Rumour Warriors Recruitment Discussion and Rumour Mill - 2014

[Mr. Muller]

There a list of props off contract for next year I could check out somewhere?

 

[mt.wellington]

Hitman82 tajhay ToiletDuck heres one fresh off the press. Got it from the lads FB page.

Kouma Samson and Mason Lino are off to play Rugby League in France.

Kouma Samson
3 hrs ·
So its official, my little family and I are moving to the south of France to further my career in football!! its a massive opportunity and we are super excited!! I'll be leaving after my season this year with the Warriors. My girls will follow after sam finishes uni! my little girls going to be a french baby! haha if you want to check out the club heres the link lol good luck reading french!!!

https://www.asc13.fr/asc-xiii/news/recrutement-1

Heres the link translated:

RECRUITMENT
2 Kiwis in front of the City ....

The ASC XIII introduced his recruitment for 2014/2015 season
Above 2 new recruits Antipodes, 2 internationals Juniors KIWI players Team NZ Warriors.
Kouma SAMSON born 01/03/1994 - Height: 185cm - Weight: 95 Kgs - Pillar or 2 Line operates the New Zealand Junior Warriors - Junior International KIWI
Lino MASON born 04/02/94 - Height: 176cm - Weight: 84 Kgs - 1/2 melee moves to New Zealand Juniors Warriors - Junior International KIWI


Complete recruitment Warriors 2 players, 4 French players. Lilian ALBERT born June 25, 1991 - Size: 184cm - Weight: 92 kg - Centre half opening in or out. This talented player leaves school rugby Villeneuve / lot. He went through the to13 in Championship and has evolved into the world of professional rugby 15 (Albi / Agen). BOURREL Pierre Louis born October 10, 1992 - Height - 182cm - Weight: 88 Kgs - Centre half melee . This talented player from the school rugby XIII Limoux to13 evolved. He is currently training in Australia in Newcastle.Christophe Moly born July 16, 1982. Returning to the club he played last season with Team VARL reserve CSA XIII. This generous and experienced player can change the position of Hooker or 3rd line. Back club also Loïc TAURIN 20 years Limoux party last year, the center of L'Equipe Junior winner in 2012 of the Coupe de France and championship finalist France, find these former teammates Bastien and Alexis Escamilla, Péault Maxime and Roman Quentin Nicol, Damien Jacquet, Bastien Canet.

https://www.asc13.fr/asc-xiii/news/recrutement-1

The club is AS Carcassonne. This from Wikipedia:

AS Carcassonne is a professional rugby league football club based in Carcassonne in the south of France. It plays in the French rugby league championship and is one of the most successful clubs in French rugby league, having won a total of ten French Championship titles and eleven Lord Derby Cups. In more recent times the club has been less successful than in the past winning only one Championship in the past twenty-five years and two Lord Derby Cups.

The club was founded in 1938 and to date has produced debatably the best ever French Rugby league footballer in Puig Aubert. Carcassonne have several long-standing and fierce rivalries with other local area clubs including Union Treiziste Catalane, who are more commonly known as Les Catalans.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AS_Carcassonne

​

Spoke with Mason Lino and its all true. He's excited for the opportunity to travel and learn another language. From what Ive been told they have been offered a great contract and couldnt say no. Will most likely leave in November. Best of luck to both players and cheers for the service...

 

[Mr. Muller]

Great opportunity for the young guys! A chance to travel, learn a new culture and get paid to do what they love to do. I really had high hopes for Kouma he played along side a few of my nephews. He had the ability to bend the line with every hit up and just looked like a very mature footballer beyond his years.

Good luck boys!

 

[eX | Machina]

Well it looks like DB might have got the RF signing spot on.

https://www.foxsports.com.au/nrl/sp...s-best-on-ground/story-e6frf3ou-1226960484393

 

[Hitman82]

Feel sorry for the guy he's had a shit run. Bit harsh ( sorry if it sounds cold) but is he worth sticking with long run? He would have been fit what a dozen odd games the last 3 years?

Nah, if I was rationalising the first grade squad I'd ditch Gubb, Lousi x 2, Palavi, Fish, Nielsen, Tuimavave and promote a few hardy fringers and sign a couple of quality first graders in areas of poor depth.

