Sam Verrills

[Vasco]

If Verrills leaves it's because the club thinks he's not good enough.

[Johnny Tobin]

To win a comp or to compete at that end of the year, I don't think you need the best 9 in the game....

The last few years... Api/Cook/Smith/Mahony/Friend/Verrils/ Grant etc etc could all have played for the eventual premiers and the I'm not sure the result would change ( You could probably add in others...)

When we won in 2019 we had a rookie.... Api was a rookie when he won with the Rabbits... both played a role in quality teams .... When Cam Smith or the GOAT retired the Storm didn't miss a beat!!!! I'm starting to think there is way too much over estimation on the impact a 9 has on the game.

They touch the ball more than anyone else. They have a massive impact on the game. This is a major signing for us. Rejoice.

[Nicola Tesla]

They touch the ball more than anyone else. They have a massive impact on the game. This is a major signing for us. Rejoice.

I'm all in on the Smith signing! Great footballer and I like him as a bloke.... just think we over estimate a hookers contribution to wins. Sure they do touch the ball more than any other player, but I think a team can get away with spending less on a hooker than many other key positions. They just need to be competent. I don't think spending $800K on a hooker v $400K is the difference between winning a comp or not, but in the halves/fullback/front row it can be.

Outside of the FB and Halves I'd rather look at filling a strike centre, strike back rower, weapon winger, prop leader ahead of a strike hooker. Not to say you don't need a damn good one...but you can get them at reasonable value compared to other positions mentioned...... but looking forward to Smith coming on board! He is a weapon!

[Lydon]

If Verrills leaves it's because the club thinks he's not good enough.

Simple facts!

[Lydon]

They touch the ball more than anyone else. They have a massive impact on the game. This is a major signing for us. Rejoice.

I can’t contain my excitement..

[Kelby]

To win a comp or to compete at that end of the year, I don't think you need the best 9 in the game....

The last few years... Api/Cook/Smith/Mahony/Friend/Verrils/ Grant etc etc could all have played for the eventual premiers and the I'm not sure the result would change ( You could probably add in others...)

When we won in 2019 we had a rookie.... Api was a rookie when he won with the Rabbits... both played a role in quality teams .... When Cam Smith or the GOAT retired the Storm didn't miss a beat!!!! I'm starting to think there is way too much over estimation on the impact a 9 has on the game.

???
Last 5 winners

2021 Api
2020 Smith
2019 Friend / Verrills
2018 Friend
2017 Smith

Dummy halves are very important.

[Mickie Lane]

I'm all in on the Smith signing! Great footballer and I like him as a bloke.... just think we over estimate a hookers contribution to wins. Sure they do touch the ball more than any other player, but I think a team can get away with spending less on a hooker than many other key positions. They just need to be competent. I don't think spending $800K on a hooker v $400K is the difference between winning a comp or not, but in the halves/fullback/front row it can be.

Outside of the FB and Halves I'd rather look at filling a strike centre, strike back rower, weapon winger, prop leader ahead of a strike hooker. Not to say you don't need a damn good one...but you can get them at reasonable value compared to other positions mentioned...... but looking forward to Smith coming on board! He is a weapon!

If you're a top notch rake like Smith then I consider you just as important as the half back. For me at the Roosters it goes Keary then the hooker then Teddy then halfback. Usually the half back is the most important player but because Keary is the senior half he is the most important.
After the spine for me the next most important are your middles & wingers then the backrowers & lastly the centres. You have to produce your own centres & backroweres so you can spend up big on the spine & then your middles.

[Bondicigar]

Verrills is good enough to be first string hooker at another club.
It will be sad to see him go but I'd be surprised if he would be happy to warm the bench behind Smith after doing so for Friend .

[Cockadoodledoo]

Verrills is good enough to be first string hooker at another club.
It will be sad to see him go but I'd be surprised if he would be happy to warm the bench behind Smith after doing so for Friend .

This is exactly right, he won't be hanging around beyond 2022 because he is good enough to get a start elsewhere and we will be happy to let him go to do so.

[theGman]

They touch the ball more than anyone else. They have a massive impact on the game. This is a major signing for us. Rejoice.

With Smith you get a multi faceted value for money player......he's an aggressive yet
busy scheming hooker, a barging front rower, a hard working 2nd rower and an intelligent ball playing lock.
His defence is Radley like. In fact, like Rads he treads a fine line at times.

Yes, let us rejoice and sing hallelujah!

[Chook Norris]

I'm all in on the Smith signing! Great footballer and I like him as a bloke.... just think we over estimate a hookers contribution to wins. Sure they do touch the ball more than any other player, but I think a team can get away with spending less on a hooker than many other key positions.

My two cents: in buying Smith we are buying more than just a hooker. We're buying:
- a very damaging forward who's close to unstoppable close to the line;
- someone who can put genuine fear into the opposition in defence; and
- someone who will really change our culture for the better on the field.

Listening to that podcast you could see the value Robbo saw in him. Unfortunately Verrills doesn't have anywhere near the size or fear factor that Smith brings.

I'd rate their finesse and vision to be about par; but even then Smith probably wins out. The amount of face balls he threw at the line leading to trys was super impressive. I don't recall Verrills quite having that in his game aside from a superior cut out ball (pre eye surgery).

[Bondicigar]

With Smith you get a multi faceted value for money player......he's an aggressive yet
busy scheming hooker, a barging front rower, a hard working 2nd rower and an intelligent ball playing lock.
His defence is Radley like. In fact, like Rads he treads a fine line at times.

Yes, let us rejoice and sing hallelujah!

100% worth every cent

[Thirteen]

With Smith you get a multi faceted value for money player......he's an aggressive yet
busy scheming hooker, a barging front rower, a hard working 2nd rower and an intelligent ball playing lock.
His defence is Radley like. In fact, like Rads he treads a fine line at times.

Yes, let us rejoice and sing hallelujah!

When he played front rower a few times this year I thought he was amazing.

[zac]

big year for sammy - if he looks the goods the club won't want to let him go early. all depends on what guarantees we've given smith, cos we're not going to have a bench of watson and verrills.

[Serenader]

big year for sammy - if he looks the goods the club won't want to let him go early. all depends on what guarantees we've given smith, cos we're not going to have a bench of watson and verrills.

I’m expecting Sammy to have a cracker of a year next year, and make our decisions extra hard