Opinion DCE (Bulldogs officially out - Gus)

Not sure our odds are that great to sign DCE, but some out of the box thinking, I wonder if we try and do the following:
- Shop Reed for next year (maybe back to eels)
- Sign Tom Starling (cheaper than Reed and even more explosive out of dummy half)
- Have a crack at Finau Latu (the young lock from Dragons off contract) he's only 18yo but a gun and has good size..
- Have a crack at Christian Tuipolotu the winger as i think we need more "juice" from our wingers. Monty and Wilson are solid without being spectacular. Kiraz and Tui as wingers would be powerful
- Attempt to get an elite/top level fullback.
 
My attitude to DCE is the same I had with Hunt, if we get him, good. If we don't get him, meh.

It's just that both those grandpa's are a better stopgap than Sexton currently is.
 
Dogs4EVA-1 said:
Not sure our odds are that great to sign DCE, but some out of the box thinking, I wonder if we try and do the following:
- Shop Reed for next year (maybe back to eels)
- Sign Tom Starling (cheaper than Reed and even more explosive out of dummy half)
- Have a crack at Finau Latu (the young lock from Dragons off contract) he's only 18yo but a gun and has good size..
- Have a crack at Christian Tuipolotu the winger as i think we need more "juice" from our wingers. Monty and Wilson are solid without being spectacular. Kiraz and Tui as wingers would be powerful
- Attempt to get an elite/top level fullback.
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Asking for a fair bit their mate, nice to dream a bit do it myself sometimes.
 
Dogs4EVA-1 said:
Not sure our odds are that great to sign DCE, but some out of the box thinking, I wonder if we try and do the following:
- Shop Reed for next year (maybe back to eels)
- Sign Tom Starling (cheaper than Reed and even more explosive out of dummy half)
- Have a crack at Finau Latu (the young lock from Dragons off contract) he's only 18yo but a gun and has good size..
- Have a crack at Christian Tuipolotu the winger as i think we need more "juice" from our wingers. Monty and Wilson are solid without being spectacular. Kiraz and Tui as wingers would be powerful
- Attempt to get an elite/top level fullback.
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Why shop Reed off?
Starling dead set struggles to last 40 let alone 80.
Reed makes 50 tackles a game, kicks us out of trouble and is our only attacking threat close to the line
 
Reecek89 said:
Why shop Reed off?
Starling dead set struggles to last 40 let alone 80.
Reed makes 50 tackles a game, kicks us out of trouble and is our only attacking threat close to the line
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Money and cap space...
 
Magic Burton said:
Yep. Cronk has hardly been a help to the Roosters halves since retirement. His signing was a success for the immediate two years he was there not for any mentoring or succession plan. Gus is only in the market to sign DCE for immediate premiership success and anything about Mitchell Woods is merely spin that would make Shane Warne's best spin deliveries look ordinary.
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Cronks influence has actually been detrimental to Sam Walker.

As halves coach he refused to let Sam play his style. Cronk forced him to play the Cronk way. Structured and methodical. This saw Sam back playing NSW Cup in 2023.

Cronk is very tunnel vision in his approach to football. I think DCE could be also. Still on the fence with DCE.
 
CMP said:
Cronks influence has actually been detrimental to Sam Walker.

As halves coach he refused to let Sam play his style. Cronk forced him to play the Cronk way. Structured and methodical. This saw Sam back playing NSW Cup in 2023.

Cronk is very tunnel vision in his approach to football. I think DCE could be also. Still on the fence with DCE.
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You have nailed this.

We need to stop this talk about DCE mentoring Woods. Should Gus decide to throw all his chips in for DCE it's about winning premierships in 2026-27 and let the rest worry itself.
 
GrogDog said:
Yeah, but a bloke who has two years left isn't going to be "here" for the club. He's done his time in the sport and is heading towards the departure lounge. He will be here for the money and a trophy. I have no issue as long as it's upfront. Ok, he wants money, we want a trophy, and we also get valuable training for our future halves. So that's ok with me. It's a short-term win/win deal.
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I'm not 100% anti him coming. IF he is not on North of a million, if he isn't playing origin and he stays on as say the director of our halves academy. The origin thing would be a deal breaker for me. If we are getting him here to win a comp, we wouldn't want our highest paid player missing a minimum of 12.5% of our games. It defeats the purpose.
 
