Re: What we currently look like for 2023 : Tue Oct 18, 2022 8:35 am  

Spookisback wrote:

There are two so far for me… Nathan Brown who’s been out of favour with Parramatta… his recall to the GF team was a big surprise .. he almost carried the Italian team single handedly against Scotland

and the player we were linked with but he went to the wrong team and struggled under Daryl Powell… Billy Magoulias who was mr perpetual motion tonight for Greece..

Both are pack leaders with great hands and versatility.

I think Brown would get another decent NRL gig. The Redcliffe Dolphins would throw money at him because no one is going there. His constant absence from the Eels side seemed to be a mystery to the media, so it didn't seem to have anything to do with form.

What the performance of some of the "stars" so far, and also evident when NRL names come over here, is that as individual players they are not always that far ahead. What makes them stand out is the fact that everyone in the team is usually of a high standard. It's often their team depth that creates the magic (I'm not talking about the stand-out superstars like Trbojevic or Latrell Mitchell).

The point is we never know until they arrive. A young NRL player hoping to make a name for himself can end up pratting about on Westgate all the time (think Pauli Pauli or Leo-Latu) just as much as they can seize the opportunity. A past-it NRL player can see it either as a climbdown and cruise, or a glorious extension of their career and enjoy it.

Re: What we currently look like for 2023 : Tue Oct 18, 2022 8:44 am  

Fully agree about Magoulias.

He had a great game, and I think only 25/26, so coming into his prime.

We have a good connection too, regarding Greek Aussies.

Re: What we currently look like for 2023 : Tue Oct 18, 2022 11:21 am  

IMHO Nathan Brown would be the best pick of the 2. He still seems available and has played reserve grade most of this year. He’d a top player at 29 with proven NRL pedigree. He’d be a great signing for Trinity and at 6 foot 1 and 16 1/2 stone can play lock/prop aswell as be a good pack leader…. ‘On 16 June, Brown was demoted to reserve grade by the Parramatta club and given permission to negotiate with other clubs. Brown had 18 months remaining on his contract but he was informed by Parramatta that he was not part of their future plans.[31] After being left out of the Parramatta side for almost three months, ‘ https://m.youtube.com/shorts/3WRODlHq7OY

IMHO Nathan Brown would be the best pick of the 2. He still seems available and has played reserve grade most of this year. He’d a top player at 29 with proven NRL pedigree. He’d be a great signing for Trinity and at 6 foot 1 and 16 1/2 stone can play lock/prop aswell as be a good pack leader…. ‘On 16 June, Brown was demoted to reserve grade by the Parramatta club and given permission to negotiate with other clubs. Brown had 18 months remaining on his contract but he was informed by Parramatta that he was not part of their future plans.[31] After being left out of the Parramatta side for almost three months, ‘ https://m.youtube.com/shorts/3WRODlHq7OY

Re: What we currently look like for 2023 : Tue Oct 18, 2022 11:38 am  

My list of players who I thought could be worth a look so far is:

Nakubawaii (Fiji) prop
Kalache (Lebanon) prop

There was a second rower who looked good in the Lebanon game too (might have been 17).

I’m looking forward to tonight’s game of rugby.

Re: What we currently look like for 2023 : Tue Oct 18, 2022 11:39 am  

asmadasa wrote: IMHO Nathan Brown would be the best pick of the 2. He still seems available and has played reserve grade most of this year. He’d a top player at 29 with proven NRL pedigree. He’d be a great signing for Trinity and at 6 foot 1 and 16 1/2 stone can play lock/prop aswell as be a good pack leader…. ‘On 16 June, Brown was demoted to reserve grade by the Parramatta club and given permission to negotiate with other clubs. Brown had 18 months remaining on his contract but he was informed by Parramatta that he was not part of their future plans.[31] After being left out of the Parramatta side for almost three months, ‘ https://m.youtube.com/shorts/3WRODlHq7OY Frankly we could money permitting have them both. Magoulias is for long term and hugely versatile. Brown is the instant upgrade that will get people taking notice. Because Magoulias can at a pinch play 6 we can get away with the Lino, Smith and Gaskell and perhaps another speculator in the HB's. Those two along with Whitbread would give us a genuinely classy feel, well backed up with those we already have - not forgetting one of the best up and coming forwards in Eseh.

