The obsession with signing a big name

[Smokin Joe]

What is the obsession with signing a big name? Our most respected players over the last 40 years have been guys developed from within and the biggest laments are the ones who we let get away.Stewart bros,Taufua,Matai,DCE,Foran,Ballin,Watmough,Robertson,Buhrer,Menzies,Kosef,Gartner,Hopoate,Hancock,Cunningham,Moore,Hosking,Jones,O'Donnell,Toovey,Hasler,Lyons,Ridge,Shearer,Daley,Cochrane,Vautin etc...were all developed from within.Guys lost like JWH,Hopoate,Gutherson,Whare etc....are guys who we let get away.Yes,there have been a few that we brought in on big money who have been difference makers like Lyon,Kite,Kennedy,Carroll,Ward,Gillespie,Hill,O'Connor,Bella,Roberts,etc...Do we really need to throw big money at mercenaries or be wiser when it comes to spending and pick up the guys who we believe fit with what we are building towards and get guys who want to be here and not just (completely and utterly)chasing the money.When you are building and are lacking you chase a big name player like the Knights are struggling to do at the moment,we have spent some cash already on bringing guys in and retaining from within(Trobejivic bros.,Walker,DCE,Taupau).Maybe it is time to spend some cash on guys lesser known who will be looking to make a name for themselves and furthering their careers than guys who are just chasing a big paycheck and nothing else(yes,we all want to get paid,but when guys are looking for an opportunity they often put in more)and retaining guys who are showing an ability to contribute(Bainbridge,Amone,Tanginoa,Schuster,Price,etc....).These guys are building to something and a big name recruit can help in a position of neccessity like Kennedy,Kite etc.... but we are travelling ok at the moment.Big money recruits are needed when you are lacking and I am not sure we are that desperate.Personally I love developing our own players and that is why I am so excited about seeing our current juniors who we are developing on our own with minimal recruiting off other clubs(yes I know we have picked up a couple to supplement our 20's)

 

[Cochrane]

I guess it depends though, right? Have we identified we have the next Kosef, menzies, Choc, Toovey etc etc coming through? Do those names you mention fit the bill by those who are recruiting?

if not, then we buy. That's the way it works 🙂

 

[Smokin Joe]

I guess it depends though, right? Have we identified we have the next Kosef, menzies, Choc, Toovey etc etc coming through? Do those names you mention fit the bill by those who are recruiting?

if not, then we buy. That's the way it works 🙂

I take your point Mal,but Tom,Jake,Parker,DCE,Taufua,Lussick,Bainbridge,Fainu,Cust,Funa,Faatui,Hopoate for me says we are,additions Like Taupau,Walker,Koroisau,AFB,Sipley,Paseka,Sironen,Uate also reinforce that,but we all have different opinions.....forums are tops for opinions .

 

[robbiea]

It's worth the gamble on big name signings ,I'm sure glad we picked up Killer.

 

[Smokin Joe]

It's worth the gamble on big name signings ,I'm sure glad we picked up Killer.

Oh,I totally agree,that is why I mentioned him above.But when we signed guys like killer,Kite and Kennedy we were sadly lacking in troops at that point and had been throwing some big money at players to attract them(Orford/Bell),don't think we are at that point,that was 12 months ago.

 

[BOZO]

What is the obsession with signing a big name? Our most respected players over the last 40 years have been guys developed from within and the biggest laments are the ones who we let get away.Stewart bros,Taufua,Matai,DCE,Foran,Ballin,Watmough,Robertson,Buhrer,Menzies,Kosef,Gartner,Hopoate,Hancock,Cunningham,Moore,Hosking,Jones,O'Donnell,Toovey,Hasler,Lyons,Ridge,Shearer,Daley,Cochrane,Vautin etc...were all developed from within.Guys lost like JWH,Hopoate,Gutherson,Whare etc....are guys who we let get away.Yes,there have been a few that we brought in on big money who have been difference makers like Lyon,Kite,Kennedy,Carroll,Ward,Gillespie,Hill,O'Connor,Bella,Roberts,etc...Do we really need to throw big money at mercenaries or be wiser when it comes to spending and pick up the guys who we believe fit with what we are building towards and get guys who want to be here and not just (completely and utterly)chasing the money.When you are building and are lacking you chase a big name player like the Knights are struggling to do at the moment,we have spent some cash already on bringing guys in and retaining from within(Trobejivic bros.,Walker,DCE,Taupau).Maybe it is time to spend some cash on guys lesser known who will be looking to make a name for themselves and furthering their careers than guys who are just chasing a big paycheck and nothing else(yes,we all want to get paid,but when guys are looking for an opportunity they often put in more)and retaining guys who are showing an ability to contribute(Bainbridge,Amone,Tanginoa,Schuster,Price,etc....).These guys are building to something and a big name recruit can help in a position of neccessity like Kennedy,Kite etc.... but we are travelling ok at the moment.Big money recruits are needed when you are lacking and I am not sure we are that desperate.Personally I love developing our own players and that is why I am so excited about seeing our current juniors who we are developing on our own with minimal recruiting off other clubs(yes I know we have picked up a couple to supplement our 20's)

What a load of fcken crap 🙂
Big names win big games !!!
The Great Godfathers winning motto
If you cant beat them buy them 😉

 

[Smokin Joe]

What a load of fcken crap 🙂
Big names win big games !!!
The Great Godfathers winning motto
If you cant beat them buy them 😉

Hahah yeah true that big names win big games but I prefer big names we make than paying overs for big names that others have made.I also prefer paying $20k for a second hand car than paying $50k for a brand new one because it looks shiny.

