Signings, Suggestions & Rumours Discussion

[Tucker]

Out of Curiosity considering the improvement through out the club in all departments, and getting off the bottom for the first time in years (Even though i expected to do better) what do you think is the reason for them to absolutely throw a grenade and years end and make us a joke of the NRL and cause fans to organise a protest rally.

I have no idea…probably designed to make Richo leave I’d wager
He must have upset them in some way…Simple power play stuff.
Not surprising though really, they’ve never cared about the NRL team doing well.

 

[supercoach]

To keep bula , it really comes down to money , if we pay $900,00 he stays, so look at it from another angle, every year the CAP goes up so if we lock him in for 3-4 years and the cap will cover his money , I hope Iam right on this , so if I ain’t right let me know

The problem is most of the bigger contracts all have clauses that gives them increases indexed to any cap increases

 

[Telltails]

No excuses. Injuries happen it’s part of the game, that’s why I said our squad should make the finals - it’s the best it’s been.

You honestly think that injuries don't play a part when you lack depth and a winning culture?

This whole notion that we can compete at the same level as our competitors because we have a squad that looks better than usual is built on the back of false hope especially when things are skinny through the rest clubs resources. I have been down that path before.
Like every season we are a couple of injuries away from being in deep trouble and the second man up system has never been successful at this club for as long as I can remember.
Measuring against ourselves means little. Measuring against our competitors is a better indication of how our season may or may not land. That's a week to week proposition with absolutely no evidence at this point yet to make any predictions - imo.

 

[innsaneink]

And which team of the current top 8 are we going to bump out - considering all or most are still contenders and or have strengthened?

Wish i knew id be rich
Warriors...sharks...dogs, might miss....melb will slip again but probably be 5-8 somewhere

 

[GNR4LIFE]

Wish i knew id be rich
Warriors...sharks...dogs, might miss....melb will slip again but probably be 5-8 somewhere

Every year there are predictions Melbourne will slip, yet they never do. There aren’t many clubs more consistent than them during the regular season. They are starting to get a bit of a reputation for choking in the big one though.

 

[Rock Hopper Steve]

Every year there are predictions Melbourne will slip, yet they never do. There aren’t many clubs more consistent than them during the regular season. They are starting to get a bit of a reputation for choking in the big one though.

Makes you wonder if the juice is about to be all sqeezed from the lemon, if they slip back to 5 to 8 it could be warning signs for them, those GF misses hurt.

 

[Telltails]

Wish i knew id be rich
Warriors...sharks...dogs, might miss....melb will slip again but probably be 5-8 somewhere

It's all possibles and probables in the off season.

 

[king_sirro]

And which team of the current top 8 are we going to bump out - considering all or most are still contenders and or have strengthened?

Im keen to see how Canberra go. I've long had a theory that Ricky Stuart cant coach. He has the ability to get his team to lift substantially one season then they fall away for a few years. Let's see if it happens again.

 

[innsaneink]

Every year there are predictions Melbourne will slip, yet they never do. There aren’t many clubs more consistent than them during the regular season. They are starting to get a bit of a reputation for choking in the big one though.

Theyre not the same.ruthless Storm of old...except against us
They were very patchy this year... in and.out of games..they won less last year than in 24

 

[GNR4LIFE]

Im keen to see how Canberra go. I've long had a theory that Ricky Stuart cant coach. He has the ability to get his team to lift substantially one season then they fall away for a few years. Let's see if it happens again.

The previous two seasons where they made the prelim in 2016 and the GF in 2019, they failed to make the 8 the year after. So them missing the 8 this year isn’t the worst shout. Especially with losing Fogarty.

 

[Tiger-ferret]

Im keen to see how Canberra go. I've long had a theory that Ricky Stuart cant coach. He has the ability to get his team to lift substantially one season then they fall away for a few years. Let's see if it happens again.

My sharkies mate thinks along the same lines. He wears his squad out with his intensity

 

[innsaneink]

It's all possibles and probables in the off season.

