Official Lachie Miller

[Sparkles]

I don't think Friz would need to come cheap. If the Sharks have the room wouldn't you rather Frizzel than a depth player and a bunch of unused cap space? In fact, if that's going to be their only move between now and the start of the season, why not pay him as much as possible this year and put in a second year (or club option) that is cheaper?

I do think he has a lot still to offer and would be fine with giving him that sort of money if it didn't mean missing out anywhere else. My gut feeling is that we're short a proper high-quality mongrel prop and that's enough to get you one. Comes down to our cap space I suppose.... and who is available.

 

[bort]

Prefer to front load a few contracts this year if that's still allowed to free up cash for next year.

While we don't really know much about how this is permissible/viable the core concept of it seems like a no brainer whenever you can.

Per above I wouldn't mind Friz but if he is gunna cost us 600k and it is viable if we can spread that across the likes of Blayke, Sifa, Dale, Cam, Brit, Ronnie (all long contracted players) and free up an extra 500k for next year then that can help us retain Ramien/Katoa/Wilton much easier (all currently in last year of contract)

I have a feeling it probably isn't as simple as it could be, and probably for good reason as it seems highly abusable just like backloading was.

 

[Gal The Goat]

With our current roster IMO I would say that Friz would be used far more than what Miller would have been. So salary aside that roster spot probably becomes more valuable now

He comes in with the potential to either start or slot straight onto our bench. At worst he becomes our 18th, 19th man and we have improved depth in the forwards.

It does make it tricky having Graham that similar role but on recent form I’m probably picking Friz for that bench spot over him. I’m also picking Friz first if any starting back rower went down.

 

[Gumby]

With our current roster IMO I would say that Friz would be used far more than what Miller would have been. So salary aside that roster spot probably becomes more valuable now

He comes in with the potential to either start or slot straight onto our bench. At worst he becomes our 18th, 19th man and we have improved depth in the forwards.

It does make it tricky having Graham that similar role but on recent form I’m probably picking Friz for that bench spot over him. I’m also picking Friz first if any starting back rower went down.

If we got Friz though what do we do with Wilton? Seeing as Nikora plays 80 minutes there’s only room for 1 second rower on the bench.

Wilton -Graham
McInness- Finucane
Uele - Hunt
Utility

Or should we not have a utility on the bench and have an extra forward seeing as mcinnes can cover hooker, Wilton can cover centre’s and Graham possibly cover the halves?

Our our 17 could then be friz, Williams, kaufusi, hazelton or Jesse C (can’t spell his last name).

 

[bort]

With our current roster IMO I would say that Friz would be used far more than what Miller would have been. So salary aside that roster spot probably becomes more valuable now

He comes in with the potential to either start or slot straight onto our bench. At worst he becomes our 18th, 19th man and we have improved depth in the forwards.

It does make it tricky having Graham that similar role but on recent form I’m probably picking Friz for that bench spot over him. I’m also picking Friz first if any starting back rower went down.

Friz would play more assuming Fitz wouldn't have kept using Miller as a wing or utility and he was strictly in contention as backup fullback.
If Miller was in strong consideration for a wing spot still he could still have potential to play a decent amount of games. I'd hope both we won't need much from fill in backs but also, if we did, it wouldn't be Miller on wings.

Friz arguably has had better form recently than Graham I agree... or does Graham look like one of the worse players in a strong side vs Friz one of the best players in a weak side? Either way not sure Fitz would drop incumbent captain for him, regardless of what you or I might do.

If we got Friz though what do we do with Wilton? Seeing as Nikora plays 80 minutes there’s only room for 1 second rower on the bench.

Wilton -Graham
McInness- Finucane
Uele - Hunt
Utility

Or should we not have a utility on the bench and have an extra forward seeing as mcinnes can cover hooker, Wilton can cover centre’s and Graham possibly cover the halves?

Our our 17 could then be friz, Williams, kaufusi, hazelton or Jesse C (can’t spell his last name).

Fitz seems to prefer four forward bench (knowing McInnes gives you some flexibility) when we have decent guys available. The utility move tended to come when troops were a bit thinner.

That is a lot of competition for that 17th jersey! Obviously that is not a bad thing though...

 

[Gal The Goat]

If we got Friz though what do we do with Wilton? Seeing as Nikora plays 80 minutes there’s only room for 1 second rower on the bench.

Wilton -Graham
McInness- Finucane
Uele - Hunt
Utility

Or should we not have a utility on the bench and have an extra forward seeing as mcinnes can cover hooker, Wilton can cover centre’s and Graham possibly cover the halves?

Our our 17 could then be friz, Williams, kaufusi, hazelton or Jesse C (can’t spell his last name).

If we had Friz and I had to pick a side barring injuries it would look a little like

8. Hunt
10. Rudolf
11. Wilton
12. Nikora
13. Finucane

14. McInnes
15. Uele
16. Frizz
17. Kaufusi

As cruel as it is Graham misses out of everyone’s fresh. As you mentioned I think there is enough utility versatility in Friz, McInnes and Wilton to get us out of trouble in a worst case scenario

 

[Gal The Goat]

Friz would play more assuming Fitz wouldn't have kept using Miller as a wing or utility and he was strictly in contention as backup fullback.
If Miller was in strong consideration for a wing spot still he could still have potential to play a decent amount of games. I'd hope both we won't need much from fill in backs but also, if we did, it wouldn't be Miller on wings.

Friz arguably has had better form recently than Graham I agree... or does Graham look like one of the worse players in a strong side vs Friz one of the best players in a weak side? Either way not sure Fitz would drop incumbent captain for him, regardless of what you or I might do.

