THE REBUILD - The In's & The Out's

[Papa Joe]

PUT SIMPLY - WE NEED TO REBUILD................... (yeah, no shit right).

I would replace all 6 off contract players for 2020. There is also a rumor that we got a spare 600k (triple M).

I looked at all off contract players for the next 2 years according to "Zero Tackle" and tried to create a plan for our squad to improve without knowing their exact salaries.

We can’t buy every superstar under the cap & I have only nominated off contract players or those free to negotiate. I would have liked someone such as Kyle Flanagan but he can’t move until 2022.

I think we are too small & ineffective in our middle forwards, not creative from dummy half, weak in the centres & lack that strike back you need to be the difference in the halves or at fullback. (basically we r f'd)

My nominated new players are based on Age, Size, Potential (IMO) & within the budget. I avoided players over the age of 27 to build a long-term squad & have given all available options that I thought are worth consideration in my opinion. You will all have & be entitled to yours.

OUR OFF-CONTRACT PLAYERS & THEIR REPLACEMENTS For 2020 (NB: Age is 2020 season start)

1. Michael Liccha - Replaced By - Jayden Brailey 23yrs Hooker 5ft.10 88kg “2020 KEY Signing” (free to negotiate). Other options - Jake Turpin 22yrs - Reece Robson 20yrs, Jacob Liddle 22 yrs

2. Rhyse Martin – (gone) Replaced By - Joe Stimpson 6ft2, 104kg.

3. John Olive - Replaced By - Jed Cartwright 22yrs 6ft4, 104kg. Other options - Jesse Arthars 21yrs 6ft2, 88kg. OR promote a junior.

4. Fa'amanu Brown - Replaced By - Connor Tracey 22yrs 6ft, 87kg. Other options - Cade Cust 21 yrs 5ft11, 87kg. Jai Field - 22yrs, 5ft11, 85kg. OR promote a junior.

5. Danny Fualalo - Replaced By - Christian Welch 25yrs Prop 6ft5, 110kg "2020 KEY Signing" (1yr option at Storm) he is even worth taking the salary of 2 current players (IMO) & promote a junior.

6. Francis Tualau (gone) - Replaced By - promote a junior.

If Welch decides to take up his 1-year Storm option for 2020 then I would chase him for 2021.

MY 2020 TEAM

1. Nick Meany

2. Remis Smith

3. Dallin Watene-Zelezniak

4. Will Hopoate

5. Jayden Okunbor

6. Kieran Foran

7. Jack Cogger

8. Aiden Tolman

9. Jayden Brailey

10. Christian Welch OR If we can’t get him then – Ogden

11. Corey Harawira-Naera

12. Joe Stimpson

13. Josh Jackson


14. Lachlan Lewis OR JMK

15. Ofahiki Ogden

16. Dylan Napa

17. Renouf Tooamaga

Reserves

Jed Cartwright

Connor Tracey

PLUS other current contracted players


18 OFF CONTRACT PLAYERS FOR 2021 (NB: Age is at the start of season 2021)

My Must Keep Off Contract Players To Resign are – Dallin Watene-Zelezniak, Remis Smith, Brandon Wakeham, Renouf To’omaga.

My Maybe Keep Off Contract Players are – Josh Jackson (will be 30yrs old & on around 700k ish, can no longer handle the edge – so maybe not), Jack Cogger (IMO he will make a great utility/9 – reminds me of Polla-Mounter), Lachlan Lewis, Jeremy Marshall-King, Jarred Anderson (I don’t know him).

My Off-Contract Players To Let Go are – Kieran Foran 30yrs. Aiden Tolman 32yrs. Will Hopoate 28yrs. Raymond Faitala-Mariner 27yrs, Adam Elliott 26yrs, Kerrod Holland 28yrs, Marcelo Montoya 25yrs, Chris Smith 27yrs, Sauaso Sue 28yrs.

With so many off contract, rather than individually swapping players I just tried to start from scratch.

MY 2021 TEAM

1. Dallin Watene-Zelezniak 25yrs 6ft1, 97kg. Other Options –Tom Trbojevic 24yrs 6ft4, 102kg. Latrell Mitchell 23 yrs 6ft4, 102kg (big bucks = must play 1). Ryan Papenhuyzen 21 yrs 5ft11, 80kg. Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad 25yrs 5ft11, 94kg

2. Remis Smith 23yrs 6ft5, 97kg.

3. Zac Lomax 21yrs 6ft3, 94kg (Goal Kicker) “2021 KEY Signing”. Other Options (include below) – Dallin Watene-Zelezniak. Latrell Mitchell 23 yrs 6ft4, 102kg.

