Opinion Current roster

[Kempsey Dog]

I have said our current roster is shit and probably the worst if not 2nd worst in nrl
Many have argued saying it’s all the coach

My question is out of the current squad who would you keep and who would you let go, considering people say it’s not shit then I assume your keeping a fair amount of players to win a title?

So who would you keep and who would you let go in order to win a premiership?

1. DWZ (Meaney reserve fullback until he bulks up, needs a massive off season)
2. Smith
3. *recruit (likely Ramien, happy for Holland to stay as a reserve option)
4. Hopoate (happy for Hoppa to stay, soft hands and defusing a few bombs)
5. *recruit (Okunbur reserve, could start if he fixes defence and cuts errors)
6. Wakeham (especially if we nab Koriosau for abit of Fijian conection. not a fan of Lewis in attack at all, needs to work on this heavily in off season)
7. Cogger
8. *recruit
9. *recruit (likely Koriosau)
10. Napa
11. CHN
12. Stimson
13. Jackson

14. Marshall-King
15. Elliot (like him off the bench only with his energy even if its rocks or diamonds)
16. *recruit (likely Ese'Ese)
17. * To'Omaga / Ogden / Kalache

Front row is still a big issue for us. Need to recruit 2 quality boppers and bench the disappointing Napa who isnt up to big minutes imo, would love Thompson, Welch would have been great but after ACL no thanks.

So yeah Tolman, Foran, Smith, Lichaa, Montoya, Mariner along with a few fringes gotta go. If Elliot and Hoppa are on big money and want to stay then id say take a pay cut or theres the door

 

[c-b-b]

Surely you understand we had no money
Surely you don’t think if we did have coin to spend we would of still bought cogger over a quality rep half ?

It doesn't really matter what i think, I'm pretty sure Pay sees Cogger as a long term option and that's why he was signed.

If I was making the decisions yes I would sign a top quality half and Cogger to play lower grades and fill a spot in time.

 

[bradyk]

It doesn't really matter what i think, I'm pretty sure Pay sees Cogger as a long term option and that's why he was signed.

If I was making the decisions yes I would sign a top quality half and Cogger to play lower grades and fill a spot in time.

Who would you sign? Croft, Townsend, Clifford, Harris-Tavita, got any other options? Townsend unlikely with Sharks letting go on Flanagan, Croft would be on about 700k, which is a massive risk. Clifford much better then what we have? Harris-Tavita I like, but again, how much better is he compared to what we have? How much would we have to pay? Because of the options available I would personally stick with Cogger and Lewis and upgrade in other areas first. Cogger's turned out to be a good signing, especially when I look what's available on the market.

 

[coach]

It doesn't really matter what i think, I'm pretty sure Pay sees Cogger as a long term option and that's why he was signed.

If I was making the decisions yes I would sign a top quality half and Cogger to play lower grades and fill a spot in time.

But you couldn’t sign a top quality half coz we had little money when we signed cogger
That’s is my point, you couldn’t coz we had no money

 

[c-b-b]

Who would you sign? Croft, Townsend, Clifford, Harris-Tavita, got any other options? Townsend unlikely with Sharks letting go on Flanagan, Croft would be on about 700k, which is a massive risk. Clifford much better then what we have? Harris-Tavita I like, but again, how much better is he compared to what we have? How much would we have to pay? Because of the options available I would personally stick with Cogger and Lewis and upgrade in other areas first. Cogger's turned out to be a good signing, especially when I look what's available on the market.

I'd love Croft but getting players away from the storm is a difficult thing, especially the ones Bellamy wants. Personally I wouldn't go near Townsend. I haven't looked at the off contract options in detail tbh.

I think long term it might be Wakeham and Cogger but I guess time will tell.

Agree we have alot of other areas we need to focus on.

 

[steeliz]

I have said our current roster is shit and probably the worst if not 2nd worst in nrl
Many have argued saying it’s all the coach

My question is out of the current squad who would you keep and who would you let go, considering people say it’s not shit then I assume your keeping a fair amount of players to win a title?

So who would you keep and who would you let go in order to win a premiership?

Backs I would keep definitely keep DWZ & R. Smith.

