STORM NOT LETTING STAR HOOKER GO ANYWHERE

CMP

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Are they going to pay him $1 million to play Lock?
Is he going to be happy to take unders to play Lock?

Maybe, we'll see soon enough
We don’t have the money left to pay him huge money anyway. The cheese is playing everyone. If it was happening it would have been announced months ago. Time we move on.
Hodgson will be good for a couple of years.
 

Rod67

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Surely Bellamy has only one, two years tops left at the Storm IF he does decide to continue on with his coaching career. While he’s there B Smith isn’t going anywhere.

Is Cam Smith going to stay in the media or would he ever consider a coaching role?

Would be the ideal replacement for Bellamy if he decided to go down that path.
 

boggie23

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Last reserve grade fullback that came to the dogs became the nsw number 9. So....... all signs point to Dufty being the long term 9 :tonguewink: jokes

seriously though. I doubt he signs for 4 years at storm. Like others have said Grant will be getting a payday soon. And storm arent a team to have players in the same position on huge coin, let alone a back rower on huge coin. Their pay system is fullback, a half and hooker on big money. Marquee or quick tall fast wingers. And the rest are role players. Was the reason Finucane left. He probably doubled what he would have made at the storm by going to the sharks.

If storm did want to replace Dale, Elliot, rfm, Jackson, topine would slot right in (if that is a position they would want to fill). You even pay half their wage if it means locking in an elite 9. But it seems they would rather keep their contracted player (don’t remember last time they released someone early) and hats off to them for being a professionally run club, while we release players because the wind blows the wrong way at Belmore.
 

Interestingg

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There’s no way he’s giving up at least 200k to play his less preferred position. If he stays then Grant leaves. Can’t have 2 $900-1m hookers in your squad
 

XR6T

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Offer them Adam Idiot as a swap. They do need a lock and he could fit in perfectly.
 

dogluva

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Due to COVID there have been rumblings that the expansion may not take place until 2024


The NRL’s plans to launch a second Brisbane team in 2023 are hanging in the balance after ARLC chairman Peter V’landys revealed the Covid crisis could force expansion to be delayed.
V’landys is forging ahead with investigating the merits of a 17th club based in south east Queensland entering the NRL from 2023 when the game’s new free-to-air broadcast deal commences.

Meetings between the NRL and three bid teams – the Firehawks, Dolphins and Jets – were due to be held in Brisbane on Monday this week, but were cancelled due to government Covid restrictions.


The NRL’s focus has since turned to ensuring the current premiership season continues amid a growing list of Covid-related hurdles.

The players have been placed into bubbles and will travel on charter flights, games in Sydney will be contested at empty stadiums and State of Origin III will be moved from Stadium Australia.


The extreme measures will impact the NRL’s revenue streams and profitability for 2021 while also diverting attention from expansion.

The NRL was planning to make a decision on expansion for 2023 by the end of July, however it now appears inevitable the deadline will be pushed back.


At least one of the expansion bid teams believes 2024 is a more realistic date for a new team to launch due to the NRL’s more pressing priorities and the lingering uncertainty of Covid.
The NRL is nearing the pointy end of negotiations with Channel 9 over a new broadcast deal from 2023, with the result of that to decide whether expansion is financially viable.
V’landys said the cancellation of this week’s meetings would not have a huge impact and he had not given up hope of a 2023 launch date.
“I’m not worried about the delays – a couple of weeks in the scheme of things is neither here nor there,” he said.
“It gives us a chance to read the documents substantially more because there are mountains of documents.

“We will hold a special meeting of the board after the interviews. There won’t be much time lost.
“My theory is nothing is impossible. You’ve got to have a ‘can-do’ attitude. If it means 2024 then it’s 2024. If it’s 2023 it’s 2023.
“We’re not giving up on 2023 just yet but if the financial position worsens then we will have no option.
“The whole idea of having another team is to improve the revenues of the game. If it was going to be a burden you wouldn’t do it.
“It’s the overall economy you’d be worried about. There are certain conditions in the economy and our financial position we have to take into account.”
The Brisbane Firehawks are bidding for an NRL licence.
V’landys first revealed plans to expand the game with a fourth Queensland NRL club in late 2019.
Momentum gathered in the lead-up to the 2020 season before the Covid pandemic brought the world to a standstill.
The NRL’s focus for much of last year was on rescuing the premiership following a two-month suspension which prompted a complete renegotiation of broadcast rights and costly biosecurity protocols.
That put expansion investigations on the backburner and contributed to the NRL slashing $50 million in operating costs and recording a $24.7 million loss, although revenue from the 2020 State of Origin series was not included in the annual result.
V’landys said expansion ultimately relied on what broadcasters were willing to pay.
“If we proceed or don’t proceed all depends on broadcast revenue,” he said.
“You can always put it back and start the new broadcast revenue from the next year but that’s not ideal.
ARLC Chairman Peter V'landys is pushing for a new Brisbane team. Picture: Jonathan Ng
“Our financial position at the moment is reasonably good considering the circumstances. A lot will depend on the next month or two. If things don’t go very well with Covid then naturally we will have to re-look at it.
“We will never put financial pressure on the game, never ever. We will always make the decisions for the best overall benefit of the game.
“If the next two or three months causes us to haemorrhage in finances then we will naturally have to look at it. I absolutely agree with that. I can’t see that happening, but if it did that’s being responsible.
“The broadcasters have got to provide the additional revenue or else it doesn’t proceed.
“We’ve been negotiating on that for quite a while. We will know that in the next couple of weeks. It will all come together and we can make an informed decision.
“As I’ve said from day one, the business case has to stack up and it’s got to be for the benefit of the game as a whole. If it’s not for the benefit of the game as a whole we’re not going to proceed.”
If a 17th club is given the green-light from 2023, they face a race to set up their operations and begin recruiting available players from November this year.
South Sydney CEO Blake Solly and Broncos chairman Karl Morris this week called for a decision on expansion to be delayed a year due to the uncertainty engulfing the game.
V’landys said the current clubs would be consulted before a decision was made.
“Expansion has been on the table for many years and this is the first time we’ve gone to this length to decide once and for all,” he said.
“We have got the courage to look at it, analyse it and if it’s beneficial to the game as a whole we will present that case to the club CEOs and chairs.
“That’s part of the process. We’re not going to make the decision without going to them, even though we don’t have to.
“We have to show that it’s to the full benefit of the game. If we can’t convince ourselves that step won’t need to proceed.”
TRAVIS MEYN
SPORTS REPORTER
 

