Tom Symonds goooorrrrrrn!

[Muffdaddy]

My mail is Manly. Unfortunate but we do/did have a surplus of back rowers.

[Chooky Chookerson]

im not too heart broken if true... we already have Mitchell Aubusson in that mould of backrower and he will get more opportunities at another club. Will always remember the game winning try he scored to win the season opener against souths a couple of years ago. From memory he scored a double that game...

[Vasco]

I was a bit of a fan of Symonds. Old school player.

He could do a bit with the ball unlike Maubs. Is still pretty young and his best football is ahead of him.

Hope we don't regret this one.

[Guest]

I was a bit of a fan of Symonds. Old school player.

He could do a bit with the ball unlike Maubs. Is still pretty young and his best football is ahead of him.

Hope we don't regret this one.

Not happy if true.

He has always looked good in attack, but tended to get dominated when defending. By the looks of the photos this year, he has bulked up a lot which should address this (along with a healthy shoulder).

The way Maubs has been playing, I think we need a player coming through in this role. He can actually pass unlike Maubs too.

If we are losing Symonds and Cherro for LOD, its a bad move. Although both young blokes have had injuries over the years, LOD will be lucky to play 50% of games this year between injuries and suspension.

[Thirteen]

With Symmonds, Cherro and Taka all gone our depth will be tested. LOD will probably only play one year. SBW is 2 years max.
I would have let go of Arone before any of the above mentioned players.

[Jacks Fur Coat]

And another rare local junior... doesn't feel right.

[Guest]

If true this decision confirms Nick is no longer deciding player recruitment and retentions. Nick was always far too sentimental for mine, ala Mini's one more year and retaining the Ananchor for all those years. With the release of two rare local juniors in Cherro and Symonds, sentiment in decison making has evaporated.

We are becoming ruthless again.

Chook.

[Spirit of 66]

They are clearing out cap space to sign Arana Taumata. The only stumbling block is that his parole officer is not an accredited player agent.

[mightyrooster]

Not happy if true. Yes he's been injury prone. Yes he hasn't lived up to any promise yet. But to give up 3 young players for one guy who will probably only be with us for a year (and spend half the time injured or suspended) does not sit right with me. I hope I'm proven wrong.

[redwhiteblue]

Not happy if true. Yes he's been injury prone. Yes he hasn't lived up to any promise yet. But to give up 3 young players for one guy who will probably only be with us for a year (and spend half the time injured or suspended) does not sit right with me. I hope I'm proven wrong.

You've just perfectly articulated my own thoughts regarding this. So we are now tossing out our local juniors in favour of overpriced, over rated old people with a history of suspension and injury. I'd rather go for long term building with younger players instead of these flash in the pan guest starring role type appearances which are only a short term fix and no guarantee of success. You can't build a team around players who may only play a handful of games for the club and then retire or disappear elsewhere at the end of the season. The most successful teams have been those who have stuck with and developed a core group of players who are used to one another's style. The rabble teams with players dipping in and out of the lineups never cultivate any sort of enduring success.

[Spirit of 66]

Not happy if true. Yes he's been injury prone. Yes he hasn't lived up to any promise yet. But to give up 3 young players for one guy who will probably only be with us for a year (and spend half the time injured or suspended) does not sit right with me. I hope I'm proven wrong.

Yes, but this is probably not about that. Clubs need to plan long term and maybe this is about freeing up space to upgrade the contracts of even younger, more promising players. Players like Tupou, for example. Or Langi.

The Roosters have assembled a gun squad for 2013. Let them do what they think is necessary to do the same for 2014, 2015 and beyond.

[Guest]

Yes, but this is probably not about that. Clubs need to plan long term and maybe this is about freeing up space to upgrade the contracts of even younger, more promising players. Players like Tupou, for example. Or Langi.

The Roosters have assembled a gun squad for 2013. Let them do what they think is necessary to do the same for 2014, 2015 and beyond.

Spot on mate, we have to make room to allow POS to work his magic.

Chook.

[Guest]

You've just perfectly articulated my own thoughts regarding this. So we are now tossing out our local juniors in favour of overpriced, over rated old people with a history of suspension and injury. I'd rather go for long term building with younger players instead of these flash in the pan guest starring role type appearances which are only a short term fix and no guarantee of success. You can't build a team around players who may only play a handful of games for the club and then retire or disappear elsewhere at the end of the season. The most successful teams have been those who have stuck with and developed a core group of players who are used to one another's style. The rabble teams with players dipping in and out of the lineups never cultivate any sort of enduring success.

I don't necessarily believe the two are related. These players aren't being shed for LOD. They are being shed because they are not up to scratch in the eyes of the coaching staff, regardless of which junior club they came from.

Our club has undertaken some very good recruitment of late, partly due to the management of the cap last year. People talk about being light on depth, but we still have some very good talent coming through. The likes of Napa and Evans, whilst both props, may allow the likes of JWH or Tasi to play more 2nd row in the years to come. The likes of Yak and Gman talk very highly of other juniors, although I must admit I am not across them all.

I won't lose any sleep over a player that hasn't featured in the top grade on a regualr basis. That said, I wish them all the best.

[Rooster_Luke]

I understand the point re symonds being a local junior but he has been given chances and IMO I can't ever see him becoming a successful first grade player. That's not a dig at him, he seems like a pretty good bloke but I don't think he would have ever made our best 17.

And as a few others have mentioned, we currently have a top notch squad with a bunch of promising young players progressing through the ranks. I'm quite happy to back the club in making the moves that they see fit and hopefully reap the rewards!

[Guest]

With Symmonds, Cherro and Taka all gone our depth will be tested. LOD will probably only play one year. SBW is 2 years max.
I would have let go of Arone before any of the above mentioned players.

Agree 110% 13 geez It's not like Arona has set the world on fire in his 2 years with us we might live to regret letting Symonds go always good to have local juniors in your team now we have none.