Fish is like Ropati but without the stunning few years early in his career. He skipped right through to broken old man.

 

[Inruin]

In the Herald today that Locke owes the club money after a loan from them. Won't release him until it's paid.

https://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=11277541

 

[¿N. ig-mah¿]

In the Herald today that Locke owes the club money after a loan from them. Won't release him until it's paid.

https://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=11277541

Was a big Locke fan, but now I'm just getting frustrated we can't get past the fool. As soon as he moves on, we all can. Plenty of potential, but cancelled out by immaturity, stupidity and an apparent expectation of loyalty to him.

 

[Iafetas Kickstand Wang]

Nah, if I was rationalising the first grade squad I'd ditch Gubb, Lousi x 2, Palavi, Fish, Nielsen, Tuimavave and promote a few hardy fringers and sign a couple of quality first graders in areas of poor depth.

Fish is like Ropati but without the stunning few years early in his career. He skipped right through to broken old man.

I find it very interesting that the players you are promoting as discarding are largely in positions we don't have a schnid-tin of depth in... you've got fullback (Glen Fisiiahi), wing (Glen Fisiiahi), prop (Sione Lousi , Charlie Gubb), we have no depth in those areas particularly with Kevin Locke moving on. I've been watching a bit of Matt Allwood in the NSW Cup comp, frankly he'd be lucky to get a gig for the Greytown Caffe-Latte Sippers C team with his defence.

Of the ones you name above, aside from Dane Nielsen and Sam Lousi, I'd be inclined to keep them all.

 

[Hitman82]

I find it very interesting that the players you are promoting as discarding are largely in positions we don't have a schnid-tin of depth in... you've got fullback (Glen Fisiiahi), wing (Glen Fisiiahi), prop (Sione Lousi , Charlie Gubb), we have no depth in those areas particularly with Kevin Locke moving on. I've been watching a bit of Matt Allwood in the NSW Cup comp, frankly he'd be lucky to get a gig for the Greytown Caffe-Latte Sippers C team with his defence.

Of the ones you name above, aside from Dane Nielsen and Sam Lousi, I'd be inclined to keep them all.

What use is depth when it's broken all the time?

I'd prefer to hold on to some fringe players who may not be quite as "promising" as Fish, Sam... but are more likely to actually be playing. Two of those three I would be directly replacing with new recruits.

Abbey offers far more potential than Fish anyway imo.

Gubb I do not rate. I hope he proves me wrong this weekend but I honestly don't think he will ever threaten our top 4 props. Do you? Would happily pick up a new NSW Cup level prop to replace him - one with size.

I seem to remember me being one of the very few bitching when we lost Mau to Australia. Now he's a premier NRL forward. Even Gavet, who I also rated big time, has been doing well. Would happily take either of them back over the Lousis or Gubb.

I don't particularly rate Matt Allwood either. But he's a step up from Tui due to not being a total pussy. Honestly, Dane Nielsen is not a terrible player but he seems way out of sorts in our jersey and just doesn't fit the team well at all.

Would invest my time and effort in Lisone, RFM, Abbey, Kata (can also play wing) and purchase some disgruntled NRL or fringe players to replace the experience lost in Sione and Fish.

I'm actually a fan of Sione and recently have come to admire Fish as a winger. But he's a one-dimensional, nothing fullback and Sione just can't stay on the damn field.

 

[phil.kingston]

Was a big Locke fan, but now I'm just getting frustrated we can't get past the fool. As soon as he moves on, we all can. Plenty of potential, but cancelled out by immaturity, stupidity and an apparent expectation of loyalty to him.

I dont quiet understand whats everyone on about with Locke. Whats he doing that's having an impact, good or bad, on the club. He's going nowhere near the club, and playing at his local club to keep match fitness. Hasnt been much in the media making noise, except for the odd interview. He's been dealt with in the worst possible way by the club, IMO...the least they can do is quietly let him go

 

[Iafetas Kickstand Wang]

Gees mate, I think you're perhaps overplaying the card of Brad Abbey. For a start, he's 17. Lets not do what we've done to other players (including at one stage Glen Fisiiahi) and put him in before he's gone through a proper pathway.

