Re: NRL Movements and Rumours - 2016
The backs aren't a big deal. Latrell Mitchell is the best NYC prospect in the game, so good he's been elevated to first grade well and truly before he's ready. It wouldn't shock me if he put together a quality 2017 before breaking into the Australian backline in 2018. Joseph Manu is a quality prospect as well, I'm surprised it took him so long to get a look in but he has all the tools to be a quality centre for years to come. I've said my piece on Copley, I believe the idea of becoming this great Brent Tate esque centre are behind him. However, as we've seen in players like Blake Ayshford and Gerard Beale, if he can get through this rough patch to hold down the fort.
I also think it's the easiest position to recruit for. We've seen how easily Bellamy has been able to take a Sisa Waqa and a Marika Koroibete and transform them into world-class wingers. Hell, Daniel Tupou really was just a dime-a-dozen winger at Parramatta before Robinson was able to transform him into an OK Folau clone.
I have no idea where the Roosters are coming from with this signing. We still have plenty of time before November 1st, but their roster looks completely unbalanced. Their biggest issue is depth in the forwards.
Correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't Moa and Liu off contract? Their starting pack rates among the best, but once they come off or suffer injuries the Roosters are bare bones. So far, the only signing I believe they've made is Lindsay Collins from the Brisbane Broncos NYC. Collins has only just returned from major surgery and beforehand hadn't improved on a promising rookie year in NYC football. Their NYC forward pack doesn't do a lot for me either. Nat Butcher is the only player that impresses me and I think he's the type of player that's going to require some seasoning before he truly makes an impact in first grade.
Most important question - what does this mean for Jayden Nikorima?
Second most important question - where does that leave the Dragons? Keary to St George Illawarra seemed to be in the books. Will they keep Marshall around? Or will they do the right thing and give Hutchinson a shot? I feel like Drew should be there now, but if the plan is to give him time to develop in the ISC than we may have another Ashley Taylor situation on our hands where the Dragons dodged a bullet by thinking young.
Final thought - Matterson is not a long term option at five-eighth. He strikes me as a Ben Rogers type of player. Somebody who has promise but also the tell-tale signs of a stop-gap option. He hit the ground running against St George, backed it up with a promising performance against the worst team we've seen in decades and has regressed ever since.