Blake Austin signs with Warrington Wolves

[Billy Walker]

It's a funny dance between clubs and player managers where things are played out through the media in a series of stories that may or may not have any basis to them. I understand why it happens but almost feel it is a little disrespectful to the supporters in a way.

[greeneyed]

Blake Austin set to leave Canberra Raiders at end of season

The Canberra Raiders have moved on from Blake Austin, with recruitment boss Peter Mulholland revealing the 2015 NRL five-eighth of the year looks likely to leave at the end of the season.

"At this stage probably not I'd say. We're just looking at options," Peter Mulholland said. "Blake had an offer on the table last year and he rejected that offer, and as in the game you've got to move on and unfortunately he didn't take the offer up last year and we've moved on, basically.

Read more: https://www.canberratimes.com.au/sport/ ... 4znal.html

[greeneyed]

The Raiders can't afford Norman's $900,000 wage for next year, while Mulholland said they had Sam Williams and Ata Hingano as options on their books to help replace Austin.

https://www.canberratimes.com.au/sport/ ... 4znal.html

So we’re in for a whole world of pain.

[Billy Walker]

The Raiders can't afford Norman's $900,000 wage for next year, while Mulholland said they had Sam Williams and Ata Hingano as options on their books to help replace Austin.

https://www.canberratimes.com.au/sport/ ... 4znal.html

So we’re in for a whole world of pain.

In fairness all three have a very similar ineffective defensive style.

[Velda]

That is very concerning, we will not win a comp with either Hingano or Williams as a starting half

[KasparRaider]

And no plan or strategy to replace him. We will just muddle on.

https://www.smh.com.au/sport/nrl/blake- ... 4znal.html

[bonehead]

Boney, it came down to contract length. We offered 2 years, titans 4. Oh course he's going to take the longer deal.
He'll be 31 when that ends, and potentially his last deal.

that's not what I'm talking about, cat asked who saw a bidding war for Boyd coming, imo Boyd is a fairly rare type of nrl commodity so yes we all should've known he would be in demand. All my league watching mates have said for the past 2yrs they'd love him at their club.
Whether you are willing to pay his market rate or not is a completely different discussion.

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[bonehead]

maybe we plan on JBateman at 6 with enough ball playing at 1, 7 and 9 or wighton back to 6 and cotric at 1

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[greeneyed]

The Raiders can't afford Norman's $900,000 wage for next year, while Mulholland said they had Sam Williams and Ata Hingano as options on their books to help replace Austin.

https://www.canberratimes.com.au/sport/ ... 4znal.html

So we’re in for a whole world of pain.

In fairness all three have a very similar ineffective defensive style.

Plus, unfortunately, Hingano offers nothing in attack either. At least Williams is a good kicker and organiser and Austin is a good runner.

[VictorTheViking]

O'hagan

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[Coastalraider]

The Raiders can't afford Norman's $900,000 wage for next year, while Mulholland said they had Sam Williams and Ata Hingano as options on their books to help replace Austin.

https://www.canberratimes.com.au/sport/ ... 4znal.html

So we’re in for a whole world of pain.

I really hope the comments on Williams and Hingano are a smokes and mirrors trick while we are in negotiations with another half.

We will have lost 2 starting high $ props, and a five eighth who's current contract and value was signed when he was the reigning 5/8 of the year. That should have floated AT MIMIMUM $1.5 mill.

If in some twisted reality of raiders EDIT we have managed to both offer them all contracts for next year AND now not have cap room to replace any of them, we are right there with the Doggies as having the most horrendously managed cap in league history.

[greeneyed]

It’s a salary cap debacle if so.

[Botman]

They'd have to be bluffing.
HAVE to be.

Sack everyone if not. Furner, Mulholland and Stuart should be put in stocks for the towns people to pelt with rotten fruit if this isnt some media games to get Norman to bring his price down

[Coastalraider]

It’s a salary cap debacle if so.

And on top of the salary cap considerations, if we had seriously taken the stance that's Austin is not here next year and Sammy and Ata will fill the gap, one of them should be playing now.

[T_R]

I've said it a few times.
Our management are utterly incompetent and have completely stuffed the cap. Simple.

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[Sid]

Strange that Austin’s manager would go knocking on souffs door when they have Reynolds, Walker and Douihi locked up

[Dusty]

I’d like to see Hingano get an extended run in the halves.

It’d be unfair to judge him on his effort in 1sr grade at 14.


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[reptar]

Strange that Austin’s manager would go knocking on souffs door when they have Reynolds, Walker and Douihi locked up

I imagine he's making a lot of phone calls right now.

[Green eyed Mick]

I think Sezer and Wighton with Cotric at fullback is a better option than Hingano, Williams or Austin playing #6.

I'd much rather we wait until the right half comes along than throw buckets at Norman. Norman is 27, has 150 FG games and still lacks consistency. Not worth what he'd cost us.

[Botman]

I’d like to see Hingano get an extended run in the halves.

It’d be unfair to judge him on his effort in 1sr grade at 14.

I have absolutely zero idea if Hingano is any good, the overwhelming odds are that he's probably not the answer. But 1000000% agree that it's ridiculous the criticism he's getting as a young player who's spent his entire career at this club completely out of position.

He's probably ****. 99.9999% of the population are **** halves, he's likely one of them, but i dont feel like our fan base is being very fair to the kid. If we stuck Nick Cotric in the halves and he was **** i feel like we wouldnt be this harsh on him.

[Botman]

I think Sezer and Wighton with Cotric at fullback is a better option than Hingano, Williams or Austin playing #6.

