Botman wrote: ↑November 13, 2020, 7:02 am
Its player agents doing as they're employed to do, use the tools available to them to get the best outcome for their client.
Yeah, true. I think we need to take the "Don't hate the player, hate the game" mantra on this. If it was permitted under the rules then that is that as far as I'm concerned.
Personally, I think it is ridiculous that you can sign on with a team after November 1 2020 for 2022 when already signed for 2021. The Players Union came up with some bogus argument that players couldn't relocate on a months notice but surely it is better for the game if players don't sign with another club until after their contract is finished.
In the major US/Canada sports you can be playing for your new team the next night (in a different country), but realistically they're paid more to subsidise this.
It's a garbage excuse. Players are able to make mid season moves between clubs so it's proven to be bogus.
The simple fact that players can sign on a new contract before they've even started their current one is ridiculous.
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valemei94 wrote: ↑November 13, 2020, 2:04 pm
I’m hearing Kevin Locke and Tim Lafai are on train and trial contracts
Hopefully not. Can’t see why the Raiders would even bother. They have one spot open. They have quite a number of young players who they could add. The Raiders don’t need a 31 year old who has not had an NRL or Super League contract since 2016... or a player who’s been released by two clubs in 2020.
valemei94 wrote: ↑November 13, 2020, 2:04 pm
I’m hearing Kevin Locke and Tim Lafai are on train and trial contracts
I was a bit of a fan of Kevin Locke back in the day. That day was about 5-6 years ago, but I was a fan nonetheless. he's too small and too old, but there you go.
Lafai is an interesting one - I know he's been working on some personal issues. I know there wouldn't be too many fans of his here, but he'd be a much better centre option than Rapana if Curtis Scott is a bust and Stuart isn't keen to give Timoko a run.
Locke would have been interesting before the Aekins signing. Pretty disappointing what happened to his career. Could have become one of the best fullbacks in the game before the Warriors messed up and signed Tomkins.
Big no to Lafai. The guy belongs in the super league/nsw cup at best.
Locke hasn't played in the nrl since 2014 or the ESL since 2016, he was released preseason by manly 2017 to play Q Cup but has been playing club footy in NZ since.
Needless to say it would be an absolute miracle if he played NRL after 4 seasons of kiwi Park footy.
Lafai is an interesting one, good mates with Havili, Papa and co, hasn't really hit the heights in his career now 29yo and a couple of off field violence incidents
valemei94 wrote:I’m hearing Kevin Locke and Tim Lafai are on train and trial contracts
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The spiral of silence refers to the idea that when people fail to speak, the price of speaking rises. As the price to speak rises, still fewer speak out, which further causes the price to rise, so that fewer people yet will speak out, until a whole culture or nation is silenced. This is what happened in Germany.
If you do not speak, you are not being neutral, but are contributing to the success of the thing you refuse to name and condemn.
The unsigned free agents your NRL club could target for 2021
The 2021 NRL pre-season is fast approaching with a number of players still on the lookout for new deals for the coming season. From unwanted Tigers star Benji Marshall to Storm skipper Cameron Smith there are a number of players that remain unsigned by the clubs they played for in 2020.
RAIDERS
Andre Niko
Sebastian Kris
JJ Collins (released)
Luke Bateman (released)
Not a whole lot on that list TBH. Not many starter quality players either.
IF, and its still an IF, Rapa doesnt sign, Id look at Sauce for a yr, 2nd in our favor. Albert Hoppa, not withstanding his injury issues and parental issues. He played with Cotric as a Jr rep and looked the best of the Hoppas til injuries took their toll. Id also love to throw Greg Leleisiuao a train and trial. This fiji kid was supposed to be the next Radradra before Sivo jumped him in preseason a couple of years back. No one Ive talked too, has been able to figure out why he only has 1 FG game. Id take the punt TBH. However, Im guessing that that probably means off field dramas.
