Where to From Here? Let's Plan for 2021

[Dazza 92]

I think right now Grant is a pipe dream.

If CS9 plays on it's only going to be for 1 more year at which point the storm will need a new hooker to build around.

I think it's very very likely that storm plan to build around Grant and they would let him know that so you'd think he'd be willing to hang around for 12 months, learn from CS9 and then take the reins from 2022 onwards.

The person that is left in the clouds is B Smith... next year he's either 3rd in line behind CS9 and Harry or back up to Harry... and it's well known he wants to be a hooker.

I think regardless of Cam's decision he'll leave and we'll miss the boat if we're wasting time going after Harry.

I'd say titans, dogs and warriors will all be going hard for BSmith and Harry

Grants commets at Tiger end of season awards night was aimed directly at one club in particular. He has made his bed, up to Strom whether he lays in it or walks...

 

[Mustafur]

Financially I don't know if we are in a position to take players away from other teams without overpaying, the way the game is going unless your bringing in some Politis paper bags you need to raise your own juniors to the elite level to get any value.

If Grant goes to market most the comp is going to chase him.

Salary cap is such a joke, it makes the comp closer they say.

 

[Foordy]

I think it's very very likely that storm plan to build around Grant and they would let him know that so you'd think he'd be willing to hang around for 12 months, learn from CS9 and then take the reins from 2022 onwards.

Grant has already confirmed that he is not prepared to hang around for another 12 months.

If Cam Smith plays on (for the Storm) in 2021, Grant will be walking ... the only question is where he will be walking to

 

[something]

I’ve said it before but looking at our team list, their are some obvious deficiencies, but there’s also a lot of talent. I’m confident a semi-competent coach could scrape us into the top 10. Looking at the talent in the team it’s a testament to just how bad Seibold went. Injuries also obviously played a big part too.

Backs:
1. Desperate need of a fullback
2. Herbie
3. Staggs (need a reliable depth to cover)
4. Bird (if both fit an amazing centre combo)
5. Coates/someone who stays on their wing

Herbie is an asset and developing well. Decent defensive structures will hopefully allow him to stay on his wing. Coates has a lot of potential but looks terrible in defence. But every single player we had in the backs last year looked lost in defence so I don’t think we’ve yet got a good gauge of Coates. It has to be a Seibold structural issue. Staggs and Bird if fit (yeah yeah I know) is a rep quality centre pairing - potentially very good. We just need someone to cover for Staggs until he returns (and for Bird when he’s inevitably out for the season again). Fullback is one of the teams biggest glaring issues.

Halves:
6. Milford
7. Dearden

I don’t care what anyone says, even with his questionable work ethic, Milf is a top 8 half. A decent coach will have him playing as such. Might not ever win you a GF though. Dearden has potential. There are definitely worse half pairings getting around.

Forwards
8.Lodge
9. Turpin
10. Haas
11. (Glenn)
12. TPJ
13. Carrigan

There’s a lot of talent there. We’ll have to see how lodge goes without carrying injury, and if he can adjust his body over the off season to better suit the faster game. Haas and TPJ are animals in their own ways, and Caragan is Mr Dependable. Turpin is good enough but you’d probably have one eye on the market if your Kev. Glenn will do for one more season. We need one or two smart signings to make our pick more balanced.

IMO fullback is the only position that we desperately need to address. The rest of the team should be able to make 8-10th even without making any changes.

don’t get me wrong, there absolutely should be changes made when the right options arrive but I think anything below 10th would be a failure with the current squad.

The only players I think we desperately need to move on is Oates and Offa.

Shed man, this is so fuckin spot on

 

[pagey]

Shed man, this is so fuckin spot on

Yeah am with you both on this, only thing I would add is a 9 aswell.

 

[Mustafur]

Herbie is a contender for the vacant fullback role
---

“I haven’t decided on my fullback yet, there is enough talent in the pool to sort things out,” Walters said.

“We have Jamayne and Tesi Niu and Herbie Farnworth can also play fullback, so I‘ll be looking at those three guys when pre-season starts.”

All 3 have talent, I feel Niu is probably most suited to Fullback but at the same time is the furthest from 1st grade level, I think Herbie can be a proper Rep level Centre within the next year or so, but I can't comment on fullback as he hasn't played in the spine at 1st grade yet.

Isaako is the enigma, he has had alot of out of football stuff to deal with but if he can get his career back in order to how it was 2 years ago he is the clear choice, he has alot of elite skills and I would argue the strongest boot in the NRL the guy can kick 60 meter drop goals easily just on power, a very deadly future kicker with the right mentoring especially for 40/20s.

It's hard but, there is no established players for fullback if we are going to rely on what we have. We need someone to have a breakout season just do be serviceable and if your hoping for finals footy that's going all in on a one pair basically..

 

[NSW stables]

All 3 have talent, I feel Niu is probably most suited to Fullback but at the same time is the furthest from 1st grade level, I think Herbie can be a proper Rep level Centre within the next year or so, but I can't comment on fullback as he hasn't played in the spine at 1st grade yet.

Isaako is the enigma, he has had alot of out of football stuff to deal with but if he can get his career back in order to how it was 2 years ago he is the clear choice, he has alot of elite skills and I would argue the strongest boot in the NRL the guy can kick 60 meter drop goals easily just on power, a very deadly future kicker with the right mentoring especially for 40/20s.

It's hard but, there is no established players for fullback if we are going to rely on what we have. We need someone to have a breakout season just do be serviceable and if your hoping for finals footy that's going all in on a one pair basically..

Had herbie come through juniors and isc as a fullback, i think he could have played similarly to papenhuyzen (100 miles an hour with high involvement). I remember reading that he was quite fast and won most of the fitness drills at training.

