Rebuilding. Who do you keep?

[Sutty]

For next season:

Don't Re-sign-
Ayshford - Terrible signing from the get go, best of luck to him in Super League
Gordon - He'd want fullbacks money to extend his contract, which would be a waste
Leutele - With Beale and Bird plus more u20's guns coming through, we don't need another centre on 1st-grade-tier money
Robson - Best of luck in Super League, might make a decent tackling coach
Stanley - Unlucky big fella, but was always a dodgy signing imho
Tagataese - Has been overtaken by D. Fifita, Prior and Arona, maybe even Houma.

Don't care either way:
Gardner - On a 2nd tier contract as a fullback, he's decent depth for Holmes
Roqica - *Meh*, he's just a NSW Cup player anyways
Heighington - Fine if we get him cheap on a one-year contract
Tupou - Fine if we get him cheap on a one-year contract

Look to Release:
Lewis - $450k a season for the bloke is not value for money with his sickness and injury-prone status at the moment, especially if he only plays 60mins on an edge whilst he's in the team. With limited interchanges (assuming the changes go through), we need 80 minute edge players.

Re-Sign
Arona - Won't be expensive, solid and mobile prop/lock and can fill an edge in a pinch
Gallen - 1yr extension to play prop, needs to lose captaincy
Houma - Won't be expensive, might turn into a machine
Murphy - As depth he'll be fine, if he turns out to be 1st grade quality even better
Politoni - Solid depth hooker
Prior - Looking to be a nice prop
Sauiluma - Not expensive, and decent depth at wing or centre
Wells - Haven't seen the bloke much, but from what I've seen in the highlights of NSW Cup this year he looks an ok talent

Priority Signing Targets
Aidan Sezer - He's my favorite of the remaining halves options. Absolute sharpshooter with good kicking game and can play the left side with Barba on the right
Ethan Lowe - An 80 minute player and shouldn't be too expensive, Cowboys have given Taumalolo the big contract boost, they won't be able to afford to boost his wage as well. Has a massive workrate and will be real handy if the interchange reductions happen next season

1. Holmes
2. Feki
3. Beale
4. Bird
5. Gagan
6. Barba
7. Sezer
8. A. Fifita
9. Ennis
10. Gallen
11. Lowe
12. Bukuya
13. Graham

14. (Nu) Brown
15. Prior
16. Arona
17. D. Fifita

 

[evertonshark]

Gone (out of contract)

Gordon, Gardner, Luetele, Stanley, Gallen, Roqica, Ayshford,

Re - sign

Wells ( 1yr), Tupou (1yr), Tagatese, (1 - 2yr), Sauiluma (2yr), Robson (1yr), Prior (2yr), Politoni (1yr), Murphy (1 - 2yr), Houma (1yr), Heighington (1yr), Arona (2yr)

New Signings

Mamo (2yr), Elgey (3yr), G. Hall (1 - 2yr), Kasiano (2yr), BMM (2yr), Pauli Pauli (3yr)

Promote

Isaako, Moraitis, Addo-Carr

2015 Team Lists

1. Holmes (Addo-Carr/Wells)
2. Feki (Brown)
3. Bird (Mamo)
4. Beale (Isaako)
5. Gagan (Sauiluma)
6. Barba (Brown)
7. Elgey (Murphy)
8. Prior (Houma)
9. Ennis (Robson)
10. Kasiano (D. Fifita)
11. Graham (Tupou)
12. Pauli (Bukuya)
13. Lewis (Arona)

14. A. Fifita (Moraitis)
15. Hall (Politoni)
16. BMM (Fringe FG)
17. Heighington (Fringe FG)

Coach: Nathan Brown

Won't cost a bomb, Gallens ****ty hand in everything attitude will never go while he is a Shark, I won't bore you by going into 2016.

Glenn Hall ? Must ask why you'd want him signed, isn't he about 34 ?

 

[19ninety9]

Glenn Hall ? Must ask why you'd want him signed, isn't he about 34 ?

very cheap no nonsense frontrower.

 

[Sutty]

 

[CHOGM]

Not sure if it's been said yet, but having so many guys off contract at the end of this year gives us a great chance to recruit/retain with the new Interchange rules in mind.

