Signings, Suggestions & Rumours Discussion

Lebanese_Coach_aspiration said:
I watch every ESL game intently in order to identify talent. If I ever get a call up to a coaching gig I want to be on the ball.

If I was Richi this is what I would be doing.
Attempt to offload;
Naden
Sullivan
Staines
Toa

In that order.

Naden has hands like fish, but I think he might do ok in the ESL becasue he has size and speed and that’s a combo that lacks in the English game. They have size, they have speed, but not together. If they are going to England we can subsidise his pay very heavily and it’s not in our cap I don’t think. The dilemma is he’s aboriginal and in my experience they get homesick pretty easily. The PC worship they get here won’t be as much there. But who knows if we tip in 250k and another team offers 100 that might be enough because money talks. I also can’t foresee any other nrl team take him on as anything beyond depth at minimum wage. His cards are marked. I hate him too.
Strike a deal to get Wardle to come here as that adds to our playing IQ. Or give Douehi the centre gig.
Sullivan is just excess. I would be telling Jayden that playing a comp that is in between cup and NRL is the greatest thing for his success. He has flair and that is good to have over there. The players that excel the most in that comp is the Luke Brooks type. Sullivan isn’t that far from that.
Again the issue is same as Naden. Aboriginal issues. Worse for Sullivan as apparently he had real issues leaving the Illawarra. That makes England a tough sell for him even if it’s the best move. A deal could be made that could be very lucrative for him too.

Staines. He has speed. They need speed. However teams will not want to waste a quota spot on a winger unless he’s a star. That is the big problem. He might find a home at a cellar dweller like the London broncos but honestly our best bet is he just sees out his contract as a depth player for us and then we kick him out. He’s just a winger.
You could get Matty Ashton or someone over to replace him but I’d look at skelton or Blake Austin that are currently stuck behind good players in their position but should be playing first grade. Would be cheap too. We can’t waste cap on wingers. We spent too much on Suruva and I’m surprised everyone here is overjoyed at that signing.

Toa. Hated him since he was a kid. He is awkward, dumb and unreliable. Has some moments in him but not what we need.

Just sign Douehi for Lebanese money (300k) and have a centre rotation of Wardle/Doueihi and Euan Aitken, who should be on the bench to cover back row, wing and centre should injuries happen.

I actually think Euan Aitken should be our #1 target
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The guys you mention have a contract here and for good $$ so why would they consider the unpleasantness of England far away from family and friends as a realistic option? The club may want to move them on but if they won't leave Australia what's the point. Explain to me why you go to England for $450K or stay here for the same money as the economics don't seem to add up?
 
crazycat said:
Interesting looking at the Blues lineup and thinking who Madge would recruit if he stayed here.
1. Dylan Edwards (Penrith Panthers)
2. Brian To’o (Penrith Panthers)
3. Stephen Crichton (Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs)
4. Joseph Sua’ali’i (Sydney Roosters)
5. Zac Lomax (St George Illawarra Dragons)
6. Jarome Luai (Penrith Panthers)
7. Nicholas Hynes (Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks)
8. Jake Trbojevic (c) (Manly Warringah Sea Eagles)
9. Reece Robson (North Queensland Cowboys)
10. Payne Haas (Brisbane Broncos)
11. Liam Martin (Penrith Panthers)
12. Angus Crichton (Sydney Roosters)
13. Cameron McInnes (Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks)
14. Isaah Yeo (Penrith Panthers)
15. Haumole Olakau’atu (Manly Warringah Sea Eagles)
16. Spencer Leniu (Sydney Roosters)
17. Hudson Young (Canberra Raiders)
18. Matt Burton (Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs)
19. Luke Keary (Sydney Roosters)
20. Mitchell Barnett (Warriors)

We see the Boom centers in Crichton and Suaalii. Clearly Madge would have gone for Lomax.
Yet no Center reserves or back reserves. It's Halfbacks and Halves with Keary, Burton as reserves to Hynes/Luai. I would have gone for Latrell as a utility (or at least a utility somewhere).

Otherwise it's a very thuddy front row. I am surprised Cameron McInnes is in there. I believe Madge would have recruited the same Tigers front row we have now, judging by the origin selections.

Not surprised that none of our team made the cut. Also None of our ex players I believe are in this list.
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There is no conspiracy - none of our current players would even be considered and none of our ex-players don't have the ability.
 
Tucker said:
Sullivan brings explosive strike that this club hasn’t seen since a young Moses.
He has pretty decent vision too.
He digs in and has a go.
Unfortunately at this stage, his abilities fall short of these attributes. His defence and general kicking need a lot of work and his consistency needs to be lengthened to cover more of the game.
A work in progress who is worth the effort for mine.
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I think his form has been good the last month but his defensive efforts is not first grade worthy so it really brings his perception as a player down. He was very talented at Dragons in periods
 
Nonotmeagain said:
The guys you mention have a contract here and for good $$ so why would they consider the unpleasantness of England far away from family and friends as a realistic option? The club may want to move them on but if they won't leave Australia what's the point. Explain to me why you go to England for $450K or stay here for the same money as the economics don't seem to add up?
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Travel to other countries in a few hours and see the world a bit , you only play footy half a year then head off to Spain, Italy , Scotland , Ireland , see the world outside of Australia Mate
 
Lebanese_Coach_aspiration said:
I spoke to a mutual friend about the contract thing yesterday and apparently 'he is burnin cuz' is what i was told. Because it is minimum.120k.
HOWEVER,
The mutual acquaintance believes 200k he takes to do EXACTLY what you just described.

He just doesnt want rock bottom pay. Leb pride thing maybe.

Give him the 200 I say.
Utilities are useful, the doggs have shown us this.
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If anything, give him a train and trial for the year on $120k so that he is not burning one of our top 30 spots and give him some top ups in brown paper bags to make up the difference.
 
BAGNF05 said:
That’s my logic. Paying a reported half mill for a guy without a first grade role is the head scratcher. Obviously love to see him outperform Luai and Galvin but I just don’t see it, mainly because I rate the latter two pretty high.
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He's not on half a mil for starters, not yet anyways. He's also a kid who at most clubs would only be playing flegg right now. There's no rush. He's versatile, as is Galvin.
 
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Jedi_Tiger said:
how long will fainu want to play out of position or off the bench. He will be good enough to play a starting role. You would think his manager rattles the cage and demands a release to play regular first grade if he doesn't get a go in 2025 in the halves
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If his brothers are playing well, and he's in the team and they're all happy i dare say that would be paramount for them, over which number they have on their backs.
 
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