Parramatta have tabled Keaon Koloamatangi a monster four-year offer in a bid to prise the representative forward out of South Sydney.
The Roosters are also monitoring the situation, given forward Angus Crichton is off contract and considering a switch to rugby at the end of next season. Perth also inquired about 27-year-old Koloamatangi’s plans, but were told he wants to remain in Sydney.
However, the Eels are shaping as a genuine threat to South Sydney’s bid to retain the former NSW and Tonga star. Sources not authorised to speak publicly told this masthead the Eels have weighed in with a four-year offer worth seven figures a season.
Parramatta officials, including coach Jason Ryles, have met with Koloamatangi and his manager.
Replies
Frankie, you're a clever & successful man, and often correct.
The thing is we think the world of Matt Cameron now, and so do I. But have a look at what we said about Matt Cameron back in 2012. He was "rubbish" and a reason our juniors were stuffed. He was also a dope on here by our standards.
I like Matt Cameron a lot, and I have listened to him talk (many, many hours) but could you imagine this resume?
A former woodwork teacher, who didn't want to stay in coaching because it didn't have a secure income like his teaching days, and who didn't want to be a business leader or owner like his stressed-out dad. Would you hire him as GM or CEO based on that?
When was the last big name he signed, despite all their success? They have a similar issue to us in that we don't have the Billionaire Benefactors who dig deep in their pockets and pour millions outside the cap for R&R.
But he's down to earth, transparent, a thinker, clever and a realist. A great CEO, since 2022 after the Panthers had already started their premiership run. He also admits the footy programme follows Ivan Cleary's footy strategies, and just does his best to create the best environment possible to support Cleary. They all trust each other. But if Cleary isn't the great coach he is, they don't have their success.
In essence, regardless of what we think about Jim, that's pretty much what he's trying to do to turn the club around. Ryles seems to have potential, and my understanding is they all respect each other up top and are on the same page. He has my respect for that, and he's always been respectful of everyone around him and has the club's best interest at heart. I hope they succeed.
Please don't be another Justin Poore
I hope we don't get him, would rather see him stay at Souths or go to Saints. He is not worth anywhere near a mil. He's a middle that can play big minutes, that's it.
I want him for 800k. But looks like it will be $1M. I agree we need an alpha forward but he is not worth that money. Our forward pack depth is going to be very strong regardless of Kolomantagi so I am not worried about that.
I like him as a player but not for the price.
Surely we can identify 2 x 18-20 Year old forwards that will potentially play Origin and offer them $500k a season each ?
I doubt that JB, identifying those youngsters and paying them 500k would be prohibitive odds.....
When you think of it and forgetting the actual individual (which is subjective) any forward/player that you buy for $1m and is not already an Origin Player would be a punt of no certainty.
Of course there are plenty of players that have played Origin and you would not feed.....Matto is an example, would you have identified him as a youngster, plenty did! didn't mean anything at the end....there's plenty similar.
One final point, budgeting what you pay for a player is not a full assesment....its like making any investment, the alternatives and the affordability make it so i.e. whether we pay 500k or a Million depends on what choices do we have, spending 500k and leaving the rest in the bank and getting nothing in comparison. So getting the player you want has to be the objective....there are plenty we want but we cannot get them or even in some cases retain them.
Dyllan Brown subjectively would have stayed with Parra on say 950, he was paid 1.4m alternatively, do we have a replacement for him at 950? NO and I would not have paid a cent more than 950, I think he subjectively did not warrant higher but unless we can find a better cheaper alternative we are weaker than we were! Untill then we grab someone we think is ok at 1m and hope like shit he justifies the price.
Poppa I just don't think a forward is worth near halfback money, unless he is of Payne Haas's calabre.
With salary cap rising, the normal range is going to be around that for a rep quality forward. Only going to get worse
I think Jack Williams showed as last season that you don't have to be a 'Rep Quality' forward to match it with the best, he wasn't our only forward to do this...... so why are we expecting/wanting to pay forwards absurd money unless they are genuine match winners like Haas ?
JB, you chose wisely my friend (JW) and the proof will be in the pudding by end season. If JW wins the Thornett medal again (lets assume JW is on 500k and will go to 700k if he does). KK will be on 1m and lessor a player? hard to say, usually 9 forwards in every 17. The market will give you the answer, pricing may change as Eli points out and JW goes to 1.2m to be retained.....KK still on 1m?
The answer is to be invested or uninvested, your less costly stocks may seem to be the best, but somewhere in your portfolio you will have a CBA or a BHP that gives you a "spine". Remember we are talking subjectively and not judgementally.
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