If O'neill can land most of this team, he'll be known as the next Frank Ponessi
1. Iongi
2. Jenkins
3. Xerri
4. Tago - most likely signing
5. Fox
6. Purdue
7. Moses
8. Sam Tuivaiti. Extension now
9. Smith
10 ???
11 Jaydn Sua signed
12. Kit kat - jury's out
13 Williams
14. Walker
15. ????
16 ????
17 Teancum Brown
18. Moretti
19 Apa Twidle
Please fill in the blanks
Also, can anyone see Lorenzo Talititiana being a future first grader? He's very small to be playing in the front line. I cant see it unless He's a superstar in attack.
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Agree NOS, but there is an opportunity to get Burton, we should pay what ever overs we have to, its too important to fcuk it up again.....I am maintaining we can play Burton as a 5/8 and still bring our up our up and comers through, mainly by switching them in a fashion that is deceptive to the opposition and also encourage the respective strengths of Burton being an excellent centre as well. Just imagine how difficult it could be for a side to handle Renzo (I am still assuming he is special) in such a situation and being able to assist Moses with his kicking game, of course he also offers the value of that kicking game if Moses is out injured with the resultant experience and leadership he can advise.
It’s a great idea in theory, and I like the flexibility Burton would bring. We’ve seen it work at the Roosters with Hugo Savala — big body half, and they’ve accommodated his development by giving him time in the centres where he’s gone pretty well.(you only learn how to play 1st grade by playing 1st grade)
This would only work if we’re not compromising the cap or blocking the younger guys long term. If we can genuinely rotate and develop players without disrupting combinations, particular in defence, then it becomes a lot more appealing.
Having that extra kicking option alongside Moses (and as cover if he’s out) is definitely a big tick though.
could we accomodate both Burton and Izack Tago financially?
i look back to when things started to improve for Parra 12 years ago and Beau Scott was a wonderful signing at the time, could Izack Tago bring that experience , help improve defence etc?
he would also be a draw card for other players as well.
Pops, Burton's kicking game aside Moses' would be huge, I hear you.
Bulldogs likely can't keep him due to Woods I am guessing, unless he transitions to centre, which they are also covered for?
Baracuda, great to see a new name posting. Keep it up.
One thing, and this isn't aimed at you at all, but this 'blocking the path for juniors' narrative concerns me.
There is just as much chance these juniors don't make it through, unfortunately, or aren't at the level required, as they are to succeed.
I get it for certain cases, maybe Lorenzo / Fletcher are those cases… ? but, are we blocking chances of on-field success in 2027/2028, by keeping a path for our untried juniors?
The club knows better than us (except maybe EA, Sonic) how likely these juniors are, so we have to trust them. I just hope we aren’t trying to solely mimic Penrith’s blueprint, that relied so heavily on good fortune & timing as well as brilliant planning.
It’s obviously such a hard balance to get right, wish we had O’Sullivan at the Eels, someone who can identify that talent early and rarely miss.
I agree with Pops on 5/8th. It was never a position to gamble on when we had rookie dummy halves & a rookie fullback. We needed experience at 5/8th - just my opinion.
o honestly don't see any major signings as long as the current administration and coaching staff are in power. It will basically be the same ii f not worse. The only few exceptions might be players either nobody wants or semi retired players seeking an easy schedule prior to retirement
just want to clarify with Tago you have listed 4...
Just as well you included Apa in your squad Chief else I would have been disapointed in you.
I know you are talking to Chief Richard, but I always found that telling him 4 or 5 times sometimes works LOL
It's almost hilarious the Recruitment options at hand,we are taking peoples scraps because we don't have a hope in hell at getting other teams good ones and we aren't or have let go of our own best to get a Burton as an example.
When it comes to recruitment & retention seriously our club deadset is an embarrassment.How do you expect to end a premiership drought with incompetence leading the revival.
Jacob Preston testing the market????
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