Sam Lousi I don't think is promising. I think he's got by on his height. At first grade level that doesn't really mean much. Take Cameron Ciraldo and Paul McNicholas as examples of blokes that did nothing in their careers, but were friggen huge.

Charlie Gubb to me is clearly next cab off the rank. I also think he will keep Matagi honest.... I'm not sure Matagi has truly set the world on fire just yet.

I don't think Leeson Ah Mau is a premier NRL forward. He's a decent NRL forward. And its taken a long long time for that to eventuate. James Gavet is moot, because he's not on the market. This is the issue. I don't see anyone on the market that is a realistic purchase for us without blowing the bank that offers anything more than a Carlos Tuimavave, Glen Fisiiahi, Sione Lousi, Charlie Gubb. Frankly, no I don't believe Matt Allwood in anyway shape or form is even remotely close to being a step up from Carlos.

I don't think having the likes of Gubb, Tuimavave and Fisiiahi in anyway impede the development of RFM, Lisone, Abbey, Kata. Kata for mine is 2 years away. I've seen him do some absolutely dumb stuff in NSW Cup. Shocking passes, defensive reads that make you go hmmmm. I get the impression some are hoping he's the next Konrad Hurrell, without being anywhere near a Konrad Hurrell. Brad Abbey as above is a number of years away.

Fisiiahi will be costing us what, $160, $200k max in the salary cap. Given Manu Vatuvei is getting on in his career and increasingly injury prone, that David Fusitua is a rookie albeit a talented one, Ngani Laumape is also still developing, I think Fish is a critical back up. He is also a mile superior back up to Sam Tomkins than Brad Abbey. I know there's a lot of unnecessary fapping over young kids on these types of forums, but to think he could step in if Tomkins went down.... not a snowballs chance at this stage. Its like Siliva Havili. Much fapping over him in NYC, lad deadset has stuck to 10 minute spells of lob passes and good defence without being able to use the rampaging ability he had in NYC because frankly defences are a mile better at this level.

 

[Hitman82]

don't think Leeson Ah Mau is a premier NRL forward.

Busy atm but I was talking about Manu Mau. Fucking beast.

 

[wallacenz]

We definitely would benefit from 1 or 2 big power props. The height and weight make them harder to tackle. A couple of guys like Matulino, up about 6ft 4 and 110kg+

 

[Far Away Fan]

Hitman82 tajhay ToiletDuck heres one fresh off the press. Got it from the lads FB page.

Kouma Samson and Mason Lino are off to play Rugby League in France.

Kouma Samson
3 hrs ·
So its official, my little family and I are moving to the south of France to further my career in football!! ....

​

Spoke with Mason Lino and its all true. He's excited for the opportunity to travel and learn another language. From what Ive been told they have been offered a great contract and couldnt say no. Will most likely leave in November. Best of luck to both players and cheers for the service...

I know nothing at all about Carcassonne's rugby league club ASC, but Carcassonne itself I've visited and it is one amazing city. I know some of the countryside to the south of it pretty well: it's stunningly beautiful and wonderfully peaceful. Hiiltop villages and hamlets that date back hundreds of years, ruined crag-top castles that are even older. It's the land of breathtaking rural idylls. Am I overblowing it? No way. If I had the chance, I'd go back there in a heartbeat. To be paid to play the sport they love in that area, that's really something. Lucky for them!

 

[ShaunJohnson7]

Nah, if I was rationalising the first grade squad I'd ditch Gubb, Lousi x 2, Palavi, Fish, Nielsen, Tuimavave and promote a few hardy fringers and sign a couple of quality first graders in areas of poor depth.

Fish is like Ropati but without the stunning few years early in his career. He skipped right through to broken old man.

pfffffft lets see how quick Fish is when he comes back from shoulder surgery as opposed to Ropo with his knee injuries. Big difference. Bet Fish is still lightening and therefore still at his best. Injury prone yes, but he hasnt hurt himself in areas yet which will affect his speed thank god.

 

[Sup42]

The issue with having players you don't like .......getting injured....thereby giving spots to players you like.....

Is that the club reaches a critical mass of injury and has to play people who may mean the finals chase is over.

