Recruitment and retention

[Jetty]

I guess i am just harsh.

For a half back that should be leading the team around and should be experienced, I don't think SoS should be in first grade.

People will say penrith this penrith that, he filled in, in a well-coached team, with premiership players around the park. Its highly likely they told him what to do.

Now he found himself leading a newly created team, and people have seen the level he was at. I was worried when we signed him, I had hoped he would be the backup and that we would have landed a marquee.

I think the fact we are still looking isnt a slight on Katoa, it's an indication that Bennett and Wolff don't have confidence in the rest. Mr. C seems to think it's because they don't rate Katoa. I think they rate him and his potential highly. I think they don't rate Milf and SOS. Problem with SOS is his dad runs the recruitment, so it might be a little bit of give him more of a chance then he deserves. If we would of landed a Dearden or a Mam, i can tell you now, they would be pairing with Katoa, with Katoa getting a rest here and there due to his age and not wanting him to burn out, as they did with him last year.

I agree. He's an excellent fill-in when the first choice halfback is out for one reason or another. He was ok last year. Good in the first half of the season and like the rest of team, went to **** without Gilbert holding the middle together and JMK creativity/speed out of dummy half.

I just rate Katoa. Didn't excel last season but he was 18 FFS! How many 18 year-olds come into first grade, play out of position, and still be at least ok?

 

[mr_c]

sean didn't come here because of his dad and did not come here because he was the fill in panthers halfback you go back to when Bennett signed him , he was impressed by top judges opinions talking to two the clubs hes been at ( warriors where i know a number of people there same with panthers he was earning his stripes and wayne has showed faith in him


lot of the players we have have been at a club a long time let them gel in a new club and as many observers have said they will build the foundations over the years


as for katoa ( if wayne really wants him to be half he be there by now and even if we did get new 6 i really dont see wayne or wolf changing


and the fact plath was signed tilll 26 because of what hes doing on and of the field is really going see some competition especially if kodi and milf go next year that 6 spots going be hot proprty if plath is the new flavour of the month

 

[Jetty]

sean didn't come here because of his dad and did not come here because he was the fill in panthers halfback you go back to when Bennett signed him , he was impressed by top judges opinions talking to two the clubs hes been at ( warriors where i know a number of people there same with panthers he was earning his stripes and wayne has showed faith in him


lot of the players we have have been at a club a long time let them gel in a new club and as many observers have said they will build the foundations over the years


as for katoa ( if wayne really wants him to be half he be there by now and even if we did get new 6 i really dont see wayne or wolf changing


and the fact plath was signed tilll 26 because of what hes doing on and of the field is really going see some competition especially if kodi and milf go next year that 6 spots going be hot proprty if plath is the new flavour of the month

Ok. We'll have to wait and see. My money is on Katoa halfback partnering Milf, Niko, Averillo or Plath.

 

[mr_c]

jake wont be in halfs i been told


Lewis Dodd i am willing to bet if he did come to nrl he be a target of woolf

 

[Liverbird with Phins up]

sean didn't come here because of his dad and did not come here because he was the fill in panthers halfback you go back to when Bennett signed him , he was impressed by top judges opinions talking to two the clubs hes been at ( warriors where i know a number of people there same with panthers he was earning his stripes and wayne has showed faith in him


lot of the players we have have been at a club a long time let them gel in a new club and as many observers have said they will build the foundations over the years


as for katoa ( if wayne really wants him to be half he be there by now and even if we did get new 6 i really dont see wayne or wolf changing


and the fact plath was signed tilll 26 because of what hes doing on and of the field is really going see some competition especially if kodi and milf go next year that 6 spots going be hot proprty if plath is the new flavour of the month

He was there to steady the ship before Katoa took over. And he was meant to partner a marquee like Ponga.

We didn’t get all the pieces, now Katoa has shown he is going to be a gun. And SoS has shown he is qld cup at best.

We will sign a marquee at some stage, and unless he leaves Katoa will be our number 1 half it that marquee comes

 

[Liverbird with Phins up]

SoS was not signed to be a starter long term. We didn’t get the marquee halves we wanted or tried to get. Ponga and Munster etc

 

[Jetty]

jake wont be in halfs i been told


Lewis Dodd i am willing to bet if he did come to nrl he be a target of woolf

He's played there before. For sure he's not much of a ball player but he can run. Though I don't think he'll be there either. I think it'll be Milf, Niko or Plath.

