Tuivasa-Sheck Or Tomkins???

[Cockadoodledoo]

No one, Maloney was the best 5/8 on the market and the club got him. I'll always support the club, their intentions are clear they want to win a premiership and are signing the best players available. I honestly can't fault them them in that, I just think there was a better option... the one Roz mentioned for example. I'm not sure why being patient and waiting for the right option is such a criminal thought...

No 5/8 this year? Play with 12, Keep Anasta? Jack Littlehorn? You still won't say who you wanted to play 5/8.. Roz's example is not an example. Tomkin's current Wigan contract runs until the end of 2015. The club could not have planned on the assumption he would want to break that contract.. It is one thing to voice an opinion but there is zero substance to support your opinion as you do not offer up any realistic alternative.

[Guest]

Shit dude the transformation is complete.

You are fredster69.

Who else could/should we have chased for this season???

Yes meet R6's choice for 5/8. This bloke could be the new Anasta.

Jesus-Christ.jpg

[davos]

One of the things that scares me the most is when people on this forum throw up the name Sam Williams. For those who don't know, he is a young, skinny, blonde halfback from the canberra raiders, who has a tonne of hype surrounding him but no actual proven attributes.

Remind you of anyone??????? Got shivers down my back when I thought of the comparison.

Surely we won't go for Finch V2.0

[chook 56]

Yes meet R6's choice for 5/8. This bloke could be the new Anasta.

[ATTACH=CONFIG]1041[/ATTACH]

Can he kick out on the full at every given opportunity????

[Guest]

Can he kick out on the full at every given opportunity????

Mate he can do anything apparently

[Rooster_6]

Sorry for expressing my opinions on an open forum.

I know pre-season is still a time for optimism, I'll wait until later in the season when everyones spirit is crushed and reality has started to set in.

So you've already judged him, found him wanting and fully expect him to be a dud from here on. I think Tony's point is well made.

Chook.

I don't know how I can make this any clearer, I just dont think hes a good fit for our side atm. He'll still play well and I rate him highly as a player but he doesn't add what we need imo.

I get people who disagree with me and say that they believe he will suit the side due to their reasons listed. Fair enough each to their own. But not thinking someone wont be a good fit doesn't mean I expext him to be a dud from here on.

A square peg doesn't go into a round hole, it doesnt mean there's anything wrong with the square peg... I don't know how to explain how flawed your and Tonys logic is any simpler than that

[SConcierge]

I don't know how I can make this any clearer, I just dont think hes a good fit for our side atm. He'll still play well and I rate him highly as a player but he doesn't add what we need imo.

I get people who disagree with me and say that they believe he will suit the side due to their reasons listed. Fair enough each to their own. But not thinking someone wont be a good fit doesn't mean I expext him to be a dud from here on.

A square peg doesn't go into a round hole, it doesnt mean there's anything wrong with the square peg... I don't know how to explain how flawed your and Tonys logic is any simpler than that

I get it mate and ur point is valid as is the other view. I also think he might be too similar to mitch and would have prefered a more attacking partner. End of the day there were no better choices and there was no garantee to pick up a better option even next yr. Lets hope friend fires although I think it might be seluini

[Cockadoodledoo]

I don't know how I can make this any clearer, I just dont think hes a good fit for our side atm. He'll still play well and I rate him highly as a player but he doesn't add what we need imo.

I get people who disagree with me and say that they believe he will suit the side due to their reasons listed. Fair enough each to their own. But not thinking someone wont be a good fit doesn't mean I expext him to be a dud from here on.

A square peg doesn't go into a round hole, it doesnt mean there's anything wrong with the square peg... I don't know how to explain how flawed your and Tonys logic is any simpler than that

Just tell us who should we have playing 5/8 instead? You just run around but never offer an alternative. That is why your argument crumbles down.

