2023 Recruitment & Retention Thread

[Roundtable]

I underestimated this club again.
I thought surely Brooks was signed because we released Cliff. After releasing Pearce without a replacement they haven't learnt.
I prefer Hastings over Brooks but we could still end up with nothing.
"Forward Thinking ?"

The leadership at the club is dreadful.

 

[Krambach]

Bailey hodgeson is the missing man here imo. I know he has a bad injury but he seemed to have bigger wraps on him at fullback than Pryce?

Its a gutsy move, but I'd throw him to the wolves at the start of 2023 and see if he floats or sinks. Don't think Mann etc is the way to go

 

[Lefty]

Bailey hodgeson is the missing man here imo. I know he has a bad injury but he seemed to have bigger wraps on him at fullback than Pryce?

Its a gutsy move, but I'd throw him to the wolves at the start of 2023 and see if he floats or sinks. Don't think Mann etc is the way to go

It is has been established beyond doubt that Mann’s best position is left right out.

 

[Battler]

Bailey hodgeson is the missing man here imo. I know he has a bad injury but he seemed to have bigger wraps on him at fullback than Pryce?

Its a gutsy move, but I'd throw him to the wolves at the start of 2023 and see if he floats or sinks. Don't think Mann etc is the way to go

I don't disagree. I guess the only issue is whether his elbow is right. If he goes down again early in the season, we will be in trouble.

 

[frankLauda]

It is has been established beyond doubt that Mann’s best position is left right out.

There's alot of Mann bashing on here. I actually thought he looked good at the beginning of the season in the "ball playing" lock position. But you argue everyone looked good those first few games. He's a good back up for injuries and off the bench utility.

 

[Les Misérables]

There's alot of Mann bashing on here. I actually thought he looked good at the beginning of the season in the "ball playing" lock position. But you argue everyone looked good those first few games. He's a good back up for injuries and off the bench utility.

He did look good. Was great, actually. Hit like a rock in defence, I was surprised. Problem, though, was he was unable to sustain it due to injuries, which probably has to do with the fact that he just doesn't have it physically to play that role for longer than a few games without things falling apart on him.

The frustrating part was AOB refusing to acknowledge this fact and just persisting with it anyway

 

[Rough Night]

He did look good. Was great, actually. Hit like a rock in defence, I was surprised. Problem, though, was he was unable to sustain it due to injuries, which probably has to do with the fact that he just doesn't have it physically to play that role for longer than a few games without things falling apart on him.

The frustrating part was AOB refusing to acknowledge this fact and just persisting with it anyway

Totally agree.
Most sides have quality yet ageing players in their reserve squad. Why not us.
Let Mann, Fitz, Tuala & co. help guide the younger guys (& possibly new englishmen) coming through to grade. They can always play nrl if injuries or form dictate.

They can fight for positions as far as I'm concerned

Again agree but furthermore...
Not only the young englishmen, how about we let the ageing and no so great/consistent players force their way back into our nrl side due to their consistent merit; not by paycheck expectancy or coach favouritism.
How long has it been since that was our case or mantra???

 

[krustykraz]

Is Corey Allan a better option than Niu?
Bulldogs are shopping him around.

 

[slotmachine]

There are no good outcomes for 2023, only less bad ones.

 

[Oliver]

Bailey hodgeson is the missing man here imo. I know he has a bad injury but he seemed to have bigger wraps on him at fullback than Pryce?

Its a gutsy move, but I'd throw him to the wolves at the start of 2023 and see if he floats or sinks. Don't think Mann etc is the way to go

Hodgeson just needs to get his body right in reserve grade for a year. We will finally have some depth at fullback in 2024 with him, Armstrong and Pyrce.
So signing someone like Niu for more than a year is a waste of money but something I can see us doing

 

[Ethan]

Hunt seems to be on the outer for some reason ( does anyone know why ) he played well for us before injury. If he is on the outer then let him go and sign Niu instead .
Hodgson hasn't really shown anything yet other than he has a suspect elbow , which you use a fair bit in rugby league.
I hope he comes good though as said he had big raps on him , so hopefully he turns out to be a world beater .
We certainly could use that this coming season .

 

[Maxibon]

Hunt seems to be on the outer for some reason ( does anyone know why ) he played well for us before injury. If he is on the outer then let him go and sign Niu instead .

Hunt wouldn’t be on much, we could easily have both.

 

[Roundtable]

Is Corey Allan a better option than Niu?
Bulldogs are shopping him around.

I like Niu much more than Corey Allan

 

[HarVeeGee13]

Niu or Allan? A bit like asking if I’d rather be shot or stabbed.

 

[Good Times]

Niu or Allan? A bit like asking if I’d rather be shot or stabbed.

(Players, that is )

 

[JOJO82]

We should be targetting George Williams to play halfback......

I know he left Canberra but didn't he say he wanted to be close to beaches or something like that....Newy has plenty

 

[Kurriboy]

My only concern with losing Klemmer is we place a big reliance on the twins, and for mine they haven't been up to filling that void and becoming the dominant forwards we need them to be.

But at this stage, and the club moving Ponga to 5/8, we have to get him a competent 7 to partner with. Klem swap gets us there hopefully. Without a competent 7 it will continue to be the give it to Ponga show, easily shut down and we can't climb the ladder no matter who we have in the forwards.

 

[frankLauda]

Albiet the Safs had average year last year particularly D-saf with injuries. But he does have a quick play the ball for a big man. And that's how that game is played now. Get down low, play the ball quick and get a roll on.

Hard one with Klem. Could say he is the opposite. Sure he makes meters with his walking backwards style. But by the time he plays the ball defensive lines seem set.

I'd have to start paying more attention to the top forwards in the game, but obviously why someone like Cam Murray is so dangerous, he plays the ball quick and South's/cook get momentum from that.

 

[HarVeeGee13]

Klem would still be effective if he developed as a more intelligent ball player, to take advantage of how many bodies he draws into tackles, but it always seemed one step forward two steps back with that aspect of his game. Which is a shame because he’s surprisingly skilful for a big bopper.

 

[frankLauda]

So I've read more articles this morning on the player sway between Hastings and Klem. So I guess the negotiations are about the tigers paying for some of Klem's $800K? I wonder what Hastings was on?