(Archived) THE RUMOUR MILL - Player Movement

[bort]

The stage where he's been unable to lock down a spot at half, fullback, centre, wing or on the bench in the last 4 years (or this year coming you'd expect). If he's another year away from a starting spot he'll be 28 1/2, competing with a group of highly touted, first grade blooded players coming through.

Look, i'm not saying it won't happen. There haven't been many here with more man-love for Tracey than me. It's just pretty hard to see how becoming a first choice starting player is going to happen.

What position do you see him switching too? Lock? I think he's had a crack there as well!

I didn't say he'd 'lock down a spot' though I just said let him concentrate on one position.
The requirement for an NRL player to concentrate on one position is not that they are a starter in the NRL in that position.

If Fitz likes him as a winger that puts him at depth four (three due to injury) and rather than use him as centre three you just keep him playing wing in cup until a winger is needed. Given the amount of first grade he has played at wing (14 starts, 9 tries) that seems like something he should be capable of doing.
If he gets significantly better, great. If he doesn't it's probably still fine.

I have also previously suggested he could become a good 14 - mold himself after Cam (he has the work rate and energy) and he can patch into most other positions if needed mid game, but in this instance I don't use him as wing or center three, maybe four or even five, as he is focused on 13/14 in Cup and NRL. He never starts as a fix it but can do it if (and when) things go pear-shaped mid game. And he would still be down the depth chart on that too.

 

[bort]

LOL at Tigers

Now they have Klemmer/Ofahenguae/Utoikamanu/Twal. No fullbacks, no halves signed beyond this year (all in on getting Moses and Brooks it seems) and only one good outside back who wants to play in Melbourne.

TBF he was playing garbage before they let him go to Storm too, and didn't exactly light up there, despite some tries

 

[BurgoShark]

I'm pretty keen at this stage to stop making Tracey Mr Fix-it and let him focus on a position.
If he is wing or centre bring someone in or up depth chart for whichever position he isn't.

Probably also bump Ronnie down centre depth as unless you wanted to run him at centre and bring Taukamo in I'd rather not switch Ronnie for the sake of which position Tracey or Hiroti play.

So I guess I'd rather us move towards something like

FB: Kennedy, Dykes, Tracey, Hiroti, Taukamo
Wing: Katoa, Mulitalo, Tracey, Hiroti, Taukamo
Centre: Ramien, Talakai, Iro, Hiroti, Tracey

Or have him as 3rd centre if that's what Fitz prefers and have someone new at 3rd wing if possible.

Doubt Tracey was ever a real consideration or option at FB, especially after some bad trials. Think it was more a case of giving Kennedy bit of a shove

Depth winger at this point behind Ikavalu

I'm not talking about where I would like/prefer them to play. I'm talking about who would play those positions in the first 10 games 2023 if the squad remained as it is now and there were injuries. We've seen Ronnie move to centre mid-game previously when Ikuvalu came on.

As it stands no dev player (including Iro could) play unless there are at least 6 other players missing.

E.g. these five all unavailable (Kennedy, Dykes, Katoa, Talakai, Mulitalo).

NRL would not approve a dev player, because they can still field a backline from their top 30 in familiar positions. Only a 6th injury would allow for a dev player.

1. Hynes
2. Taukamo
3. Ramien
4. Tracey
5. Hiroti
6. Moylan
7. Trindall

While it may not be the coach's preference to move Hynes to fullback, there are precedents where the NRL has made teams do things like this in the past. You can only field a dev player if there are no viable options for a position after you have tried juggling the lineup.

 

[bort]

I'm not talking about where I would like/prefer them to play. I'm talking about who would play those positions in the first 10 games 2023 if the squad remained as it is now and there were injuries. We've seen Ronnie move to centre mid-game previously when Ikuvalu came on.

As it stands no dev player (including Iro could) play unless there are at least 6 other players missing.

E.g. these five all unavailable (Kennedy, Dykes, Katoa, Talakai, Mulitalo).

NRL would not approve a dev player, because they can still field a backline from their top 30 in familiar positions. Only a 6th injury would allow for a dev player.

1. Hynes
2. Taukamo
3. Ramien
4. Tracey
5. Hiroti
6. Moylan
7. Trindall

While it may not be the coach's preference to move Hynes to fullback, there are precedents where the NRL has made teams do things like this in the past. You can only field a dev player if there are no viable options for a position after you have tried juggling the lineup.

Yeah I know but I am talking about who I would like/prefer to play.
Iro can easily play whenever we want by upgrading him to top 30.
At the moment we have open spots, and you mentioned signing or upgrading players too.

