Ahhhh Ben

[rented tracksuit]

Any chance he signs for 2 years and plays 9 when Walker is back ?

I don’t think he’s got 9 yrs left in him.

[Rooster90]

Heard on radio Hunt to the roosters and Townsend released to the Merge. Makes sense.

I highly doubt this - but would be hilarious if Townsend gets a release without playing a game for the club
Last time I can think of this happening was Anthony Watts, obviously for different reasons

[BTRD]

My opinion only.

No need for Hunt. This is a great chance for Robinson to prove his credientals and work with what he has got. Townsend is not perfect, Hunt is not perfect - so just go with what he has.

A prop and centre would be handy - and a bona fide number 9 to start the season would help. Seriously, the club doesn't have a real number 9 first grader (I think).

[Lydon]

As much as I’m not a fan of Townsend,I’m starting to warm to the idea of both he and Hunt on our roster for next year..

Considering all the experience we lost last year,seems like a no brainer to get both these guys into the Club and help the young guys coming through..

On top of that,we have no Walker and Smith for half the season,so it makes total sense..

Make it happen Nick!

[theGman]

[QUOTE=Lydon;n1079909]

Considering all the experience we lost last year,seems like a no brainer to get both these guys into the Club and help the young guys coming through..
/QUOTE]

Precisely Lydon.

[top_joe]

I'm up for Chad at 7 and Benny Hill at 9. Push Connor back to 13/14 where he belongs.

[Bates]

My opinion only.

No need for Hunt. This is a great chance for Robinson to prove his credientals and work with what he has got. Townsend is not perfect, Hunt is not perfect - so just go with what he has.

A prop and centre would be handy - and a bona fide number 9 to start the season would help. Seriously, the club doesn't have a real number 9 first grader (I think).

That's Hunts best position imo. He can start the season playing halfback whilst Sammy recovers then slot into 9. The other big plus is the versatility we'd have with Hunt. He can play 6, 7, 9 or 14.

The only negative I see in the equation is the signing of Townsend who would become surplus to needs and a waste of $300k cap space. Hopefully he goes to the Dragons as mentioned above.

[Judge Smails]

My opinion only.

No need for Hunt. This is a great chance for Robinson to prove his credientals and work with what he has got. Townsend is not perfect, Hunt is not perfect - so just go with what he has.

A prop and centre would be handy - and a bona fide number 9 to start the season would help. Seriously, the club doesn't have a real number 9 first grader (I think).

Townsend was signed as backup, not as a starting 7 or 6.

He would not make the run on team at any club in the NRL

So now, who is the backup for Townsend and smith ?

You still don’t want the Australian and QLD rep player ???

[Rooster_6]

My opinion only.

No need for Hunt. This is a great chance for Robinson to prove his credientals and work with what he has got. Townsend is not perfect, Hunt is not perfect - so just go with what he has.

A prop and centre would be handy - and a bona fide number 9 to start the season would help. Seriously, the club doesn't have a real number 9 first grader (I think).

A good coach would sign the players who he believes will give his side the greatest chance of success.

No need for Robinson to start handy capping himself so he can prove something to his doubters.

[Thirteen]

My opinion only.

No need for Hunt. This is a great chance for Robinson to prove his credientals and work with what he has got. Townsend is not perfect, Hunt is not perfect - so just go with what he has.

A prop and centre would be handy - and a bona fide number 9 to start the season would help. Seriously, the club doesn't have a real number 9 first grader (I think).

Yeh Robbo shouldn’t strengthen his squad just so he can prove he’s a decent coach with an average squad.

[Roosterfarian]

We sign Hunt and our chances of making the eight increase ten fold. Without him, its definitely a transitional period for us with lots of inconsistent performances.

[Bates]

We sign Hunt and our chances of making the eight increase ten fold. Without him, its definitely a transitional period for us with lots of inconsistent performances.

And that's why all the Robbo detractors don't want us to sign Hunt.

As a side note. He'd make a great co-captain

[Rooster_6]

For some perspective last year our top 4 players with the most tries, try assists and try contributions were;

Teddy - 60
Walker - 52
Keary - 49
Manu - 31

I know it sounds like a crazy thing to say given how easily we racked up points last year but point creation should be a concern without Walker (3-4months) & Keary/Manu moving on. Teddy will by default become less effective because with less options teams will be able to game plan and spot him easier. Whoever gets the centre spots out of Smith, Marky Mark or Toia aren't going to be creators and then you've got Townsend who's a real traditional organiser, a lot of his points come off structured play and kicking game which puts a huge over reliance on Sandon Smith who's still largely untested at this level, certainly week to week.

Ben Hunt finished the season 8th for total try involvements in the NRL on 48, just one behind Keary in a side I would say struggled to put on points at the best of time.

For that reason and the fact that I think he's a better dummy half option than Brandon Smith I would sign him but if the plan is to keep him in the halves with Walker then I'm not for it, I don't think we need two creators in the halves again. I like the temperament of Sandon Smith and I really want to see what this side looks like with him in the halves for a full year.

Maybe the side not having many points in it for the first 3-4 months might be a blessing in disguise and we will be forced to build a base around defence and some grit that we seem to lack when we come up against Penriff & Storms.

[milanja]

For some perspective last year our top 4 players with the most tries, try assists and try contributions were;

Teddy - 60
Walker - 52
Keary - 49
Manu - 31

I know it sounds like a crazy thing to say given how easily we racked up points last year but point creation should be a concern without Walker (3-4months) & Keary/Manu moving on. Teddy will by default become less effective because with less options teams will be able to game plan and spot him easier. Whoever gets the centre spots out of Smith, Marky Mark or Toia aren't going to be creators and then you've got Townsend who's a real traditional organiser, a lot of his points come off structured play and kicking game which puts a huge over reliance on Sandon Smith who's still largely untested at this level, certainly week to week.

Ben Hunt finished the season 8th for total try involvements in the NRL on 48, just one behind Keary in a side I would say struggled to put on points at the best of time.

For that reason and the fact that I think he's a better dummy half option than Brandon Smith I would sign him but if the plan is to keep him in the halves with Walker then I'm not for it, I don't think we need two creators in the halves again. I like the temperament of Sandon Smith and I really want to see what this side looks like with him in the halves for a full year.

Maybe the side not having many points in it for the first 3-4 months might be a blessing in disguise and we will be forced to build a base around defence and some grit that we seem to lack when we come up against Penriff & Storms.

Has Ben Hunt mentioned anywhere that he is willing to go to another club and play dummy half?

Plays 9 in origin as a interchange player, but i doubt he wants to play his last two years as a tackling machine.

[Rooster_6]

Has Ben Hunt mentioned anywhere that he is willing to go to another club and play dummy half?

Plays 9 in origin as a interchange player, but i doubt he wants to play his last two years as a tackling machine.

He hasn't said much on any of it to be honest has he? All we know is last year he wanted to return back to Qld but now even that doesn't seem to be as true anymore.

It's certainly the only reason I think we should entertain signing him is if he's chasing that premiership dream and willing to play 9 to get it. Otherwise we should be ready to capatalise on the fall out of another club signing him because I don't think the Bulldogs, Broncos, Dolphins or Titans have the salary cap space to sign him which means they will need to release a mid to top tier contracted player which may present a more appealing opportunity for us.

Payne Haas, Herbie Farnwoth or Brian Kelly would work for me...