2020 recruitment

[bradtalo]

Not surprised Andrew Hill came out and said the Dogs have never even discussed signing McCullough. To be fair they wouldn't have even known McCullough was available before the Knights signed him or even after (for next year) because McCullough obviously didn't call Hill personally to inform him.

Besides Thompson seems we only sign new players these days IF they call us. Maybe that's what's our recruitment team are looking for - players that put their hand up and want to play for us. Only problem is we might end up with all the scraps who are desperate and not only calling us but also calling every club.

 

[popablackhead]

Saab from the dragons

 

[bradtalo]

If we're going to seriously challenge for the top 4 anytime soon we need to throw big money at Ponga or RTS, and at Fifita. Think we can do without JAC if we had the team below.

Kalyn Ponga / RTS
DWZ
Will Hopoate
Jake Averillo
Reimis Smith
Kieran Foran
Brandon Wakeham
Dylan Napa
Brandon Smith
Luke Thompson
John Bateman
David Fifita
Josh Jackson

Reserves
Renouf Toomaga
RFM
CHN (He should come back cheap in future as he owes us $2M)
Britt

SPINE
Ponga
Foran
Wakeham
B Smith

Imagine having Ponga at fullback and Fifita and Bateman on opposite edges (or together) running off Foran with service at dummy half from Brandon Smith. It's do-able but would probably cost 1.2M for Ponga, 1M for Fifita, 800K for Bateman and 600K for B Smith. If the Knights can afford to pay Ponga 1.1M while they also have Pearce, Klemmer, and Frizel on big dollars plus they have 2 decent hookers surely we could afford the above. Look at Souths with Cook, Walker, Roberts, Gagai, Murray, Mitchell and Arrow all on big dollars. Look at the Roosters with Tedesco, Keary, JWH, Cordner etc on big contracts. We need to strengthen the positions where we're weakest to the best of our ability. The only incentive we have to offer is extra $$$$ unfortunately until we get better then we will start attracting or retaining players for a bit less.

 

[JAYDOG]

Saab from the dragons

Would be a great signing.

 

[bradyk]

If we're going to seriously challenge for the top 4 anytime soon we need to throw big money at Ponga or RTS, and at Fifita. Think we can do without JAC if we had the team below.

Kalyn Ponga / RTS
DWZ
Will Hopoate
Jake Averillo
Reimis Smith
Kieran Foran
Brandon Wakeham
Dylan Napa
Brandon Smith
Luke Thompson
John Bateman
David Fifita
Josh Jackson

Reserves
Renouf Toomaga
RFM
CHN (He should come back cheap in future as he owes us $2M)
Britt

SPINE
Ponga
Foran
Wakeham
B Smith

Imagine having Ponga at fullback and Fifita and Bateman on opposite edges (or together) running off Foran with service at dummy half from Brandon Smith. It's do-able but would probably cost 1.2M for Ponga, 1M for Fifita, 800K for Bateman and 600K for B Smith. If the Knights can afford to pay Ponga 1.1M while they also have Pearce, Klemmer, and Frizel on big dollars plus they have 2 decent hookers surely we could afford the above. Look at Souths with Cook, Walker, Roberts, Gagai, Murray, Mitchell and Arrow all on big dollars. Look at the Roosters with Tedesco, Keary, JWH, Cordner etc on big contracts. We need to strengthen the positions where we're weakest to the best of our ability. The only incentive we have to offer is extra $$$$ unfortunately until we get better then we will start attracting or retaining players for a bit less.

I think you're underestimating how much we'd have to pay for Ponga, Fifita and B. Smith (I also doubt we have the cap space for those four players). I really hope we sign Bateman and B. Smith tho. They're two of my favourite players in the NRL (both on less than what they're worth) and they both play like Bulldogs imo.

 

[Bazildog]

I think you're underestimating how much we'd have to pay for Ponga, Fifita and B. Smith (I also doubt we have the cap space for those four players). I really hope we sign Bateman and B. Smith tho. They're two of my favourite players in the NRL (both on less than what they're worth) and they both play like Bulldogs imo.

I think we have missed the boat with Ponga or Fifita and the offer would have to be substantial, but I really wish we targeted and signed a player like these two as it would give us huge leverage and influence with other potential players.

 

[GoTheDoggies]

I think because he had that X factor many people forget how shit under the bomb Barba was, half the time he would let them bounce instead of trying to catch it..

Recruitment at this club is obsessed with defensive attributes over X-factor in the spine for years. It's why we have the least dynamic spine in the comp right now.

We're playing guys in the halves and hooker who can defend well but have zero creativity. Barba may have been crap under the high ball at times but 2012 was some of the best football we have witnessed as Bulldogs fans.

 

[halfcast]

dogs of war in defence but entertainers in attack how many players fit that mould?

 

[Bazildog]

Recruitment at this club is obsessed with defensive attributes over X-factor in the spine for years. It's why we have the least dynamic spine in the comp right now.