The club is always stronger when all players....whether u like em or not...are fit for selection.

Depth is an impossible dream when multiple players are out hurt.

If you trust the coach then Injuries are an evil and never a Silver lining scenario.

Right now our backs are running on the smell of an oily rag.....Ropo and Danes unavailability as viable options.....weakens this teams finals chances no end.

So wish the Fish was ok.......now it's down to praying Dane comes right.

 

[Gizzyfan]

Certainl don't need an more injuries but crisis is overstating things. Waetford, Lolohea and Fusitua can cover fullback, Henry, Fusitua, Kata, Kata, Lolohea can cover centre, Laumape wing, No changes ideal but thats the nature of injuries.

That doesn't even mention gus like Nielson, Tuimavave and other oung guys going OK in NSW cup.

 

[¿N. ig-mah¿]

I dont quiet understand whats everyone on about with Locke. Whats he doing that's having an impact, good or bad, on the club. He's going nowhere near the club, and playing at his local club to keep match fitness. Hasnt been much in the media making noise, except for the odd interview. He's been dealt with in the worst possible way by the club, IMO...the least they can do is quietly let him go

He is distracting the coach, at the very least. McFadden doesn't need to be hearing about and being questioned about his hijinx.

He hasn't been dealt with badly. Even up until he signed with Salford, they were trying to find a niche for him. Why wouldn't they look at signing one of the biggest players in the world for his spot. He hasn't stepped up to anywhere near the level of consistancy and performance that he so easily could have. His injury woes were unfortunate, but the club can't be expected to sit and wait for him to heal. We needed a huge signing, and it was just unfortunate for Kevin that it was in his spot. If not for the injury at the World Cup, Locke could very easily have been playing FB right now. Tomkins may have been put straight into the halves. And Locke had opportunities to push for the jersey once he returned.

Sure, some of the stuff about him being allowed to shop around, but having limits put on his timeframe seem a little harsh, but why would the club want to send someone with so much potential out to play from the opposite end of the field. ESL is the perfect place for him to be for our benefit, and also for his financial future.

The debt hanging over his head is his doing alone. The club should not release him until it is paid, or genuine repayment plans are made.

Playing for his local club would be fine if he had simply asked the question, but he chose to do it without permission. He is an employee, in an industry where unneccessary risk of injury should be minimised. It would be obvious to anyone with half a brain they need to get permission.

And now with Fish ruled out for the season, he has probably duffed a perfect chance to go out of the NRL on a high. We now have no depth at wing or fullback, and he has been tried as a bench utility in the past, so it could have been beneficial for him and the club to keep him around until the end of the season. The bridges could have been repaired, but he already burned them for good with this local game.

By no means are the clubs hands clean on this situation, but remember he is an employee of a franchise in a business that is about winning Premierships. If there is a better chance of winning one with someone else, then they have to take the risk. There were opportunities for him to do right.

I still like the way he played, but my first loyalty lies with the club, and he has continue to make dick moves his entire career. If he grows up, he could easily come back to the NRL and carve up.

 

[¿N. ig-mah¿]

Gubb I do not rate. I hope he proves me wrong this weekend but I honestly don't think he will ever threaten our top 4 props. Do you? Would happily pick up a new NSW Cup level prop to replace him - one with size.

I think Gubb makes our top 4 by default. We only have 3 left with Mutts going to 2nd row, and Rapira is always one hit up away from another injury. You can't count Vete or Lisone yet, as they haven't debuted, so Gubb is currently our 4th prop whether we like it or not. I personally wonder if it is time we looked at Mannering filling the last spot. He could cope if needed, and it opens up some space to utilise some of our bench players.

Would invest my time and effort in Lisone, RFM, Abbey, Kata (can also play wing) and purchase some disgruntled NRL or fringe players to replace the experience lost in Sione and Fish.

I hear Kevin Locke and his club have fallen out with each other. He can play wing, fullback and bench utility. We could use depth in all of these. We should sign him cheap.

 

[¿N. ig-mah¿]

Gees mate, I think you're perhaps overplaying the card of Brad Abbey. For a start, he's 17. Lets not do what we've done to other players (including at one stage Glen Fisiiahi) and put him in before he's gone through a proper pathway.

