Wellington Warrior
For sure… but sends a message to anyone wanting to negotiate with the Dolphins that if they miss out, they will leak info to the media.
POS giving off jilted bride vibes... I wouldn't be airing that out in public at all.
And can either of those guys spell properly.
mrblonde
Do you think they'd be in Rugby League if they could? To paraphrase a line from "The Wire"...
Neither the Pongas or the Dolphins coming out looking too flash from this.
You might also wonder how much of a guru POS actually is if the NRL360 take on the Dolphins' recruitment record/skills is accurate.
Neither the Pongas or the Dolphins coming out looking too flash from this.
You might also wonder how much of a guru POS actually is if the NRL360 take on the Dolphins' recruitment record/skills is accurate.
snake77
A bit of a double edged sword. You have players using the Dolphins to push up their salaries. I've also seen an article about how the Dolphins are talking to players under contract which is technically ok. Clubs are putting up with it so not to upset their players.
As much as the Dolphins should of been treated better in this instance. They probably not total angels in their negotiations.
If they continue to struggle to sign players it will be interesting to see in a few months. At some point they will need to round out their squad with development players and depth signings. At the moment most of the talk is on the higher end.
snake77
It's good that Ponga has his future sorted. We have been reading about it yearly. Considering how young he is, sure he's exciting but not sure he has earned the amount of attention he gets every year.
This will likely move more attention to the Walsh rumours. I can see the reasoning for him wanting to stay in Queensland. He also sounded like he was keen to move to New Zealand when he was signed. Sure a lot of time has past since then. Also a big risk for him to sign with a new side and likely be the face of the side. He is still a player developing his game. As we have seen he is still prone to mistakes and hasn't been as dangerous this year as teams have him scouted.
Playing in a side he knows with a half like Johnson should help our cause. At the moment he still needs to see which players the Dolphins would sign to have around him.
This will likely move more attention to the Walsh rumours. I can see the reasoning for him wanting to stay in Queensland. He also sounded like he was keen to move to New Zealand when he was signed. Sure a lot of time has past since then. Also a big risk for him to sign with a new side and likely be the face of the side. He is still a player developing his game. As we have seen he is still prone to mistakes and hasn't been as dangerous this year as teams have him scouted.
Playing in a side he knows with a half like Johnson should help our cause. At the moment he still needs to see which players the Dolphins would sign to have around him.
Toookey
Yeah career wise it’s a bit of a no brainer with the Dolphins.
They haven’t signed anyone of note and you would think they would struggle for the first few years, however is likely to get a big salary and be the face of the team.
Or
Stick with a team that appears to be on the up, has lots of quality players coming over and will likely challenge in the top 6 for the next few years, while earning less than what he would at the Dolphins.
It’s interesting because already I’m seeing some people saying Walsh is overrated, useless etc. This is going to be compounded x 100 being the face of a new team, likely on a million bucks a year. And when they ultimately don’t perform the first two years, he’s going to be the reason. Look at what happened with Ash Taylor. Look at what’s happening with Ponga. Ponga one of the most exciting fullbacks in recent times but if he’s not scoring 3 tries a game and setting up 4, he gets absolute arseholes in the media.
If I was his manager I’d be saying accept 700k from Warriors for 2023 and 2024, then see what Warriors/Dolphins/Broncs are looking like for 2025 and pick the best money/premiership combination you can find
gREVUS
Long live the Rainbows and Butterflies
Contributor
last year i would have agreed that Walsh isnt worth the money. However what i am seeing from him is growth. I still think that 700k for him now is to much, but in another year if his growth continues then he will be worth it, maybe more.
However this is still a gamble at this stage. And looking at the example of the Storm, with a decent pack in front of him he will shine. But remove that pack and he could look bog average.
Cces
I don't quite agree that the Dolphins are in trouble for 2023 already. They're unlikely to be top 10 straight away but the roster is taking shape.
#8 Jesse Bromwich
#10 Mark Nicholls
#11 Kenny Bromwich
#12 Felise Kaufusi
#13 Ray Stone
#1 Jamayne Isaako
#3 Valynce Te Whare
Obviously there's the spine to complete & Isaako isn't an elite Fullback but their #9/#6/#7 could potentially be something likes of Jayden Berrell (Q Cup #9 of the Year 2021), Matt Moylan & Adam Cook/Cameron Cullen who are all without gigs in 2023. They could even throw their contracted #7 Isaiya Katoa into the deep end at 18 years of age. Behind that pack he'd have more time to make decisions then at some other clubs.
If they can add to that some outside backs with a bit of NRL experience such as Talau, Marsters, Naiqama, Taufua or a Jennings brother they'll jag a handful of wins at home.
#8 Jesse Bromwich
#10 Mark Nicholls
#11 Kenny Bromwich
#12 Felise Kaufusi
#13 Ray Stone
#1 Jamayne Isaako
#3 Valynce Te Whare
Obviously there's the spine to complete & Isaako isn't an elite Fullback but their #9/#6/#7 could potentially be something likes of Jayden Berrell (Q Cup #9 of the Year 2021), Matt Moylan & Adam Cook/Cameron Cullen who are all without gigs in 2023. They could even throw their contracted #7 Isaiya Katoa into the deep end at 18 years of age. Behind that pack he'd have more time to make decisions then at some other clubs.
If they can add to that some outside backs with a bit of NRL experience such as Talau, Marsters, Naiqama, Taufua or a Jennings brother they'll jag a handful of wins at home.
