I don't think many really have a downer on him.
Expectations are higher because of his salary and status as a senior NRL player.
For me , what he does , he does very well. However he could do more.
Some of that is down to him, so of that is down to the level and quality of service he gets.
He was he played nearly all his games at right centre, he has done well at left centre in the first team especially in his defence because he has come up against some very experienced right centres so far.
Naiqama is off contract end of the 2021 season so I should imagine he will our right centre from 2022 season onwards. In the meantime Simm will be happy covering for Percy and Kevin.
I'm glad to hear that Simm is right-sided. I like Naiqama but as a probably quite expensive import I'd be happy for him to make way for a Simm/Percival pairing once his contract is up (assuming Simm continues to develop well).
I really rate Naiqama and I think we'd be sensible to keep hold of him if we can. He's one of those players who seems to do better the better the opposition is. He's had some very good performances for us and his side is usually very calm when he's playing.
I liked the look if Rizelli the other night. He seems to have decent size about him, as does Simm.
That makes alot sense providing he continues to develop.
We have quite a few big players out of contract at the end of next year and some will leave or retire. Coote, Naiqama, Fages, Roby, Lees, Bentley, Knowles, LMS (assuming he signs for another season - not actually heard on this?) and Amor all out of contract I think.
You'd hope from that Lees, Bentley, and Knowles will sign new deals (I'd probably add Fages to that aswell) but the others may decide to go home, move elsewhere or retire, so the extra quota spots could be pretty crucial in our recruitment. Replacing Roby especially will be a mammoth task.
Originally Posted by Despondent Dave
I think the cap will clearly be an increasing factor as it always is assuming he's on a decent deal but they have to keep the conveyor belt ticking over & keeping everyone happy so as long as there's a replacement even still with developmental headroom I think he would move on.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Yes, I think Coote could potentially get a final NRL deal now that he seems (touch wood) to have put his injury problems behind him.
I also have a feeling that we値l lose one or both of Knowles and Bentley to the NRL, sadly. I can see 2021 being a make or break year, recruitment wise.
I would think that if all clubs are struggling next year financially then there could be a watershed of overseas players further down the road maybe only 3 players instead of the 6 or 7 norm. The young ones on Monday night was great for our future most of those will be first team players whilst other clubs might struggle on that front.
For Coote he looks quite happy here on and off the field so a 1 year extended contract could be on the cards.
Last edited by STIDDY; 30th October 2020 at 15:58.
So we currently look like;
2020 In: Paasi, J Thompson, Mata’utia, Prop?
2020 Out: Taia, Graham, Paulo, Ashworth, Costello, Peyroux?, LMS?
(If we don’t sign another prop I assume LMS stays?)
You would have to assume even a marquee signing would leave us with some wiggle room for extending Bentley and Knowles next year. I also think Coote will give us another year or two, and I still think the intention will be for him to pass on to Welbsy when he’s ready in a couple of years. Then there’s decisions around Roby and Naiqama replacements and whether we see Smith/ Eaves and Simm as ready and Fages vs Dodd and if there’s interest for Fages abroad. All in all we should be in a really good position to put a lot of cap space into retention or chasing some big names.
I think Evalds is a great, pacy runner and he痴 very safe under a high ball but he doesn稚 offer the same link up play and left sided kicking game that Coote does. We would have to reshuffle our troops in that respect. Mind you, Barba痴 skill was running but we didn稚 win anything with him did we? Lomax might fit the bill if his body is still up to it but then we壇 need a new stand off possibly? I honestly think we致e got Welsby pencilled in there.