One has to go ... who ?

[LeonardCohen]

I got your point but I think you may have missed mine. By your logic then the club has issues with the 13 players NOT picked EACH WEEK for 1st grade. I don't think that is the case and I don't think that is an issue.

Hmm no, that’s not my logic at all.

The 13 players that typically miss out are not of the calibre of Hoppa, Garrick, Koula, Talau, and Saab, which is ironically the reason for the conundrum we are discussing, i.e, they’re too good to miss out. You’re comparing apples and oranges…for example, a guy like Atasi James is not yet established, so clearly he is not in a position to leverage much when he misses out…clubs aren’t banging down the door with offers for a starting role and a lucrative deal…you can bet the odd man out in our backline will get an offer though.

 

[madmax]

Good to see you back on here @Woodsie. Yes it's a valid question raised. There are actually two issues here. One is real and the other one I suspect is not. One real issue is financial. Where do the dollars come from for the inevitable and looming upgrades required for Lehi and for Tommy Talau? The other issue raised which I don't think is an issue at all, is having that extra back and potentially who to drop. Now I don't profess to have the right answers here but certainly in regards to the financial issue I would be looking at the level of our current cap investment in not only our "Big 3" elite players but also the recent contract values assigned to a couple of our big lumbering middle forwards. Between these 5 guys there is about $4m -$4.5m tied up that I think should be closer to $3m. Yes all these guys have contracts so not sure how to navigate through these waters, but that is where I think we fix the financial side of the problem. Not surprisingly this is all about cap management and as boring as that subject is, that is where we find the extra dollars for both Lehi and TT. The other supposed issue of having 8 players for 7 positions, I don't regard as an issue. As Seibold has mentioned on numerous occasions now, we want strong competition for positions. That means we must have extra players to compete for the same position. So I would not be dropping anybody just yet. If that is not acceptable to any player then they know what to do and ask for a release. But that applies to virtually all the players so no issue there.

Re-balancing our cap is our single biggest requirement and with given contracts, that's a tough fix in the short term. We fix that and we fix a myriad of other collateral issues.

Agree mate…..our salary cap is at the mercy of the Trbojevics! Trbo is worth every cent when not injured, however he hasn’t given us value for money. Jrbo was never & is not worth the $950k he’s supposedly on. He’s our highest paid forward. For mine Jrbo is $300k overpaid. Brbo for mine is average. Not sure what his salary is but at least $550k! Everyone seems to blame our supposed salary cap struggles are due to DCE’s salary. Many on here were bitching about our backline for years. Parker, Harper etc. Too slow blah blah blah…..now we have 6 great players fighting it out for 5 spots & now want to get rid of Garrick or Koula or Saab…..& when it bites us on the arse again, then the same ones will bitch again. Why did we let them go blah blah blah. We probably have the best backline in the comp. I hate to say it or think it but If anyone should go then for mine it’s the Trbojevics. One injury prone, one overpaid, one average.
Hoppa
Saab
Garrick / Talau
Koula
Talau / Garrick
Brooks
DCE
Paseka
Simpkin
Aloiai
Olakau’atu
Patolo
Navale
Res: GKCT, Brown, Sipley, Taukei’ahu

 

[madmax]

For me, the issue here is that there are 4 players—Turbo, Lehi, Garrick, and Koula — that are capable of playing fullback.

And all will be paid close to their value in that premier position. From memory Garrick is on 600k and Koula around 700k.

And as you know only one can play there..i guess this siutation is primarily a result of the Tom injuries and the emergence of Lehi.

The Storm or Penrith would find a way to move one on one of these guys and play a cheap guy like Clayton F on the wing.

That sort of money left over would get us a class forward which we badly need.

As would the $300k that Jrbo is overpaid & the $500k Brbo is paid!

 

[silvereagle]

…you can bet the odd man out in our backline will get an offer though.

I agree with you on this point. However that is a fact of NRL life and is the cost of having high quality guys in the remaining 13.... to seriously compete against the 17 selected. I wish we had more Tommy Talaus in the 13.....not less. I would like to have more of what you see as an issue!!!

 

[Stewbojevic]

As would the $300k that Jrbo is overpaid & the $500k Brbo is paid!

Sorry but surely Burbo is not on anywhere near $500k. He’d be closer to minimum wage.

 

[manly al]

Could be interesting after Nov i st next year when both Rueben and Lehi on their current contract arrangements will be able to field offers from other clubs .
Not sure if there are any goal kickers presently on the books to equal or surpass Rueben 's strike rate so that could be a factor in retaining him and naturally with Lehi 's expected higher ceiling to come , a priority re signing if ever there was one for the club .
Saab and Koula not going anywhere and anytime soon , just not a clear indication yet with T T 2 "s longer term tenure at Manly .
Anyway shouldn't be a concerning matter for next season but beyond that , could be a different matter unless Talau with the scenario of maybe a bit more versatility to transition away from a backline role .
Also the possibility of D C E not going around again in 26 but hardly think or would anticipate the likelihood of Turbo moving to a 6 role would eventuate and to change the equation again in the outside back ";s situation

 

[Tragic Eagle]

Garrick back to wing. Turbo to Centre. Lehi full back and Talau to 13 plus Jake back into the front row. Simples!

