@watersider said in [Signing Suggestions & Rumours](/post/1202461) said:
I'd have Benji back easily. I don't know why there's so much dislike for him. You blame the Newcastle game on him? Give teams time and space and the halves of any defensive team will be exposed defensively, especially paired with Leiluia out wide. Benji is our most creative player and our best kicker and he's not on a big contract, what's the problem? As soon as you get someone better you can drop him, but we don't have anyone better and we SHOULD sign him again if he'd be willing. You guys need to think more pragmatically: he's a good value squad contract who also happens to be our best half, and is one of the best in the league on his day. Don't worry about the fact it's Benji, you're signing him on backup money.
You are entitled to your opinion but I disagree with everything you said, he got dropped for his issues, he came back after supposedly fixing them and he is worse than ever, we played our best footy when he was watching from the stands.
Benji has never been a backup, look at todays team as a prime example, he should have been first dropped, he is always first picked, he is cooked, and he will be 36 next year and even worse,
Madden is signed and can do the job on bugger all money as well.
We need the roster spot, are you happy missing the 8 every year, because that is what he brings, and that is what we get
The idea that we need to get rid of Benji in order to play Madden is strange, we can have both (and do right now). But the solution to play Madden is fantasy. It's a weird assertion to think that a guy who has never played first grade is who we depend on next year. How much footy have you watched? the step up to first grade is always huge and you don't really know how a player will pan out. Maybe he'd be good, maybe not. Having Benji or not wouldn't impact that.
I don't think we played good footy when he wasn't there. Reynolds isn't better than him and I think it's crazy to suggest that.
Reynolds is the contract we need to get rid of. Both he and Mbye are on way too much. They're alright players, but they are being played like superstars.
Benji is one of our best player and he's on a small contract, he's not the problem.
You guys want a scapegoat for last week and benji didn't play well but I don't think that has anything to do with whether or not we offer another reasonable contract for a quality player.
Benji's proven in the past at Brisbane and this year that he can be a very positive squad member, he doesn't demand to start. I think, at the very least, he's a useful player to have in the squad; at his best he's our best player and a match winner.
Who is our alternative?
I've said the same before and I would add Lawrence into this bucket.
People forget that the squad extends beyond 1-17...you need some depth, not just promising juniors.
Benji is on $175K
Lawrence is on $100K
Even if they sat the entire season in the 18 and 19 jerseys, it would be NRL quality depth and huge experience covering positions that are hard to cover (Halves + Centre). These guys combined are on less than McQueens total contract ($400K)!
Further, we need to get through 1 more year before some big contracts expire. Having NRL quality depth on low contracts allows us to balance our squad in other areas.
We just need to get through 1 more year with these guys...no one is saying they should be starters.
No, no, no, no, no, no, no.
Our squad needs a massive clean out, in terms of both skills and culture. We need speed and power, and we have limited squad positions to recuit these new players. We can't waste precious squad positions on placeholders. We need strike. And we need winners. Players who rise to the challenge of their rivals. The kind who stalk their prey in the night.
Look at the Roosters. Most of the cap on stars that win you games and young backup players that would be starters for us. Tupounioa, Faamusili, Butcher etc. Would you rather Tupouinoa or Lawrence on our bench? I know who i'd prefer, and they're both getting the same money.
These discussions are futile because the main point is missed.
We have LIMITED cap space. Guys like Lawrence serve 2 purposes:
1. To offer squad depth
2. To give as much playing value as possible for the salary we pay them (if we need them).
3.
Yes...Lawrence takes up a roster spot, but you can't just replace Lawrence with a Tupouinoa. Their salaries are totally different and is he available?
The point is...someone needs to be paid low salaries to lighten the load on the rest of the cap.
I actually agree with you though...if such a thing is a realistic possibility...but I don't think there's enough talent in the NRL to have a squad of 30 guys that fit that description and not exceed the cap.
Benji and Lawrence aren't the issue.
It's Mbye, Reynolds, Packer, Mcqueen, E Taylor taking up a huge chuck of cap space.
This whole post is spot on. Until we fix the cap we are going to struggle to upgrade our roster unless it's developing juniors.
Benji and Lawrence going another couple of years isn't the problem because they are depth and back-up players which you need. I hope Benji retires because I don't want to see another effort like last week.
We need to though focus on signing top quality players on top dollar contracts.
