@ said:
Clarke..?
Signings, Suggestions & Rumours Discussion
- Thread starter MacDougall
- Start date
Clarke..?
GNR4LIFE
Well-known member
@ said:
It’s not about being able to spell, it’s about seeing these names all the time and people still spell them wrong. Farah debuted in 2003, is one of the most talked about players in the history of the forum, and people still spell his name with 2 R’s. The new one is calling Maguire McGuire. It’s not about the inibility to spell, more about attention to detail.
Tiger_Steve
New member
Yeah I get the sentiment regarding sensible cap spending and agree. But we need success and to get success we need a few marquee players. Currently I’d argue we don’t have any.
TheDaBoss
Well-known member
NRL 2019: What every team has on their Christmas wish-list
A month out from the Christmas break, most NRL squads are close to finalised for the 2019 premiership assault.
With most of the big player moves already made coaches are facing the reality that their hopes of winning a premiership rest largely with the cattle they already have on their books.
With that in mind Foxsports.com.au takes a look at what each of the 16 NRL clubs will be hoping for on their Christmas wish list.
BRONCOS
A good consistent halfback. Kodi Nikorima is capable of having brilliant games like he did in the Kiwis’ final Test against England in November, but he can go missing as well.
Sean O’Sullivan was brought to the club from the Roosters, but with one NRL game to his name, his best football might still be a way off yet.
Regardless of which of the two get the starting nod at No.7, the Broncos need a halfback that can lead their big pack around the park and allow big money man Anthony Milford to realise his true potential and dominate at NRL level.
The Broncos young and exciting pack also needs to step up in 2019 to cover the loss of experience from Sam Thaiday’s retirement and Josh McGuire’s defection to the Cowboys.
An end to the Wayne Bennett and Anthony Seibold coaching saga would also be high on the list.
RAIDERS
Aidan Sezer will take on the bulk of the playmaking duties for the Raiders.
Aidan Sezer will take on the bulk of the playmaking duties for the Raiders.
Source: News Corp Australia
A dominant halves pairing and luck with injuries.
The Raiders have all the ingredients to challenge the best sides in the competition, but they have been unable to find a halves pairing that can win the big moments and ice games at the death.
Blake Austin has joined the Super League leaving Aidan Sezer and Sam Williams to get first crack at leading the Raiders back to the finals.
Whether they are up to the challenge or if Ricky Stuart will chase Shaun Johnson remains to be seen, but the Raiders need their halves to step up in 2019.
The Raiders also need to get lucky with injuries, after Josh Hodgson, Jarrod Croker and Jordan Rapana all had extended stints on the sideline in the last year.
BULLDOGS
A fit and firing Kieran Foran.
The former premiership winning half has failed to live up to the big money deals he signed with the Eels and the Bulldogs, after leaving the Northern Beaches.
Foran’s 2019 campaign ended prematurely with a toe injury and he has been plagued with back problems since his early days with the Sea Eagles.
The Bulldogs unearthed a real find in young five-eighth Lachlan Lewis in 2018, but he needs the benefit of an experienced half beside him to turn the Bulldogs’ fortunes around.
At his best Foran is an international standard half, but it remains to be seen if the 28-year-old can return to the form of his early years in the NRL.
SHARKS
A replacement for Valentine Holmes.
It is not everyday you lose your club’s best player with a year still to run on his contract and the Sharks have some big shoes to fill.
Shane Flanagan has Josh Dugan and Matt Moylan, who can play fullback, but would prefer to keep them at centre and five-eighth.
He also has youngster Bronson Xerri, but it would be a big ask for the 18-year-old to replace an Origin and Test player.
The Sharks have their eye on Ben Barba and Alex Johnston, but neither are off contract next season, so the they may have to bide their time to replace their best attacking weapon.
TITANS
Ash Taylor will be 24 next season.
Ash Taylor will be 24 next season.
Source: News Corp Australia
Ash Taylor to come of age.
The Titans’ halfback has been earmarked for big things since his early days with the Brisbane Broncos, but the time has come for him to realise his potential.
Taylor will turn 24-years-old during Round 1 of the 2019 season and it is up to him to lead a promising Titans squad to the finals.
