Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Wed Sep 06, 2023 10:54 am  

sergeant pepper wrote:

Raymond Faitala-Mariner anyone? 30 year old 6ft3 second row that's been told he can leave the Bulldogs. Would be nice, experienced addition to the squad imo.

Big body and he obviously has quality but he does blow hot and cold.

I wouldn’t be against him coming but I’d hope our business has been completed long before now and we have been proactive in the market rather than being reactive like what Leeds appear to be doing to pull together a squad for 2024.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Wed Sep 06, 2023 11:02 am  

jonh wrote:

Big body and he obviously has quality but he does blow hot and cold.

I wouldn’t be against him coming but I’d hope our business has been completed long before now and we have been proactive in the market rather than being reactive like what Leeds appear to be doing to pull together a squad for 2024.

Agreed, but with Stu's comments about moving parts still happening for some players, Faitala-Mariner could just an easy pickup Vs gambling on other things out of our control.

Defo hot and cold, but that's the team too. He's carried that team a few times, so I'd love to have him. Exactly that bracket of him being a "here and now" type player. Plenty of experience etc

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Wed Sep 06, 2023 11:04 am  

CobraCraig wrote:

Do you know who they are? Or just the number and positions we are looking at? If you do know I won’t ask who they are but would you say they are good signings?

I've not asked for names and to be honest I don't think my mate would tell me anyway. He's still involved at Wigan so naturally he won't say too much at this stage. He did say all are good signings and one in particular (if it comes off) would be a game changer. Whether or not he has embellished that last part to wind me up and make me more fearful of Wigan or not I don't know yet. I guess all will be revealed!

He also told me Saints have signed a NSW Cup overseas centre late 20s. Joining the dots this appears to be Waka Blake so we'll see. He still hasn't replied to my text when I specifically asked if it was Blake or not so that may be the proof

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Wed Sep 06, 2023 11:41 am  

Apologies if it's already been posted and I've missed it but just seen we've signed 8 players from Thatto Heath u'14's on scholarship forms, must be a fair old team

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Wed Sep 06, 2023 11:44 am  

Stu M wrote:

I've not asked for names and to be honest I don't think my mate would tell me anyway. He's still involved at Wigan so naturally he won't say too much at this stage. He did say all are good signings and one in particular (if it comes off) would be a game changer. Whether or not he has embellished that last part to wind me up and make me more fearful of Wigan or not I don't know yet. I guess all will be revealed!

He also told me Saints have signed a NSW Cup overseas centre late 20s. Joining the dots this appears to be Waka Blake so we'll see. He still hasn't replied to my text when I specifically asked if it was Blake or not so that may be the proof

I think that would mean Hopoate is on his way Stu. I’ve never been impressed by Blake in the NRL and his form over the past two seasons has been shocking. As an Eels fan, I was happy to see him cut from the roster.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Wed Sep 06, 2023 11:47 am  

jonh wrote:

Big body and he obviously has quality but he does blow hot and cold.

I wouldn’t be against him coming but I’d hope our business has been completed long before now and we have been proactive in the market rather than being reactive like what Leeds appear to be doing to pull together a squad for 2024.

I’d sooner have Jordan Maclean. But I agree with you John signings need to be concluded earlier and I am sure Rads will have done that on his trip to Australia. For what it is worth, Mike Danson gave him an open cheque book.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Wed Sep 06, 2023 11:58 am  

Stu M wrote:

I believe a half is one of them but that seems to be the one dependent on other movements happening first.

Isa, Mago, Thornley, Cust, Hampshire, King and KPP are all out of contract so the club knows the amount it could save on the salary cap and those decisions will already have been made (apart from King). Powell we don’t yet know about. The incoming boys will not have eaten all the cap up.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Wed Sep 06, 2023 12:32 pm  

Listening to Peets interview, sounds like Havard is trending to be good to go before the end of the year.

I feared he’d be gone for the year. Massive boost.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Wed Sep 06, 2023 12:36 pm  

NSW wrote:

Listening to Peets interview, sounds like Havard is trending to be good to go before the end of the year.

I feared he’d be gone for the year. Massive boost.

I've heard from two people who've separately spoken to Havard and both have reported him saying he's aiming for the GF.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Wed Sep 06, 2023 1:00 pm  

apollosghost wrote:

Apologies if it's already been posted and I've missed it but just seen we've signed 8 players from Thatto Heath u'14's on scholarship forms, must be a fair old team

shevi are one of the best teams too at that age