NRL Player Movements and Rumours 2015

[Rally Towel]

From next season

Damn son. They'll be right in the mix again next year with him and their other recruits.

 

[bb_gun]

Matt Ballin to Tigers.

 

[Broncoman]

What is Taupau on? He is a player that I've had time for and enjoy watching when in form but he seems lose form quite easily and they could well be overpaying him if he is one a big paycheck.

Ballin to Tigers, I heard Robbie might be playing first grade so that is an interesting signing. Ballin is well past it now as well.

 

[Big Pete]

First of all, it amazes me how Manly are able to make all these signings.

I suppose the rationale is that they had a tiny bit of cash left over and Ballin's departure freed up the necessary funds but gee, my fantasy coach senses has them a little short. It isn't like Ballin was still on the deal he signed in 2012, it was a new deal and unless Manly were absolute dummies, would have been considerably lower than the previous deal.

Speculation aside, it's a great deal for Manly. Taupau is a quality player and could thrive in the right system. If Blair's improvement is any indication, then Manly may have just signed one of the best forwards in 2016.

Now, the question has to be asked, does that put an end to the Will Hopoate to Manly transfer? It seems like the Gutherson for Hopoate trade was a sure thing, but surely Manly cannot afford Hopoate now. Not because Hopoate is a great player (although his status as an Origin player helps) but because of his ridiculous value as a player. How much was the Parra deal? 800K? Even if Parra are paying for apart of that deal, surely Manly don't have 400K lying around anymore, surely.

Looking at the negative side, surely this move must put Taylor on his last legs? To come out and put his captain on notice was bold, but you can't make that type of declaration without securing all the other pieces. In a mediocre squad, Taupau was one of the few shining lights and one of the few forwards who could actually intimidate the opposition. Who do they have now? Woods can't do it all on his own, Halatau isn't scaring anyone, neither is Lovett or Siro so they are in a bad way. Pending on the fitness of Tedesco, I wouldn't be surprised to see them take the spoon.

Maybe Pascoe should get in touch with Cleary? See if he can intercept him before the Warriors welcome him back?

 

[tommy]

Walker could be let go to make room for Burgess.

today's courier mail said Mcqueen to Titans to make way for Burgess as well

 

[Morkel]

today's courier mail said Mcqueen to Titans to make way for Burgess as well

As well? Or instead of? I'd love to see them justify signing Burgess by saying "McQueen freed up enough space".

 

[Kimlo]

As well? Or instead of? I'd love to see them justify signing Burgess by saying "McQueen freed up enough space".

McQueen is an origin player though, Burgess is not. That's the justification.

 

[tommy]

As well? Or instead of? I'd love to see them justify signing Burgess by saying "McQueen freed up enough space".

Walker , Mcqueen , and Tim Grant

 

[Big Pete]

Here is Taylor's side of the story

“It’s a pretty simple story for us. We made Marty an offer earlier in the year, which after a bit of to-ing and fro-ing he decided to knock back,” Taylor said.

“He obviously went and investigated his options throughout the back end of the year ... there was a lot of talk that he was a bit restless and that was due to the fact that he was talking to other clubs.

“It became clear to us that he’s obviously been offered some really good money for 2017 and that he was going to take up that option.
“For us as a club when it was clear that he wasn’t going to be here for 2017 it was a fairly simple equation, in that if we let Marty go now as opposed to keeping him for one more year, we can take some money forward in our salary cap and we can put ourselves in a much better position to keep our best young players.”
“Going forward we’ve got our halves (Luke Brooks and Mitchell Moses) coming off contract at the end of next year (2017), and particularly some good young forwards as well who will be off at the end of next season,” Taylor said.
“It just became a simple decision and a smart decision as far as suring up the future with the young guys as opposed to having Marty stay with us for one more year.”
“It’s not about bringing anyone else in. Joel Edwards is an experienced forward and he’ll cover that position that Marty has filled for us,” Taylor said.

