Signings, Suggestions & Rumours Discussion

[Betterdays22]

I see our middles being something like

May + Pole to start

After 20 Pole off for Klem.

After 30 May off for Hunt, Api off for TDS/Fainu

After 50 Api comes back on, after 50-55 May back on for Hunt

After 60 Pole back on for Klem

Then you've got Sefarth, Fainu and Bird who can rotate lock, Twal as backup in the rotation too.

I'd also expect to see Klem start the season and then get phased out with younger players getting more game time

I think this is the most likely outcome to start the year.

 

[balmain boy]

I’m in the minority but I’ve got Royce starting next to Terrell with Pole locking the scrum.

Terrell is a workhorse type. high minutes defensively minded middle forward that can ballplay and offload. you pair him with Twal or Klemmer and we’re back where we started.

Royce has come here to be a leader and an enforcer. he comes knowing Marshall wants him to build more minutes into his game, and from what I can see he actually looks more trim than what he did at Cronulla already.

long road ahead but I think it’s the best way to balance the starting pack.

Hunt was signed to be an impact prop. He'll only start in emeregencies, or when we really want to start a match super aggressive. Maybe 4-5 times in the season i reckon.

 

[mtd#2]

I see our middles being something like

May + Pole to start

After 20 Pole off for Klem.

After 30 May off for Hunt, Api off for TDS/Fainu

After 50 Api comes back on, after 50-55 May back on for Hunt

After 60 Pole back on for Klem

Then you've got Sefarth, Fainu and Bird who can rotate lock, Twal as backup in the rotation too.

I'd also expect to see Klem start the season and then get phased out with younger players getting more game time

I think Bird should be in the centres with Olam. It means our 1-7 is our best possible starting backline.

1. Bula
2. Turuva
3. Bird
4. Olam
5. Skelton
6. Galvin
7. Luai

Lock is a problem for us as it stands.

 

[jrtiger]

I like it.

I think (hope) Klemmer will be better for having a stronger defensive prop partner and better outside backs out of our own end. I would still start with him and May, Pole at lock.

Sione and Hunt are a good partnership who will cause a lot of problems. Particularly if they have a fresh TDS coming along with them. Problem is we will probably need a high workrate 13 to cover the defensive lapses.

I assume you're not a Twal fan?

 

[mtd#2]

no, it would be extremely naive to think he wouldn't be re-signed by the club.

well, whats the evidence to suggest he is going to be resigned? is he training with us?

 

[weststigerman]

I see our middles being something like

May + Pole to start

After 20 Pole off for Klem.

After 30 May off for Hunt, Api off for TDS/Fainu

After 50 Api comes back on, after 50-55 May back on for Hunt

After 60 Pole back on for Klem

Then you've got Sefarth, Fainu and Bird who can rotate lock, Twal as backup in the rotation too.

I'd also expect to see Klem start the season and then get phased out with younger players getting more game time

Makes sense, except for hooker. Very rarely do we replace the 9 at 30 minute mark, it's usually towards the end of the game and the only reason for that I can think of is that they don't want use 2 interchanges for replacing the dummy half.

 

[Tcat]

I honestly do not get the TWAL hatred on this forum .. in a terrible team with players that had no ability to give him good call he has consistently carried the ball forward from awkward positions all on his lonesome.. he has also almost never missed a tackle , though he wish he would hit a bit harder and throw them on the ground a bit more .. still, given some good ball he can really be part of a pack that gets over the advantage line

I must admit, I've been critical of Twal. He may take hit ups but literally makes zero post contact metres and barely offlloads in the tackle. I'll give him the benefit of the doubt for 2025 given our pack looks stronger but if he doesn't improve next year, I say punt him to England. I hope he improves because he seems a good club man unlike Bateman.

 

[jrtiger]

I had my concerns with Pole the back end of the year defensively, I don't know if the role suits him.

that's more than fair given how he finished as you said. I just think another year older and with some better players around him he might make a better go of it. if not, he'll do a good job off the pine.

