Signings/Re-Signings 2022

[Western Sharkie]

Big time. Queenslander too so it will be appealing. More chance to win the comp coming to us though. I feel like we have all the pieces, just need the Maloney style signing.

We have it in the youngster named Nicho

 

[GF78]

Rooster's aren't letting Sam go but their efforts to keep him might allow us to steal Volkman from them.

Kid has massive potential.

Quid pro qou. Roosters stole our young half in Kyle F, dont Sharks get to steal their young half? Although I’m being faciscious, z
I dream of a day that the Roosters don’t get what they want I.e Josh Morris etc.

 

[The Punisher]

Would love to see Munster alongside Hynes - However unlikely.
But we should definitely go for Volkman and play on the Fitz connection.
But on that note what about Lachlan Lam?

 

[HaroldBishop]

But on that note what about Lachlan Lam?

Is this a joke mate?

 

[The Punisher]

Is this a joke mate?

I dont mind Lam tbh
Dont think hes been given enough gametime in a single position.
Been shifted from fb, centre, 5/8, halfback, #14

 

[Bundy Shark]

i have no idea on that Volkman other than ive heard his name mentioned as having a tonne of potential plenty of times, no to Lam for me unless we sign him in a similar role to how the Roosters play him, an occasional/semi regular 1-20 player, imo, we have that role covered by others already

 

[CrazyMatt]

I dont mind Lam tbh
Dont think hes been given enough gametime in a single position.
Been shifted from fb, centre, 5/8, halfback, #14

Nah I dont see it. Simply not that good and has off field baggage. Not worth it.

 

[Western Sharkie]

Nah I dont see it. Simply not that good and has off field baggage. Not worth it.

I think if he was good enough for a reg spot in the run on side.
He’d already have one

 

[Sutty]

Hey if they want to play Crichton as a bench prop maybe we can take him off their hands

 

[bort]

The more I typed the more I felt like this didn't belong in the Nikora thread

I hope there's a few boys who are looking to take a pay cut to stay. Their success is going to start driving up demand and prices.
Still, we have Fifita money waiting to be unlocked (surely we don't resign him*), so hopefully there's enough to spread around and keep everyone happy enough.

*love him, big dog, glad he's playing well, #leaveasalegend

I think Blayke is already upgraded for next year so that eats up say 1/5 Fifita money. Oregon already signed as a replacement, call that another 1/5. BHU, Hunt, Williams all get the other 1/5.
I'm using 1/5 just to keep things simple, but consider that more an average than exactly what they would get, means on average these contracts/upgrades approx 150-170k, which seems fairly fair. Maybe falls a bit short depending on what Oregon is on.

Now if those average out to be closer to 1/4 (200-212k) then someone surely misses out. Even at 1/5 if someone bids hard for Royce and/or Williams we may be priced out of them, and increases chances we keep Pele. Seems unlikely we keep all those guys mentioned and Pele.

I assume if we re-sign Nikora we do not re-sign Graham, so that would also open up a bit of money like to keep Pele, fight off any higher offer for Berrell from a hooker desperate side, or perhaps sign someone a little interesting (goal kicking centre?), or fix the future problem I'll get to.

I assume either Tolman stays on about the same or Hazelton (or Martin, or even Calquhoun) comes in. Hiroti either stays on about the same or Dykes or Lualua comes in - with some good talent in lower grades Hiroti may be better off looking elsewhere or risk falling deeper down list. Jensen I can't imagine we pick up his option but is replaced in top 30 by Taukamo.

Metcalf out opens up a roster spot which we ideally want a half in, so maybe this is where we need to buy someone unless Rivett is ready to come into top squad. Additionally progress of Miller as a half affects the move here. This actually becomes very important if we don't re-sign Moylan. If he was to leave as well we maybe need to bring in two halves (or one if Miller is going well) with at least one legit competition with Trindall for the start.

At the moment we still have two open roster spots too, so the likes of Hazelton, Calquhoun, Ferris, Lualua, Dykes et al (or some random) could all yet end up in top 30 this season.

