Re: James McDonnel extension 2025 : Sun Jan 14, 2024 7:26 am  

If the PNG franchise does come about I suspect Rhyse would view it as a dream way to end his top level career. A loss to us no doubt but I think everyone would understand and wish him well

Re: James McDonnel extension 2025 : Sun Jan 14, 2024 8:39 am  

We have good back row options if he does move back home.
Couple more coming through the academy as well.
Releases a valuable OQ spot too.
It's more the goal kicking we'll miss.
Do Miller and/or Frawley kick goals?

Re: James McDonnel extension 2025 : Sun Jan 14, 2024 9:38 am  

Simmo71 wrote:

We have good back row options if he does move back home.
Couple more coming through the academy as well.
Releases a valuable OQ spot too.
It's more the goal kicking we'll miss.
Do Miller and/or Frawley kick goals?

Miller does, but not to the level required of a regular kicker. Unless Sinfield somehow establishes himself as first choice half next year we'd really have to look at recruiting a kicker. We'll have to think long and hard about letting Martin go (I'm sure there would be interest at other SL clubs) because he might not have been a superstar, but he's been amongst our very best for a number of seasons.

Re: James McDonnel extension 2025 : Sun Jan 14, 2024 10:50 am  

Martin should look better with better quality around him - he’s a decent running threat but he needs help from the half backs to shine (like everyone).

For 2025 we’d have a bunch of kicking candidates I wouldn’t worry too much.

Re: James McDonnel extension 2025 : Sun Jan 14, 2024 11:21 am  

KaeruJim wrote:

Martin should look better with better quality around him - he’s a decent running threat but he needs help from the half backs to shine (like everyone).

For 2025 we’d have a bunch of kicking candidates I wouldn’t worry too much.

Who'd be your kickers for 25, assuming Martin does leave?

Re: James McDonnel extension 2025 : Sun Jan 14, 2024 8:46 pm  

Even though there are a couple of players who can kick, there are not many in the sport who can kick as well as Martin.

Young Sinfield looks the deadliest with the boot after Martin, but where would he fit in on a weekly basis? Who do you drop?

Re: James McDonnel extension 2025 : Sun Jan 14, 2024 9:40 pm  

I actually can see us retaining Martin another year but Croft, Momirovski can kick and Edgell I think? In addition to Sinfield but he won’t play if the starting halves are fit obviously.

True Martin is the best kicker at the club, it will be interesting to see what happens this year. Fus is still one of our best players but if he can’t stay fit he’s likely to be our next OS quota spot for 2025.

Re: James McDonnel extension 2025 : Mon Jan 15, 2024 12:54 am  

Fusitu'a hasn't performed for me. Not entirely his fault, as I also don't think the team has utilised his strengths or give him enough opportunities. And of course the injuries haven't helped.

He hasn't looked like the NRL lead try scorer we were promised, and I feel we'd have faired better with a steady home grown winger who would have been much cheaper.

Re: James McDonnel extension 2025 : Mon Jan 15, 2024 8:11 am  

Fus wouldn’t be in SL if he was in top try scorer form for NRL. We picked him up bc he was under a cloud or two, like most players who come over here.

The big thing with him is getting and staying fit, although any player can get injured. Like I said I guess the club will be making a decision on him this year; but we do have a couple of decent prospect wingers coming through.