We're in 7th place, and it's round 17. Needless to say, many here didn't think we would even be in the 8 this year. We've officially improved 100% on last year, and that's some progress that needs to be celebrated. I just wanted to touch on how much BA and the club has improved our squad. Especially how before the season even begun, we had 2 wingers who have been game changers for us this year. Though Ferguson is obviously the big back that we needed, Maika Sivo has been improving everytime he touches the ball. I love the longetivity of the side we have.
1) Junior Paulo
2) Shaun Lane
3) Maika Sivo
4) Blake Ferguson
5) Waqa Blake
You can see from the above how these players are very influential to how much we've improved. I know Waqa Blake hasn't played a game for us yet, however, the other signings have definitely been made to improve where our weaknesses were last year. To say that Newcastle have had the best recruitment drive out of all the clubs in recent years is pretty spot on, however, in just a matter of 12 months we've locked down some very good signings. Not to mention we were all crying on this board for BA to blood some juniors. We felt they were obviously being neglected, and past stats show players from our junior squad were going onto other clubs and winning premierships.
1) Dylan Brown
2) Reed Mahoney
3) Marata Niukore
4) Jaeman Salmon
The players above are some key positions that were brought up from Wenty. Reed Mahoney is only going to get better and has definitely stepped up and shown that he's an 80 minute hooker. The great news in all of this is that we didn't sign Isaac Luke. Wow, that would've backfired completely. If Reed didn't have a spectacular game, he could've been playing second fiddle to Luke. If this had happened, Reed's development halts for an additional year, and we simply couldn't afford that since we've been so thin around the hooking position. I'm happy with McIlrick's signing for this year, although I see Salmon being our 'Tyrone Peachey' and being our spark off the bench. The good thing with Salmon is he can play in the halves, centres, and could bring energy in the hooking position. Dylan Brown, couldn't praise him more than anyone here. He is a superstar, and with correct roster management, we should be able to keep him long term.
One issue I think Newcastle are going to have is that they've spent a lot of money on key signings. It's not a bad thing as they desperately need success (not as desperate as us), although long term I can see them having problems keeping a player like Kaylyn Ponga as they might not be able to offer him the money he's worth due to all the signing they have on big coin.
We're currently cleaning out our roster to be able to give the club an idea on how much money we've got available to bring in marquee players to lead our junior development in first grade, but also support our key players in our side.
From the news I'm hearing (like everyone else), Christian Welch and George Burgess seem to be on our radar. I think they're going to sign with us, and they'll be superb additions into our squad for 2020 onwards. I know George Burgess is getting a lot of criticism right now and journalists are suggesting his market value will be halved. I would say that nothing would motivate a player to step up his game more so than the year he has had. I believe we'll lock him in for about 400-500K, and I think that's about fair for the player of his experience.
By 2020, if we look those two players up:
1) Dylan Brown
2) Jaeman Salmon
3) Marata Niukore
4) Reed Mahoney
5) Junior Paulo
6) Shaun Lane
7) Maika Sivo
8) Blake Ferguson
9) Waqa Blake
10) George Burgess
11) Christian Welch
That's 11 new players added into our squad within a year of us getting the spoon. Without a shadow of a doubt, that's an amazing recruitment drive. These players are all young, and their best football is certainly in front of them. The more they play together, the stronger stability our club will show, we'll definitely be finals contenders on a yearly basis. You can't just solely rely on juniors, but you need to buy the right players to lead them. Once again, that is why I really want us to sign George Burgess.
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Last season was there for everyone to see.
Our forwards struggled to get us forward and when they did our halves let us down.
A more consistent platform this season from our wingers and forwards have seen us become more competitive to the point where our halves don't necessarily need to be dominant for us to play well.
We have no doubt improved but the big floggings we have copped this season are still a serious concern for me and needs to be resolved before we can label ourselves 100% better.
Good to see we are improving though, this is the position we should have been in 3 or 4 years ago.
Who know we mite get RCG yes i said it RCG mite get Ese'ese to hope
Did you know that RCG is the cousin of the Sims boys, just read a quote saying if he could chose he would play for St George .
But trouble with that egg man Dragons not trying to get him we are
and i heard on one of the footy show cant think witch one is was
that Parramatta going to go hard for Jai Arrow from the titans in November they all ready have talk to him but cant offer nothing until November
Just out of interest Arnie, which players would you go hard for?
Lol . I can guess the initials only .
No way related . Look at his moustache .
RCG would be a fantastic addition to our squad. I think it just depends on whether or not Panthers will release him. Does anyone know much RCG is on?
I enjoyed that read Alex.
I am not sure on whether the G Burgess signing would be a wise one. Perhaps the cheaper we get him for would mean the more we could spend on the likes on Welch.
Add to those 11 players you've mentioned above these 11 players below and we have the makings of a solid side with great depth:
1.Gutho
2.Jennings
3.Moses
4.Nathan Brown
5.Gower
6.Evans
7.Terepo
8.Parry
9.Stone
10.Kaufusi
11.Stefano
Nice blog Alex, and i agree with quite a bit of it but i can't agree with you on G Burgess. He's a busted grub with dicks for hands.
There is a reason Souths are letting him go, his body is done and he is a shadow of the player who was 3 or 4 years ago. Welch would be a smart pick up at the right price.
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