Rumour Warriors Recruitment Discussion and Rumour Mill - 2015

[Leedslion007]

I would assume Ryan Sutton. Realistically he's by far the best young prop prospect at Wigan. Only played a few first team games up to now but he's got a good workrate and has stood up well against bigger and more experienced packs. Think he was part of a young team who absolutely beat the he'll out of an experienced group of Leeds forwards at magic last year.

Don't remind me... Yeah he's gonna be in the England squad for years to come! For me hes got a bit of Brooks about him, aggressive and big motor

 

[¿N. ig-mah¿]

But Konnie will do more in 3 seasons than Ngani will in 10. Ngani is another journeyman.

He will also drop his focus more times in 3 years than Ngani will in 10. He can't stay off social media, or out of the off-field spotlight. How many times has he got himself in trouble? If he can stay clean off the field, and modify his runs a little to preserve his body, then he will last a while, but otherwise, he could end up in and out with injuries.

 

[¿N. ig-mah¿]

Leuluai, Havili and Henry all played against the Kangroos and didn't look out of place at all. We were competitive in those games. I think the problem isn't with hooker it's more a problem of chain of command in our spine...

This year either Leuluai or Chad needs to step up and become the leader of our spine, so that Shaun Johnson and Tomkins can float around and work their magic... or we need Foran...

I think for this reason we went better without Leuluai playing... Chad, the former captain of the Aussie U20's, is maybe more respected as our spine leader... Strange I know but that's what it looked like to me....

Maybe we just need to trade Leuluai out...

The comments about Havili and henry are just silly. They were about 50th on the list of possible Kiwis hookers, but the top 49 were injured. Benry was just a desperate experiment. Sure, it paid dividends, but it won't be re-tried unless there are more depth issues. Havili was fine, too, but he can't play enough minutes to be any more than a bench hooker. There can be no chain of command with any of our hooking options. Leuluai sees himself as the superstar, and will overcall everyone, Havili and Benry don't have the neccessary experience to lead a spine, and Friend is nothing more than a hack these days.

I would be willing to chip in a few bucks to help Leuluai move on, but (depressingly enough) he is our only real option, right now.

 

[surfin]

He will also drop his focus more times in 3 years than Ngani will in 10. He can't stay off social media, or out of the off-field spotlight. How many times has he got himself in trouble? If he can stay clean off the field, and modify his runs a little to preserve his body, then he will last a while, but otherwise, he could end up in and out with injuries.

How many times has he got himself in trouble? Very few actually and as far as I know never in regards to anything serious or illegal. Social media is a fact of life in the 21st century so get used to it. Ten years ago Facebook was an issue, now it's a non event. Although I don't really do any of them, ( I do have a Facebook account but have never posted a single comment) and get frustrated with some squad members disengaging their brains before using them it's not much different from the team owner doing the same thing after too much Halloween punch. While completely modifying his game to lesson injury possibilities is pointless we may as well chase Dane Neilson. No matter how he plays he may finish up with injuries, like every single player in the comp. As for your first statement, that is based on what? Ngani is a good player I'd like the club to try very hard to keep but so far history has shown that Konnie is the better player, I'll worry about the things that may happen if they actually do.

 

[eX | Machina]

If its between Merrin for 750k or Foran for 1M. To me it's a dead set no brainer. Trent Merrin is exactly what this team needs. Easily the best young lock/prop forward coming through.

 

[¿N. ig-mah¿]

How many times has he got himself in trouble? Very few actually and as far as I know never in regards to anything serious or illegal. Social media is a fact of life in the 21st century so get used to it. Ten years ago Facebook was an issue, now it's a non event. Although I don't really do any of them, ( I do have a Facebook account but have never posted a single comment) and get frustrated with some squad members disengaging their brains before using them it's not much different from the team owner doing the same thing after too much Halloween punch. While completely modifying his game to lesson injury possibilities is pointless we may as well chase Dane Neilson. No matter how he plays he may finish up with injuries, like every single player in the comp. As for your first statement, that is based on what? Ngani is a good player I'd like the club to try very hard to keep but so far history has shown that Konnie is the better player, I'll worry about the things that may happen if they actually do.

