Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Sat May 14, 2022 9:57 am  

Iv'e been banging the Taupau drum for a couple of years. That would be a great signing if we could pull it off. Not keen on either Proctor or Vaughan. Think it would be a typical Aussie payday swansong with not a lot of effort given. There are a few younger, cheaper options we could explore though. NRL clubs have a habit of making a mess of their props. Christian Welch was heavily linked with us a couple of years ago then got in the Melbourne team because of injuries, he has never been out of it since and is now the best prop in the league.

Rhys Kennedy - 27 years old, 6ft 6" - Not seen much of him to be honest, as in, iv'e seen games with him involved but he has never stood out (apart from his height) but is certainly a unit.

Braden Uele - 27 years old, 6ft 3", Beast of a runner, beast of a tackler, loves an offload but not the fittest

Royce Hunt - 26 years old, 6ft 4", Fit as a fiddle, tackle busting machine who runs hard and has ridiculous pace for a big prop. (He is definitely right at the top of my short list if it was possible)

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Sat May 14, 2022 10:48 am  

Makes little sense the link with Vaughan, unless he’s being offered round on an extremely good deal. He’s a good player, no doubt about it but we seem to be going down the route of getting those 23-25 year old players, on the fringes of NRL first teams. They’re cheaper and they’re hungry to prove a point. I think we’ll carry on with that if quota spots open up.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Sat May 14, 2022 10:59 am  

Tom Burgess perhaps?

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Sat May 14, 2022 11:44 am  

CobraCraig wrote:

I was all up for signing him until I realised he will be 34 at the start of next season. Last season he was one of the best props in the league and he would be a like for like upgrade on Singleton but his age does put he me off him, I’m also guessing that his move maybe based on the length of contract Warrington are willing to offer? I don’t think you’d want to offer much more than a year contract, maybe a second if he hits targets in the first , maybe he wants more stability and is asking for a 3 year deal?

I didn’t realise he was 34, I agree..too old and likely to be looking for a 2 year deal minimum.

We have a good group of props at the moment but just feel we need an enforcer type player to compliment what we have, I’d imagine someone will be leaving at end of current contract so that may have to wait until end of next year.

Some big decision’s to be made regarding who we retain.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Sat May 14, 2022 11:54 am  

dany1979 wrote:

I didn’t realise he was 34, I agree..too old and likely to be looking for a 2 year deal minimum.

We have a good group of props at the moment but just feel we need an enforcer type player to compliment what we have, I’d imagine someone will be leaving at end of current contract so that may have to wait until end of next year.

Some big decision’s to be made regarding who we retain.

I posted on the other forum about the tough balancing act we have between having enough experience in the pack but whilst still being able to bring youngsters through. I look at somebody like Nicholson and I’m convinced he’s a first 17 player within 18 months, so that means players have to make way. You need experience in your pack as well though. Somebody like Isa looks extremely vulnerable but then so do younger players like McDonnell and Partington. If we could get to a position of bringing one real high quality prop in for those sorts of guys, it might be worth doing.

You don’t want to leave yourself too thin but you’ve got KPP to come back, Nicholson coming through, guys like Nsemba, Hill and Bibby at the back of him and if you signed another starting prop, it’s likely somebody like Singleton or Mago would drop in to a back up spot.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Sat May 14, 2022 11:57 am  

There is a video of Royce Hunt https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vntl7VahxBw Edit :- Just read he is the only player in the world that can bench press 200kgs. Utterly outrageous. How this guy doesn't get game time is beyond me.

There is a video of Royce Hunt https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vntl7VahxBw Edit :- Just read he is the only player in the world that can bench press 200kgs. Utterly outrageous. How this guy doesn't get game time is beyond me.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Sat May 14, 2022 12:39 pm  

Pie_Eyter wrote: There is a video of Royce Hunt https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vntl7VahxBw Edit :- Just read he is the only player in the world that can bench press 200kgs. Utterly outrageous. How this guy doesn't get game time is beyond me. to be fair they were 3 years ago and all in reserve games

Pie_Eyter wrote: There is a video of Royce Hunt https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vntl7VahxBw Edit :- Just read he is the only player in the world that can bench press 200kgs. Utterly outrageous. How this guy doesn't get game time is beyond me. to be fair they were 3 years ago and all in reserve games

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Sat May 14, 2022 2:07 pm  

NickyKiss wrote:

I posted on the other forum about the tough balancing act we have between having enough experience in the pack but whilst still being able to bring youngsters through. I look at somebody like Nicholson and I’m convinced he’s a first 17 player within 18 months, so that means players have to make way. You need experience in your pack as well though. Somebody like Isa looks extremely vulnerable but then so do younger players like McDonnell and Partington. If we could get to a position of bringing one real high quality prop in for those sorts of guys, it might be worth doing.

You don’t want to leave yourself too thin but you’ve got KPP to come back, Nicholson coming through, guys like Nsemba, Hill and Bibby at the back of him and if you signed another starting prop, it’s likely somebody like Singleton or Mago would drop in to a back up spot.

I'm not 100% that a prop is the only option. A big rangy 2nd row, or 13 would also add something to this side. This name is more of an example as he's OOC, but if you added a Ryan Matterson, we wouldn't need a prop. He'd add extra size, skill and a point of difference to either 12 or 13.

If the club still want to go down the prop route, then do I think that Ellis could play 13 too, which opens up a spot on the prop rotation.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Sun May 15, 2022 1:52 am  

Pieman wrote:

to be fair they were 3 years ago and all in reserve games

Granted, but we signed Jai Field and Bevan French on the back of reserve grade NRL without too many highlights. I Guarantee you Royce would tear this league apart.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Sun May 15, 2022 7:53 am  

Pie_Eyter wrote:

Granted, but we signed Jai Field and Bevan French on the back of reserve grade NRL without too many highlights. I Guarantee you Royce would tear this league apart.

He's an aggressive runner, with good footwork and speed. He loves the collision. He'd be worth a punt as long as he hasn't. Gone backwards from those videos.