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Joey Leilua guarantees he'll be with Raiders in 2020

Posted: September 15, 2019, 5:07 am
by greeneyed
Canterbury Bulldogs want to sign Canberra Raiders centre Joey Leilua

The Sunday Telegraph reports the Bulldogs are keen to sign Raiders centre Joey Leilua - who has been given permission by the Raiders to talk to other clubs after his agent sought to open talks on an extension. Leilua is contracted to the end of 2020, but the club is struggling to fit his $600,000 contract into the salary cap long term. He would reportedly be released early if he can secure a deal with another club.

Read more: https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport ... RucmSjF_eg

Re: Canterbury Bulldogs want to sign Canberra Raiders centre Joey Leilua

Posted: September 15, 2019, 5:07 am
by greeneyed
Ill discipline reportedly a factor.

Re: Canterbury Bulldogs want to sign Canberra Raiders centre Joey Leilua

Posted: September 15, 2019, 6:02 am
by Northern Raider
Bulldogs finally seeing some cap space. Will take whoever they can get. Watch every off contract player get linked to them in the coming months.

Re: Canterbury Bulldogs want to sign Canberra Raiders centre Joey Leilua

Posted: September 15, 2019, 6:06 am
by LastRaider
Take Croker over BJ please

Re: Canterbury Bulldogs want to sign Canberra Raiders centre Joey Leilua

Posted: September 15, 2019, 6:06 am
by FROG
Im firmly of the opinion that we need to resign BJ and 600k sounds about right for the 2 time centre of the year. He is only 28 so has plenty of good football in front of him.

However, if sezer can keep playing like he did last night, youd be tempted to keep him in the side with williams and move jack to right centre.

Re: Canterbury Bulldogs want to sign Canberra Raiders centre Joey Leilua

Posted: September 15, 2019, 6:36 am
by GreenMachine
Either way the club will get this right.
I love BJ’s strike, but I question his discipline.
We have options.

Re: Canterbury Bulldogs want to sign Canberra Raiders centre Joey Leilua

Posted: September 15, 2019, 6:46 am
by kiwi raider
I know hes only 28 but i'm not sure BJ will age that well, i'm ok for not extending him past the end of 2020 at this stage.

Re: Canterbury Bulldogs want to sign Canberra Raiders centre Joey Leilua

Posted: September 15, 2019, 7:24 am
by Northern Raider
FROG wrote: September 15, 2019, 6:06 am Im firmly of the opinion that we need to resign BJ and 600k sounds about right for the 2 time centre of the year. He is only 28 so has plenty of good football in front of him.

However, if sezer can keep playing like he did last night, youd be tempted to keep him in the side with williams and move jack to right centre.
That is an option. We need to accommodate Williams in the side next year so something has to give. Most of us assume it would be Sezer moving on but that may not be the case.

Re: Canterbury Bulldogs want to sign Canberra Raiders centre Joey Leilua

Posted: September 15, 2019, 7:31 am
by T_R
With Simmonson coming through, we can live with this. Cotric to the #4.

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Re: Canterbury Bulldogs want to sign Canberra Raiders centre Joey Leilua

Posted: September 15, 2019, 7:33 am
by Botman
I didn’t like Beej when we signed him, as a person, like most of us, he’s done some pretty rank ****, and made a lot of mistakes, but as a player he always seemed to be unreliable and dumb.

But I’ve come to really respect how smart of a footy player he is, and aside from some silly stuff on the park, which is just kind of what you have to accept with him, he’s been clean off it for us.

So it’s a credit to him that he’s repaired his reputation quite a lot and earned back the respect of people like me who didn’t have much for him when he arrived.

He’s been an integral part of the club getting to this point, and I’m torn on what we should do but I’ve said all along that the Rapana question should lead to an interesting decision around BJ
The two are intrinsically linked and the high upside you get from Beej centres largely around how he and Rapana work together... there is some real signs he and Bateman could develop a very impactful little two man game too

Tough decision. And I agree with kiwi that beej’s game doesn’t strike me as one that will age well beyond his 20’s

Re: Canterbury Bulldogs want to sign Canberra Raiders centre Joey Leilua

Posted: September 15, 2019, 7:36 am
by -PJ-
We will deal with it if it happens.

