Official Blayke Brailey

[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 Shark]

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

 

[HaroldBishop]

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.

Yeah agree with that, don't know why it needs to be this way.

The excuse the RLPA throw up that players need plenty of time to arrange moving their families is complete bullshit.

 

[HaroldBishop]

Which ones off contract and available?

I don't have an issue with extending him. If the price is around 500 rather than the original figure quoted of 625 then fine.

But to have him on the books for 5 years is silly. That length of time is generally for elite players and he isn't that. Let's hope that's what he turns into.

 

[burgess1978]

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).

Yep. People have it in their heads you can only be a good hooker if you are a scooter, conveniently forgetting that the best one ever wasn’t.

If Brailey stops missing so many tackles and develops his kicking game he will earn every dollar.

 

[Sparkles]

I don't have an issue with extending him. If the price is around 500 rather than the original figure quoted of 625 then fine.

But to have him on the books for 5 years is silly. That length of time is generally for elite players and he isn't that. Let's hope that's what he turns into.

Yep, good point. With that contract, at this stage of his career, Blayke's been put in some pretty elite company. We've seen players locked up on potential before they're superstars, so it's not new, but a bit unusual 60 odd games in. I do think though that you need stability to open a premiership window, and I guess that's what Fitz is creating

 

[Tiger Shark]

Mahoney was
Reece is

No way I'd take Reece over Brailey ever.

Mahoney definitely but do question his longevity.

I don't have an issue with extending him. If the price is around 500 rather than the original figure quoted of 625 then fine.

But to have him on the books for 5 years is silly. That length of time is generally for elite players and he isn't that. Let's hope that's what he turns into.

Yeah I didn't realise it was 5 years initially, thought the 4 years included his current deal but they bumped up next year. It does seem long.

There's certainly risks to it but often those risks are when you're paying someone massive coin like Fifita, Dugan etc plus they're on the wrong side of 30.

Brailey's contract isn't as much as those and he's 23, so he'll be what 28/29 near the end so we shouldnt have to worry about his age hopefully.

The ceiling is high with Brailey, we've seen he has all the skillsets but he's not applying it enough in a game, is it related to coaching, mentality, saving energy for defense, players, or lack of players around him. Hopefully alot of these things are addressed and we'll be glad we locked him in for 5 years.

Overall if you look at our whole spine, it's got lots of promise, and were not spending huge money on it. Jury is out on if we're missing a half though.

 

[Tiger Shark]

Also Riccio has said the Dolphins came in with a last minute massive offer. So maybe that factored into the length and size of the deal ?

 

[HaroldBishop]

No way I'd take Reece over Brailey ever.

Mahoney definitely but do question his longevity.

Yeah I didn't realise it was 5 years initially, thought the 4 years included his current deal but they bumped up next year. It does seem long.

There's certainly risks to it but often those risks are when you're paying someone massive coin like Fifita, Dugan etc plus they're on the wrong side of 30.

Brailey's contract isn't as much as those and he's 23, so he'll be what 28/29 near the end so we shouldnt have to worry about his age hopefully.

The ceiling is high with Brailey, we've seen he has all the skillsets but he's not applying it enough in a game, is it related to coaching, mentality, saving energy for defense, players, or lack of players around him. Hopefully alot of these things are addressed and we'll be glad we locked him in for 5 years.

Overall if you look at our whole spine, it's got lots of promise, and were not spending huge money on it. Jury is out on if we're missing a half though.

Must admit I do worry about his mentality a little. Not saying he needs to be a mongrel but he's so laid back it isn't funny.

I wonder if he has that competitive drive that most good players have.

 

[Tiger Shark]

Must admit I do worry about his mentality a little. Not saying he needs to be a mongrel but he's so laid back it isn't funny.

I wonder if he has that competitive drive that most good players have.

You don't become a professional NRL player and not be competitive. Its not in their DNA.

Yeah he's laid back but you defn see him get stuck into players when you watch him.

You have a different opinion on Blayke clearly, I am stoked we've retained him and he's going to have a huge year imo.

 

[Sparkles]

Must admit I do worry about his mentality a little. Not saying he needs to be a mongrel but he's so laid back it isn't funny.

I wonder if he has that competitive drive that most good players have.

That's the Woods argument... Blayke's defintely destined to become the whipping boy
Still, if he follows Woods career, he'll play for NSW and Australia

 

[Wizard]

Must admit I do worry about his mentality a little. Not saying he needs to be a mongrel but he's so laid back it isn't funny.

I wonder if he has that competitive drive that most good players have.

Ennis made it his personal duty to get over his opposing 9 like it was his day job, the coach has a lot to do with it too. With Morris and Hannay I don't think they would've got the best out of Ennis.

Let's hope Fitzy gets Brailey going, between Moylan, SJ, Brailey, Woods and Graham there was too much laid backness last year without enough challenge of it