We're playing guys in the halves and hooker who can defend well but have zero creativity. Barba may have been crap under the high ball at times but 2012 was some of the best football we have witnessed as Bulldogs fans.

Never said he wasn’t awesome in attack. I was actually making the comparison to DWZ and similar high ball issues.

Barba was limited but brilliant when he wanted to be and is a premiership winner, just not with us.

 

[bradtalo]

I think you're underestimating how much we'd have to pay for Ponga, Fifita and B. Smith (I also doubt we have the cap space for those four players). I really hope we sign Bateman and B. Smith tho. They're two of my favourite players in the NRL (both on less than what they're worth) and they both play like Bulldogs imo.

Latest reports are Knights are offering Ponga 1.1M a season for 4-5 years. If we offered 1.2 that's an extra 400-500K over the 4-5 years. Could tempt him. Biggest offer to Fifita so far has reportedly been from the Titans at 800K per season for 4 years. 1M a season offer from us could blow the Broncos and Titans out of the water. For us Fifita would be what Jason Taumalolo is like to the Cowboys.

 

[Teddybear]

Ponga and fifita..
Wow
What a dream
We shouldn't die wondering.

Latest reports are Knights are offering Ponga 1.1M a season for 4-5 years. If we offered 1.2 that's an extra 400-500K over the 4-5 years. Could tempt him. Biggest offer to Fifita so far has reportedly been from the Titans at 800K per season for 4 years. 1M a season offer from us could blow the Broncos and Titans out of the water.

 

[Bazildog]

Latest reports are Knights are offering Ponga 1.1M a season for 4-5 years. If we offered 1.2 that's an extra 400-500K over the 4-5 years. Could tempt him. Biggest offer to Fifita so far has reportedly been from the Titans at 800K per season for 4 years. 1M a season offer from us could blow the Broncos and Titans out of the water.

I would definitely pay $1m + for Fafita or Ponga as it will seem cheap in a year or 2. Unless we unearth a superstar we need to buy one while still young and pay whatever is required for the right player. I like the look of some of the young guys we have coming thru and they would be more likely to stay at the dogs to play with someone like a Ponga/Fafita..

 

[Teddybear]

Haas ain't too shabby either ..........

I would definitely pay $1m + for Fafita or Ponga as it will seem cheap in a year or 2. Unless we unearth a superstar we need to buy one while still young and pay whatever is required for the right player. I like the look of some of the young guys we have coming thru and they would be more likely to stay at the dogs to play with someone like a Ponga/Fafita..

 

[sgodllubsti]

ponga wont be happy with his 1.1 million a season give him 2 years he be mentioning wants out to chase his dream of playing for the all blacks again

 

[Bazildog]

ponga wont be happy with his 1.1 million a season give him 2 years he be mentioning wants out to chase his dream of playing for the all blacks again

Nah, not if we looked like we could win a comp. Then after he might do a Sunny Bill but who cares if we have won another comp..

 

[Natboy]

Not surprised Andrew Hill came out and said the Dogs have never even discussed signing McCullough. To be fair they wouldn't have even known McCullough was available before the Knights signed him or even after (for next year) because McCullough obviously didn't call Hill personally to inform him.

Besides Thompson seems we only sign new players these days IF they call us. Maybe that's what's our recruitment team are looking for - players that put their hand up and want to play for us. Only problem is we might end up with all the scraps who are desperate and not only calling us but also calling every club.

What a load of shit. Your bias against Hilly and the board is laughable. You’re basing it around one virtual unknown calling our club to say he was available? As we keep saying, run for the board next time and show us how it’s done

 

[DinkumDog]

What a load of shit. Your bias against Hilly and the board is laughable. You’re basing it around one virtual unknown calling our club to say he was available? As we keep saying, run for the board next time and show us how it’s done

Tissues inbound to Tassie! .

 

[Spoonman84]

Cameron Murray re-signed with the Bunnies today and not one mention of the amount he signed for. I know the prices aren’t accurate but it always seems when we make a deal the amounts are splashed everywhere....

It would have been good to get a ball park figure to stack up against the Bateman $800k.

 

[NPC83]

Cameron Murray re-signed with the Bunnies today and not one mention of the amount he signed for. I know the prices aren’t accurate but it always seems when we make a deal the amounts are splashed everywhere....

It would have been good to get a ball park figure to stack up against the Bateman $800k.

I was looking for that too... he’s arguably the best 13 in the comp with age on his side... couldn’t be cheap..

 

[2ndphase]

Cameron Murray re-signed with the Bunnies today and not one mention of the amount he signed for. I know the prices aren’t accurate but it always seems when we make a deal the amounts are splashed everywhere....

It would have been good to get a ball park figure to stack up against the Bateman $800k.

It was for 4 years 3.2 million so $800,000 per year.