo.

 

[crazycat]

I agree, but under assumption that we could not keep Moses, Aloiai and Matterson.

What...

I mean
Aloiai has been a "good" forward. Nothing exceptional.
Matterson has been a money grubby forward. Even Parramatta would want to punt him after he knocked back a $4000 fine to sit out 2 rounds. Sure at 350K he was a great buy for us, then we upgraded to 500k... Then he wanted 750k.... Parra brought him for 800k or something similar and

Ok Moses has been a very good halfback and helped Parra make the finals. It's only Moses, Taupau and Tedesco that I regret loosing in recent times.

 

[rex2ce]

I'll go further (values from Zerotackle which I don't rate as a source but easiest to use for this).

Crichton: 825K. Bula: 700K
Kikau: 800K. Bateman: 750K
Burton: 750K. Luai: 1.2M
Mahoney: 600K. Api: 700K
Addo-Carr: 550K Nofo: 525K
F-Mariner: 600k. Papali'i: 600k

Total: 4.125M. Total: 4.475M

I then think our "5 or 6 more" including Utoikamanu, Klemmer, Pole, Twal, 2 X Fainu, Sullivan would be on much more than their 5 or 6 more of Preston, Sutton, Curran, Kiraz, Tracey, Olauapu, Mann.

Do this for any team and I think Dogs would be spending far less.

You are using dogs team prices for this year but included Luai who is 2025 in ours ,how about you use Sezers money in the comparison for ‘24 to make it comparable

 

[gregjm87]

You are using dogs team prices for this year but included Luai who is 2025 in ours ,how about you use Sezers money in the comparison for ‘24 to make it comparable

No I took dogs team prices for 2025 since that is when they are recruiting for moving forward.
It's just they have no big signings for 2025 to add to the list.

 

[AdelaideTiger]

You think about how many stars the dogs have, and they still came 15th.
Kikau, Burton, TJS, etc.

Now they have signed a few utilities and Critta... I don't think Ciraldo is doing a bad job, I just get how hard it is to make a bad team rise.

Look down the ladder. I see no change in the top 4, except their order:
Penrith
Broncos
Storm
Warriors

I only see movement in the next 4
Knights (stays same. maybe 6th)
Sharks (increases, team pushing for top 4).
Roosters ( out of the 8)
Raiders (missing players, out of the 8)

The Rabbits, I see trying to push into the 8.. but with John Morris leaving I wonder if the stars will rule the team down.

Then:
Eels - maybe back in the 8 or 9th.... or lower, most contracts are not up for renewal.
Cowboys - Honeymoon over, bottom 12.
Sea Eagles, 14-17
Dolphins - Will rise with a whole season behind them. They have a good forward pack and lots of talent. 10th or higher.
Titans - Des is a good coach that can get the most out of players. He will know who to snipe from manly (and strangely hasn't signed anyone significant from there) and he has the entire Gold coast recruitment to draw from... 11th
Bulldogs -- ?? They should be a top 8 squad. They have punted a stack of players and should be rising... But they haven't made it yet. I suspect they will get 13th.
Dragons - dead set last. (and if Flanagan gets them to even 16th he is an excellent coach).

The ladder is so crowded. I would like to see the Tigers rise, we just have to push other people out of the way.

I reckon the Warriors caught lightening in a bottle last year, think they rode the emotion of finally being back at home. SJ gets a year older and closer to the couch. Wouldn't surprise me if they fell down the pecking order a bit (still in the 8 but only just)

Same too the Sharks, it feels like they have been over performing for a few seasons now. They have quality across the park but lack a bit of game breaking talent aside from Mulitalo and Hynes.

I think the Cowboys, Roosters, Raiders and Eels, all finish better then they did last year barring significant injuries.

But really 3rd-16th could be any order.
Penrith and Broncos will finish top after the regular season and the Dragons will need a miracle not to pick up the spoon.

 

[tigermate]

Anyone think Sullivan will go back to the dragons this year?

I cannot believe there have not been whispers about it aleady (unless there has been)

Considering they are desperate for a half, he loves the dragons, and we kind of got suckered into a 4 year deal for $600K and now with Luai, Fainu / Galvin - we don't really need another half on $600K on the books for 4 years.

I wouldve thought better to get rid of him now before he plays in case he does his hammies again or doesnt play well. he's probably a 50/50 that he will shoot the lights out - so for that risk - maybe better to return hom now to the drags?

Plus if we need another year before the juniors are ready we have Seizer we could extend for another year or even offer Douehi another 12 months to stick around ...

Thoughts from smarter and more informed people than me?

 

[FrodoTBaggin]

No I took dogs team prices for 2025

Everything spoken about was for 2025.. including the Terrell May offer for 2025 that sparked this conversation. You also mentioned 2025 multiple times when saying that they have 10 spaces left in their top 30 for that year.

Not sure why old mate brought up 2024, if people spent as much time trying to read and comprehend instead of trying to win an argument then they would probably be much happier.

 

[FrodoTBaggin]

Anyone think Sullivan will go back to the dragons this year?

I cannot believe there have not been whispers about it aleady (unless there has been)

Considering they are desperate for a half, he loves the dragons, and we kind of got suckered into a 4 year deal for $600K and now with Luai, Fainu / Galvin - we don't really need another half on $600K on the books for 4 years.

I wouldve thought better to get rid of him now before he plays in case he does his hammies again or doesnt play well. he's probably a 50/50 that he will shoot the lights out - so for that risk - maybe better to return hom now to the drags?

Plus if we need another year before the juniors are ready we have Seizer we could extend for another year or even offer Douehi another 12 months to stick around ...

Thoughts from smarter and more informed people than me?

Sorry when did the story become we got suckered into paying 600k a year over 4? It has always been 500k a yr over 4 with Stg chipping in significantly.