My first statement is based on Konrad's preseasons up until this season. Ngani has had great pre-seasons, apart from last year. He is always talked up as one of the front runners in preseason training, but has been lumped in with Konrad due to one Tongan holiday.

You are right, Konny hasn't got in any serious trouble, but he has got a name for misbehaving on social media, though he may have it under control as he hasn't done anything wrong for a while. Any more hijinx like the Vasa blowjob tape would cause enough damage to cost him some gametime. (Funnily enough, I was the first person Konrad followed on Twitter - a few years back when he was a junior, when I started a twitter account to follow the players and found Konny had just started his account. I followed him, and made a couple of comments, probably to or regarding Locke or someone, and he followed me. I checked out his account and I was his only follow. Stayed that way for a while, too. But I would rather he stayed away from social media).

I never said Konrad needed to "completely modify his game", as you are saying. He just needs to add a touch of self-preservation, and not make every hit-up a kamikaze run. He used to suffer after almost every charge, but appears to have toughened up a little.

I hope we can keep Konrad in tiptop shape and play him for a few more years, but I wouldn't base my squad around him lasting every game every year. As long as we have good depth to cover, then we will be OK. My initial thoughts would be Konrad, Ngani and Kata (obviously one will have to play NSW Cup or wing) are our top centres, and Lolohea would be better utilised elsewhere, but able to cover in a worst case situation. I see Wright and Allwood as more wing depth, than first choice centre back-up.

 

[surfin]

My first statement is based on Konrad's preseasons up until this season. Ngani has had great pre-seasons, apart from last year. He is always talked up as one of the front runners in preseason training, but has been lumped in with Konrad due to one Tongan holiday.

You are right, Konny hasn't got in any serious trouble, but he has got a name for misbehaving on social media, though he may have it under control as he hasn't done anything wrong for a while. Any more hijinx like the Vasa blowjob tape would cause enough damage to cost him some gametime. (Funnily enough, I was the first person Konrad followed on Twitter - a few years back when he was a junior, when I started a twitter account to follow the players and found Konny had just started his account. I followed him, and made a couple of comments, probably to or regarding Locke or someone, and he followed me. I checked out his account and I was his only follow. Stayed that way for a while, too. But I would rather he stayed away from social media).

I never said Konrad needed to "completely modify his game", as you are saying. He just needs to add a touch of self-preservation, and not make every hit-up a kamikaze run. He used to suffer after almost every charge, but appears to have toughened up a little.

I hope we can keep Konrad in tiptop shape and play him for a few more years, but I wouldn't base my squad around him lasting every game every year. As long as we have good depth to cover, then we will be OK. My initial thoughts would be Konrad, Ngani and Kata (obviously one will have to play NSW Cup or wing) are our top centres, and Lolohea would be better utilised elsewhere, but able to cover in a worst case situation. I see Wright and Allwood as more wing depth, than first choice centre back-up.

Wasn't last year the first year for both of them as fulltime first graders?

 

[jonno]

There can be no chain of command with any of our hooking options. Leuluai sees himself as the superstar, and will overcall everyone, Havili and Benry don't have the neccessary experience to lead a spine, and Friend is nothing more than a hack these days.

I would be willing to chip in a few bucks to help Leuluai move on, but (depressingly enough) he is our only real option, right now.

TL was a big name in England, and he's a regular in the Kiwi's test squad, but for some reason he doesn't seem to be the man when playing for us.... On paper I think he's much better than what he really is.

Maybe he just needs to take a back seat,,,,,,,,,,,, all the way back to Wigan...

 

[facefacts]

Given how pathetic our forwards are, I'd say he'd be 750k well spent. We have one of the weaker packs in the comp, and I don't see us going anywhere without significant changes in that department. I couldn't believe the awful stats our pack produced last year, especially the props. Lillyman looked like some sort of god running 100m a game in comparison to the rest. No time for Matagi, totally living off his story and the fact that he carried the ball back hard a few times in 2013. Absolute waste of space on 300+ or whatever it is he's on. Mateo and Bukuya too were just a waste of time, Rapira can't crack 70m a game and Matulino seems to be incapable of hitting anywhere near his former targets. Merrin has twice the workrate and twice the effectiveness of any of those guys, so I'd be happy for us to spend that sort of coin on him. Much better than having 2-3 passengers on 300k who do sweet fuck all. Just my opinion anyway.