However making a transition into nrl fullback, when not having played their frequently before and not serving an apprenticeship under a top tier fullback, is a big ask.

 

[Petch67]

good, Glenn is not a good captain and Carrigan is too young and probably too quiet, probably because he’s young. Honestly the only choice left is Milf, who knows maybe it’s the final thing to finally sort him out, there is no way he rocks up fat if he’s captain......

They wanted to punt glenn but made him captain instead!!! You just cant make this shit up

 

[Thelmus]

I'll be interested in how Walters approaches Oates. He was convinced he should been moved into the 2nd row before any one else (with the exception of griffin).
I think he needs a major correction with regards to getting his head in the right space, but if there is anyone (after Bennet) who could get him firing it will be Walters.
Having said all that if he cuts him or anyone else loose deeming them lost causes I would find it hard to argue the case.
Tevita, oates, Isaako, offa and lodge are all players who could all be much better but for what goes on in their heads.
Glenn, bird and macca are the opposite, with great attitudes, held back by their bodies.
The others just need a good coach to use the football smarts of the latter that limits their physical weaknesses whilst bring the former to the same page.
It's not an easy task but a good coach could possibly save a few careers that are at their crossroads. The only question is who will be saved and who let go.
Tevita and Milford are being assessed right as we speak. I'm sure the others will be soon enough.

 

[Petch67]

I'll be interested in how Walters approaches Oates. He was convinced he should been moved into the 2nd row before any one else (with the exception of griffin).
I think he needs a major correction with regards to getting his head in the right space, but if there is anyone (after Bennet) who could get him firing it will be Walters.
Having said all that if he cuts him or anyone else loose deeming them lost causes I would find it hard to argue the case.
Tevita, oates, Isaako, offa and lodge are all players who could all be much better but for what goes on in their heads.
Glenn, bird and macca are the opposite, with great attitudes, held back by their bodies.
The others just need a good coach to use the football smarts of the latter that limits their physical weaknesses whilst bring the former to the same page.
It's not an easy task but a good coach could possibly save a few careers that are at their crossroads. The only question is who will be saved and who let go.
Tevita and Milford are being assessed right as we speak. I'm sure the others will be soon enough.

Looks like we will be stuck with a few of these for at least next year.....hopefully the coaching staff take the big stick for quite a few attitude adjustments......be interesting to see what ones improve vastly knowing theyll be playing for another contract....anywhere

 

[Fitzy]

I'll be interested in how Walters approaches Oates. He was convinced he should been moved into the 2nd row before any one else (with the exception of griffin).
I think he needs a major correction with regards to getting his head in the right space, but if there is anyone (after Bennet) who could get him firing it will be Walters.
Having said all that if he cuts him or anyone else loose deeming them lost causes I would find it hard to argue the case.
Tevita, oates, Isaako, offa and lodge are all players who could all be much better but for what goes on in their heads.
Glenn, bird and macca are the opposite, with great attitudes, held back by their bodies.
The others just need a good coach to use the football smarts of the latter that limits their physical weaknesses whilst bring the former to the same page.
It's not an easy task but a good coach could possibly save a few careers that are at their crossroads. The only question is who will be saved and who let go.
Tevita and Milford are being assessed right as we speak. I'm sure the others will be soon enough.

Walters wasn’t convinced he is a second rower... he said I am not going to pick him at a position he does not want to play or doesn’t consider himself playing in long term

 

[Wolfie]

I didnt really see Herbie as a fullback, but at the same time i think he is just a competitor and is probably the best option we have with the energy he would bring there. Dont think Niu or Issako are the answer and dont think they ever will be. We need to bring in a center for at least 12 months or i think thats where Herbie is going to have to play.

I'd also like to see us take a look at Jordan Grant from Redcliffe. I think he would offer more than somebody like Kennedy and probably Joffa as well.

 

[Thelmus]

Walters wasn’t convinced he is a second rower... he said I am not going to pick him at a position he does not want to play or doesn’t consider himself playing in long term

I remember Walters saying he didn't see him as an origin winger, and that he should be transitioning to the second row.
Whether that is still the case, I have no idea. The abilities that made him an origin winger should still be there within him, but the question of whether he can harness them or if it is even his best position is an open one.
At the current level of his ability displayed, he would struggle to make the bench of any team near the 8, as a winger or otherwise.

 

[Morepudding]

Yeah we have more player options than anyone. And all the ones with player options, are the ones we want to get rid of. Bloody stupid recruitment. That whole department has to go.

So this is where we are at. Note the “Player Options”

View attachment 10221

 

[Foordy]

Yeah we have more player options than anyone. And all the ones with player options, are the ones we want to get rid of. Bloody stupid recruitment. That whole department has to go.

I'd be willing to bet that people could potentially change their minds about player options ... just by way of random example:

say we could get Harry Grant to sign with us tomorrow, but the only way to get him was a player option in his favour for an additional year or two ... do you really think anyone around here would tell us not to make the deal

 

[Sproj]

I'd be willing to bet that people could potentially change their minds about player options ... just by way of random example:

say we could get Harry Grant to sign with us tomorrow, but the only way to get him was a player option in his favour for an additional year or two ... do you really think anyone around here would tell us not to make the deal

But this is supporting the point many have been arguing. It is all well and good to do it for gun players in key positions but not for plodders / slightly above average / average blokes like Macca, Bird (who WE didn't need), Lodge and ANYONE else aside from Haas in this current team.

 

[Morepudding]

Yeah I don't think we needed a player option for Boyd or Oates. No one wants them, and we got stuck with them.

 

[Foordy]

Yeah I don't think we needed a player option for Boyd or Oates. No one wants them, and we got stuck with them.

Are you sure there was no interest in the Australian fullback and a QLD winger?