Lodge Officially gone

[Ray Stehr]

I don't possess a hankie.

[HunchoRooster]

I always thought releasing Matterson and buying Angus was a bad move at the time and am not convinced it was a greatmove now. I don't know figures for each (nobody does) but if Angus was as higher price purchase as reported, then it would have been better value keeping Matterson on an upgraded contract. Angus to me has never set the world on fire since arriving.... some guys like Bloke in a Bar crew etc, rate him extremely highly. I feel he is just a work rate back rower and should command that money (apparently he is on less these days which is about right) I think Matterson is as good if not better... but I don't watch every game of his closely.

Nope you are absolutely spot on in my eyes. I thought losing Matto was a big blow at the time and still do. Angus is a very good player on his day. He had the reputation as a silky-hands tearaway backrower when he was at Souffs and hasn't ever really been that for us consistently. I think he has become a solid workhorse who can score the occasional try but I feel like even Sitili when fully fit is more of an attacking threat on an edge. Obviously some external factors this season and probably last season as to why we haven't seen the best of him but at the end of the day its a business and I don't think we've quite got our money's worth with him, especially when you consider we got rid of Matto to accomodate him.

I think Matterson is one of the best forwards in the game and is incredibly consistent. He works hard for the team and can play in the middle and on the edge, has a late offload and a Cordner-like mentality to take tough carries and go until he drops. The issue with that is that he carries a concussion risk, which he now has lingering over him. He also seems to have a big personality and I don't think he is lacking confidence shall we say. I think that is the only reason he hasn't constantly been picked in Origin and rep sides because he is no doubt an awesome player with lots of versatility. He plays second row, 80 mins at lock and sometimes even 5/8 for Parra. We miss that versatility. Behind Latrell and the retiring greats, he is the biggest loss we have had in the last 5 years

[HunchoRooster]

Would you?

Don't get me wrong, Curran is a good player. Actually, he is very good.

But surely Angus, Radley, Brown, Sitili, the Butcher brothers and Watson is enough backrow depth...

Curran bashes kids and can't get into the Warriors best 13. Barnett, Niukore, Jackson Ford, Tohu are all constantly picked ahead of him.

[B2B]

Lodge will survive til the end of 2024 with the sea gulls which will also be time they say goodbye
to Seibold , both wont last

[Easts75]

That's my thoughts too.

He edges Egan Butcher, but probably falls behind Sitili, Angus and Nat Butcher at their best.

Matto, I'd take in a heartbeat from a skill standpoint. Although his issues with criticizing his coaches in the public sphere, taking a suspension rather than copping a fine, etc werent a great look.

Josh Curren on an edge is elite compared to Nat Butcher

[HunchoRooster]

Josh Curren on an edge is elite compared to Nat Butcher

This season Nat's been average (like a lot of our players) but are we forgetting that 8-10 week window last season where he looked like an absolute weapon on an edge filling in for Sitili? Scoring tries, running good lines, getting on the end of kicks and being defensively sound.

Apparently Mal called him and said that he wasn't far off a squad spot in the Kangaroo's team and needed to keep up that level. Maybe that got to him.