@ said:
I see Cronulla are now interested in Dugan. I understand that the Tigers would have plans in place for different positions v cost etc but Cronulla have a policy of buying established, proven first grade/rep players and here they go again.
We have paid decent coin for Reynolds but no other backline players. I would take Dugan for fullback (yep, pay what he wants, fullback money) and I would get Hopoate (centre money but will cover for Dugan at the back too). If we only get one I would opt for Hopoate
Every team has a policy of buying established, proven first graders! They all want to mix youth and experience, juniors and imports, risks and bankables.
For most teams that strategy doesn't quite work out every year, because most teams don't go deep into the finals. And the way the form goes the last two decades, the mantle of "top side" constantly shifts.
It's not just about getting your roster mix right, it's as much about getting the performance out of the team and not incurring too many injuries.
Look at the Sharks backline for the GF - Barba, Feki, Bird, Leutele, Holmes, Maloney, Townsend.
Legitimately only Maloney was ever an established and consistent pickup from another club, unwanted by Roosters for the price. Barba was rejected by Brisbane, Feki, Leutele and Holmes were all juniors. Leutele especially only managed 13 games in his first 4 seasons.
Jack Bird was a promising young St George junior they pinched before he'd played a single game of firsts. Worked for them for the duration of the contract, but there's a fundamental problem with signing mercenaries.
Chad Townsend played 19 games in his first 3 years at Cronulla, they let him go to Warriors where he played 2 functional if fairly average seasons, then came back and won a comp his first year. Big turnaround for Chad in 2016.
Cronulla just got the mix right, it wasn't all about signings, it was the coaching, the gameplan, the training and the headspace.
Then look at the rest of their side - lots of op pickups that turned out well, hardly established footballers though. Fifita was a sweetener for taking on Bryce Gibbs, who didn't really work out, but Fifita after 2 years off the bench found his best. Bukuya they got back from Warriors, Tagatese was an option from Titans, same with Heighington. They got Jesse Sene-Lefao from Manly after two serviceable years and he only managed 6 games.
Basically Cronulla signed 5 blokes that changed the club - Bird, Ennis, Graham, Lewis and Maloney. 4 of those 5 were on the outer at their previous clubs. Lewis was on the scrapheap at Penrith, Dogs preferred Lichaa to Ennis and Graham was struggling at Penrith. For me, Graham is the best signing they've made in a very very long time, can't understand what Penrith were doing letting him go.
To prise away a player who is still wanted by their current club - not so common and costly $$$$!
Now it's fine for Cronulla to offer a mil to Dugan if they please, they have space having lost Bird. I personally don't know if it is worth it, lot of money for a player who really isn't in the top top tier of game-changing footballers.
Cronulla got the wooden spoon 3 years ago and between 2003-2011 made the finals twice.
