Signings, Suggestions & Rumours Discussion

[Lestronge]

C'mon man,
Benji has been a media darling for 2 decades, Surely you know this?
He's been given a gravy run his first year, It might last 2 - It won't last 3...
At some point they'll turn on him.

Have a look at the stick they gave Ciraldo in his first year, and compare it to Benjis' run...
Heard Gus say once, All the coaches know the game - And they can all coach to some degree
It's dealing with all the other stuff that they fall down...
We won't know where Benji is at until he's hauled over the coals for a while.

I still feel his lack of preparation for the role is disrespectful to the Club and Supporters.

I dunno about the gravy run mate . His supposed friends in the media turned on him big time , when he said “family is more important than football” . which I still think says more about the people criticising this theology than the theology as well . From where I stand , it seems like a given , to the same tune as the sky is blue or grass is green . Not something that needed 2 weeks of clickbait . And people still fall for it , the news limited modus operende of creating a problem where none exists and then debating said problem as if it were the most important thing on earth , only to then debate the fact that people are debating it 2 weeks later , positioning themselves as some kind of beacon of virtuosity .
It’s litterally what’s happening and going to happen here with these clauses .
And people fall for it time and time again .

 

[innsaneink]

I have to admit if this IS true then it has lowered my opnion of Richo!!

He goes on about being a straight shooter and then pulls a deal like this!

It is on the nose.

Hopefully its just media BS and Richo is back to god mode!!

Yeah a few contradictions going on.
Some members unhappy the pepper sponsorship and. Jersey announcement weren't. members priority news as promised in the package

 

[innsaneink]

If you read the post, and any previous ones I have made where I have raised questions as to his coaching ability, I have clearly stated that I am on the fence as to his overall ability. And you have nailed it yourself "they can all coach to some degree".

The post from GNR labelled him as clueless, I have not seen any evidence to support that assertion. I have not seen one shred of evidence on this site, in the media, from players, from commentators or from anyone close to the club stating that he doesn't have the skill to, or can't coach. I have seen, and provided evidence to suggest that he does have a clue. Clearly he has some coaching ability. Is it enough to make the cut? Time will tell.

Plenty of baseless statements made on here - if you can't back them up then don't make them - simples.

By the way: I don't support the way he was appointed either - but let's stop crying about spilt milk. He is contracted to us and has the helm for 2025. If he doesn't have us in a reasonable position by round 10 I think his position will be untenable.

We should be in the 8 in 2025 but my concern is our lack of depth in our edge positions and at centre. If we have a spate of injuries we could fall short; however, if we aren't sniffing arounf the 8 all season then we will know if Benji ahs the goods or not.

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

 

[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.