And somehow our halfback copped shit for not leading the team around the park well enough and for not having a great kicking game...no half can do those things consistently behind a garbage pack like the one above.

 

[Johnnyray]

Well I think now we have Doyle steering the ship we should be able to run right up to the rev limit on our cap....

And third party agreements should be maxed out as well. We already have the biggest sales of Jerseys in the NRL, so it shouldn't be too hard to get third party deals for our big guns surely....

Yeah problem with that is our jersey sales are only there mate to make up ticket gate numbers not salary cap as we need an average of 12,500 ticket sales a game for the season for club to break even. That we have largest selling jersey in Australia won't change issues we all have concerning salary cap because for a guy who shits money, Eric Watson is still an asshole when it comes to spending it in all his other businesses, why should we expect any different from him when it comes to Warriors ? That's why for me we need new owners ...

 

[Leedslion007]

TL was a big name in England, and he's a regular in the Kiwi's test squad, but for some reason he doesn't seem to be the man when playing for us.... On paper I think he's much better than what he really is.

Maybe he just needs to take a back seat,,,,,,,,,,,, all the way back to Wigan...

I reckon we will see a better TL just like we will see a better Shaun Johnson if we are a competitive pack this season.
If the front boys are not gaining meters the backs take bigger risks to create openings and this where TL has issues, his footy brain isn't that amazing but give him some room and he will play well.
I think if we secure Merrins signature and having brought in Bodene and the Hoff we should expect a lot more go forward and this will free up our halves and hooker

 

[mt.wellington]

Yeah problem with that is our jersey sales are only there mate to make up ticket gate numbers not salary cap as we need an average of 12,500 ticket sales a game for the season for club to break even. That we have largest selling jersey in Australia won't change issues we all have concerning salary cap because for a guy who shits money, Eric Watson is still an asshole when it comes to spending it in all his other businesses, why should we expect any different from him when it comes to Warriors ? That's why for me we need new owners ...

First of all the salary cap is paid by the NRL.

Secondly if 12,500 is the break even than the Warriors averaged 16,042 last season at Mt Smart.

The jersey sales are to pay for backroom staff, development (Warriors U18, U16, training clinics, Warriors Secondary School Cup), 2nd and 3rd tier players, scouts, utilities, etc. From 2005 to 2011 that person you call an asshole was writing a cheque for a million dollars a season out of his own pocket to prop up the club. In 2013 when the club made $24 million he could have taken a chunk of that out but invested every last cent back into the club. Of course he's an asshole in his other businesses. He didnt make money being nice. You think Owen Glenn made more money without shitting a lot of small businesses and everyday folk???

 

[snake77]

We have some footy on tonight. Was hoping Merrin was playing with all this talk about him the last few weeks; just checked the team lists and didn't spot him in the Dragons squad.

We were quoted in the tweet about Merrin telling the Dragons he hasn't been happy for a while. Now is that cause the journo has the inside word or is he taking a punt on us being the front runners.

If he signs it would be for 2016? surely the Dragons wouldn't release him for 2015 this close to the season if he asked for a release especially after all of the recruitment being centred around their forwards.

 

[PolarBob]

...was writing a cheque for a million dollars a season out of his own pocket to prop up the club.

Eric also likes to run a tight monetary ship in his businesses. Which isn't a slight, he's no skinflint (or, for balance, saint).

Back when EW's other half was still Nicky, if they wanted consumer electronics they'd pop into one of his nearest stores and buy the demo and clearance stock. Sometimes for gifts too.

Now, some will say that was being cheap. But clearing aged stock and refreshing demos aids an individual store, and the cost to him was the same fresh-in-box or clearance/shop-soiled. He does what he can for his businesses. Be it little things like that, or dropping a million when needed.