[stsae]

No one, Maloney was the best 5/8 on the market and the club got him. I'll always support the club, their intentions are clear they want to win a premiership and are signing the best players available. I honestly can't fault them them in that, I just think there was a better option... the one Roz mentioned for example. I'm not sure why being patient and waiting for the right option is such a criminal thought...

I know I've gone on about this a lot but I truly believe that you need at least one player in your spine who can create something from nothing. Pearce & Friend are good players in their own right but they're not creative players. RTS is the big hope but he'll be held back this year due to Mini and even when/if he does get a shot it's a bit harsh to expect much from him, he's still a rookie.

This team is so close to being a great side it's not funny, the culture and atmosphere around the club now is awesome. I'm just frustrated because I think we're seriously only one signing away from being a top 4 side and we rushed it.

I understand now R6 and don't disagree, a pure attacking player in the spine is required.

Look at the Boggs. Barba is their only out and out attacking genius in the spine. They made a GF.

The problem more is Mini. We need a freakish FB I believe.

But I would rather Mini than Bwaiff, which was the option really, we need some experience.

And we have RTS. Sure he's a kid but seriously is pinning our hopes on him any different to your suggestion???

Can't Pearce be the one to leave if he doesnt step up, he's off contract after all???

Also Mini will be off contract at the end of the season, there is a spot there if RTS fails, for a lash at a Tomkins or Hayne.

Also $BW may not go 2 seasons.

What I'm saying is we have options, even though we signed Baloney.


Seeing there aren't any brilliant attacking spine players off contract this season I can't see our recruitment of Baloney and investing in RTS is anything other than smart.

I still see we are up for a shot at it this season and we are building for the future.

You are entitled to your opinion, it's all good mate.

[Cockadoodledoo]

stsae I think one thing needed to be considered is the SBW recruitment was in the works for about 3 years at least. I believe Nick expected SBW to honour the agreement struck years ago but probably realizes there are no guarantee's it will last beyond this year. So there was really no point in bringing SBW to the club if we had a team that had no chance of challenging for the premiership. 2013 was obviously seen as needing to have the support cast for SBW that had enough talent across the board but especially in key positions to challenge. We can argue the case about Mini until the cows come home but I guess Nick wanted his experience and maybe there is too much man love from Nick to let him go.

That being the case he did not want inexperience in a critical position such as 5/8 this year yet realized he had to go with head rather than heart and punt the dead weight Anasta. 2 aging veterans in the spine who did not offer much in attack was too much to handle. As such our recruitment for a replacement required a guy who had runs on the board. Maloney had just come off a year where he helped the Warriors make a Grand Final and played a pretty big role and given he was off contract was obviously targeted as the right player to help Pearce lead the team around the park. Unfortunately I cannot find 2011 player stats but distinctly remember Maloney actually had very low try assist stats but had a high number of line breaks and tackle busts. Given Pearce in 2011 had only 2 line breaks and 2 tries from memory we needed someone to pick up the attacking slack whilst Pearce's strength was more around his passing game. For me it is understandable the club went for Maloney. I really don't know who would have been a better option given the target for 2013 is a premiership..

[stsae]

stsae I think one thing needed to be considered is the SBW recruitment was in the works for about 3 years at least. I believe Nick expected SBW to honour the agreement struck years ago but probably realizes there are no guarantee's it will last beyond this year. So there was really no point in bringing SBW to the club if we had a team that had no chance of challenging for the premiership. 2013 was obviously seen as needing to have the support cast for SBW that had enough talent across the board but especially in key positions to challenge. We can argue the case about Mini until the cows come home but I guess Nick wanted his experience and maybe there is too much man love from Nick to let him go.

