Souths’ bitter rival ‘lurking’ as four-club race set to ignite in $900k shootout:

[mattyh]

yea I tend to agree with others here, I think we're better off upgrading Wong, Nat and sitili. I wouldn't pay more then 750 k for kolamatangi, I think we need to focus on securing a solid replacement for keary - no idea who drinkwater, mam, burton, luai maybe volkman if he develops as warriors have a log jam of halves.

no idea who we could secure ...I think sandon stays a utility ...glad I'm not oart of our recruitment I'd be shit

[ism22]

yea I tend to agree with others here, I think we're better off upgrading Wong, Nat and sitili. I wouldn't pay more then 750 k for kolamatangi, I think we need to focus on securing a solid replacement for keary - no idea who drinkwater, mam, burton, luai maybe volkman if he develops as warriors have a log jam of halves.

no idea who we could secure ...I think sandon stays a utility ...glad I'm not oart of our recruitment I'd be shit

There's May in there somewhere too?

Early season I'd have said Koloamatangi was the business. However Butch has just been picked for Australia (with no Origin experience), Wong's a farking gun, May's the breakthrough prop this season, Collins is THE form prop right now and Crichton will have his head straight next year (had a rough 2023 but finished strong).

Not sure what else to say. Hey Souffs... we're full keen ay bro... offer 'im $1.3m or we'll poach 'im fo shizzle

[Steakface]

yea I tend to agree with others here, I think we're better off upgrading Wong, Nat and sitili. I wouldn't pay more then 750 k for kolamatangi, I think we need to focus on securing a solid replacement for keary - no idea who drinkwater, mam, burton, luai maybe volkman if he develops as warriors have a log jam of halves.

no idea who we could secure ...I think sandon stays a utility ...glad I'm not oart of our recruitment I'd be shit

Off contract and the end of 2024, the only one's i'd consider ahead of Sandon are:

1. Adam Reynolds - unlikely to happen, but the best game manager there is these days, good leader and a supurb kicker. Can't see him leaving the Broncs though, he'll likely retire there
2. Ezra Mam - Bucketloads of potential, but only 20. If we're not keen on Sandon because he is too young and inexperienced, it's similar here. I still think he is really special, and has a high ceiling.
3. Shaun Johnson - a futile wish, because he wont leave the Warriors now.

Luai, Gamble, Douehi, Moylan, Nikorima etc are not going to add a great deal of value. Sandon will end up better than all of them.

Ultimately, I think Sandon is a really special half and is playing really mature football for his years. By the end of 2024 he'll be ready to fill the Keary gap, and Walker will be suitably experienced to lead things.

[Headless Chook]

Off contract and the end of 2024, the only one's i'd consider ahead of Sandon are:

1. Adam Reynolds - unlikely to happen, but the best game manager there is these days, good leader and a supurb kicker. Can't see him leaving the Broncs though, he'll likely retire there
2. Ezra Mam - Bucketloads of potential, but only 20. If we're not keen on Sandon because he is too young and inexperienced, it's similar here. I still think he is really special, and has a high ceiling.
3. Shaun Johnson - a futile wish, because he wont leave the Warriors now.

Luai, Gamble, Douehi, Moylan, Nikorima etc are not going to add a great deal of value. Sandon will end up better than all of them.

Ultimately, I think Sandon is a really special half and is playing really mature football for his years. By the end of 2024 he'll be ready to fill the Keary gap, and Walker will be suitably experienced to lead things.

So you want to replace Keary and two of the three options you have thrown up are actually older than him......that doesn't make a whole lot of sense if I'm honest

[Bates]

It's impressive how quickly young Sandon Smith adjusted to 1st grade. The kid is a natural footy player who will successfully transition into the halves when Keary retires.

I'm a big fan!

[Jacks Fur Coat]

So you want to replace Keary and two of the three options you have thrown up are actually older than him......that doesn't make a whole lot of sense if I'm honest

Ha good point. I suspect those lads will be retiring before Kez.

[Vasco]

We have enough second rowers and the club knows it. Inflating his price so the scum have to pay more to re-sign him. I love it!

I'm not sure we do mate. It's probably our weakest position. We lack a lot of punch on the edges, especially with Sitili injured and Crighton out of form.

In saying that, I couldn't stomach this bloke wearing the tricolours. He went missing after our forwards took care of him in the last encounter.

[Bansai Pipeline]

Nah. He always has a blinder against us, but I’d pass. He could go either way for mine.

He should be careful not to chase dollars and go to a sh1te club though.

He’s the kind of player who could go nowhere at the Dogs or something.

[DP1990]

So we're just gonna waste $900k on a him and forget about our own stock at the moment ?


Minus Angus, we still have Sitili, Wong, Butcher Brothers, Whyte and even El-Zakhem in our roster ?



How about we look at utilising the cap space to retain/top-up some players ? maybe look at another strike centre or Toops replacement (both left side) ? also start planning on what our future halves combination with Walker will look like ? e.g., Is it Sandon with him or do we go to market and buy a big-body + big kicking 5/8 ?



Yes, it's 2025 talk but I don't think it's necessary ... we have second row options at a surplus !

[Rooster_6]

Tackle stats are always deceptive. I'm sure plenty of 3rd man in or non dominant in his 28 tackles.

110m a game for someone on 900k is laughable. He is a good player but not a Roosters type player, especially for that price.

110m p/g puts him 4th in the league amongst second rowers. Only David Fifita, Olakauatu and Matterson ahead of him.

If that's laughable what do you think of our second rowers?

[zac]

i reckon sandon smith is a possible partner to walker after keary. not ideal have two small halves but he's quite stocky. not writing him off yet

[BillyBonkers]

Prefer the backrowers we already have. Even if Crichton goes, we still have Nat, Sitili & Wong.

Not against the play though if it means making Souths pay up to re-sign. Genius play. Make them use more of their salary.

If Souths know for certain we a keen, they'll make sure we'll pay an inflated price. Be a case of who blinks first.

[Qld Chook]

If Souths know for certain we a keen, they'll make sure we'll pay an inflated price. Be a case of who blinks first.

I’d be suprised if we sign him. Hopefully we are just pushing his market value up for them.

[GC6]

I think people forget how good Sitili was. The last couple of seasons has been ruined by injury but hopefully with a good off season this year he will be back out there.

[Steggles]

I think people forget how good Sitili was. The last couple of seasons has been ruined by injury but hopefully with a good off season this year he will be back out there.

Absolutely correct GC6. Sitili is a gun and will own one of the edges when he returns, with Wong on the other. Sitili’s attack is great and he is intimidating in defence.

As much as most on here think Nat Butcher is the 2nd coming of Christ, I think he should be played off the bench next year. He’s become a regular starter over the last couple of years due to our unbelievable injury toll and suspensions (Victor/Jared). Nat’s a really good toiler, but in my opinion he isn’t as good as either Sitili or Wong and never will be. That doesn’t mean I don’t support him as a Roosters player, I just think the other guys offer a lot more. Egan on the other hand w should only see 1st grade again through injury.