2023 Recruitment & Retention Thread

krustykraz said:
If that's the case hopefully he comes here this year and has a year to settle in and start in Cup.
Hopefully Wests aren't to tight to pay a transfer fee.

Huddersfield signing Jake Connar could help with them releasing Pryce.
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He'll learn more in a season of Superleague then a season of NSW Cup, which is a bit of a joke these days.

Only thing he'd pick up on in Newcastle is our pre-season, but he's already missed that.
 
krustykraz said:
I like the look of Lachlan Miller and what he offers.
But surely the 3rd string fullback of the Sharks doesnt become our first choice.
We should still be aiming for a gun fullback.
But if we can't get one for 2023 we should still be signing one for 2024 and pushing for a release.
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he was hardly a 3rd string fullback mate, he got 7 games and the other fullback got 2 games so I think its obvious who was second string. They gave dykes game time just incase him and miller were needed for finals. So Miller being second string fullback in a top 4 team isn't the worst signing we could get for a run on fullback with plenty more potential.

Look at Drinkwater 3rd or 4th string at Storm, Laurie as 3rd string at Panthers to one of Tigers best players two years running, CNK as second string at raiders, Te Maire Martin at Broncs or Garrick at Manly. Plenty of quality backups getting around, the bonus is he's a backup in a top 4 side
 
JuniorFromNewyy said:
he was hardly a 3rd string fullback mate, he got 7 games and the other fullback got 2 games so I think its obvious who was second string. They gave dykes game time just incase him and miller were needed for finals. So Miller being second string fullback in a top 4 team isn't the worst signing we could get for a run on fullback with plenty more potential.

Look at Drinkwater 3rd or 4th string at Storm, Laurie as 3rd string at Panthers to one of Tigers best players two years running, CNK as second string at raiders, Te Maire Martin at Broncs or Garrick at Manly. Plenty of quality backups getting around, the bonus is he's a backup in a top 4 side
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Laurie as one of Tigers best is just plain wrong. He is awful in a awful side.

Drinkwater was actually next in line once Slater retired but injuries kept knocking him back.
 
cowboyman said:
Laurie as one of Tigers best is just plain wrong. He is awful in a awful side.

Drinkwater was actually next in line once Slater retired but injuries kept knocking him back.
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Laurie got Tigers players player this season (2022) and in 2021 got tigers player of the year. So good judges have him playing well in an awful team, but everyone's entitled to an opinion.

Drinkwater WAS next in line about a season or so before he left Melbourne, by the time later retired and when he left he was 4th and 3rd in line respectively.
 
JuniorFromNewyy said:
Laurie got Tigers players player this season (2022) and in 2021 got tigers player of the year. So good judges have him playing well in an awful team, but everyone's entitled to an opinion.

Drinkwater WAS next in line about a season or so before he left Melbourne, by the time later retired and when he left he was 4th and 3rd in line respectively.
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I haven’t heard CBM say anyone other than a Cowboys player is any good in about a decade, so I wouldn’t worry. If it was up to him there’d be about 12 players left in the competition.
 
JuniorFromNewyy said:
Laurie got Tigers players player this season (2022) and in 2021 got tigers player of the year. So good judges have him playing well in an awful team, but everyone's entitled to an opinion.

Drinkwater WAS next in line about a season or so before he left Melbourne, by the time later retired and when he left he was 4th and 3rd in line respectively.
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Yes he was in line to replace Slater and like I said injuries knocked him back. The only reason Paps got a go was because he got injured.

Slater retires at the end of 2018 and guess who was lined up as his replacement….

“Drinkwater made his NRL debut for the Melbourne Storm in Round 25 in 2018 and was earmarked as a first grade regular in 2019 before suffering a pec injury in the Storm’s final trial game.”

What year did Paps debut do you ask?

2019 when funnily enough Drinkwater had done his bicep while being earmarked as Slater’s replacement.
 
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Herald article saying we are closing in on signing Miller and talks about what that means for Ponga.
The article says Ponga has noticeably bulked up for his move to the halves - can't say I've noticed.

It says the only 2 fullbacks we will have on our 30 man roster will be yet to debut Hodgson and 7 game Rugby convert Miller who is 28 years old.
Says Miller is from Coffs Harbour and that he helped Newtown win a minor premiership last year.

www.newcastleherald.com.au

Shark attack: Knights close in on No.1 option

The Knights have identified the former sevens player to play fullback.
www.newcastleherald.com.au www.newcastleherald.com.au
 
I don't know how much intel the Herald get these days - they probably saw it reported on here or zero tackle.

I thought Ponga has looked quite big, but he may have gotten to that size last season, not sure.

Yes, he's from Coffs. I read he was stoked that the Sharks were playing an NRL game in Coffs in 2023, but seeing as though it's against the Knights, he'll still get to play in front of friends and family regardless.
 
slotmachine said:
If Adam Elliott isn't playing lock AOB is confirmed as useless, even taking his four GFs into account. Elliott been an ordinary edge forward his whole career but came to life at the Raiders in the 13 jersey.

Gamble should be playing reserves if we want to achieve anything.
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thats true, forgot about Elliot to be honest. Maybe Gamble was a stop-gap signing in case no one else became available..
 
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