 

[jrtiger]

Hunt was signed to be an impact prop. He'll only start in emeregencies, or when we really want to start a match super aggressive. Maybe 4-5 times in the season i reckon.

if that's what he's been signed for then play on. he's one of the best in the league at shifting momentum, despite what a few noisy people on here have to say.

providing we can get some additional miles in his legs I think he's an excellent signing.

 

[BlackWhiteGold]

no, it would be extremely naive to think he wouldn't be re-signed by the club.

Dragons/Flanagan will be hovering as part of their strategy to get Latu Fainu in future too.

 

[Kelce68]

The good thing about the May pickup is that there is, genuinely, multiple ways that the rotation could be rolled out and, depending on opposition or general playing style, all could foreseeably work.

I'm probably going to change around a bit over the offseason, but I think, for now, I'm liking the look of-

*Bateman situation is obviously yet to play out..

May
Api
Klemmer
Samuela
Bateman
Bird

TDS
Hunt
Pole
Seyfarth

May to play 25/30 a stint, replaced by Hunt to maximise impact.

Klemmer, with May, have a combined efficiency of 97.1% and 105m/game. Klemmer to sub with Pole at 20min.

That'll take the sting out of the game and keep the middle pretty tight for the opening of games.

Bird to be used sparingly at lock as he is the primary backs utility and we'll need to manage his workload. Though I think people have underestimated his durability. Then have Seyfarth come on at 25 mins (ish) at lock to tighten up the middle around the likes of Pole who is notoriously poor laterally (hopefully on the improve).

TDS arrives at 25/30 mins for Api, just as we have our two wrecking balls in Hunt and Pole entering the game and the sting is out of the contest; handy for a young, undersized hooker.

In the second half, there remains a number of options, with Seyfarth able to play out the game, May can return early for a large second stint and TDS's minutes can build for a late Api flurry in the last 15/20mins.

In terms of cover, Bird gives us halves, centres and second row when starting at lock, Seyfarth ditto for edge and will actively and strategically reduce Bird's minutes if rotating primarily at lock.

But that's just one idea in a variety of approaches that can and would be effective in my opinion.

 

[balmain boy]

Anyone worried about Hunt signing now?

I was at the start and now think we may of rushed for him.

Cant see why a prop with 12 mins in him is going to be worth it.

He looks huuuuuge in the pics.

Hope I’m wrong.

And yes - they’ll try and play him more minutes but if anyone watched him last year - he literally would take 1 hit up … yes 1… and then be super gassed.

And if Cronulla kicked down field he would be gassed by the time he chased the ball.

I watched him closely.

Him , along with AD Olam and Skelton - I think will be our biggest disappointments next year. Unfortunately.

I called it with sullivan before we signed him. And Bateman at 4 yrs. I have a feeling Hunt will play a bit of reserve grade unless he loses some weight and can get MUCH fitter.

In positive news - we are 1 middle, 1 second row, and 1 center away from being a top 8-4 side. And by 1 I mean classy.

You're exaggerating a lot to try prove your point. He's an impact prop, designed to play 20-25 mins a match. He averaged 25 mins last season for the Sharks who were a top 4 side.

Would he eventually look gassed? Sure. But that was his role, go all out in short spurts and change the momentum of a game. We don't need him to play long minutes, we need him to burst the line and setup/score a try before halftime.

His output was quite similar to Pole's last season, in less than half the minutes played.

We need difference makers in our pack, and he's one of them.

 

[Kelce68]

I honestly do not get the TWAL hatred on this forum .. in a terrible team with players that had no ability to give him good call he has consistently carried the ball forward from awkward positions all on his lonesome.. he has also almost never missed a tackle , though he wish he would hit a bit harder and throw them on the ground a bit more .. still, given some good ball he can really be part of a pack that gets over the advantage line

I agree, he is relatively consistent, but he has a glaring issue around the ruck, both in the wrestle and closing holes around the AB defenders. When he and Pole were on at the same time last season, there were many, many times that one, or both, were the cause of a half or full break through the middle.

He gets a bit stuck in the mud and is a grabber when he can't get in front. Needs a big improvement in this area.