4. Nick Cotric 22yrs 6ft1, 98kg “2021 KEY Signing”. Other Options (include above) – Joseph Manu Centre 24yr 6ft4, 98kg. Jesse Ramien 24yrs 6ft, 98kg. Kotoni Staggs 22 yrs 6ft1, 92kg.

5. Jayden Okunbor – 24yrs 6ft5, 108kg.

6. Jake Clifford 23yrs 6ft, 95kg (Goal Kicker) “2021 KEY Signing”. Other Options – Lachlan Lewis 24yrs 6ft3, 90kg. Jaemon Salmon 22yrs 6ft2, 98kg.

7. Brodie Croft 23yrs 5ft10, 86kg “2021 KEY Signing”. Other Options – Jake Clifford. Jack Cogger. Brandon Wakeham.

8. Thomas Flegler 21yrs 6ft3, 108kg. Other Options – Ofahiki Ogden 24yrs 6ft4, 106kg. Jake Trbojevic 27yrs 6ft1, 107kg. Hermen Ese’ese 26yrs Prop 6ft1, 107kg. Alex Twal 24yrs 6ft3, 104kg. Corey Horsburgh 23yrs 6ft2, 100kg.

9. Jayden Brailey 24yrs 5ft10 88kg.

10. Christian Welch – 26yrs 6ft5, 110kg. Other Options (see props listed above).

11. Corey Harawira-Naera 24yrs 6ft2, 96kg.

12. Joe Stimpson 23yrs 6ft2, 104kg.

13. David Fafita 21 yrs 6ft1, 107kg “2021 KEY Signing”. Other Options – Josh Jackson 30yrs 5ft11, 99kg. Jai Arrow 25yrs 6ft2 101kg. Renouf Tooamaga 26yrs 6ft3, 110kg.


14. Jack Cogger 23yrs 5ft9, 83kg. Other Options – Connor Tracey 22yrs 6ft, 87kg. Jed Cartwright 23yrs 6ft4, 104kg. Jeremy Marshall King 25yrs 6ft1, 83kg. Brandon Wakeham 22yrs 5ft8, 78kg

15. Ofahiki Ogden 24yrs 6ft4 106kg.

16. Dylan Napa 28yrs 6ft6 113kg.

17. Renouf Tooamaga 26yrs 6ft3, 110kg.

Reserves

Jed Cartwright

Connor Tracey

Brandon Wakeham

Pus other contracted & Promoted Juniors


Conclusion

After winning the spoon in 2008, in 2009 we made 5 major Key Signings which immediately turned us around. David Stagg, Ben Hannant, Michael Ennis, Brett Kimmorley & Josh Morris. With 24 players off contract in the next 2 seasons, I believe we have the ability to be even more pro-active in buying. I have nominated 2 major “KEY Signings” for 2020 & 5 major “KEY Signings for 2021.

Rather than pour 1 million bucks into each of a few players I’ve gone for a more balanced squad. At this stage of their careers, I wouldn’t see any of these players exceed around the 8 to 900k mark.

I think you can see that there will be some good options for us to build a decent team to challenge for the top 4 moving forward from 2021. To me, it makes more sense to go harder for the limited good halves available rather than throw everything at the Trbojevic boys or Latrell Mitchell. We all got opinions on who we should target moving forward, this was mine – now for yours.

 

[Spoonman84]

Rather keep Foran and Cogger as halves compared to Croft and Clifford. You have more money invested in the centres then the halves.

 

[The_Chimpster]

PUT SIMPLY - WE NEED TO REBUILD................... (yeah, no shit right).

I would replace all 6 off contract players for 2020. There is also a rumor that we got a spare 600k (triple M).

I looked at all off contract players for the next 2 years according to "Zero Tackle" and tried to create a plan for our squad to improve without knowing their exact salaries.

We can’t buy every superstar under the cap & I have only nominated off contract players or those free to negotiate. I would have liked someone such as Kyle Flanagan but he can’t move until 2022.

I think we are too small & ineffective in our middle forwards, not creative from dummy half, weak in the centres & lack that strike back you need to be the difference in the halves or at fullback. (basically we r f'd)

My nominated new players are based on Age, Size, Potential (IMO) & within the budget. I avoided players over the age of 27 to build a long-term squad & have given all available options that I thought are worth consideration (IMO). You will all have & be entitled to yours.

