Signings, Suggestions & Rumours Discussion

[earl]

JAC will be a good signing, but far from a game changer.

Agreed, but his status and professionalism will rub off on the young players. The young guys will watch in the dressing sheds as he prepares himself. Being a hard trainer, there will be no short cuts. This is very important for our young players.

Finally, having genuine pace hopefully on both wings will revert our playing style to the open attacking style we are known for in RL.

Who are these attacking players to create space for those speedy wingers?

Really?

I thought our forwards need to provide the platform for the halves to operate?

But in any case, we have Brooks, Madden, Momerovski, Talau, Kei, Kepaoa who are all very capable and. We will read more about. Mbye can do it as well when he wants it. I am sure more buys are on the way.

and 4 weeks ago everyone was happy with our forwards? We need to do much more than sign 2 wingers. We need at least a quality half and fullback in the backs

Here's my theory; Twal is carrying a significant injury. I believe others may have significant injuries as well. But we have Stefano joining us and Blore, both are very highly credentialed junior rep players. Bunty Afoa may join us from the Warriors. I believe he will be good for us.

We lack genuine pace in the backline. A strong centre is fine (as the Storm have shown with Olam) but the centres need to be paired with fast wingers. JAC and Saab are the players we need to finsih on breaks made anywhere on the field.

As I said we need a half and a fullback to create those breaks, we have so many centres it is not funny.

Well, totally disagree with you and a few others that we need a FB.

In my estimation we have a FB and one that will be a very good FB.

We need a winger, centre, 5/8 or half - from somewhere else or from the younger guys.

Those places are much easier to fill than for a FB (one better than AD is going to be).

There are none available to my knowledge. Maybe you have one up your sleeve Cochise.

Agreed Russell. Doueihi is very good now, Imagine him with a few games experience.

We have to give him some more time. He is already starting to look very good.

 

[ElleryHanley]

JAC, if signed, may well define our next few seasons. He will obviously be on big $$$ if he comes / fullback money.

1. JAC and AD at 6.

We will need both those positional changes to work, and do so at elite level.

Very big gamble.

Yes...huge.

Unlike the Josh Reynolds and Packer signings though, JAC and AD are both young and still hungry. Not injury plagued. And unlike Mbye, they are both highly motivated types of players.

 

[WT2K]

Souths will find someone to medically retire then they’ll take JAC on a trip to Russell Crowe’s farm and he’ll sign for half his worth

Ethan Lowe this season's candidate

 

[TT 01]

I’m struggling to understand the BJ Leilua signing. I’ve given it time hoping he finds his feet but he doesn’t align with the coaching style of Madge - erratic and doesn’t play for the 80. One of the best things he did at the Raiders was dummy half runs and he doesn’t even do them anymore. A few more years with him just extends our pain. Super League please come calling

 

[tony soprano]

JAC will be a good signing, but far from a game changer.

Agreed, but his status and professionalism will rub off on the young players. The young guys will watch in the dressing sheds as he prepares himself. Being a hard trainer, there will be no short cuts. This is very important for our young players.

Finally, having genuine pace hopefully on both wings will revert our playing style to the open attacking style we are known for in RL.

Who are these attacking players to create space for those speedy wingers?

Luciano creates space. Talau might slot into the left centre spot. AD is starting to look very good.

Talau too slow for centre

Talau imo is faster than Jacob Olam. He can be just as effective for us.

Do not agree

 

[cochise]

We really need a
Fullback
Half
Prop and
winger

I'd be looking at what he have coming through, then looking at what is available coming off contract over the next 2 years. Draw up a list and budget and aggressively chase those players that match our above needs. In November we can sign players for 2022, we need to be more strategic in our pursuit of player and much less reactionary.

That sounds so simple and is in reality much harder but we have to be planned and aggressive.

 

[tony soprano]

JAC, if signed, may well define our next few seasons. He will obviously be on big $$$ if he comes / fullback money.

1. JAC and AD at 6.

We will need both those positional changes to work, and do so at elite level.