I'd much rather we wait until the right half comes along than throw buckets at Norman. Norman is 27, has 150 FG games and still lacks consistency. Not worth what he'd cost us.

Yeah i think i agree with this
Norman is better than Williams or Hingano, and probably better than the mooted line up... but the cost is really something

if the club is certain they are moving on from Blake Austin, given this season is a total lost cause (Even IF we rallied and scraped into the 8, there is ZERO chance we win the comp) i think they'd be negligent not at least trial Sezer/Wighton with Cotric at fullback, just to know what that looks like

[Dr Zaius]

I think Sezer and Wighton with Cotric at fullback is a better option than Hingano, Williams or Austin playing #6.

I'd much rather we wait until the right half comes along than throw buckets at Norman. Norman is 27, has 150 FG games and still lacks consistency. Not worth what he'd cost us.

I'll have one of these.

I’d like to see Hingano get an extended run in the halves.

It’d be unfair to judge him on his effort in 1sr grade at 14.

I have absolutely zero idea if Hingano is any good, the overwhelming odds are that he's probably not the answer. But 1000000% agree that it's ridiculous the criticism he's getting as a young player who's spent his entire career at this club completely out of position.

He's probably ****. 99.9999% of the population are **** halves, he's likely one of them, but i dont feel like our fan base is being very fair to the kid. If we stuck Nick Cotric in the halves and he was **** i feel like we wouldnt be this harsh on him.

And one of these.

[Roger Kenworthy]

I've said it a few times.
Our management are utterly incompetent and have completely stuffed the cap. Simple.

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Nope it's all a bluff. This is year 21 of a long con and rest of the NRL are going to look so stupid when we reveal our hand.

[-TW-]

Strange that Austin’s manager would go knocking on souffs door when they have Reynolds, Walker and Douihi locked up

I imagine he's making a lot of phone calls right now.

I believe it's something like this:

[Timbo]

They’ve definitely got someone in mind. They’re not moving on from Austin with no replacement player at all.

[Sid]

Strange that Austin’s manager would go knocking on souffs door when they have Reynolds, Walker and Douihi locked up

I imagine he's making a lot of phone calls right now.

I believe it's something like this:

[-PJ-]

How did Hingano fair last night ?

I agree it's unfair to write off a bloke who's been playing out of position.

[FROG]

I've said it a few times.
Our management are utterly incompetent and have completely stuffed the cap. Simple.

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I agree we've clearly made mistakes. But if we're being honest we're not the first club to get this wrong. What's incredible about our situation is the way our management are attempting to address the problem. It appears they're attempting to get us out of this mess by resigning some of our existing overpaid talent on MORE money. Where's the logic in that. I don't know how we can be in this position with the squad we have but it's clear as day that some players need to be moved on. What appears to be happening however is that players have left, we've upgraded our offers to other players to keep them, and we're now at the point where we CAN'T (despite wanting to) retain other overpaid players. It's beyond stupid, it's insane

[edwahu]

We've (likely) missed the 8 two years in a row, signed no regular first graders for 2.5 years and are about to lose 3 of our highest profile starters. It takes serious effort to run out of money in those circumstances.

[gangrenous]

I’d like to see Hingano get an extended run in the halves.

It’d be unfair to judge him on his effort in 1sr grade at 14.

I have absolutely zero idea if Hingano is any good, the overwhelming odds are that he's probably not the answer. But 1000000% agree that it's ridiculous the criticism he's getting as a young player who's spent his entire career at this club completely out of position.

He's probably ****. 99.9999% of the population are **** halves, he's likely one of them, but i dont feel like our fan base is being very fair to the kid. If we stuck Nick Cotric in the halves and he was **** i feel like we wouldnt be this harsh on him.

I think based on what he’s shown and his errors there’s really not a lot of point. Playing out of position doesn’t make you drop the ball. He’s also had some games at Mounties in the halves that have been reported as poor right?

Playing out of position I would still expect Cotric to display infinitely more than Hingano has this year. I was excited when he signed based on his Warriors game against us, but it seems like he just had a pearler of a day and the Raiders did that thing of making an average player look a star.

Even out of position I struggle to think of a single positive contribution from him this year... no way that happens with Cotric or a first grade half imo

[Northern Raider]

I’ve seen Hingano play halves at Warriors and Mounties with a short cameo for the Raiders. Been totally underwhelmed by what I saw. I will also confidently say he’s not an option at hooker or wing.
I don’t see Sam Williams as permanent NRL level half having watched him play for many years, but I’d still take him over Hingano.

If there’s is nobody on the market who’s going to provide an upgrade I’m happy for the club to keep the powder dry in 2018. Have a war chest for recruitment when the right player comes available.

[Matt]

How did Hingano fair last night ?

I agree it's unfair to write off a bloke who's been playing out of position.

He was ok, though he didnt have to do much as the Tongan forwards bashed their way down field easily. Scored a try. Got injured in the 2nd half. Went off, then Samoa came back.

[Matt]

Williams will be Sezers partner should no one else be found. Id be ok with this, but id be expecting fringe 8 at best too.

The only reason not to bag a half this yr, is to have a war chest for the few coming off contract in 2019.

[edwahu]

I feel like if Williams was seen as the option he never would've got dropped.

O'Hagen is apparently moving into the first grade squad, they may accelerate his development with Bambling not working out.

[Northern Raider]

I feel like if Williams was seen as the option he never would've got dropped.

O'Hagen is apparently moving into the first grade squad, they may accelerate his development with Bambling not working out.

Did Williams get dropped? I thought he got injured which led to Austin's recall. Since his return Sticky has stayed with the Sezer/Austin combo.