Signings, Suggestions & Rumours Discussion

[jirskyr]

Large has never really stood out by trampling kids, I don't think he is that big for his age, not in the Makasini mould. Speed, yes, that's clearly evident in his highlights, but that is the one trait that does translate really well from juniors to open age.

I don't know, everything I've seen shows Large getting on the outside kids and swatting them off. I suppose trampling perhaps isn't the best word, but rather brushing kids away as we winds up.

I was contrasting to the style of guys like Walsh, Paps, classic Benji or that new Storm kid Faalogo, who are explosive and natural steppers over short-distance - they are the ones I feel who translate easiest to first grade, then it just depends on their long-term toughness.

 

[Nonotmeagain]

Im with Balmain boy on this one.

This is a be nice to Doueihi. $150k min wage contract. for what?

A player that is a known poor defender and poor tackler.
Is basically a half along with Sezer, Galvin, Sullivan, Luai, Fainu and others.

Guys not physically tough enough for a lock. Guy never expressed an interest in playing as a Center or wing, and doesn't have the tackling to do so.

I would actually tell Doueihi $250, but he is now reserve grade / outside the top 30.
Punt Doueihi, Punt Sullivan and stick with Galvin/Fainu/Luai as halves with Sezer as backup.

You can't "punt" players with contracts - they will want their money.

 

[liltiger]

Bellamy is a blue, he was born and raised at Portland 20 kilometres from where I live, he is also my son inlaws uncle, so end of story

Can you get your son in law to have a word with him to tell him to punt big Nelson and force him to sign with us.
🤪

 

[BlackWhiteGold]

Im with Balmain boy on this one.

This is a be nice to Doueihi. $150k min wage contract. for what?

A player that is a known poor defender and poor tackler.
Is basically a half along with Sezer, Galvin, Sullivan, Luai, Fainu and others.

Guys not physically tough enough for a lock. Guy never expressed an interest in playing as a Center or wing, and doesn't have the tackling to do so.

I would actually tell Doueihi $250, but he is now reserve grade / outside the top 30.
Punt Doueihi, Punt Sullivan and stick with Galvin/Fainu/Luai as halves with Sezer as backup.

Let's see how he goes the rest of this season before we judge this contract.

Maybe this past year has been a wake-up call & will show newfound grit and effort in defence and perhaps a new position as a lock.

He does bring experience, versatility, a voice, good in the red zone when he runs it, a booming kick & passion for the club.

Could turn out to be good value as a #14.

 

[crazycat]

Unfortunately he is not extending otherwise he would have sighed already.
We offered him a very good deal IMO but I'm sure Richo has plans.

Nah

You can't plan to grow a forward.

We loose Stef, we then need to look at Crichton and that sucks because he is in form and above $1m.
None of our juniors really seem "ready". Even Stef seems to be "on the way up" for 3+ years but not quite getting there.

We got lucky with Bateman, Paps and Klemmer and we have fumbled a good forward pack. Now we need to build back up. WE loose Stef, forget 2025.

 

[king_sirro]

But can he run hard and tackle hard?

Yet to be determined

 

[gregjm87]

I think folks are missing the point here.
When it comes to signing players he favours QLD players.
Looking at both u/19 SoO allegiances, Storm have 3 QLDers and no Blues?

This is largely because Storm have invested heavily into pathways systems for North Brisbane and Sunshine Coast due to minimal rugby league talent available in Victoria, not anything to do with the coaches preference for where a player is from. Additionally at that level Bellamey has very little to do with recruitment.

 

[Nonotmeagain]

Nah

You can't plan to grow a forward.

We loose Stef, we then need to look at Crichton and that sucks because he is in form and above $1m.
None of our juniors really seem "ready". Even Stef seems to be "on the way up" for 3+ years but not quite getting there.

We got lucky with Bateman, Paps and Klemmer and we have fumbled a good forward pack. Now we need to build back up. WE loose Stef, forget 2025.

Not sure he's the vital cog people might think he is - like he hasn't dominated any other teams forwards this year and didn't do that much in 22 and 23.

There's always a cost/benefit approach in these things. Is he worth $850K based on his performances so far

 

[gregjm87]

Im with Balmain boy on this one.

This is a be nice to Doueihi. $150k min wage contract. for what?

A player that is a known poor defender and poor tackler.
Is basically a half along with Sezer, Galvin, Sullivan, Luai, Fainu and others.

Guys not physically tough enough for a lock. Guy never expressed an interest in playing as a Center or wing, and doesn't have the tackling to do so.

I would actually tell Doueihi $250, but he is now reserve grade / outside the top 30.
Punt Doueihi, Punt Sullivan and stick with Galvin/Fainu/Luai as halves with Sezer as backup.

You can't sign a reserve grade contract for 250k. The phrase top 30 comes from the top 30 highest paid at your club.

 

[tiger_one]

Do they still do cement out that way?

Oh and by the way Portland, still eligible for qld.

My family lived in Portland before and after WW2 - so Portland has a real connection to our clan..

History – The Foundations Portland NSW

thefoundations.com.au

 

[Dennisspicer1]

Marty Taupau, I wouldn't say yes, I wouldn't say no.
I am sure he will go overseas on 1m or something crazy. But if he came here on 400k it could be a very useful option. He is an impact prop and I think we need a running prop. Were loosing Bateman and Paps....

If we can't find anyone better I wouldn't say no to Taupau at a good price.

Would be a terrible waste of $400,000.

 

[weststigerman]

Marty Taupau, I wouldn't say yes, I wouldn't say no.
I am sure he will go overseas on 1m or something crazy. But if he came here on 400k it could be a very useful option. He is an impact prop and I think we need a running prop. Were loosing Bateman and Paps....

