Norton-Knight to join Force

[SNOB]

How do you/we know that the new Coach is not making these decisions?

Just because he/she has not been named does not mean they are not being consulted.

Contracts can be a complicted process sometimes, lots of fine print.

TIF if we have a new coach and he is making these decisions fine but if this is some one running around saying buy buy buy I have some doubts.
Just because people are off or coming off contact doesn't mean they are the right person.
I just hope it isn't panic buying.
I hope Im proved wrong over his abilities to play for the Force as he is now signed and there is nothing I or anyone else can do about it now.

[jargan83]

I say we recruit Honus Wagner, Cap Anson and Mordecai "Three-Finger" Brown

[AndyS]

My initial reaction wasn't positive, but on reflection think it is not bad so long as he didn't cost anything ridiculous. As I remember it, the couple of games he got for the Wallabies were on form and he has skills, but he is a confidence player. His best attribute for mine is that he has (or had) a boot like a cannon and should do a job for us at 15 - God knows, it would be nice to see us peel off a bit of territory when we get a penalty, instead of pop-gunning 15m for a line-out still in our own half. Don't think he place kicks though, so we'll need someone else to do that...

[The InnFORCEr]

He is in to fill the void left by our man Cam.

Personally I think it is a reasonable signing and only time will tell.

Ben T will not be joining the EWF.

[BeeJay]

His signing is not going to influnce whether the likes of Poey stays.

As a back up he's ok. The problem is, back up to whom? Before long he will be talked up as the front-line 10.

God help us.

[The InnFORCEr]

I hope you know something we dont.

His signing is not going to influnce whether the likes of Poey stays.

As a back up he's ok. The problem is, back up to whom? Before long he will be talked up as the front-line 10.

God help us.

I know that we had several cracks at Mike Harris before he re-signed with Reds.

I know that Bam has been intregal in this and every other signing made since the departure of RG. So I think it does "influence" Bam.

In fact I expect Bam has made an undertaking with every new signing that he will be here next year, but I don't know that

[sittingbison]

I suspect the problem for us all is that we wanted....
1) a new top drawer coach
2) one or two real top drawer signings
3) said coach to select his own players

....is not what we have got:
1a) no coach announced
2a) a saffa 10 with good potential , a sevens centre with unknown potential and a mid rung cast off Tah out of S15 for 3 seasons
3a) no more slots for the coach to mold his team

Its no wonder there is a lack of enthusiasm. SNK could play, he was not a total dud, but we have been caught out with just this type of player before, Artful Dodger being the latest.

All three might prove more than useful, and we might have a great coach waiting in the wings who is directing traffic. Fingers crossed this is all true. If its not, if its the EWF board being ad hoc and willy nilly? If there is no coach signed yet? If Pocock goes to "further his rugby potential? What then??????

[SirRichie]

This signing is rubbish........he was crap 4 years ago, so why after 4 years in Japan would he be any better.

The recruitment at the Force is a joke!

Harvey, Fairbank, Rasolea, Batholomeusz, Ripia etc etc

You can't keep recruiting or retaining players with the intent of being a serious Super Rugby contender when the players are or have been unsuccesful with other franchises, are now past their used by date or been ineffective at the EWF.

There needs to be some serious questions as of the whole EWF recruitmetn & retention policies.

If the New FORCE coach has been signed and is recruiting this calibre player, then we're doomed. If he hasn't and Vern is recruiting then he should go the way of the below.....maybe to Japan or Championship Rugby in England.

Their needs to be a review of the current roster and clean out as well....bye bye:

Turner (out of his depth)
Ma'afu (rubbish)
Lynn (rubbish)
Battye (awful)
Brown (past it)
Dellit (where is he, NSW Country )
Fairbanks (why was he ever recruited)
Stanley (done nothing)
Lefau (who is he)
Rapana (why)

There are players out their, there just needs to be some people with the skill to recruit, retain and spot talent both locally and East.

[The InnFORCEr]

3a) no more slots for the coach to mold his team

There are six positions left plus the EPS has not been announced yet, that's 10 players and Bam.

Current signings here

http://twf.com.au/showthread.php?t=30849

[The Boab]

I think we may be judging this through the bottom of a half filled glass. SNK may be a lemon - time will tell. We can only hope that a coach (Johnson or Chieka) has verbally said " I can fix the Force" but has not put pen to paper as they are committed or don't want it announced just yet ( mid july states Vern). They have seen the roster and believe they can do something with minimal adjustment. The Force under a good attacking coach will climb the ladder next year and this will allow the coach the chance to eyeball new recruits and build momentum to recruit good players not mercenarys. And above all cut out the deadwood. This may be an overly positive spin but we have seen the current force roster knock over most sides in the Super 15. We are looking at building a "Sea of Blue" dynasty and it will take time.

[SNOB]

My initial reaction wasn't positive, but on reflection think it is not bad so long as he didn't cost anything ridiculous. As I remember it, the couple of games he got for the Wallabies were on form and he has skills, but he is a confidence player. His best attribute for mine is that he has (or had) a boot like a cannon and should do a job for us at 15 - God knows, it would be nice to see us peel off a bit of territory when we get a penalty, instead of pop-gunning 15m for a line-out still in our own half. Don't think he place kicks though, so we'll need someone else to do that...

I must agree he did have a good boot on him and that is something we really need at the moment.

[Naggs]

Sias and SNK have unfinished business/something to prove. Could turn out to be 2 hungry players who want to bust their gut for the force.
Posted via Mobile Device

[WFDom]

Did Cheika have anything to do with SNK at the Tahrds?
Posted via Mobile Device

[jombi]

So Get rid of mafi then?

BACKS - so we're allowed to have one, and 9 is the fourth loosie.

[sittingbison]

although I laughed about it at the time because they screwed the pooch and we got a draw, I was not at all happy with Lotis reaction: