Re: Shopping list for 2024 : Thu Jul 06, 2023 8:40 pm  

I have a feeling Clifford will stay and be captain next year.

Seen it in the tea leaves

Re: Shopping list for 2024 : Thu Jul 06, 2023 8:50 pm  

UllFC wrote:

Losing Clifford would be a big blow, a lack of a settled half back partnership has been our achiles heel since Cooke/Horne broke up with only the Sneyd years being a bright spot.

Can only hope he sees 1st team rugby for even one more year as better for his long term career than potentially less minutes in the NRL. Without a confirmed TV deal I just cant see how we can offer significantly improved terms, if the deal goes down again I can see us running with less 1st team players.

I think you have hit the nail on the head and most people havnt even thought about the TV deal negotiations for 2024 which for the first time could exclude Sky.
Not knowing how much money they will receive from TV will effect some clubs ability to acquire new players and could be a valid reason why the club have not or are able to confirm any signings for 2024.
losing Clifford will be a major blow as the spine we have when all are fit is first class.

Re: Shopping list for 2024 : Fri Jul 07, 2023 12:25 am  

Bulldogs letting Luke Thompson go. Apparently 2 super league & an nrl club
showing interest. Out injured (again). - in his 4th season, played just 38 games

Re: Shopping list for 2024 : Fri Jul 07, 2023 7:28 am  

westdock boy in oz wrote:

Bulldogs letting Luke Thompson go. Apparently 2 super league & an nrl club
showing interest. Out injured (again). - in his 4th season, played just 38 games

Wouldn't touch Thompson with a barge pole, great forward but would likely want marquee money to come back here, we'd be daft to offer a big deal to someone averaging less than 10 games a season.

Re: Shopping list for 2024 : Fri Jul 07, 2023 8:05 am  

Yippee try yay wrote:

Wouldn't touch Thompson with a barge pole, great forward but would likely want marquee money to come back here, we'd be daft to offer a big deal to someone averaging less than 10 games a season.

I'd get a big George Burgess vibe if we signed Thompson. Plus he's not exactly done an Ellis or Morley and dominated the NRL for the past few years to warrant a bloated salary

Re: Shopping list for 2024 : Fri Jul 07, 2023 8:26 am  

Top class SL player, but would demand huge amounts of money and is a massive risk.

Think he would only go to Saints, Wigan or Warrington. Actually maybe Catalans.

Think Wigan may be tempted to stay clear after the experience they had with Burgess.

[Chris71]

Re: Shopping list for 2024 : Fri Jul 07, 2023 8:37 am  

mwindass wrote:

I'd get a big George Burgess vibe if we signed Thompson. Plus he's not exactly done an Ellis or Morley and dominated the NRL for the past few years to warrant a bloated salary

Exactly this, the Thompson that left SL for the NRL is certainly not the Thompson you'd get on his return to SL far from it.

I even think St's would think twice about signing him and unless a club has money to burn and waste on the cap I can't see many clubs seeing it a risk worth taking especially if he wants big money. Think the fact he wouldn't use a quota space is one of the few benefits he comes with but other than that just too big a risk.

Re: Shopping list for 2024 : Fri Jul 07, 2023 8:48 am  

Chris71 wrote:

Exactly this, the Thompson that left SL for the NRL is certainly not the Thompson you'd get on his return to SL far from it.

I even think St's would think twice about signing him and unless a club has money to burn and waste on the cap I can't see many clubs seeing it a risk worth taking especially if he wants big money. Think the fact he wouldn't use a quota space is one of the few benefits he comes with but other than that just too big a risk.

Didn't he burn his bridges at Saints when he left? I'm not sure they'd have him back

Re: Shopping list for 2024 : Fri Jul 07, 2023 9:00 am  

Thompson is a typical Warrington signing, a big name that will do well in the first few games, get their hopes up ,then be injured or want to go back to the NRL

Re: Shopping list for 2024 : Fri Jul 07, 2023 9:03 am  

Been told the club should have an answer on Clifford next week. Hopefully this is true as it gives us plenty of time to get things sorted