Further to above the season after we have Matt Ikuvalu, Sione Katoa, William Kennedy, Lachlan Miller, Ronaldo Mulitalo, Jesse Ramien, Siosifa Talakai, Braydon Trindall and Teig Wilton all off contract with a number of them likely demanding upgrades. So it may behove us to let a Hunt or Williams go to provide early upgrade to one or more of the above.
ie if it looks like Kennedy will want an extra 200k a season you sign him for an extra 150k a season but also upgrade last year of his current contract by that. Spends the money while we 'have it' to make it easier to keep the other guys.
And honestly we probably should do this for one or two of the key keeps from above list because will make things a lot easier, even if it means losing Hunt/Williams (even both tbh).
Might only be able to keep one winger but hopefully a Lualua or Iro would be good to go by 2024. Maybe we are able to keep Ikuvalu and one of Mulitalo/Katoa. He is close enough to them it isn't a big fall as long as he hasn't lost anything, especially if a youngster also legit pushing for a start.

 

[Sparkles]

The more I typed the more I felt like this didn't belong in the Nikora thread

Many have said that of Nikora himself

I think Blayke is already upgraded for next year so that eats up say 1/5 Fifita money. Oregon already signed as a replacement, call that another 1/5. BHU, Hunt, Williams all get the other 1/5.
I'm using 1/5 just to keep things simple, but consider that more an average than exactly what they would get, means on average these contracts/upgrades approx 150-170k, which seems fairly fair. Maybe falls a bit short depending on what Oregon is on.

Now if those average out to be closer to 1/4 (200-212k) then someone surely misses out. Even at 1/5 if someone bids hard for Royce and/or Williams we may be priced out of them, and increases chances we keep Pele. Seems unlikely we keep all those guys mentioned and Pele.

I assume if we re-sign Nikora we do not re-sign Graham, so that would also open up a bit of money like to keep Pele, fight off any higher offer for Berrell from a hooker desperate side, or perhaps sign someone a little interesting (goal kicking centre?), or fix the future problem I'll get to.

I assume either Tolman stays on about the same or Hazelton (or Martin, or even Calquhoun) comes in. Hiroti either stays on about the same or Dykes or Lualua comes in - with some good talent in lower grades Hiroti may be better off looking elsewhere or risk falling deeper down list. Jensen I can't imagine we pick up his option but is replaced in top 30 by Taukamo.

Metcalf out opens up a roster spot which we ideally want a half in, so maybe this is where we need to buy someone unless Rivett is ready to come into top squad. Additionally progress of Miller as a half affects the move here. This actually becomes very important if we don't re-sign Moylan. If he was to leave as well we maybe need to bring in two halves (or one if Miller is going well) with at least one legit competition with Trindall for the start.

At the moment we still have two open roster spots too, so the likes of Hazelton, Calquhoun, Ferris, Lualua, Dykes et al (or some random) could all yet end up in top 30 this season.

Further to above the season after we have Matt Ikuvalu, Sione Katoa, William Kennedy, Lachlan Miller, Ronaldo Mulitalo, Jesse Ramien, Siosifa Talakai, Braydon Trindall and Teig Wilton all off contract with a number of them likely demanding upgrades. So it may behove us to let a Hunt or Williams go to provide early upgrade to one or more of the above.
ie if it looks like Kennedy will want an extra 200k a season you sign him for an extra 150k a season but also upgrade last year of his current contract by that. Spends the money while we 'have it' to make it easier to keep the other guys.
And honestly we probably should do this for one or two of the key keeps from above list because will make things a lot easier, even if it means losing Hunt/Williams (even both tbh).
Might only be able to keep one winger but hopefully a Lualua or Iro would be good to go by 2024. Maybe we are able to keep Ikuvalu and one of Mulitalo/Katoa. He is close enough to them it isn't a big fall as long as he hasn't lost anything, especially if a youngster also legit pushing for a start.

Check you out Bort

I feel like we've got a decent enough crop of forwards that we could bare an unexpected loss there. Your breakdown does highlight that we're very thin on quality half options if Moylan isn't around (even with him here), and that position has to be a priority. We're also thin on backs, thought maybe that will change in a year as players emerge. Hopefully there's plenty of ambition in the lower ranks to push for a start, feeling that there's every chance we'll lose someone there.