Also, being a pretty fit bloke, I'd prefer to see him be a line-speed barometer and set the tone more often, much like he has upped his intensity at getting over the ad line in recent times.

 

[Betterdays22]

I assume you're not a Twal fan?

I like Twal, he did some good things at different points last year but to me it is really a choice between Twal and Klemmer. I think Klemmer starts the year because I get the sense Klemmer is stronger in defence - misses less tackles, stronger in contact and the wrestle (i might be wrong). Twal seemed to get put on his back alot too.

 

[Kelce68]

Probably correct unless Klemmer regains a bit of spark in 2025 and plays well enough to earn another season in 2026.
Without Klemmer we do become a very short forward pack in comparison to most other NRL teams which is a slight concern.
Edge back row depth is a major concern as it appears Benji has wiped Bateman. While I agree with Benji on this decision, if only leaves us with Samuela Fainu and possibly Alex Seyfarth and Jack Bird as possibilities to play NRL and Sukkar and Tumeth as the only other possibilities should they play well enough to be considered.
Lack of genuine speed and height in our backline is another concern.

Why?

Also, for the record, here are the heights of the rest of the pack:

(182cm is 6ft....)

Seyfarth - 191cm (6'3)
Pole- 182cm (6'0)
Hunt- 192cm (6'3)
Twal- 188cm (6'2)
Bateman- 183cm (6'0)
May- 193cm (6'4)
Samuela- 194cm (6'4)
Johannssen- 196cm (6'5)

 

[balmain boy]

well, whats the evidence to suggest he is going to be resigned? is he training with us?

He doesn't have an officially lodged contract with us so no he's not, publicly yet at least.

The 3 boys are highly regarded at the club, there's no way we would risk losing Sam and Latu over not keeping Sione. Who's a cheap and reasonable squaddie. The boys have also just arrived at a club where all 3 can play NRL together. Sione won't want to be leaving the club and his brothers whom are under contract for 3 more years anytime soon.

So if everyone wants him to stay then something will be finalised soon, at someone else's expense. I'd suspect 2 years x 200k for Sione.

We're in a mess with roster spots, that's the only delay. Richo needs to bite the bullet and offload a few players, even if we're chipping in some. Come December we want all our boys training together

 

[Canadian Club]

I wouldn't be surprised in Klemmer makes a move mid-season next year, especially if the club don't want to trigger his contract for 2026.

If it gets to June and it doesn't look like he will play the 14 games required, I could see Klemmer taking up a cheap deal mid-season with a contender like Penrith or Isaac Moses calling in favours with Manly or Flanno at the Dragons.

 

[LeichhardtTiger]

Why?

Also, for the record, here are the heights of the rest of the pack:

(182cm is 6ft....)

Seyfarth - 191cm (6'3)
Pole- 182cm (6'0)
Hunt- 192cm (6'3)
Twal- 188cm (6'2)
Bateman- 183cm (6'0)
May- 193cm (6'4)
Samuela- 194cm (6'4)
Johannssen- 196cm (6'5)

To be fair, it is a short pack if they are lying down. 🤪🤪🤪

 

[jrtiger]

I like Twal, he did some good things at different points last year but to me it is really a choice between Twal and Klemmer. I think Klemmer starts the year because I get the sense Klemmer is stronger in defence - misses less tackles, stronger in contact and the wrestle (i might be wrong). Twal seemed to get put on his back alot too.

I absolutely agree it's a choice between the two. I think Twal's got a bit more upside these days, but there's a lot in Klemmer's game that is arguably superior by comparison. can certainly argue either way.

personally I'm just happy we've got some choice for a change!

 

[Kelce68]

I wouldn't be surprised in Klemmer makes a move mid-season next year, especially if the club don't want to trigger his contract for 2026.

If it gets to June and it doesn't look like he will play the 14 games required, I could see Klemmer taking up a cheap deal mid-season with a contender like Penrith or Isaac Moses calling in favours with Manly or Flanno at the Dragons.

If talk around him does intensify, he's exactly the type of signing Flanagan would make for 2 years.

Also, interesting to see if injury plays a role in that clause...