Signings, Suggestions & Rumours Discussion

[Jolls]

If our defence isn't a concern then your a poor judge or maybe just overlooked it. But it was the worst season in our history and worsened from 23

Imo I wouldn't take everything said here so literally and reply with a novelette... Just let it slide

Yes defence was attrocious and one area that needs serious improvement. I think we improved on 23 in most areas - most defintley not the table though.

 

[tigertragic]

Well I’m happy Luai is here for a minimum of 2years and possibly 5 years
The alternative is ?
Luai is a quality representative player with multiple premierships
Compare this to previously giving clauses to Ute in his contract who is a fringe SOO player at best

 

[Needaname]

Question for those complaining about the clause in Luai's contract.

If Galvin agrees to re-sign and extend for 4 more years (to end of 2030), but have a similar clause at the end of 2028. Do you think Richo should agree to it? Or say no more clauses and let him go to market?

It is not a clause. It is a player option. They are part of just about every top liner player contracts.
Just as club options are used when a club is taking a risk on a player.

 

[Nonotmeagain]

Not aware of anything in particular he is doing/has done to galvanise and harmonise the team? He seems to have been disruptive in the past however with reported disagreements with Bateman, Klemmer, Naden and Ofahengaue. Whether he has learnt from his mistakes and now doing a better job managing the players remains to be seen.

Ultimately I think it foolish to assume Bateman is completely at fault and the only disruptive force with whatever happened between the two of them. Especially given there has been minimal reporting on how their relationship broke down.

What were the mistakes ? The reported comments are all supposition and maybe there was a club agenda in relation to those players - maybe they aren't or weren't wanted. Maybe they still aren't and if there were better players available they wouldn't be here.

We have no idea how he manages players - unless you're one of them or Benji himself.

 

[851]

Geez there’s a lot of bed wetters on here today.

You only just realised that, they come out all the time, they were out because in their opinion Richo didn't tell them what he was doing, Richo couldn't sign any players, now because of a so-called player option in a contract. Real life is too much for some people, that we can be sure of.

 

[Moh]

Guys... if Luai didn't have this option in his contract, and things go horribly as a club - he would have left if he wanted to anyway. Option or not.

What's the ol' chestnut - contracts don't mean nothing in Rugby League.

It goes both ways.

So chill, option or not, if Luai ever wanted to walk he would and could.

 

[Tom Shines]

Guys... if Luai didn't have this option in his contract, and things go horribly as a club - he would have left if he wanted to anyway. Option or not.

What's the ol' chestnut - contracts don't mean nothing in Rugby League.

We got 4-5 guys in our team who Richo wants to moves on ..but they tell him they got a contract and aren’t going anywhere ….surely this is not news to you?

 

[weststigerman]

It is not a clause. It is a player option. They are part of just about every top liner player contracts.
Just as club options are used when a club is taking a risk on a player.

Call it player option then, the question still stands. I agree, this is the norm now.

Would be nice if we had a club option on Bateman and Bud about now, but I guess it doesn't work both ways.

 

[gregjm87]

What were the mistakes ? The reported comments are all supposition and maybe there was a club agenda in relation to those players - maybe they aren't or weren't wanted. Maybe they still aren't and if there were better players available they wouldn't be here.

We have no idea how he manages players - unless you're one of them or Benji himself.

Agree completely, it is all supposition with the evidence circumstantial as best. However, in saying that we also have no idea how disruptive Bateman is/was. Yet, the majority of the forum want to label him as such. I just don't see how so many can reasonably take such a firm stance on one but dismiss the other as 'well, we don't really know'.

For the record my stance on Benji is much like Jolls above. Don't agree with how he got there, not impressed thus far, but he is here now so let's hope he proves the right man for the job.

 

[Mighty_Tiger]

It’s only really problematic if we continue to run near the bottom, in which case he’s not much different to Brooks, Hastings, Sezer etc. and not worth 1.2 large.

Benefit though is if he wants out we won’t have to pay him out if that happens.

