Re: Transfer Talk / Rumour thread V4 : Wed Jul 13, 2022 4:01 am  

Its a valid point generally though - its hard to shift underperforming players who are under contract, especially the higher paid ones. Someone like Tetevano isn't going to have multiple clubs knocking on his door to sign him, and the only way to clear cap space in that circumstance is to let others go who you might want to keep in an ideal world.

Sutcliffe has shown signs that he might make a good centre under Smith. But if he's in demand and leaving allows us to spend more where its urgent then it makes sense.

Re: Transfer Talk / Rumour thread V4 : Wed Jul 13, 2022 5:05 am  

Our best hope of Tetevano leaving I would think is the dolphins. They’re going to want some ‘proven’ nrl players but seem to have mostly struggled to recruit, so might look at someone like him.

Sutty is showing flashes, though it’s interesting he did appear to be dropped. I suppose we will see what happens when Newman is back available. While there are better centres out there than Sutty , I just don’t think it’s a necessity, especially with Hardaker likely signing and Levi Edwards closer having a year against grown men under his belt. Especially considering other more glaring issues.

Re: Transfer Talk / Rumour thread V4 : Wed Jul 13, 2022 6:49 am  

Re Sutcliffe we're talking about ultimately one of our first choice centres. If he goes he'll need replacing either internally or externally. That's why it doesn't make sense: who ends up at centre on a permanent basis if he leaves? Not Hardaker, not Martin, surely not Briscoe, Edwards is too inexperienced at this stage. So a new player would need bringing in which surely rather defeats the point?

Re: Transfer Talk / Rumour thread V4 : Wed Jul 13, 2022 7:22 am  

The Ghost of '99 wrote:

Re Sutcliffe we're talking about ultimately one of our first choice centres. If he goes he'll need replacing either internally or externally. That's why it doesn't make sense: who ends up at centre on a permanent basis if he leaves? Not Hardaker, not Martin, surely not Briscoe, Edwards is too inexperienced at this stage. So a new player would need bringing in which surely rather defeats the point?

Doesn’t defeat the point at all as we can bring in a specialist left centre . Always been one of the most important positions in the field for us. Look at who was paying there when we were winning everything (Senior/Moon)

Re: Transfer Talk / Rumour thread V4 : Wed Jul 13, 2022 8:47 am  

Shabino wrote:

Doesn’t defeat the point at all as we can bring in a specialist left centre . Always been one of the most important positions in the field for us. Look at who was paying there when we were winning everything (Senior/Moon)

I take your point and I don't think a left centre is out of the question, certainly for 2024. However Senior and Moon would have won us nothing without the likes of JP and Kylie doing the tough stuff. Props have to be priority for 2023 and the probable retention of Hardaker and addition of Olpherts makes further recruitment in the middle backs seem unlikely in my opinion. Bottom line is we don't have much cap to play with this year, so it must be spent where the need is the greatest. I think everybody agrees that is at prop. On the bright side we''ll have heaps of cap to shed at the end of 2023.

Re: Transfer Talk / Rumour thread V4 : Wed Jul 13, 2022 8:58 am  

ArthurClues wrote:

I take your point and I don't think a left centre is out of the question, certainly for 2024. However Senior and Moon would have won us nothing without the likes of JP and Kylie doing the tough stuff. Props have to be priority for 2023 and the probable retention of Hardaker and addition of Olpherts makes further recruitment in the middle backs seem unlikely in my opinion. Bottom line is we don't have much cap to play with this year, so it must be spent where the need is the greatest. I think everybody agrees that is at prop. On the bright side we''ll have heaps of cap to shed at the end of 2023.

Yup fair points. What we’ve seen is that it’s not easy to find good , durable, tough props…
I haven’t given up on Tet and Holroyd. We are coping now and would be like getting two new props if they start playing to potential……

Re: Transfer Talk / Rumour thread V4 : Wed Jul 13, 2022 10:45 am  

Good props are really hard to find if you don't even look for them. King and Thompson were signed as afterthoughts while other sides have signed better because they made it a priority. Warrington have signed 3 (4??) in the past month.

Re: Transfer Talk / Rumour thread V4 : Wed Jul 13, 2022 11:54 am  

We've signed Gildart for the rest of the season, apparently

Re: Transfer Talk / Rumour thread V4 : Wed Jul 13, 2022 11:55 am  

Shabino wrote:

Doesn’t defeat the point at all as we can bring in a specialist left centre . Always been one of the most important positions in the field for us. Look at who was paying there when we were winning everything (Senior/Moon)

we won plenty with Ablett at centre.

Re: Transfer Talk / Rumour thread V4 : Wed Jul 13, 2022 12:05 pm  

Jack Burton wrote:

We've signed Gildart for the rest of the season, apparently

Any danger of us signing a prop.