3 players off contract this year who could win us a premiership

[Guest]

Last piece of the puzzle.

- Jonathon Thurston
- Todd Carney
- Jaryd Hayne

With an 800k rise due in the cap, another rise expected for 2014 + potentially SBW's salary there's enough room to move there. A playmaker with creativity is the key.

Who would you sign?

A great portion of any increase will be gone to existing players. Minimum wage is to rise, there is talk of increasing squad size, and players have included % clauses in their contracts i.e cap goes up X, salary goes up Y.

Not to mention our improved squad should equate to improved performances, which then equates to higher demand for our players increasing their value. Not to mention performance bonuses when they start making rep teams.

I'm comfortable with our squad, and would hope POS continues with his policy of bringing in the best young talent.

The best up an coming hooker will see a strong team but a potential weakness in Friend and Seluini. Likewise a strong half may back themselves to eclipse the likes of Maloney. They are the types of signings I would prefer.

[Jacks Fur Coat]

I'm not really satisfied, none of the signings really addressed our main issues imo. Workrate, defence & creativity.

Workrate - Robinson will get more out of his forwards than Smith did, largely down to his philosophy on footy and his game plan. So not a HUGE issue. With the likes of Kennedy, Cordner, Guerra, JWH & others who have displayed large workrates at lower levels of footy we can address this within.

Defence - These weren't just individual mistakes throughout the 2012 season, they were systematical problems which during the season is a massive worry as it's something that takes time to address. Robinson has the whole off-season, between himself, JT & Fitzy I'd be surprised if this isn't one of the major improvements in 2013. But I think our signings have made our defence slightly weaker if anything...

Creativity - SBW provides some, but really he's a backrower who'll be touching the ball 20 times a game. SBW & Jennings are potent but apart from scoring plenty of tries I'm not convinced either of them will set up a whole lot. RTS could be the key but we all know he'll be stuck on the wing until Mini hangs up the boots. Maloney isn't the answer either, he basically plays like a fullback in attack, just supports the ball runner and relies on others creativity, he'll love running off Pearce and teach Mini a thing or two about how to support your halfback but he's not a creator as much as I rate him.

I hate to be the kill joy but I just think this is the reality of it all. In saying that though I think we're in for an exciting season.

Your getting Greedy mate (and not the 666 variety)...

[Guest]

People in the know have said that Carney was very keen to come back but we have already said no.

6, work rate and defence can be improved with what we have. They way I see it Cordner, JWH, Kennedy, and Guerra are all still players who will improve. For me they are players who can produce quality and work rate.

Regarding creativity you make some fair points. That's why I keep saying RTS will be the difference between an average season or a great season. If he finds his feet and plays fullback he has that x-factor which can make a difference. If Mini plays the year at fullback it will be a wasted year.

[Guest]

if i had to pick one it would be JT he is all class and a real footballer. He is mr everywhere till the 81st minute. But to be honest we need a gallen. A mongrul who is a leader and does the hard yards with no bullshit. someone who would bleed for his club.

[Guest]

Matt Scott.

JT - While he is under 35 I'd never say no to him.
Carney - No thanks
Hayne- Sadly too injury prone but the man is a freak. If he plays all 24 rounds this year para won't go near the spoon.

[Game Fowl]

Where is the none of the above option?

We have a well balanced sqaud, I'd rather the club try and keep them together as long as we can.

Chook.

Great idea , why must we always chase the rainbow ?

[Guest]

Great idea , why must we always chase the rainbow ?

To find the pot of gold.

[Yak]

I'm not really satisfied, none of the signings really addressed our main issues imo. Workrate, defence & creativity.

Workrate - Robinson will get more out of his forwards than Smith did, largely down to his philosophy on footy and his game plan. So not a HUGE issue. With the likes of Kennedy, Cordner, Guerra, JWH & others who have displayed large workrates at lower levels of footy we can address this within.

Defence - These weren't just individual mistakes throughout the 2012 season, they were systematical problems which during the season is a massive worry as it's something that takes time to address. Robinson has the whole off-season, between himself, JT & Fitzy I'd be surprised if this isn't one of the major improvements in 2013. But I think our signings have made our defence slightly weaker if anything...