Yeah I’m basing it on that Miller doesn’t go anywhere near that wing again. Not sure if Fitz was training him there in the off season to help improve him or not though. If he was still just a fullback and Dykes has jumped him like we all have predicted, there’s a chance that he may not have played first grade this year.

Yeah really not sure how you can drop Graham though so that’s probably the major sticky point in Friz coming over. But it only takes one injury in that starting forward pack/bench and Friz could earn that spot without having to drop anyone.

 

[BurgoShark]

If we got Friz though what do we do with Wilton? Seeing as Nikora plays 80 minutes there’s only room for 1 second rower on the bench.

Wilton -Graham
McInness- Finucane
Uele - Hunt
Utility

Or should we not have a utility on the bench and have an extra forward seeing as mcinnes can cover hooker, Wilton can cover centre’s and Graham possibly cover the halves?

Our our 17 could then be friz, Williams, kaufusi, hazelton or Jesse C (can’t spell his last name).

Friz --> middle.

One step closer to having 17 locks.

 

[djhabib]

Friz --> middle.

One step closer to having 17 locks.

Revolutionary.

 

[bort]

Yeah I’m basing it on that Miller doesn’t go anywhere near that wing again. Not sure if Fitz was training him there in the off season to help improve him or not though. If he was still just a fullback and Dykes has jumped him like we all have predicted, there’s a chance that he may not have played first grade this year.

Yeah really not sure how you can drop Graham though so that’s probably the major sticky point in Friz coming over. But it only takes one injury in that starting forward pack/bench and Friz could earn that spot without having to drop anyone.

One injury is fine, Williams or Kaufusi (or BHU or Hunt if you thought one of them missed out) can come in, no worries.
Won't be many games we don't have at least one forward out injured/suspended. Next man up likely to play 20+ games.

Last season our 1st and 2nd forward call ups Fifita (22) and (21) still played quite a lot of football (assuming first choice bench of McInnes, Wilton, Williams, Hunt).

With current depth and similar injury/suspensions that would mean around 20 games goes to whoever new 2nd backup forward is, likely Colquhoun or Hazleton. Based on looking at things that way there probably is a clear spot of Frizell in our depth chart.
He plays around 20 and Colquhoun & Hazelton fall back to their 5 games between them plus probably in position to take some bench games off Trindall, so maybe they are good for more like 15 between them.

That's probably better than Colquhoun (or Hazelton) playing 20 and Trindall playing 10+ off the bench again.

 

[egg]

I do think he has a lot still to offer and would be fine with giving him that sort of money if it didn't mean missing out anywhere else. My gut feeling is that we're short a proper high-quality mongrel prop and that's enough to get you one. Comes down to our cap space I suppose.... and who is available.

Maybe better just paying unders for
Marty Taupau intead ..
Sure the aging prop can bring some INTENSITY in short spurts and way he trains another bonus .
Still available ?

 

[slide rule]

Friz --> middle.

One step closer to having 17 locks.

Like a cricket team of all-rounders

 

[snowman]

Maybe better just paying unders for
Marty Taupau intead ..
Sure the aging prop can bring some INTENSITY in short spurts and way he trains another bonus .
Still available ?

taupau is set to sign with parra when the cap is announced and agreed

 

[Gal The Goat]

One injury is fine, Williams or Kaufusi (or BHU or Hunt if you thought one of them missed out) can come in, no worries.
Won't be many games we don't have at least one forward out injured/suspended. Next man up likely to play 20+ games.

Last season our 1st and 2nd forward call ups Fifita (22) and (21) still played quite a lot of football (assuming first choice bench of McInnes, Wilton, Williams, Hunt).

With current depth and similar injury/suspensions that would mean around 20 games goes to whoever new 2nd backup forward is, likely Colquhoun or Hazleton. Based on looking at things that way there probably is a clear spot of Frizell in our depth chart.
He plays around 20 and Colquhoun & Hazelton fall back to their 5 games between them plus probably in position to take some bench games off Trindall, so maybe they are good for more like 15 between them.

That's probably better than Colquhoun (or Hazelton) playing 20 and Trindall playing 10+ off the bench again.

Yep you have seemed to sum it up pretty well there. Injuries do appear to be more common now, depth can really be tested, and depth players get more games than people probably think they will get.

We could definitely get away without Friz but he’s probably a more complete player going into next year than some of our next in line.

Sign Friz, promote Iro to take Millers spot as a back line player, leave one spot open for something in the future

 

[Capital_Shark]

Save our cap for the best players who don't make finals to have a 4wk cameo

 

[bort]

Save our cap for the best players who don't make finals to have a 4wk cameo

That's one of the big opportunity costs isn't it.
You might get nothing or you might strike gold!

 

[Gards]

Save our cap for the best players who don't make finals to have a 4wk cameo

Lachie Miller & Friz will be available to us from September onwards then

 

[Gumby]

Save our cap for the best players who don't make finals to have a 4wk cameo

Sold! Hopefully the storm don’t make the 8 and we can loan Harry Grant and Cameron Munster.

 

[Thresher]

Saw a whisper on Facebook that the Knights have offered us Enari Tuala.

 

[bort]

Saw a whisper on Facebook that the Knights have offered us Enari Tuala.

He's a pretty competent depth outside back. Wouldn't be awful, even more than with depth forwards you really hope not to see too much of depth backs in NRL, but if needed he should be solid. Presumably jumps Hiroti in depth chart
84 appearances, 34 tries
23 games on the wing for 18 of those tries is a decent strike rate, only 16 tries from 59 games at centre but tbh that's not awful either