 

[frank stokes]

Garrick back to wing. Turbo to Centre. Lehi full back and Talau to 13 plus Jake back into the front row. Simples!

Not sure if Turbo is best left at FB for defensive purposes and his ability to read/direct the attack and Talau would find 13 a LOT more physical than wing/centre... but I would be open to seeing this scenario given a go (certainly before we start talking about Tom as a 6 - at least we KNOW he can play centre and play it bloody well)

 

[manly al]

Garrick back to wing. Turbo to Centre. Lehi full back and Talau to 13 plus Jake back into the front row. Simples!

Don't think that will happen in the backline in the short term but could well be the case not too far down the track.
Lehi goes better or can offer more at full back than wing, Turbo, no problems at centre but again would expect him to be 1st choice full back in the short term.
Question would be whether Garrick's overall defence in the centres could improve anytime soon.
Should be a no brainer for Jake to revert to prop on a permanent basis, not sure how Navale is going to shape up as a possible 13 but think the time has definitely come to at least give Talau a go there

 

[Rocky]

As would the $300k that Jrbo is overpaid & the $500k Brbo is

Those are separate issues to what this thread is about - but yes Jake is probably around 300k overpaid.

That Burbo number looks way wrong though.

 

[Brookie Bob]

This guy was a centre remember (and Talau is a clone):

View attachment 28882

Apparently his Greek cousin Dene Halitosis was a great player too - but no-one wanted him on the team. Never gets mentioned in the same breath as Halatau, for some reason.............

 

[Brookie Bob]

This guy was a centre remember (and Talau is a clone):

View attachment 28882

Apparently his Greek cousin Dene Halitosis was a great player too - but no-one wanted him on the team. Never gets mentioned in the same breath as Halatau, for some reason.............

What the Dickens!

You're right - I think I read about the good times / bad times thing in that great book book by Charles Dickens called, 'A Tale of Cities'.

Or was it in the companion volume by Benny Hill called, 'A Sale of Two...ummm - uh...I forgot'.

I'll see myself out.

 

[Stuey Davis’s Socks]

Apparently his Greek cousin Dene Halitosis was a great player too - but no-one wanted him on the team. Never gets mentioned in the same breath as Halatau, for some reason.............

Hey Bob I rated this “informative” as we seem to have lost the “clever” emoji 😩

Your post was NOT a breath of fresh air.

 

[globaleagle]

Hey Bob I rated this “informative” as we seem to have lost the “clever” emoji 😩

Your post was NOT a breath of fresh air.

The clever reaction is there, just to the right of the 'red' angry one.

The mortarboard 'cap'

 

[Bloke on the hill]

I feel that Turbo's 'reading the moment & positional talking' that assists team mates from the fullback position, would be diminished if moved to centre.
Here's hoping he gets more fit & healthy on-field time in 2025!

 

[philasophigas]

Garrick back to wing. Turbo to Centre. Lehi full back and Talau to 13 plus Jake back into the front row. Simples!

I'd like to see Talau on the edge. But in general this seems the obvious move.

 

[Budgie]

I'm a bit surprised that in five pages of discussion, not one of you footy heads have discussed backline combinations.

Surely in a thread about an excess backline player (of just one in a 26 game season, but ok) you'd want to look not only at their attributes and abilities but also who passes which way, who is best to receive an offload from which backrower on which side of the field, who forms the best defensive combination with who, which centre is more likely to deliver the best pass to put which winger away, etc.?

I'm kinda disappointed in the level of informative discussion here. Do better!

Meanwhile, as a non footy head, a mere fan if you like, Tommy has to be at fullback for his truly elite vision in both attack and defence. No argument.

And, Reuben Garrick is HOPELESS in defence at centre.

 

[Woodsie]

I'm a bit surprised that in five pages of discussion, not one of you footy heads have discussed backline combinations.

Surely in a thread about an excess backline player (of just one in a 26 game season, but ok) you'd want to look not only at their attributes and abilities but also who passes which way, who is best to receive an offload from which backrower on which side of the field, who forms the best defensive combination with who, which centre is more likely to deliver the best pass to put which winger away, etc.?

I'm kinda disappointed in the level of informative discussion here. Do better!

Meanwhile, as a non footy head, a mere fan if you like, Tommy has to be at fullback for his truly elite vision in both attack and defence. No argument.

And, Reuben Garrick is HOPELESS in defence at centre.

Pleeeeese Budgie .... do you really want the return of technical coach?

 

[Budgie]

Pleeeeese Budgie .... do you really want the return of technical coach?

I'm sorry Woodsie. I should have said enlightened and intelligent discussion.

My bad.

 

[jbb/james]

with tom being appointed captain in 25 fullback is where he should be

Hopefully as captian and some body more confidenece, game time or whatever Tom can get back to ownership of team and result. we are best when he is angry and telling every mother what to do

a bit of desparation, particularly in defence seemed to be missing in 24 and it appeared almost a tad laxadaziical at times which is just not TOM T

i appreciate he main focus would have been to put games back to back but i imagine his ticker and attitude may go hand in hand with the ( C )