Recruitment and retention

[Liverbird with Phins up]

Just on Ben Hunt.

He wants to come back to qld, he will be older and might come a little cheaper.

Whilst I didn’t want him at the dragons, I think he might be just what the Dolphins need. I think he can be good for us. A bit like Adam Reynolds for the Broncos.

Could be a good shout

 

[Red]

Just on Ben Hunt.

He wants to come back to qld, he will be older and might come a little cheaper.

Whilst I didn’t want him at the dragons, I think he might be just what the Dolphins need. I think he can be good for us. A bit like Adam Reynolds for the Broncos.

Could be a good shout

Would've been good to have this year but this year or never.

 

[midlands hobo]

Not sure I agree with that. No doubt he's spent a lot of time practicing/improving his kicking game over the off season. Lets see if it's resulted in any improvement.

Remember the likes of Ben Hunt and Thurston didn't play regular first grade until 22~23. Katoa is only 19! Give him a bit of slack. He wasn't "brilliant" last year but wasn't a disaster either.

I thought he looked composed and decent in tongan colours in November

 

[Josh]

I thought he looked composed and decent in tongan colours in November

I thought he did for us last year as well.

 

[Chris]

I thought he looked composed and decent in tongan colours in November

I thought he did for us last year as well.

He played above his age. Apart from Cleary, which halfback has not only played regular first grade at 18 but played pretty well? I expect he still has improvement for the next 2~years. I hope so anyway. He's already stated he intends to stay at the Dolphins.

 

[mr_c]

Not sure I agree with that. No doubt he's spent a lot of time practicing/improving his kicking game over the off season. Lets see if it's resulted in any improvement.

Remember the likes of Ben Hunt and Thurston didn't play regular first grade until 22~23. Katoa is only 19! Give him a bit of slack. He wasn't "brilliant" last year but wasn't a disaster either.

yeah but both werent lacking anything to get starting role


caleb jackson is getting good offers from other clubs

 

[Liverbird with Phins up]

MSN

Pangai anyone?

 

[mr_c]

He's turned us down already

 

[Josh]

Seems Caleb Jackson is on the way out. He asked the club for a contract extension but no offer from the club. I'm a bit surprised by this. I thought he was worth keeping for sure. But seems not.

 

[Equaliser]

MSN

Pangai anyone?

He's a good player, for literally 5~10min a game.

 

[Liverbird with Phins up]

He's turned us down already

Yes, but would you take him?

 

[Liverbird with Phins up]

He's a good player, for literally 5~10min a game.

Yeah I think he dodged a bullet for us.

I am not sure it was on the cards, more he was there asking for advice from Yoda Bennett

 

[Liverbird with Phins up]

What about the situation at South’s would you jump in for the 7? I reckon he has been made a scape goat. He might jump at a starting opportunity.

 

[Chris]

What about the situation at South’s would you jump in for the 7? I reckon he has been made a scape goat. He might jump at a starting opportunity.

Seems to me he's a natural 5/8 forced to play halfback. Opposite of Katoa for us until last game.

 

[mr_c]

I can see Hawkins here if Kodi or milf go as said above he's in wrong role wayne goes for guys he's has on teams before

 

[Chris]

I can see Hawkins here if Kodi or milf go as said above he's in wrong role wayne goes for guys he's has on teams before

I was talking about Illias.

 

[mr_c]

personally dont see them releasing him yeah they dropped him but i think they will stick with him and release hawkins but who bloody knows souths are a basket case most of the time

 

[Red]

He's a good player, for literally 5~10min a game.

If he could just sometimes tuck the ball under his arm and run hard rather than try and get an offload every time he gets the ball he'd be a much better player. That and as you suggested, much better stamina.

 

[mr_c]

i am intrested in seeing josh james more ex broncos jnr ex 18s qld cap first year for us in the qld cup side can play by 6 7 and hooker can see him been in top side as ben spoke very highly of him and suggested he came here

 

[Equaliser]

The Dolphins have pulled off a major coup by extending boom halfback Isaiya Katoa in a $2m deal. The 20-year-old playmaker was under contract until the end of next year but has extended to 2028. The Dolphins were determined to take the highly regarded former Penrith junior off the market, knowing rival clubs would have pounced if he became a free agent.

There is a desperate depth shortage in quality halves in the NRL. You look at the Titans and Tanah Boyd against the Bulldogs. The poor bugger had an absolute shocker. The struggles Souths are having with Lachlan Ilias and Dean Hawkins. Newcastle has dumped Jackson Hastings after two games. What do the Dragons do when Ben Hunt moves on? And at the Bulldogs, I’m not sure Drew Hutchison is a long-term option.

Not everyone can have a Nathan Cleary, Daly Cherry-Evans, Jahrome Hughes or Mitchell Moses. The great ones are hard to get, hence the Dolphins’ move.