This discussions continues on the ongong saga of R&R.
One of our more erstwhile commentator's said Roosters are chasing Farnsworth, told you they were better at recruiting than us. Thats all no explanation, no alternative, just the critique.
Let's use this as a matter for the discussion on Herbie, if he was going to move for money and lets assume that money is not really a problem for the Roosters, ask yourself the question what sort of premium he would want to play for a club like Parra as against the positive relevances of playing for the Roosters..... our aim and my aim as a supporter is to one day put ourselves in the position of NO premium to be paid, maybe just the honour of playing with such a respected club. That respect doesn't exist at present, only once in our lives as a club did it ever exist.
Penrith for all their success have not challenged with the cheque book in this era of them establishing where we want to be.
That goal for us should be more important than winning a premiership, because its "Chicken and Egg" territory. One follow's the other.
Deciding the answer to that, you will then see we have to be smarter in recruitment, Parra's management will always be restricted by it's self imposed constitution and whilst we can open the cheque book for 1,2 or even 3 players it will always be NOT bottomless, even with forthcoming TPA's.
Yes we can spend money but like choosing the "grail" it needs to be done wisely. Again lets look at the example of getting Herbie for say 1.2m (200k premium) and an alternative of say getting Bostock for 750k again a 200k premium, we just saved half a million by making a jusgement on potential, that's what I mean by being smarter when opening our cheque book.
Have a look at what Canterbury have done trying to buy a premiership with a guy like Laundy pulling the financial strings. Obviously that club has developed no character in its process and will continue to suffer whilst it fcuks around playing its players like Chess Pieces.
We are witnessing (we hope) the development of that special character at Parra, we started doing it in 2015 and we have had a couple of false starts and loss of objectivity, but the process is starting to look better with the types of improvement we are seeing from a "virtual" reserve grade side and a coach and management not losing their "bundle".
One thing I noticed last night in Ryles talking, he was not looking short term, he was talking in terms of what we are planning (building).
He has shown me he has a vision and its just not his contract life at Parra and that some of our losers on here suggesting that he will move to another club, rather than witness the fcuk ups here or the dismantling of the sacrifices made to be here.......just remember we went into that game with 10 players out through injury, more than any other club in this round.
I was heartened by what I saw last night and in our last few games, a virtual Reserve Grade Side holding its own!
Now that is character building!
Replies
That's all well and good Poppa but we've been playing moneyball for years now and at some stage you need a few players that are just on a another level. Herbie is an out and out proven superstar. What Herbie would bring goes far beyond his paycheck or even just his own individual play. It's his presence. JAC is a great example of his presence, experience and communication has helped Russell immensely. The gap between Herbie and Bostock is far wider than $500k. Bostock is in good form atm but he's been in and out of that Dolphins side for the last 2 years and is not the signing id like to see. Most people thought the knights were crazy signing Dylan Brown for 1.3 but they've gone from last to equal 3rd. I'm not saying that's all because of DB but what have Newcastle signed? An elite international half who is probably the best defensive half in the comp. They have changed their style of play to suit their players including DB. They utilise DBs running game extremely well by using Pongas ability to kick in general play to take pressure of DB so he can run. Newcastle have a littering of good young talent in Hunt and Sharpe but having someone like DB brings a presence that Gamble or Cogger or any other half they've had couldn't.
"Paying overs" is one of the most overused word in NRL because people tend to have a narrow mind over a players worth and don't place any value to a player as to what they can bring to a side. How much value would Herbie add to JAC and his speed? How much value would Herbie add to Kit Kat or whoever our 6 is next year drawing defenders away from them with his attacking threat?
AE,
I. Money Ball was a different time and profile, we as a club were not going that well financially at the time it was adopted.
2. Austerity in keeping the status quo when spending money has never hurt anyone.
3. The arguments I presented were logical and opening more options than your reply credits.
4. Bostock has not been in and out of the Dolphins other than his ACL injury which wiped him out last season. He is an automatic selection, even coming straight back in after returning from that injury this season. He has just been added to the SOO squad.
5. Don't quote DB back at me, I supported him for the same values you espoused. I regard Ponga as the most single talented guy in the competition, so its only natural that DB's game will be strengthened by playing with him.
6. Stop and think where DB would be if he was still at Parra this year, he would probably have broken down which he virtually did busting his guts for Parra last year.....you are a smart man AE, stop and think laterally about us and where we stand.
Finally I am not advocating our current path, I was very careful in saying that what money we do have, use it wisely, I started by saying we need to be careful in how we do that. I would love to have Herbie but I think that "wisdom" in allocation has to be managed with the style of logic we are talking. You also mention playing money ball for years now. Nothing wrong with doing that, developing character derived by the experience. Doesn't mean you have to be a cheapskate, just prudent.
Yes lets go out and buy those players we want or need and if we cannot get them given what we have in the way of marketing then change the R&R process and personell, the challenge is getting them to play for Parra, both for money and the want to play for a good club.
Its not an easy sell but I love Rylles approach, his staff are his business, we have a topline CEO who has gone through a stiff learning period, my experience with people that have talent become better operators because of such experience.
Don't throw the "Baby" out with the bath water, just the suds that make things "duller".
Thanks for your input because you motivated me to explain myself better.
You make some fair points. I want to have that positive outlook, it's comes harder for me.
Seems like that is a good start Strang-ly Eel ....pun intended.