Signings, Suggestions & Rumours Discussion

[Tom Shines]

Sometimes I think you are content with us finishing 14th to 17th?
I’m thinking big TS. I love a battler, but not a full team of them.

I’m not but your mates that own the club are ..

Dreaming up absurd trade ideas that are never going to go anywhere are not going to move them up the ladder either

 

[king_sirro]

Thing that causes the confusion is that when Douhei plays well he plays well as an individual in a team sport .. he doesn’t pass the ball enough and at the right time to be a 7 in a top 4 team .. he rarely passes once he has a hand on him from a defender and his passing game is premeditated when it comes off but his ability to catch and pass under pressure is very limited .. he has probably been out best player this year but at the expense of other players outside him often.. what annoys me is that if he was right centre outside latu and Andrews and KPP I think he would get so many run opportunities to his strengths that would make him enjoy an elite year , he could still come and an Kick when necessary.. a good coach could use him like turbo in origin that gets a roving licence , but that would require Adam to be a team player and subvert his ego for the good of the team .. Benji imo has to make some changes and his man management skills will be tested .. Wayne bennet has mad many many much bigger calls throughout his career

I like that. Ive been thinking about what to do with Doueihi and im thinking that combo you just listed is the way to go. That pushes Averillo to the wing which isnt bad either. Nice to have some pure speed on the wing.

The thing is Adam Doueihi needs to be told that right centre is his spot and he is to spend the entire off season preparing for that spot. No more of this "ya could play here, ya could play there" type stuff. Right centre, work hard on your lateral movement, work on your hole running and work on your catch and pass in one motion. Simple. Many say AD is crap at centre but his best year for us was last year at right centre.

That leaves us with Makasini, Saukuru (hopefully) and maybe Skelton in reserve grade.

 

[Jedi_Tiger]

Agreed , also Cleary we could go for and maybe Walsh at fullback and I’d like Herbie and we could see if we could get Payne Haas to tell souths to go away .. also Hamole in second row ..

well Walsh and herbie are under contract along with cleary.
manu was coming from Japanese rugby so he has been available for awhile

lets pay overs and lets sign another bloke that perhaps could play centre, or could play wing or even five eight.. neither that well and let's throw him a contract approx 200k more than the nearest offer.

 

[Vicious]

I'd be keen for us to offer a dev contract to Mel Nonu from the Knights. Looks a great prospect. A younger and better Tupou

Where did he come from?
Has plenty of speed, but don’t forget we are not overly keen on fast wingers who score length of the field tries as they are usually not the best defenders.

 

[innsaneink]

I'd be keen for us to offer a dev contract to Mel Nonu from the Knights. Looks a great prospect. A younger and better Tupou

Dont like Ma'a Nonu?

 

[Jedi_Tiger]

Would be hard for Douehi, as I have said previously, he feels that if something is going to happen, it will be up to him.
And the people around him are superfluous !
I think he could be a very good centre but I wouldn’t want to be on the wing outside him. Maybe Benji just has to pick him there and get on with it, but this week it will be Luai 6 and Madden 7, to start.
Andrews may pick up Latus no 14 and get a run during the game.
That’s if we don’t get destroyed by the Green Machine !

looking forward to see Andrews hopefully get a run, he should be the future at 6.

2027

1. Bula
2. Turuva
3. AD
4. May
5. Averillo
6. Andrews
7. Latu

 

[bptiger 0]

Who’s our seven going forward, Javon or Latu, or Jock?

I think adding another young one is overkill.

Latu at 1/2 back and Javon at 5/8 ,

 

[Tim Sheens]

This video just went up on Youtube - love the title!

Javon certainly looks the goods, though with the relatively low number of appearances for Latu in Magpies colours, it also really highlighted just how good he is at providing space for those around him.

 

[Oldman]

Would be hard for Douehi, as I have said previously, he feels that if something is going to happen, it will be up to him.
And the people around him are superfluous !
I think he could be a very good centre but I wouldn’t want to be on the wing outside him. Maybe Benji just has to pick him there and get on with it, but this week it will be Luai 6 and Madden 7, to start.
Andrews may pick up Latus no 14 and get a run during the game.
That’s if we don’t get destroyed by the Green Machine !