Taylor has been in the Origin conversation for the last couple of seasons, but if he is going to make the jump to representative footy, he needs consistency at club level.
Ryley Jacks may just be the perfect foil to Taylor’s brilliance, but the Titans need their halfback to dominate opposition teams week in and week out.
SEA EAGLES
A halves partner for DCE.
Manly skipper Daly Cherry-Evans has failed to recapture the form of his early years in the NRL, since longtime halves partner Kieran Foran left in 2015.
Cherry-Evans is an instinctive player, who is best served by playing what is in front of him and to do that he needs an organising half by his side.
Kane Elgey has been brought to the club to possibly fill that role and the Sea Eagles also have Lachlan Croker returning from a long injury lay-off.
Whoever gets the job at No.6 needs to consistently direct the team around the park, so that Cherry-Evans is free to roam and create opportunities for Manly’s speed men out wide.
STORM
Munster and Smith to sign and a Billy Slater replacement to step up.
It is not often at this time of year that your club’s two best players are not locked in long term, but that is the situation Melbourne face with Cameron Munster and Cameron Smith.
Munster is yet to put pen to paper on a contract extension for his deal that currently ends at the end of the 2019 season.
Smith is reportedly chasing a two year deal to finish his career in 2020, but remains unsigned for 2019 and the Storm need both players to push for a premiership next season.
They also need to fill Billy Slater’s sizeable shoes from a shortlist of Jahrome Hughes, Scott Drinkwater and Munster, which will be no mean feat.
KNIGHTS
Ponga and Pearce to fire in halves and David Klemmer.
The much hyped halves pairing of Kalyn Ponga and Mitchell Pearce is on everyone’s lips, but it remains untested over the course of a full NRL campaign.
The Knights need both playmakers to strike up a good combination, if they are to end their finals drought, which stretches back to 2014.
However before Pearce and Ponga can get their backs firing, the Knights need a world class front-rower to set the platform upfront.
The club has been heavily linked to David Klemmer, but as yet he has not signed on the dotted line and the Knights need his prized signature to become an elite team.
COWBOYS
Ben Barba is back in the NRL for the first time since 2016.
Ben Barba is back in the NRL for the first time since 2016.
Source: News Corp Australia
Michael Morgan and Ben Barba back to their best.
The Cowboys lost their best player and arguably the best player ever in Johnathan Thurston to retirement in 2018.
Michael Morgan is tipped to get first crack at Thurston’s No.7 jersey and the Cowboys need him to return to the form that saw him lead the team to the 2017 decider, when Thurston suffered a season ending shoulder injury.
Ben Barba has not been sighted in the NRL since he left to play rugby union for Toulon following a positive drug test, after the Sharks’ premiership win in 2016.
Barba is the reigning Man of Steel in the UK Super League, but at 29 it remains to be seen if he can still dominate the NRL like he used to.
EELS
Moses and Norman to get back on track.
If the Eels are to have any chance of going from wooden spooners to finals contention in 2019, they need their halves Mitchell Moses and Corey Norman to improve dramatically.
Reports suggest both halves are playing for their futures at Parramatta and they will need to hit the ground running from Round 1.
Both Norman and Moses have brilliant performances in them, but the difference between their best and worst games is too great.
If the pair can gain some consistency individually and work on their combination, the Eels will be far better placed to climb off the bottom of the ladder.
PANTHERS
A bit of luck with injuries.
Dylan Edwards, Josh Mansour, Reagan Campbell-Gillard, James Maloney and Nathan Cleary all had stints on the sidelines last year and it affected the Panthers at the back end of the year.
In what has become a bit of a worrying trend at the foot of the mountains, the Panthers have had one of the worst injury tolls in the competition over the last few seasons.
Ivan Cleary’s last stint as coach of Penrith ended, after Phil Gould thought he was burnt out following the club’s horror run of injuries in 2015 and he won’t want history to repeat.
If the Panthers can keep the majority of their top team on the park, they have the depth to push for the title next season.
RABBITOHS
Anthony Seibold could move to the Broncos in time for 2019.
Anthony Seibold could move to the Broncos in time for 2019.
Source: News Corp Australia
Coaching clarity.