We have the depth.

But..imo we keep BJ !

Re: Canterbury Bulldogs want to sign Canberra Raiders centre Joey Leilua

Posted: September 15, 2019, 7:41 am
by Roger Kenworthy
Northern Raider wrote: September 15, 2019, 7:24 am
FROG wrote: September 15, 2019, 6:06 am Im firmly of the opinion that we need to resign BJ and 600k sounds about right for the 2 time centre of the year. He is only 28 so has plenty of good football in front of him.

However, if sezer can keep playing like he did last night, youd be tempted to keep him in the side with williams and move jack to right centre.
That is an option. We need to accommodate Williams in the side next year so something has to give. Most of us assume it would be Sezer moving on but that may not be the case.
The key difference being we have a taker for BJ. I don't think any clubs will fighting over Sezer, which means we'd be paying a big chunk of his contract.

Re: Canterbury Bulldogs want to sign Canberra Raiders centre Joey Leilua

Posted: September 15, 2019, 7:46 am
by yeh raiders
Id be bitterly disappointed if we were to lose him. It’s a big step backward for us.

If discipline’s the issue, Hudson Young and Tapine should be shafted well before Joey.

And as mentioned, you’re moving Croker on before BJ - Given they’d be on similar coin (if JC’s manager is doing his job properly)

He returned early from a season ending injury, has shown up every week except for when he dropped his knees after chasing an illegal try 100m, carries the ball in beast mode, intimidates the opposition and happens to put the match winner on a platter last night. The timing for this couldn’t be worse.

Re: Canterbury Bulldogs want to sign Canberra Raiders centre Joey Leilua

Posted: September 15, 2019, 7:56 am
by greeneyed
I would love to keep Joey Leilua. Look at the flick pass to Bateman yesterday! However, I can't argue too much with how the club is managing the salary cap at present... they're making some smart calls on recruitment and retention.

Re: Canterbury Bulldogs want to sign Canberra Raiders centre Joey Leilua

Posted: September 15, 2019, 8:01 am
by gerg
We have 4 players that can quite capably play to a high level in the centres. I really like BJ as a player but it's probably the right move by the club and a great pickup for the Bulldogs.

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Re: Canterbury Bulldogs want to sign Canberra Raiders centre Joey Leilua

Posted: September 15, 2019, 8:07 am
by papabear
Leilua is a gun 600k is pretty cheap given the performance he gives you. We win so many games from the danger of our right side.

Also RE discipline tapine is deadset way looser and even Hodgson gave away a ridiculously stupid penalty last night given the circumstance, did the same thing against melb in the prelim in 2016.
Sometimes very good players get frustrated. They shouldn’t and it needs to improve but Joey won us the game last night.

Re: Canterbury Bulldogs want to sign Canberra Raiders centre Joey Leilua

Posted: September 15, 2019, 8:10 am
by papabear
Roger Kenworthy wrote: September 15, 2019, 7:41 am
Northern Raider wrote: September 15, 2019, 7:24 am
FROG wrote: September 15, 2019, 6:06 am Im firmly of the opinion that we need to resign BJ and 600k sounds about right for the 2 time centre of the year. He is only 28 so has plenty of good football in front of him.

However, if sezer can keep playing like he did last night, youd be tempted to keep him in the side with williams and move jack to right centre.
That is an option. We need to accommodate Williams in the side next year so something has to give. Most of us assume it would be Sezer moving on but that may not be the case.
The key difference being we have a taker for BJ. I don't think any clubs will fighting over Sezer, which means we'd be paying a big chunk of his contract.
I think you underestimate sezer.

Broncos fan I know carries on about getting him. Raiders fans give him a worse wrap then he is playing.

