2021 signing rumours

Sh*ts all over Mann so already makes the team stronger. Signed a 1 year extension this year but I guess if he gets a multi year offer from any club he would be mad not to think about it.

Cowboys do seem to be looking at squeezing someone out to make cap room so who knows. Might depend on if they get McGuire out or not. He is in something like 800k.

Very reliable poster on the Cowboys forum says his mail has Benji ending up at the Sharks as well so Cowboys may not even release Clifford if they don’t get Benji.
It says he is a half and 5/8 is he any better at one than the other , would he benefit with more room at 5/8 . Maybe Clifford to half and Pearce to 5/8 would be the go if we get him of course.
 
That still leaves Mann, Watson and Clifford in firsts? Only way that fits is Mann right centre, Clifford 5/8 and Watson 14 with Crossland and Hoy waiting/hoping for an injury and none of that is great.
Mann to 14 covering 1,2,3,4,5,6,7, Watson 15 covering 13 and 9 if 11 or 12 need replacing 13 goes there and Watson to 13 16 and 17 x2 props .
No chance would i play Mann at centre when we have Best , Tuala , Shiba , Hunt , Young even Simi all centre's .
 
I'm guessing Clifford has played a fair bit of footy with Ponga

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It says he is a half and 5/8 is he any better at one than the other , would he benefit with more room at 5/8 . Maybe Clifford to half and Pearce to 5/8 would be the go if we get him of course.

Definitely a half. A very good organising and game controlling one at that in the juniors. Had his footy coached out of him by Green and lost a lot of confidence because of him. Give him a clean slate and tell him to play his game and on natural instincts and watch him go.

Dominated juniors and then first year in Q-Cup and then Green got his hands on him.
 
Im not so sure that replacing Fitzy in the forwards with Mann is smart money at all .
 
The smart money is a reference to a conversation with someone whos still has connections to the club. It appears that they are maybe considering a Cameron Murray style player with more mobility, greater leg speed and a high work rate. Watson could then come on to replace him with more of the sane, increasing the tempo in the middle of the ruck.
 
The smart money is a reference to a conversation with someone whos still has connections to the club. It appears that they are maybe considering a Cameron Murray style player with more mobility, greater leg speed and a high work rate. Watson could then come on to replace him with more of the sane, increasing the tempo in the middle of the ruck.
That sounds like a good way to adapt to the new rule changes. Most sides are probably looking at smaller, harder working locks for next season. Chris Randall, with his fitness, high workrate, great defence and good running game would also be a good option if we don't need him at hooker.
The perfect player would be a Ben Kennedy type, with the high workrate, but also with the size and strength to defend strongly - but we probably won't find a Ben Kennedy type soon.
 
The thought of Mann in the centre’s might not be too bad really. He is very strong and we have seen him will his way to the line multiple times. The only issue I have is I think he will naturally run his winger out of room with his running style. I’d just about have him at lock I think.
 
There are two things to consider here:

- AOB is a big believer in Mann and his contribution to the team
- is desperate to get Watson back into the 14 jumper to up the tempo in the middle of the ruck

I believe that Fitzgibbon has not evolved his game over the past 2 seasons and has become a one trick pony.
 
There are two things to consider here:

- AOB is a big believer in Mann and his contribution to the team
- is desperate to get Watson back into the 14 jumper to up the tempo in the middle of the ruck

I believe that Fitzgibbon has not evolved his game over the past 2 seasons and has become a one trick pony.
Fitz has improved his defence out of sight over the last 2 years. He needed to. His attack has gone backwards if anything.
 
His workrate is up overall. Ponga has gone away from working on the left meaning Fitz isn't his go to player anymore.

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Billy, I was referring to his attack. There is no variation in his attack, just trying to hit a hole down the left side off either a Pearce or Ponga flat ball. The opposition defenses are reading this easily. The top sides have edge backrowers with good footwork at the line and can ball play.

Excluding the Safiti’s we lack forwards with good leg speed, which Frizell will bring. We need more creativity with the balk from our backrowers. Look at Penrith and the footwork and ball playing of Yeo and Kikau.
 
Using Mann and Watson as middle forwards gives both of them a pretty important role for next year and instantly makes our front row depth look better as we aren't using six props a game with some playing 13, back to four.

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2021 team could be pretty good with a 5/8 and a couple of extra forwards.
1.Ponga
2.Lee
3.Tuala
4.Best
5.Hunt
6.Green/Clifford/Crossland
7.Pearce
8.Klem
9.Brailey
10.D.Saf
11.Frizzel
12.Barnett
13.Mann

14.Watson
15.J.saf
16.Fitz
17.Saulo/Sione/King

Would be nice depth of we can keep Sione, re-sign King/Jones and buy one experienced type prop.
 
Would definitely take Clifford. Cowboys would be crazy to let him go considering how injury prone Morgan is. One more serious injury and it might be the end of him.
 
O'Brien tried a lot of guys at lock in 2020 - Barnett, Mann, Watson, Eseese, Sione, Jones, Guerra, Jake Saifiti.
He was clearly looking at the rule changes and what team changes would help us exploit them.

If Jones could improve his fitness he could be a good option. Pretty mobile forward with some playmaking skills - he just doesn't have the high workrate we would want.

A left field option no one will agree with -Bradman Best would be a hell of a weapon at lock.
 
Hope the clifford rumour is true, he has every skill a half needs including power and size. Under a coach like aob I think he could kill it. Its a matter of time before he breaks out imo and he will be in the qld conversation next year or the year after. And Mann at lock strikes me as a fantastic idea. Not enough ball playing for 5/8 but more than most 13's. I think next year is shaping up to be a very exciting year!
 
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