Signings, Suggestions & Rumours Discussion

[Vicious]

I would check if Tommy Talau is interested in a positional change to edge 2nd row with us
He has a bit of size and good physicality, but is simply too slow to nail down a starting position in the backs at an NRL club.
If he wants to be a regular NRL player, there is a potential path by him changing position to edge 2nd row which if successful would make his utility value off the bench very valuable.
As he is not a currently a regular NRL player, it’s unlikely any NRL club would pay him more than approximately 200k for 2027, so he could be within our price range.
I think someone like him would be a much better option than a journeyman already into his 30’s such as Jack Gosiewski.

 

[king_sirro]

That's about what I expected. So many people on here bag Maddens defence. Or are they just sheep following a previous comment. His defence stacks up with our 2026 heros IMO.
A lot more tackles than Doueihi but less efficient because Doueihi's arm grabs or him not really in a position to make a tackle are not recorded.
Luai tops the missed tackles, which usually lead to tries.
Thanks, CB for clarifying in my mind what I had suspected.
Maddens defence is not as bad as a lot on here would have you believe.
Same with those saying he doesn't have a long kicking game. He did a very long kick in the Panthers game, so it does exist. But are usually strategically shorter. But we rarely contest these because of our slow backline [head and legs].
A very good backup, just a bit slower than ideal. But costing us SFA.

Stats don't show when a players doesnt react how they need to which then contributes to an overlap outwide. Madden's decision making defensively is surprisingly poor. He holds the inside way too much and plants his feet. Once the ball moves past him its too late for him to react and release out. He does this often and causes many overlaps. Its usually the backrower doing it too, so not just Jock. M maybe with KPP it would improve.

 

[Tiger Stripes]

Yeah ..probably like 600k to fill three spots…

Richo said before he got left to have very limited expectations for new signings for 2027..

Maybe with Luai, Doueihi, Hunt going or gone things have changed since Richo left?

 

[king_sirro]

I would check if Tommy Talau is interested in a positional change to edge 2nd row with us
He has a bit of size and good physicality, but is simply too slow to nail down a starting position in the backs at an NRL club.
If he wants to be a regular NRL player, there is a potential path by him changing position to edge 2nd row which if successful would make his utility value off the bench very valuable.
As he is not a currently a regular NRL player, it’s unlikely any NRL club would pay him more than approximately 200k for 2027, so he could be within our price range.
I think someone like him would be a much better option than a journeyman already into his 30’s such as Jack Gosiewski.

I have always been confident Tommy would make a handy backrower. If Joel Reddy can slip straight into the 2nd row and look good, Talau can too

 

[wstigers11]

He preferred to use Sione rather than Ethan on the edge …does he see Ethan as middle depth ?

Good point possibly, he had a very disruptive pre-season with injury & then again during the season so maybe drip fed opportunities

 

[Tiger Stripes]

He preferred to use Sione rather than Ethan on the edge …does he see Ethan as middle depth ?

I hope Roberts would be a potential lock with off loads, but appears to be a bit slow for an edge backrower.

 

[supercoach]

Excuse the spelling but we will be Goneski again next year if we sign Goneski. Every player we are linked to are blokes to old for ESL

 

[magpies forever]

Seems like players we get attached to are going to be the cheap ones , club says it got $$$ to spend but I don’t think it’s big dollars , Frizell ! Mann , Jack G / broncos , O’Sullivan , Brailey , not big coin , Alverillo probably the only one who is on $ 500 + these others above would be 250/300 , O’Sullivan may want a bit more , feels like we got $ 250 to spend per head , that’s not much that’s reserve grade value. So 2027 suffers again if injury strikes

Realistically, these are squad fillers for depth. I reckon our 1-17 is pretty solid. Our fall back depth has shown a lack of experience/ quality/ resilience. Hopefully, if some of these older heads come on board it will help. I have doubts on some of them, but then again, they haven't even signed or said they want opportunity.

Edit- have to say id be interested in thought of Frizzell as a defensive assistant coach rather than playing on, or maybe playing on for a year here with progression to defensive coaching next year (28) full time

 

[wstigers11]

Leniu to Parra, Braden Uele to roosters

 

[GNR4LIFE]

Has any player we have signed north of 30 not been a complete waste of time?

 

[magpies forever]

Has any player we have signed north of 30 not been a complete waste of time?

More often than not, yes unfortunately.

 

[Tom Shines]

Maybe with Luai, Doueihi, Hunt going or gone things have changed since Richo left?

you can’t spend the money until they actually leave

 

[batboy]

Leniu to Parra, Braden Uele to roosters

@Demps
Saw Uele in the ressies team list yesterday and thought - If only.
I've been after him for years, Was on the outer the moment Sharks signed AFB.
Bloke like him should have been made a priority.

 

[Tito Santana]

I have always been confident Tommy would make a handy backrower. If Joel Reddy can slip straight into the 2nd row and look good, Talau can too

Joel Reddy - way to aim high

 

[Demps]

@Demps
Saw Uele in the ressies team list yesterday and thought - If only.
I've been after him for years, Was on the outer the moment Sharks signed AFB.
Bloke like him should have been made a priority.

He's a hitter ay

He's got a younger brother floating around superleague.

Wouldve been a good player for us.

 

[batboy]

He's a hitter ay

He's got a younger brother floating around superleague.

Wouldve been a good player for us.

Better than Average, Fantastic Domestic Middle.
Was on fire before injury and ultimately replaced with AFB.

 

[happy_tiger]

Has any player we have signed north of 30 not been a complete waste of time?

Maybe the late Terry Hill , not sure if he was 30 when he signed with us

 

[Flippedy]

So Frizell is a definite yes? Can anyone confirm? A good signing leadership wise, but perhaps about 4 years too late.

 

[Vicious]

I hope Roberts would be a potential lock with off loads, but appears to be a bit slow for an edge backrower.

I don’t think Roberts has what you would call explosive speed such as the likes of Jacob Preston, Tallis Duncan, Dylan Lucas and Briton Nikora just to name a few, but he is a big, strong and tall lad who has a big of variety to his game with his footwork, passing and offload ability.
I’d say he has just as much speed as either Samuela or KPP and therefore think with the NRL experience he gained this season and natural progression, he could be an extremely good edge 2nd row back up in 2027.
I rate his potential so highly that I think he will become si valuable that he will become a regular used off our NRL interchange even when we are full strength.
As you say, he looks to have all the qualities to also potentially be very good at 13, so I hope that is worked on and encouraged over the off season.

 

[wstigers11]

I don’t think Roberts has what you would call explosive speed such as the likes of Jacob Preston, Tallis Duncan, Dylan Lucas and Briton Nikora just to name a few, but he is a big, strong and tall lad who has a big of variety to his game with his footwork, passing and offload ability.
I’d say he has just as much speed as either Samuela or KPP and therefore think with the NRL experience he gained this season and natural progression, he could be an extremely good edge 2nd row back up in 2027.
I rate his potential so highly that I think he will become si valuable that he will become a regular used off our NRL interchange even when we are full strength.
As you say, he looks to have all the qualities to also potentially be very good at 13, so I hope that is worked on and encouraged over the off season.

Seems a more Angus Crichton type than a Preston