Phoenix Crossland discussion

Will Brailey even be fit by round 1 next year? We might be starting another year short again. I'll be disappointed if the club is not proactive in the off-season trying to find a new potential long term hooker. I don't think the top clubs would be sitting around waiting the two years for his contract to end after 3 season ending injuries. Every year is important, moves should be made, we can't sit around in a perpetual mindset of "this year is gone, but things will be better next year". Crossland is a tough bugger that is improving, but can he be a premiership level winning hooker? If not, and the club decides he's plan B, then we've failed already.
 
I’m really happy to see him come along. Hearing him speak in an interview a few weeks ago he sounds like a likeable and intelligent young man so you can see too why his team mates would enjoy his company. Hope he keeps going onwards and upwards. I’d see him as a great utility as others have mentioned and just give Brailey a break when needed and jump in anywhere else. Take Manns current spot basically.
 
Matty23 said:
And if Crossland gets injured, then what? Have no NRL ready hookers at our disposal? Not the smartest choice.
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I reckon we could buy a pretty good back up hooker with Braileys $600,000 or keep Mann as the 14 and back up hooker ...
 
Joshhh said:
Will Brailey even be fit by round 1 next year? We might be starting another year short again. I'll be disappointed if the club is not proactive in the off-season trying to find a new potential long term hooker. I don't think the top clubs would be sitting around waiting the two years for his contract to end after 3 season ending injuries. Every year is important, moves should be made, we can't sit around in a perpetual mindset of "this year is gone, but things will be better next year". Crossland is a tough bugger that is improving, but can he be a premiership level winning hooker? If not, and the club decides he's plan B, then we've failed already.
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Crossland just played an almost perfect hookers game against melbourne so who says hes not NRL standard he looks it to me .
 
Everyone been wanting knight sign a “genuine 9” to have as back up for Brails. Now we have a genuine 9 to back up Brails but now you want to punt Brails, so therefore weakening the position again?? Sheesh.

Having Brails, Crossy and Jones all at different levels in their career is awesome for the club. If Brails stays fit, he’s a wonderful 9, Crossy a wonderful back up and Jones has much, MUCH to learn but could do worse then learning from these two clubman infront of him.

A troublesome position for the club the 9 has been now looks strong for yrs to come.
 
Joshhh said:
Will Brailey even be fit by round 1 next year? We might be starting another year short again. I'll be disappointed if the club is not proactive in the off-season trying to find a new potential long term hooker. I don't think the top clubs would be sitting around waiting the two years for his contract to end after 3 season ending injuries. Every year is important, moves should be made, we can't sit around in a perpetual mindset of "this year is gone, but things will be better next year". Crossland is a tough bugger that is improving, but can he be a premiership level winning hooker? If not, and the club decides he's plan B, then we've failed already.
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Given Braily's injury history not sure another club would want to take over his contract . Unless he does his knee again & he is medically retired, we are stuck with him for 2 more years? . He is certainly due fora change of luck . Never use to rate Crossland but fair to say he has grown on me . Tough kid with a big motor . Not sure there would be too many other players who could perform as good with limited preparation After another offseason it might be Brailey thats coming off the bench?
 
BTP said:
If Brails stays fit, he’s a wonderful 9
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with history as a witness this is a very big IF . So far injured over 60% of the time.

Surely there's better options available somewhere? No club in their right mind would take him off our hands but I'd certainly be tapping him on the shoulder come end of this contract.
 
BTP said:
Everyone been wanting knight sign a “genuine 9” to have as back up for Brails. Now we have a genuine 9 to back up Brails but now you want to punt Brails, so therefore weakening the position again?? Sheesh.

Having Brails, Crossy and Jones all at different levels in their career is awesome for the club. If Brails stays fit, he’s a wonderful 9, Crossy a wonderful back up and Jones has much, MUCH to learn but could do worse then learning from these two clubman infront of him.

A troublesome position for the club the 9 has been now looks strong for yrs to come.
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Since when has the position been strong with Brailey here and don't forget were not talking about a SOO player or Kangaroo and at $600,000 and always injured ... Imo let him go and either use someone we have or buy a good back up for Crossland who i also think could play 80 min easilly.
 
