Quote:
vastman "Quote: vastman "If those teams who are "full" do want to get someone else in, they will have to release someone...there may be someone to pick up that way - with the added benefit that the releasing team may well pay some ongoing wages.
Further, when some players in the NRL find themselves on the outer, when back for pre-season, they may be willing to take a "good" deal with us to a) pay the bills and b) keep themselves in the shop window.
Whilst we'd love to have some big names signed up, we are probably in quite a strong position.'"
Said that earlier myself. As NRL teams start to train, some with new coaches, some well known players are suddenly no longer wanted. Why rush, it's not like we won't be able to put out a reasonably competitive team even now, we certainly won't be dragging some bloke out of the pub to make up the numbers.
Our other big advantage is our expectations. We will want to finish top six but it's not the end for us if we don't. So our coach can take a few on the chin to work out who is and isn't working and rectify it. This is far easier with slots still free.
We are not building to win the comp this season, we are hopefully laying down foundations to do it in the future.'"
It's not the end of the world no,but IMG could be looking atthe league placings. Another fight near the bottom, which would mean 5 seasons in a row, could go against us. However a top 6 finish, added in with the completed east stand, and a fresher looking north stand, could make a difference. Remember 7 of our defeats last year were within a converted score, and points wise, we were closer to the play offs than going down. It really is fine margins. That bit of extra quality in the regular first teamers, could make all the difference.
I think we got lucky with Murphy, Hall and Taufua coming in for Johnstone and Toupou, so personally, those key replacements are for Miller, Fifita, Batch and Arona. I think all the other exits were really back up squad members.
Get it right for those 4 I listed, and I think we'll go OK, but as each player signs for someone else, the talent pool potentially drops a little.
Is it like those unfortunate kids at school that in PE gets picked last perhaps?