Offical Rugby League Thread

[BoyBrumby]

Obviously he can ply his trade wherever he wants and it's objectively a good signing, but kinda hoped the Chiefs would focus on recruiting players with PNG roots rather than Samoan ones.

 

[Coronis]

Obviously he can ply his trade wherever he wants and it's objectively a good signing, but kinda hoped the Chiefs would focus on recruiting players with PNG roots rather than Samoan ones.

Guess Lomax is stuck back at center again too.

 

[Prince EWS]

Obviously he can ply his trade wherever he wants and it's objectively a good signing, but kinda hoped the Chiefs would focus on recruiting players with PNG roots rather than Samoan ones.

They basically already tapped that out when they signed Johnston.

They aren't many PNG locals in the NRL at all, and they're not a charity. The Melbourne Storm doesn't have more than a couple of players from Victoria either, expansion clubs aren't local nurseries.

 

[Flem274*]

The Storm are the real life origin story of the vampire myth.

 

[Coronis]

They basically already tapped that out when they signed Johnston.

They aren't many PNG locals in the NRL at all, and they're not a charity. The Melbourne Storm doesn't have more than a couple of players from Victoria either, expansion clubs aren't local nurseries.

From an article back in April.

“The challenge, and as I’ve said this to Chammas, is we’d be looking probably to try and get 30-35 per cent of the team being Papua New Guineans if possible,” McPherson said. (Lorna McPherson, CEO)

She specifically mentions Cooper Bai as someone they have their eye on (as well as AJ). Other NRL players that are noted to have PNG heritage are Coates, Zac Leybutt, Robert Derby and de Belin. Coates yeah right but they could sign his kid brother as a development player to replace AJ? iirc he’s a winger too. Apart from Olam, the PNG Qld Cup side has not produced an NRL player to date sadly. There’s also a fair few playing in the Super League (and its second tier). I’d say Cooper Bai surely has to be the big priority national guy for them. He’s 19 (will be 21 by then) and one of the best rookies in the comp.

 

[Coronis]

Also apparently Paulo asked for 900k from Perth. They’re going after Big Red instead because c’mon Junior.

 

[thierry henry]

Obviously it's good for the vibes, but a PNG team recruiting Australian born or raised players of PNG heritage also does literally nothing for "development in PNG" (much like "growing the game" by putting together strong Tonga and Samoa teams from NZ and Australia...but worse because there are actually a lot of rugby league players in PNG so it's more of a missed opportunity)

 

[Burgey]

Also apparently Paulo asked for 900k from Perth. They’re going after Big Red instead because c’mon Junior.

TBF he does play as a 120kg halfback instead of running hard like he's meant to, so it's understandable he would ask for halfback money.

 

[Coronis]

TBF he does play as a 120kg halfback instead of running hard like he's meant to, so it's understandable he would ask for halfback money.

Maybe a few years ago, but not now

 

[Burgey]

He hasn't run hard sinc 2022. TBH it's a bit of a shame they didn't sign him. His low speed approach to the front row has infested our up and comers, whose leg speed sadly mirrors my own

 

[Coronis]

Jett apparently wants an early release from the Wahs to potentially play with dad and brother next year. Could potentially sort out our halves problem.

 

[Burgey]

Are you shipping Talagi? Kid's a turnstile

 

[Coronis]

Are you shipping Talagi? Kid's a turnstile

That would be the logical move one would think.

 

[Flem274*]

Jett leaving isn't unexpected. We've gone all in on Boyd and TMM has proven a solid back up. Jett would also be competing with Linnane for the young gun spot (Linnane is a 6/7 we're currently playing at centre in cup). I'm mostly just glad we didn't train him up in first grade for the beneficiaries of his peak like we did with Walsh.

That makes 3 of our 6 halves leaving tho and Chanel has only signed for one more year.

 

[Kraken]

Jett leaving isn't unexpected. We've gone all in on Boyd and TMM has proven a solid back up. Jett would also be competing with Linnane for the young gun spot (Linnane is a 6/7 we're currently playing at centre in cup). I'm mostly just glad we didn't train him up in first grade for the beneficiaries of his peak like we did with Walsh.

That makes 3 of our 6 halves leaving tho and Chanel has only signed for one more year.

It’s a hard one - don’t think he’d be leaving to Penrith if his name was Jett Smith

 

[Prince EWS]

It’s a hard one - don’t think he’d be leaving to Penrith if his name was Jett Smith

I reckon he may be leaving to some other club if his name was Jett Smith though. I think when he went over there he would have been expecting to be closer to getting a start than he is by now. Obviously Metcalf is leaving but it's still pretty congested with halves who aren't particularly old.

 

[Burgey]

This will be a mental try if it’s given

 

[Son Of Coco]

Cherry-Evans touched that in goal then. Should have been a knock on surely.

I tipped the Rooters though...so fair play.

 

[Burgey]

Proof, if any were needed, that you don’t need a stack of points for a good game of footy

 

[Coronis]

Proof, if any were needed, that you don’t need a stack of points for a good game of footy

Agreed. Like the Dogs Panthers game last year.

Silver linings for us depressed Panthers fans, Alamoti has been resigned.