If the club tries to they will find a taker. But then no one wanted Ryan papenhouzen and he was the storms most dangerous looking player last night.

Re: Canterbury Bulldogs want to sign Canberra Raiders centre Joey Leilua

Posted: September 15, 2019, 8:31 am
by Northern Raider
Roger Kenworthy wrote: September 15, 2019, 7:41 am
Northern Raider wrote: September 15, 2019, 7:24 am
FROG wrote: September 15, 2019, 6:06 am Im firmly of the opinion that we need to resign BJ and 600k sounds about right for the 2 time centre of the year. He is only 28 so has plenty of good football in front of him.

However, if sezer can keep playing like he did last night, youd be tempted to keep him in the side with williams and move jack to right centre.
That is an option. We need to accommodate Williams in the side next year so something has to give. Most of us assume it would be Sezer moving on but that may not be the case.
The key difference being we have a taker for BJ. I don't think any clubs will fighting over Sezer, which means we'd be paying a big chunk of his contract.
Not so sure about that. Plenty of clubs would happily take a half of Sezer's experience and his contract value is around mid level. He would be a good fit for a team needing solid support for their premier half such as Cowboys, Panthers, Knights, even Manly. Then there's teams like Titans and Broncos who have really struggled in that department.

Re: Canterbury Bulldogs want to sign Canberra Raiders centre Joey Leilua

Posted: September 15, 2019, 9:17 am
by cat
I reckon it's a nothing story, no real quotes and a slow news day

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Re: Canterbury Bulldogs want to sign Canberra Raiders centre Joey Leilua

Posted: September 15, 2019, 9:36 am
by woppadingo
Flat out attempt to avoid praising our glorious win and white ant our finals campaign.

Re: Canterbury Bulldogs want to sign Canberra Raiders centre Joey Leilua

Posted: September 15, 2019, 9:57 am
by Roger Kenworthy
Northern Raider wrote: September 15, 2019, 8:31 am
Roger Kenworthy wrote: September 15, 2019, 7:41 am
Northern Raider wrote: September 15, 2019, 7:24 am
FROG wrote: September 15, 2019, 6:06 am Im firmly of the opinion that we need to resign BJ and 600k sounds about right for the 2 time centre of the year. He is only 28 so has plenty of good football in front of him.

However, if sezer can keep playing like he did last night, youd be tempted to keep him in the side with williams and move jack to right centre.
That is an option. We need to accommodate Williams in the side next year so something has to give. Most of us assume it would be Sezer moving on but that may not be the case.
The key difference being we have a taker for BJ. I don't think any clubs will fighting over Sezer, which means we'd be paying a big chunk of his contract.
Not so sure about that. Plenty of clubs would happily take a half of Sezer's experience and his contract value is around mid level. He would be a good fit for a team needing solid support for their premier half such as Cowboys, Panthers, Knights, even Manly. Then there's teams like Titans and Broncos who have really struggled in that department.
A return to the Titans could be an option. I think the assumed figure was around 5-600k for Sezer. I think a lot of lesser teams are going away from bringing in well paid veterans on big money, they're more willing to invest that in youngsters. That leaves us with the fringe contenders who probably all back their current halves over Sezer. Other than the Broncos as you mention, who are surely tapped out against the cap.

The Blake Green situation to me is a good example of bringing in a middling veteran half on big money and having it be a failure. The Warriors then didn't have the cash to lure Koroisau.

Re: Canterbury Bulldogs want to sign Canberra Raiders centre Joey Leilua

Posted: September 15, 2019, 9:59 am
by edwahu
With our success something was going to give by the end of next year with Simo playing so well and Smith-Shields highly rated. I'll back the club to make the right call at this point.

Re: Canterbury Bulldogs want to sign Canberra Raiders centre Joey Leilua

Posted: September 15, 2019, 10:02 am
by Pete Cash
Im not a huge fan of this tbh. I believe he is the best centre at the club and just having him standing on an edge creates fear (in a footy sense) in opposition players that causes them to over commit and open up holes on the edge.