Trafford10

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I've been posting what my podiatrist told me. B.Smith was only ever a 1% chance.
 

GDR

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Remember when people were saying he's a shit hooker lol.. he was always are great hooker, he was just an even better utility in the storm system with a fit Harry Grant..
 

D- voice

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Storm hooker Brandon Smith is set to stay with Melbourne and see out his contract until the end of 2022 at least.

Smith has been linked to the Bulldogs and Titans after requesting a release from the club to pursue a starting role at a rival club given Harry Grant's long-term mortgage on the Storm No.9 jersey.

However The Daily Telegraph reported the Storm are keen to keep Smith in light of Dale Finucane’s decision to join the Sharks on a four-year deal.

The Storm were originally willing to let Smith leave if they could agree on a suitable player swap with an NRL rival.

However given Smith covers the lock position, Finucane’s departure has made him even more vital for the club moving forward.

The 25-year-old cult hero has scored 10 tries in 17 games for the Storm this season and has started the bulk of the games at hooker in light of Grant’s injury troubles that have restricted him to just seven appearances.

The Storm are set to use the money freed up by Finucane’s departure to help secure Smith’s signature for the long-term.

Smith has scored 18 tries in 79 games for the Storm since his debut in 2017 and has also scored two tries in seven Tests for New Zealand.

It's time the Bulldogs knew where they stood with Smith...
TBaz would be the one to know if he is a chance coming in 2022 / 23 or never and Gould should act accordingly.
I know Smith would be a great piece of the puzzle but if he doesn't sign it's not the end of the world.
eg. Every one thought what will happen to Melbourne when Cameron Smith retires ?
Guess what, Brandon Smith and Harry Grant did happen !!!
Maybe it's time we took a leaf out of their / our Blue Prints.
 

Punchbowl Dog

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It's time the Bulldogs knew where they stood with Smith...
TBaz would be the one to know if he is a chance coming in 2022 / 23 or never and Gould should act accordingly.
I know Smith would be a great piece of the puzzle but if he doesn't sign it's not the end of the world.
eg. Every one thought what will happen to Melbourne when Cameron Smith retires ?
Guess what, Brandon Smith and Harry Grant did happen !!!
Maybe it's time we took a leaf out of their / our Blue Prints.
If Smith signs with Storm by 1 November then we know where we stand, if he doesn't then at least we'll know that he wants to maximise his earnings then open slather.
 

D- voice

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If Smith signs with Storm by 1 November then we know where we stand, if he doesn't then at least we'll know that he wants to maximise his earnings then open slather.
Now Finucane is gone a decision could be made soon.
 

BlackJackBulldog

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If it was ever going to happen it would have allready, ffs sick of hearing about it. Move on.
It's time the Bulldogs knew where they stood with Smith...
TBaz would be the one to know if he is a chance coming in 2022 / 23 or never and Gould should act accordingly.
I know Smith would be a great piece of the puzzle but if he doesn't sign it's not the end of the world.
eg. Every one thought what will happen to Melbourne when Cameron Smith retires ?
Guess what, Brandon Smith and Harry Grant did happen !!!
Maybe it's time we took a leaf out of their / our Blue Prints.
I am a fan of bringing him to the Dogs, but if we can't have him for 22 then we should move on.
A full season of NRL is a long time.
 

Ripley

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One thing everyone saying throw the bank at him haven’t considered is the blatantly obvious:

Gus won’t.

And that’s why Cheese is never coming here. End of, full stop.
 

Scoooby

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NO SHIT… was never Guna be a Bulldog.. he’s a great player but such a piss take!!
 
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