 

[Western Sharkie]

Not sure if it's been said yet, but having so many guys off contract at the end of this year gives us a great chance to recruit/retain with the new Interchange rules in mind.

Yeah, cos Flanno planned it that way!

 

[DANGA HATCH]

Tt

If you were in charge of rebuilding the club who would you keep, who woukd you drop, who would you try to recruit?

I think we are done. The current senior players will not see success at the club. Because of this there is no point in persisting. We must rebuild.

KEEP:
Ennis
Graham
A Fifita
D Fifita
Holmes
Bird
Gagan
Feki
Beale
Leutele
Arona
Bukuya
F. Brown
Gardner
Politoni

DROP:
Gallen
Lewis
Heighington
Tupou
Prior
Robson
Gordon
Ayshford
M. Brown
Roqica
Tagataese

RECRUIT:
The best possible youth.
Some honest props inc Douglas
A very few older players with impeccable character. Late 20s max.

Agree with most choices here. I'm happy for Gal to stay but it has to be as prop with fewer minutes. As far as youth goes, I'd have the Nikorima brothers here playing 6 and 7 with Barba off the bench playing super sub.

 

[DANGA HATCH]

Not sure if it's been said yet, but having so many guys off contract at the end of this year gives us a great chance to recruit/retain with the new Interchange rules in mind.

Exactly why I woul aim to recruit the Nikorima brothers and have Barba on the bench.

 

[DANGA HATCH]

Not sure if it's been said yet, but having so many guys off contract at the end of this year gives us a great chance to recruit/retain with the new Interchange rules in mind.

These new rules might also make it important to keep a guy like Gal who has a big motor. I just don't want him to take two hit ups a set.

 

[Greg86]

These new rules might also make it important to keep a guy like Gal who has a big motor. I just don't want him to take two hit ups a set.

I think the hit ups are alright I just don't like it when he gets the ball 3/4 times a set in attacking raids if you can call them that. I too would like to see reduced minutes by him so he not busted in defence.

 

[HaroldBishop]

We need a cleanout and start again, building a team around the likes of Val, Bird, Gagan, Feki, Nu and the Fifita twins. Might seem harsh and ungrateful, but personally I wouldn't re-sign Gal. We need a change of culture.

 

[Tiger Shark]

We need a cleanout and start again, building a team around the likes of Val, Bird, Gagan, Feki, Nu and the Fifita twins. Might seem harsh and ungrateful, but personally I wouldn't re-sign Gal. We need a change of culture.

I wouldn't renew Gal's contract either.

 

[slide rule]

I'd give him another year if he wants it. One of the best forwards around.

 

[ABshark]

We need a cleanout and start again, building a team around the likes of Val, Bird, Gagan, Feki, Nu and the Fifita twins. Might seem harsh and ungrateful, but personally I wouldn't re-sign Gal. We need a change of culture.

I tend to agree. I don't see it as a clean out though - just generational change. I'd like to see Ennis and Graham stay on as leaders for instance. I also wouldn't want to lose the toughness that's present in this squad.

At the same time, we need to develop more than toughness - ideally some self-belief and enjoyment - and to do that there needs to be change in the coaching staff and the roster. The question is who and how much.

Basically we have four old forwards, an old fullback and 7 who dominate our play. If we lose all of the forwards then we have a lot of recruiting to do to replace them - and its a reasonably skinny market. I think we keep one or two and let the others go. I'm not sure who - I think Heighno probably has a good influence on the young guys but his body is almost shot. Likewise Toops of Lewy. Lewis is the only one who is actually contracted for 2016 so keeping him saves us a payout.

Gal is the heart of the Club but its been clear for a while that he's become too big for the Club - too many decisions go through him, too much of our game is dependent on him. His desire to compete suffocates those around him and starves them of opportunities to lead and to take risks. He's a bonafide Club legend but sometimes you need to move your elders on to give room for the next generation to grow healthily. The Socceroos have been through this process.

But apart from that I think the fundamentals are pretty sound. We need a halfback desperately but we'very got strong long term candidates at 9 and 1 plus talent at 6. There's finally some outside back talent. We need probably two forwards plus that 7 but the roster is essentially sound.