 

[surfin]

Eric also likes to run a tight monetary ship in his businesses. Which isn't a slight, he's no skinflint (or, for balance, saint).

Back when EW's other half was still Nicky, if they wanted consumer electronics they'd pop into one of his nearest stores and buy the demo and clearance stock. Sometimes for gifts too.

Now, some will say that was being cheap. But clearing aged stock and refreshing demos aids an individual store, and the cost to him was the same fresh-in-box or clearance/shop-soiled. He does what he can for his businesses. Be it little things like that, or dropping a million when needed.

Honestly without Eric Watson the Warriors may well have been extinct after the Lowe, Boyle and Tainui poison.

 

[¿N. ig-mah¿]

Wasn't last year the first year for both of them as fulltime first graders?

No. Ngani was training with first grade preseason in 2013. There were epic videos on here of Ngani in wrestling training monstering all comers, and I'm pretty sure Konrad was around the year beforw that.

 

[ShaunJohnson7]

No. Ngani was training with first grade preseason in 2013. There were epic videos on here of Ngani in wrestling training monstering all comers, and I'm pretty sure Konrad was around the year beforw that.

Yup Konnies first grade debut was v Manly in the opening game of 2012 at Eden Park I believe.....

 

[Johnnyray]

First of all the salary cap is paid by the NRL.

Secondly if 12,500 is the break even than the Warriors averaged 16,042 last season at Mt Smart.

The jersey sales are to pay for backroom staff, development (Warriors U18, U16, training clinics, Warriors Secondary School Cup), 2nd and 3rd tier players, scouts, utilities, etc. From 2005 to 2011 that person you call an asshole was writing a cheque for a million dollars a season out of his own pocket to prop up the club. In 2013 when the club made $24 million he could have taken a chunk of that out but invested every last cent back into the club. Of course he's an asshole in his other businesses. He didnt make money being nice. You think Owen Glenn made more money without shitting a lot of small businesses and everyday folk???

Yeah no offence but you're not following me mate. What I meant by my last comment is that Eric Watson only wants to put in as much money into Warriors as he has to, to keep thing going and since he own it the club has been running on bare minimum for years. Until Owen Glenn bought into it, we didn't even have high standard training facility let alone gym for our players. Yes I realise bare minimum still means millions of dollars but the reality is guy can afford to spend more and he doesn't. That's why to me he's asshole because he suppose to be fan like rest of us. Dude can you imagine if we had all his money and owned Warriors what we would do with it ? You wouldn't even be able to watch the game due to all the fireworks and unicorn powered glitter guns ...

 

[¿N. ig-mah¿]

TL was a big name in England, and he's a regular in the Kiwi's test squad, but for some reason he doesn't seem to be the man when playing for us.... On paper I think he's much better than what he really is.

Maybe he just needs to take a back seat,,,,,,,,,,,, all the way back to Wigan...

Is TL really a first choice Kiwi, though? Foran, Johnson, Luke, Hoffman... wait, there is no room for Tommy. The bench spot is his at a push, now, but thats all.

He has been over-rated since his return from ESL, and his 2013 reputation as one of the Warriors best was more of a reflection on his teammates than himself.

 

[slaughterhouse.sa]

First of all the salary cap is paid by the NRL.

Secondly if 12,500 is the break even than the Warriors averaged 16,042 last season at Mt Smart.

The jersey sales are to pay for backroom staff, development (Warriors U18, U16, training clinics, Warriors Secondary School Cup), 2nd and 3rd tier players, scouts, utilities, etc. From 2005 to 2011 that person you call an asshole was writing a cheque for a million dollars a season out of his own pocket to prop up the club. In 2013 when the club made $24 million he could have taken a chunk of that out but invested every last cent back into the club. Of course he's an asshole in his other businesses. He didnt make money being nice. You think Owen Glenn made more money without shitting a lot of small businesses and everyday folk???

No way did the Warrior or any other NRL club make 24 Million.
Maybe a 24 million dollar buisness - i.e revenue.

24 million = Sponsorship + NRL grant (majority) then gate takings + jersey sales e

Then spent most of it on wages, re-investment (facilities) and that would need to pay for other costs.