Signings, Suggestions & Rumours Discussion

[Tom Shines]

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Melbourne is looking for players and can't find any - Next man up theory being tested.
Says alot about the demands of the competition and how that impacts on the NRLs desire to expand.

Melbourne will just have to rely on that large junior base for a while …

The game as a whole needs to start going after overseas Rugby Union players …

 

[TheKhan]

Melbourne is looking for players and can't find any - Next man up theory being tested.
Says alot about the demands of the competition and how that impacts on the NRLs desire to expand.

I am so confused about nrls rapid expansion plan. with such a shallow talent pool, The product quality is going to be so poor that it will attract very few new followers. Obviously that just my opinion

 

[innsaneink]

I don't see him leaving Queensland. If he moves from Broncos it would be one of the other clubs up there I reckon.

I was just thinking this last night watching the game...qld country aboriginal ca nt see him adopting to sydney... might be wrong

 

[Telltails]

I am so confused about nrls rapid expansion plan. with such a shallow talent pool, The product quality is going to be so poor that it will attract very few new followers. Obviously that just my opinion

I'm with you. There are enough teams for fans to support but the playing numbers are stretched - and the quality is limited.

 

[Red88_Tiger]

I'm with you. There are enough teams for fans to support but the playing numbers are stretched - and the quality is limited.

💯 but if they can string some good games in the first 1-2 years they will go alright
People will always support a winning team

 

[Rugba]

I am so confused about nrls rapid expansion plan. with such a shallow talent pool, The product quality is going to be so poor that it will attract very few new followers. Obviously that just my opinion

It’s not as dire as we think , the Covid years stalled development for a year or two but now that comps restarted juniors are coming through at the younger levels. Next year or two the batches that are 17-20 I think will start making a impact

 

[Kelce68]

See?

Isn't it nice now talking about prospective external signings to improve the squad that has had a promising start to the year instead of spending the next 6 months with 'will he or won't he' with Galvin?

 

[magpies forever]

I am so confused about nrls rapid expansion plan. with such a shallow talent pool, The product quality is going to be so poor that it will attract very few new followers. Obviously that just my opinion

Lets face it- a few strong clubs and the rest cannon fodder to be used and abused.

 

[Buttface]

I am so confused about nrls rapid expansion plan. with such a shallow talent pool, The product quality is going to be so poor that it will attract very few new followers. Obviously that just my opinion

Super league years. Two comps trying to be national. It was some of the worst refereeing I’ve ever seen too. Right up there with last Monday.

 

[jrtiger]

See?

Isn't it nice now talking about prospective external signings to improve the squad that has had a promising start to the year instead of spending the next 6 months with 'will he or won't he' with Galvin?

this is the take.

 

[Rock Hopper Steve]

I read yesterday that Matterson will be with the Eels in 2026.

Not fussed what he does paws don't really want him, there were rumours he was on the nose there and they were trying to get rid of him, you have read that from a reliable source.

 

[liltiger]

I disagree completely.
Most clubs have 25-35 players who can contribute in first grade. Maybe not well known stars but experienced pros or youngsters with high potential who can all contribute.

We don't have youngsters with potentially in our top 30, other than Galvin and Latu. We have no Bunty Afoa types who can play NSW cup and then do a job then they get called on in the NRL.

We currently have perhaps 20 players capable of contributingat first grade, that puts us well behind every other club. How many NRL clubs have top 30 players playing in the 5th division?

Successful clubs often don't have to worry about who they have in those spots as the gulf in class between their starters and their backups. We do need to focus on improving the quality of our starters first and then target better backups

Fingers crossed though, over time with the renewed push and development by Richo and the new board into our pathways and juniors, we might only need to sign a minimal amount of depth players to fill the gap just till we start producing our own consistently. Just depends how long before we can get our juniors up to scratch, finding them is the first part, the part the club has really struggled with in the past decade has been nurturing them, training them and coaching them to a borderline N.R.L standard. Fingers crossed now with Richo and the new board it will get sorted.

 

[Betterdays22]

wonder if we are still a chance for Cobbo ?
plays centre, wing and puts pressure on fullback if moses plays silly buggers with Bula

Think Bula and Cobbo have similar ceilings. We would need to pay him FB money to get him here so can't see us being in for him unless there are Moses shenadigans going on with Bula behind the scenes.

 

[liltiger]

See?

Isn't it nice now talking about prospective external signings to improve the squad that has had a promising start to the year instead of spending the next 6 months with 'will he or won't he' with Galvin?

Your spot on Kelce68. The more time has passed since Galvin decided to go, the more glad I am he didn't stay. Don't get me wrong I was fuming, but cooling off and looking at it now that money will be better used to balance the squad. Galvin might play for Australia one day, we have Latu who was always earmarked as the future half anyway. Sheens always had Galvin tapped as a lock forward eventually. After listening to Richo last night on Graham's podcast I'm fine with Galvin going. He's not worth 1 million a year. We can bring in 2 - 3 N.R.L hardened talented players with that cash. The otherway I look at it to is we found Galvin after Parra let him go. Eventually we will find another Galvin, Tedesco, Moses and all the other great juniors who left. We will find more, now the clubs being run professionally, iv got no doubt we will be keeping them.

 

[orange&black]

In my mind our first priority must be to stabilise our spine for the next 3-4 years. This means we need to straighten out Bula’s intentions, re-sign TDS, extend Api and Latu (if he’s the one) and secure a decent back up half that can step up when needed.
Once this is done we move on positions of weakness such as edge backrow and centre.

 

[Holman Barnes #1 Fan]

Not fussed what he does paws don't really want him, there were rumours he was on the nose there and they were trying to get rid of him, you have read that from a reliable source.

Matter$on is all about the $ so he will see out his contract, even if he does have to play reserve grade to do so. All he sees is money now and doesn't see the value of his next contract diminishing.

 

[Buttface]

Matter$on is all about the $ so he will see out his contract, even if he does have to play reserve grade to do so. All he sees is money now and doesn't see the value of his next contract diminishing.

I think you’re still spelling his name wrong, Catter$on?

 

[yeti]

I am not a fan of Matterson the human, but if he plays like he did for us previously. Then I am good with it.

But he hasn't played like that since he left us. Hard NO from me.

 

[BBTF]

In my mind our first priority must be to stabilise our spine for the next 3-4 years. This means we need to straighten out Bula’s intentions, re-sign TDS, extend Api and Latu (if he’s the one) and secure a decent back up half that can step up when needed.
Once this is done we move on positions of weakness such as edge backrow and centre.

Our spine is fine. Bula is here for another 3 years. Fainu is here for another 3 years and Luai another 5 years. TDS we need to focus on yes, while Api we don't need to rush to re-sign, he will be 34 by the time his next contract ends. He will be an extra 12 months at most. Our spine is fine. Adam Doueihi is a competent 'back up' half and we technically still have Jayden Sullivan on the books, so no more money needs to be tied up in the halves.

Putting some money to our forward pack is critical. We have the weakest forward depth in the NRL as a whole. We literally have no one outside the Top 17 this week who is up to stepping in.

 

[BBTF]

But he hasn't played like that since he left us. Hard NO from me.

We need to find some 'depth' forwards at a cheap price. We need options at the moment for when forwards are out as we have literlaly zero.

I would offer him close to a minimum contract. I doubt he would take it but I would do the same. I would probably throw the same to the likes of Bryce Cartwright etc. Again, emphasis is more on what we pay. Everyone has a value at the right price.