4 spots to fill .. updated ?

[Mataiforever]

Angus Crichton? The Angus Crichton? Now way we will get someone like that hahaha dont give me a half mast for nothing mate

Agreed, big if. But if we could afford someone of that calibre, with a lot of outgoing players, would be awesome.

He will go to union for the World Cup post chooks.

 

[Bring back the.... Biff?]

Agreed, big if. But if we could afford someone of that calibre, with a lot of outgoing players, would be awesome.

He will go to union for the World Cup post chooks.

Haha that would be such an awesome signing. Imo he is one of the best backrowers going round. Either him or Tupouniua would be a great steal from the rorters. Alas they will most likely keep both.... did somebody say kfc?

 

[Bring back the.... Biff?]

I think he was the guy in Jaws

Correct!

 

[Ron E. Gibbs]

Agree with the other smart blokes in this thread: can we just get a ****ing hooker, please? Even if - and it's a HUGE if - Manase is able to play, we still need a decent backup. "Depth" is not just about having players who might be able to fill in by playing in a position they've never played before should the occasion arise. It's about having quality backup players in specialist positions.

 

[jamesie]

Agree with the other smart blokes in this thread: can we just get a ****ing hooker, please? Even if - and it's a HUGE if - Manase is able to play, we still need a decent backup. "Depth" is not just about having players who might be able to fill in by playing in a position they've never played before should the occasion arise. It's about having quality backup players in specialist positions.

About the smartest thing I have read on here for a while

 

[EOL now nesting on the GC]

So has young hoppa gone for sure? Seems very quiet....

 

[Peter C]

I read Roosters are thinking of shopping Crichton so they can fit suaali in. He'd be a good get. Perfect replacement for Thommo

Trouble is, Crichton is on double the money that Thommo was on, and I doubt that the Roosters would want to contribute much, if any.

 

[Woodsie]

We went after hetherington so that to me suggests we are or were in the market. Maybe the hetherington move had something to do with Boyle. I heard he was off to the dogs... now seems hes staying. Iv never been a fan of sipley. Too slow and no impact imho.. i hope we are looking at someone else or look to bring in young fainu

Zac Saddler the other missing man may be the hope of the side ..

 

[The Wheel]

So has young hoppa gone for sure? Seems very quiet....

He has been offered a contract which was knocked back - the gist I get is he won’t be offered another one by us.

 

[Smokin Joe]

For prop ... I see we still have Sipley and Boyle ... so don't know if we are getting another

We have Marty,Paseka,Boyle,Keppie,Sipley,Titmuss,Fainu,Saddler,Tuitavake with Jake and Olakau'atu who can play there,I have no idea why people think we need to splash money on another prop,we need another prop like we need another centre....

 

[Peter C]

He has been offered a contract which was knocked back - the gist I get is he won’t be offered another one by us.

He obviously didn't take into consideration the time that he was been paid by us but didn't play due to injury, even though it may have been a development contract.
The Hopoates are tarred with the same brush, chasing the early big payout

 

[Smokin Joe]

Exactly.
Hooker is the missing link for us in 2021 and I hope the club has a back up for Fainu who looks set to spend most of the year on the sidelines.

I would like us to get another half and another hooker,I think we are ok elsewhere if we are getting Saab as mentioned.
ZDC and Phythian from within would suit me,but if the club is aiming higher then so be it....

 

[SeaEagleRock8]

He has been offered a contract which was knocked back - the gist I get is he won’t be offered another one by us.

I'm not disappointed, if that's true. Before seeing him play I imagined a vastly different player to what he showed. I don't blame him for chasing money but I'm pleased we aren't going to be throwing it willy nilly.

Letting AFB walk, and signing guys like Foran and Davey, has a real Moneyball feel to it. Which is filling me with some hope for a strong resurgence.

As for Hoppa, he'll get a run somewhere. Maybe Storm could afford to take him on as a development project and wait to see if he comes good.

 

[KNUCKLES]

Im sure grant wouldn't be on our radar due to manase but surely we would be of interest for him. Playing 9 at club level amd having the combination with the qld captain and halfback would do wonders with SOO selections in the future. Woukd be good for QLD and manly

 

[Mark from Brisbane]

He has been offered a contract which was knocked back - the gist I get is he won’t be offered another one by us.

Which may be a blessing in disguise or a massive **** up, let’s revisit that in a few years!!

PS: I don’t blame the club I’d do the same

 

[Mark from Brisbane]

With Cust and Croker still on the books, Foz and Walker able to cover there and DCE and Schuster most likely the 2 starters don’t you think that would be enough?

You probably know more than most Smokin but if ZDC and Pythian were highly thought of I would have thought their appearances would have happened in 2020.

We really need a strong 9 to lay the platform for our pack or we will be behind the 8 ball like we were much of 2020 with no Fainu. Levi highlighted how critical of a role it is and if ZDC and Pythian are the answer, we are in big big trouble.

The club should be perusing every single 9 option in the comp to look for fresh blood from elsewhere or a proven 9 with good vision to ensure our packs momentum.

Croker is BWSE at best , should never be seen in first grade again!!

 

[BOZO]

Who the hell is Schneider?

I have no idea feathered friend
Foran will be our hooker and he has the skill to excel

 

[Woodsie]

Problem I see with a hooker is ... if he is good enough to satisfy Silvertails, then he will want to be the main man starting hooker elsewhere on big dollars . not here as a back-up eg The Cheese

if he is a depth signing like Levi ... then we will just bag the shiite out of him for not being as good as Fainu ..

 

[BOZO]

Which may be a blessing in disguise or a massive **** up, let’s revisit that in a few years!!

PS: I don’t blame the club I’d do the same

From what we have seen of him it is a blessing .

 

[Smokin Joe]

With Cust and Croker still on the books, Foz and Walker able to cover there and DCE and Schuster most likely the 2 starters don’t you think that would be enough?

You probably know more than most Smokin but if ZDC and Pythian were highly thought of I would have thought their appearances would have happened in 2020.

We really need a strong 9 to lay the platform for our pack or we will be behind the 8 ball like we were much of 2020 with no Fainu. Levi highlighted how critical of a role it is and if ZDC and Pythian are the answer, we are in big big trouble.

The club should be perusing every single 9 option in the comp to look for fresh blood from elsewhere or a proven 9 with good vision to ensure our packs momentum.

I have no faith in Croker or Walker,Foran is a gamble(injury wise) and I think a guy who can provide some direction at half is needed as a back up.
I would take Phythian,Marshall,Tyrone Roberts on a one year contract to be backups.Phythian I believe is held in some regard by Des,but no CC meant he had no chance to show it.
In regards to them not appearing this year,the 35 man squad was already signed and with only one spot available Des chose to promote Fainu into the squad for his own reasons(he also signed Harper to replace Smith).We all know that Des likes a player to prove himself first.
I honestly don't have a lot of faith in Des' ability to spot talent in a dummy half,he has lucked onto having Fainu and to his credit he seems to realize it,I believe ZDC is suited to the new rule changes,he is a dummy half but has the vision and creativity of a half,he is also a leader and has real skill level in regards to his kicking and passing and he is at least as good a defender as Cam Smith....
Unless we are prepared to fork out good money on someone,we have to be realistic about what we can get,anyone coming here knows that the club views Fainu as the future and is not really going to be here long term,so veterans who are past it or unwanted guys looking to prove themselves are really our only options,(apart from a trade etc...with an experienced guy on the last year of his contract looking for another payday for the future.)