Cogger, Meany, Wakeham & Okunbour are all young and potentially very good FG players . Be worth persisting with to see if they fulfill their potential.

Lewis not so sure about, wouldn't mind seeing him play lock first.

Foran - GONE. Hopoate would depend on money in the cap. Holland, Chrichton, Montoya & Harper (has been disappointing this year) for back up in NSW Cup.

Forwards: Jackson - Definitely, Tolman at his age in 2021 probably not.

JMK, CHN & RFM - Yes

Napa, C.Smith, S. Sue, A. Elliot, M. Liccha, F. Brown - NO.

Ogden, Fualalo & To'omaga - Ogden shows potential so yes, Fualao has become a decent bench player and developed an offload so Yes, To'omaga is hitting mid 20s and not developing (IMO) as well as he should. They are all very similar players and if we add Ese'ese to that group do we need 4 players so similar?

I have 10 definite, 5 possible and 4 NSW Cup.

That is in a 30 man squad. With the remaining 11 spot we need 6 - 7 really hardened, good FG players.

 

[coach]

Backs I would keep definitely keep DWZ & R. Smith.

Cogger, Meany, Wakeham & Okunbour are all young and potentially very good FG players . Be worth persisting with to see if they fulfill their potential.

Lewis not so sure about, wouldn't mind seeing him play lock first.

Foran - GONE. Hopoate would depend on money in the cap. Holland, Chrichton, Montoya & Harper (has been disappointing this year) for back up in NSW Cup.

Forwards: Jackson - Definitely, Tolman at his age in 2021 probably not.

JMK, CHN & RFM - Yes

Napa, C.Smith, S. Sue, A. Elliot, M. Liccha, F. Brown - NO.

Ogden, Fualalo & To'omaga - Ogden shows potential so yes, Fualao has become a decent bench player and developed an offload so Yes, To'omaga is hitting mid 20s and not developing (IMO) as well as he should. They are all very similar players and if we add Ese'ese to that group do we need 4 players so similar?

I have 10 definite, 5 possible and 4 NSW Cup.

That is in a 30 man squad. With the remaining 11 spot we need 6 - 7 really hardened, good FG players.

Yup there abouts

 

[longy0303]

The best coach in the game does no better than a nobody that has accomplished nothing at senior level bahahaha. Good one.

If that’s the case all it takes is a great coach to win, I am going to take my Datsun 180b and start racing formula 1. Under your thought process with the right coaching I should be able to get a TOP 3 finish

 

[2144superman]

KEEP;
DWZ
R SMITH
COGGER
MEANY (for depth)
WAKEHAM (for depth)
(OKUNBOUR, LEWIS if they are on next to nothing)
JMK
CHN
NAPA
OGDEN
FUALALO
TO'OMAGA (for depth)
HOPPA (would need to take a massive pay cut)
C SMITH (for depth)
CRIGHTON (for depth)
MONTOYA (for depth)

NOT RE-SIGN
DEAN PAY (A cardboard cut out could do the same job)
JOSH JACKSON (use the money he is on to recruit DAVID FIFITA who is available at the end of 2020)
FORAN
TOLMAN
ELLIOT
RFM
LICHAA
F BROWN

 

[coach]

If that’s the case all it takes is a great coach to win, I am going to take my Datsun 180b and start racing formula 1. Under your thought process with the right coaching I should be able to get a TOP 3 finish

Yup

 

[TABOO]

Who would you sign? Croft, Townsend, Clifford, Harris-Tavita, got any other options? Townsend unlikely with Sharks letting go on Flanagan, Croft would be on about 700k, which is a massive risk. Clifford much better then what we have? Harris-Tavita I like, but again, how much better is he compared to what we have? How much would we have to pay? Because of the options available I would personally stick with Cogger and Lewis and upgrade in other areas first. Cogger's turned out to be a good signing, especially when I look what's available on the market.

Wow, Croft is most definitely not on 700k.
He's shit anyway. Even in a stacked Melbourne side, he looks sub par MOST games.

 

[wendog33]

My point, 30 man squad so 20 players out, but people say not a bad roster
Thanks for your answer

30 man squad is always going to have major turnover.

It's the 1-17 that we are using in FG that is the measure of success and our criteria for assessing our NRL fortunes.

