What's going on with recruitment and retention in recent years?

[Jacks Fur Coat]

I must say I was/am a huge Robson fan based off his no frills, effort based style of play. He’s added an extra layer of class to his game over the last couple years and has become one of the premier 9s of the comp. I thought his signing was one of the first in a while that we got 100% right and was very keen. Still am to an extent.

His form for the Cows however since we announced it… yikes. He’s been pretty rubbish and constantly making errors. Watson has been better for us this year by a country mile. Happy to give RR the benefit of the doubt and still keen to welcome him but wow he’s dropped off a cliff. Can’t see him even getting the NSW gig now.

I've never been a big fan of the Robson signing. Thought he kinda fell into SOO but did a serviceable job. Very ordinary this year. We have a young gun in the ranks with Benny Ioelu having come through the academy and signed till 2028. Club obviously rates him.

More broadly, as soon as someone announces they will join another club in coming years, they always seem to lose a leg. Happens a bit.

[HunchoRooster]

I've never been a big fan of the Robson signing. Thought he kinda fell into SOO but did a serviceable job. Very ordinary this year. We have a young gun in the ranks with Benny Ioelu having come through the academy and signed till 2028. Club obviously rates him.

More broadly, as soon as someone announces they will join another club in coming years, they always seem to lose a leg. Happens a bit.

I’ve also liked the look of Iuelu aswell. Did seem strange that we just leapfrogged his development by getting an established name in.

I think the hooking position has gone from being one of the most important to one of little importance. Not many superstar hookers running around nowadays.

[SamKerrSimp]

It all started letting Latrell go in re-signing forwards on good money who unfortunately weren’t up to much more NRL.

Then they lost Verrills in order to try and make Brandon Smith a full-time hooker. I told them! I told them right here it was a mistake and I’ve been proved right!

Latrell wanted out and when he changed managers 2 or 3 times in less than a year that was his angle out but the warning signs go back to his first year with us where an article got written about how it was his father's dream to see him play for Souths. Once that article came out you know it was only a matter of when he left the club.

From memory we pulled the Latrell deal to go and re-sign SST and Manu, I don't recall who else got re-signed in that period.

[A Country Member]

Players are like cars, there’s always a flashier model coming through. When you get a fast, powerful car you thrash it. Some cars are reliable and cost bugger all to service. Some are built tough for rugged areas. Others are nippy and fun to drive. Sometimes you just buy a lemon.

but then.. then you can trade it in for another model. That’s what happens when our chairman is a car dealer. He knows.