Signings, Suggestions & Rumours Discussion

What I said was we need decent outside backs much more urgently than we do forwards.
That has not changed at all, but if we want an all round balanced team that can score points and overcome a couple of injuries, we also need a couple of forwards.
Do you not agree that we are very limited with our attacking and line break threat within our forwards ?
We are no doubt a much better team when Samuela Fainu and KPP are both playing, but even they do not have what you would call explosive speed that is a major concern for our opponents.
A lot of criticism is being directed towards our halves poor decision making, particularly on our 5th tackle yesterday and while I agree it’s a otand needs tj be much better, what were Api and Bula doing to contribute ? They take up a fair bit of our salary cap between them and form part of our spine, but are then voided of any blame when things go sour ?
I think both Sione Fainu and Tony Sukkar were among our better players yesterday and they were certainly not a reason we lost, but having a very slow forward pack in addition to an extremely slow backline is just so boring and predictable, I doubt Nathan Cleary or Sam Walker could do anything with them from an attacking point of view.
We have resorted tj being a team who’s only real attacking play is the high ball.

Bula seemed to be the target on 5th tackle plays … bombs away for him to try to catch the ball … Assume that’s the coaches instructions right , not the players ?

also …we need an influx of talent both forwards and backs …Im not real fussy at the moment which
 
I’ve seen him in person, he is very strongly built and he woukd be taller than 6”1 also.
I’m surprised someone like Wayne Bemnett has not tried to sign him as he is currently to a massive unfulfilled talent waiting to happen if the right coach gets hold of him.
Right...you've seen him in person. So no facts...just your personal assessment? I've seen guys that look like they should weigh 95-100kg, but they step on the scale and they are 80kg - your eye is no substitute for a measuring tape and scale.

Here is what I base my comments on - https://www.dragons.com.au/teams/nrl-premiership/st-george-illawarra-dragons/tyrell-sloan/. You'd think his club would know his weight and height.

Don't want to engage about why you are surprised Wayne Bennett doesn't sign certain players.
 
Bula seemed to be the target on 5th tackle plays … bombs away for him to try to catch the ball … Assume that’s the coaches instructions right , not the players ?

also …we need an influx of talent both forwards and backs …Im not real fussy at the moment which
As you have alluded to, there is supposedly no cap space left to sign anyone of much value as we are already paying this current group top dollar.
I have no idea how with our current group of players that our red zone attack or attack in general gets much better ?
Averillo will help, but he can’t do it on his own.
Our only plan seems to be to try and charge downfield through the middle and then put a bomb up as a Hail Mary for us to get a decent result 1 in every 10 if we are lucky.
 
As you have alluded to, there is supposedly no cap space left to sign anyone of much value as we are already paying this current group top dollar.
I have no idea how with our current group of players that our red zone attack or attack in general gets much better ?
Averillo will help, but he can’t do it on his own.
Our only plan seems to be to try and charge downfield through the middle and then put a bomb up as a Hail Mary for us to get a decent result 1 in every 10 if we are lucky.
I agree with you
 
Our only plan seems to be to try and charge downfield through the middle and then put a bomb up as a Hail Mary for us to get a decent result 1 in every 10 if we are lucky.

Like I also alluded to ..,I assume this is per the coaches instructions … so should he come up with something different ?

As you have alluded to, there is supposedly no cap space left to sign anyone of much value as we are already paying this current group top dollar.
I have no idea how with our current group of players that our red zone attack or attack in general gets much better ?

Yes … from what has been said I would say that’s likely the situation … they seem pretty skint … can only hope that Toa frees up some money that wasn’t just handed over to Averillo , and perhaps a couple of others might also leave as well …
 
Like I also alluded to ..,I assume this is per the coaches instructions … so should he come up with something different ?