Agree with you there Hal.
Centre in first grade is his position
But with his ego he believes he is the man and that means playing in the half’s.
The difference between the grades has never changed if he played no:7 in reserve grade he would look like a champion.
Those in charge need to convince him that what’s best for the team is his running game as a centre.
But I won’t hold my breath.

 

[Oldman]

Javon certainly looks the goods, though with the relatively low number of appearances for Latu in Magpies colours, it also really highlighted just how good he is at providing space for those around him.

Problem is we all know there is a huge difference between 1st grade and ressies.

 

[Dennisspicer1]

yes …every club is going to have an owner..

But not us.

 

[TheEnz]

who knows we could have let Toa go and gone after Manu with cash
nah we went for Averillo, hood player however we shoukd have gone for better

Manu is cashing in. I'm fairly certain Benji would have had a chat with him, the guy is chasing the $$ and has been for the last 3 years. If a player is willing to go to PNG and they want him you may as well not even bother having a crack.

 

[GNR4LIFE]

• Benji Marshall
• Robbie Farah
• Chris Lawrence
• Liam Fulton
• Keith Galloway
• Tim Moltzen
• Blake Ayshford
• Beau Ryan
• Bryce Gibbs
• Adam Blair
• Braith Anasta
• Joel Reddy
• Matt Bell
• Matt Utai
• Joel Romelo
• Bodene Thompson
• Sauaso Sue
• Shaun Spence
• David Nofoaluma
• Jarred Farlow
• Joel Luani
• Luke Brooks
• Nathan Brown
• Keith Lulia
• Martin Taupau
• Cory Paterson
• James Gavet
• Kurtis Rowe
• Blake Austin
• Mitchell Moses
• Matthew Lodge
• Jy Hitchcox
• Asipeli Fine
• Brenden Santi
• James Tedesco
• Aaron Woods
• Pat Richards
• Dene Halatau
• Kevin Naiqama
• Kyle Lovett
• Delouise Hoeter
• Lamar Liolevave
• Nathan Milone
• Manaia Cherrington
• Josh Drinkwater
• Jordan Rankin
• Jack Littlejohn
• Tim Grant
• Josh Aloiai
• Joel Edwards
• Josh Addo-Carr
• JJ Felise
• Michael Chee Kam
• Justin Hunt
• Elijah Taylor
• Matt Ballin
• Jacob Liddle
• Jamal Idris
• Matt McIlwrick
• Moses Suli
• Malakai Watene-Zelezniak
• Tuimoala Lolohea
• Esan Marsters
• Matt Eisenhuth
• Alex Twal
• Bayley Sironen
• Jeremy Marshall-King
• Corey Thompson
• Russell Packer
• Pita Godinet
• Ben Matulino
• Robbie Rochow
• Josh Reynolds
• Mahe Fonua
• Chris McQueen
• Tyson Gamble
• Moses Mbye
• Luke Garner
• Paul Momirovski
• Robert Jennings
• Ryan Matterson
• Thomas Mikaele
• Oliver Clark
• Tommy Talau
• Joseph Leilua
• Adam Doueihi
• Billy Walters
• Luciano Leilua
• Zane Musgrove
• Harry Grant
• Alex Seyfarth
• Sam McIntyre
• Reece Hoffman
• Shawn Blore
• Asu Kepaoa
• Daine Laurie
• James Roberts
• James Tamou
• Joe Ofahengaue
• Stefano Utoikamanu
• Jake Simpkin
• Zac Cini
• Jock Madden
• Tom Amone
• Ken Maumalo
• Junior Pauga
• Tuki Simpkins
• Kelma Tuilagi
• Oliver Gildart
• Jackson Hastings
• Tyrone Peachey
• Starford To'a
• Junior Tupou
• Fa'amanu Brown
• Brent Naden
• Fonua Pole
• Austin Dias
• Api Koroisau
• Isaiah Papali'i
• John Bateman
• Charlie Staines
• Jahream Bula
• Aidan Sezer
• Jayden Sullivan
• Latu Fainu
• Samuela Fainu
• Sione Fainu
• Solomona Faataape
• Justin Olam
• Jarome Luai
• Sunia Turuva
• Terrell May
• Jeral Skelton
• Jack Bird
• Royce Hunt
• Heamasi Makasini
• Taylan May
• Jared Haywood

Every single player to play for our club since our last finals appearance (thank AI) - That is 138 players.