Like the Broncos, the Rabbitohs are still unsure who will be their head coach in 2019.
While Bennett was guaranteed he will coach the Broncos in 2019 reports suggest a swap with Anthony Seibold in time for next season is still on, but the later it gets, the harder it will be to have each side well prepared for the 2019 campaign.
The Rabbitohs under Seibold had easily their best season since their title winning 2014 campaign, but if they are to change coaches they will need time to adapt to Bennett’s vision.
The Rabbitohs have two excellent candidates to coach them next season, but not knowing which one will be more detrimental the longer the saga drags on.
DRAGONS
An end to their mid-season wobbles.
The Dragons have been one of the best teams in the competition from rounds one to 12 in the last few seasons, but haven’t been able to maintain the rage in the back half of the year.
Paul McGregor has tried a number of tactics to end the side’s confounding late season fade-outs, but 2018 was another missed opportunity.
McGregor clearly needs to look at resting some of his stars during the representative season, to have them fresh and firing come the business end of the season.
Keeping Ben Hunt’s mind clear is another challenge, as he obviously struggles when the critics are on his back and the side is struggling.
ROOSTERS
The defending premiers curse to be lifted.
The Roosters are as well placed as any team in the last 25 years to go back-to-back, but we have said that before.
No team since the Broncos in 1993 have successfully defended their premiership title as the full effect of the salary cap has put an end to dynasty’s in rugby league.
Blake Ferguson’s defection to the Eels is undoubtedly a big a loss, but the addition of Angus Crichton arguably makes the Roosters’ pack even better than last season.
If the Roosters can just have a little luck on the injury front, they will be in with a great chance of back-to-back titles.
WARRIORS
Warriors coach Stephen Kearney.
Warriors coach Stephen Kearney.
Source: Getty Images
Consistent defence.
The Warriors showed in 2018 that when they apply themselves in defence, they can match it with the best in the competition.
Unfortunately they didn’t show that as often enough as they would have liked, with staunch defensive displays one week followed up by thrashings the next.
The Warriors made their first finals appearance since 2011, so they are on the right track, but coach Stephen Kearney needs to put an end to their defensive lapses.
If they can get their defensive game in order, the Warriors have the attacking players in Roger Tuivasa-Sheck and co to set the competition alight.
TIGERS
A consistent spine.
Not since their one and only premiership season in 2005 have the Tigers boasted a consistent spine over the course of a season.
That year Brett Hodgson, Benji Marshall, Scott Prince and Robbie Farah carried the Tigers to a memorable title.
While injury and form have intervened the Tigers still have Marshall and Farah vying for starting spots, but they need stability at fullback, five-eighth, halfback and hooker.
New coach Michael Maguire needs to pick and stick with his spine players and build their attack around reigning Dally M halfback of the year Luke Brooks.
A month out from the Christmas break, most NRL squads are close to finalised for the 2019 premiership assault.
With most of the big player moves already made coaches are facing the reality that their hopes of winning a premiership rest largely with the cattle they already have on their books.
With that in mind Foxsports.com.au takes a look at what each of the 16 NRL clubs will be hoping for on their Christmas wish list.
BRONCOS
A good consistent halfback. Kodi Nikorima is capable of having brilliant games like he did in the Kiwis’ final Test against England in November, but he can go missing as well.
Sean O’Sullivan was brought to the club from the Roosters, but with one NRL game to his name, his best football might still be a way off yet.
Regardless of which of the two get the starting nod at No.7, the Broncos need a halfback that can lead their big pack around the park and allow big money man Anthony Milford to realise his true potential and dominate at NRL level.
The Broncos young and exciting pack also needs to step up in 2019 to cover the loss of experience from Sam Thaiday’s retirement and Josh McGuire’s defection to the Cowboys.
An end to the Wayne Bennett and Anthony Seibold coaching saga would also be high on the list.
RAIDERS
Aidan Sezer will take on the bulk of the playmaking duties for the Raiders.
Aidan Sezer will take on the bulk of the playmaking duties for the Raiders.
Source: News Corp Australia
A dominant halves pairing and luck with injuries.
The Raiders have all the ingredients to challenge the best sides in the competition, but they have been unable to find a halves pairing that can win the big moments and ice games at the death.