And sezer at 7

Need to let brooks go

 

[TieDye]

JAC, if signed, may well define our next few seasons. He will obviously be on big $$$ if he comes / fullback money.

1. JAC and AD at 6.

We will need both those positional changes to work, and do so at elite level.

And sezer at 7

Need to let brooks go

NO to Sezer, need somebody who compliments Brooks... Hastings?

 

[Russell]

Assuming Utoikamanu is as good as advertised and Blore comes back into the picture, our pack is honestly ok. It's still a very young pack; Garner is actually the oldest and he isn't even 25 yet. I really like Hetherington and I think he'd be a good buy, but he wouldn't be essential. Apart from Garner I don't think there's too much upgrading which needs to be done.

Our backline if we get Addo-Carr and play him on the wing is fine too. No need to move Doueihi from FB.
To me it's just the halves that need to be fixed. We need two new ones.

1. Doueihi
2. Nofoaluma
3. Leilua
4. Talau
5. Addo-Carr
6.
7.
8. Aloiai
9. Liddle
10. Musgrove
11. Garner
12. Leilua
13. Twal

14. Mikaele
15. Utoikamanu
16. Blore
17. Mbye/McINtyre

Two decent halves and that's a top 8 side. Two crap halves and it's a bottom 8 side.

Bevan French has been playing in the halves a bit for Wigan. Was never a big fan of French, but he looks pretty good as a 5/8.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IlIwM4aUMnI

Nuffie.

 

[hobbo1]

Assuming Utoikamanu is as good as advertised and Blore comes back into the picture, our pack is honestly ok. It's still a very young pack; Garner is actually the oldest and he isn't even 25 yet. I really like Hetherington and I think he'd be a good buy, but he wouldn't be essential. Apart from Garner I don't think there's too much upgrading which needs to be done.

Our backline if we get Addo-Carr and play him on the wing is fine too. No need to move Doueihi from FB.
To me it's just the halves that need to be fixed. We need two new ones.

1. Doueihi
2. Nofoaluma
3. Leilua
4. Talau
5. Addo-Carr
6.
7.
8. Aloiai
9. Liddle
10. Musgrove
11. Garner
12. Leilua
13. Twal

14. Mikaele
15. Utoikamanu
16. Blore
17. Mbye/McINtyre

Two decent halves and that's a top 8 side. Two crap halves and it's a bottom 8 side.

Bevan French has been playing in the halves a bit for Wigan. Was never a big fan of French, but he looks pretty good as a 5/8.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IlIwM4aUMnI

Nuffie.

Mega nuffie

 

[tony soprano]

JAC, if signed, may well define our next few seasons. He will obviously be on big $$$ if he comes / fullback money.

1. JAC and AD at 6.

We will need both those positional changes to work, and do so at elite level.

And sezer at 7

Need to let brooks go

NO to Sezer, need somebody who compliments Brooks... Hastings?

No such person exists brooks is average

 

[JC99]

JAC is dreaming if he’s expecting fullback money. Earn the position and the money it’s not like he has many options, madge is big on players earning their spot too.

 

[tigerballs]

JAC will be a good signing, but far from a game changer.

Agreed, but his status and professionalism will rub off on the young players. The young guys will watch in the dressing sheds as he prepares himself. Being a hard trainer, there will be no short cuts. This is very important for our young players.

Finally, having genuine pace hopefully on both wings will revert our playing style to the open attacking style we are known for in RL.

Who are these attacking players to create space for those speedy wingers?

Really?

I thought our forwards need to provide the platform for the halves to operate?

But in any case, we have Brooks, Madden, Momerovski, Talau, Kei, Kepaoa who are all very capable and. We will read more about. Mbye can do it as well when he wants it. I am sure more buys are on the way.

and 4 weeks ago everyone was happy with our forwards? We need to do much more than sign 2 wingers. We need at least a quality half and fullback in the backs

Here's my theory; Twal is carrying a significant injury. I believe others may have significant injuries as well. But we have Stefano joining us and Blore, both are very highly credentialed junior rep players. Bunty Afoa may join us from the Warriors. I believe he will be good for us.