Do you think we're painting ourselves into a corner with our investment in the forwards? It's money well spent, but might come back to bite us if we lose someone in the backs

 

[bort]

Many have said that of Nikora himself

Check you out Bort

I feel like we've got a decent enough crop of forwards that we could bare an unexpected loss there. Your breakdown does highlight that we're very thin on quality half options if Moylan isn't around (even with him here), and that position has to be a priority. We're also thin on backs, thought maybe that will change in a year as players emerge. Hopefully there's plenty of ambition in the lower ranks to push for a start, feeling that there's every chance we'll lose someone there.

Do you think we're painting ourselves into a corner with our investment in the forwards? It's money well spent, but might come back to bite us if we lose someone in the backs

If Moylan goes we are Nicho, Trindall, Miller so as I said we need at least one more maybe two if Miller isn't shaping up as a half option. At least one of them needs to be a genuine threat to start ahead of Trindall next year. If we go into next year with Trindall as clear next man I'm concerned. I know some had him as clear starter for this year too, but to me evidence suggests that was a bad read.

In the backs I think we are okay in most positions but centre remains a question. We will have some big choices around Talakai (to be made about now) and starting wingers (to be made before 2024).

Fullback: Kennedy, Miller, Tracey, Dykes, Taumako seems plenty deep assuming no issue keeping Kennedy. Even if in 2023 Miller is a half not a fullback it's maybe a bit more of an issue but I guess you go Tracey vs Dykes for the fill-in spot. Hopefully Dykes an obvious winner.

Wing: Katoa, Mulitalo, Ikuvalu, Tracey, Lualua, Iro even if we lose two of the guys from the top of this list for 2024 think we are okay, hopefully only lose one.

Centre: Ramien, Talakai, Tracey, Jensen, Iro, Lualua here we start to get a bit thinner unless we keep Talakai as a permanent centre, if he falls back behind Tracey as a fill in (and realistically Jensen seems ****) then we desperately need to retain Ramien, although I expect we will either way. This is a spot we might want to look at bringing someone in if we don't commit to Talakai here/don't retain him 2024. Also one of the few jerseys where we could sign a goal kicker if there was one available*

I'd be pretty comfortable if 2024 we were Kennedy, Mulitalo, Talakai (or goal kicker), Ramien, Ikuvalu with Tracey as third choice winger or centre and first choice 14. Probably means we were priced out of Sione and Talakai, but still competent. Sione does strike me as a dude who would happily not chase money to stay where he knows he is happy not that you could blame him if he did get a bigger offer. Talakai would also hold decent loyalty but we know weaker sides will pay out their arse for tackle breakers so he could definitely get an offer too good to refuse, especially if we looked elsewhere.

*unless we let a bunch of wingers go and brought one in there.

 

[Gumby]

good posting Bort!

 

[egg]

Does anyone really want to lose Moylan at the end of the year if he is fit and playing this brand of footy ?

 

[Sevshark]

Does anyone really want to lose Moylan at the end of the year if he is fit and playing this brand of footy ?

If he's taking the same money I sign him now, if he wants to be upgraded back up somewhat he has to get through the season in my opinion.

 

[GF78]

The more I typed the more I felt like this didn't belong in the Nikora thread


I think Blayke is already upgraded for next year so that eats up say 1/5 Fifita money. Oregon already signed as a replacement, call that another 1/5. BHU, Hunt, Williams all get the other 1/5.
I'm using 1/5 just to keep things simple, but consider that more an average than exactly what they would get, means on average these contracts/upgrades approx 150-170k, which seems fairly fair. Maybe falls a bit short depending on what Oregon is on.

Now if those average out to be closer to 1/4 (200-212k) then someone surely misses out. Even at 1/5 if someone bids hard for Royce and/or Williams we may be priced out of them, and increases chances we keep Pele. Seems unlikely we keep all those guys mentioned and Pele.

I assume if we re-sign Nikora we do not re-sign Graham, so that would also open up a bit of money like to keep Pele, fight off any higher offer for Berrell from a hooker desperate side, or perhaps sign someone a little interesting (goal kicking centre?), or fix the future problem I'll get to.

I assume either Tolman stays on about the same or Hazelton (or Martin, or even Calquhoun) comes in. Hiroti either stays on about the same or Dykes or Lualua comes in - with some good talent in lower grades Hiroti may be better off looking elsewhere or risk falling deeper down list. Jensen I can't imagine we pick up his option but is replaced in top 30 by Taukamo.