That being the case he did not want inexperience in a critical position such as 5/8 this year yet realized he had to go with head rather than heart and punt the dead weight Anasta. 2 aging veterans in the spine who did not offer much in attack was too much to handle. As such our recruitment for a replacement required a guy who had runs on the board. Maloney had just come off a year where he helped the Warriors make a Grand Final and played a pretty big role and given he was off contract was obviously targeted as the right player to help Pearce lead the team around the park. Unfortunately I cannot find 2011 player stats but distinctly remember Maloney actually had very low try assist stats but had a high number of line breaks and tackle busts. Given Pearce in 2011 had only 2 line breaks and 2 tries from memory we needed someone to pick up the attacking slack whilst Pearce's strength was more around his passing game. For me it is understandable the club went for Maloney. I really don't know who would have been a better option given the target for 2013 is a premiership..

Excellent post mate. I agree with all of it.

[kakaruk]

Me too

[Guest]

Tomkins was never supposed to be available anytime period. His current deal runs for another 3 or4 years at least. There was no way the Roosters could have planned to hold off signing a 5/8 in the off chance he became available.

exactly and even so, maloney is 27 this year so hardly a spring chicken - maybe this could well be the eventual plan or at least become an option - maloney sees out his 3 year deal and in doing so provides the necessary stability and consistency to our young, developing side paving the way for him to then chase the big bucks in the UK in his 30s and for us to bring in someone like Tomkins as a replacement.

id also like to make the point that I totally agree with your points re why we signed maloney - I think it was an extremely astute signing and very very good value as well considering his record and all the strings to his bow along with the fact that there are very few good out and out halves going around so to secure an established gf one from another club for under 400k odd is brilliant for us.

[davos]

exactly and even so, maloney is 27 this year so hardly a spring chicken - maybe this could well be the eventual plan or at least become an option - maloney sees out his 3 year deal and in doing so provides the necessary stability and consistency to our young, developing side paving the way for him to then chase the big bucks in the UK in his 30s and for us to bring in someone like Tomkins as a replacement.

id also like to make the point that I totally agree with your points re why we signed maloney - I think it was an extremely astute signing and very very good value as well considering his record and all the strings to his bow along with the fact that there are very few good out and out halves going around so to secure an established gf one from another club for under 400k odd is brilliant for us.

He was only really ever given a chance at the worryers for a fg spot tbh, and he took it with both hands. He has played a lot of reserve grade at Parra and Melbourne. In 2011, he was instrumental in the drive to the grandfinal. He is a natural 5/8th. A very decent ball runner and has a good short kicking game. He also knows how to score a try. Apparently, according to wiki, at the worryers he had a better try scoring rate, than the try scoring rate that perrett had when he was with us. At the worryers, he has scored 24 trys from 75 appearances, Ferrett scored 45 trys when he was with us from 148 appearances. That's saying a lot especially with Ferrett being a winger.

I can't wait for the first game, where all easts fans will be thinking, "so that's what a 5/8th is supposed to play like".

[Rooster_6]

Just tell us who should we have playing 5/8 instead? You just run around but never offer an alternative. That is why your argument crumbles down.

That's a lie, I've stated numerous times my alternative option you just seem to have conveniently overlooked it and not for the first time. I don't have any objection of you disagreeing with me but at least read what I write if before asking me for answers I've already explained.

For what it's worth I suggested that the club buy a kid, if he shows promise and develops then great we persist if not then we throw the money at the right player. I wouldn't even be opposed to throwing RTS in at 5/8 despite thinking that his ball playing has got a long way to go, he'd add some flair to the spine and what's the worst that could happen? He'd struggle with the defensive workload and we'd figure out that he's not cut out for the 5/8 position?

I think it's quite clear our expectations of this squad are quite different, I don't think this squad is even a remote chance of pushing for the Premiership this year. If I thought we had all bases covered I'd be stoked with the signing of Maloney, at 27 he's in the prime of his career, he offers a great secondary kicking option, he's an extremely good support player & he's a real competitor.

My thinking is purely long term, with Maloney we are a better side in 2013 than any other option I could suggest. However if we were to pick up someone like Tomkins for 2014 and beyond, imo we're a significantly better side and one that would be pushing for a premiership in the coming years.