Fletcher Baker appears gone

[Davo]

Brisbane Broncos have landed a big coup with report Kevin Walters is set to sign a rising Roosters star.

According to the Daily Telegraph, 23-year-old Fletcher Baker is exepcted to join the club on a two-year deal from next season.

Baker was reportedly being chased by a number of rivals while the Roosters also wanted to retain him but salary cap pressures made it impossible.

Instead he will head to Red Hill in a move which will help the Broncos fill the void left by forward Thomas Flegler who has signed with the Dolphins.

Baker has played six games off the bench for Trent Robinson but has been unable to break into the regualr 17.

[HunchoRooster]

That hurts. I think he's the real deal with so much potential. Reminds me a bit of Matto. I think he'll end up in the second row.

No ill feelings towards him but doesn't make sense to pick him over May, Whyte or Brown now. Should be Norths exclusive for rest of the season.

[ism22]

Don't dislike the guy but we have what... Leniu, Va'a brothers, Wongie, Whyte, Watson, Lodge (Brown/Pappy)...etc as part of our bench rotation. I respectfully think that a stack of those guys have more ability/potential than him.

[The Marshall]

Yes it does hurt. Another young forward that we develop and before they can hit their prime we lose them because a veteran who is with due respect on the wane and has them locked out. Our roster transition is not going well at the moment and I believe this the key reason we are not competing anymore with the top sides. The style of game that is successful has changed and requires roster regeneration. Instead we are playing the same style from 5 years ago, over invested in players on the back end of their career and hollowed out with cheapies. The talented kids we have get developed then leave. It’s killing me watching it.

[Steggles]

Baker will probably kill it at the Broncos. Shame, as he was just starting to play with some aggression.

[milanja]

Good luck to him, we are more focused on the shiny toys, which, by having too many of them, get old pretty quick.

[HunchoRooster]

Yes it does hurt. Another young forward that we develop and before they can hit their prime we lose them because a veteran who is with due respect on the wane and has them locked out. Our roster transition is not going well at the moment and I believe this the key reason we are not competing anymore with the top sides. The style of game that is successful has changed and requires roster regeneration. Instead we are playing the same style from 5 years ago, over invested in players on the back end of their career and hollowed out with cheapies. The talented kids we have get developed then leave. It’s killing me watching it.

This is what I mean by the myth of Robbo and us being ruthless. I love JWH but if him re-signing for another year so he can hit 300 games makes us lose 2-3 future stars in the forwards, what cost is there to us?

[bondi paul]

I can understand Baker leaving. It seems these days we develop players who make their 1st grade debut who then get limited opportunity under coach Robbo. In light of that with the centre of excellence academy once you “graduate” it’s a departure ticket.
That’s my biggest dislike within the clubs coaching ranks, especially with the fringe players who performed so admirably 2 seasons ago during the first season of covid footy. The following season none were given opportunities.

[HunchoRooster]

I can understand Baker leaving. It seems these days we develop players who make their 1st grade debut who then get limited opportunity under coach Robbo. In light of that with the centre of excellence academy once you “graduate” it’s a departure ticket.
That’s my biggest dislike within the clubs coaching ranks, especially with the fringe players who performed so admirably 2 seasons ago during the first season of covid footy. The following season none were given opportunities.

Really well said

[Steggles]

Good luck to him, we are more focused on the shiny toys, which, by having too many of them, get old pretty quick.

Well said.

[bondi paul]

Really well said

Thank you.

[The Marshall]

I can understand Baker leaving. It seems these days we develop players who make their 1st grade debut who then get limited opportunity under coach Robbo. In light of that with the centre of excellence academy once you “graduate” it’s a departure ticket.
That’s my biggest dislike within the clubs coaching ranks, especially with the fringe players who performed so admirably 2 seasons ago during the first season of covid footy. The following season none were given opportunities.

Exactly, what was the point of building it to be a feeder to other clubs. Is it a PR stunt to shake our poachers tag. It’s ridiculous

[Lydon]

What a shame,will be a good one!

[NorfolkStreetKid]

So we lose Baker, and we are shopping out Lodge, tough times ahead.

[Chook2]

Thanks fletch for the few years
I don’t think it’s that big of a loss and we have better players in this positions anyway

lets be honest - he is 24 this year, still a fringe first grade, he’s the same age as haas, Tino etc so is he really going to be a break out player? We can’t get in our current 17 and we have re signed Jared and also leniu coming, potentially lodge staying if suaali goes early

I think if he is going better off using May or Whyte instead on bench, apparently brown would have been in the 17 instead of baker but got suspensed

overall we have Better front rowers, and I can’t see baker making the 17 next year so better off going to a club where he might have a better chance

he is a big frame but lucks mongrel, speed and power in contact and footwork so I don’t see him being a great prop, just solid

uou win some and you loose some and I think there is better players to try and retain, unless we got him for min Wage which I don’t think he would be on no point going into a bidding war and playing $250-$300k or more for a back up prop