2023 Recruitment & Retention Thread

Rumours going around that apparently niu is free to negotiate for a release for 23. If that's the case I can see us go hard for him, otherwise the dolphins will go for him.
 
Albert Hopoate is off contract according to Zero Tackle, not sure how up to date that is.

Albert a little like hogo, said to be very talent but injuries have held him back last few years

If we're going full ball on KP being a 5/8 we need to get a win by convincing Giants to release Smith or pick up another young FB who has played fuulback in 1st grade to go toe to toe with Hodgo. I personally think Hodgo will go well, but he has barely played due to injury and needs a massive off season and some game time to convince any1 let alone himself.

Otherwise it'll be KP FB and Gamble 5/8 with Hastings
 
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BTP said:
Albert Hopoate is off contract according to Zero Tackle, not sure how up to date that is.

Albert a little like hogo, said to be very talent but injuries have held him back last few years

If we're going full ball on KP being a 5/8 we need to get a win by convincing Giants to release Smith or pick up another young FB who has played fuulback in 1st grade to go toe to toe with Hodgo. I personally think Hodgo will go well, but he has barely played due to injury and needs a massive off season and some game time to convince any1 let alone himself.

Otherwise it'll be KP FB and Gamble 5/8 with Hastings
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I remember watching a game in juniors and it was braddy best vs hoppa. One of them "hyped" up games where hoppa was meant to school best in the fullback play.......turns out braddy schooled him. Reminded me of a joey v dragons game many years ago where he single handedly pulled them to pieces.

If we go with gamble, Hastings halves and leave ponga at the back then it's just what we have to work with. It's not the worst, it's not the best but I can see it working out ok.
 
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danknights said:
I remember watching a game in juniors and it was braddy best vs hoppa. One of them "hyped" up games where hoppa was meant to school best in the fullback play.......turns out braddy schooled him. Reminded me of a joey v dragons game many years ago where he single handedly pulled them to pieces.

If we go with gamble, Hastings halves and leave ponga at the back then it's just what we have to work with. It's not the worst, it's not the best but I can see it working out ok.
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I think that will end up being the go. Absolutely nothing wrong with halves depth of Hastings, Gamble, Clune and Crossland. If injuries are fair its a spine that will be competitive, which currently, off last season is all im looking for. No heart last year. I want heart and desire in each and every game.
 
I think there will be a lot of player signings for 2024 after the world cup. Which will see players move early and hopefully a decent fullback ends up available
 
R4D5 said:
Dom drops way too many bombs. Did you see the kick he dropped for England against Samoa.... terrible
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Didn't he only drop that one ball in the whole world cup , if im remembering right thats pretty good especially for a 20 yr old .
 
I hope we don't try to blow the Dolphins out of the water because of desperation. Offer Niu a contract worthy of him and if he gets a better deal at the Dolphins let him go.
 
Most young guys arn't great under high balls and if they are really terrible they couldn't get away with playing wing anymore than fullback because every kick would target them.
 
krustykraz said:
Hopefully the club sees Niu as a stop gap until we sign a big fish.
He should be cheap.
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He won't be cheap. Or at least, he won't accept a low offer from us, when he's already close to Redcliffe and would otherwise have to uproot his life to move here for low money.
 
HarVeeGee13 said:
It’s so funny. He had probably the best game of his career in Origin 3, which seemed to be a “penny drop” game for him. Later that week, yeah we lost (the Manly game), but he played with a much more aggressive & direct run-first mindset. Seemed like we might have been about to see Ponga The Elite Fullback rather than just Ponga The Elite Attacking Weapon (Who Happens To Play Fullback).

Then he was concussed 5 mins into the next game and may be playing five-eighth next year. 😂
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Totally agree. He looked great. My non Newcastle supporting mates noticed the difference too.
 
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