Who should R&R have prioritised, ES or MM.
Is Ethan good enough that we should ditch Mitch to keep him? - or at least should have refused Mitch a long contract.
Moses is one of the best half backs in the comp and deserved being picked in SOO. Big ask to predict Ethan would do better when he has not even proved himself in reserve grade.
But Ethan is looking the goods, has a great kicking game, looks strong and has been the dominant playmaker for successful teams in Ball, SOO and Flegg.
IMO R&R should have only offered Mitch a 3 year contract if that would have kept Sanders. If Mitch wins a premiership in 3 years then give him another ten. Otherwise, if Sanders proves to be better than Mitch in 3 years then he gets the job. If Mitch walks then Mitch walks and we focus on building for the future. Sanders is not that far from first grade and will be at least a good first grade half if not top tier.
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It's an interesting take Wile, I see your point but I must admit I see a better pathway in keeping Sanders. If the R & R had done it's job properly, they should of retained the young fella on a long term deal. Personally I would have moved Gutho to Centre, Dyl bro to fullback and Sanders to 5/8 ... this sets up our X Factor, gives Gutho a chance to save his legs somewhat and releases Dylbro to create a Ponga style fullback .... exciting times and future loading our next 10 years however, as usual our R & R missed the assignment and has failed miserably. I am gobsmacked that in today's day and age we have such woeful management, a big club that has an amazing fan base, tier 1 facilities - the envy of the league, yet fail to step up like the other power houses. The real crunch now and I'm sure will result in another botched play by the R & R will be locking in our Flegg who are kicking goals similar to the Riffs production line.
Ive loved this club since the early 70's and think our mindset should be an elite culture and a proven powerhouse across the club, yet some of our decisions bordeline on insanity and a penchant for mediocrity. We need to acquire a ruthless culture where winning is expected and results are reviewed with conbtinuous improvement and free of constraints.
I tend not to comment too much, as the same old people seem to relish / rejoice in mediocrity with endless reasons and excuses as to why it is and then love to argue adnauseam .... it's soul suckering TBH.
They failed miserably because they don't think what you (some yak on a forum) see as the way to go was our best option.
That'll do me!
How do you know Sanders game translates to the NRL ?
interesting - DB would need some work to play FB
Lol Moses everyday of the week. Sanders has done nothing to indicate he will ever get to Moses' level.
Mitch was never going to take a 3 year deal. He's 28, in his absolute prime, played Origin, played a GF, and most importantly, came off contract when no other players of comparable talent were, oh and plays the most important position in the game. He had single-handedly won, or at least kept us in games time and again. He would never be more valuable than he is right now. It's not a simple case of priorities, although that is part of it, it was a matter of leverage. We lose Mitch, we aren't contenders, period.
Mitch knew it, his manager knew it, the club knew it, we all knew it, the media knew it, the other 16 clubs knew it, the Queen and her fucking corgies knew it. We simply had to pay him, especially since Mitch made sure that his previous negotiation in 2019 was quick and painless. He and Isaac knew that 2022 was going to be his big pay day. Someone was going to pay him. And let's remember he still took less to stay an Eel.
Ethan Sanders is undoubtedly talented, but we weren't a finals team with him at halfback. Not for a few years.
Ask Bunnies fans what it's like to let a veteran halfback go and replace him with a talented but inexperienced half.
💯
Brilliant response Brett.
There have been a million "The next Joey Johns" kids come through and have one good season and then they're gone. Not a chance in hell you would choose any young up and comer over Mitch at this stage of his career. Maybe if he was 31+ years old but he isn't and is in his prime. Saunders is a maybe, Mitch is a definite.
In 3 years Mitch will be 31+ and if he hasn't won a premiership by then we need to be looking elsewhere
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