Michael Gordon

[Tommy Smith]

He comes off contract at the end of the season and will be 32 in October. I can't see the Sharks being able to invest any money in him. They have Valentine Holmes and Ben Barba who is on a big contract.

Personally I think he'd be a great addition on a 1 or 2 year deal. He's a quality fullback, fast with ball playing skills, and could play the mentor role to Latrell Mitchell similar to the way Mini did for RTS. If Latrell is ready for 1st grade in 2016 then he can play the season on the wing. And depending on his progression he can swap with Gordon. Or he could do that in 2017 and be ready for 2018.

I think it's the perfect succession plan. We don't need a young fullback who will be a stop gap anyway, so that would rule out targeting a Jake Mamo type.

I'd be very surprised if the club wasn't considering someone like Gordon. He's a person of high character too.

1. Michael Gordon
2. Nene MacDonald/Latrell Mitchell
3. Michael Jennings
4. Blake Ferguson
5. Joe Burgess/Latrell Mitchell
6. James Maloney
7. Mitchell Pearce

That cheers me up as it isn't so bad at all.

[rwbfl]

After the recent rumours doing the rounds, including all of the articles that were released last night, what would you think about this as a backline?

1. Carney
2. Burgess/McDonald/Mitchell
3. Jennings
4. Ferguson
5. SKD

[TheLoneRooster]

Tommy, on michael gordon and his character I'd just say that I've watched him breaking Guerra's jaw last week several times and for the life of me don't know why he changed direction the way he did and make a much better effort to avoid colliding with Aidan.

On gordon coming here, I recall previous posts here before he's signed with the guppies that he'd never be allowed to come to the Roosters because his grandmother hates the Roosters and apparently she has some say in where he signs - yes, it sounds ridiculous, I know.

[stsae]

Tommy, on michael gordon and his character I'd just say that I've watched him breaking Guerra's jaw last week several times and for the life of me don't know why he changed direction the way he did and make a much better effort to avoid colliding with Aidan.

On gordon coming here, I recall previous posts here before he's signed with the guppies that he'd never be allowed to come to the Roosters because his grandmother hates the Roosters and apparently she has some say in where he signs - yes, it sounds ridiculous, I know.

Cos you are watching it in slow-mo brother and you are looking for any excuse to feel paranoia about the wrongs done to our club.

Just an accident every day of the week. Shit happens in footy.

Its just our turn this week. And it may extend to this year.

Every club has to go thru the ringer at some point.

Just our turn baby.

As my good mate Vasco loves to hear me say "theres still time this year".

[davos]

After the recent rumours doing the rounds, including all of the articles that were released last night, what would you think about this as a backline?

1. Carney
2. Burgess/McDonald/Mitchell
3. Jennings
4. Ferguson
5. SKD

If your talking about Justin Carney then maybe, but todd carney, then that will never happen. When Bwian tried him at fb, attacking he was good but he couldn't catch a bomb to save his life. He was taken our after 6 rounds from memory and moved to his position which is 5/8th.

[rwbfl]

If your talking about Justin Carney then maybe, but todd carney, then that will never happen. When Bwian tried him at fb, attacking he was good but he couldn't catch a bomb to save his life. He was taken our after 6 rounds from memory and moved to his position which is 5/8th.

Definitely not Justin carney. Perhaps, if carney happens to arrive, it could look more like this:

1. Hastings
2. Burgess/Macdonald/Mitchell
3. Jennings
4. Ferguson
5. SKD
6. Carney
7. Pearcey

[Arties Pie]

Definitely not Justin carney. Perhaps, if carney happens to arrive, it could look more like this:

1. Hastings
2. Burgess/Macdonald/Mitchell
3. Jennings
4. Ferguson
5. SKD
6. Carney
7. Pearcey

If Maloney is offered overs and it's more likely he will be Carney ( If he came back ) should come cheap albeit with the crap that follows him wherever he goes. Atleast Hastings and Carney can cover the goal kicking aspect left behind if Maloney left.

[Rooster_6]

It's a tough one.

My initial thoughts when RTS left was the same, we should sign someone who can hold their own until Latrell is ready. Run with almost exactly the same development pathway as we did with Mini & RTS but the more I think about it the more I hate the idea. Fullback is such a crucial position we shouldn't be looking to put a stop gap in there until we have a real top class fullback ready.

I like the SBW model better. The issue with Mini is that when he retired he didn't free up that much salary cap room and when RTS finally did get his shot his value soared and we just didn't have the room in the cap. SBW was such a huge success on so many levels but from a salary cap point of view he was a massive success because we signed him when we had the room in the cap and then he left when our cap was starting to get tight (good luck and good management). His departure freed up so much room that we haven't struggled to keep any of our forwards. Guerra, Moa, Cordner, Liu, Napa, Evans & JWH have all re-signed in the past two years. We never directly replaced Sonny but his contract meant we were able to keep our pack together.

So rather than sharing around the 500k we planned to spend on RTS, or putting it into other positions I reckon we should scrape together as much as we can and go hard after a short term high quality option. Someone who's after good money and happy to move around clubs. For example someone like Israel Folau, sign him on a one year deal and give him another year if we can afford it, then when he leaves use that money to lock up all our outside backs including our replacement fullback who is hopefully going to be Latrell.

[Tommy Smith]

But do we have the cap space to sign Izzy? Or Hayne? Those are the only two that fit that bill I believe.

No way Dave Smith will co-fund either player's return to the Roosters. Unless we stated it's for two years and then we'll offload them to a fairytale club like Parra or the Titans.

Aside from his age and quality, the other reason I thought of Gordon was that I believe we could sign him for around 350k per year. Izzy would command double on the cap.

[dj_sta]

Whoever we sign I think it will be a max 2 year deal with the Tv rights coming up at the end of 2017. Considering that I think we will go hard for a big name player on a 1 yr contract ala SBW type contract. But only a few players will sign deals like that.. Players who already have such a big name and back themselves to perform.

Few players who fit that bill & are available next year:

1. Folau
2. Hayne
3. Sam Burgess

The situation in fact is ideal for the Roosters if we go hard for Hayne or Folau as it will give us 2 years with an established player while Mitchell learns the ropes. Then in 2018 Folau/Hayne can go for the bigger contract and we can push Mitchell into FB and use the money to upgrade all our players coming off contract at the end of 2017.

Once again a very similar situation to what happened with SBW.

[dj_sta]

But do we have the cap space to sign Izzy? Or Hayne? Those are the only two that fit that bill I believe.

No way Dave Smith will co-fund either player's return to the Roosters. Unless we stated it's for two years and then we'll offload them to a fairytale club like Parra or the Titans.

Aside from his age and quality, the other reason I thought of Gordon was that I believe we could sign him for around 350k per year. Izzy would command double on the cap.

This is the concern - cap space. But if Folau or Hayne are to come back to NRL, the only way any club will afford them is with the NRL war chest. I highly doubt the NRL would be able to provide some clubs with a higher allowance from the war chest than others - it would have to be the same across the board. For example, if Folau/Hayne indicate they are keen to return to NRL then the NRL will need to come out and say they will subsidize their contract by "x" amount regardless of who signs the player.

It will then be upto the clubs to negotiate the rest of the contract amount and fit that amount into the salary cap plus TPAs.

[BUDDY]

I doubt the NRL war chest will apply to Hayne. If he fails getting into the 49ers squad where else is he going to go.
The Eels have first dibs on Hayne but now that they have bought choc and Foran on big coin and are offering a decent amount for Toups then I can't see where Hayne will fit in.