2019 Recruitment and Retention Thread

[Bongohead667]

Lowe's neck injury really did ruin his career. Lost all his venom in defense. Fair enough too i wouldn't be as willing to throw myself into footy after what happened to him. Fingers crossed a change of club helps him regain his form.

 

[Minto]

Cowboys set to rope in Kahu from Broncos
Joel Gould NRL.com Reporter
Thu 14 Feb 2019, 10:11 PM

Jordan Kahu is expected to sign a one-year deal with the Cowboys as early as this weekend but the eventual jewel in the crown for North Queensland remains Valentine Holmes.

It is expected there will be an announcement on Kahu’s future after the All Stars clash on Friday night, where the Broncos utility back is representing the New Zealand Maori, and that he will play for the Cowboys this year.

NRL.com has contacted Cowboys and Broncos officials and both have refused to comment on the development as Kahu is contracted to Brisbane for 2019

On Thursday night negotiations were understood to be undergoing.

After the sacking of Ben Barba recently, the Cowboys are seeking a replacement fullback in their top 30 squad and the 28-year-old Kiwi international fits the bill on several counts.

The Courier Mail reported on Thursday night that Cowboys forward Ethan Lowe was set to sign with South Sydney.

NRL.com understands no approach has been made to the Cowboys by Lowe seeking a release, or by Souths, but that is not to say North Queensland is not expecting it.

It is also understood the Cowboys would have no intention of chipping in financially to facilitate any release.

Last year Lowe took up a one-year option in his favour for 2019 with the Cowboys. Several seasons back he was close to Maroons selection but had an up and down season in 2018 where he played 15 NRL games and spent the majority of the second half of the year playing in the Intrust Super Cup for the Northern Pride.

Lowe is close to South Sydney assistant coach Jason Demetriou and rated highly by the former Broncos assistant. He played under Demetriou at the Pride where he won an Intrust Super Cup title. Demetriou was also an assistant coach at North Queensland when the Cowboys won the 2015 NRL title.

https://www.nrl.com/news/2019/02/14/north-queensland-cowboys-set-to-sign-jordan-kahu-from-brisbane-broncos/

 

[Heart]

Lowe was playing borderline washed up the past two years. A shadow of the player he was in 2015/16.

 

[Spiral]

Sorry if it's already been covered, but are there any NFL nuts that know the likely timeframe for Valentine getting picked up is?

Incidentally, yesterday would have been a perfect day for him to be announced as our fullback, but my Brazilian missus has reliably informed me that Valentine's Day in Brazil is on June 12th. So I guess it would still work then

 

[BDR]

Sorry if it's already been covered, but are there any NFL nuts that know the likely timeframe for Valentine getting picked up is?

Incidentally, yesterday would have been a perfect day for him to be announced as our fullback, but my Brazilian missus has reliably informed me that Valentine's Day in Brazil is on June 12th. So I guess it would still work then

I don't know for sure but I'm assuming he will know one way or another soon after the NFL draft (late April)

 

[Prince Ernst of Hanover]

Offer them Lowe. Tell them we will throw in Hess to sweeten the deal. Ask that we get Corey Allan in return.

Forwards are a dime a dozen when compared to fast, talented backs.

 

[Beaves NQ]

Sorry if it's already been covered, but are there any NFL nuts that know the likely timeframe for Valentine getting picked up is?

Incidentally, yesterday would have been a perfect day for him to be announced as our fullback, but my Brazilian missus has reliably informed me that Valentine's Day in Brazil is on June 12th. So I guess it would still work then

NFL draft is April 27th, that’s if he elects to into the draft. He can still be picked up as a free agent though in the days following the draft. I hope he doesn’t and comes home and plays for us but what will be will be.

As the cronulla salary cap punishment comes out, I think they won’t be able to offer him a deal commensurate to his origin/Oz standing if he did return in april. They can’t just offer him $2 and be expected to take it, he has a notional value in the leagues eyes. If Cronulla have indeed spent big coin on SJ (which you would highly assume) and then cop a salary cap reduction for 2019, as an outsider, I can’t see how they can possibly retain him.

 

[Bongohead667]

Mid July is when NFL training camps open. I'd guess if he doesn't get invited to any of those then he may come home. August is their pre-season games. Like Hayne he'd be hoping to get into a squad to play in those games. If he did he may end up on a practice squad for the season. That's probably best case scenario for him because he'll need so much time to learn how to play. So the chances of him coming back before the June 30 signing deadline for us is pretty slim.


https://operations.nfl.com/football-ops/league-governance/2018-19-important-nfl-dates/

 

[Prince Ernst of Hanover]

In my opinion, the shortage of quality backs that are available to recruit has a lot to do with the current interchange rule. Reduce the number of interchanges and the smaller, faster men would come back into the game. These days, the only place a smaller guy can exist is fullback. This is because fullbacks don't have to tackle the big boppers on a regular basis.

A big forward can currently play hard for 20 minutes. Sit down and have a rest plus a half time break. Come back into the game with twenty minutes to go. Pathetic. Let a big guy start the game and see how long he lasts before he is replaced. Gaps (instead of brick defensive walls) will appear and players similar to Mortimer, Langer and Sterling will prosper.

Grow a set NRL rule makers.

