Parramatta are interested in Mitch Barnett. Now at 33 in 2027 and coming off ACL, good idea? Having Paulo and De Belin being 34 and 36 respectively is it good to have that much age?
Ryles wants a Paulo replacement that can lead the forwards, Barnett is a year younger.
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JDB is worlds away from Barnett. Barnett is a NSW starter and Australian level prop.
Happy to see Junior extend but would be on a cut price deal IMO
Ummmm did I say I prefer de Belin over Barnett? Where did I say that?
Also, I believe Barnett is a lower chance of NSW now with AFB eligible and Murray back.
But that's the thing. We currently don't have JDB for next year. Barnett would effectively be taking his spot. If JDB plays out of his skin we do keep him and that's a good thing. If he is average then we just cut our losses and move on. I don't hate the idea of him staying on as reserve grade captain and only playing nrl if we are absolutely short.
The contract is there, it's up to us what we want to do but if JBD has a decent year we will keep him.
Ryles won't keep De Belin to be in Reggie's. He won't play Reggie's. He would either retire or try to get another deal. I love this idea of it's ok they'll stay just to be a back-up that people have it's a lie. Could De Belin stay at the club after retirement in some capacity? I think that will definitely happen but he won't play reserve grade. He might even try SL to try and get some cash beforehand. Why relegate himself to an emergency option? Sorry but your ideology on De Belin what he would be in 2027 if we get Barnett is ridiculous with all due respect. Sorry for being harsh.
He would also be on ok money, nothing extreme but starter type money. Around $400k or so. He was brought to the club to start. Now Ryles won't guarentee if de Belin is kept it is he is good enough to start. If he is not Ryles will cut bait. Now if we cut bait, Barnett is not a bad replacement for meantime. But right now there is a deal there for De Belin to play for.
The plan would be Paulo to bench, Barnett to start with Hopgood and De Belin in middle. That's what Ryles has wanted, someone to replace Paulo and that would let Paulo be that impact bench player.
How is it a lie? We take up his option in the top 30 and then the coach plays him where it best suits the squad? If that's reserve grade perfect. If its not then it means that Doorey, Moretti, Brown etc haven't kicked on the way we'd hope. Plenty of older players stay on and get their money but know they will see out their time in reserve grade. Woods, Gower, Mannah, Taupau, lussick, just to name a few.
I don't see why the idea of signing on for a year and potentially playing reserve grade is so ridiculous, but just uprooting his family overseas is not? Don't you think if he was getting these big money offers overseas he'd have taken them for this year? As opposed to a 1 year earn your stripes contract. As far as I can tell his actions so far prove he wants to stay in Australia and if he gets paid 300k next year to run around in ressies I'm sure he'd prefer it to retiring.
If he is signed for next year it doesn't mean he is locked in for the top 13 every week.
It's ridiculous as he won't do it, he would retire. Plus Ryles wouldn't keep him to play reserve grade. I highly highly doubt it. If somehow it does happen I will come back here and apologise but I do not see it. de Belin was signed to start and if Ryles doesn't see him starting then he moves on.
In terms of taking offer overseas, if you have one offer in Sydney you take it. If we say no for 2027 high chance he has no other choice and wants to play then goes to SL. He had a choice with Parramatta so took it.
Also, look at the depth we have for middles in 2027. Paulo (more likely stays), Hopgood, Moretti, Tuivaiti, Talagi, Doorey, Koina and perhaps Guymer if he stays. That is a fair bit. No need for de Belin. We have leadership in the club.
If de Belin is happy to just play reggies then all power to him and proves me wrong.
This is what I am saying. He most likely won't be here in 27, but if he does then it doesn't mean we will have 3 over 33s in our starting team.
Barnett would start. Paulo on the bench and JDB retired or more of a squad filler. Either way is fine with me.
Ryles has shown that he doesn't care about contract status, length or past form. It's all about now. Matto, Lane, Joe O, Brown. All on big contracts but played reserves when they didnt fit into the team dynamics. He re-signed Kelma and Hands. Already flicked Hands and Kelma looks destined for that too. Ryley took over from Hands after 2 games and barely played first grade after. Kelma has been dropped numerous times and is now behind Doorey and Kautoga.
You forgot T.Brown
actually he is stil 31 until mid april and 33 in 27
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