Recruitment - depth verse points verse marketing ability

[baanya]

After hearing of the new signings the sharks have made over the last few weeks things are defiantely looking very bright for the coming years.. However it seems to me that the Sharks are recruiting depth and young talent....there appears to be a lack of point scorers being brought to the club from our recent signings...

At the start of the year and even today you can make a strong argument that we are lacking points especially in the backline -true attackers who can find the line! We have always been light on in the scoring department - well known after last years campaign....and i really thought we would get a 'back' who can score - or atleast bring a presence to the backline.

by the way the sharks are recruiting - to me it appears Ricky believes we have enough points in our current roster (which has been true over the last few weeks) and i guess he is hoping this will develop over time and thus focuses on depth and youth....further more the marketing aspect cant be overlooked in terms of being a successful club... as it stands Gallen isnt going to sell sharks jerseys for us (the way the papers get stuck into him) and Barret will be gone after next year... so again i assume the management believes we can produce some marketable players instead of getting a big name signing...

this is looking true over the last few games with the like of Stapo and Fergo -

however no doubt there is a huge difference between guys with massive talent and those that actually make it (huge drop off rate)

sorry for rambling on but i want to put it out the in light of the recent signings that - i thought we would recruit points - speed and finishing ability this year (some backs) - but instead it seems we are recruiting youth - depth with no names coming who are going to be marketing opportunities..(hookers and forwards)

Dont get me wrong im not knocking any of our signings - i am just surprised at the positions we are signing...

cheers.........


(PS this is based on my belief that with Porter and Barret playing next year young Kelly will be doing more watching than playing...)

 

[Coolumsharkie]

depth with no names coming who are going to be marketing opportunities..(hookers and forwards)

Do you mean -aren't?

I think we have landed on our feet in regards to Stapo and Fergo.. Wright will also be a great player in the years to come. I would say we need to buy one or two more backs.

But it seems that Sticky will build a team around these guys. Future looks brighter now for sure and we can thank our lucky stars that these guys are as talented as they are. Imagine our team if they didn't step up to the mark when they were needed?

I'm not sure on Porter yet, he needs to really work on parts of his game to become a great player, but for now we are at least blessed with a sensational kicking game from him and how long have we been waiting for that????

 

[SharkBoy]

I think Fergo is going to be great for the club marketablity wise. He's a gun, and he can score points. Same with Albert Kelly from what I hear.
We've got some good forwards, they will build a good platform on which our backs can score points. Porter is going to be really good with a bit more experience. And he'll be playing behind a good forward pack, which in turn will bring points to the likes of Stapo, Fergo etc. Cuthbertson is a great signing.
I think the recruitment of Aiton will provide that quickness out of dummy half for the good go forward.

 

[Soon I Hope]

I think the point scoring will come when some of these young guys mature, Albert Kelly is a key here, if he comes good there are plenty of points in him both directly and indirectly, key is if he matures, rumor has it Parra didnt LOOSE him the let him go because of attitude and issues with David Fairleigh.

 

[jimmymac]

the early stages of the season i would have agreed that we were signing in the wrong positions, but some of these young guys in the backline now have impressed me so much, that i don't think we now need to sign 2 centres and a winger, because these guys have stood up. wright ferguson and stapleton are going great guns. love them or hate them, covell and pomeroy are still solid backs(in my opinion), with pomeroy's hands letting him down at the moment. on his day, i think he is still an awesome centre, and if i was ricky, i'd work him heavily on his handling. 1 6 7 9 are the three positions that are the most important, and we should be very well covered in these positions next season.

 

[hitman124]

as far as marketing and players are concerned, it doesnt matter who they are, what they look like, thier playing style, if they win us comps, then the marketing will be acheived.

 

[BurgoShark]

They are talking to Collis.

Stapleton, Ferguson, Collis, Barrett - plenty of points in those 4 guys. Maybe throw in Kearney and we have the most exciting backline we've had since 2001.

 

[moruya shark]

I agree with Burgess but I don't think Kearney will be around I heard rumors he was offered big money in the UK. If we sign Collis do you guys think they will release Pomeroy or keep him for depth ?

 

[SharkBoy]

I'd say they would probably keep him.

 

[mnc]

I hope we keep him, when he holds the ball he is fantastic. has size & ability, just need to bring the latter out!
What about covell? I'd been a fan till this year ,then thought maybe he was over the hill, but then he's on fire again!?
When at his '07 best he busts tackles!; kicks goals like El Masri, hope he continues in '10 'cause he's the sort of no nonsense, mature poster boy we need!

 

[BurgoShark]

I agree with Burgess but I don't think Kearney will be around I heard rumors he was offered big money in the UK. If we sign Collis do you guys think they will release Pomeroy or keep him for depth ?

Just on Kearney. There was an article on Kearney in this week's RLW. It was about him not being able to win a big contract because he can't display his skills to other teams.

He was quoted saying something along the lines of "I'm still young enough (25) to go to England for a few years and then come back", but he also said "Ricky Stuart has told me there might be something for me here at Cronulla".

 

[too far away]

I think the point scoring will come when some of these young guys mature, Albert Kelly is a key here, if he comes good there are plenty of points in him both directly and indirectly, key is if he matures, rumor has it Parra didnt LOOSE him the let him go because of attitude and issues with David Fairleigh.

You win the Barbie doll 100% correct Parra didn't want him he has big attitude problem. He even spat at one of the coaches for dragging him off in one game.So we get rid of buster and maybe have just got a younger one .So to their way of thinking its just another problem the sharkies have to look after, like we need more of them
As for Kearney his is off to England [Wigan] I have been told