Re: Transfer Talk / Rumour thread V4 : Thu Sep 07, 2023 4:02 pm  

ArthurClues wrote:

Just don’t think big enforcer type second rows are that important to the way Smith wants them to play. In my opinion his philosophy relies on clever players in the spine positions. We would have won a load more games this year if we had the kind of personnel. There is no way we can address all the perceived weaknesses in one off season, and I think raising the teams IQ might be deemed the most effective action with the constraints of the dreaded cap.

Yes and I can't disagree re the spine positions - and not just there.

Again though Nene I don't think is the smartest although a great athlete and instinctive rugby brain in some ways... Olpherts don't get me on him... so mixed bag in terms of who he's brought in so far.

The problem with a competitive but light second row is that is puts all the pressure on your centres in attack, and too much pressure on your props in the middle. If you look at the amount of D Tommy Holroyd gets through, it's no wonder he has lost impact in his carries he'll be knackered. There is a kinetic reality to rugby league where size and power does count - I think having a terrier in the back row is great to tidy up and scrap for stuff, but I wouldn't have more than one of them ideally were it me.

Re: Transfer Talk / Rumour thread V4 : Thu Sep 07, 2023 4:19 pm  

KaeruJim wrote:

Yes and I can't disagree re the spine positions - and not just there.

Again though Nene I don't think is the smartest although a great athlete and instinctive rugby brain in some ways... Olpherts don't get me on him... so mixed bag in terms of who he's brought in so far.

The problem with a competitive but light second row is that is puts all the pressure on your centres in attack, and too much pressure on your props in the middle. If you look at the amount of D Tommy Holroyd gets through, it's no wonder he has lost impact in his carries he'll be knackered. There is a kinetic reality to rugby league where size and power does count - I think having a terrier in the back row is great to tidy up and scrap for stuff, but I wouldn't have more than one of them ideally were it me.

Agree. The sad thing is that the only reliable place to get players of the size and power you refer to is the NRL, and we only have so many spots.

Re: Transfer Talk / Rumour thread V4 : Thu Sep 07, 2023 4:36 pm  

Yes also true - to contradict myself Bentley is a decent player and still only 25?, so he can and should get better... I just like McDonnell so much this year I want him starting and not having his head turned because he has some real quality about him at times.

Re: Transfer Talk / Rumour thread V4 : Thu Sep 07, 2023 4:39 pm  

It won’t let me quote your message FGB. But I also remember Rohan saying there was nothing in the Frawley claims, multiple times. So your comment was pointless, Rohan never gives anything away, that’s the way he plays things.

Re: Transfer Talk / Rumour thread V4 : Thu Sep 07, 2023 4:52 pm  

I hope signing Fuzzy was in his contract in his favour for the last year?

Because i can't for the life of me think why you'd give him another contract? MENTAL.

Re: Transfer Talk / Rumour thread V4 : Thu Sep 07, 2023 5:09 pm  

sharky64 wrote:

It won’t let me quote your message FGB. But I also remember Rohan saying there was nothing in the Frawley claims, multiple times. So your comment was pointless, Rohan never gives anything away, that’s the way he plays things.

I don’t think he flat out said that’s not happening though like has with Lee

Re: Transfer Talk / Rumour thread V4 : Thu Sep 07, 2023 5:38 pm  

It sounds like talks with Lee broke down quickly?

So lemme get this right: Austin, Sezer, Tet, probably Nene leaving gives us 4x quota spots and we have Miller and Frawley confirmed, so just two left? 7 is a must so the other could be centre, 9 or maybe prop.

Re: Transfer Talk / Rumour thread V4 : Thu Sep 07, 2023 5:46 pm  

KaeruJim wrote:

It sounds like talks with Lee broke down quickly?

So lemme get this right: Austin, Sezer, Tet, probably Nene leaving gives us 4x quota spots and we have Miller and Frawley confirmed, so just two left? 7 is a must so the other could be centre, 9 or maybe prop.

It more sounds like there never were any talks

Re: Transfer Talk / Rumour thread V4 : Thu Sep 07, 2023 5:54 pm  

sharky64 wrote:

It won’t let me quote your message FGB. But I also remember Rohan saying there was nothing in the Frawley claims, multiple times. So your comment was pointless, Rohan never gives anything away, that’s the way he plays things.

The key difference being that with Frawley, Smith said I won't comment on any speculation. Then with Lee he said that move won't be happening and we've not spoken to him. Theres a big difference between the two. If he refuses to comment chances are they're interested, he also took a very different stance with milnes too and flat out rejected that one, so there's a pattern.

Re: Transfer Talk / Rumour thread V4 : Thu Sep 07, 2023 5:58 pm  

KaeruJim wrote:

It sounds like talks with Lee broke down quickly?

So lemme get this right: Austin, Sezer, Tet, probably Nene leaving gives us 4x quota spots and we have Miller and Frawley confirmed, so just two left? 7 is a must so the other could be centre, 9 or maybe prop.

That's right. I said three earlier but appear to have had problems counting. The sun's getting to me.