The cap is the cap but id be looking at other means of creating space over joey initially

A prime example is batemans try last night. Melbourne was basically shot but instead of panic sliding and giving themselves a chance 3 of the players over commit on joey creating a huge gap.

Re: Canterbury Bulldogs want to sign Canberra Raiders centre Joey Leilua

Posted: September 15, 2019, 10:18 am
by Northern Raider
Roger Kenworthy wrote: September 15, 2019, 9:57 am
Northern Raider wrote: September 15, 2019, 8:31 am
Roger Kenworthy wrote: September 15, 2019, 7:41 am
Northern Raider wrote: September 15, 2019, 7:24 am
FROG wrote: September 15, 2019, 6:06 am Im firmly of the opinion that we need to resign BJ and 600k sounds about right for the 2 time centre of the year. He is only 28 so has plenty of good football in front of him.

However, if sezer can keep playing like he did last night, youd be tempted to keep him in the side with williams and move jack to right centre.
That is an option. We need to accommodate Williams in the side next year so something has to give. Most of us assume it would be Sezer moving on but that may not be the case.
The key difference being we have a taker for BJ. I don't think any clubs will fighting over Sezer, which means we'd be paying a big chunk of his contract.
Not so sure about that. Plenty of clubs would happily take a half of Sezer's experience and his contract value is around mid level. He would be a good fit for a team needing solid support for their premier half such as Cowboys, Panthers, Knights, even Manly. Then there's teams like Titans and Broncos who have really struggled in that department.
A return to the Titans could be an option. I think the assumed figure was around 5-600k for Sezer. I think a lot of lesser teams are going away from bringing in well paid veterans on big money, they're more willing to invest that in youngsters. That leaves us with the fringe contenders who probably all back their current halves over Sezer. Other than the Broncos as you mention, who are surely tapped out against the cap.

The Blake Green situation to me is a good example of bringing in a middling veteran half on big money and having it be a failure. The Warriors then didn't have the cash to lure Koroisau.
Yeah I'm working on Sezer's contract at around $500k which was last reported. That's not huge for a starting halfback and wouldn't really fall into the category of big money veterans. I'd use that description for guys like Hunt and Foran on their $m deals. Blake Green was reported as $400k which is hardly a massive cap burden.

Re: Canterbury Bulldogs want to sign Canberra Raiders centre Joey Leilua

Posted: September 15, 2019, 11:06 am
by sprintman
Adios BJ. ‘Played strong, done OK’

Re: Canterbury Bulldogs want to sign Canberra Raiders centre Joey Leilua

Posted: September 15, 2019, 11:20 am
by Seiffert82
There will be plenty of clubs linked to our players soon.

Hard to know what truth there is to the bit about us willing to release him early. Anything is possible I guess, with the Rapana situation also up in the air.

All things being equal I'd rather keep Leilua than Rapana, but with Oldfield and Simonsson it's possible we could lose both.

Re: Canterbury Bulldogs want to sign Canberra Raiders centre Joey Leilua

Posted: September 15, 2019, 11:34 am
by BadnMean
Joey is a gun. We should be playing him 600k. He's worth that for 2020 and 2021.

There will probably be a club who is willing to pay him 750-800k. He'll have to weigh that up, we shouldn't match it.

Moving Jack to high centre shouldn't be an option. He's a left sided player. Played all his best footy on the left. i think he'd be all Zoolander on the right. Sezer would need to win the comp to make himself irreplaceable. I hope he does. What a pickle we'd have.

But as others have said, we have plenty of options there. Cotric would be first among them. He was going good last night before he tried to ankle tap with his face.

Problem is, Joey is the best in the business.

Re: Canterbury Bulldogs want to sign Canberra Raiders centre Joey Leilua

Posted: September 15, 2019, 11:57 am
by rayden83
It would be a big mistake to let Leilua go. Croker is solid but he isn’t going to win you a Premiership. Cotric is developing but he’s been a bit down on form this year. Simonsson doing well but still unproven.