Blake Austin has joined the Super League leaving Aidan Sezer and Sam Williams to get first crack at leading the Raiders back to the finals.
Whether they are up to the challenge or if Ricky Stuart will chase Shaun Johnson remains to be seen, but the Raiders need their halves to step up in 2019.
The Raiders also need to get lucky with injuries, after Josh Hodgson, Jarrod Croker and Jordan Rapana all had extended stints on the sideline in the last year.
BULLDOGS
A fit and firing Kieran Foran.
The former premiership winning half has failed to live up to the big money deals he signed with the Eels and the Bulldogs, after leaving the Northern Beaches.
Foran’s 2019 campaign ended prematurely with a toe injury and he has been plagued with back problems since his early days with the Sea Eagles.
The Bulldogs unearthed a real find in young five-eighth Lachlan Lewis in 2018, but he needs the benefit of an experienced half beside him to turn the Bulldogs’ fortunes around.
At his best Foran is an international standard half, but it remains to be seen if the 28-year-old can return to the form of his early years in the NRL.
SHARKS
A replacement for Valentine Holmes.
It is not everyday you lose your club’s best player with a year still to run on his contract and the Sharks have some big shoes to fill.
Shane Flanagan has Josh Dugan and Matt Moylan, who can play fullback, but would prefer to keep them at centre and five-eighth.
He also has youngster Bronson Xerri, but it would be a big ask for the 18-year-old to replace an Origin and Test player.
The Sharks have their eye on Ben Barba and Alex Johnston, but neither are off contract next season, so the they may have to bide their time to replace their best attacking weapon.
TITANS
Ash Taylor will be 24 next season.
Ash Taylor will be 24 next season.
Source: News Corp Australia
Ash Taylor to come of age.
The Titans’ halfback has been earmarked for big things since his early days with the Brisbane Broncos, but the time has come for him to realise his potential.
Taylor will turn 24-years-old during Round 1 of the 2019 season and it is up to him to lead a promising Titans squad to the finals.
Taylor has been in the Origin conversation for the last couple of seasons, but if he is going to make the jump to representative footy, he needs consistency at club level.
Ryley Jacks may just be the perfect foil to Taylor’s brilliance, but the Titans need their halfback to dominate opposition teams week in and week out.
SEA EAGLES
A halves partner for DCE.
Manly skipper Daly Cherry-Evans has failed to recapture the form of his early years in the NRL, since longtime halves partner Kieran Foran left in 2015.
Cherry-Evans is an instinctive player, who is best served by playing what is in front of him and to do that he needs an organising half by his side.
Kane Elgey has been brought to the club to possibly fill that role and the Sea Eagles also have Lachlan Croker returning from a long injury lay-off.
Whoever gets the job at No.6 needs to consistently direct the team around the park, so that Cherry-Evans is free to roam and create opportunities for Manly’s speed men out wide.
STORM
Munster and Smith to sign and a Billy Slater replacement to step up.
It is not often at this time of year that your club’s two best players are not locked in long term, but that is the situation Melbourne face with Cameron Munster and Cameron Smith.
Munster is yet to put pen to paper on a contract extension for his deal that currently ends at the end of the 2019 season.
Smith is reportedly chasing a two year deal to finish his career in 2020, but remains unsigned for 2019 and the Storm need both players to push for a premiership next season.
They also need to fill Billy Slater’s sizeable shoes from a shortlist of Jahrome Hughes, Scott Drinkwater and Munster, which will be no mean feat.
KNIGHTS
Ponga and Pearce to fire in halves and David Klemmer.
The much hyped halves pairing of Kalyn Ponga and Mitchell Pearce is on everyone’s lips, but it remains untested over the course of a full NRL campaign.
The Knights need both playmakers to strike up a good combination, if they are to end their finals drought, which stretches back to 2014.
However before Pearce and Ponga can get their backs firing, the Knights need a world class front-rower to set the platform upfront.
The club has been heavily linked to David Klemmer, but as yet he has not signed on the dotted line and the Knights need his prized signature to become an elite team.
COWBOYS
Ben Barba is back in the NRL for the first time since 2016.
Ben Barba is back in the NRL for the first time since 2016.