Yes … from what has been said I would say that’s likely the situation … they seem pretty skint … can only hope that Toa frees up some money that wasn’t just handed over to Averillo , and perhaps a couple of others might also leave as well …
Well I would like something different to the boring and predictable attack that we usually dish up, wouldn’t you ?
But you need the players capable of offering something a bit different and I often see our 6 and 7 looking for a bit of off ball movement and not much is being offered other than the likes of Terrell May and Alex Seyfarth who really should not be getting the ball on the 4th or 5th tackle if there are other better attacking options looking for the ball.
 
Tyrell Sloan will pick up a contract somewhere - a similar player to what Toa has been for us.
Both players that have a level of natural ability that fans from other clubs think will transform into something better at their own club because they are less triggered by their failings at the club they are at.

Sloan gives me Bevan French vibes. Fast, talented and best suited to Super League
 
Well I would like something different to the boring and predictable attack that we usually dish up, wouldn’t you ?
But you need the players capable of offering something a bit different and I often see our 6 and 7 looking for a bit of off ball movement and not much is being offered other than the likes of Terrell May and Alex Seyfarth who really should not be getting the ball on the 4th or 5th tackle if there are other better attacking options looking for the ball.

I assume having only 1 Center at the club currently who they have confidence in and who was injured early in the game didn’t help right ? Hopefully Averillo will help next season and Taylan gets a recovery from that shoulder surgery..,

Another depth piece Center will help … I don’t think they will be buying another one so perhaps Saukuru can fill that role ? I would like to see Maka have a long stint on the wing next season.
 
I assume having only 1 Center at the club currently who they have confidence in and who was injured early in the game didn’t help right ? Hopefully Averillo will help next season and Taylan gets a recovery from that shoulder surgery..,

Another depth piece Center will help … I don’t think they will be buying another one so perhaps Saukuru can fill that role ? I would like to see Maka have a long stint on the wing next season.
It’s a possibility that Taylan May could have ongoing issues with his shoulder that do not allow him to reach his potential.
There is also a possibility that Makasini and Latu Fainu never live up to their potential due to their confidence being shattered this season.
I’m still not sold on what Turuva does for us other than being a good willing yardage maker from own own danger zone, being a good finisher when given try scoring opportunities and having an upbeat personality.
He is a good player, but I’m not seeing much value from his rumoured 400k - 500k contract.
Now we have signed Bula long term on massive money, I’m more convinced than ever he is never going to be the tackle busting, x-factor providing fullback we ideally need to spark our team when our attack is dull.
I think we have to bite the bullet and give Solo Saukuru an opportunity playing NRL at left centre ASAP. I have heard whispers that our coaching staff are far more confident in Makasini’s defensive ability than they are of Solo’s. After seeing what we have been seeing nearly all season and particularly yesterday, it’s a worry if Solo’s defence is currently worse than Makasini’s
Our best value for money player in our whole backline is Skelton who is off contract and we are seemingly not overly keen on keeping him.
 
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It’s a possibility that Taylan May could have ongoing issues with his shoulder that do not allow him to reach his potential.
There is also a possibility that Makasini and Latu Fainu never live up to their potential due to their confidence being shattered this season.
I’m still not sold on what Turuva does for us other than being a good willing yardage maker from own own danger zone, being a good finisher when given try scoring opportunities and having an upbeat personality.
He is a good player, but I’m not seeing much value from his rumoured 400k - 500k contract.
Now we have signed Bula long term on massive money, I’m more convinced than ever he is never going to be the tackle busting, x-factor oroding fullback we ideally need to spark our team when our attack is dulk.
I think we have to bite the bullet and give Solo Saukuru an opportunity playing NRL at left centre ASAP. I have heard whispers that our coaching staff are far more confident in Makasini’s defensive ability than they are if Solo’s. After seeing what we have been seeing nearly all season and particularly yesterday, it’s a worry if Solo’s defence is currently worse than Makasini’s
Our best value for money player in our whole backline is Skelton who is off contract and we are seemingly not overly keen on keeping him.
Please stop - you would destroy our club with these ideas of yours.
 
