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

Proud Shark

Proud Shark

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stormshark said:
4 yrs is too long IMHO( I was never for the DF term) at 28yo . Don't underestimate impacts of Team harmony. We are in a good spot, subject to smart tinkering. Lets not blow the budget.
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There has to be a balance though. You don't avoid signing good players because it might disrupt team harmony. In elite sport, tough decisions need to be made, and so long as you do them fairly an transparently, it shouldn't impact the team.

Signing a top 3 prop makes sense for a team. Players will understand that he is of value to the organisation and they need to meet the challenge and show their worth to keep their spot. They can't expect to just always have the current crop be re-signed and keep their spots because they like them.

Pushing a player out against their will could disrupt harmony however. So it's not as simple as others make it out to be by saying just get rid X. But if Royce Hunt, or BHU or anyone don't get their contract renewed because of AFB's signing, that's their problem. They have plenty of years now to demonstrate they are as valuable as AFB to us, and they haven't.
 
bort

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Proud Shark said:
There has to be a balance though. You don't avoid signing good players because it might disrupt team harmony. In elite sport, tough decisions need to be made, and so long as you do them fairly an transparently, it shouldn't impact the team.

Signing a top 3 prop makes sense for a team. Players will understand that he is of value to the organisation and they need to meet the challenge and show their worth to keep their spot. They can't expect to just always have the current crop be re-signed and keep their spots because they like them.

Pushing a player out against their will could disrupt harmony however. So it's not as simple as others make it out to be by saying just get rid X. But if Royce Hunt, or BHU or anyone don't get their contract renewed because of AFB's signing, that's their problem. They have plenty of years now to demonstrate they are as valuable as AFB to us, and they haven't.
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Or as valuable as AFB hypothetically is to us

And while you don’t avoid signing good players because everyone currently at your club might/would like to stay team harmony is definitely something to keep in mind.

AFB has had some issues in the past - he’s too good to let those stop you signing, especially as it’s been a bit, but if other info suggested he was a bad personality fit that’s a different story.
Our 2016 team all got on fantastic - many have said it’s the best team atmosphere they’ve ever been a part of. And you clearly can’t artificially replicate that. Team harmony is important.
 
Proud Shark

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bort said:
Or as valuable as AFB hypothetically is to us

And while you don’t avoid signing good players because everyone currently at your club might/would like to stay team harmony is definitely something to keep in mind.

AFB has had some issues in the past - he’s too good to let those stop you signing, especially as it’s been a bit, but if other info suggested he was a bad personality fit that’s a different story.
Our 2016 team all got on fantastic - many have said it’s the best team atmosphere they’ve ever been a part of. And you clearly can’t artificially replicate that. Team harmony is important.
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I wasn't discrediting the importance of team harmony at all, it's integral to being a desirable club, esspecially for the non elite clubs.

I was just suggesting that a balance is important. You want players to be happy, and comfortable of course, that is condusive to long term success. But you also want them to understand that the clubs primary goal is winning, not making them happy. If they want to stay together as a group, they need to perform at a standard capable of that, or other options will be explored.
 
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Sharkfox said:
If we miss out on AFB, who should we chase next
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I'd say Terrell May, but I don't think anyone gets him who isn't wanting to sign the other brothers, and I don't think we need Taylan or Tyrone and they both can get ****ed.

Honestly, I think we'd look back internally. Colquoun and Williams would become priority retentions. BHU also pending injuries this year. Samuel Hughes has big wraps from Gus this year, but I don't know anything about him. If Teig was not showing elevation, you could explore Angus Crichton. Dogs still want RFM out too.

Otherwise I think talent wise you're waiting till off contract 2025, which has the likes of Utoikamanu, Hopgood, Pole, Josh King, Leo Thompson, Cotter, RCG, Lenui and Barnett. You could get in someones managers ear to get them to open market. It looks slim pickings though to steal an elite middle from someone if its not AFB.
 
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Proud Shark said:
I wasn't discrediting the importance of team harmony at all, it's integral to being a desirable club, esspecially for the non elite clubs.

I was just suggesting that a balance is important. You want players to be happy, and comfortable of course, that is condusive to long term success. But you also want them to understand that the clubs primary goal is winning, not making them happy. If they want to stay together as a group, they need to perform at a standard capable of that, or other options will be explored.
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Yep, you don't want to sign an 'elite' player who will damage team harmony, but you also can't just keep blokes because they get along if they aren't pulling their weight from a success standpoint.

If Fitz could chat with AFB a bit he might get a vibe. Alternately if anyone at club is on good terms with SJ or Metcalf maybe they could get an idea - they'd have to be still in contact rather than just drop it out of the blue you'd think, but no real reason for SJ/Metcalf to lie as AFB already confirmed to be leaving them, regardless of where he goes.
 
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Sharkfox said:
If we miss out on AFB, who should we chase next
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I’d double check if Klemmer is available. Thats all gone quiet so possibly not. There was some rumours that the Knights might be in cap trouble with Best’s new deal and Daniel Saifiti might be available, so there could be an opportunity there if the rumours have legs.

Apart from that there’s not much on the off contract list, you could maybe take a punt on someone like Terrell May, if he wants out of the Roosters and doesn’t go to play with his brothers, but apart from him there isn’t much there that upgrades on what we have, so if we can’t get a deal done for one of the above guys, we just might have to hope Big Ham shakes off the injuries and finds the missing consistency in his game so we can justify keeping him around.

England of course is always an option, but I dont know enough about who’s standing out as a world class front rower over there to really comment about that.

With how the market is at the moment, this might not be a problem we can buy our way out of, we might have to just hope one of the current youngsters we have finds their inner mongrel this season.
 
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Vichyssoise

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stormshark said:
4 yrs is too long IMHO( I was never for the DF term) at 28yo . Don't underestimate impacts of Team harmony. We are in a good spot, subject to smart tinkering. Lets not blow the budget.
Click to expand...

Indeed. We obviously don't know the dynamics within the group, but this is the kind of signing that could sow the seeds of discontent.
There's a lot of upside to adding AFB to the squad, but whether it's really worth it to the club, all things considered, is not something we're in a position to judge properly I reckon.
However, I always get the feeling they're collectively too complacent. And based on the little I know, signing AFB might the kick up the backside some of these blokes probably need.
 
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Johnny B Goode

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Sharkfox said:
If we miss out on AFB, who should we chase next
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Our pack is big enough. Thomas Hazelton, BHU are large humans. Hunt has the biggest bench in the comp.

We need some controlled aggressive behaviour.

That can be learned, if coached well.
 
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Proud Shark said:
I'd say Terrell May, but I don't think anyone gets him who isn't wanting to sign the other brothers, and I don't think we need Taylan or Tyrone and they both can get ****ed.

Honestly, I think we'd look back internally. Colquoun and Williams would become priority retentions. BHU also pending injuries this year. Samuel Hughes has big wraps from Gus this year, but I don't know anything about him. If Teig was not showing elevation, you could explore Angus Crichton. Dogs still want RFM out too.

Otherwise I think talent wise you're waiting till off contract 2025, which has the likes of Utoikamanu, Hopgood, Pole, Josh King, Leo Thompson, Cotter, RCG, Lenui and Barnett. You could get in someones managers ear to get them to open market. It looks slim pickings though to steal an elite middle from someone if its not AFB.
Click to expand...
I'd add Griffin Neame👍🏾
 
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