Official THE RUMOUR MILL - Player Signings/Transfers ONLY!!!!

[bort]

Curran officially signs with the dogs.
Forgot they’ve also apparently signed Takieaho (can’t spell his name).

Slowly starting to get a decent pack together. If they sign Matterson then I really see them climbing the ladder a fair bit next year.

A good pack will help Reed get back to his best and make life easier for unproven 1 and 7 (whatever combo they end up with)
Quality of the coach still remains to be seen to an extent... public discontent from multiple players (including a former clubman of the year and a captain) not a good sign.

I'd argue what we need is more in the forwards than halves. Other thing is you have to find balance in the cap somewhere. Cows had a good run with Dearden on the cheap, Broncos are doing it now with Mamm and Walsh. Another 700k in the halves is going to stretch us elsewhere, and I'm not sure Deaden is elite enough that you can justify that.

Most of the guys in the forwards who we'd look at getting are just a year or two out from being where our current crop are. I think just as likely a couple of them start to kick on as we get a (non-bank breaking) forward in who actively improves us.
You're very right about the benefits of having blokes breaking out while still on the cheap - Mam and Walsh won't be affordable for Brisbane long term while expecting to have someone like Reynolds in the 7.

 

[Proud Shark]

Most of the guys in the forwards who we'd look at getting are just a year or two out from being where our current crop are. I think just as likely a couple of them start to kick on as we get a (non-bank breaking) forward in who actively improves us.
You're very right about the benefits of having blokes breaking out while still on the cheap - Mam and Walsh won't be affordable for Brisbane long term while expecting to have someone like Reynolds in the 7.

Yeah agreed. Was more saying what we need is more from the forwards, rather than Dearden. That could equally look like our forwards not being injured and finding more consistency.

 

[bort]

Yeah agreed. Was more saying what we need is more from the forwards, rather than Dearden. That could equally look like our forwards not being injured and finding more consistency.

That’d help! BHU in particular has shown some great footy only to be constantly set back by injury

 

[Gumby]

Next year is where we will finally know if this squad can go to the next level. A lot of these guys are now sitting in the 50-100 game mark now and should be coming into their peak at nrl level. Time to step up. If not we will need to get rid of a few for 2025 and go to market for a slight rebuild.

 

[Sparkles]

I'd argue what we need is more in the forwards than halves. Other thing is you have to find balance in the cap somewhere. Cows had a good run with Dearden on the cheap, Broncos are doing it now with Mamm and Walsh. Another 700k in the halves is going to stretch us elsewhere, and I'm not sure Deaden is elite enough that you can justify that.

I hear you. I'm general, I'd agree. But in the finals it was glaringly obvious it halves didn't take control. Our forwards are (just) good enough to get us there, we just needed our halves to make good decisions under that pressure... To help take the pressure off

 

[BurgoShark]

That’d help! BHU in particular has shown some great footy only to be constantly set back by injury

It's funny how when a player ticks a box on fan expectations he is perceived more positively.

I'd say BHU is the one who plays the most like "what fans want from their props" but Toby is much closer to "what Fitz wants from his props".

BHU actually does a fair bit less work than Kaufusi (who a lot of people criticise) but I reckon most fans prefer "big runs and big hits" to "high work rate".

 

[bort]

It's funny how when a player ticks a box on fan expectations he is perceived more positively.

I'd say BHU is the one who plays the most like "what fans want from their props" but Toby is much closer to "what Fitz wants from his props".

BHU actually does a fair bit less work than Kaufusi (who a lot of people criticise) but I reckon most fans prefer "big runs and big hits" to "high work rate".

Semi-agree

The dudes who do the hard yards consistently are high valued (not always by fans). It can be hard to see at times but it's still super important, we agree.
But some tough games you need that BHU crushing a fullback underfoot on the tryline, or Fifita out muscling half the storm team to get the ball down. The dude who can just overpower people on occasion provides some game breaking and point of difference the workhorses don't.

If you had all power props you risk good teams running through you whenever they flag (and other guys tire picking up extra work to compensate).
If you're all workers you should beat all the easy teams but will fail to find a big blow to wrestle back momentum or get ahead in tougher games.
Good to have the mix, and Fitz clearly likes it. So did Flanno with Fifita/Prior.

We are well stocked with good grinders which is why I think a big jump up from Hamlin-Uele/Hunt/Hazleton could serve us better than Rudolf being able to expand his gastank further to do more hard work.

(talking about everyone in very black and white terms, obviously the workers can have good runs and quick PTBs at times, the big boys can grind out some hard meters and won't always be bumping blokes)

Kaufusi seems to be a youngster brought in as Tolman's replacement - while he was a bit disappointing providing highlight reels was never the clubs expectation (I believe)

 

[BurgoShark]

Semi-agree

The dudes who do the hard yards consistently are high valued (not always by fans). It can be hard to see at times but it's still super important, we agree.
But some tough games you need that BHU crushing a fullback underfoot on the tryline, or Fifita out muscling half the storm team to get the ball down. The dude who can just overpower people on occasion provides some game breaking and point of difference the workhorses don't.

