Plan b?

[Guest]

Sorry if this thread is deemed superfluous but I thought it might be worth a discussion. In the discussions about BJ another poster mentioned the fact that the club probably has a plan B.

This really stuck in my mind and I think it is more than likely true. I also think the way this BJ affair has gone down says a few things about the direction the club is headed in.

Firstly, the announcement yesterday came as a shock to most of us. If people knew about it it was not leaked to the wider football community. Obviously the decision was not made yesterday and seems to have been something that has developed over the past month or maybe longer. It suggests to me that the club were able to make a tough decision and the usual leaks were sealed tight. This has to be a good thing.

Secondly, considering this decision seems to have been well planned and thought out it makes sense that there must be a plan B. Considering the fact that we are primed for a pretty good year (who knows how good, but an improvement) it is hard to believe they don't have someone or something in mind. Who knows how the salary cap is balanced but with the releases of Mose and now BJ it doesn't seem a stretch to suggest a good signing is about to happen.

Any ideas? Jennings seems unlikely. Israel Folau mid-season? An English import? A Tigers reject? A young-gun? With Moga and BJ out the depth we appeared to have in the backs seems thin to me. I don't think Tom Symonds is the answer. SKD and RTS seem the likely centre pairing so my guess is a winger? Thoughts?

[Guest]

i hope to god rts doesnt play centre. he is not a centre, he is not a winger. if he isnt playing fullback for us it should either be for the u20's or newtown.
the salary cap is being extended to 5.8 mil next year, too, and with mose and bj being released, i reckon we have quite a bit of room to move, seeing as sbw was signed to fit under the previous cap (not sure how much).
my guess is where going to make a genuine centre signing. whether it be the big one of someone like jennings, ayshford, croker, even uate is being thrown around; or a young gun coming through like wighton etc

[Guest]

I've heard that the plan for RTS at this point in time is for him to play in the centres. Not sure if it is true. I agree he should be fullback though.

[Guest]

well if rts is going to play centre, while we're at it, let jwh play fullback, skd play lock, sbw play halfback and fpn play on the wing.
playing players out of position is stupid.

[Yak]

He's played plenty of centre in union. The way I see it no matter what we think is better for the team Mini is going to at least start the season at fullback. Which would mean RTS would've started on the wing. I'd much prefer such a dangerous ball runner get his hands on the ball as much as possible. He's a very good front on tackler as well and a much better defender in general than Adam Henry which is the only other serious option out of the players available imo. In saying that, and I know a lot of people will disagree here, but in the games that Takairangi has been moved to centre he's been very good. And i actually don't think he's that much slower than BJ if at all. He did chase down Chase Stanley from behind when we played the dragons late last year. If we're going to put a backrower in there he would be my pick. But i think RTS would be very dangerous in the centres, especially when you consider he scored a heap of his tries down the left against edge defenders.

[TDK]

I'll be the first to say it, but our new brains trust is reducing our dependency on South pacific islande players, we have way too many to be a consistent football team. Mose and BJ were good impact players at best but were not the sharpest players in the squad, how many games did BJ lose for us with stupid defensive lapses and silly unforced errors, no great loss at all and a huge step in the right direction.

[Guest]

Hopefully we can negotiations with the Bulldogs to get Tim Lafai.

[Guest]

He's played plenty of centre in union. The way I see it no matter what we think is better for the team Mini is going to at least start the season at fullback. Which would mean RTS would've started on the wing. I'd much prefer such a dangerous ball runner get his hands on the ball as much as possible. He's a very good front on tackler as well and a much better defender in general than Adam Henry which is the only other serious option out of the players available imo. In saying that, and I know a lot of people will disagree here, but in the games that Takairangi has been moved to centre he's been very good. And i actually don't think he's that much slower than BJ if at all. He did chase down Chase Stanley from behind when we played the dragons late last year. If we're going to put a backrower in there he would be my pick. But i think RTS would be very dangerous in the centres, especially when you consider he scored a heap of his tries down the left against edge defenders.

Just pray to God they don't go with Aubusson. I'd be having a look at Oldfield myself

[Rooster_6]

well if rts is going to play centre, while we're at it, let jwh play fullback, skd play lock, sbw play halfback and fpn play on the wing.
playing players out of position is stupid.

[Guest]

Just pray to God they don't go with Aubusson. I'd be having a look at Oldfield myself

Totally agree. Aubusson is absolutely not a centre option, for both his own good and the team's.

[Guest]

Totally agree. Aubusson is absolutely not a centre option, for both his own good and the team's.

and for our sake let's hope not !!!

[roosterproud]

He's played plenty of centre in union. The way I see it no matter what we think is better for the team Mini is going to at least start the season at fullback. Which would mean RTS would've started on the wing. I'd much prefer such a dangerous ball runner get his hands on the ball as much as possible. He's a very good front on tackler as well and a much better defender in general than Adam Henry which is the only other serious option out of the players available imo. In saying that, and I know a lot of people will disagree here, but in the games that Takairangi has been moved to centre he's been very good. And i actually don't think he's that much slower than BJ if at all. He did chase down Chase Stanley from behind when we played the dragons late last year. If we're going to put a backrower in there he would be my pick. But i think RTS would be very dangerous in the centres, especially when you consider he scored a heap of his tries down the left against edge defenders.

a chat with yak, and i think your on the money. taka in the centres. he has a vey useful off load.(like ant toup). he is reasonably quick, just needs a bit more work in defence. a big rangy centre combo coming up. skids and henry on one side with taka and topou on the other...no more midgets

[Guest]

a chat with yak, and i think your on the money. taka in the centres. he has a vey useful off load.(like ant toup). he is reasonably quick, just needs a bit more work in defence. a big rangy centre combo coming up. skids and henry on one side with taka and topou on the other...no more midgets

oldfield wasn't signed to play at newtown

[BUDDY]

He's played plenty of centre in union. The way I see it no matter what we think is better for the team Mini is going to at least start the season at fullback. Which would mean RTS would've started on the wing. I'd much prefer such a dangerous ball runner get his hands on the ball as much as possible. He's a very good front on tackler as well and a much better defender in general than Adam Henry which is the only other serious option out of the players available imo. In saying that, and I know a lot of people will disagree here, but in the games that Takairangi has been moved to centre he's been very good. And i actually don't think he's that much slower than BJ if at all. He did chase down Chase Stanley from behind when we played the dragons late last year. If we're going to put a backrower in there he would be my pick. But i think RTS would be very dangerous in the centres, especially when you consider he scored a heap of his tries down the left against edge defenders.

Always love reading your posts Yak.

Our best wing options are Tupou and Oldfield. Our best fullback option is RTS. But if Mini has to be in the team the RTS at centre is far better than what we had last year at times in BJ and Maubs. If Jennings comes then if Mini doesn't come up with a timely back spasm injury I will be p!ssed off if one of the others miss out.

[Guest]

Plan B - stock up on backrowers who can moonlight as centres. Tick.