So:

- Resign Robbo as the NSW Cup captain. Sign the best half we can. Pick a pair out of that signing, Barba, Brown, Robbo and Tracey.

- Keep two of the old forwards (or pick up experince from elsewhere). Sign a couple of younger types. Off the top of my head, my list would include Pauli Pauli, Nelson Alofa-Solomona, Dean Britt, Joe O, Tamou, Tom Burgess, Albert Vete and Ethan Lowe.

- Keep Gordon if the price is right - but with no guarantees of a first grade spot. He is a quality bloke who would be a good influence on what is otherwise a very young outside back group. Still a 'good' first grader - imagine how handy he would look on the right wing at Souths for instance. Our young backs look promising but there are also some wingers I wouldn't mid having a dash at - Daniel Tupou for instance. Also young Vunivalu at the Storm, Luamape at the Warriors and the fabled Tim Simona.

- Otherwise the fringies are always up in the air - a matter of price and opportunity. Sauiluma, Brown, Arena and Politoni all seem decent backups.

One other thing I would say: we turn over probably about 6 players a year on average. The Club should be aiming to replace, on average, about 3 of those from our junior squads (obviously some age groups are stronger than others). It would save the Club salary cap money each year, allow them to develop the type of player they want and improve ties with the local community and junior league. The very top players aren't made but there's no reason why run of the mill squad players - the likes of Sauiluma, Brown, Arona etc - can't be developed in house (as well as the guns). But that's probably a topic for another thread.

 

[HaroldBishop]

I'd give him another year if he wants it. One of the best forwards around.

His negative mindset negates the metres he makes imo. Let him go.

 

[HaroldBishop]

I tend to agree. I don't see it as a clean out though - just generational change. I'd like to see Ennis and Graham stay on as leaders for instance. I also wouldn't want to lose the toughness that's present in this squad.

At the same time, we need to develop more than toughness and to do that there needs to be change in the coaching staff and the roster. The question is who and how much.

Basically we have four old forwards, an old fullback and 7 who dominate our play. If we lose all of the forwards then we have a lot of recruiting to do to replace them - and its a reasonably skinny market. I think we keep one or two and let the others go. I'm not sure who - I think Heighno probably has a good influence on the young guys but his body is almost shot. Likewise Toops of Lewy. Lewis is the only one who is actually contracted for 2016 so keeping him saves us a payout.

Gal is the heart of the Club but its been clear for a while that he's become too big for the Club - too many decisions go through him, too much of our game is dependent on him. His desire to compete suffocates those around him and starves them of opportunities to lead and to take risks. He's a bonafide Club legend but sometimes you need to move your elders on to give room for the next generation to grow healthily. The Socceroos have been through this process.

But apart from that I think the fundamentals are pretty sound. We need a halfback desperately but we'very got strong long term candidates at 9 and 1 plus talent at 6. There's finally some outside back talent. We need probably two forwards plus that 7 but the roster is essentially sound.

Resign Robbo as the NSW Cup captain. Sign the best half we can. Pick a pair out of that signing, Barba, Brown, Robbo and Tracey.

Keep two of the old forwards (or pick up experince from elsewhere). Sign a couple of younger types. Off the top of my head, my list would include Pauli Pauli, Nelson Alofa-Solomona, Dean Britt, Joe O, Tamou, Tom Burgess, Albert Vete and Ethan Lowe.

Keep Gordon if the price is right - but with no guarantees of a first grade spot. He is a quality bloke who would be a good influence on what is otherwise a very young outside back group. Still a 'good' first grader - imagine how handy he would look on the right wing at Souths for instance.

The fringies are always.up in the air - a matter of price and opportunity.

One other thing I would say: we turn over probably about 6 players a year on average. The Club should be aiming to replace, on average, about 3 of those from our junior squads (obviously some age groups are stronger than others). It would save the Club salary cap money each year, allow them to develop the type of player they want and improve ties with the local community and junior league. The very top players aren't made but there's no reason why run of the mill squad players can't be developed in house (as well as the guns).

Top post mate.

