Official Braden Hamlin-Uele

[Capital_Shark]

It's half past seven... @Sir Chadley finished his dinner hours ago

Bet he calls it supper

 

[deano the p]

Must admit wasn’t expecting this, very happy. I was so set we’d lose him that I was spewing we didn’t do an AFB/BHU swap for the upcoming season.

If we can keep this pack together with AFB we are serious contenders

 

[Gumby]

Must admit wasn’t expecting this, very happy. I was so set we’d lose him that I was spewing we didn’t do an AFB/BHU swap for the upcoming season.

If we can keep this pack together with AFB we are serious contenders

I agree.

 

[HaroldBishop]

Funny old contract, two years.... His words were stirring but it's not exactly the same level of commitment from the club

Two years is perfect imo

 

[sharkboy18]

2025 season forward pack...

8. AFB
9. Brailey
10. BHU/Rudolph
11. Nikora
12. Wilton
13. McIness/Finucane

14. Hunt/Rudolph
15. Finucane/McIness
16. Hazelton/BHU
17. Williams

18. Dykes.

 

[sharkboy18]

2024 Forward pack...

8. BHU
9. Brailey
10. Rudolph
11. Nikora
12. Wilton
13. McIness

14. Finucane
15. Hunt
16. Williams
17. Hazelton

18. Dykes.
19. Colquhoun/Kaufusi.

 

[Proud Shark]

Assuming everyone is fit, that's 3 of Williams, Toby, Colquhoun, Hunt, Kaufusi, Finucane or Hazleton to miss out in 2025.

Any chance Finucane takes the Tolman roll that year to help us keep one/two more?

 

[Vichyssoise]

Allow me to voice a slightly dissenting opinion amid the outpouring of elation.

Interesting signing if he stays injury free. It indeed gives us a decent forward pack on paper for 2025 with the addition of AFB.
However, and I'll be happy to be proven wrong, from the outside, I don't see how these re-signings will help solve the team's recurring complacency issue.
Attitude more than ability has been at the root of the team's recent failures, and while keeping the current team together is a nice show of faith from Fitz, it may not exactly be what the doctor's ordered.

That being said, I'm looking forward to watching his rampaging runs again this year.

 

[Proud Shark]

Allow me to voice a slightly dissenting opinion amid the outpouring of elation.

Interesting signing if he stays injury free. It indeed gives us a decent forward pack on paper for 2025 with the addition of AFB.
However, and I'll be happy to be proven wrong, from the outside, I don't see how these re-signings will help solve the team's recurring complacency issue.
Attitude more than ability has been at the root of the team's recent failures, and while keeping the current team together is a nice show of faith from Fitz, it may not exactly be what the doctor's ordered.

That being said, I'm looking forward to watching his rampaging runs again this year.

I completely get what you're saying, but that's why they went to market for AFB right? When you look at who else is off contract, you weren't going to replace AFB with anyone decent other than maybe Terrell May, which obviously comes with other potential issues. BHU and Jack are easily the best off-contract middles for 2024 IMO, and retaining them both will be amazing.

 

[BurgoShark]

Allow me to voice a slightly dissenting opinion amid the outpouring of elation.

Interesting signing if he stays injury free. It indeed gives us a decent forward pack on paper for 2025 with the addition of AFB.
However, and I'll be happy to be proven wrong, from the outside, I don't see how these re-signings will help solve the team's recurring complacency issue.
Attitude more than ability has been at the root of the team's recent failures, and while keeping the current team together is a nice show of faith from Fitz, it may not exactly be what the doctor's ordered.

That being said, I'm looking forward to watching his rampaging runs again this year.

I love a dissenting opinion, but really hate when people pretend that they have super powers.

 

[Vichyssoise]

I completely get what you're saying, but that's why they went to market for AFB right? When you look at who else is off contract, you weren't going to replace AFB with anyone decent other than maybe Terrell May, which obviously comes with other potential issues. BHU and Jack are easily the best off-contract middles for 2024 IMO, and retaining them both will be amazing.

