Announcement(s)

[palitu]

https://archive.md/hlKOF#selection-1295.0-1313.244

paywall beaterer for the west above.

[Sheikh]

Do we need a thread for speculation/rumours?

Ben Donaldson may be targeted by Force

https://www.watoday.com.au/sport/rug...ource=rss_feed

How many 9 & 10s do the Force feel they need?

[Burgs]

Fines, Kuenzel and Pasitoa sign on for another 2 years to 2025

Great news.
9 Fines-Leleiwasa
10 Pasitoa
12 Kuenzle
is a franchise combination in the making, the only difference I would have gone for is to make it three years.

[shasta]

Great news.
9 Fines-Leleiwasa
10 Pasitoa
12 Kuenzle
is a franchise combination in the making, the only difference I would have gone for is to make it three years.

Sure. Now to keep Rodda to run the lineout.

Welcome back big bloke. Did someone warn you Jargs is closing in?

[jargan83]

the only difference I would have gone for is to make it three years.

I think it's only 2 years because the TV deal was only extended to the end of 2025.

[andrewg]

The reality is that we can only recruit players who:
- are available (out of contract) and with the knowledge of their existing club (as per Hamish Stewart where the Rebels acted outside this requirement)
- are prepared to come to the West (and seemingly not many do - hence the pulling power benefit of the profile of a Nic White)
- are affordable under our salary cap (where RAu top-ups help)
- offer something/improvements to the existing skill set within the team (and offer more than a local player in the short term. There are no #10s in the Academy)
- fit into the team culture (honour the no DH policy that Hodgo has worked hard to follow)
- offer something to the game that Cronno is working hard to develop or can be expected to play better under Cronnno.

I'm assuming that the reason why "the player I'd prefer" or is "better than the leaked name" isn't available is that they don't fit into some or all of the above.

It's an interesting time as, based on past years and particularly as Cron has been here for nearly a year, we can expect that probably 10-15 players from the existing named squad will change this year.
There will also be players moving up from the Academy into the Wider Training Group.

Plenty of opportunities for discussion.

[andrewg]

How many 9 & 10s do the Force feel they need?

Seems like as many as we can get!

[Burgs]

Sure. Now to keep Rodda to run the lineout.

Welcome back big bloke. Did someone warn you Jargs is closing in?

Only took him two years...

Interesting times here, can't commit to being around too much, but hopefully now a few less tools hanging around bitching at each other than when I went to ground.
It had totally poisoned an experience I used to love.
To those who were part of those early days "TWF heart" (and those who have joined since and share that ethos), greetings to you all

[Burgs]

I think it's only 2 years because the TV deal was only extended to the end of 2025.

G'day Jargs,
That would make sense. I think we do need to move to longer commitments as a general rule though. The Pasitoa experience shows how a two year commitment can rapidly dissolve. Was reading/hearing somewhere recently (can't even recall if it was Union) the benefits of longer term contracts.

[GIGS20]

Only took him two years...

Interesting times here, can't commit to being around too much, but hopefully now a few less tools hanging around bitching at each other than when I went to ground.
It had totally poisoned an experience I used to love.
To those who were part of those early days "TWF heart" (and those who have joined since and share that ethos), greetings to you all

stop posting, I've nearly caught up!

[shasta]

stop posting, I've nearly caught up!

Settle down. You're still a thousand behind Jargs; and he hasn't had a decade off!

[jargan83]

G'day Jargs,
That would make sense. I think we do need to move to longer commitments as a general rule though. The Pasitoa experience shows how a two year commitment can rapidly dissolve. Was reading/hearing somewhere recently (can't even recall if it was Union) the benefits of longer term contracts.

I agree with you 100%

Personally I'm not a fan of 1 or 2 year deals but I guess it's the environment the Force have to deal with at the moment.

I'd bet that NSW or Qld (Maybe the ACT) aren't constrained by the TV deal length at the moment in terms of offering contracts to players.

[jargan83]

Settle down. You're still a thousand behind Jargs; and he hasn't had a decade off!

There were probably a few years immediately after 2017 where I'd only read the forum and make the occasional smart arse comment.

[GIGS20]

I agree with you 100%

Personally I'm not a fan of 1 or 2 year deals but I guess it's the environment the Force have to deal with at the moment.

I'd bet that NSW or Qld (Maybe the ACT) aren't constrained by the TV deal length at the moment in terms of offering contracts to players.

you can do that when you have an unspoken guarantee of participation

[Burgs]

There were probably a few years immediately after 2017 where I'd only read the forum and make the occasional smart arse comment.

I may have been away then, but I find that specific hard to believe...