The beauty of sport... you just never know....despite some experts claiming after the fact "this was NEVER going to happen" or "they were NEVER.going to win" blah blah etc etc
Thered be no betting on it.if there was any sure thing

 

[Telltails]

The beauty of sport... you just never know....despite some experts claiming after the fact "this was NEVER going to happen" or "they were NEVER.going to win" blah blah etc etc
Thered be no betting on it.if there was any sure thing

Def no guarantees but there are those always there abouts and then there is the rest.

 

[WestsEffTheRest]

Like I said, 3 years ago this board were convinced it was Pascoe & Lee that were to blame.

Then I think it was Tim's fault.

We haven't failed in 2026 yet to actually assign blame, but we are armed and ready to go.

Because they were to blame a independent review found that HBG aren’t fit to run a football club.

 

[WestsEffTheRest]

Not enough.
He’s just been extended to the end of the decade.
Unbelievable considering his returns of 2 spoons and then a 13th with the strongest squad we’ve had in many many years.

Who extended him?

 

[WestsEffTheRest]

Im keen to see how Canberra go. I've long had a theory that Ricky Stuart cant coach. He has the ability to get his team to lift substantially one season then they fall away for a few years. Let's see if it happens again.

They will miss Fogartys direction

 

[crazycat]

I think that would have happened to some level irrespective of the board stuff.

I disagree, but it clearly happened over the board BS. I do want to move forward though, it's the off season and as long as we hit hard from February onwards it won't matter.

The players have been holding the club to ransom to various degrees over Benji for a while now, culminating in stories that a heap would walk if he was sacked….its outrageous when you think about it.

Thinking about it, it isn't.

Why?
We work for say 40-60 years. Some retire at 67, others are working in their 80's.
A footy player has done their best football work by 35, They may not get a contract after 30.

If you signed for any team with the expectation that you will be working with X coach and X team for 3 years... That matters. That's almost 1/3rd of your NRL football working life. You want to know who the coach is and be sure they are a good coach.

Huge difference between working for 3 years, building fitness to get a 600k contract and licking stamps at the bottom of the ladder for 150k. Huge difference.

 

[Mighty_Tiger]

You honestly think that injuries don't play a part when you lack depth and a winning culture?

This whole notion that we can compete at the same level as our competitors because we have a squad that looks better than usual is built on the back of false hope especially when things are skinny through the rest clubs resources. I have been down that path before.
Like every season we are a couple of injuries away from being in deep trouble and the second man up system has never been successful at this club for as long as I can remember.
Measuring against ourselves means little. Measuring against our competitors is a better indication of how our season may or may not land. That's a week to week proposition with absolutely no evidence at this point yet to make any predictions - imo.

I’m measuring our squad against others.
Right now I do think we have a very nice balanced squad.

Alot of teams gets knocked down by injuries and make the finals. That’s mainly due to coaching structures.

If we miss the finals that’s more to do with coaching than our squad.

 

[batboy]

We are still the only fanbase in the NRL who are obsessed with with out football club staff and board members.
The vast majority of fans of all other NRL clubs do not know and do not care about their football club staff and board members, they focus on the players and coach.

Probably because their Board members are rusted on fans or wanna be club legends from the 80's.
Probably because their Board members mostly have no actual real life credentials and accomplishments that aren't being on a Football Club board.
I can't remember the time I heard about Mark Bouris on stage in the middle of a Footy Ground screaming his guts out and parading around like a Spinal Tap skit.

We're not obsessed with Board Members and Staff,
We're sick of idiots - Who bring absolutely nothing to the table at board level, And constantly kick us in the teeth.
And our boardroom is full of them.

 

[Muffstar]

Out of Curiosity considering the improvement through out the club in all departments, and getting off the bottom for the first time in years (Even though i expected to do better) what do you think is the reason for them to absolutely throw a grenade and years end and make us a joke of the NRL and cause fans to organise a protest rally.

I think just flexing their muscles, I can't think of any other reason. And I haven't seen it heard from that Paton dude every again, it's like he flew in and flew out again.