It’s a possibility that Taylan May could have ongoing issues with his shoulder that do not allow him to reach his potential.
There is also a possibility that Makasini and Latu Fainu never live up to their potential due to their confidence being shattered this season.
I’m still not sold on what Turuva does for us other than being a good willing yardage maker from own own danger zone,

We won’t know the answers to those questions for a couple of years …

They will probably be extending Latu in a matter of weeks with his brother ..

I think I’ve mentioned to you before that Turuva is a fine winger who at 23 has still not reached his potential .,, he is not a center though
 
I know I’ll be in the minority when I say this but if we miss the finals I place it firmly on Benji and the rest of his coaching staff. Everyone has been making excuses about injuries but even then his awful attacking coaching and halves combo he’s built has cost us crucially in 3 games which were there for the taking and his boneheaded decision to throw Makasini in way too early has cost us 2 wins.
 
We won’t know the answers to those questions for a couple of years …

They will probably be extending Latu in a matter of weeks with his brother ..

I think I’ve mentioned to you before that Turuva is a fine winger who at 23 has still not reached his potential .,, he is not a center though
Turuva being a tradesman style of winger is fibe when you have a class winger with x-factor on the other wing or class players around him.
Unfortunately we don’t have that so it just adds to our full boring team with no real x-factor about it other than halves who can occasionally pull a rabbit out of their hat, 2 second rowers who can create opportunities when they are playing and a left centre who we all know is very good, but is becoming very injury prone.
 
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It’s a possibility that Taylan May could have ongoing issues with his shoulder that do not allow him to reach his potential.
There is also a possibility that Makasini and Latu Fainu never live up to their potential due to their confidence being shattered this season.
I’m still not sold on what Turuva does for us other than being a good willing yardage maker from own own danger zone, being a good finisher when given try scoring opportunities and having an upbeat personality.
He is a good player, but I’m not seeing much value from his rumoured 400k - 500k contract.
Now we have signed Bula long term on massive money, I’m more convinced than ever he is never going to be the tackle busting, x-factor providing fullback we ideally need to spark our team when our attack is dull.
I think we have to bite the bullet and give Solo Saukuru an opportunity playing NRL at left centre ASAP. I have heard whispers that our coaching staff are far more confident in Makasini’s defensive ability than they are of Solo’s. After seeing what we have been seeing nearly all season and particularly yesterday, it’s a worry if Solo’s defence is currently worse than Makasini’s
Our best value for money player in our whole backline is Skelton who is off contract and we are seemingly not overly keen on keeping him.
Shades of Corey Thompson who was our best player one year on bottom dollar, while Mbye was stinking it up every week on $800k.
 
I know I’ll be in the minority when I say this but if we miss the finals I place it firmly on Benji and the rest of his coaching staff. Everyone has been making excuses about injuries but even then his awful attacking coaching and halves combo he’s built has cost us crucially in 3 games which were there for the taking and his boneheaded decision to throw Makasini in way too early has cost us 2 wins.
Not only has it potentially cost us a couple of wins, more concerning is the damage it is possibly doing to his confidence by not taking a step back with him at the first signs he was struggling physically and mentally with the rigours of NRL.
What is he doing and what is his plan for Latu ?
Does anyone know, does Benji know himself ?
Blind Freddy can see we lose plenty of impact from both Terrell and Api when they play even close to the full 80mins. How long are we going to persist with it even though we know it does not work ?
What was not long ago looking promising for this season and the next couple of seasons is starting to fall apart very quickly.
 
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I know I’ll be in the minority when I say this but if we miss the finals I place it firmly on Benji and the rest of his coaching staff. Everyone has been making excuses about injuries but even then his awful attacking coaching and halves combo he’s built has cost us crucially in 3 games which were there for the taking and his boneheaded decision to throw Makasini in way too early has cost us 2 wins.
I agree, this season is on Benji. I think he's lost us a few games just from poor bench usage and team selections.
I think we desperately need a veteran coach (Not apart of the 05 premiership) to come in and guide Benji.
Imagine if Bennet came for 1-2 years and showed him how to do things..
Benji has potential but he just doesn't know what he's doing IMO.
 
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