We lack genuine pace in the backline. A strong centre is fine (as the Storm have shown with Olam) but the centres need to be paired with fast wingers. JAC and Saab are the players we need to finsih on breaks made anywhere on the field.

As I said we need a half and a fullback to create those breaks, we have so many centres it is not funny.

Doueihi is a fine fullback. He played well last night injured. Imagine him. fit.

Reece Walsh is the fullback we should be, if we haven't already targeted.

As for halves, you want to buy Foran at 30. odd? Not much out there so I prefer Madden. We have good quality young halves.

Doueihi is a safe fullback, that is his biggest asset, he doesn't make mistakes. H e has an ok but inconsistent passing game and his running style makes him difficult to run off. Wehn he goes to the line he uses the good footwork he has to beat tackles, bu that footwork makes it difficult to time running off him.

He's had a handful of games at the back. I believe you are being very harsh.

Not being harsh at all, I think he is an excellent footballer, just believe he is a much better centre than fullback.

Ok - we agree to disagree.

However I would like you to answer my question of AD's replacement at FB.

That's the issue we have isn't it, that's why we need to have a better plan moving forward instead of being so reactionary. At this point in time I don't think there is a better option, but half the forum is talking of moving AD to 5/8th

Unless you have a better FB than AD - it is useless to talk about moving him anywhere (I wouldn't anyway).

However I do think after a full pre-season with us (his first), overcoming any injury niggles he may have I think he will improve immensely. Might add he would go even better with the other three players in the spine being stable would help him running off them (every week it's just about different).

My first thoughts were AD was a centre and going to be a very good one, but I think he is on the improve every week and starting to look more and more like a genuine fullback. And a very good one at that.I know there's talk of a few backs from Penrith but with a new pair of halves I think AD is potentially a fullback long term.

 

[boonboon]

I would be focusing on Ado-Carr, Hastings into our backline be it wing or centre. If we can't then get Stains and Burton across from Penrith

Moving on Reynolds, Retiring Benji

Mbye either 14 or gone. I think he would be a great 14 and a great back up back who can play literally anywhere when we get injuries both in game and in season.

In the forwards we bring in Afoa as our 6th prop in the squad.

Then we need more backrow talent to fill that right side spot and that is where I'm struggling. We need someone with great defence as a priority and pron an experienced player given we are loosing Lawrence, ET, mcQueen from the backrow and Benji and Reynolds in the backs .

A variety of options at existing clubs - Procter and TPJ being the best for mine

 

[the_third]

I’m struggling to understand the BJ Leilua signing. I’ve given it time hoping he finds his feet but he doesn’t align with the coaching style of Madge - erratic and doesn’t play for the 80. One of the best things he did at the Raiders was dummy half runs and he doesn’t even do them anymore. A few more years with him just extends our pain. Super League please come calling

We literally never pass him the ball. Outside his dummy half runs yesterday, he got the ball 3-4 times and had an offload almost each time.

Pretty hard to do anything if brooks does a dud run, passes to garner or does a dud kick.

 

[pawsandclaws1]

JAC, if signed, may well define our next few seasons. He will obviously be on big $$$ if he comes / fullback money.

1. JAC and AD at 6.

We will need both those positional changes to work, and do so at elite level.

And sezer at 7

Need to let brooks go

Sezer has failed at so many clubs. He is in ESL for a reason is he is not that good

 

[Aceshigh]

U probs right about Sezer, however we need an upgrade of what we have

 

[JC99]

U probs right about Sezer, however we need an upgrade of what we have

My 95 year old grandpa is a better option than Benji and brooks at the moment

 

[pawsandclaws1]

U probs right about Sezer, however we need an upgrade of what we have

He's a massive downgrade as is Hastings. NMN

 

[Aceshigh]

Nothing can be a down grade from what we have