Sam Lousi I don't think is promising. I think he's got by on his height. At first grade level that doesn't really mean much. Take Cameron Ciraldo and Paul McNicholas as examples of blokes that did nothing in their careers, but were friggen huge.

Charlie Gubb to me is clearly next cab off the rank. I also think he will keep Matagi honest.... I'm not sure Matagi has truly set the world on fire just yet.

I don't think Leeson Ah Mau is a premier NRL forward. He's a decent NRL forward. And its taken a long long time for that to eventuate. James Gavet is moot, because he's not on the market. This is the issue. I don't see anyone on the market that is a realistic purchase for us without blowing the bank that offers anything more than a Carlos Tuimavave, Glen Fisiiahi, Sione Lousi, Charlie Gubb. Frankly, no I don't believe Matt Allwood in anyway shape or form is even remotely close to being a step up from Carlos.

I don't think having the likes of Gubb, Tuimavave and Fisiiahi in anyway impede the development of RFM, Lisone, Abbey, Kata. Kata for mine is 2 years away. I've seen him do some absolutely dumb stuff in NSW Cup. Shocking passes, defensive reads that make you go hmmmm. I get the impression some are hoping he's the next Konrad Hurrell, without being anywhere near a Konrad Hurrell. Brad Abbey as above is a number of years away.

Fisiiahi will be costing us what, $160, $200k max in the salary cap. Given Manu Vatuvei is getting on in his career and increasingly injury prone, that David Fusitua is a rookie albeit a talented one, Ngani Laumape is also still developing, I think Fish is a critical back up. He is also a mile superior back up to Sam Tomkins than Brad Abbey. I know there's a lot of unnecessary fapping over young kids on these types of forums, but to think he could step in if Tomkins went down.... not a snowballs chance at this stage. Its like Siliva Havili. Much fapping over him in NYC, lad deadset has stuck to 10 minute spells of lob passes and good defence without being able to use the rampaging ability he had in NYC because frankly defences are a mile better at this level.

Abbey is definitely not ready, but is clearly the future.

I think Sam Lousi had some stunning strings to his bow in U20s. Unfortunately he has been unable to bring them up to NSW Cup level with him, let alone take them to the next level. I actually think he needs to be told to not hold back. I get the impression he is scared to allow his strength to come out. He is always trying to control it, but should just unleash. (except obviously when he broke his hand on someones face).

As I said in my last post, Gubb is next in line by default, not because of anything he has done. He needs to step up now, or be passed by Vete and/or Lisone.

I have no answers on who we should sign.

I think the hope many have with Kata is to fill that bench hooking role, that was hinted at earlier. He needs plenty of gametime at NSW Cup level in his natural positions first before playing with his game. I see more of a Ngani clone rather than Konrad in him - a few brains rather than just hulk-rage. There seems to be no point in retaining Fish. A broken player is not depth. He is out for the season, so there is no point in even mentioning him as FB or wing cover. I think it is a little inaccurate to say Manu is getting injury prone. He has remained fit for quite a while now (longer than in the past), and is in better shape than he has been in years. My guess is that Lolohea may be worked as our FB, wing cover. It will give him a chance to break into the big game without the risks, and could give us a point of difference. Tomkins is able to stay at FB or shift to 6 if needed, so Lolohea could play as the FB Carlos was meant to be. I see Ngani as our only wing depth, but we don't have any legitimate cover at centre, unless we do something drastic like bring back Dane or Carlos. The club must be kicking themselves that it all went south with Locke at this exact time.

Havili is destined to be bench hooker. I can't see him ever being our first choice for big minutes. We desperately need to find a 60 minute hooker with some genuine attacking skills. Friend is only making up numbers in attack, and stunting our go forward. Defensively, he is worthy. I'm not sure I see Leuluai as our future hooker either. I'm worried that if he returns, so does the meek and mild Shaun Johnson. I would rather we never see TL again, if we can keep the mature Shaun Johnson we now have.

The only real depth we have is at 2nd row, but none of it is really ready, apart from perhaps RFM. Its a huge turn around from what we thought we had not too long ago. We are one strategic injury away from dire days.