“We’ve already got an experienced guy like Dene Halatau playing our lock/back-row area and Dene did a great job for us last year.
“We’ve got Sauaso Sue who’s really improved throughout the course of this season who we’re really confident in, so we’re confident we’ve got that position covered.
“We’ve got a young guy, (20-year-old) Tyler Cassel, who played NYC this year and he’s transitioned into the full-time squad.
“So, yeah, there’s a couple of other young front-rowers — Dallas Graham (is one for the future) and JJ Felise was in our 20s this year and will be again next year.
“They’re two good young front-rowers we want to keep going forward with and the (Taupau) decision helps us to be able to work on ensuring that we’re able to keep those guys at the club.
“It’s a strong decision that will ensure we keep those young guys with us.”

http://www.foxsports.com.au/nrl/nrl...-sign-with-manly/story-e6frf3wu-1227588357700

So basically, they couldn't come to terms with Taupau so they cut the chord early so they could focus on the future. I understand the logic but the Tigers aren't in a position where they can cut right to the chase. Who else do they have other than Woods? Sauaso Sue, Curtis Sironen and Michael Chee-Kam are not going to cut the mustard. At least by having Taupau stay around an extra season, you could use his experience and expertise to help blood the next generation instead of exposing them a year early. The likes of Felise, Graham and Cassell could turn out to be handy first grade players but none of them are ready for the rigors and they need to be carefully blooded through the grades.

I feel sorry for Taylor in this situation, but he's got the whole 'when life gives you lemons' scenario all wrong. He isn't trying to make Lemonade, he's trying to make Coca Cola! How can you compete with the heavyweights when you're trying to fit a square peg into a round hole? That's the issue I have with Taylor as a coach. He isn't flexible and he doesn't do anything to help fix the situation.

 

[Wolfie]

Am i the only one who thinks Taupau isnt that great? He has some explosive moments, but i think over the course of a season he is pretty average. I think he is living off his big fends in that Rabbitohs game personally. Playing for the Tigers might have something to do with a lack of consistency.

 

[Rally Towel]

Am i the only one who thinks Taupau isnt that great? He has some explosive moments, but i think over the course of a season he is pretty average. I think he is living off his big fends in that Rabbitohs game personally.Playing for the Tigers might have something to do with a lack of consistency.

I see where you're coming from, the hype machine has gotten a little out of hand. However, consider particularly that last point.

At Wests, he's pretty much been their only point if difference in a pretty underwhelming engine room. Whenever he's on the field, it's been pretty squarely on his shoulders to get them going forward. Thus he's been capable of wreaking havoc, but the potential to do so is blunted by having very little in the way of assistance from his fellow forwards.

Consider then how effective he's looked in a stronger side with the Kiwis. When his fellow forwards are chipping in and have the opposition in their heels he can really tear in. Manly aren't at their level but they've got some rough nuts at their disposal.

Trbojevic, Myles, Lussick, and Lawrence is a stronger / more aggressive prop rotation then he's worked alongside at the Tigers. Lewis Brown, Feleti Mateo and Jamie Buhrer are arguably the equal of the Tigers back row also. They've lost their hard edge the last year, and are perhaps a little undersized 8-17, but if they can recapture that trademark Manly mongrel, they'll be back on the up.

Taupau can be a real lynchpin for them in that regard. Think of how Thaiday inspired our pack this year. I think Marty will do the same for them. As they lift their game, expect him to go from strength to strength.

Mind you, I thought they'd get Mateo firing, so what the **** would I know...

 

[Morkel]

Lussick is going back to Manly?

 

[Foordy]

Lussick is going back to Manly?

he actually signed with Manly before DCE's backflip ... from the looks of it Manly started trying to recruit several of DCE's mates (Lussick, Myles etc) as a desperate attempt to convince him to stay with them

 

[abashii]

Nah, Tapau'll go shit at Manly. It's a shit club full of shit ***** who are just fucking shit. If you're reading this Marty listen to me now: come to Brisbane. It's your only hope. We saved Adam Blair and we can do it for you too. Don't throw your career away down in Abbottsville, playing on a shit field in front of a shitty handful of shit humans. Choose life, play in Brisbane instead.

 

[bb_gun]

Will Hopoate to Bulldogs.

They might need to release Sam Perrett to fit him under the cap.

 

[tommy]

Jamal Idris released from the final year oof his contract . Taking time off from the game . Considering retirement .

 

[bb_gun]

Jamal Idris released from the final year oof his contract . Taking time off from the game . Considering retirement .

Rumour is he's going to the Storm.

If anyone can get him back to his best, it'll be Bellamy.

 

[Foordy]

This article says that Walker could be released by Souths to make room for Burgess ...nothing new there, but it says he could be headed to Manly ... And if that happens, the NRL had better shove a microscope up their asses to see how the hell they can afford to sign him.

http://www.couriermail.com.au/sport...ithdraw-2m-offer/story-fniabng4-1227589266459