It's a glass half full / half empty situation isn't it? Squad retention is good as it provides stability and in that respect BHU's re-signing is really something to be excited about. But, on the other hand, it's the same forward pack that's been labelled (and rightfully so) as 'lacking some mongrel' in countless threads before.
We might be covered for 2025 and beyond but it's way too early to tell. I'm afraid we're going to see more of the same this year though.
I do agree however that, given the dearth of good quality middles available right now, retaining BHU is a good move.
As for attitude, one can only hope.

 

[Vichyssoise]

I love a dissenting opinion, but really hate when people pretend that they have super powers.

If only I had you're graph making ability

 

[HaroldBishop]

It's a glass half full / half empty situation isn't it? Squad retention is good as it provides stability and in that respect BHU's re-signing is really something to be excited about. But, on the other hand, it's the same forward pack that's been labelled (and rightfully so) as 'lacking some mongrel' in countless threads before.
We might be covered for 2025 and beyond but it's way too early to tell. I'm afraid we're going to see more of the same this year though.
I do agree however that, given the dearth of good quality middles available right now, retaining BHU is a good move.
As for attitude, one can only hope.

BHU for two years is good business from our side. He's 100% lacked consistency to date, some of that is his fault, some of it has been out of his hands. I wouldn't have been happy with three years but two gives him the opportunity to really step it up and earn one last payday after this contract. If he continues on the same path he'll be 31 when off contract and I doubt anyone takes a punt on him on good coin like the Warriors tried to do. The ball is in his court now.

Like @Proud Shark said, we've addressed the middle issue as best as we could by signing probably a top 3 prop in the game, I don't see what we could have done better? You can't just turnover your whole forward pack in a year or two.

 

[BurgoShark]

If only I had you're graph making ability

It would be pretty easy for you to graph “actual attitude issues that we can substantiate”. Just write the number 0 on a page and you’re done.

“Imaginary attitude issues” would be a much more complex graph that you would probably need my help with

 

[Jaz]

Interesting signing if he stays injury free.

Same goes for any signing, really.

Gotta be happy with a sought-after player staying for unders.

 

[andrew's_sharks]

Glad he has been able to extend. We will have a good pack for 2025 with he and AFB. I would like us to keep Jack Williams. I am unsure about Hunt, I feel like we will be better served if we make sure we keep hazleton if we let a middle go.

 

[HaroldBishop]

Glad he has been able to extend. We will have a good pack for 2025 with he and AFB. I would like us to keep Jack Williams. I am unsure about Hunt, I feel like we will be better served if we make sure we keep hazleton if we let a middle go.

Yeah they're the kind of decisions we'll need to make. 2024 is a big year for decision making.

 

[BurgoShark]

Glad he has been able to extend. We will have a good pack for 2025 with he and AFB. I would like us to keep Jack Williams. I am unsure about Hunt, I feel like we will be better served if we make sure we keep hazleton if we let a middle go.

Hmm… taking Royce out of the conversation - being forced to choose between Jack and Tom would be a tough one. Tom is likely cheaper. Jack is sooooo suited to Fitz’s game plan though. Absolute beast at getting quick prb’s. Possibly a top 5 player in the comp for this.

 

[andrew's_sharks]

The other player we really need to keep is Jesse C. I see a bright future ahead for him.

 

[Western Sharkie]

Hmm… taking Royce out of the conversation - being forced to choose between Jack and Tom would be a tough one. Tom is likely cheaper. Jack is sooooo suited to Fitz’s game plan though. Absolute beast at getting quick prb’s. Possibly a top 5 player in the comp for this.

The other player we really need to keep is Jesse C. I see a bright future ahead for him.

Can we not just do like the Roosters……… and keep them ALL

Although, IF I had to choose one right now.
I would say thanks for your Services to Hunt.