Re: Transfer Talk / Rumour thread V4 : Mon May 22, 2023 6:54 pm  

It was acceptable to spend big on Merrin and Tetavano as they were both big signings and came over here with a reputation, however neither signing has worked out, this is a possibility with any signing you make. The club shouldn’t been given stick for been ambitious with signing proven NRL players, it’s not there fault that Tet hasn’t performed for two years and Merrin got home sick.

Re: Transfer Talk / Rumour thread V4 : Mon May 22, 2023 7:23 pm  

leedsbarmyarmy wrote:

It was acceptable to spend big on Merrin and Tetavano as they were both big signings and came over here with a reputation, however neither signing has worked out, this is a possibility with any signing you make. The club shouldn’t been given stick for been ambitious with signing proven NRL players, it’s not there fault that Tet hasn’t performed for two years and Merrin got home sick.

I have said for numerous years now on here that you don't need to spend Marque money on prop forwards from the NRL in order to reap the rewards.
I have named under the radar signings like Kylie Leuluai who only made 60 ish NRL appearances over numerous seasons too before we signed him and he was sensational for us despite not having a big reputation.
Chris Satae at Hull is also another example that I used to illustrate the talent that lies in the lower grades of the NRL and which can be very good in SL.

IMO Merrin and Tetevano have both been a waste of money and that their cap would have been far better spent with signing key spine players and also by keeping our talented junior players that I have mentioned and which also is not hindsight either on my behalf.

If you think that the club has been vindicated by spending Marquee money on these players rather than retaining our talented juniors then I beg to differ

Re: Transfer Talk / Rumour thread V4 : Mon May 22, 2023 7:39 pm  

You can also spend marquee money on spine players and they flop. You can also spend little on spine players, and reap the rewards. Lachlan Lam, Tommy Leuluai to name two from different eras.

We bought the prop King Vuni in the other year, an unknown and he flopped.

For every Kylie you have a king.

We could bring Nathan Cleary over on marquee money and if he was a failure the club would would get stick for wasting money.

Re: Transfer Talk / Rumour thread V4 : Mon May 22, 2023 8:59 pm  

leedsbarmyarmy wrote:

You can also spend marquee money on spine players and they flop. You can also spend little on spine players, and reap the rewards. Lachlan Lam, Tommy Leuluai to name two from different eras.

We bought the prop King Vuni in the other year, an unknown and he flopped.

For every Kylie you have a king.

We could bring Nathan Cleary over on marquee money and if he was a failure the club would would get stick for wasting money.

You are correct. Using a few hand chosen examples did not give the full picture. You need home grown + few experienced quality players. Very hard to get the right balance though. Needs some luck too….

Re: Transfer Talk / Rumour thread V4 : Tue May 23, 2023 3:52 pm  

The Luke Brooks connection could be over Tim Sheen's wants to retain him by all accounts,he's on big money so was probably unrealistic anyway and big names doesn't seem to be the coaches thing.

Re: Transfer Talk / Rumour thread V4 : Tue May 23, 2023 5:25 pm  

Ben Nakubuwai is OOC at the end of the season at Leigh and played at Norths with Macdonald and Smith.

I would expect some under the radar signings from NSW Cup given Smith's pedigree.

Until Smith can get shut of quota players he never signed - he will never be able to make his mark.

Re: Transfer Talk / Rumour thread V4 : Wed May 24, 2023 3:42 am  

We need some real class.

A bucket load of NSW merchants ain’t going to get us closer to St Helens.

Re: Transfer Talk / Rumour thread V4 : Wed May 24, 2023 6:18 am  

Sir Gregory ParsloeP wrote:

We need some real class.

A bucket load of NSW merchants ain’t going to get us closer to St Helens.

Hastings, Field, French, Sironen, Paasi etc all were (and to some respects still are) NSW Cup players.

Re: Transfer Talk / Rumour thread V4 : Wed May 24, 2023 7:56 am  

Sir Gregory ParsloeP wrote:

We need some real class.

A bucket load of NSW merchants ain’t going to get us closer to St Helens.

Real class doesn't come over here any more, there isnt enough money in SL, you've got to take chances on fringe NRL players or NSW cup players, its all we can afford.

And like every signing you make, thats going to include some risk with it.

Re: Transfer Talk / Rumour thread V4 : Wed May 24, 2023 9:06 am  

leedsbarmyarmy wrote:

Real class doesn't come over here any more, there isnt enough money in SL, you've got to take chances on fringe NRL players or NSW cup players, its all we can afford.

And like every signing you make, thats going to include some risk with it.

There's a balance to be struck. The likes of French, Hastings and Croft had all played 50/60 games and showed significant promise before, for a variety of reasons, falling out of favour. Better for us to take a risk on that type of player (in a spine position) than some veteran prop who by the very nature of the position, can't win us games. It's going to be a tough old task, but if we are as ruthless as we need to be with our OOC players we should have funds to bring over a couple who can make a real difference.