Our point is.....Pay keeps picking these players you say are duds.

DWZ
SMITH
HOPPA
*PAY PICKS MONTOYA/HOLLAND
PAY PICKS MEANEY (since when did Canterbury start putting players in to the team who've never played in the position and picked over specialists)?

*We need a Centre

^ The above backline would be of fg quality so no excuses there for the coach. BTW he could have picked from Ok, Crichton, Morgan and moved Smith to centre to strengthen the backline if he wanted to.

Forwards:

TOLMAN - first picked by Pay
*LICHAA-signed by Pay
NAPA-signed by Pay
CHN-our best forward
JJ-2nd picked by Pay
*ELLIOTT - 3rd picked by Pay

*Need to be replaced.

Other than that an ok bunch ..but aren't playing to their best ability.

Bench:
OFA and RT- both showed promise but not performing to their best.
*SMITH
JMK
*DANNY
RFM

Not a bad bench if used correctly.

Halves
FORAN
WAKEHAM
COGGER
LEWIS

Ok either injured, inexperienced or lacking in complete halves skills.

So although we don't have a star studded roster like the Top 4 teams, we only have

LICHAA
MONTOYA
DANNY F
C SMITH/ELLIOTT (keep for CCup and cover if price is right)
HOLLAND

The rest of our Top 30 are developing players etc who may or may not progress.

The roster in reality plays poorly primarily because of the structures, fitness and because the spine and key playmaking area of 9 has not been fixed by the coach.

All those saying the team is below average....rather than saying who would make it into Roosters, Storm....please tell us what players you reckon aren't good enough fir the rest of the 14 teams.

There's only a handful.

Coming 2nd last can't be just blamed on the roster.

 

[wendog33]

1. DWZ (Meaney reserve fullback until he bulks up, needs a massive off season)
2. Smith
3. *recruit (likely Ramien, happy for Holland to stay as a reserve option)
4. Hopoate (happy for Hoppa to stay, soft hands and defusing a few bombs)
5. *recruit (Okunbur reserve, could start if he fixes defence and cuts errors)
6. Wakeham (especially if we nab Koriosau for abit of Fijian conection. not a fan of Lewis in attack at all, needs to work on this heavily in off season)
7. Cogger
8. *recruit
9. *recruit (likely Koriosau)
10. Napa
11. CHN
12. Stimson
13. Jackson

14. Marshall-King
15. Elliot (like him off the bench only with his energy even if its rocks or diamonds)
16. *recruit (likely Ese'Ese)
17. * To'Omaga / Ogden / Kalache

Front row is still a big issue for us. Need to recruit 2 quality boppers and bench the disappointing Napa who isnt up to big minutes imo, would love Thompson, Welch would have been great but after ACL no thanks.

So yeah Tolman, Foran, Smith, Lichaa, Montoya, Mariner along with a few fringes gotta go. If Elliot and Hoppa are on big money and want to stay then id say take a pay cut or theres the door

That's 6 out of 17 judged not good enough.

IMHO every other team except Storm or Roosters, Souths and Raiders would want to improve their squad by 6 players.

Our roster, though not in Top 4 quality, isn't 2nd last quality.

 

[wendog33]

Backs I would keep definitely keep DWZ & R. Smith.

Cogger, Meany, Wakeham & Okunbour are all young and potentially very good FG players . Be worth persisting with to see if they fulfill their potential.

Lewis not so sure about, wouldn't mind seeing him play lock first.

Foran - GONE. Hopoate would depend on money in the cap. Holland, Chrichton, Montoya & Harper (has been disappointing this year) for back up in NSW Cup.

Forwards: Jackson - Definitely, Tolman at his age in 2021 probably not.

JMK, CHN & RFM - Yes

Napa, C.Smith, S. Sue, A. Elliot, M. Liccha, F. Brown - NO.

Ogden, Fualalo & To'omaga - Ogden shows potential so yes, Fualao has become a decent bench player and developed an offload so Yes, To'omaga is hitting mid 20s and not developing (IMO) as well as he should. They are all very similar players and if we add Ese'ese to that group do we need 4 players so similar?

I have 10 definite, 5 possible and 4 NSW Cup.

