Official Blayke Brailey

[Sparkles]

I can think of better up and coming hookers around his age who are already displaying their quality, not waiting to show their promise and deliver on the hype

How many and how much better? And for how much?

 

[snowman]

mahoney got the same deal and is 10x better

reece robson is better and would be half the price

harry grant is younger and better

simpkins from the tigers is probably on par

 

[Sparkles]

mahoney got the same deal and is 10x better

reece robson is better and would be half the price

harry grant is younger and better

simpkins from the tigers is probably on par

Mahoney 10x is rather subjective (my polite way of calling BS). I'd agree he looks good in that sizzling side, but more like 1.7x better on raw ability. A few scoots from Blayke plus a 40/20 and you'll think there's nothing in it, and Blayke's shown he's capable. It's really up to Fitz to offer a gameplan that suits Blayke's skills and the rest of the team to lift.

Reece Robson looks pretty good... when he's able to get on the field, which was half of last season. A 23 yo with hamstring problems isn't making me that thirsty. He's managed 20 games in three seasons... Blayke's the same age and racked up 59 (and didn't miss one last year). Aaand he's signed until the end of 2024.

Harry - they're around the same age from what I can see. Harry's contract started in 2019.... Let's see what he gets offered when he's available again in 2023/4 (if he's not upgraded sooner). Unless the Chosen Ones trajectory changes, you can bet it'll be more like Cameron-cash than Blayke-bucks.

Simkins looks promising but he's played 9 games. Around half Blayke's money and a short contract would be sensible at this stage of his career (and he was upgraded with an extra two years from the Tigers).

This was all just as much to sense check myself. I still think it's okay to say Blayke bagged himself a good deal, but it's a pretty fair one looking at the options and his potential. Player prices are like house prices... he might be the best home on Hooker St, but there aren't that many good ones on the market.

 

[HaroldBishop]

Mahoney 10x is rather subjective (my polite way of calling BS). I'd agree he looks good in that sizzling side, but more like 1.7x better on raw ability. A few scoots from Blayke plus a 40/20 and you'll think there's nothing in it, and Blayke's shown he's capable. It's really up to Fitz to offer a gameplan that suits Blayke's skills and the rest of the team to lift.

Who knows, it may even up at some stage, but Mahoney is miles ahead of Brayley right now.

 

[Wiz]

mahoney got the same deal and is 10x better

reece robson is better and would be half the price

harry grant is younger and better

simpkins from the tigers is probably on par

You forgot Starling from the Raiders - gun player

 

[HaroldBishop]

You forgot Starling from the Raiders - gun player

Good with the birds

 

[Wiz]

Mahoney 10x is rather subjective (my polite way of calling BS). I'd agree he looks good in that sizzling side, but more like 1.7x better on raw ability. A few scoots from Blayke plus a 40/20 and you'll think there's nothing in it, and Blayke's shown he's capable. It's really up to Fitz to offer a gameplan that suits Blayke's skills and the rest of the team to lift.

Reece Robson looks pretty good... when he's able to get on the field, which was half of last season. A 23 yo with hamstring problems isn't making me that thirsty. He's managed 20 games in three seasons... Blayke's the same age and racked up 59 (and didn't miss one last year). Aaand he's signed until the end of 2024.

Harry - they're around the same age from what I can see. Harry's contract started in 2019.... Let's see what he gets offered when he's available again in 2023/4 (if he's not upgraded sooner). Unless the Chosen Ones trajectory changes, you can bet it'll be more like Cameron-cash than Blayke-bucks.

Simkins looks promising but he's played 9 games. Around half Blayke's money and a short contract would be sensible at this stage of his career (and he was upgraded with an extra two years from the Tigers).

This was all just as much to sense check myself. I still think it's okay to say Blayke bagged himself a good deal, but it's a pretty fair one looking at the options and his potential. Player prices are like house prices... he might be the best home on Hooker St, but there aren't that many good ones on the market.

Without Mahoney the eels get nowhere near their position on the table this year - he and Gutherson are their main players as inconsistent as Moses is

 

[bort]

simpkins from the tigers is probably on par

Besides Simpkins being a prop Simpkin can't even secure the tigers 9 jersey. I know he has some hype but I think they are a long way from 'on par'

Still think people are undervaluing the workload Blayke took on.