If we lose Leilua it will reset our whole backline and we lose the X factor that’s made out attack so lethal over the last few years. Leilua and Rapana are priority signings imo, but Leilua In particular, he’s the one player in our side who can deliver us victory from the clutches of death.

Re: Canterbury Bulldogs want to sign Canberra Raiders centre Joey Leilua

Posted: September 15, 2019, 12:38 pm
by LastRaider
I would be keeping BJ over Rapana at this stage

Re: Canterbury Bulldogs want to sign Canberra Raiders centre Joey Leilua

Posted: September 15, 2019, 12:38 pm
by Begbie
PigRickman wrote: September 15, 2019, 7:33 am I didn’t like Beej when we signed him, as a person, like most of us, he’s done some pretty rank ****, and made a lot of mistakes, but as a player he always seemed to be unreliable and dumb.

But I’ve come to really respect how smart of a footy player he is, and aside from some silly stuff on the park, which is just kind of what you have to accept with him, he’s been clean off it for us.

So it’s a credit to him that he’s repaired his reputation quite a lot and earned back the respect of people like me who didn’t have much for him when he arrived.

He’s been an integral part of the club getting to this point, and I’m torn on what we should do but I’ve said all along that the Rapana question should lead to an interesting decision around BJ
The two are intrinsically linked and the high upside you get from Beej centres largely around how he and Rapana work together... there is some real signs he and Bateman could develop a very impactful little two man game too

Tough decision. And I agree with kiwi that beej’s game doesn’t strike me as one that will age well beyond his 20’s
This post encapsulates my feelings on the development of Joey's reputation since arriving at Canberra.

The rare flick pump he put on last night was an example of his on field brilliance - that wins premierships. His competitiveness is his strength and cannot be taught. I also agree that he possibly wont age well - so all-in-all I'm 50/50 for fighting hard to retain him with a good offer - or not. I have trust in our retention team to make the right call.

Re: Canterbury Bulldogs want to sign Canberra Raiders centre Joey Leilua

Posted: September 15, 2019, 12:42 pm
by VictorTheViking
I wouldn't be surprised to see 4. Wighton 5. Simonsson/Smith Shields next year

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Re: Canterbury Bulldogs want to sign Canberra Raiders centre Joey Leilua

Posted: September 15, 2019, 1:13 pm
by edwahu
VictorTheViking wrote: September 15, 2019, 12:42 pm I wouldn't be surprised to see 4. Wighton 5. Simonsson/Smith Shields next year

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Watching Williams he seems to be a primarily left side player and a very good one at that. So if Sezer stayed it might make sense.

Still it seems like a big move to shift Wighton after producing such a great season at 5/8th.

Re: Canterbury Bulldogs want to sign Canberra Raiders centre Joey Leilua

Posted: September 15, 2019, 1:19 pm
by The Nickman
Is Wighton a right side player or do we swap Croker? Croker to wing perhaps?


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Re: Canterbury Bulldogs want to sign Canberra Raiders centre Joey Leilua

Posted: September 15, 2019, 2:03 pm
by Billy Walker
The Rickman wrote: September 15, 2019, 1:19 pm Is Wighton a right side player or do we swap Croker? Croker to wing perhaps?


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:lol: for his blistering pace or his crushing defence?

Re: Canterbury Bulldogs want to sign Canberra Raiders centre Joey Leilua

Posted: September 15, 2019, 2:17 pm
by RedRaider
After BJ dropped his knees into the back of the Manly player, Sticky was non-plussed at the presser. Not even the coach knows what he will do. There would not be too many outside backs on $600k imo. They are far more likely to be on the median level income particularly if they are not Captains. BJ has had serious injury this year and that is not good for any player but particularly one who relies on the power game. Most seasons he spends time out suspended. He and Tapine are the loose cannons in the side imo. Easy to provoke. If we need additional funds so that Pom Williams will be here then I think high priced outside back is the spot to look for change.