Recruitment

[Bates]

Have you met Bryan Fletcher?

You guys might be right but I won't be convinced until the day I see Hugo wearing Red and Green.

I knew Fletch quite well however we all went in different directions. Last time I spoke to him was when the pandemic was on. He asked me if I knew anyone that was thinking of selling a property down my way. Properties doubled in price down here. People were buying them without an inspection of sorts. Panic central!

My place is worth $3 mill. I could've got $5 to $6 mill back then as others in my street sold for record prices.

Fletch and Robbo would blink and Batsey was gone when we all played beach footy. They were part of the cool crew that hung on the grass at Nth Bondi. I was in North Bondi Surf Club. Happy days.

[Mickie Lane]

I knew Fletch quite well however we all went in different directions. Last time I spoke to him was when the pandemic was on. He asked me if I knew anyone that was thinking of selling a property down my way. Properties doubled in price down here. People were buying them without an inspection of sorts. Panic central!

My place is worth $3 mill. I could've got $5 to $6 mill back then as others in my street sold for record prices.

Fletch and Robbo would blink and Batsey was gone when we all played beach footy. They were part of the cool crew that hung on the grass at Nth Bondi. I was in North Bondi Surf Club. Happy days.

No flys on Batesy
What a life
So good
Youre the ultimate story teller Batesy some may think youre talking through your arse but I actually believe you, Youve had it good man but you worked hard for it so well done & keep up the stories.

[Red.]

They were part of the cool crew that hung on the grass at Nth Bondi. I was in North Bondi Surf Club. Happy days.

You didn't happen to go to Waverley College did you Bates?

[Bates]

You didn't happen to go to Waverley College did you Bates?

Maybe

[JAF]

IMHO there is a snow ball's chance in Hell that Hugo signs with Souths. He is an Eastern Suburbs boy. The hatred runs deep with Bronte Board Riders!

I'm with Red on this one - Hugo absolutely HATES the Vermin (as much as we do) and would never compromise himself and wear their (putrid) colours, no matter what the offer is.

[Bates]

No flys on Batesy
What a life
So good
Youre the ultimate story teller Batesy some may think youre talking through your arse but I actually believe you, Youve had it good man but you worked hard for it so well done & keep up the stories.

Everyone has a story mate! I'm not afraid to share some of mine. I bought my Bendalong house for $140k back in the 80's. It was our holiday house. Being a master builder I did all the work to it over the years. Spent maybe $300k and my time. Couldn't do Sydney anymore and my boy was keen to take over the business so we moved down south and have never looked back. Last projects were 2 high-rises in Maroubra Junction. Funny enough SKD bought one of our apartments.

[MKCS]

It wouldn't surprise me if we lose Savala to the vermin. We've dumped him for a pensioner after he was one of our best last season in extremely rough water. You've also got Bennett the sweet talker who still has his sales skills intact after landing Payne Haas.

I don't know why this forum overrates Hugo so much. He was solid for sure but didn't really have a breakout game last season and his stats were out of the top 10 for halfbacks in the league across the board.

He's a great back up or now with the new bench rules I guess a bench/reserve half but he also isn't going to break a game open right now (Or potentially ever)

[Rooster_6]

I don't know why this forum overrates Hugo so much. He was solid for sure but didn't really have a breakout game last season and his stats were out of the top 10 for halfbacks in the league across the board.

He's a great back up or now with the new bench rules I guess a bench/reserve half but he also isn't going to break a game open right now (Or potentially ever)

The public facing stats are never going to be kind to an organising halfback though.

Tempo control, set construction, kick selection etc etc. just can't be quantified to any great extent.

A good organising halfback creates improve output from those around him, not from himself.

[Bates]

I don't know why this forum overrates Hugo so much. He was solid for sure but didn't really have a breakout game last season and his stats were out of the top 10 for halfbacks in the league across the board.

He's a great back up or now with the new bench rules I guess a bench/reserve half but he also isn't going to break a game open right now (Or potentially ever)

You've answered your own question.

Solid for a rookie half in a team that's rebuilding is more than a pass mark imo. Imagine being partnered with Sandon Smith or Townsend. What a nightmare! For this alone Savala deserves the Jack Gibson medal.

Best halves combination moving forward ranked 1 to 3

6. Savala / 7. Walker

6. Savala. / 7. DCE

6. Walker / 7. DCE

We're starting the season with a halves combination that will not work I'm afraid.

[A Country Member]

No flys on Batesy
What a life
So good
Youre the ultimate story teller Batesy some may think youre talking through your arse but I actually believe you, Youve had it good man but you worked hard for it so well done & keep up the stories.

Batesy’s not in top 3 story tellers on here. There was a goodun who hasn’t been seen for some time. I miss their stories

[mightyrooster]

I would love to see the meltdown from vermin fans if Haas backflips.

[mightyrooster]

Batesy’s not in top 3 story tellers on here. There was a goodun who hasn’t been seen for some time. I miss their stories

Old mate Izzy…

[mattyh]

Old mate Izzy…

Ism is different gravy

[ism22]

IMO Robson, Whyte, Collins, Leniu, Rads, Watson, Steep, Wong, Butcher...etc is a great forward pack. This is before you factor in the possibility of a bulked up Savala playing in the back row.

Nobody's poaching the players we WANT except for yawnion (which is a different game as they're not leaving us for rivals... their time in League is done and they either wanna make crazy $$$ overseas or play in a world cup). That's special IMO and gives us a link that other clubs don't have!!!

The window is open for us to win the 2026 premiership with that pack. Staple on a spine of Teddy (reigning Dally M), DCE, Walker and Robson... I think we're good.

If signing Fifita, Tino or Haas required releasing Steep or Whyte then I'd question the value of the transaction. We develop some of the best juniors in the comp and dismissing the signing of DCE and Robson is a joke IMO.

Throughout the 80 minutes of a game I reckon Robson's gonna have way more impact than people think. Also, it won't just be his defence... IMO we'll see Walker go to another level once he's finally getting some top notch service.

PS - shout out to all my old mates! Love you all long time

[Rooster90]

I don't know why this forum overrates Hugo so much. He was solid for sure but didn't really have a breakout game last season and his stats were out of the top 10 for halfbacks in the league across the board.

He's a great back up or now with the new bench rules I guess a bench/reserve half but he also isn't going to break a game open right now (Or potentially ever)

Technically he was 10th in Kick Meters - so your point is invalid

https://www.zerotackle.com/nrl/playe...p-kick-metres/