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Ever Hopeful
Contributor
I think POS will be upset because they will be selling the spine to the big names.
You turn up to a guy like Reece and say "Reece, if you come to us look at the spine you will play with - we are going somewhere."
And then they produce a
1 Ponga
6 Munster
7 Walsh
9 Whoever they are looking at
Then it looks very attractive to a young guy, or an established half looking to jump ship.
As soon as POS loses that like he has with Ponga, Grant, Hughes etc he doesn't have the dream to sell anymore.
They turn up to Reece with no hooker, no 7, a maybe around Munster and a vanilla forward pack, and it doesn't look great.
POS really, really needs a name soon so that the he gets some momentum and the dominos can start to fall, otherwise the list of names is going to be so few and far between there is nowhere to go and the Dolphins will look like a very unattractive club to play for.
Meanwhile we pick up some of the next generation talent whilst his eyes are on the big guys that fuck him around like Ponga. Time is such a valuable asset.
As long as our club is on the up, Walsh has mentors in Shaun Johnson etc, can meet with RTS in Auckland and explore his Māori heritage with help from the club and we should remain a good option.
You turn up to a guy like Reece and say "Reece, if you come to us look at the spine you will play with - we are going somewhere."
And then they produce a
1 Ponga
6 Munster
7 Walsh
9 Whoever they are looking at
Then it looks very attractive to a young guy, or an established half looking to jump ship.
As soon as POS loses that like he has with Ponga, Grant, Hughes etc he doesn't have the dream to sell anymore.
They turn up to Reece with no hooker, no 7, a maybe around Munster and a vanilla forward pack, and it doesn't look great.
POS really, really needs a name soon so that the he gets some momentum and the dominos can start to fall, otherwise the list of names is going to be so few and far between there is nowhere to go and the Dolphins will look like a very unattractive club to play for.
Meanwhile we pick up some of the next generation talent whilst his eyes are on the big guys that fuck him around like Ponga. Time is such a valuable asset.
As long as our club is on the up, Walsh has mentors in Shaun Johnson etc, can meet with RTS in Auckland and explore his Māori heritage with help from the club and we should remain a good option.
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Ever Hopeful
Contributor
Toookey
Mate that pack is bog standard. Stats wise, those players don’t make many meters at all, and the props are certainly on the decline age wise. Those backrowers aren’t the type to consistently make big meters.
I think they’re in trouble.
Even if they get Walsh and Munster, behind an ageing pack that aren’t making meters I don’t think they’re going to go well.
They should have signed Lodge, maybe they still do
Jaffa J
I agree Dolphins will be fine Bennett is a great coach and will make do
mrblonde
If POS can channel his inner jilted bride on a regular basis, maybe Aussie TV has an opening for a Signed At First Sight type-show??
It sounded a bit on NRL360 last night that ole Mr Bennett had a real dig at Mr Ponga. Maybe he could play the Bitchy Type Bride.
Of course, the Warriors would be paired with some talentless, lame doofus...Who'd never want to leave.
Yep I think POS trying to expose PONGA senior just shows up his lack of integrity... Also to paraphrase a line from The Wire "People don't change. They just get older..."
AlexM
Wrighty
Gosh that article was an enjoyable read, My favourite line
Bennett: If you want to be a rock star stay in New castle. If you want to work hard to be the best fullback in the NRL then come to the Dolphins
That first line "if you want to be a rock star then stay in newcastle"
Is a sales line agencies used to use on me to get my business at work.
Instead of saying "Please do business with us".
They would say "We don't want your business unless you can guarantee to commit to our programme of how to sell in our standard way."
It is a reverse psychology thing, where you are insulted that they don't want you more so you say yes. Usually it would be used by companies that had a long shot at getting your business and contract from you.
My second observation is that I stopped paying attention to POS as a serious person as soon as he recruited Isaako of all people to the Dolphins.
Bennett: If you want to be a rock star stay in New castle. If you want to work hard to be the best fullback in the NRL then come to the Dolphins
That first line "if you want to be a rock star then stay in newcastle"
Is a sales line agencies used to use on me to get my business at work.
Instead of saying "Please do business with us".
They would say "We don't want your business unless you can guarantee to commit to our programme of how to sell in our standard way."
It is a reverse psychology thing, where you are insulted that they don't want you more so you say yes. Usually it would be used by companies that had a long shot at getting your business and contract from you.
My second observation is that I stopped paying attention to POS as a serious person as soon as he recruited Isaako of all people to the Dolphins.
Jaffa J
Wrighty
Because Walsh is younger and more impressionable it might be more likely to work.
At the end of the day I think Reece is too young to be a good fit for an expansion franchise.
And probably Ponga was two or three years too young as well.
Guys like Mark Nicholls, Bromwich Brothers who are at the end of the careers would love a breath of fresh air and the interest of starting a new franchise.
Asking a young player like Walsh to join a developing team that may get the spoon its first few years is not realistic. While Munster given he has already achieved everything would be ok with finishing 14th the next three years provided you pay him shed loads of cash.
It is simply impossible the Dolphins will make the top 8 in any of their first three years. Nothwithstanding the fact their first few signings are decent.
snake77
That was the talk on NRL360. O'Sullivan looked good for Penrith filling in for Cleary but its easier to look good slotting into the defending premiers.
He might go alright under Bennett with a defined role and they have some decent forwards.
Can see him being ok guiding a side around the field. Still need to create opportunities for his outsides otherwise they may not be able to keep the scoreboard ticking over.
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