asmadasa wrote: IMHO Nathan Brown would be the best pick of the 2. He still seems available and has played reserve grade most of this year. He’d a top player at 29 with proven NRL pedigree. He’d be a great signing for Trinity and at 6 foot 1 and 16 1/2 stone can play lock/prop aswell as be a good pack leader…. ‘On 16 June, Brown was demoted to reserve grade by the Parramatta club and given permission to negotiate with other clubs. Brown had 18 months remaining on his contract but he was informed by Parramatta that he was not part of their future plans.[31] After being left out of the Parramatta side for almost three months, ‘ https://m.youtube.com/shorts/3WRODlHq7OY Frankly we could money permitting have them both. Magoulias is for long term and hugely versatile. Brown is the instant upgrade that will get people taking notice. Because Magoulias can at a pinch play 6 we can get away with the Lino, Smith and Gaskell and perhaps another speculator in the HB's. Those two along with Whitbread would give us a genuinely classy feel, well backed up with those we already have - not forgetting one of the best up and coming forwards in Eseh.

Re: What we currently look like for 2023 : Tue Oct 18, 2022 12:39 pm  

Not a prayer we are affording Brown. He's got a year left on his contract which is openly reported as $580K, there's no way he's walking away from that. Even if the Eels stumped up half he'd cost us £150K+ next year. Sadly i can't see that happening especially given he also apparently has interest in the NRL.

As for Magoulias his wife/partner failed to settle over here so I doubt he'd be back long term. They are also expecting their first child before the end of the year I believe so that makes it even more unlikely.

Re: What we currently look like for 2023 : Tue Oct 18, 2022 1:25 pm  

Sacred Cow wrote:

Not a prayer we are affording Brown. He's got a year left on his contract which is openly reported as $580K, there's no way he's walking away from that. Even if the Eels stumped up half he'd cost us £150K+ next year. Sadly i can't see that happening especially given he also apparently has interest in the NRL.

As for Magoulias his wife/partner failed to settle over here so I doubt he'd be back long term. They are also expecting their first child before the end of the year I believe so that makes it even more unlikely.

People are just chatting, it’s a bit of fun, we don’t know what the plans are and neither do you, so none of us are in a position to be certain.

Nothing is impossible but yes it’s unlikely, but for now why not dream the dream?

Re: What we currently look like for 2023 : Tue Oct 18, 2022 1:45 pm  

Sacred Cow wrote: Not a prayer we are affording Brown. He's got a year left on his contract which is openly reported as $580K, there's no way he's walking away from that. Even if the Eels stumped up half he'd cost us £150K+ next year. Sadly i can't see that happening especially given he also apparently has interest in the NRL.. Eels apparently are happy to pay towards his contract in 2023 to get him off their books but can he still demand that sort of contract going into his 30s playing reserve grade football with only potential documented NRL interest from West Tigers? https://www.zerotackle.com/eels-prop-ey ... ll-123624/

Sacred Cow wrote: Not a prayer we are affording Brown. He's got a year left on his contract which is openly reported as $580K, there's no way he's walking away from that. Even if the Eels stumped up half he'd cost us £150K+ next year. Sadly i can't see that happening especially given he also apparently has interest in the NRL.. Eels apparently are happy to pay towards his contract in 2023 to get him off their books but can he still demand that sort of contract going into his 30s playing reserve grade football with only potential documented NRL interest from West Tigers? https://www.zerotackle.com/eels-prop-ey ... ll-123624/

[PopTart]

Re: What we currently look like for 2023 : Tue Oct 18, 2022 3:07 pm  

This is a good summary of where everyone is with quota spots https://www.seriousaboutrl.com/revealed ... lls-60658/

This is a good summary of where everyone is with quota spots https://www.seriousaboutrl.com/revealed ... lls-60658/

Re: What we currently look like for 2023 : Tue Oct 18, 2022 4:38 pm  

PopTart wrote: This is a good summary of where everyone is with quota spots https://www.seriousaboutrl.com/revealed ... lls-60658/ Interesting or maybe a bit scary that St Helens are looking for a replacement for Regan Grace, hopefully Wellens isn't too keen on Murphy.

PopTart wrote: This is a good summary of where everyone is with quota spots https://www.seriousaboutrl.com/revealed ... lls-60658/ Interesting or maybe a bit scary that St Helens are looking for a replacement for Regan Grace, hopefully Wellens isn't too keen on Murphy.