Official THE RUMOUR MILL - Player Signings/Transfers ONLY!!!!

bort

bort

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I’m with you, I think the previous price tag and some serious quiet games earlier on with titans have Fifita overly criticised now.
 
RivShark

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Proud Shark said:
See I think it's in practice too. I know stats don't tell the whole story, but let's look at a comparison. I'm choosing Ola as he's pretty widely accepted as one of the better/damaging second rowers

Fifita
YearTriesTry AssistsLinebreaksLinebreak AssistsOffloadsTackle busts
2021 (22)17222144156
2022 (18)73953073
2023 (22)810101141107
2024 (6)21141331

Olakau'atu

YearTriesTry AssistsLinebreaksLinebreak AssistsOffloadsTackle busts
2021 (21)83621465
2022 (21)1001039100
2023 (24)105881486
2024 (8)3243839

In 2021, it was the last time the Titans were a semi-competent team with a decent/good halves pairing (Fogarty and Taylor). They finished 8th and his stat line was ridiculous. Manly finished 4th that year, but it's hard to compare Ola as he hadn't really broken out I don't think.

Since then, the Titans have finished 13th, and 14th and are going pretty poorly this year. Their halves have been a broken foran and garbage at 7 for the last few years. Even throughout that, Fifita has managed to output as much as one of the better second rowers playing outside one of the best halves in the comp who LOVES to use his second rower.

Ola just re-signed on an 8-year deal for about 900k a season. Would anyone describe him as inconsistent? We're talking about signing a guy on a 3-4 year deal, for the same money or less, who puts out the same value stat-wise in a bad year.

I truly think Fifita has been mislabled due to his price tag. Has he ever been worth 1.2-1.3 million, or whatever he was on? Absolutely not. But I don't think that means he still can't have been the best player in his position over that time.

Again, none of this is to say that the sharks should sign him because there are so many other factors that go into that. But when his output as an 'inconsistent' player is better or the same as the guns in his position, you best believe he's going to tear it up in a good side.

I also think you could probably describe the entire TItans side over the best part of a decade as inconsistent (bar Tino). That doesn't mean good players haven't been through there.
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The tackle busts are impressive but jesus, the off loads.

Here's the reality of it, Panthers or Roosters will sign this bloke. The most likely at this stage appears to be the Panthers.

So a club that's won 3 in a row and is every chance for 4, are going to add more second phase play to their game. This is a team that already makes the most yardage out of their own end through their backs.

Every club should be looking at how they can squeeze Fifita in their roster, just to avoid him ending up at Panthers. Because if he does sign with Panthers every other club is going to be up against it for the next 3 years.

Panthers are going to be a genuine chance of making it 7 in a row. It just sounds so ridiculous that could even be possible in today's game. But that's how dangerous this team is going to be.
 
Proud Shark

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Gumby said:
Dragons set to offer over 1.1 mil a season for 4 years.
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Would be odd for him to move to NSW just to play for another bottom side. I can completely understand why the dragons would be throwing the bank at him though.
 
Gumby

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Proud Shark said:
Would be odd for him to move to NSW just to play for another bottom side. I can completely understand why the dragons would be throwing the bank at him though.
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He’s gonna sign with Penrith. Word is he is chasing success for this contract. Once/if he wins a comp he’ll likely go back up north to chase the money.
 
Proud Shark

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Gumby said:
He’s gonna sign with Penrith. Word is he is chasing success for this contract. Once/if he wins a comp he’ll likely go back up north to chase the money.
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Yeah it's the obvious choice really isn't it. He's already earned 5m or so for his career, and if he plays out the whole way he'll likely earn 10-12m+. What's the difference with 200k a season at that point for a few years if you can win a comp/cement yourself as an elite player.
 
Gumby

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Proud Shark said:
Yeah it's the obvious choice really isn't it. He's already earned 5m or so for his career, and if he plays out the whole way he'll likely earn 10-12m+. What's the difference with 200k a season at that point for a few years if you can win a comp/cement yourself as an elite player.
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If I’m Fifita I’m signing a 3 year contract with Penrith to try win a comp. If I achieve that then my next contract I would go to the highest bidder basically. He’s 24 now, so will be a free agent at 28 years. Could command huge money if he’s part of success at Penrith to finish his career.
 
HaroldBishop

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Gumby said:
If I’m Fifita I’m signing a 3 year contract with Penrith to try win a comp. If I achieve that then my next contract I would go to the highest bidder basically. He’s 24 now, so will be a free agent at 28 years. Could command huge money if he’s part of success at Penrith to finish his career.
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Roosters won't be far off a comp either if they sign him and he fires. Personal choice but if it comes down to living at/near Penrith vs. eastern suburbs, I know what I'm choosing.
 
XGinga

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HaroldBishop said:
Roosters won't be far off a comp either if they sign him and he fires. Personal choice but if it comes down to living at/near Penrith vs. eastern suburbs, I know what I'm choosing.
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I don't think Roosters have the halves to win a comp next three years. Sam Walker is good but not there yet and can't do it alone. I don't think Keary is up to it and is gone next year so will need to be replaced with not much on the market, otherwise it's Sandon Smith. Great cover half but not going to win a comp with him as your starter.
I did see a completely baseless rumor on twitter a few weeks ago of Shaun Johnson to Roosters next year. If that happens then maybe the window is open but other then that I am not sure who is on the market at the moment that could get them there.

Panthers is the way he will go if wanting to win a comp.
 
HaroldBishop

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XGinga said:
I don't think Roosters have the halves to win a comp next three years. Sam Walker is good but not there yet and can't do it alone. I don't think Keary is up to it and is gone next year so will need to be replaced with not much on the market, otherwise it's Sandon Smith. Great cover half but not going to win a comp with him as your starter.
I did see a completely baseless rumor on twitter a few weeks ago of Shaun Johnson to Roosters next year. If that happens then maybe the window is open but other then that I am not sure who is on the market at the moment that could get them there.

Panthers is the way he will go if wanting to win a comp.
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You might be right but I think they'll have a good enough team to be top 4 with him, once you're there you're a chance. I agree though, Penrith is a better bet for winning a premiership. He's obviously lived on the GC for a while, he might prefer the beaches.
 
Proud Shark

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djhabib said:
I'm filled with love, just not for rank average second rowers with a **** name and an even worse hair cut
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What if Wade was prepared to come out of retirement to take up the left edge again, then Fifita came and took his spot?
 
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