 

[mr_c]

SoS was not signed to be a starter long term. We didn’t get the marquee halves we wanted or tried to get. Ponga and Munster etc

umm i hate to telll you , he was he wouldnt gone there to be a second string player

and with munster and ponga preferring the 6 jersey they would of needed it it was katoa that was put 30 quicker than thought as he was going do last year in cup side club said that itself

 

[Equaliser]

umm i hate to telll you , he was he wouldnt gone there to be a second string player

and with munster and ponga preferring the 6 jersey they would of needed it it was katoa that was put 30 quicker than thought as he was going do last year in cup side club said that itself

I think he was signed as a place holder until Katoa is ready for NRL every week. Tough for an 18 year-old. Maybe next year it'll be tough as well. From 2025 I don't think there is any chance SOS will keep Katoa out of his best position (halfback) or out of the starting 13.

 

[Liverbird with Phins up]

I think he was signed as a place holder until Katoa is ready for NRL every week. Tough for an 18 year-old. Maybe next year it'll be tough as well. From 2025 I don't think there is any chance SOS will keep Katoa out of his best position (halfback) or out of the starting 13.

Agreed 100%. That’s why was hoping we landed marquee 6 for this year.

Looks like it will be Katoa and a marquee from 2025

 

[Liverbird with Phins up]

I’ll put it out there now. Katoa will be a gun 7. The only way he leaves here is if he wants out.

SOS will be a reserve grader, and anywhere he plays will be a fill in type role. He didn’t come here because we desired him, he came here for an opportunity he wasn’t going to get at Penrith, and he was goi g to be apart time player until Katoa was ready, playing alongside a marquee we couldn’t tie down. Any talk of him coming and dictating being a first choice is laughable as he is bog average at best. I’d go so far as to say he was probably the worst 7 in the NRL last year. Yes he played some okay games, and yes he tries hard. But his top level is just not where it should be for an NRL 7. He would kill it in England, and would have a great career there.

Milf will be lazy again going forward, and will likely be in England over the short term.

Niko will kill it in a Swiss Army knife role for us. He may be a first teamer in the halves because of our lack of quality there. And going forward that will be his role everywhere he plays. Specialist 14.

 

[Josh]

I’ll put it out there now. Katoa will be a gun 7. The only way he leaves here is if he wants out.

SOS will be a reserve grader, and anywhere he plays will be a fill in type role. He didn’t come here because we desired him, he came here for an opportunity he wasn’t going to get at Penrith, and he was goi g to be apart time player until Katoa was ready, playing alongside a marquee we couldn’t tie down. Any talk of him coming and dictating being a first choice is laughable as he is bog average at best. I’d go so far as to say he was probably the worst 7 in the NRL last year. Yes he played some okay games, and yes he tries hard. But his top level is just not where it should be for an NRL 7. He would kill it in England, and would have a great career there.

Milf will be lazy again going forward, and will likely be in England over the short term.

Niko will kill it in a Swiss Army knife role for us. He may be a first teamer in the halves because of our lack of quality there. And going forward that will be his role everywhere he plays. Specialist 14.

Agree completely. Good luck to SOS. He might yet be able to push Katoa into 5/8 next season. I hope not. I think the club needs to pick and stick with Katoa for at least the first 5 rounds. Who plays 5/8 is a mystery at this point.

 

[mr_c]

I’ll put it out there now. Katoa will be a gun 7. The only way he leaves here is if he wants out.

SOS will be a reserve grader, and anywhere he plays will be a fill in type role. He didn’t come here because we desired him, he came here for an opportunity he wasn’t going to get at Penrith, and he was goi g to be apart time player until Katoa was ready, playing alongside a marquee we couldn’t tie down. Any talk of him coming and dictating being a first choice is laughable as he is bog average at best. I’d go so far as to say he was probably the worst 7 in the NRL last year. Yes he played some okay games, and yes he tries hard. But his top level is just not where it should be for an NRL 7. He would kill it in England, and would have a great career there.