I don't think another signing or two is really going to make any difference.

There could not have been any more expectation on Luai than any future signing. If a guy coming off 4 consecutive premierships comes here and looks pedestrian, who isn’t going to? Next year will be interesting. If he has a strong year at Parra, it won’t be a good look for us.

 

[The Chad]

When was the last time the club had a genuine clean out of players?

 

[GNR4LIFE]

When was the last time the club had a genuine clean out of players?

Don’t we have one every year? At least there calls for one year after year. The thing about a clean out, you actually have to improve things. We have clean outs, but we replace garbage with garbage.

 

[Milky]

When was the last time the club had a genuine clean out of players?

We have 12 players remaining from our 2024 season

• Jahream Bula
• Api Koroisau
• Alex Twal
• Alex Seyfarth
• Fonua Pole
• Adam Doueihi
• Starford To'a
• Latu Fainu
• Samuela Fainu
• Sione Fainu
• Luke Laulilii
• Jared Haywood (development player in 2024)
• Kit Laulilii (development/pathways in 2024)

Three have signed elsewhere, so next year there will be 9 players retained over 3 seasons

Continuity from 2024 → current	Clubs
Very high (18–22+ players retained)	Panthers, Storm, Raiders
High (16–18)	Sharks, Cowboys, Warriors, Broncos
Average (14–16)	Bulldogs, Sea Eagles, Dolphins
Below average (11–13)	Wests Tigers, Dragons, Titans, Eels
Lowest (10 or fewer)	Roosters, Rabbitohs, Knights

 

[The Chad]

Don’t we have one every year? At least there calls for one year after year. The thing about a clean out, you actually have to improve things. We have clean outs, but we replace garbage with garbage.

Not sure- I'm curious though. We all complain about the quality of the squad. But when did someone just gut it & start fresh.

Not good with research, but in the 2 years before 2005, Sheens moved on 26 players as far as I can see.

In Benji's 2 seasons we have moved on 30.

After all the poor seasons, probably stands to reason that you have to flush, or as I've been saying, sift through the chaff, before you see results.

 

[The Chad]

We have 12 players remaining from our 2024 season

• Jahream Bula
• Api Koroisau
• Alex Twal
• Alex Seyfarth
• Fonua Pole
• Adam Doueihi
• Starford To'a
• Latu Fainu
• Samuela Fainu
• Sione Fainu
• Luke Laulilii
• Jared Haywood (development player in 2024)
• Kit Laulilii (development/pathways in 2024)

Three have signed elsewhere, so next year there will be 9 players retained over 3 seasons

Continuity from 2024 → current	Clubs
Very high (18–22+ players retained)	Panthers, Storm, Raiders
High (16–18)	Sharks, Cowboys, Warriors, Broncos
Average (14–16)	Bulldogs, Sea Eagles, Dolphins
Below average (11–13)	Wests Tigers, Dragons, Titans, Eels
Lowest (10 or fewer)	Roosters, Rabbitohs, Knights

That's good. In my opinion.

Not sure where you got that info from- but nice- I like it.

 

[GNR4LIFE]

Not sure- I'm curious though. We all complain about the quality of the squad. But when did someone just gut it & start fresh.

It’s not a video game. It’s not as simple as telling half the playing group to go piss up a rope.

 

[Milky]

Not sure- I'm curious though. We all complain about the quality of the squad. But when did someone just gut it & start fresh.

Not good with research, but in the 2 years before 2005, Sheens moved on 26 players as far as I can see.

In Benji's 2 seasons we have moved on 30.

After all the poor seasons, probably stands to reason that you have to flush, or as I've been saying, sift through the chaff, before you see results.

Hindsight is nice as well

In hindsight, I think there is a few top dollar players that we should have moved on instead of re-signing

Thank you for your time, your job is done. Onto the next player...