RTS Hastings Pearce Friend

[2026]

I love Jimmy however i'm curios to see how this combination would perform at some stage.

The more i see of Hastings playing with the big boys, the more i think he's ready.

[Roostajohn]

My thoughts exactly. He will be able to handle it in the halves or at dummy half.

[ROC181]

I like the way that Michael Morgan plays at 6. I wonder if he was still available if we would have had a go to try and get him.

[ism22]

I love Jimmy however i'm curios to see how this combination would perform at some stage.

The more i see of Hastings playing with the big boys, the more i think he's ready.

You might see something similar around Origin time I guess.

Maloney's arguably the most accurate conversion kicker in the game. He's also in form (man of the match during country/city Origin.) Should we replace him with Hastings and keep RTS? I don't know...

I reckon a 5/8 is more important to a team than a fullback (unless they are a Hayne style FB but that's rare.) IMO Maloney's a more 'complete' and mature player than RTS (and Hastings.) That said, not that RTS has grabbed $800K, what is Maloney willing to accept?

At work I've been in this dilemma before. Sometimes you're happy with your salary and then randomly somebody else who is junior to you and less complete as an employee gets a big fat promotion. You're left as the 'senior' (with juniors like Friend and Pearce as your bosses) and are told to keep doing your magic on the same pay scale without any added authority/incentive to do so. I see 3 options:
- Maloney gets more, stays and is happy.
- Maloney goes elsewhere and is happy.
- Maloney stays for about the same money but isn't happy so under-performs.

While Maloney is logically the best option, I think we're gonna struggle if we can't give him an incentive to stay and perform. Hastings might have been easier to appease? First grade contract with a guaranteed spot in the starting side would be a massive incentive (although possibly a little premature.)

[rwbfl]

You might see something similar around Origin time I guess.

Maloney's arguably the most accurate conversion kicker in the game. He's also in form (man of the match during country/city Origin.) Should we replace him with Hastings and keep RTS? I don't know...

I reckon a 5/8 is more important to a team than a fullback (unless they are a Hayne style FB but that's rare.) IMO Maloney's a more 'complete' and mature player than RTS (and Hastings.) That said, not that RTS has grabbed $800K, what is Maloney willing to accept?

At work I've been in this dilemma before. Sometimes you're happy with your salary and then randomly somebody else who is junior to you and less complete as an employee gets a big fat promotion. You're left as the 'senior' (with juniors like Friend and Pearce as your bosses) and are told to keep doing your magic on the same pay scale without any added authority/incentive to do so. I see 3 options:
- Maloney gets more, stays and is happy.
- Maloney goes elsewhere and is happy.
- Maloney stays for about the same money but isn't happy so under-performs.

While Maloney is logically the best option, I think we're gonna struggle if we can't give him an incentive to stay and perform. Hastings might have been easier to appease? First grade contract with a guaranteed spot in the starting side would be a massive incentive (although possibly a little premature.)

I'm fairly sure Maloney is going to be here for another 2-3 years. He said himself on Channel 9 news in the week of the Tigers game that he has more or less agreed to a new deal. Just needs to apply the finishing touches.

[Rooster_6]

It'll forever be the decision the club needed to have the balls to make in the pre-season. Not necessarily to run with that spine in '15 but certainly do everything within their power to ensure it'd be the spine for 2016.

[Thirteen]

It'll forever be the decision the club needed to have the balls to make in the pre-season. Not necessarily to run with that spine in '15 but certainly do everything within their power to ensure it'd be the spine for 2016.

Only 1 problem.

[Rooster_6]

Only 1 problem.

What's that?

[Bigchook]

I'll admit that I was uncertain on shek at fullback in the preseason. But I'm sure the talent managers were aware of how good he was going to be and if they knew he could play like he is now then it is a major, major eff up that he's leaving.

[Johnny.]

What's that?

Who kicks penalties/conversions at 86%?

[ism22]

Who kicks penalties/conversions at 86%?

RTS... oh wait, we saw his attempt at a conversion last season Maybe Hastings in 5 years time?

It's like a house auction - just because a house feels perfect, it doesn't mean you can bid $400k over what you set as your maximum bid and not eat for the next 30 years because of it.

Also, what good would signing RTS be if we lost a few rep quality players as a result? Remember, a lot of people are attracted to Easts because of our polish. There's some names that we can't punt because (like them or not) they have respect within the NRL world and people WANT to play with them. RTS woulda taken ~$400 from us, or $800 from ANY OTHER CLUB. Don't under-rate the other boys in our backline who RTS WANTS to play with. They can draw other players to our club and the story of us turning RTS into a $800k player will no doubt attract other talented players who will be willing to play for less if it means they can move up a rung after 3 years.

[Rooster_6]

Who kicks penalties/conversions at 86%?

You've got your priorities all messed up if you're arguing goal kicking ability over the ability to create tries.

[Tommy Smith]

Name a 5/8 in the comp that has more try assists than Jimmy since the beginning of 2013.

I don't think there is one and I'd love to find the stats to back that up.

[Rooster_6]

The ability to assist and the ability to create aren't the same.

Take our 2013 grand final for example, the match winning try. SBW breaks the line and offloads to Maloney who's supporting who then passes it to Mini who's supporting who then passes it to SKD who scores in the corner.

We all know who created the try but we also know he'll never get any statistical recognition for it.

Assists reflect the ability to play with a structure, ability to take advantage of unforced defensive errors, team forced defensive errors and support play as much as they do creativity.

Darius Boyd has made a career at fullback out of throwing the last pass. But is he really a creative player because he's got all those Assists? I certainly don't think so.

[Jacks Fur Coat]

The ability to assist and the ability to create aren't the same.

Take our 2013 grand final for example, the match winning try. SBW breaks the line and offloads to Maloney who's supporting who then passes it to Mini who's supporting who then passes it to SKD who scores in the corner.

We all know who created the try but we also know he'll never get any statistical recognition for it.

Assists reflect the ability to play with a structure, ability to take advantage of unforced defensive errors, team forced defensive errors and support play as much as they do creativity.

Darius Boyd has made a career at fullback out of throwing the last pass. But is he really a creative player because he's got all those Assists? I certainly don't think so.

Hmmm....getting into playing with daffynitions a bit..but I give almost as much credit to the hole runner/support player as I do the "creator".

Its a tougher role...requires more energy repeat efforts etc...and the play doesn't happen without that guy.

Jimmy does it brilliantly not all number 6s do...it adds to our arsenal.

The much maligned Braith Anasta ran some great supports and holes but either our structure or less than visionary ball players rarely hit him.