Source: News Corp Australia
Michael Morgan and Ben Barba back to their best.
The Cowboys lost their best player and arguably the best player ever in Johnathan Thurston to retirement in 2018.
Michael Morgan is tipped to get first crack at Thurston’s No.7 jersey and the Cowboys need him to return to the form that saw him lead the team to the 2017 decider, when Thurston suffered a season ending shoulder injury.
Ben Barba has not been sighted in the NRL since he left to play rugby union for Toulon following a positive drug test, after the Sharks’ premiership win in 2016.
Barba is the reigning Man of Steel in the UK Super League, but at 29 it remains to be seen if he can still dominate the NRL like he used to.
EELS
Moses and Norman to get back on track.
If the Eels are to have any chance of going from wooden spooners to finals contention in 2019, they need their halves Mitchell Moses and Corey Norman to improve dramatically.
Reports suggest both halves are playing for their futures at Parramatta and they will need to hit the ground running from Round 1.
Both Norman and Moses have brilliant performances in them, but the difference between their best and worst games is too great.
If the pair can gain some consistency individually and work on their combination, the Eels will be far better placed to climb off the bottom of the ladder.
PANTHERS
A bit of luck with injuries.
Dylan Edwards, Josh Mansour, Reagan Campbell-Gillard, James Maloney and Nathan Cleary all had stints on the sidelines last year and it affected the Panthers at the back end of the year.
In what has become a bit of a worrying trend at the foot of the mountains, the Panthers have had one of the worst injury tolls in the competition over the last few seasons.
Ivan Cleary’s last stint as coach of Penrith ended, after Phil Gould thought he was burnt out following the club’s horror run of injuries in 2015 and he won’t want history to repeat.
If the Panthers can keep the majority of their top team on the park, they have the depth to push for the title next season.
RABBITOHS
Anthony Seibold could move to the Broncos in time for 2019.
Anthony Seibold could move to the Broncos in time for 2019.
Source: News Corp Australia
Coaching clarity.
Like the Broncos, the Rabbitohs are still unsure who will be their head coach in 2019.
While Bennett was guaranteed he will coach the Broncos in 2019 reports suggest a swap with Anthony Seibold in time for next season is still on, but the later it gets, the harder it will be to have each side well prepared for the 2019 campaign.
The Rabbitohs under Seibold had easily their best season since their title winning 2014 campaign, but if they are to change coaches they will need time to adapt to Bennett’s vision.
The Rabbitohs have two excellent candidates to coach them next season, but not knowing which one will be more detrimental the longer the saga drags on.
DRAGONS
An end to their mid-season wobbles.
The Dragons have been one of the best teams in the competition from rounds one to 12 in the last few seasons, but haven’t been able to maintain the rage in the back half of the year.
Paul McGregor has tried a number of tactics to end the side’s confounding late season fade-outs, but 2018 was another missed opportunity.
McGregor clearly needs to look at resting some of his stars during the representative season, to have them fresh and firing come the business end of the season.
Keeping Ben Hunt’s mind clear is another challenge, as he obviously struggles when the critics are on his back and the side is struggling.
ROOSTERS
The defending premiers curse to be lifted.
The Roosters are as well placed as any team in the last 25 years to go back-to-back, but we have said that before.
No team since the Broncos in 1993 have successfully defended their premiership title as the full effect of the salary cap has put an end to dynasty’s in rugby league.
Blake Ferguson’s defection to the Eels is undoubtedly a big a loss, but the addition of Angus Crichton arguably makes the Roosters’ pack even better than last season.
If the Roosters can just have a little luck on the injury front, they will be in with a great chance of back-to-back titles.
WARRIORS
Warriors coach Stephen Kearney.
Warriors coach Stephen Kearney.
Source: Getty Images
Consistent defence.
The Warriors showed in 2018 that when they apply themselves in defence, they can match it with the best in the competition.
Unfortunately they didn’t show that as often enough as they would have liked, with staunch defensive displays one week followed up by thrashings the next.
The Warriors made their first finals appearance since 2011, so they are on the right track, but coach Stephen Kearney needs to put an end to their defensive lapses.
If they can get their defensive game in order, the Warriors have the attacking players in Roger Tuivasa-Sheck and co to set the competition alight.