Magic Burton said:
You have nailed this.

We need to stop this talk about DCE mentoring Woods. Should Gus decide to throw all his chips in for DCE it's about winning premierships in 2026-27 and let the rest worry itself.
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Mentoring Woods would be one of the main attractions. He would only be here for 2 years and Woods likely being his successor,2 years of DCE tutelage could get him where we want him sooner
 
We already have a mentor for Woods and his name is Jason Taylor.
Who doesn't extract $800k a year out of the salary cap.
The week to week media attention and expectations that would follow DCE around would risk undermining the bond that now exists in the squad.
While everyone is in Belmore getting stuck into kebabs, DCE will be off at a wine tasting somewhere discussing with the sommelier if the blue cheese really does complement the Semillon.
 
Dogs4EVA-1 said:
Not sure our odds are that great to sign DCE, but some out of the box thinking, I wonder if we try and do the following:
- Shop Reed for next year (maybe back to eels)
- Sign Tom Starling (cheaper than Reed and even more explosive out of dummy half)
- Have a crack at Finau Latu (the young lock from Dragons off contract) he's only 18yo but a gun and has good size..
- Have a crack at Christian Tuipolotu the winger as i think we need more "juice" from our wingers. Monty and Wilson are solid without being spectacular. Kiraz and Tui as wingers would be powerful
- Attempt to get an elite/top level fullback.
Click to expand...

Kiraz is not long for this game. That back of him is just Matt Ryan all over again and will end him sooner rather than later.
 
Apex Cedar said:
I don’t see it working with Walker there. I see Gus being all over this. Not getting Hunt, not extending Sexton. Just an assumption
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Im more of the opinion that Gus is waiting to see if Walker accepts DCE at Roosters or agitates to get out, so Gus can swoop on Walker.

For all we know the DCE deal could be a gentleman agreement with Nick that hinges on him playing Origin or his body holding up till mid year.
 
I’m sick to death of hearing and reading it will be Roosters, about every fucking player on the market! It’s so boring and unimaginative.

God, anyone would think they sign everyone when they simply dont and can’t. I don’t know if I would want to go there with their recent treatment of guys like May, Sitili and Cheese. Iirc Cheese comes off contract this year, so that isn’t the same but they have a habit lately of wanting players to leave before their contract expires. I guess we’ve been doing that a bit too though.

This shouldn’t affect someone like DCE but you never know. He could sign for two then break down or be crap in year 2.
 
B-Train said:
Because you're throwing out random comments based on your opinion as if it's fact. Why wouldn't Hunt fit our culture whereas DCE would?
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I would actually think Hunt fits more of our culture than DCE.

He is more of a worker in the way he plays and talks. DCE is elitist. Plays and talks like it.

Both would improve our club but id say Hunt would have fitted our culture better.
 
Wiggs said:
How does he need the money after earning 10+m on the last 10 years. He goes to Qld or UK surely
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The same reason anyone does? Musk, Bezos, Gates, Buffet… humans want more, and when they get it, they want even more. Especially relevant to a footy player who has only a couple years left playing. If he thinks Manly wouldn’t offer what he feels he’s worth, which may be a difference of a million or more, that makes a big difference in your family’s future.
 
D0GMATIC said:
After thinking about it for a couple of days, whilst he might be a good acquisition, he is only in it for the money, fuck him. We want players who want to be here. Let the **** go to the roosters
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I disagree.
He it at the end of his career. If he wants the money and premiership glory, he can certainly come here and I'll welcome him with open arms.

We are not looking for a career player or franchise player. He has 1-2 years left in him. Even if he wins a premiership with us, he'll be retired soon.

So whether he uses us for 1-2 years or we use him for 1-2 years, its the same thing.
 
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Marki said:
I would actually think Hunt fits more of our culture than DCE.

He is more of a worker in the way he plays and talks. DCE is elitist. Plays and talks like it.

Both would improve our club but id say Hunt would have fitted our culture better.
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DCE is a genetic freak that has earnt his status and reputation even if some consider him elitist. At the end of the day he is a ridiculously good player that is not injury prone and is still in crazy good form. Him and Thompson as additions could be the final piece. We need a trophy its been far too long
 
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