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Kurt Baptiste to return to Canberra Raiders

Crafty hooker Kurt Baptiste is set to re-join the Canberra Raiders next season. Baptiste joined the Roosters as Jake Friend's back-up from England in March, but is now set to re-join the Raiders, where he played over 50 games between 2015 and 2017. He’ll again have to play second fiddle - this time to Josh Hodgson - but the Raiders want a strong back-up to the Englishman after struggling for hookers last year due to injury.

Read more: https://wwos.nine.com.au/2018/07/10/08/ ... t-the-mole

Haha ****

I guess that means Havili is gone??? Ricky really doesn't rate Garvey does he lol

so 3rd string here instead

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How would this even work in a practical sense unless Hodgson goes to 7?

Hodgo has shown in 3 weeks how badly we have missed him at hooker... No way should we move him. I'd say Havili is gone

I don't think Havili is gone... I'd say Garvey is gone.

Still doesn't make sense to me...Would hate to lose Havili he is the perfect utility imo.

This is just stupid. I like Baptiste don't get me wrong, but why do we continue to recycle players that cannot get a start at any other clubs? Are we really that desperate for talent?

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If he’s taking Garvey’s spot on similar coin and Havili stays it’s a great move.


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Havili to lock and Baptiste as Hodgo's foil at 9 seems a pretty good result to me. Still worried about our halves though.

Still hearing whispers about Corey Norman.


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Havili to move up the front somewhere (probably bench), Gnome to 14!!!

I feel like this was somehow part of the deal with letting him go early.

I...what?

Azza wrote:Havili to lock and Baptiste as Hodgo's foil at 9 seems a pretty good result to me. Still worried about our halves though.

That's what I think. Havili can play anywhere in the forwards and Baptiste off the bench

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Havilli just signed 2 year deal.

i think it would mean Garvey is gone and potentially Havilli as backup lock/second row where he played on Saturday night from the bench.

Better option than Bateman IMO.

Seriously terrible idea. We don't need him back with Havili playing well. We need a marquee prop and 5/8 ****.

Green Hornet wrote: ↑July 10, 2018, 12:40 pm Havilli just signed 2 year deal.

i think it would mean Garvey is gone and potentially Havilli as backup lock/second row where he played on Saturday night from the bench.

Better option than Bateman IMO.

I don't think Havilli has actually signed yet.

Are we still paying a fair chunk of his salary this year?

Unless he's coming dirt cheap this is a really odd signing.
Havili's proven a better back up than Baptiste was. We would have been better looking to roll the dice on some junior with potential who thinks they can push their way up. Not to mention 5/8 or a prop.

RTW wrote: ↑July 10, 2018, 1:22 pm Are we still paying a fair chunk of his salary this year?

Yeah, he was contracted for this year but I'm not sure how it went down with him going to England and then back to the roosters. That's why I am a bit suspicious this was always going to happen.

edwahu wrote: ↑July 10, 2018, 12:24 pm I feel like this was somehow part of the deal with letting him go early.

Seems highly likely.

Unless its for pennies i dont see the reason, so does that mean havilli wil be lock from next year on and batiste on the bench? I dont want to see baptiste back in the team at the expense of havilli as he can cover at least 3 positions as opposed to baptistes one position

#gnomescominghome


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Mobilising the pack, I'm a fan

Any word on that interchange reduction we went all in on based on one newspaper article?

Why why why why. We probably stupid enough to pay more than minimum wage as well. We would do something like that no doubt


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I dont mind this move. Havilii is a solid forward and gnome offers more running from dummy half when we need some spark.

My guess is you'll have gnome and havilii on the bench with havilii in the forward rotation and gnome playing for the last 10mins every game

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Happy with this. Hodgo/Baptiste was an excellent combo. Baptiste coming off the bench with his speed and energy and Hodgson shifting into that hybrid running forward/first-receiver role provided genuine impact on plenty of occasions.

And regardless, the squad needs another hooker. None of Havili, Hingano or Garvey is guaranteed to be here next year at this stage, right? Even if we keep Havili you want a third. Personally I'd like to see Baptiste in #14 with Havili as a utility forward.

My Roosters following mates have messaged me today saying they aren't happy about this - he's apparently been going great guns for them.

I very much like Baptiste, but at the moment with the players we've lost for next year versus what we've gained, we'll still do extremely well to run 13th.

Anyway, if anyone on here ever sees Ricky Stuart at an event where he's a bit drunk, can you try to get him to fess up exactly what it was that Craig Garvey did? It's **** baffling.

I agree with a few comments on here.
1. I think we made it clear that we want him back in a yr, once the cap issue is sorted. It wouldn't surprise me if he signed both his leaving papers and return 'agree in principle' papers at the same time.

2. Garvey is goneski... coz you cant run over Ricks cat and get a game, let alone a 2nd contract. BTW, the best hooker in ISP, cant play for us. Go figure.

3. Havili is being groomed for a lock role, knowning he is capable at 9 if required. Look around the league, this is becoming more normal:
A) Jazz Tevaga for Warriors has played mostly lock this yr. Done so well, they have been naming a 2nd utility.
B) Katoa for Panthers, started as their utility/ lock. With Wallace retired he is sharing the 9 with Egan.
C) Radley for Chooks, though, like Jazz, has been so good in the BR, he has basically locked down a spot there.
D) Brandon Smith for Storm. He is playing the Hinchy role. A genuine 9 who is a nuggety little fella, and killing it.
E) Slade Griffin at Knights was doing a little time at lock, despite starting at 9, when Levi comes on. More like what Hodgo did with Baptiste TBH.
F) Elijah Taylor for Tigers. TBH... this is super dumb, but was a way to fit their BR's in.

As for the way our side is starting to shape up, it wouldn't surprise me to see both Havili and Baptiste named on any given weekend, esp if we have an injury or 2.
8. Soliola
9. Hodgo
10. Papa
11. Whitey/ Tarpz
12. Pommy Bateman
13. Tarpz/ Whitey

14. Baptiste/ Havili
15. Havili/ Bateman
16. Lui
17. Knight/ Sutton

Yep I can see Havili being used as forward rotation as well.

It makes sense with KB returning.

Thanks for your time in Mounties colours Mr Garvey....

Matt wrote: ↑July 10, 2018, 4:09 pm
D) Brandon Smith for Storm. He is playing the Hinchy role. A genuine 9 who is a nuggety little fella, and killing it.

I believe the official name is Fat Smith.

zim wrote: ↑July 10, 2018, 4:21 pm

Matt wrote: ↑July 10, 2018, 4:09 pm
D) Brandon Smith for Storm. He is playing the Hinchy role. A genuine 9 who is a nuggety little fella, and killing it.

I believe the official name is Fat Smith.