If we can't find anyone better I wouldn't say no to Taupau at a good price.

The days of Taupau getting 400k are gone.

You think Doueihi on 150k is a waste while you're okay with spending nearly 3 x that money on a 35 year old prop?

 

[Oldman]

Im with Balmain boy on this one.

This is a be nice to Doueihi. $150k min wage contract. for what?

A player that is a known poor defender and poor tackler.
Is basically a half along with Sezer, Galvin, Sullivan, Luai, Fainu and others.

Guys not physically tough enough for a lock. Guy never expressed an interest in playing as a Center or wing, and doesn't have the tackling to do so.

I would actually tell Doueihi $250, but he is now reserve grade / outside the top 30.
Punt Doueihi, Punt Sullivan and stick with Galvin/Fainu/Luai as halves with Sezer as backup.

$150K and in our top 30
If he doesn’t make the cut he plays with the our youngsters in
Reserve grade.

$150K playing reserve grade is better than what we will be paying a few others next year to be in the same team.
Sullivan = $ ?
Naden = $ ?

 

[balmain boy]

Marty Taupau, I wouldn't say yes, I wouldn't say no.
I am sure he will go overseas on 1m or something crazy. But if he came here on 400k it could be a very useful option. He is an impact prop and I think we need a running prop. Were loosing Bateman and Paps....

If we can't find anyone better I wouldn't say no to Taupau at a good price.

You seem to realise that 400k is MASSIVE money, much more than average. Any player on that much should be starting every week.

 

[balmain boy]

Plus the best young backrower in ESL and Morgan Smithies from last year.
Some clubs don’t rest on their laurels.

I found it interesting that the club identified that their clear path to first grade was the reason for attracting the young players.
Where is Sanders going to play is he going to out seat Strange? Tamale has Timoko, Savage, Cotric, Hopeate, Kris all in front of him.
Martin is a local I believe with his younger brother playing in 19 game last night.

It's crazy that the only way we can keep our juniors is to promise them top 30, and a clear unobstructed path. Yet Panthers and Canberra can stockpile juniors and only promote them to top 30 when they're ready.

Canberra had CNK as a top 5-6 fullbacks at that time, and others like Savage and Rapana, but still sought out the best 18 year old fullback in the state last year to boost their talent stocks. They have talented halves in first grade yet also signed one of the most in demand halves in Sanders. And these guys are happy to bide their time and earn their shot at first grade.

Compared to us where we throw them straight into premature top 30 contracts and into the top 17 for first grade and hope they all swim.

Other clubs have this competitive drive, players busting their ass and patiently waiting for their shot. Sharks are another great example of this. Even the dogs have signed top players for every single age group, no promises for anyone. Having highly competitive teams in every division and let everyone fight it out, and when the cream rises to the top they promote them as needed.

Everything we do is just so amatuer. Signing good players for first grade and NSW Cup is not blocking pathways, it's creating meaningful pathways and a will to succeed.

 

[Nonotmeagain]

It's crazy that the only way we can keep our juniors is to promise them top 30, and a clear unobstructed path. Yet Panthers and Canberra can stockpile juniors and only promote them to top 30 when they're ready.

Canberra had CNK as a top 5-6 fullbacks at that time, and others like Savage and Rapana, but still sought out the best 18 year old fullback in the state last year to boost their talent stocks. They have talented halves in first grade yet also signed one of the most in demand halves in Sanders. And these guys are happy to bide their time and earn their shot at first grade.

Compared to us where we throw them straight into premature top 30 contracts and into the top 17 for first grade and hope they all swim.

Other clubs have this competitive drive, players busting their ass and patiently waiting for their shot. Sharks are another great example of this. Even the dogs have signed top players for every single age group, no promises for anyone. Having highly competitive teams in every division and let everyone fight it out, and when the cream rises to the top they promote them as needed.

Everything we do is just so amatuer. Signing good players for first grade and NSW Cup is not blocking pathways, it's creating meaningful pathways and a will to succeed.

I know it's like they've won the last 5 comps ! The fact that they haven't won any in the NSWRL/NRL premierships in 30 years might throw some doubt on the number of 'juniors" who actually as good as what others think they are. The fact that they had to get Whitehead, Bateman and Williams from overseas also doesn't for the narrative that their recruitment of young players is above average.

 

[Tiger_claws]

Jordan Miller is only 18....So much for all our up and coming "stars" not one made the U19 SOO teams....not a single player...disappointing

Plenty of good players missed out on selection. Our boys picked for NRL wouldn’t have been considered. I think the original captain got withdrawn on Tuesday because he will make his nrl debut for Roosters. You would be amazed how political the selection table is on those age group squads. I have seen some absolute guns miss out on selection.

 

[hank37w]

No. He is not the type of forward we require.
Classic Tarzan.

Plays like Jane these days.

 

[hank37w]

Jordan Miller is only 18....So much for all our up and coming "stars" not one made the U19 SOO teams....not a single player...disappointing

Oh well, look on the bright side, if it has been determined that they are all shit then we won't have to worry about other teams stealing them.

 

[pawsandclaws1]

This is largely because Storm have invested heavily into pathways systems for North Brisbane and Sunshine Coast due to minimal rugby league talent available in Victoria, not anything to do with the coaches preference for where a player is from. Additionally at that level Bellamey has very little to do with recruitment.

Melbourne is forecast to have a larger population than Sydney by 2031-32. The NRL should ask hard questions of the Storm about what the club has done since 1998 (over a quarter of a century) to increase league talent in Victoria.