Edit: To add more, how about we actually wait and see how they all play this year before we decide what the pecking order is? I doubt many here have actually watched any of these guys play a full 80 minutes in any grade before.

 

[tigermate]

Sorry when did the story become we got suckered into paying 600k a year over 4? It has always been 500k a yr over 4 with Stg chipping in significantly.

Edit: To add more, how about we actually wait and see how they all play this year before we decide what the pecking order is? I doubt many here have actually watched any of these guys play a full 80 minutes in any grade before.

From my reading.

$2.2M - 4 year deal.

Dragons not chipping in anything.

Unless you have an article that suggests otherwise.

And yes I agree it would be better to wait - but sometimes you miss the window to transact - the dragons need a half now.

 

[Groundup]

Flab does not get you injured.

I remember the game sped up and Groat just never had the pace to keep up. Oh how I wish we kept Fifita instead.

All said Groat proves what we have learned again and again for the last 10 years, The next "new talent" doesn't mean they will work in first grade. I was fortunately wrong re Bula, it seemed a shot in the dark. It worked out. Galvin could work out in first grade OR he could totally suck, likewise Fainu. Anyone who scores 3 tries in reggies has a blank slate in first grade.

But hey, try the "next big thing", Bula worked out incredibly well. Just have a fallback plan and don't re-arrange your entire team to accomodate any talent.

Galvin hasn’t played men yet so who knows but fainu defended like a hardened first grader when he came on for tonga

 

[InBenjiWeTrust]

What...

I mean
Aloiai has been a "good" forward. Nothing exceptional.
Matterson has been a money grubby forward. Even Parramatta would want to punt him after he knocked back a $4000 fine to sit out 2 rounds. Sure at 350K he was a great buy for us, then we upgraded to 500k... Then he wanted 750k.... Parra brought him for 800k or something similar and

Ok Moses has been a very good halfback and helped Parra make the finals. It's only Moses, Taupau and Tedesco that I regret loosing in recent times.

You are absolutely right about Tedesco, and If we go further back: Koroibate, A Fifita LaFfranchi, Prince ..

 

[WesternSuburbsBoy]

Anyone think Sullivan will go back to the dragons this year?

I cannot believe there have not been whispers about it aleady (unless there has been)

Considering they are desperate for a half, he loves the dragons, and we kind of got suckered into a 4 year deal for $600K and now with Luai, Fainu / Galvin - we don't really need another half on $600K on the books for 4 years.

I wouldve thought better to get rid of him now before he plays in case he does his hammies again or doesnt play well. he's probably a 50/50 that he will shoot the lights out - so for that risk - maybe better to return hom now to the drags?

Plus if we need another year before the juniors are ready we have Seizer we could extend for another year or even offer Douehi another 12 months to stick around ...

Thoughts from smarter and more informed people than me?

Why are majority of our fanbase continuing to write off Sullivan? the guy is 22 years old & has actually shown he can play at an NRL level whereas Fainu & Galvin have pretty much only played against people their age. Let’s not forget that the Dragons moved Hunt to 9 so they could try & fit him in their side…. give the guy a chance

 

[Vicious]

Anyone think Sullivan will go back to the dragons this year?

I cannot believe there have not been whispers about it aleady (unless there has been)

Considering they are desperate for a half, he loves the dragons, and we kind of got suckered into a 4 year deal for $600K and now with Luai, Fainu / Galvin - we don't really need another half on $600K on the books for 4 years.

I wouldve thought better to get rid of him now before he plays in case he does his hammies again or doesnt play well. he's probably a 50/50 that he will shoot the lights out - so for that risk - maybe better to return hom now to the drags?

Plus if we need another year before the juniors are ready we have Seizer we could extend for another year or even offer Douehi another 12 months to stick around ...

Thoughts from smarter and more informed people than me?

The ball is our court.
Sullivan could very quickly live up to his enormous potential and become very valuable to us.
I assume we will see how season 2024 plays out before even considering releasing a player of his potential.

 

[gregjm87]

Anyone think Sullivan will go back to the dragons this year?

I cannot believe there have not been whispers about it aleady (unless there has been)

Considering they are desperate for a half, he loves the dragons, and we kind of got suckered into a 4 year deal for $600K and now with Luai, Fainu / Galvin - we don't really need another half on $600K on the books for 4 years.

I wouldve thought better to get rid of him now before he plays in case he does his hammies again or doesnt play well. he's probably a 50/50 that he will shoot the lights out - so for that risk - maybe better to return hom now to the drags?

Plus if we need another year before the juniors are ready we have Seizer we could extend for another year or even offer Douehi another 12 months to stick around ...

Thoughts from smarter and more informed people than me?

In short no.
I think he is most likely of the 4 halves to be partnering Luai next year. Additionally, whilst I think Fainu could perform at first grade a couple years learning his craft in reserve grade would do him well and I think Galvin based just on his physique, (not watching him play) probably is 2 years off first grade (as a half).
It would not shock if Sullivan was eventually pushed out of the club but I certainly don't think it will be any time soon.
Tend to agree with the earlier comment of give them some time to play, especially the kids who are yet to debut, before suggesting Sullivan is surplus to needs.

 

[Mistymuzzle]

Why are majority of our fanbase continuing to write off Sullivan? the guy is 22 years old & has actually shown he can play at an NRL level whereas Fainu & Galvin have pretty much only played against people their age. Let’s not forget that the Dragons moved Hunt to 9 so they could try & fit him in their side…. give the guy a chance

Fainu has played 9 games in NSW Cup, including a semifinal. 5 of those games at 7, 3 at 6.

 

[Camel2281]

I agree, but under assumption that we could not keep Moses, Aloiai and Matterson.

Aloiai was not a loss. He's a fat lazy heap