"Some believe the number of interchanges should be further reduced to six but the main issue last season was the decrease in the amount of time the ball was in play".

https://www.nrl.com/news/2018/11/16/nrl-to-keep-interchange-rule-at-eight-per-team-in-2019/

 

[Minto]

These days, the only place a smaller guy can exist is fullback. This is because fullbacks don't have to tackle the big boppers on a regular basis.

Not really. The 4 smallest players in the league (Granville, Baptiste, Koroisau and Craig Garvey) are all hookers. The 5th is Adam Reynolds, a halfback. Then after that you have guys like Kodi Nikorima, Connor Watson, Jake Friend, Mason Lino. All halves or hookers.

 

[Prince Ernst of Hanover]

OK. Maybe not all fullbacks are small like Coote and Bowen

However, I looked up the weights of Granville, Baptiste and Reynolds. They have weights listed in the mid eighties. e.g. 85 kg. These are not small guys when compared to 25 to 35 years ago. Mortimer, Sterling and Langer were under 80kg when playing.

Even big Gordy Tallis and I agree on something..... (Article dated May, 2018)

"Gorden Tallis has accused the NRL Competition Committee of phasing out 'our little halves' after it was revealed the number of interchanges will remain at eight per game for at least another two seasons............

"And now they say they had a meeting and nothing will be done for two years but I thought that meeting would have been done two years ago because it's been in place and we've watched the players weights go up.

"When I played Spudd Carroll was the biggest player on the field and I don't think he was over 120kgs, Glenn Lazarus was about 115kgs.

"We're getting guys running around now who are tipping the scales at 130kgs and that ain't fair on our little halves".

https://www.sportingnews.com/au/league/news/gorden-tallis-savages-nrl-competition-committee-over-interchange-rule/w4y6kx3a1g9s1gdwcrm1jx873

 

[Dream]

Which NRL players are 130kg?

I agree with the point though, we need to find a way to prioritise skill over size and athleticism.

The NRL are trying to minimise 'dead time' this year to try to reduce stoppages, which give everyone a breather, hopefully that helps a bit.

Here's an article about it - https://www.smh.com.au/sport/nrl/bunker-busters-nrl-declares-war-on-dead-time-of-endless-replays-20190210-p50wsu.html

 

[aqua]

So if Lowe does sign with the rabbits we will have 2 sign another player for our top 30.

 

[MPW_Fanboy]

Really hope we wait until after tonight’s all star match before signing on the dotted line to authorise Kahu’s contract. Imagine if he’s already signed a contract and goes out tonight and cops a serious injury..

 

[Prince Ernst of Hanover]

Which NRL players are 130kg?

I agree with the point though, we need to find a way to prioritise skill over size and athleticism.

The NRL are trying to minimise 'dead time' this year to try to reduce stoppages, which give everyone a breather, hopefully that helps a bit.

Here's an article about it - https://www.smh.com.au/sport/nrl/bunker-busters-nrl-declares-war-on-dead-time-of-endless-replays-20190210-p50wsu.html

Not sure who Big Gordy was referring to there.

Cutting down on time wasting may have some positive impact. However the present system still allows huge guys to sit down and take a 50 (+) minute rest before coming back on. A player like Steve Mortimer would soon tire from tackling these guys.

The NRL did commission some medical research a while back. I'm guessing they might be waiting for some medical study/report to state categorically that reducing the number of interchanges won't have a negative impact on a player's health because of fatigue. Of course, no such report will ever be written because no-one can guarantee such a thing.

 

[Mark O Mac]

OK. Maybe not all fullbacks are small like Coote and Bowen

However, I looked up the weights of Granville, Baptiste and Reynolds. They have weights listed in the mid eighties. e.g. 85 kg. These are not small guys when compared to 25 to 35 years ago. Mortimer, Sterling and Langer were under 80kg when playing.

Even big Gordy Tallis and I agree on something..... (Article dated May, 2018)

"Gorden Tallis has accused the NRL Competition Committee of phasing out 'our little halves' after it was revealed the number of interchanges will remain at eight per game for at least another two seasons............

"And now they say they had a meeting and nothing will be done for two years but I thought that meeting would have been done two years ago because it's been in place and we've watched the players weights go up.

"When I played Spudd Carroll was the biggest player on the field and I don't think he was over 120kgs, Glenn Lazarus was about 115kgs.

"We're getting guys running around now who are tipping the scales at 130kgs and that ain't fair on our little halves".

https://www.sportingnews.com/au/league/news/gorden-tallis-savages-nrl-competition-committee-over-interchange-rule/w4y6kx3a1g9s1gdwcrm1jx873

85kg isn’t small for a league player? Hell, I’m 90kgs, and I’d consider myself tiny compared to most League players hahaha.

 

[Revivous]

Looks like Kahu might've broken ribs:

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1096371243815657473

Yay

 

[crayne07]

Looks like Kahu might've broken ribs:

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1096371243815657473

Yay

Forget the extent of the injury. If he has signed there is no way he can afford to miss 1 session never mind weeks.



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[MPW_Fanboy]

Really hope we wait until after tonight’s all star match before signing on the dotted line to authorise Kahu’s contract. Imagine if he’s already signed a contract and goes out tonight and cops a serious injury..

Knew I shouldn’t have made this post before the match. Hope his injury isn’t serious. If he’s got broken ribs than surely he doesn’t come to us.

 

[Bass Player]

No interchange. Make 'em play 80mins. 2 permanent subs for injuries only.