 

[Mark from Brisbane]

The recent Golden Era

How important were,

Kite
Lyon
Orford

I rest my case your honour!

 

[BOZO]

Hahah yeah true that big names win big games but I prefer big names we make than paying overs for big names that others have made.

Unfortunately not all of our juniors become Fultons and Menzies and this is why we need to rebuild with Big names like we have always done to be a Premiership winning success .
Would we have made the finals this year without our Big name signings in Kappow and Walker . I don't think so ?
I believe we a short of a couple more big name signing before we are a serious premiership threat .
***************************************
IF YOU PAY PENUTS YOU GET MONKEYS
YOU DONT GET PREMIERSHIP SEA EAGLE PLAYERS .
***************************************

 

[BOZO]

The recent Golden Era

How important were,

Kite
Lyon
Orford

I rest my case your honour!

Don't forget the Australian and NSW rep prop Josh Perry , the QLD origin rep Steven Bell
and off course Ben Kennedy

 

[Holmsey]

We have enough big names in our current roster for my liking. Now we should start building a squad around the big names like the Turbos, Cherry, Taupau, Walker and Koroisau. Those guys are good enough as our big names. I doubt we can afford to pay an big names the stupid cash they want these days, for example Maloney is worth around 400 to 500K, he is asking for 800K plus! Its just too much for the clubs that dont have heavy TPAs like Roosters, Broncos and Storm. Lets start investing in players we can build on and rebuild their careers. We started that this year with Sironen, Perrett have their best seasons. Uate was also returned to his best. Lets also invest in more juniors, we cant buy a premiership. Most premiership winning teams have 8 to 10 players who debuted at their club. Our squad this year was good enough to beat big name dominated sides, and we would have made top four but a couple of our players in their first full year got very inconsistent in the last 6 rounds. That will change next year and we will finish top 4, regardless of how big names we have.

Who do all the people want us to buy in 2018 for a 2019 premiership berth? Im interested to see who you all think we can afford or get.

 

[Tragic Eagle]

I would behappy with Joel Thompson and Matt Moylan thank you very much!

 

[BOZO]

I would behappy with Joel Thompson and Matt Moylan thank you very much!

These two will take us to another level
That's Big and Big is Beautiful

 

[Smokin Joe]

I would be happy with Joel Thompson and Matt Moylan thank you very much!

I will not be crying if we sign both of them at all,Thompson is not a big name signing,I am talking about top of the tree guys(Taupau/Walker).There are 32 starting second rowers in the NRL,it can be argued that there are 16 plus better out there than he out of those 32(depending on opinion).However he would command pretty big dollars....I do agree that we need more impact from our 11/12 and that he fits a strategic need and would be worth the investment if we go that road.

 

[Smokin Joe]

The recent Golden Era

How important were,

Kite
Lyon
Orford

I rest my case your honour!

I agree Mark,but we picked them up on big money when we had a pretty poor side and a lot of room under the cap from having an average roster.I don't think we are in the same boat at the minute(or caravan)

 

[BOZO]

I will not be crying if we sign both of them at all,Thompson is not a big name signing,I am talking about top of the tree guys(Taupau/Walker).There are 32 starting second rowers in the NRL,it can be argued that there are 16 plus better out there than he out of those 32(depending on opinion).However he would command pretty big dollars....

Joel Thompson is a very underrated player . He is huge in terms of being a consistent second row enforcer . Hits hard runs hard has good hands and speed as he can also play centre .
We don't have a back rower that runs the big meters and we would have one in Joel .
Frank ave 76 metres per game , Curtis 74m and Brown a disgraceful 30metres a game .
What I like about Joel is that he is always in the thick of the action and thrives in it . He never goes missing .

 

[Smokin Joe]

Joel Thompson is a very underrated player . He is huge in terms of being a consistent second row enforcer . Hits hard runs hard has good hands and speed as he can also play centre .
We don't have a back rower that runs the big meters and we would have one in Joel .
What I like about Joel is that he is always in the thick of the action and thrives in it . He never goes missing .

So he is more of a Shane Rodney,Joe Galuvao,Mark Shipway type of signing?

 

[BOZO]

So he is more of a Shane Rodney,Joe Galuvao,Mark Shipway type of signing?

I consider Joel as good as any back rower in the comp in terms of the aggression , work ethics and impact he brings into a team .
Very under rated player IMO

 

[Spartan Eagle]

There's nothing better than developing your squad from within. However this takes time and I guess that we have been so used to success that we sometimes get frustrated with the process. In saying that, if it is apparent that there are positions that are not strong, a liability to the team, then you need a big name signing to plug the hole until someone is ready from within to take the reigns...if you have people like Brown plugging holes it can only get you so far no matter what anyone says... unless you're the scum it's really hard to balance recruiting big name signings and keeping all your up and coming stars who have ambitions to play FG.

 

[maxta]

The big difference is the type of big money signing needed.
When Kennedy was signed mid 2000, it was not just a quality player but a true leader who was needed.
When Lyon was signed it was painfully obvious Manly were short on class it wide.
I am all for the sentiments of grow your own....I believe there will be 4 or more of the current U20’s who will make a top grade debut by 2019 - this means if all money is spent on outsiders, they will line up at another club.
Then add the younger crop 16-17 year olds wearing the Manly colours - there MUST be smart recruiting to ensure we keep our best at Manly.
Have posted before we need only 1-2 big signings, and it’s quality over quantity the requirement.
There is so much talent coming through it’s again- pick the key areas and be smart - not just buy big name players for the sake of it.