Soliola to go around again with Raiders?

[greeneyed]

Soliola to re-sign with Raiders



He hasn’t formally announced it and nor has his club. Yet it is understood Iosia Soliola will be running around for Canberra Raiders again in 2022. “There’s nothing official from the club yet,” a source said. “But watch this space - looks like he’ll be going around again.”

Read more: https://themilk.substack.com/p/soliola- ... th-raiders

Not sure how reliable the source is, but Matt Cleary is a reputable freelance journalist who has written for the SMH, RLW, Big League, Inside Sport and NRL.com amongst other publications. This comes from his new online venture... big early test of credibility. He does say he's "going all Moley" on Twitter...

Suspect Sia will retire, and take up an off field role, as previously foreshadowed... and it will probably be best for all concerned.

[Azza]

****, do we ever learn?

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[Raider47]

Jobs for the boys.

Family farm is as fertile as ever!

[Raiders_Pat]

this is becoming ridiculous...

[Canberra Milk]

Oh well that confirms it. Ricky is in damage control trying to win back the dressing room and maintain any "culture" he has left

[Mickey_Raider]

Speechless.

I am without speech.

How many absolute passengers does Ricky think we can carry in a 30 man squad?

Pretty much the only guy above 30 who deserves to be fed is Rapana, the rest need to be moved on as soon as their contract is up, if not earlier.

Instead we have the likes of Whitehead, Croker, Sia and Williams all given generous extensions despite all showing clear signs of decline.

Either Ricky's judgment is compromised or he is starting the resemble the mad king in a beleaguered city trying to cling on to power.

[IBG]

Yep, if true, Ricky has lost the plot.

Ahh wonderful, another year of mediocrity coming right up.

[Botman]

I mean it's fine, if its a minimum wage contract and he's basically the very last man on the roster who'd get pick and is essentially a paid culture guy... i actually dont mind that if that was the case. I think there is actual value in having someone like Sia on the roster, working with the NSW Cup guys, teaching them good habits and if you're entire forward pack got killed a bus crash, you'd at least trust him to go out in the NRL and try his guts out and work hard... if that's the role, cool. I dont think we have enough young kids to just send everyone packing and fill it with the next gen right now, especially with some of the departures we might see... So yeah, if this is 1 year, 110k and basically captaining and living with in NSW Cup guys and being an absolute last resort, i'd be ok with that

But we know it's not. We know somehow this guy is going to end up playing 10-15 games for us and he'll not be any more up for impactful minutes in a football game next year as he is now

[BJ]

I love Sia, but he’s played way below NRL level all season.

His last game against Roosters was very poor.

[Timbo]

No no no no NO NO NO NO NO!!!!!!!

This is absolutely obscene! He's so far past it he's almost circled back round to being at the beginning again!

I am absolutely gobsmacked that anyone would entertain this. This is jobs for the boys at its absolute finest.

I've already decided to not renew my membership for next season; this would dampen my enthusiasm for watching it altogether.

[Raiders_Pat]

I mean it's fine, if its a minimum wage contract and he's basically the very last man on the roster who'd get pick and is essentially a paid culture guy... i actually dont mind that if that was the case. I think there is actual value in having someone like Sia on the roster, working with the NSW Cup guys, teaching them good habits and if you're entire forward pack got killed a bus crash, you'd at least trust him to go out in the NRL and try his guts out and work hard... if that's the role, cool. I dont think we have enough young kids to just send everyone packing and fill it with the next gen right now, especially with some of the departures we might see... So yeah, if this is 1 year, 110k and basically captaining and living with in NSW Cup guys and being an absolute last resort, i'd be ok with that

But we know it's not. We know somehow this guy is going to end up playing 10-15 games for us and he'll not be any more up for impactful minutes in a football game next year as he is now

This pretty much sums it up for me

[greeneyed]

I mean it's fine, if its a minimum wage contract and he's basically the very last man on the roster who'd get pick and is essentially a paid culture guy... i actually dont mind that if that was the case. I think there is actual value in having someone like Sia on the roster, working with the NSW Cup guys, teaching them good habits and if you're entire forward pack got killed a bus crash, you'd at least trust him to go out in the NRL and try his guts out and work hard... if that's the role, cool. I dont think we have enough young kids to just send everyone packing and fill it with the next gen right now, especially with some of the departures we might see... So yeah, if this is 1 year, 110k and basically captaining and living with in NSW Cup guys and being an absolute last resort, i'd be ok with that

But we know it's not. We know somehow this guy is going to end up playing 10-15 games for us and he'll not be any more up for impactful minutes in a football game next year as he is now

I wouldn’t be opposed to a NSW Cup contract. Or he’d do well for a Canberra Raiders Cup team. Not top 30 though.

I certainly expect he'll retire from the NRL.

[Roger Kenworthy]

In other news Darren Porter is considering a comeback.

[Timbo]

I’m glad we gave him ‘one last game’ in a sudden death eliminator to thank him for his service where he dropped the ball with his first touch and basically maintained that level for the rest of the game.

Glad the senior players were able to get him one last game. I wonder whose idea one last contract was?

We’re going to run last next year. We’re going to have Sam Williams and Jarrod Croker and Sia Soliola and Elliot Whitehead and all of the other plodders in the world in starting roles but it doesn’t matter if our players are old and past it and our coaches game plan isn’t fit for purpose what matters is they’re all good blokes and they’re doing their best and they like playing with each other.

That’s all that matters. Results be damned.

