General 2021 salary cap and recruitment - 4 key questions

[Blain]

There has been a lot of chat about Shaun Johnson in this thread - Not sure why, won't come back with George and SK hanging around. Plus why would he? Time we move on eh..

We are missing a top flight halfback. Green is sooo bad it hurts. He was running the show the first few games, and it was a shit show. Sadly he just isn't up to it.

There isn't much top talent off contract really, I would like to see us have a crack at Cade Cust though, he looks a very good young half from what I've seen. Trapped behind DCE, could dangle a carrot there. Him and Chanel Harris-Tavita would be a very promising pairing.

I wouldn't spend much money on a centre or winger, we already have a tone of options and youngsters coming through. Would be wasting cap IMO. SK needs to sort his shit out and put Fusitua back on the wing. I like Hiku, offers spark which we severely lack. Right centre is the only question mark, but I think the cattle is there if someone can fucking coach properly.. Still think it should be Perham's spot.

Katoa, Jamayne Tounua-Brown and Ben Murdoch-Masila have potentially solved our forward/second rower shortage, but to early to tell (fucking COVID). With Tevaga, Bunty and Paasi also back from injury there is plenty of stock to work with.

I wouldn't say no to an experienced NRL forward to take Blairs spot, but not an "off the park leader", average player on big bucks like Blair - Soliola, Bromwich (not the player he has been in the past, but still a pack leader), Ese'ese, Asiata, Terepo, Mclean, Nathan Brown, Eisenhuth would all offer us something and are off contract.

In summary, I would like Cade Cust to replace Green, probably an experienced forward to replace Blair, and a new coach please. Would take a couple depth re-signings/signings with NRL experience also to keep the squad balanced.

 

[wrighty]

No offensive coach will do anything while it's SK's game plan.

They don't get to do things how they want, they coach within the parameters of Kearney Ball.

Not happy with that

SK was coach when when we had Shaun Johnson and Green carving up in the red zone in 2018. We were possibly one of the most potent teams in the comp. When people tried to complain on this forum that year the gripe was that we weren't scoring many long range tries. Yet all, even the glass as half full brigade acknowledged our real strike power and effectiveness in the red zone.

SK was also the coach last year and we finished mid table for offence. We were ok in the red zone. We actually played at a 50 percent winning record for a time with Kodi in the halves which suggests he should be returned there as an aside, 50% percent may not sound stellar but it is good for the warriors.
In the off season we switched to a prop as offensive coordinator and we suddenly have attacking prowess that would be more associated with a Balclutha second grade rugby league side than an NRL side.

I think you can blame SK for not pulling Chanel Harris-Tavita after the first game. And I think you can blame him for appointing Todd Payten in the first place. But I suspect it ends there in terms of SKs accountability.

 

[Defence]

Definitely need a clean out in the coaching ranks.
If we could lose green and Blair that would be great but we would need to replace them with experienced players- that’s 500 games experience walking out the door.
Bromwhich and he who shall not be named would be a nice fit...
The other names who grab me off that list are ese’ese and Nathan brown- he’s a nutter- if u want some mongrel in your pack he’s your man.

 

[JaggedJ]

Not happy with that

SK was coach when when we had Shaun Johnson and Green carving up in the red zone in 2018. We were possibly one of the most potent teams in the comp. When people tried to complain on this forum that year the gripe was that we weren't scoring many long range tries. Yet all, even the glass as half full brigade acknowledged our real strike power and effectiveness in the red zone.

SK was also the coach last year and we finished mid table for offence. We were ok in the red zone. We actually played at a 50 percent winning record for a time with Kodi in the halves which suggests he should be returned there as an aside, 50% percent may not sound stellar but it is good for the warriors.
In the off season we switched to a prop as offensive coordinator and we suddenly have attacking prowess that would be more associated with a Balclutha second grade rugby league side than an NRL side.

I think you can blame SK for not pulling Chanel Harris-Tavita after the first game. And I think you can blame him for appointing Todd Payten in the first place. But I suspect it ends there in terms of SKs accountability.

One of the most potent teams in the comp who finished 10th equal in points scored......

2017 - 13th
2018 - 10th=
2019 - 10th

At no time under SK have we been potent or anything other than a bottom 8 attacking team.

We didn't suddenly get worse because we hired Payten as our attacking coach, we got worse because our roster keeps getting worse, slower, and more one dimensional.

We've had 3 attacking assistants under Kearney with zero genuine improvement. We can keep rotating assistants all we want, it's not going to fix anything.

 

[wizards rage]

No. Because forced coaching changes would have happened if we went 0 and 8 to start the season. Ideally whoever they brought in could get them playing better. We actually have a top 8 on paper in mind if we played to potential.

Change coach and we win a few but fundamentally we have gaps in our squad (prop, halves); our leadership is past it (Blair, green); assistant coaches are yes men that add little; strength and conditioning is off. A new coach helps but it would take another pre-season for the squad to be competitive.

 

[Weno]

Really need KN on the pitch.

Has his flaws,our only real spark when out there and willing to take on the line and cause trouble.
The return of Lawton should bolster our attack as Egan still tries to find his way with our team.

Nathan Brown is that abrasive player missing from our mix.
Players feed off the assertive mongrel type players.
Jazz has it,but doesn't have the game and effect Nathan Brown has for the Tuna's.
Would be shocked and will touch someone's dick if he sides with us.

