2010 Thread

[theGman]

And that is something that money can't buy.

As for Dane Cordner, I really would have liked him to stay for his qualities as a good honest player and also because I like the symmetry of brothers playing together. And from what somebody else wrote about both Dane and Boyd, they are uncommonly tough, and that is something I would like to see the Roosters hang on to for as long as they can.

When Brian Smith committed to us i instantly thought about the Cordner boys future at our club because i was under the impression Boyd may have signed with us to distance himself from Smith's reign at Newcastle. And also Dane left Newcastle to join us soon after his boofhead teamate recklessly broke Boyd's jaw in two places.
My concerns were allayed when i found out a few weeks ago that Boyd left Newcastle not because of Smith's doing but because POS made him a very good offer that Newcastle coudn't match.
Gee i hope injuries are kind to him because he really is something special at only 17 .

[Guest]

its not wallace. if it was an easy name like wallace then i would be able to remember it. its not an easy name to remember.

i thought dane cordner should be kept as well, hope he is.

if you can find out that would be great. If its a hard name to remember then maybe its talaki (my final guess ). If we do sign him then im unsure. Absolutley massive kid but round as - very skillful but he tended to drift out of games at times and end up floating around the backline which isnt exactly what a prop should be doing. Was their captain though and is pretty talented

[Guest]

When Brian Smith committed to us i instantly thought about the Cordner boys future at our club because i was under the impression Boyd may have signed with us to distance himself from Smith's reign at Newcastle. And also Dane left Newcastle to join us soon after his boofhead teamate recklessly broke Boyd's jaw in two places.
My concerns were allayed when i found out a few weeks ago that Boyd left Newcastle not because of Smith's doing but because POS made him a very good offer that Newcastle coudn't match.
Gee i hope injuries are kind to him because he really is something special at only 17 .

thank god. i was still under the impression that smith may have also been the cause but thank god he wasnt because cordner is an absolute freak (boyd) and as i said before, his brother has plenty of get go about him as well so I hope both are still around

[TheBigFella]

Spoke to Boyd this arvo.. Dane is not with us next season.. It's a huge pity in my opinion!!!

[Guest]

I think the Waverley forward is Sam Talakai. Extremely skillful for a frontrower and has plenty of go about him but unfortunately he is with Souths. The best fullback from rugby would definitely have to be Jacob Woodhouse from Scots College. I think we could have made a play for him because he is extremely good and from what I know one of our NYC trainers I think is from there. But he signed a 3 year deal with the Waratahs.

That is a massive shame about Dane Cordner. I wish we kept him but we just simply cannot keep all our players due to our NYC salary cap which is $250,000. We've assembled a very strong squad next season and some of the kids who aren't in fulltime eg Cheyse Blair, Joseph Leilua, Fine Moeakiola, Brad Murray, Jacob Miller, would demand a fair bit of that cap which isn't much to fit a full squad of NYC players. But I definitely feel Dane Cordner was one of our better ones this year and should have been priority to be retained.

[Guest]

I expect to see the three backrowers Leilua, Cordner and Lowe be one of the better backrows in the 2010 season, emulating the feats of Dwyer/Schirnack/Hyland from the Tigers this year.

They have a great balance. Leilua is an explosive backrower capable of breaking the line, but isn't one dimensional at all - he is much like an Anthony Tupou sort of player, with speed, strength, linebreaking ability and solid ballskills too. Boyd Cordner is an outstanding workhorse, and he had shown it very well this season before succumbing to injury. His return didn't set the world on fire, but he always played with plenty of heart. Ethan Lowe isn't flash, but he tackles his backside off, turns up over and over again in cover defense, and his attack isn't too bad.

Will enjoy seeing these three progress.

[BUDDY]

Spoke to Boyd this arvo.. Dane is not with us next season.. It's a huge pity in my opinion!!!

OK I'll ask. Did Boyd give any indication that he will be following his brother or is he keen for a long term future with us?

[Guest]

I expect to see the three backrowers Leilua, Cordner and Lowe be one of the better backrows in the 2010 season, emulating the feats of Dwyer/Schirnack/Hyland from the Tigers this year.