Ethan said:
Since when has the position been strong with Brailey here and don't forget were not talking about a SOO player or Kangaroo and at $600,000 and always injured ... Imo let him go and either use someone we have or buy a good back up for Crossland who i also think could play 80 min easilly.
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Bradley fit, he plays.
Give Crosby and Jones big time with Bederus in the off season to strengthen our hooker role.
What I saw Crossy do against Melbourne on Saturday night was amazing compared to his performance 10 rounds ago. What a huge improvement in all areas, and he was tough!
 
Yehp, add me to the list.
Was amazed we’d resigned him, didn’t hear much at the end of last season if he’d be around or not.
First bit of the season, was poor, didn’t offer much, killed a few attacks.
And that initial switch to hooker was dicey.

But he’s improved out of sight.
Definitely performing above average as a backup hooker atm.
His defence is tenacious and tough. Watch a replay of his tackles and you can see on his face he’s putting in 100%. Not pretty sometimes but he ain’t giving up.
And his attack has improved. He seemed to go back to basics and now is starting to look for those run cues. Have been impressed.
Long may it continue.
 
Ethan said:
Since when has the position been strong with Brailey here and don't forget were not talking about a SOO player or Kangaroo and at $600,000 and always injured ... Imo let him go and either use someone we have or buy a good back up for Crossland who i also think could play 80 min easilly.
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You can’t just get rid of somebody. Another team has to want to take their contract or, we’ve got to pay freight. Brailey is too good a player and leader for our team for us to pay him to play somewhere else.
 
I would be pretty sure other clubs would be looking at Crossland as a permanent first grader. If he isn't quite as good as Brailey he's not far off and is way cheaper and at this stage more durable. I doubt that Brailey would get a run at another club on decent money given the injury concerns.
 
Ethan said:
Since when has the position been strong with Brailey here and don't forget were not talking about a SOO player or Kangaroo and at $600,000 and always injured ... Imo let him go and either use someone we have or buy a good back up for Crossland who i also think could play 80 min easilly.
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There is no current 9 on market or available who would cost the same as Brailey nor would they hold a candle to his talent.

This is what pisses me off about armchair fans. "just go buy another 9 who's better and injury free". You can't just go buy someone with the click of your fingers and hope it fixes everything. We aren't the West Tigers or Bulldogs!! Brails Was that player we signed to be better and injury free. He is a WONDERFUL club captain and hugely respected amongst the players. Guarantee you if he comes back and stay healthy and has a great yr next yr it will lift the players comradery and abilities even more. Nothing will make them happier and closer as a group then to see Brails and the team be successful.

PLUS Ethan! If it leaves a bad taste in my mouth of the thought of the club punting someone like Brails after what he's been through - A yr early on his contract - i can guarantee to you it would leave a VERY bad taste in the squad, so much so it'd be to the detriment of the squad.
 
BTP said:
There is no current 9 on market or available who would cost the same as Brailey nor would they hold a candle to his talent.

This is what pisses me off about armchair fans. "just go buy another 9 who's better and injury free". You can't just go buy someone with the click of your fingers and hope it fixes everything. We aren't the West Tigers or Bulldogs!! Brails Was that player we signed to be better and injury free. He is a WONDERFUL club captain and hugely respected amongst the players. Guarantee you if he comes back and stay healthy and has a great yr next yr it will lift the players comradery and abilities even more. Nothing will make them happier and closer as a group then to see Brails and the team be successful.

PLUS Ethan! If it leaves a bad taste in my mouth of the thought of the club punting someone like Brails after what he's been through - A yr early on his contract - i can guarantee to you it would leave a VERY bad taste in the squad, so much so it'd be to the detriment of the squad.
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People on here have the memory of a goldfish.
 
In the context of professional sport they're both human beings and pieces on a chess board, like it or not.

No one will take Brailey off our hands without us chipping in at the moment so moot point but if the club isn't at least open to offers and looking at other options then they aren't doing their job. We aren't a club that can just carry a big money liability every year and hope to succeed.
 
I believe Brailey has two more years, 24 & 25, to go and will likely be with us for that time unless he suffers another serious injury forcing him into early retirement. Even if we wanted to move him on who would risk paying biggish money for an injury prone No9 and I can’t see the Knights paying a club to take him especially with our Cap problems.
I am hoping his next two years and possibly longer go well for him and in return for the Club, it will be interesting to see both him and Crosslands vying for the position
 
To be honest, people are also forgetting what makes phoenix a great player is hist tenacity, not is ability as a 9. Who's to say he doesn't partner hasting next year at 5/8? Still worth keeping brailey
 
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