The 'big' signing that actually worked??

TIGERS

TIGERS

Well-known member
Lot's of talk these days of big 10 year contracts etc and a ''shortage of halves''

After living through a decade of Luke Brooks, I find the merit of 'the big massive long term contract' a bit dubious. Manly were never really the same after DCE got his big money contract and stayed on an extra decade. I feel like younger halves always play better at smaller clubs when they are in the shop window, not when they are married to a club on a big juicy deal.

My question here is. Do you have a pick for the "Marquee Signing' that actually did what it said on the tin and delivered a premiership for a club? And been the main individual to delver it. I'm tempted to say James Tedesco, but he was obviously playing with Cooper Cronk and a stacked Roosters side when he won his titles, and maybe perhaps Brad Fittler's move Roosters also. Asides from that, is there really anything else that wasn't a local junior or a crafty veteran picked up at the end of their career?
 
You could have the best HB going ,if its trash around him it just wont happen . Marquee signings that actually jump ship are few n far between . Glenn Lazarus turned all to gold. Mahony
 
Whilst we are going back in history a tad, Manly's signing of John O'Neill from the Rabbits delivered their first 2 premierships. Manly up until then had never won a premiership. 'Lurch' had formed a fearsome front row partnership with captain John Sattler at Souths. O'Neill played in 5 grand finals for Souths between 1967-1971 winning all of them....except for 1 (unfortunate)!
In later days, I was extremely fortunate to meet up on a daily basis with a former NRL administrator in Ken Arthurson. Ken and I would catch up in the morning and we would walk our dogs around Collaroy Plateau. This was during the Super League war so I never tried to broach the subject of Rugby League with Ken and Ken rarely mentioned it to me. It was like a walking escape at the time. Ken however did say to me that in his eyes the signing of John O'Neill from Souths was the key element in Manly's first premiership. Of course he hailed Bozo as their greatest ever player. To this day I would still regard Ken as one of the real gentleman that I have had the pleasure of meeting.
 
Demps said:
Cooper Cronk & SBW to the Roosters ?
Click to expand...

Well, I wouldn't say they were big long term signings. They were together for 2 seasons towards the end of their careers, won everything and then jacked it in. Not on the 'Monster 8 - 10 year mega deal' that seems to be in vogue in the player market. I can't believe the Knights have given Dylan Brown what they have. Biggest misallocation of funds since Luke Brooks in 2018.

I'd say that's why you'll see a clamour for DCE that's equal or even greater to the one for him a decade ago. A half that can offer more (short term) consistency in their kicks and how they position the team around the paddock is more valuable than moments of brilliance or raw talent. Same with Adam Reynolds at the Broncos. Chips, dummies etc its all a thing of the past really.

It's becoming very similar to Soccer where the team with the best 'Pivot' dominates a match ( pivot = player who sits in front of defence, Rodri, Kroos, Modric Pirlo,), instead of the old days when the team with the best 10 (flair player) won matches (Maradona, Zindane, etc). --messi at the last world cup is an exception because he is the absolute goat. -2014 final a better example of what im describing. Players that master that pivot role are hard to find and tend to play deep into their 30s for big clubs as well.

I'd say that's why Benji is smarter than Bob Fulton. Fulton wanted Jack Cogger over Aidan Sezer and went to war over it. but I think Benji made the smarter choice in the shorter term.
 
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