OUR OFF-CONTRACT PLAYERS & THEIR REPLACEMENTS For 2020 (NB: Age is 2020 season start)

1. Michael Liccha - Replaced By - Jayden Brailey 23yrs Hooker 5ft.10 88kg “2020 KEY Signing” (free to negotiate). Other options - Jake Turpin 22yrs - Reece Robson 20yrs, Jacob Liddle 22 yrs

2. Rhyse Martin – (gone) Replaced By - Joe Stimpson 6ft2, 104kg.

3. John Olive - Replaced By - Jed Cartwright 22yrs 6ft4, 104kg. Other options - Jesse Arthars 21yrs 6ft2, 88kg. OR promote a junior.

4. Fa'amanu Brown - Replaced By - Connor Tracey 22yrs 6ft, 87kg. Other options - Cade Cust 21 yrs 5ft11, 87kg. Jai Field - 22yrs, 5ft11, 85kg. OR promote a junior.

5. Danny Fualalo - Replaced By - Christian Welch 25yrs Prop 6ft5, 110kg "2020 KEY Signing" (1yr option at Storm) he is even taking the salary of 2 current players (IMO) & promote a junior.

6. Francis Tualau (gone) - Replaced By - promote a junior.

If Welch decides to take up his 1-year Storm option for 2020 then I would chase him for 2021.

MY 2020 TEAM

1. Nick Meany

2. Remis Smith

3. Dallin Watene-Zelezniak

4. Will Hopoate

5. Jayden Okunbor

6. Kieran Foran

7. Jack Cogger

8. Aiden Tolman

9. Jayden Brailey

10. Christian Welch OR If we can’t get him then – Ogden

11. Corey Harawira-Naera

12. Joe Stimpson

13. Josh Jackson


14. Lachlan Lewis OR JMK

15. Ofahiki Ogden

16. Dylan Napa

17. Renouf Tooamaga

Reserves

Jed Cartwright

Connor Tracey

PLUS other current contracted players


18 OFF CONTRACT PLAYERS FOR 2021 (NB: Age is at the start of season 2021)

My Must Keep Off Contract Players To Resign are – Dallin Watene-Zelezniak, Remis Smith, Brandon Wakeham, Renouf To’omaga.

My Maybe Keep Off Contract Players are – Josh Jackson (will be 30yrs old & on around 700k ish, can no longer handle the edge – so maybe not), Jack Cogger (IMO he will make a great utility/9 – reminds me of Polla-Mounter), Lachlan Lewis, Jeremy Marshall-King, Jarred Anderson (I don’t know him).

My Off-Contract Players To Let Go are – Kieran Foran 30yrs. Aiden Tolman 32yrs. Will Hopoate 28yrs. Raymond Faitala-Mariner 27yrs, Adam Elliott 26yrs, Kerrod Holland 28yrs, Marcelo Montoya 25yrs, Chris Smith 27yrs, Sauaso Sue 28yrs.

With so many off contract, rather than individually swapping players I just tried to start from scratch.

MY 2021 TEAM

1. Dallin Watene-Zelezniak 25yrs 6ft1, 97kg. Other Options –Tom Trbojevic 24yrs 6ft4, 102kg. Latrell Mitchell 23 yrs 6ft4, 102kg (big bucks = must play 1). Ryan Papenhuyzen 21 yrs 5ft11, 80kg. Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad 25yrs 5ft11, 94kg

2. Remis Smith 23yrs 6ft5, 97kg.

3. Zac Lomax 21yrs 6ft3, 94kg (Goal Kicker) “2021 KEY Signing”. Other Options (include below) – Dallin Watene-Zelezniak. Latrell Mitchell 23 yrs 6ft4, 102kg.

4. Nick Cotric 22yrs 6ft1, 98kg “2021 KEY Signing”. Other Options (include above) – Joseph Manu Centre 24yr 6ft4, 98kg. Jesse Ramien 24yrs 6ft, 98kg. Kotoni Staggs 22 yrs 6ft1, 92kg.

5. Jayden Okunbor – 24yrs 6ft5, 108kg.

6. Jake Clifford 23yrs 6ft, 95kg (Goal Kicker) “2021 KEY Signing”. Other Options – Lachlan Lewis 24yrs 6ft3, 90kg. Jaemon Salmon 22yrs 6ft2, 98kg.

7. Brodie Croft 23yrs 5ft10, 86kg “2021 KEY Signing”. Other Options – Jake Clifford. Jack Cogger. Brandon Wakeham.

8. Thomas Flegler 21yrs 6ft3, 108kg. Other Options –Jake Trbojevic 27yrs 6ft1, 107kg. Hermen Ese’ese 26yrs Prop 6ft1, 107kg. Alex Twal 24yrs 6ft3, 104kg. Corey Horsburgh 23yrs 6ft2, 100kg.