Milf will be lazy again going forward, and will likely be in England over the short term.

Niko will kill it in a Swiss Army knife role for us. He may be a first teamer in the halves because of our lack of quality there. And going forward that will be his role everywhere he plays. Specialist 14.

lol hate to tell you he be starting in 7 as they be using kodi of the bench as who do you put in 14 ? you need someone versatile that plays many roles you may not like him but when it comes the the 14 role wayne will want kodi there thats the crucial role and one he excels in bar the new sigings i think there be no changes

 

[Josh]

lol hate to tell you he be starting in 7 as they be using kodi of the bench as who do you put in 14 ? you need someone versatile that plays many roles you may not like him but when it comes the the 14 role wayne will want kodi there thats the crucial role and one he excels in bar the new sigings i think there be no changes

Agree about Kodi. A bench utility is his best position. If there's a injury, he's straight in. If not, he comes on after 30min to give JMK a rest.

Would be good if JMK could play at the same level for 80min but I think tackling takes a little too much out of him.

 

[Jetty]

Dolphins snap up young Tiger​

Tigers winger Junior Tupou has signed a three-year deal to join the Dolphins from the 2025 season and beyond. The 21-year-old has played 26 first grade games to date, having also made his Test debut for Tonga in the three-game series against England after the 2023 NRL season. Tupou joins this season’s outside back recruits Herbie Farnworth and Jake Averillo in making the move to Redcliffe to feature for the NRL’s newest franchise.

“The signing of Junior adds even more depth to our squad as we look ahead to establishing ourselves as a strong club of the future,” Dolphins chief executive Terry Reader said. “He is one of the most exciting young backs in the NRL at the moment so we will be excited to have him join our evolving roster. “Junior is a powerful runner out of the back of the field so he will give us plenty of punch. “At his age he also has plenty of room and time to improve his game, so we see him as a really valuable addition to the long-term future of the club.”

Tupou also had interest from the Raiders and Roosters, whilst the Tigers were also keen to retain his services beyond 2024.

 

[Liverbird with Phins up]

lol hate to tell you he be starting in 7 as they be using kodi of the bench as who do you put in 14 ? you need someone versatile that plays many roles you may not like him but when it comes the the 14 role wayne will want kodi there thats the crucial role and one he excels in bar the new sigings i think there be no changes

Exactly, that's why we needed a marquee half, and the reason why we have been trying to get one. Because SoS isnt good enough to get us top 8. And the post you quoted has Kodi at 14.

Only thing saving SoS is we haven't been able to snag the marquee half we want.

 

[mr_c]

Exactly, that's why we needed a marquee half, and the reason why we have been trying to get one. Because SoS isnt good enough to get us top 8. And the post you quoted has Kodi at 14.

Only thing saving SoS is we haven't been able to snag the marquee half we want.

there's no chance hes leaving , think about it the guys we look at who play in halfs prefer 6
katoa plays 6 for Tonga theres no way that will change so he will be wanting to play as much 6 as he can

so that would leave marquee 7 very slim even

when who you have left is milf and kodi who prefer 6


and out of the guys that off contract in next two years none are marquee so don't think chances of maquee half is that strong nor is the chances of sean leaving

 

[Josh]

there's no chance hes leaving , think about it the guys we look at who play in halfs prefer 6
katoa plays 6 for Tonga theres no way that will change so he will be wanting to play as much 6 as he can

so that would leave marquee 7 very slim even

when who you have left is milf and kodi who prefer 6


and out of the guys that off contract in next two years none are marquee so don't think chances of maquee half is that strong nor is the chances of sean leaving

I agree with this. I hope not. I think we have to get used to picking Katoa at halfback but Niko on the bench, Milf as far as I know the club is trying to offload. Plus Wayne is good friends with SOS's dad.

 

[mr_c]

I agree with this. I hope not. I think we have to get used to picking Katoa at halfback but Niko on the bench, Milf as far as I know the club is trying to offload. Plus Wayne is good friends with SOS's dad.

also factoring kodis 29 coming up 30 he be not to far away from going too

 

[Josh]

also factoring kodis 29 coming up 30 he be not to far away from going too

SOS isn't young either.