In 6 games of 75 mins plus Robson touched the ball average 80.2 times, Blayke season average was 118.3, nearly 50% more. Yeah sure in 2022 we could just ask McInnes to pick up the slack, but he has his own job to concentrate on. We want him to help the hooker not take on a third of their job because they aren't up to it.

I think if you can find half a dozen comparable guys who are a bit better and on a bit more, or a bit worse or a bit younger and awaiting an upgraded contract there is a pretty good argument for retaining the one we already have.
Seems smarter to give Blayke, who team are happy with, 525k than to try bribe Reece Robson to break his contract to come and maybe be nearly as good for a bit less money.
If the number is 600k plus that strikes me as a bit of an overspend but spine positions can have a bit of premium and may have been fighting off likes of Eels and some other clubs looking for a hooker upgrade.

 

[Tiger Shark]

mahoney got the same deal and is 10x better

reece robson is better and would be half the price

harry grant is younger and better

simpkins from the tigers is probably on par

Which ones off contract and available?

 

[Thresher]

The announcement via Sharks website.

4 year extension, so another 5 years in all. Just in case that makes the 4-year whingers feel any better.

Brailey signs long-term contract extension

Local junior Blayke Brailey has signed a four-year contract extension, with the talented young hooker to remain a Shark until at least the end of the 2026 season

www.sharks.com.au

 

[slide rule]

**** me.

Imagine trying to create any momentum following a hit up by Aaron Woods or worse.

He does well.

 

[Sparkles]

Feels like it comes back to the old highlight reel verse contributor argument. I think Brailey has played the role asked/needed of him to near perfection and above his age, weight and experience. When we've improve as a team and can earn the right to play more footy I expect he'll play a bigger role just as well, with the added benefit of expertise

 

[Sparkles]

Who knows, it may even up at some stage, but Mahoney is miles ahead of Brayley right now.

I went 1.7 times better. That's quite a lot. Thought about 1.8 but didn't want to get anal about it

 

[bort]

I don't think we want him to touch the ball any less. I for one want him to touch the ball more in catch/pass situations and not have him do so much East/West running or dummy half play within 15m of the side-lines. Under Bomber he played this way in games where Graham did play but Townsend didn't - which wasn't any this year. Maybe 4-5 last year. Cowboys, Manly, Broncos and Titans games I think were a few.

Yep a touch at first receiver and a touch at hooker both count as one so he can keep up a similar workload while still playing some of that first receiver/link man role. If anything similar workload while actually being slightly less if he doesn't need to run past first receiver to get to hooker as much.

In my head I am picturing McInnes jumping into hooker maybe like 10% of the time (when he's much closer to ptb) but with Blayke likely being an open side receiver on many of those plays.

He might never be a highlight machine but in most teams not everyone will be.

Between Will, Nicho and Braydon/Matt we have more than enough offensive threat without a hooker who always goes himself for the occasional personal highlight.

While he was obviously exceptional in other areas and not trying to say they are similar quality by any stretch but how many flashy personal highlights did Cameron Smith have over his 400+ games?
You can be a good hooker without being Damian Cook or Api Koroisau, neither of whom actually even ranks in top 50 for last season for linebreaks (because apparently Blayke should be taking on the line more) - only hooker in top 50 for line breaks is Grant who is level with Hiroti, marginally ahead of Will Kennedy, and behind Tracey and Katoa (Katoa being 4th in the nrl).

 

[HaroldBishop]

The announcement via Sharks website.

4 year extension, so another 5 years in all. Just in case that makes the 4-year whingers feel any better.

Brailey signs long-term contract extension

Local junior Blayke Brailey has signed a four-year contract extension, with the talented young hooker to remain a Shark until at least the end of the 2026 season

www.sharks.com.au

5 years is too long

 

[Thresher]

5 years is too long

Too late now. You should have told the club this a few days ago.

 

[vicsharkfan]

That’s big boy money. Money like that will give him accountability. I think he will rise to it. Bit of confidence with team mates and

 

[HaroldBishop]

Too late now. You should have told the club this a few days ago.

Sorry, I forgot opinions aren't allowed on forums

 

[slide rule]

5 years is too long

This system where we’re signing players over a year out from beginning their contract is ridiculous.

Clubs mostly create their own salary cap issues from poor management, but this is a pretty crook condition to be dealing with.

 

[snowman]

Which ones off contract and available?

Mahoney was
Reece is