We'll have to wait until this time next year to say 100% this is the case but it's hard to see how we're an attraction to those types of players without offering the money (like seriously what are we offering, we're a bottom four side on paper). I saw we offered JAC 350k, you'd hope that isn't true. We've gone in for a fair few players with some of them apparently over the line and we still haven't signed anyone. All we know is we've added nothing of worth to our roster for this year or next as it stands. I hope this youth thing isn't a cop out and we actually have some talented young ones coming through but I still find it hard to believe they're with us and not other clubs. We're three to five players of quality (depending on their level and position) off from being a top eight side. How are we going to get them? We'll be able to nab another mid season but besides that it's hard to see where they're going to come from. Some people might disagree but I believe we over performed last year and we're going to need another season like that or we're going to fall even further down the pecking order.
It keeps getting asked and never responded to, who exactly have we "gone in for" and "over the line" that we haven't signed and what/who is the source? We had only one, Koroisau, that I know of and we were outbid by Penrith plus he always wanted to go back there and play for Cleary again. I think that's actually worked out pretty well, we pushed Penrith into paying even more and that freed up Katoa as a value for money, experienced and quality back up for JMK should it be needed.
I agree that based on the start of last year we were 2, 3 or maybe 4 quality NRL players short. But after the last 1/3rd of season I'm not convinced that it will be the same for the start of this season. I think of the players that we have released and who is filling their positions. such as Lichaa & Brown out with JMK & Katoa in, Stimson & Britt in and Fualalo & Tualau out, etc. Allowing for positional swaps we have DWZ, Hopoate and Meaney for this year whereas last year we had Crichton, Olive and Montoya. DWZ is killing it, Hopoate is much more productive for us at centre than fullback and Meaney has progressed rapidly on the wing. Different positions for sure, but a net far better package.
There simply wasn't the Cap space available this year to do much in the way of recruiting anyway, let alone quality recruiting. But that didn't stop the journos linking us with every player, even those that were never leaving their current club, just name dropping to squeeze out a better deal. Next year is the real deal, where we genuinely have cap space and we will have this year to pinpoint the weaknesses that need to be filled.
Go Dogs