Creativity - SBW provides some, but really he's a backrower who'll be touching the ball 20 times a game. SBW & Jennings are potent but apart from scoring plenty of tries I'm not convinced either of them will set up a whole lot. RTS could be the key but we all know he'll be stuck on the wing until Mini hangs up the boots. Maloney isn't the answer either, he basically plays like a fullback in attack, just supports the ball runner and relies on others creativity, he'll love running off Pearce and teach Mini a thing or two about how to support your halfback but he's not a creator as much as I rate him.

I hate to be the kill joy but I just think this is the reality of it all. In saying that though I think we're in for an exciting season.

Can you expand on why you think the recent signings have weakened us defensively?

I mean i think you have to look at who the alternatives would have been.

To me Jennings seems a capable defender when he has his mind on the job. And the alternative to him was realistically either Adam Henry or RTS. The former is a woeful reader in defence at centre. And the latter has not played a game of league at centre in his life. He's a good front on defender but I can't imagine he would prove to be a better defender than Jennings in his first season there.

Maloney and Anasta is a tough one for mine. Going off stats Maloney would appear the worse of the two defenders. But if you go back and look at line breaks and tries against us down Anasta's defensive area its obvious that a lot of Anasta's defensive errors would not even go down as missed tackles. There was multiple times where he either slipped over in the line creating a hole, let his man run around him or simply watched them run right by him without laying a hand on them. Maloney on the other hand being a quicker lateral mover was often there to make the tackle but was ineffective. A bit of work on his technique in the off season could improve his tackle effectiveness. Anasta's defensive issues were not something that could really be improved in this late stage of his career (ie pace, attitude/ego).

Hard to tell how the backrow will be made up at this stage. But let's say SBW replaces Aubusson in the starting side. Granted he may take time to readjust, SBW is a solid defensive player. And I personally though Aubusson was pretty poor defensively last year, cost us numerous tries, yet probably saved a couple also tbf.

I in part agree with your point about the side's creativity lacking, I just really don't see how these signings will have a negative effect. I thought no Mose alone would have you excited about our defence this year mate.

Btw, SBW will create plenty. And Pearce now has the players around him to make the most of his excellent passing game. Think of the difference between Jennings taking a Pearce cut out in space compared to when BJ was receiving good balls like that. The increased potency and finishing ability of the new signings will make it far more obvious when Pearce "creates" opportunities.

[Vasco]

never seen a top player change clubs and not have the impact they once did?

Happy to be proved wrong but name me a playmaker of his class that did.

Perhaps a forward but I just can't recall a playmaker.

[Guest]

maloney for anasta??? are you aerious... easy choice!

maloney! his stats are twice that of anasta. cant wait to see him in action! i checked nrl.com and looked up each players stats last year...... literally double everything and some things tripple. missed tacles were slightly higher for moloney but only just. anasta had some of the worst stats for any 80 min fulltime firstgrader among all the teams. i couldnt believe he was still in the team!!

[Guest]

Jarryd Hayne is the logical of the 3 if Anthony Minichiello does retire come seasons end.

The one player who would I believe would make our team the best in the league is Robbie Farah.

[Yak]

maloney for anasta??? are you aerious... easy choice!

maloney! his stats are twice that of anasta. cant wait to see him in action! i checked nrl.com and looked up each players stats last year...... literally double everything and some things tripple. missed tacles were slightly higher for moloney but only just. anasta had some of the worst stats for any 80 min fulltime firstgrader among all the teams. i couldnt believe he was still in the team!!

I was only referring to the two players defensively in response R6's point that the new signings have made us weaker defensively. Well aware that Maloney is a far better attacking option.

[Guest]

Happy to be proved wrong but name me a playmaker of his class that did.

Perhaps a forward but I just can't recall a playmaker.

B. Fittler

[Guest]

I was only referring to the two players defensively in response R6's point that the new signings have made us weaker defensively. Well aware that Maloney is a far better attacking option.

oops my mistake.

[Guest]

we need none of these players, the last player we need is robbie farah, and that is only if friend has another disappointing year