Mix with with the intimidation of Ben Murdoch-Masila.
And Paasi in his hulk smash form,daaaaaaang.

Hope AK stays and gets that Kata time in the 4 jersey.
Showed potential in that Raiders game,would like to see if he can build on that like Kata's passing game.

Cade Custs name was enough to catch my attention.
The return of DCE spelled his time in first grade,made a good first of it.
Wouldn't pass on this kid,just stuck behind a quality backline and a coach who wants Parker,Garrick,suli,Taufua,Turbo and Walker on the pitch at the same time.

 

[warriors55]

There are some good players coming off contract at the end of 2021 which we should be targeting. This year (if played) and next will be a write off so need to focus on 2022.

I would like to see us target these players:

Forwards:

Ryan James
Felise Kaufusi
Christian Welch
Herman Ese'ese
Nathan Brown
Jayd'n Sua

Backs:

Nick Cotric
Jarrod Croker
Moses Suli
Cooper Johns
Anthony Milford

 

[playdaball]

Many of the rumoured players possibly returning to the NRL have links to NZ, surely they could pick up a player?

Folau
SBW
Te’o
Rapana
Cooper

These types of guys offer a lot more than some of the guys currently on our books.

 

[brightman]

Many of the rumoured players possibly returning to the NRL have links to NZ, surely they could pick up a player?

Folau
SBW
Te’o
Rapana
Cooper

These types of guys offer a lot more than some of the guys currently on our books.

Folau - send Brian Tamaki to sign him up pronto
SBW - offer him half the club
Te'o - would rather a real kiwi like Terry
Rapana - would make a great winger outside the lip dropper
Cooper - send him to Christchurch to work on his D

Yep, dreams are free..

 

[brightman]

With the financial ramifications of Covid19 and the NRL's piss poor accounting and decision making "should" be a reduction in the salary cap and a lot of players having to renegotiate with their clubs. In that there will be recruiting opportunities for overpriced but competent players being squeezed and it screams right up the tracksuit used car salesman's alley..

 

[JaggedJ]

Cooper playing for a NZ team.

That guy could get booed even in an empty stadium.

 

[brightman]

Cooper playing for a NZ team.

That guy could get booed even in an empty stadium.

Good target marketing towards the rah-rahs, free tomatoes at the gate..

 

[wizards rage]

With the financial ramifications of Covid19 and the NRL's piss poor accounting and decision making "should" be a reduction in the salary cap and a lot of players having to renegotiate with their clubs. In that there will be recruiting opportunities for overpriced but competent players being squeezed and it screams right up the tracksuit used car salesman's alley..

Always thought a high cap allows good players to pool at glamour clubs because wages is less of a factor. The Warriors decline and inability to interest the next Prices, Campions, Tates, etc coincided with the cap rocketing up.

Steategically we will be more competitive with a lower cap and players not as willing to turn down higher offers.

 

[brightman]

Always thought a high cap allows good players to pool at glamour clubs because wages is less of a factor. The Warriors decline and inability to interest the next Prices, Campions, Tates, etc coincided with the cap rocketing up.

Steategically we will be more competitive with a lower cap and players not as willing to turn down higher offers.

once the squeeze has settled it will all become relative, by then we would hope development has matured..

 

[playdaball]

I think Quade Cooper would be better than Green and Chanel Harris-Tavita

 

[fizurg]

I’d take Cooper. I’d watch just out of interest to see how he goes. Any Warriors game I watch now is more down to some weird feeling of duty I have to the club rather than any real interest in the club.

 

[fizurg]

Always thought a high cap allows good players to pool at glamour clubs because wages is less of a factor. The Warriors decline and inability to interest the next Prices, Campions, Tates, etc coincided with the cap rocketing up.

Steategically we will be more competitive with a lower cap and players not as willing to turn down higher offers.

when the Warriors have managed to sign bigger name players it has pretty much always been down to luck more than any thing else.
Of those three you mentioned
Price apparently had a gambling addiction and needed the best offer he could get. Tate came because of family ties to Price
Campion came because he signed for an English club then promptly found out he hated England and went to any club that would take him.

 

[Mr Brownstone]

once the squeeze has settled it will all become relative, by then we would hope development has matured..

I think wizards rage might have a point. With a larger salary cap you get diminishing marginal value - so a player whose true market value might be $900k is happy to stay at a better club for $700k and forgo $200k because they’re still making big money. Less incentive to do that when the overall salary structure of the comp is lower.

 

[wizards rage]

once the squeeze has settled it will all become relative.

A 400k player may turn down $500 because he’s got plenty of disposable income. If he has living costs of $200k, an extra $100k in savings is not much for extra job satisfaction when he has $200k extra anyway.

Relatively, if the cap was halved, a $200k player will give serious consideration to $250k which is proportionally the same under the new cap. He now has $0 excess income with $200k living costs and $50pa could now becomes a significant factor in his post career future.

 

[Noitall]

A 400k player may turn down $500 because he’s got plenty of disposable income. If he has living costs of $200k, an extra $100k in savings is not much for extra job satisfaction when he has $200k extra anyway.

Relatively, if the cap was halved, a $200k player will give serious consideration to $250k which is proportionally the same under the new cap. He now has $0 excess income with $200k living costs and $50pa could now becomes a significant factor in his post career future.

Hopefully strict policing of third party deals aswell as some of the wealthier clubs will ramp those up under a lower salary cap.