Signings, Suggestions & Rumours Discussion

It would be interesting if it was the Dragons who were after Bateman considering the number of backrowers they have at the Club.

They have Su'a and Leilua on big money, Eisenhuth, Faitala-Mariner and young guns Ryan Couchman, Dylan Egan and Jacob Halangahu all tipped to play first grade next season. With Bateman that would be 8 backrowers for only 3 positions (2 starting, 1 bench). Adding Bateman would block the path of one of the young guys who all have big wraps on them.
 
I have a feeling the centre pairings to start the year will be Olam and Toa, with Skelton and Turuva starting wingers.

I think we will see Turuva eventually push into the centres but not to start with. He is also a much better backup fullback than Staines so he will give us that cover.

Bird might actually start the season in reggies but there is so much pre-season to happen yet that we won't get any real clues until February anyway.
 
jrtiger said:
they did overachieve, but Jack was dropped mid-season in favour of Max Feagai.

he has a role to play at WT, but it's not in the centres.
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Don't want it to be "I'm more right than you" type argument about this.

Bird got hurt & missed 6 weeks.

Came back at fullback in KOE before moving back into 1st grade at 5/8 due to injury.

Dragons were not handing positions out on Bird's return, as it should be, and he couldn't win the spot away from Feagai.

But he played 12 rounds at centre and then missed 6 rounds through injury before returning to 1st grade at 5/8 in round 24.
 
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The Chad said:
Don't want it to be "I'm more right than you" type argument about this.

Bird got hurt & missed 6 weeks.

Came back at fullback in KOE before moving back into 1st grade at 5/8 due to injury.

Dragons were not handing positions out on Bird's return, as it should be, and he couldn't win the spot away from Feagai.

But he played 12 rounds at centre and then missed 6 rounds through injury before returning to 1st grade at 5/8 in round 24.
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nah that's fine, my bad.

his stats last year have me thinking that he isn't a guy we should invest in playing at right centre. he's got excellent utility value and it's something I think we should use to our advantage.
 
Pbulk said:
I have a feeling the centre pairings to start the year will be Olam and Toa, with Skelton and Turuva starting wingers.

I think we will see Turuva eventually push into the centres but not to start with. He is also a much better backup fullback than Staines so he will give us that cover.

Bird might actually start the season in reggies but there is so much pre-season to happen yet that we won't get any real clues until February anyway.
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I'd be amazed if Bird isn't a constant in 1st grade next season.
 
jrtiger said:
nah that's fine, my bad.

his stats last year have me thinking that he isn't a guy we should invest in playing at right centre. he's got excellent utility value and it's something I think we should use to our advantage.
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If Bateman gets moved on, the conversation changes. Bird probably fits that wide second row position a la Euan Aitken.

That would PROBABLY be the best thing to happen for Doueihi, in my opinion, as Bird is probably a good defender to cover for Doueihi's failings (agility over Seyfarth).

But if Bateman stays, I don't see how Bird isn't playing as a defensive centre & removing the revolving doorway of our wide defence.
 
Canadian Club said:
It would be interesting if it was the Dragons who were after Bateman considering the number of backrowers they have at the Club.

They have Su'a and Leilua on big money, Eisenhuth, Faitala-Mariner and young guns Ryan Couchman, Dylan Egan and Jacob Halangahu all tipped to play first grade next season. With Bateman that would be 8 backrowers for only 3 positions (2 starting, 1 bench). Adding Bateman would block the path of one of the young guys who all have big wraps on them.
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I think the Dragons interest would be Bateman as a lock as I think @jrtiger mentioned Flanagan said on the James Graham podcast he'd like a lock who provides that unpredictability in attack.
 
The Chad said:
Don't want it to be "I'm more right than you" type argument about this.

Bird got hurt & missed 6 weeks.

Came back at fullback in KOE before moving back into 1st grade at 5/8 due to injury.

Dragons were not handing positions out on Bird's return, as it should be, and he couldn't win the spot away from Feagai.

But he played 12 rounds at centre and then missed 6 rounds through injury before returning to 1st grade at 5/8 in round 24.
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so whats your opinion on how Bird actually performed in 2024 in the centers ? I see his previous team was more than happy to move him on early whilst still under contract next season…and given he won a grand final with the current coach there ..I think that should be considered a warning sign that he might be out of gas …

I don’t think Bird is going to be anything special regardless of where he is playing in this team… and I would consider him not within our best 13… at this stage I would be predicting his spot to be on the bench where he can provide cover for a backs injury but spend most of his playing minutes covering backrowers…
 
Tom Shines said:
so whats your opinion on how Bird actually performed in 2024 in the centers ? I see his previous team was more than happy to move him on early whilst still under contract next season…and given he won a grand final with the current coach there ..I think that should be considered a warning sign that he might be out of gas …

I don’t think Bird is going to be anything special regardless of where he is playing in this team… and I would consider him not within our best 13… at this stage I would be predicting his spot to be on the bench where he can provide cover for a backs injury but spend most of his playing minutes covering backrowers…
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If he gets himself fit his versatility off the bench is probably his best asset in my opinion. His best was many years ago now.
 
BAGNF05 said:
Love the NFL. Jets went all in on a hall of fame QB. Probably can’t fault them after Tampa’s experience then the Rams with Stafford.

They’ve also sacked their GM and head coach this year so they’re not just accepting the status quo, even if they are a massive joke.
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But they went in on a Hall of Fame QB who's renowned for losing in the post season, is renowned to be an egotistical maniac who's difficult to coach and work with. They also sacked the coach and GM on the say so of said QB who should have retired and retained his legacy
 
Tom Shines said:
so whats your opinion on how Bird actually performed in 2024 in the centers ? I see his previous team was more than happy to move him on early whilst still under contract next season…and given he won a grand final with the current coach there ..I think that should be considered a warning sign that he might be out of gas …

I don’t think Bird is going to be anything special regardless of where he is playing in this team… and I would consider him not within our best 13… at this stage I would be predicting his spot to be on the bench where he can provide cover for a backs injury but spend most of his playing minutes covering backrowers…
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Fair enough. Hard to argue against it.
 
weststigerman said:
The right side was horrible defensively this year and next year there are question marks on:
- who plays right centre (To'a/Doueihi/Faatape incumbents)
- who plays right second row (Bateman/Porter incumbents)

IMO solving that is our biggest problem right now.
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I see Bird starting right Second row and Turuva starting right centre
 
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