If you had all power props you risk good teams running through you whenever they flag (and other guys tire picking up extra work to compensate).
If you're all workers you should beat all the easy teams but will fail to find a big blow to wrestle back momentum or get ahead in tougher games.
Good to have the mix, and Fitz clearly likes it. So did Flanno with Fifita/Prior.

We are well stocked with good grinders which is why I think a big jump up from Hamlin-Uele/Hunt/Hazleton could serve us better than Rudolf being able to expand his gastank further to do more hard work.

(talking about everyone in very black and white terms, obviously the workers can have good runs and quick PTBs at times, the big boys can grind out some hard meters and won't always be bumping blokes)

Kaufusi seems to be a youngster brought in as Tolman's replacement - while he was a bit disappointing providing highlight reels was never the clubs expectation (I believe)

Yeah - after posting that I re-thought it and what I said was a little too black and white.

Definitely need a mixture.

 

[HaroldBishop]

Yeah - after posting that I thought it was a little too black and white.

Definitely need a mixture.

Maybe a bit of blue?

 

[Sevshark]

Kaufusi seems to be a youngster brought in as Tolman's replacement - while he was a bit disappointing providing highlight reels was never the clubs expectation (I believe)

If Oregon dyes his hair blonde and gets a bowl cut I might be prepared to give him another chance

 

[bort]

If Oregon dyes his hair blonde and gets a bowl cut I might be prepared to give him another chance

Do you prefer Oreidan Tolfusi or Aigon Kauman?

 

[Sevshark]

Do you prefer Oreidan Tolfusi or Aigon Kauman?

Aigon Tolfusi sounds like a hell of a footballer if I'm honest.

 

[BurgoShark]

Aigon Tolfusi sounds like a hell of a footballer if I'm honest.

How about Aigonie Tolfusiston?

 

[bort]

Aigon Tolfusi sounds like a hell of a footballer if I'm honest.

I think he was in Game of Thrones

 

[bort]

Manly have tabled a monster $5.6 million package deal in a bid to retain Haumole Olakau’atu until at least the end of 2030 as the club also entertains the prospect of a player swap to lure Wests Tigers prop Alex Twal.

https://www.smh.com.au/sport/nrl/ma...der-player-swap-for-twal-20230921-p5e6h4.html

Also mentions potential player swap Twal-Keppie with both on approx 500k

That is a very long deal for someone like Ola who is very 'power' based. Lolo got the monster deal, and Tino has a big one, but both those guys have big engines as well as power.

Lolo's decade long deal was pre-ratchet too so was always going to get outpaced by cap increases. With ratchet now standard deals like Ola's likely have it and scale with cap, so you can't bank on better value down the line.

The worst part?
If he starts killing it odds are he agitates for a raise or release anyway

Beast of a player but relatively high risk contract for a club who loves to tie up big sums in individual players and hope they never get hurt.

 

[Tiger Shark]

you see all these player movements and get a bit sad we're never mentioned. Does suggest we have no leaks which is good and obviously our squad is pretty full. Wish we left a few more spots open so we could seriously look at opportunities that may present themselves.

It's nearing Nov 1 and given we signed Cam and Oregon a year in advance I like to think we'll be doing the same given we have a few off contract

 

[HaroldBishop]

Manly have tabled a monster $5.6 million package deal in a bid to retain Haumole Olakau’atu until at least the end of 2030 as the club also entertains the prospect of a player swap to lure Wests Tigers prop Alex Twal.

https://www.smh.com.au/sport/nrl/ma...der-player-swap-for-twal-20230921-p5e6h4.html

Also mentions potential player swap Twal-Keppie with both on approx 500k

That is a very long deal for someone like Ola who is very 'power' based. Lolo got the monster deal, and Tino has a big one, but both those guys have big engines as well as power.

Lolo's decade long deal was pre-ratchet too so was always going to get outpaced by cap increases. With ratchet now standard deals like Ola's likely have it and scale with cap, so you can't bank on better value down the line.

The worst part?
If he starts killing it odds are he agitates for a raise or release anyway

Beast of a player but relatively high risk contract for a club who loves to tie up big sums in individual players and hope they never get hurt.

Their list manager isn't overly impressive. Paying way too much for Schuster and now this.

Crazy.

 

[Vichyssoise]

Their list manager isn't overly impressive. Paying way too much for Schuster and now this.

Crazy.

I love it.

 

[Capital_Shark]

Ola can be a weapon & would've been sought after. Not a guy I'd invest big long term dollars in though, not many edge backrowers I would really.

Schuster is just a ****en money pit.

 

[Super Impose]

Curran officially signs with the dogs.
Forgot they’ve also apparently signed Takieaho (can’t spell his name).

Slowly starting to get a decent pack together. If they sign Matterson then I really see them climbing the ladder a fair bit next year.

Curran can find a head knock - another risky signing for the dogs ..