On the bolded part, other clubs have done this and we need to do the same. The Roosters moved on Ricketson when he wanted to play on, Manly let Glenn Stewart go and there are other examples. The circumstances aren't always the same but sometimes tough decisions need to be made. I doubt we have the gumption to do it but hope I'm wrong.

 

[evertonshark]

I tend to agree. I don't see it as a clean out though - just generational change. I'd like to see Ennis and Graham stay on as leaders for instance. I also wouldn't want to lose the toughness that's present in this squad.

At the same time, we need to develop more than toughness - ideally some self-belief and enjoyment - and to do that there needs to be change in the coaching staff and the roster. The question is who and how much.

Basically we have four old forwards, an old fullback and 7 who dominate our play. If we lose all of the forwards then we have a lot of recruiting to do to replace them - and its a reasonably skinny market. I think we keep one or two and let the others go. I'm not sure who - I think Heighno probably has a good influence on the young guys but his body is almost shot. Likewise Toops of Lewy. Lewis is the only one who is actually contracted for 2016 so keeping him saves us a payout.

Gal is the heart of the Club but its been clear for a while that he's become too big for the Club - too many decisions go through him, too much of our game is dependent on him. His desire to compete suffocates those around him and starves them of opportunities to lead and to take risks. He's a bonafide Club legend but sometimes you need to move your elders on to give room for the next generation to grow healthily. The Socceroos have been through this process.

But apart from that I think the fundamentals are pretty sound. We need a halfback desperately but we'very got strong long term candidates at 9 and 1 plus talent at 6. There's finally some outside back talent. We need probably two forwards plus that 7 but the roster is essentially sound.

So:

- Resign Robbo as the NSW Cup captain. Sign the best half we can. Pick a pair out of that signing, Barba, Brown, Robbo and Tracey.

- Keep two of the old forwards (or pick up experince from elsewhere). Sign a couple of younger types. Off the top of my head, my list would include Pauli Pauli, Nelson Alofa-Solomona, Dean Britt, Joe O, Tamou, Tom Burgess, Albert Vete and Ethan Lowe.

- Keep Gordon if the price is right - but with no guarantees of a first grade spot. He is a quality bloke who would be a good influence on what is otherwise a very young outside back group. Still a 'good' first grader - imagine how handy he would look on the right wing at Souths for instance. Our young backs look promising but there are also some wingers I wouldn't mid having a dash at - Daniel Tupou for instance. Also young Vunivalu at the Storm, Luamape at the Warriors and the fabled Tim Simona.

- Otherwise the fringies are always up in the air - a matter of price and opportunity. Sauiluma, Brown, Arena and Politoni all seem decent backups.

One other thing I would say: we turn over probably about 6 players a year on average. The Club should be aiming to replace, on average, about 3 of those from our junior squads (obviously some age groups are stronger than others). It would save the Club salary cap money each year, allow them to develop the type of player they want and improve ties with the local community and junior league. The very top players aren't made but there's no reason why run of the mill squad players - the likes of Sauiluma, Brown, Arona etc - can't be developed in house (as well as the guns). But that's probably a topic for another thread.

Great post mate

 

[slide rule]

His negative mindset negates the metres he makes imo. Let him go.

If you're talking about taking the two, I disagree. The points were there to be taken. We go another set we might score, or Fifita does a silly play the ball or we throw some intercept and they score another length of the field try. It's dumb play that costs us, not taking advantage of free points.

 

[HaroldBishop]

If you're talking about taking the two, I disagree. The points were there to be taken. We go another set we might score, or Fifita does a silly play the ball or we throw some intercept and they score another length of the field try. It's dumb play that costs us, not taking advantage of free points.

You were OK taking the 2 to go from a 2 point lead to 4?

 

[slide rule]

You were OK taking the 2 to go from a 2 point lead to 4?

Yep. Turns a goal lead into a try lead. If they score out wide they still need to kick the goal. Unfortunately we did our usual act where we let them score against the run of play, under the posts.

The penalty was in front, it's basically free points. No way I'd back us to score a try if we take the tap. Reality of the situation is we have dire attacking structure and we probably would have stuffed it and got nothing.