Metcalf out opens up a roster spot which we ideally want a half in, so maybe this is where we need to buy someone unless Rivett is ready to come into top squad. Additionally progress of Miller as a half affects the move here. This actually becomes very important if we don't re-sign Moylan. If he was to leave as well we maybe need to bring in two halves (or one if Miller is going well) with at least one legit competition with Trindall for the start.

At the moment we still have two open roster spots too, so the likes of Hazelton, Calquhoun, Ferris, Lualua, Dykes et al (or some random) could all yet end up in top 30 this season.

Further to above the season after we have Matt Ikuvalu, Sione Katoa, William Kennedy, Lachlan Miller, Ronaldo Mulitalo, Jesse Ramien, Siosifa Talakai, Braydon Trindall and Teig Wilton all off contract with a number of them likely demanding upgrades. So it may behove us to let a Hunt or Williams go to provide early upgrade to one or more of the above.
ie if it looks like Kennedy will want an extra 200k a season you sign him for an extra 150k a season but also upgrade last year of his current contract by that. Spends the money while we 'have it' to make it easier to keep the other guys.
And honestly we probably should do this for one or two of the key keeps from above list because will make things a lot easier, even if it means losing Hunt/Williams (even both tbh).
Might only be able to keep one winger but hopefully a Lualua or Iro would be good to go by 2024. Maybe we are able to keep Ikuvalu and one of Mulitalo/Katoa. He is close enough to them it isn't a big fall as long as he hasn't lost anything, especially if a youngster also legit pushing for a start.

Bort, do you play chess? If not , you should - your looking 3 moves ahead.

 

[burgess1978]

If Moylan goes we are Nicho, Trindall, Miller so as I said we need at least one more maybe two if Miller isn't shaping up as a half option. At least one of them needs to be a genuine threat to start ahead of Trindall next year. If we go into next year with Trindall as clear next man I'm concerned. I know some had him as clear starter for this year too, but to me evidence suggests that was a bad read.

In the backs I think we are okay in most positions but centre remains a question. We will have some big choices around Talakai (to be made about now) and starting wingers (to be made before 2024).

Fullback: Kennedy, Miller, Tracey, Dykes, Taumako seems plenty deep assuming no issue keeping Kennedy. Even if in 2023 Miller is a half not a fullback it's maybe a bit more of an issue but I guess you go Tracey vs Dykes for the fill-in spot. Hopefully Dykes an obvious winner.

Wing: Katoa, Mulitalo, Ikuvalu, Tracey, Lualua, Iro even if we lose two of the guys from the top of this list for 2024 think we are okay, hopefully only lose one.

Centre: Ramien, Talakai, Tracey, Jensen, Iro, Lualua here we start to get a bit thinner unless we keep Talakai as a permanent centre, if he falls back behind Tracey as a fill in (and realistically Jensen seems ****) then we desperately need to retain Ramien, although I expect we will either way. This is a spot we might want to look at bringing someone in if we don't commit to Talakai here/don't retain him 2024. Also one of the few jerseys where we could sign a goal kicker if there was one available*

I'd be pretty comfortable if 2024 we were Kennedy, Mulitalo, Talakai (or goal kicker), Ramien, Ikuvalu with Tracey as third choice winger or centre and first choice 14. Probably means we were priced out of Sione and Talakai, but still competent. Sione does strike me as a dude who would happily not chase money to stay where he knows he is happy not that you could blame him if he did get a bigger offer. Talakai would also hold decent loyalty but we know weaker sides will pay out their arse for tackle breakers so he could definitely get an offer too good to refuse, especially if we looked elsewhere.

*unless we let a bunch of wingers go and brought one in there.

Are you suggesting Talakai can’t kick goals?

 

[bort]

Are you suggesting Talakai can’t kick goals?

Just that Nicho won’t let him

 

[Sutty]

Any Super League watchers? How good is Rhyse Martin these days?

 

[The Punisher]

Any Super League watchers? How good is Rhyse Martin these days?

Gone backwards from where he was.
Could be because hes in a poor Leeds team.
Plenty of better back rowers in SL than him.
Starting with Sione Matautia & Morgan Knowles @ St.Helens