They have a great balance. Leilua is an explosive backrower capable of breaking the line, but isn't one dimensional at all - he is much like an Anthony Tupou sort of player, with speed, strength, linebreaking ability and solid ballskills too. Boyd Cordner is an outstanding workhorse, and he had shown it very well this season before succumbing to injury. His return didn't set the world on fire, but he always played with plenty of heart. Ethan Lowe isn't flash, but he tackles his backside off, turns up over and over again in cover defense, and his attack isn't too bad.

Will enjoy seeing these three progress.

Absolutely spot on about Leilua. He is the exact player Anthony Tupou is. I don't see Ethan Lowe starting though, with Jerome Leolahi probably starting before him and being captain as well. Although it's great to see a player of Lowe's calibre on the bench as that's real testament to the depth we have.

[Guest]

Absolutely spot on about Leilua. He is the exact player Anthony Tupou is. I don't see Ethan Lowe starting though, with Jerome Leolahi probably starting before him and being captain as well. Although it's great to see a player of Lowe's calibre on the bench as that's real testament to the depth we have.

That is the problem with Paki Afu though.

Yes, he broke the line plenty of times this year for the Bulldogs U20s, but I have my doubts about him, as do many Bulldogs fans.

In the times I have watched him, he is a huge, tall unit with basically no laterall movement in attack or defense at all. Just runs straight, and because of his tremendous size, he sends the smaller blokes in the U20s flying. Also very unfit, I doubt our staff will do any better, but I would love to be proven wrong.

Remember John Kite? Was a monster for the Bulldogs in the U20s last year, but in first grade he got SMASHED. Same with former Dragon and Bulldog Charlie Leaeno, huge unit who dominated lower grades but offered nothing in first grade. Charlie Tonga - another one, although Ricky Stuart used Mr T very poorly.

[theGman]

That is the problem with Paki Afu though.

Yes, he broke the line plenty of times this year for the Bulldogs U20s, but I have my doubts about him, as do many Bulldogs fans.

In the times I have watched him, he is a huge, tall unit with basically no laterall movement in attack or defense at all. Just runs straight, and because of his tremendous size, he sends the smaller blokes in the U20s flying. Also very unfit, I doubt our staff will do any better, but I would love to be proven wrong.

Remember John Kite? Was a monster for the Bulldogs in the U20s last year, but in first grade he got SMASHED. Same with former Dragon and Bulldog Charlie Leaeno, huge unit who dominated lower grades but offered nothing in first grade. Charlie Tonga - another one, although Ricky Stuart used Mr T very poorly.

Very good comparisons Mack.
Do you think Mose Masoe fits into the same category?
Since the inception of NYC, Mose's career with us has been punctuated with injury. A real pity because from all reports he's got alot to offer.
I remember his return game against the Broncos early this year. He was killing them in attack. Sadly he broke down again not long after.

[theGman]

Boyd

OK I'll ask. Did Boyd give any indication that he will be following his brother or is he keen for a long term future with us?

Buddy, the one thing he did say to me several months ago is that he desperately wants to play 1st grade. I suppose most NYC players do but Boyd isn't too far off.
Barring injury and depending on good form, perhaps towards the end of 2010 coach Smith could blood him off the bench. That would have him pressing hard for a 1st grade spot in 2011.

[Guest]

Very good comparisons Mack.
Do you think Mose Masoe fits into the same category?
Since the inception of NYC, Mose's career with us has been punctuated with injury. A real pity because from all reports he's got alot to offer.
I remember his return game against the Broncos early this year. He was killing them in attack. Sadly he broke down again not long after.

Mose Masoe IMO doesn't fit into that category. Only because I believe he can match it with the boys in the NRL. He is a lot more agile than anyone his size I've seen and could easily play in the backs.

[Guest]

Mose Masoe IMO doesn't fit into that category. Only because I believe he can match it with the boys in the NRL. He is a lot more agile than anyone his size I've seen and could easily play in the backs.

completley agree. He is willie mason jnr in terms of playing style and build - front and backrow impact player except is much more aggressive and more skillful. He has heaps to offer and along with FPN and Hargreaves, will become a key component of our frontrow in the years to come

[Guest]

Boyd cordner is one of the best young talents I have seen.

Thats Scots College fullback is certainly a top prospect. I think we might have signed the Scots centre who is also very good, does anyone know whether we have signed him?

[Guest]

The name Sam Talakai rings a bell. I think thats the kid from waverley that has signed either 2 or 3 year deal with us. He is a rooster fan as well as Fine.

I'll get confirmation of whether its him later today.