9. Jayden Brailey 24yrs 5ft10 88kg.

10. Christian Welch – 26yrs 6ft5, 110kg. Other Options (see props listed above).

11. Corey Harawira-Naera 24yrs 6ft2, 96kg.

12. Joe Stimpson 23yrs 6ft2, 104kg.

13. David Fafita 21 yrs 6ft1, 107kg “2021 KEY Signing”. Other Options – Josh Jackson 30yrs 5ft11, 99kg. Jai Arrow 25yrs 6ft2 101kg. Renouf Tooamaga 26yrs 6ft3, 110kg.


14. Jack Cogger 23yrs 5ft9, 83kg. Other Options – Connor Tracey 22yrs 6ft, 87kg. Jed Cartwright 23yrs 6ft4, 104kg. Jeremy Marshall King 25yrs 6ft1, 83kg. Brandon Wakeham 22yrs 5ft8, 78kg

15. Ofahiki Ogden 24yrs 6ft4 106kg.

16. Dylan Napa 28yrs 6ft6 113kg.

17. Renouf Tooamaga 26yrs 6ft3, 110kg.

Reserves

Jed Cartwright

Connor Tracey

Brandon Wakeham

Pus other contracted & Promoted Juniors


Conclusion

After winning the spoon in 2008, in 2009 we made 5 major Key Signings which immediately turned us around. David Stagg, Ben Hannant, Michael Ennis, Brett Kimmorley & Josh Morris. With 24 players off contract in the next 2 seasons, I believe we have the ability to be even more pro-active in buying. I have nominated 2 major “KEY Signings” for 2020 & 5 major “KEY Signings for 2021.

Rather than pour 1 million bucks into each of a few players I’ve gone for a more balanced squad. At this stage of their careers, I wouldn’t see any of these players exceed around the 8 to 900k mark.

I think you can see that there will be some good options for us to build a decent team to challenge for the top 4 moving forward from 2021. To me, it makes more sense to go harder for the limited good halves available rather than throw everything at the Trbojevic boys or Latrell Mitchell. We all got opinions on who we should target moving forward, this was mine – now for yours.

It's clear you've put a fair amount of time and thought into your thread and some of the signings you mentioned would be great. I'm pretty sure Robson has signed with the cowboys, it just hasn't been announced yet.
And I'm personally not sold on Clifford, I think there are better prospects out there.

All in all, good thread

 

[JUNKYARD DOGS]

Some good young guys in there that wouldnt break the bank, Lomax, Flegler etc. The halves listed arent anything id be excited about, Dylan Brown would be another good option. I would give what we have coming through a bit more of a chance Wakeham/Cogger/Lewis and the other young fella that name i cant remember.
Rather B Smith in Hooker, im one of the guys that arent that fussed on Brailey but better than our current options.
We need to throw the bank at Turbos. That is best choice then the likes of Lomax/Brailey/Fleglers might follow.
MItchell im not sold on, especially for a Centre for a mil. If he could show something in Fullback might be a different story, but Manu is ahead of him there this week also. Manu id take without hesitation.

 

[Alan79]

The club no doubt have a long list of the players they want. I don't consistently watch enough football to put together a list of potential signings I'd chase. But looking at recent years, players like Curtis Rona can be found in various positions. Guys like this that have been overlooked by their respective clubs can really do well with a chance. Our recruitment team needs to be looking at teams from the point of view that they're
1) Stacked with talent in the 1-5
2) Stacked with talent in halves and hooking department.
3) Stacked with great forwards.

Procuring a marquee or two will be a part of the rebuild. I'd prefer that our marquee signings are spine players. If we do buy a marquee forward they'd better be a game breaker with footwork, work rate, offloads and power (someone like Matulino springs to mind). Equally important is to find players that deserve more opportunities than they're going to get at their current club.

In the past our team thrived on the back of producing great talent and signing up players that hadn't been shown any faith with regular NRL games. I'm buggered if I know who we should chase. But starting with clubs stacked with talent in any of the three categories above should be the key to astutely using the salary cap space we have freeing up.

 

[Mr Invisible]

Theres a decent amount of potential talent there, but the problem is 15 other clubs chasing their signatures as well.

Add in that our club at the moment appear to be doing everything they can to screw up signings rather than attract them.

I'd expect the word will get around soon from players and player managers to "not even bother" with the Bulldogs, leaving us to actively chase, beg, and plead for signings.

 

[TwinTurbo]

Great post, although I don't agree with everything I applaud the level effort put in to get it all down in writing. I do have a preference for looking at in groupings, like who are the 1, 6, 7 and 9. Then who are the other backs, centres and wingers. Then who are the forwards and finally who's on the bench.