He will be 30 if the clause is used, doubt he will be able to get $1.2 in the market regardless of performance at that stage.

 

[gregjm87]

It is not a clause. It is a player option. They are part of just about every top liner player contracts.
Just as club options are used when a club is taking a risk on a player.

i'd actually prefer that he has a clause rather than a straight up option. I think if you are making a pitch to a player than i dont hate them having a clause that essentially guarantees what you are pitching (proabably poorly worded). As an example we told Utoikamanu we are improving and the right club to develop him. So there was a finals clause (improving) and origin clause (development). I think the requested Galvin clause for Large was fair if we are pitching career progression. If Luai had a clause of year on year improvement in his first 2 years triggers an the next 3 rather than a simple player option it shows we believe what we are selling him. It still gives the player the chance to leave if we as a club/team dont hold up our end, but not as straight forward as a player option where the player can hold the club to ransom every couple years.

 

[Roar_Power]

Lets put the Luai stuff to bed. It is what it is. Need to work with it...

I am keen to know what 2nd rower we are after should Bateman sign with Souths.

 

[bptiger 0]

My last word on this , luai, if Pascoe had done this there would have been people screaming for his head , but because it’s Richo he seems to get a pass . It’s a done deal just dirty the fans where left in the dark about his 5 years , great start to our new culture

 

[Tucker]

Lets put the Luai stuff to bed. It is what it is. Need to work with it...

I am keen to know what 2nd rower we are after should Bateman sign with Souths.

Yes, its interesting.
Against popular opinion, I think we have to sign someone externally.

 

[BAGNF05]

Benefit though is if he wants out we won’t have to pay him out if that happens.

He will be 30 if the clause is used, doubt he will be able to get $1.2 in the market regardless of performance at that stage.

$1.2 million will probably be the going rate for a top 10 halfback by then, his manager has just done what’s best for his client, and Luai will play safe in the knowledge he’ll earn what he deserves.

 

[BAGNF05]

My last word on this , luai, if Pascoe had done this there would have been people screaming for his head , but because it’s Richo he seems to get a pass . It’s a done deal just dirty the fans where left in the dark about his 5 years , great start to our new culture

Point is Pascoe never did this. That’s why he’s at Centrelink.

 

[88]

So many gun players have clauses. Both Dylan Brown and Mitch Moses do. It’s often the only way for them to sign on.

It’s also likely the only way we got Luai to sign with us. We’re cellar dwellers so I’m not surprised there are those clauses, although it is strange it’s just come out now.

And Moses and brown were already at their clubs (not trying to be poached from another) and Parra a lot further up the table when their deals were done.

 

[Buttface]

we get forced to honour all ours

Not all of them, just the ones that really hurt.

 

[Tucker]

Benefit though is if he wants out we won’t have to pay him out if that happens.

He will be 30 if the clause is used, doubt he will be able to get $1.2 in the market regardless of performance at that stage.

What are you talking about? Do you not see the evolution of the elite halves lately?
DCE was captain of his Origin side at 35 this year. He is going around again next year at 36.
Cody Walker was a unanimous MOM in SOO game 3 in 2023 at 33. He is going around again next year at 35.
Ben Hunt played SOO and made the Kangaroos this year at 34. He is going around again next year at 35.
Adam Reynolds led his team to a GF at 33. He is going around again next year at 35.
Kieran Foran is going around again next year at 35.
Cooper Cronk was 35 when he retired a GF victor.
Chad Townsend is going around again next year at 34.

Halves these days can keep going well into their 30's and compete. Are you really trying to tell people that at 30 Luai will be washed up? He'll still be playing Origin and Test footy at that age.

 

[kade7]

again a media beat up
burned by stefano (worked out better for us)

some players with current player options
- moses
- munster
- brown
- fifita
- grant
- solomona
- wighton
- ponga
- cotter


reece robsons pitched deal to the chooks includes a clause and player options around the tv deal

literally nothing to see here