Well that was a good run, i never understood the interest for a few reasons. 1) he would demand top back-row money, like 700k plus, surprised we would go for that instead of developing another player, keeping Papali'i would have been cheaper than Martin. 2) We don't usually signed already developed players, which could be our downfall but still we don't normally do it unless they are in a bad patch (RCG).
Anyway he is staying and more likely taking unders as Penrith also rush to seal up To'o and Crichton. No talk of their off-contract stars yet the media bring ours up every chance they get hoping it goes bad to sell stories.
Replies
He would of been a good signing, his a real bead athur player. I still think we could get someone like jack murchie and speed the money elsewhere
Not sure BAs plan but think the Parra interest was a ploy by the manager to raise his price as we already have lot of backrow and locks in the squad.
Martin would definitely be better than some of these but BA has never spent big money on backrow and developed Kenny Edwards, Andrew Davey, Papali'i, Lane and Nikure for the role from nobodies then let them go when their value raised except Lane who just got extended.
Hopgood is a lock and left Panthers as he was stuck behind Yeo, but Matterson was one of our best playing lock so it's possible Hopgood may play a role similar to Nikure or Matterson switch to back the edge. Lane has 1 edge spot wrapped up and if chasing Murchie as reported it would leave our back row/lock pretty well covered with Rodwell, Cartwright and El-Zakhem also in top 30.
Where gives a shit about Martin.
How did we let the Panthers sign Luke Garner from the Tigers? I'd rather Garner than Martin who I think in a good system is a rep level player. Watch him shine at Penrith.
Watched Hopgood on the weekend and looks all class. Think we have picked up a cracker here. Does anyone know if he got MOM in that reserve grade game?
Yes he did
Don't understand the interest? He was probably Penrith's best forward in the grand final - ran for 200 plus metres
I mean more so in how we operate in signings. We just signed Lane and Matto to big money plus need to keep Brown and Moses.
Had we lost say Matterson then i understand.
There is only one player I'd be approaching from Penrith, and he was the player that won the battle for them early. That's Moses Leota. He was the one that done all the damage. Liam Martin would be good to snatch though.
I noticed matto's brother dean signed with manly in a one year deal.Few clubs were after him including parra.He decided to reject parra and back himself at manly as he said he'd get more game time and chances at manly
Did Ryan manage him to get the deal with Manly? Then add an 80% commision of the contract plus fees? Then also asked him to pay for his petrol to travel to negotiations at Manly?