For example, if I read it right the spine for 2020 is Meany, Foran, Cogger and Brailey. Then 2021 it is DWZ, Clifford, Croft and Brailey. So that's only 1 spine player carried over from year to year, I see that as throwing away any combinations built up in the 2 years prior. Keeping basically the same players, I see it more like DWZ, Foran, Cogger and Brailey for 2020 and then DWZ, Clifford, Cogger and Brailey for 2021. I have dropped Croft because to me he is easily the most overrated player in the NRL, it was Boyd but no one rates him any more.

Go Dogs

 

[Raysie]

Never underestimate experience. You need flakes of experience in a side, otherwise you got a bunch of clueless talent out there not knowing where to go.

 

[AlzzBulldog]

Theres a decent amount of potential talent there, but the problem is 15 other clubs chasing their signatures as well.

Add in that our club at the moment appear to be doing everything they can to screw up signings rather than attract them.

I'd expect the word will get around soon from players and player managers to "not even bother" with the Bulldogs, leaving us to actively chase, beg, and plead for signings.

What are they doing exactly to screw it up?

 

[B-Train]

Good thread. For 2020, I agree that Welch should be targeted. The hookers I'd target are Grant, B.Smith, Tevega (as a lock also), either Brailey, Turpin or Robson if not already signed with Nth Qld.

I'd rather the club targeted Dylan Brown or Harris-Tevita than Croft. I like the idea of signing Connor Tracey on the cheap, even with his three ACL injuries...

Ideally the club would put a solid offer in for Papenhuyzen and move DWZ to the wing or centres. He'd cost just over a third of what Turbo will get and could be a rep player himself.

 

[Real1]

Tommy turbo
Remis smith
Zac Lomax
Bronson xerri
Watene zalezniak
Dylan brown
Kyle Flanagan
Jayden Brailley

Forwards
Napa and tapau
Second row
CHN and Jackson
Lock jake trbojevic

Bench
Ogden
Stimson
Flegler
Connor Tracey

Coach
Shane Flanagan
Halves coach Jonathan Thurston

 

[Trafford10]

so we're writting off season 2020 already?

 

[bradyk]

Jackson is only worth 700k if he can get it elsewhere. I think we could keep him for 500k. We could also keep Tolman for 400k (200k with veteran allowance).

 

[bradyk]

You've also left our Jake Trbojevic in other options. Jake and Latrell could be an option considering the article with Lynne Anderson giving the e.g. of rebuilding with a goal kicker and front-rower, even tho Jake is much more then that. Just realised you've put him in the front row and not lock.

 

[TwinTurbo]

so we're writting off season 2020 already?

I would say more like having realistic expectations for 2020.

Go Dogs

 

[sgodllubsti]

word is several players already been in secret meetings with the club officials, and none are interested in becoming bulldogs, sticking point is who will be the coach for 2020 and beyond

 

[bradyk]

word is several players already been in secret meetings with the club officials, and none are interested in becoming bulldogs, sticking point is who will be the coach for 2020 and beyond

Yeah that's why it's better to overpay on 3-4 players (2 marquee players) and keeping as much of the current team as possible for an extra season or 2. So an example would be bringing in Tom and Jake Trbo, Townsend and Turpin. Keep the rest the same or bring in youth to replace players like Hopoate and Tolman on around 400k each.

 

[AlzzBulldog]

word is several players already been in secret meetings with the club officials, and none are interested in becoming bulldogs, sticking point is who will be the coach for 2020 and beyond

That’s something our board will do lmaoo still can’t believe we re signed fucking pay, just sack him already

 

[Mr Invisible]

word is several players already been in secret meetings with the club officials, and none are interested in becoming bulldogs, sticking point is who will be the coach for 2020 and beyond

One of a few reasons. There are others as well.

Our lack of recruitment team are doing their best to drive players and player managers away.

 

[TwinTurbo]

word is several players already been in secret meetings with the club officials, and none are interested in becoming bulldogs, sticking point is who will be the coach for 2020 and beyond

FFS sake, what a lame excuse, there are only 4 coaches (Cleary, Kearney, Robinson and Seibold) out of 16 with more than 2 years left on their contracts after this year. McGregor's finishes this year and Brennan, Brown and Stuart finish next year. Who knows who will be coaching their teams after their contracts expire either. Not to mention the coaches that get the flick early, of course that never happens. Even the simplest of negotiators could easily counteract agent or player questions like that with, "so what, which club is talking to you that has better timing than us?"

Go Dogs