To your list, I reckon we could argue Hynes out of 1.
I don't remember the exact circumstances but from memory Roosters got a game squad player exemption a few years back because they didn't have anyone else available without moving another player (I think they were able to bring in a hooker even though they had Radley who had played hooker for them plenty before). A bit dissimilar to that but if they could say 'no he is already playing another position' everyone else should be able to too
But with Dykes and Taukamo as recognised fullbacks there is obviously other people who would come into that jersey ahead of an exemption.

 

[Sharkfox]

Tracey is a good Mr fix it or utility that most clubs wish they had. But that has been his problem why he can't secure one position, and needed to play week in week out in one position to build his game and excel. I think he is still able to do that, and the 14 role could be it, off the bench like Connor Watson or Dylan walker, he has the speed, can be hard to put down and can play make. Only thing would be a forward missing out on a bench spot

 

[Thresher]

Learning to pass backwards would increase his playmaking value considerably.

 

[Sparkles]

Doubt Tracey was ever a real consideration or option at FB, especially after some bad trials. Think it was more a case of giving Kennedy bit of a shove

Depth winger at this point behind Ikavalu

It was pretty public, but definitely Kennedy's to lose. Poor old Tracey was lumped in with the B squad if I recall and they all played shite.

 

[HaroldBishop]

Still don't have a FB that can kick

 

[MrDravid]

Cronulla says no!

I wonder if they are wanting something in return, or making him see out the contract.

 

[bort]

Still don't have a FB that can kick

We do but he wears 7... oh wait apparently he can't kick either.

Maybe Miller (if we keep him) or Dykes can throw a few on the boot when they get some runs.

 

[Walley_01]

From DT regarding Miller

However, the Sharks are privately knocking back any move to release Miller from the final year of his contract. The ex-Olympic sevens player made a mark for Cronulla during his seven matches this year – including running for a game high 198 metres and scoring a try against Newcastle in the final round of the season.

 

[Capital_Shark]

From DT regarding Miller

However, the Sharks are privately knocking back any move to release Miller from the final year of his contract. The ex-Olympic sevens player made a mark for Cronulla during his seven matches this year – including running for a game high 198 metres and scoring a try against Newcastle in the final round of the season.

Good. He's good, cheap depth - good enough for others to consider him for a starting spot. We're a back down already with Ikavalu. Depth matters in a long brutal season & if our 3rd/4th choice is someone else's 1st choice we're in a better spot than a lot when injuries/BS suspensions strike.

 

[HaroldBishop]

Good. He's good, cheap depth - good enough for others to consider him for a starting spot. We're a back down already with Ikavalu. Depth matters in a long brutal season & if our 3rd/4th choice is someone else's 1st choice we're in a better spot than a lot when injuries/BS suspensions strike.

He is decent depth that's for sure.

I have no issue letting him go if he looks like getting a starting gig there. We clearly have the upper hand though so we should play hardball and get something in return.

 

[Capital_Shark]

He is decent depth that's for sure.

I have no issue letting him go if he looks like getting a starting gig there. We clearly have the upper hand though so we should play hardball and get something in return.

What they got is obviously not as good as what we got. Their roster would improve, ours weakened. Unless we could jag a good prospect it won't benefit us.

I understand the opportunity for Miller to get a starting gig & 3yrs though especially at his age.

 

[Wiz]

Douhi has turned down 700k from the Tigers.

He's managing himself and apparently wants 900k.

Farrrrkkkk that's funny stuff.

In the new agreement 700 is about 900

 

[Wiz]

We should have a look at Lafai after the way he's played in this WC.

Great call.. who’s our options at centre and please nobody say Tracey

 

[Western Sharkie]

Great call.. who’s our options at centre and please nobody say Tracey

Tracey is effort only.
His skill set is mediocre and tries to make up for it with effort (which I can’t refute. He gives 1000+% when out there) but I would rather he be depth not reg 17

 

[Born&bred]

Learning to pass backwards would increase his playmaking value considerably.

Didn't seem to be an issue in the World Cup...

 

[Wiz]

Tracey is effort only.
His skill set is mediocre and tries to make up for it with effort (which I can’t refute. He gives 1000+% when out there) but I would rather he be depth not reg 17

Maaaate the amount of people on here that would refuse to get to that conclusion up until recently was amazing

 

[The Punisher]

He is decent depth that's for sure.

I have no issue letting him go if he looks like getting a starting gig there. We clearly have the upper hand though so we should play hardball and get something in return.

Yeah, straight swap for Dom Young