That is in a 30 man squad. With the remaining 11 spot we need 6 - 7 really hardened, good FG players.

You are only dumping 4.

It proves the roster isn't as bad as others say.

The coaching needs to be fairly assessed not glazed over.

 

[wendog33]

KEEP;
DWZ
R SMITH
COGGER
MEANY (for depth)
WAKEHAM (for depth)
(OKUNBOUR, LEWIS if they are on next to nothing)
JMK
CHN
NAPA
OGDEN
FUALALO
TO'OMAGA (for depth)
HOPPA (would need to take a massive pay cut)
C SMITH (for depth)
CRIGHTON (for depth)
MONTOYA (for depth)

NOT RE-SIGN
DEAN PAY (A cardboard cut out could do the same job)
JOSH JACKSON (use the money he is on to recruit DAVID FIFITA who is available at the end of 2020)
FORAN
TOLMAN
ELLIOT
RFM
LICHAA
F BROWN

You're keeping the majority of the squad.

The roster, when you break down each individual, is not of second last quality after all.

Coach needs to be accountable as well.

 

[Spoonman84]

2019 Off Contract
Re-sign- Kayne Kalache, Tui Katoa (Development), Isaiah Tass (Development)
Let go- Fa'amanu Brown, Danny Fualalo, Michael Lichaa, John Olive

2020 Off Contract
Re-sign- Will Hopoate, Josh Jackson, Reimis Smith, Brandon Wakeham, Dallin Watene-Zelezniak
Let go- Adam Elliott, Raymond Faitala-Mariner, Kieran Foran, Kerrod Holland, Lachlan Lewis, Marcelo Montoya, Chris Smith, Sauaso Sue, Aiden Tolman
Wait and see- Jack Cogger, Morgan Harper, Jeremy Marshall-King, Renouf To'omaga

 

[CrittaMagic69]

If that’s the case all it takes is a great coach to win, I am going to take my Datsun 180b and start racing formula 1. Under your thought process with the right coaching I should be able to get a TOP 3 finish

Where the fuck have I said a top 3 finish? You lot continually twist shit at every corner and pat each other on the back like a bunch of school kids. I have REPEATEDLY said this team isn't a Premiership threat and won't ever be, making the 8 isn't even an expectation. But we should be in that pack pushing right behind it, two absolutely winnable games against heavily depleted Manly and Raiders sides were pissed away this year and that's another 4 extra points. It also isn't all about where we stand on the table, it's about our identity and development right now. Certain players should be doing better, players should be better conditioned, discipline in offence and defence should be better, etc. No point celebrating about it at the backend on the season when it doesn't matter. Saying shit like no other coach would do better is ridiculous and just shows how far you are willing to go to find an excuse for everything.

 

[DinkumDog]

Seems no amount or arguing will solve this. I see both sides. I’m no Pay lover and think he ultimately needs to be replaced (but NOT by Flanagan - or in a panic - Klemmer/Napa tells you all you need to know there) but I also think he’s done the best he could being a rookie head coach, having a below average roster and support staff (4 of them sacked) and very little money to spend to fix that roster. The ship is slowly turning, but we should have won at least 3 more games than we have this year, there’s really no arguing that.

 

[Straight18]

Keeping 8 from 30 man roster
Thanks for answer bud

But like u she does not realise u cant have a squad of out an out superstars and first graders.
We can also argue if we were coached better and sitting 8th, more people would be keeping alot more in there squads.

What is your excuse for pay next year when we start the season slow, unfit, about 10 rounds off the pace and a 15 minute trial. And more of pays signings are duds. Oh he needs another year and another year.
Madness......doing the same thing over and over again expecting a different result.
We bought in a new defensive coach 8 weeks ago.... look at the difference to pays defence structure.
Now we just need a decent attacking coach and pay can fuck right off as hes no longer needed
The fucking mascot can be coach then.
Please explain to me your excuse for how we improved in our defence so much from the new coach to deans structures if our roster is as bad as u say ?
Yes dallin has made a difference but hoppa is just as good with organising a d line. So rule that excuse out.

 

[DinkumDog]

Maybe that’s why Pay’s contract was extended only 1 year - changes are needed and known, but not putting the cart before the horse. Perhaps there’s a method to the madness?