[BadnMean]

If he's going to be leading the reserves team and teaching the developing forwards down there the ropes - I can live with it. He'd be a solid choice.

If Sia goes around in FG again next year then as others say, a symptom of a club that has really lost its way.

[sprintman]

This has to be a joke! His day has been and gone..

[zim]

No thanks.

[Luffto]

Hahahahahahahaha how good. I actually had a dream last night where the got announced and Tapine wife was abusing "the haters".

(2nd Covid vaccine dreams)

[Hong Kong Raider]

There used to be a band in the mid 80s that I loved called Mental As Anything. This describes Ricky's recruitment and retention policy.

[Toviii]

You wouldn’t mind at all if we weren’t already carrying so many other on-field passengers in the Top 30 out of club loyalty and nostalgia

[Raiders_Pat]

You wouldn’t mind at all if we weren’t already carrying so many other on-field passengers in the Top 30 out of club loyalty and nostalgia

Exactly this. If we clear out Croker and Hodgson before next season kicks off, I'll give this one a pass.

[GreenMachine]

Jesus Christ you can’t make this **** up…

[GreenMachine]

I mean it's fine, if its a minimum wage contract and he's basically the very last man on the roster who'd get pick and is essentially a paid culture guy... i actually dont mind that if that was the case. I think there is actual value in having someone like Sia on the roster, working with the NSW Cup guys, teaching them good habits and if you're entire forward pack got killed a bus crash, you'd at least trust him to go out in the NRL and try his guts out and work hard... if that's the role, cool. I dont think we have enough young kids to just send everyone packing and fill it with the next gen right now, especially with some of the departures we might see... So yeah, if this is 1 year, 110k and basically captaining and living with in NSW Cup guys and being an absolute last resort, i'd be ok with that

But we know it's not. We know somehow this guy is going to end up playing 10-15 games for us and he'll not be any more up for impactful minutes in a football game next year as he is now

You can run the water and still be the “culture guy”…

This is nonsense…

Actually, it’s symptomatic of the Club right now…

We parade useless player resignings rather than go to market and sign what we need…

Can’t wait for the coaches contract extension sometime around December when nobody is looking..

[Timbo]

I mean it's fine, if its a minimum wage contract and he's basically the very last man on the roster who'd get pick and is essentially a paid culture guy... i actually dont mind that if that was the case. I think there is actual value in having someone like Sia on the roster, working with the NSW Cup guys, teaching them good habits and if you're entire forward pack got killed a bus crash, you'd at least trust him to go out in the NRL and try his guts out and work hard... if that's the role, cool. I dont think we have enough young kids to just send everyone packing and fill it with the next gen right now, especially with some of the departures we might see... So yeah, if this is 1 year, 110k and basically captaining and living with in NSW Cup guys and being an absolute last resort, i'd be ok with that

But we know it's not. We know somehow this guy is going to end up playing 10-15 games for us and he'll not be any more up for impactful minutes in a football game next year as he is now

You can run the water and still be the “culture guy”…

This is nonsense…

Actually, it’s symptomatic of the Club right now…

We parade useless player resignings rather than go to market and sign what we need…

Can’t wait for the coaches contract extension sometime around December when nobody is looking..

He should be signed on in a role which involves communities engagement and junior development (in a culture role).

No one is saying cut him off the payroll. He shouldn’t be in a playing role. He hasn’t looked like a first grader all season and he’s just getting worse.

[Northern Raider]

If he's going to be leading the reserves team and teaching the developing forwards down there the ropes - I can live with it. He'd be a solid choice.

If Sia goes around in FG again next year then as others say, a symptom of a club that has really lost its way.

Agree. Probably no better person than Sia for that role. Basically captain of NSW Cup team. Really shouldn't be part of the 1st grade squad through. He was so far off the pace at NRL level this year it was almost sad to see.

[gerg]

Why?

[Northern Raider]

Why?

Where?

[Seiffert82]

Interesting. I was told at the start of the season by old mate that this wasn't an old team and there was nothing to worry about.

Funny how things play out.

For the record, you can wear having one or two veterans in your squad for their experience if they aren't part of your top 17 plans. If Soliola is on reggies money and wants to nurture young players coming through reserve grade I'm OK with it. If it means we can't sign a decent halfback, 5/8 or second rower to replace Whitehead then that's a different story.

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[Botman]

Why?

Where?

Who?

[Coastalraider]

Why?

Where?

Who?

When?

[RedRaider]

Why?

Where?

Who?

When?

What?

[RedRaider]

Sia is 35. It is time. I have enjoyed watching him play for the Raiders. I like what he brings away from the footy field. The current Rugby League rules don't help him one iota. Time to call finish on playing NRL.

[Bloody_Burnham]

Sia isnt in our best 17 (or best 20) as the game has passed him by. If he is content with playing a couple of games well down the depth chart next year that is fine but jeez we are in for a rough year again in 2022 if we think we can pick Sia each week.

[greeneyed]

Have posted elsewhere that The CT appears to have been told there are four spots to fill for 2022 at present. I count three, assuming the retirement of Soliola and the departure of Havili and Lui. I can get to four if Ryan James departs. I would interpret that as meaning Soliola is highly likely retiring and if he plays NSW Cup, say, it wouldn't be a top 30 deal.

[zim]

Caleb Aekins is listed as leaving on zero tackle.
On the NRL site too:
https://www.nrl.com/news/2021/01/23/202 ... 2/#raiders