TIGERS
A consistent spine.
Not since their one and only premiership season in 2005 have the Tigers boasted a consistent spine over the course of a season.
That year Brett Hodgson, Benji Marshall, Scott Prince and Robbie Farah carried the Tigers to a memorable title.
While injury and form have intervened the Tigers still have Marshall and Farah vying for starting spots, but they need stability at fullback, five-eighth, halfback and hooker.
New coach Michael Maguire needs to pick and stick with his spine players and build their attack around reigning Dally M halfback of the year Luke Brooks.
@ said:
Wouldn't have had any by signing Napa either. Yeah Klemmer would have been nice but the Knights have been after him for a very long time and his manager has been manoeuvring this deal for a very long time. Klemmer was not on the open market and who knows what kind of kick backs were involved in getting Klemmer up there.
The_Patriot
Well-known member
@ said:
Yeah just as everyone knew who i was talking about a few posts before yours when Geo corrected my spelling of Momirovski.
Lighten up and perhaps pay attention to the other posts being posted, if so you would have got the joke.
J
joelw2002
Guest
I heard Reynolds talking about how he wouldn't mind going to the Super League because he's getting a bit older and he's more injury prone now, and how there's a good atmosphere there and how he understands how a lot of players go there to end their careers. Maybe it wouldn't be a bad idea if we released Reynolds to the Super League that way we could make way for Johnson.
hammertime
Well-known member
@ said:
It also would have given us another Isaac Moses client….
@ said:
It would make sense due to Reynolds injury problems only. Reynolds is the better fit but Johnson and Brooks would be electrifyingly inconsistent halves pairing. Super fast and off the cuff with brilliant play and complete madness mixed in. Would be entertaining but probably deliver nothing.
jirskyr
Well-known member
@ said:
I assume he means Oliver Clarke who we signed months ago.
Dogs didn't want to release Klemmer, but he forced their hand; hard to give too much credit to Newcastle when they found out Klemmer had personal issues, was despo to leave Sydney, so the backed a truck of money up to his driveway. I don't know if I'd ever be in favour of 860K per year for any prop; we had the same issue when Woods left.
Napa - personally I don't rate him. Puts on the odd good hit, very average in attack, spends a fair amount of time on the sideline. But once Dogs freed up $$$ from Klemmer, it's an easy transition for the Roosters who wanted some cap space.
Spud_Murphy
New member
@ said:
You are correct Steve! We nearly always leave chasing the true marquee players to other teams, while we set about securing players of lesser talent because they suit our purposes more or whatever. This is one of the reasons why we haven't made the finals in 8 years. Admittedly we haven't been able to afford the best players on the market in recent years, but there are no excuses now.
Balmainian
Well-known member
@ said:
I would agree here.
We have …...
Brooks
Mbye
Reynolds
Packer
Matterson
Marsters
Where’s the Marquee player?
There’s a good bunch of players in there that are taking a big bite out of the salary.
Trimming the teams wage to chase a big fish is what we need to do.......in my opinion.
I like all the players I mentioned, but to get a great player here trim one of these guys and go large.
GNR4LIFE
Well-known member
All this complaining about our recruitment. We’ve done pretty well lately with Mbye and Matterson. Some of you just want it all.
Spud_Murphy
New member
@ said:
Sadly this is true, much like Benji.
supercoach
Well-known member
@ said:
Agreed….Also Knights had to offer a five year deal to Klemmer and a ton of cash. Five year deals can kill a club
Tiger_Steve
New member
@ said:
No I don’t want it all. Would just like to support a team who doesn’t have the lowest number of finals appearances in the last 10 years
@ said:
Oh..Oliver Clark…no E
GNR4LIFE
Well-known member
@ said:
Then you should want them to manage the cap responsibly. If they are not chasing Klemmer or any other marquee player, it’s not because they would rather target a Musgrove type player cos they think he is a better player, it’s because they are being selective. They don’t want to blow cash on a player we don’t really need when 12 months down the line, a player we do need pops up. The last 2 big names we were linked to we signed (Matterson and Mbye). That tells me we are in a better position than many think to attract players, especially when Matterson chose us over the Sharks.
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