Re: Transfer Talk / Rumour thread V4 : Tue Sep 27, 2022 8:46 pm  

Barrie’s Glass Eye wrote:

I’d argue it’s probably what he knows from working in the QLD cup, you’re working with players who haven’t quite made it, or are not first choice and still developing and tasked with getting the best out of them. He’s probably used to not being able to attract the cream of the crop.

It will be interesting to see if that’s what he is thinking. Putting Saints to one side, I reckon all the other sides have some fairly average players who get plenty of game time. Maybe he sees a way to get these ones with potential to that kind of level in short time.

To win trophies though you need some class and quality. Can he find a gem or two?

I was a sceptic when he got appointed but have been won over and happy to let him do it his way and see where we go. Next year may well be bumpy but by 2024 he will have had chance to really shape it how he wants.

Re: Transfer Talk / Rumour thread V4 : Tue Sep 27, 2022 10:13 pm  

rollin thunder wrote:

Do we need 3 hookers now O Connor is now a 9. Johnson hardly played and when he has he’s looked way out of his depth. He wont be a big earner but every penny counts, maybe someone like Edwards is seen as surplus as well. Certainly needs to get in the first team next year after a full year in loan in championship, and with Sutcliffe gone Newman injured and 2 centre spots great chance to stake his claim. If he’s not deemed good enough to be given a run of games then may as well ship him on.

I doubt very much that Edwards will allowed to leave permanently.Hes still young but has all the attributes to be a top centre.Hooker is one of the most important positions on the field so for mine three is not too many.

Re: Transfer Talk / Rumour thread V4 : Tue Sep 27, 2022 10:43 pm  

Johnson only played 3 games under Smith, two of which were out of position at halfback, and one of those was at Toulouse in probably the worst team performance since Smith arrived. We won the other two games he was involved in. I don't think Smith would judge Johnson too harshly based on that.

The signings of these Championship kids adds to squad depth and there's then the obvious hope that as many as possible develop into quality players. But its also relatively low risk as we're not sinking tons of cap into them either. It will be very interesting to see who Smith brings in as assistant/fitness wise as well. That could make a lot of difference to how these lads (and our Academy players) develop.

The only potential signing that doesn't fit with what seems to be the plan is Olpherts. Given his age it really only makes sense if there's an issue with Fusitu'a - either leaving or just real concerns about injuries. I can't imagine Olpherts would join Leeds on the basis of being a reserve, given he'd be a starter at a few other teams.

Re: Transfer Talk / Rumour thread V4 : Wed Sep 28, 2022 2:34 am  

Just one other thing on the GH interview. He put the early season poor form down largely to injuries and suspensions. They played a part but clearly Agar was a large part of the problem, and so was recruitment - both GH decisions. I think it would be a good sign that lessons really have been learned if he took a bit more public responsibility for where we're at and how poorly we've performed for most of the last 7 years.

Re: Transfer Talk / Rumour thread V4 : Wed Sep 28, 2022 7:51 am  

Barrie’s Glass Eye wrote:

I’d argue it’s probably what he knows from working in the QLD cup, you’re working with players who haven’t quite made it, or are not first choice and still developing and tasked with getting the best out of them. He’s probably used to not being able to attract the cream of the crop.

Saints don't have the 'Cream of the crop'

Someone, Hurrell, Scarsbrook, Paasi, Percival, Makinson are all on huge bucks, but are not 'cream of the crop' - but what they do have is togetherness, team spirit and the confidence to go out and win.

I fully agree with you, if Smith has managed to get a GF out of this season's players, considering how ropey a fair majority are given those NOT offered new deals - then god only knows how we will progress when Smith is able to pick his signings and build a team/squad.

Re: Transfer Talk / Rumour thread V4 : Wed Sep 28, 2022 10:08 am  

krisleeds wrote:

Saints don't have the 'Cream of the crop'

Someone, Hurrell, Scarsbrook, Paasi, Percival, Makinson are all on huge bucks, but are not 'cream of the crop' - but what they do have is togetherness, team spirit and the confidence to go out and win.

I fully agree with you, if Smith has managed to get a GF out of this season's players, considering how ropey a fair majority are given those NOT offered new deals - then god only knows how we will progress when Smith is able to pick his signings and build a team/squad.

Tell you what the difference is, saints spine is
1. Welsby
7. Dodd
6. Lomax
9. Roby

All academy produced players, even if on mega bucks they get big exception due to being academy produced.

Our spine
1. Myler
7. Sezer
6. Austin
9. Leeming

Ok some argument about O’Connor at 9 but generally none of those players are produced by us. Two are overseas players (I know Austin played for GB).

Saints can spend good money on other players as generally it is cheaper to sign a back rower than a 1,6,7 or 9. Those spine position are big money positions so until we start producing high quality academy players in those positions we will be a bit behind on who and what we can afford in other positions.

Re: Transfer Talk / Rumour thread V4 : Wed Sep 28, 2022 10:27 am  

Once were Loiners wrote:

...GH interview... ...I think it would be a good sign that lessons really have been learned if he took a bit more public responsibility for where we're at and how poorly we've performed for most of the last 7 years.

Re: Transfer Talk / Rumour thread V4 : Wed Sep 28, 2022 12:38 pm  

Funny yes, but also true. As a fan I'd like to hear that he knows that things haven't been done well but there's a plan to turn things around. Also true that he will never say anything like that. I've heard very good leaders admit to mistakes and it actually gives faith that they can turn things around.

Dead right on the Academy by the way. We got lazy during the Golden Generation. We started to need to look to juniors more seriously from about a decade ago as the GG got older, but I'd say Stevie Ward (2012), Handley (2014), Newman and Mikolaj (2017) are the only really high quality players to come through our juniors since then.

You could add Liam Sutcliffe and Cameron Smith maybe, and some there is a lot of hope for a few more (Holroyd, Gannon). But its still a pretty poor result from one of the biggest clubs in SL over a decade, and the fact we have very few quality homegrown players in their prime is a major reason we aren't as good as Sts.

Re: Transfer Talk / Rumour thread V4 : Wed Sep 28, 2022 12:57 pm  

good points but dont forget lots of good players left as they couldnt get into that golden generation side. I think that affected things.
plus brian McDermott took over the academy iirc and made a pig's ear of things as did adrian Morley during his tenure

Re: Transfer Talk / Rumour thread V4 : Wed Sep 28, 2022 1:00 pm  

Lprhino wrote:

Tell you what the difference is, saints spine is
1. Welsby
7. Dodd
6. Lomax
9. Roby

All academy produced players, even if on mega bucks they get big exception due to being academy produced.

Our spine
1. Myler
7. Sezer
6. Austin
9. Leeming

Ok some argument about O’Connor at 9 but generally none of those players are produced by us. Two are overseas players (I know Austin played for GB).

Saints can spend good money on other players as generally it is cheaper to sign a back rower than a 1,6,7 or 9. Those spine position are big money positions so until we start producing high quality academy players in those positions we will be a bit behind on who and what we can afford in other positions.

Agreed to a point. However I don't rate Welsby at all.

I rate Myler higher than Welsby, Sezer over Dodd, Lomax over Austin and Leeming/Roby (at his current age) level pegging

But that was the point with the Leeds champion side.

Bailey, Delaney, Kirke, Calderwood, Mathers, Diskin etc all weren't 'Cream of the Crop' but they were decent honest players who gave their all and gelled as a unit well.