Id 'kick the tyres' on Cogger or Trindall short term if Sammy walked.
Jack Johns - edge backrow, a place of need. I think he is good enough to play NRL, even if I cant see him cracking our best 17. Im a little surprised no one has grabbed him TBH.
Alex Seyfarth - one of those edge backrow come centre guys, who actually played lock/ 5th middle last yr at tigers. The kind of depth guy that is useful. Was rated as a jr too. Weird that Tigers are getting rid of all their 'tweeners' too, with Huth, McIntyre and Aloiai also out the door.
bonehead wrote: ↑November 17, 2020, 10:00 am
If Tigers pick up Roberts I feel a Beej return on the cards
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Beej looks very fit right now.
Based on what exactly?
He's training in Canberra with a lot of the Raiders players during the off season. His family is based here. Shown on Instagram, lots of video of it there.
bonehead wrote: ↑November 17, 2020, 10:00 am
If Tigers pick up Roberts I feel a Beej return on the cards
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Beej looks very fit right now.
Based on what exactly?
He's training in Canberra with a lot of the Raiders players during the off season. His family is based here. Shown on Instagram, lots of video of it there.
What are everyone's thoughts on Blake Ferguson after his debacle here? Eels have told him to find new home cause they're considering signing Mansour as his replacement.
greeneyed wrote: ↑November 18, 2020, 6:23 pm
Should never be allowed through the door again in Canberra.
Yep.
If guys are balking at Mansour who's only crime was to consider signing for us and then take a different offer to stay at his long term club BUT had a renaissance season with a million line breaks, million tackle breaks, plenty of tries, huge yards... then a guy who literally middle fingered the cub, coaches, admin, fans + pissed his time here up a wall just isn't needed.
Even from a playing POV- what did Fergo do in 2020 that Rapa did not? Both at similar career stages... Both experienced players who had mediocre playing years in 2020... Both have a very similar play style and skill set... One has never put a foot wrong for us off the field and would literally play with a busted skull for the club and dare I say it- bleeds green and both are competing for the same "old stager" spot in the back 5.
Doesn't make sense on any level to me since we already have Rapa.
AUSTEZER wrote:What are everyone's thoughts on Blake Ferguson after his debacle here? Eels have told him to find new home cause they're considering signing Mansour as his replacement.
The spiral of silence refers to the idea that when people fail to speak, the price of speaking rises. As the price to speak rises, still fewer speak out, which further causes the price to rise, so that fewer people yet will speak out, until a whole culture or nation is silenced. This is what happened in Germany.
If you do not speak, you are not being neutral, but are contributing to the success of the thing you refuse to name and condemn.
Belcher#1 wrote: ↑November 17, 2020, 11:36 am
Not sure who the tigers fullback will be but that backline looks pretty damn good if the signings come off:
greeneyed wrote: ↑November 18, 2020, 6:23 pm
Should never be allowed through the door again in Canberra.
Yep.
If guys are balking at Mansour who's only crime was to consider signing for us and then take a different offer to stay at his long term club BUT had a renaissance season with a million line breaks, million tackle breaks, plenty of tries, huge yards... then a guy who literally middle fingered the cub, coaches, admin, fans + pissed his time here up a wall just isn't needed.
Even from a playing POV- what did Fergo do in 2020 that Rapa did not? Both at similar career stages... Both experienced players who had mediocre playing years in 2020... Both have a very similar play style and skill set... One has never put a foot wrong for us off the field and would literally play with a busted skull for the club and dare I say it- bleeds green and both are competing for the same "old stager" spot in the back 5.
Doesn't make sense on any level to me since we already have Rapa.
Sticky Fingers isn't shot physically like Rapa is, even though he didn't have a great season. I think a big part of that may have been to do with the heavy bias the Eels had to attack down Sivo's wing, leaving him to almost exclusively perform the donkey work.
That said, absolutely no way I'd ever have the **** back.
