NRL Rumour Mill Thread (Spoilers)

[MJD]

I've feared the 'Gordon wants out' story for a while - though expected it to come once/if Coote got the #1 jumper.

I'm also a big Flash fan and would be furious if such a talent was to walk away from the Panthers, even at 28 I think his best is ahead of him. Such a pity 2011 ended early for him when he was in such fine touch. However, I have nothing against Coote, I reckon he's a couragous young player with heaps of potential.

For mine, there's a no-brainer solution - or at least attempted solution. Put Gordon at FB and give Coote a crack at 5/8. He's a great support player and there's nothing I've seen to suggest he can't play in the line. If I recall correctly, Georgallis selected Coote at standoff for a game in 2011 but Coote's injury woes meant he was scratched.

I admire the effort Travis Burns puts in, but he offers little in attack and could come off the bench to cover the halves/hooker. With Harry Siejka waiting in the wings, I see little future in the Walsh/Burns combination anyway - and I have next to no faith they could lead the Panthers to a GF, let alone get the ball to Jennings in space.

If 2012-13 are the rebuilding years that Gus Gould suggests, I say bite the bullet - forge a combo between Coote and Siejka, give Flash fullback - and a much juicier contract to boot.

 

[AyiosYiorgos]

If 2012-13 are rebuilding years and Gordon is turning 29, why bother giving him a juicer contract, why would you pay overs for him...

 

[MJD]

Not overs, just what he's worth - which is more than $220k a year.

 

[GiRDS-]

he was not only the leading pointscorer but goalkicker aswell before he got injured and topped both charts in 2010. he is i suppose the el masri of this years game and easily deserves the 300k. how can anyone justify the 400k jennings is getting. and not want to offer gordon 300k ?

gordon's twice the player jennings will ever bee, we saw last year how good jennings was with no pritchard. 100% frigen useless. in fact i think youll find gordon scored more tries in his 10 games than our 400k jennings did in the whole season.

thank god gould is there is all i can say. maybe we can get rid of some of these spastics with back ended contracts.

and you titans fans arent you in trouble.

you've just back ended all your contracts and i heard today this massive tv deal might not come through soo there will be salary cap issues there in the near future id assume.

 

[MJD]

Mate, on the matter of Gould in the fullback dilemma, there was a Sunday Roast show late in the season where they each picked a dark horse to win the Dally M in 2012. Gus picked Coote. May mean nothing but I do fear he's in 'Team Lachlan'.

 

[sharkiefan0102]

gordon's twice the player jennings will ever bee, we saw last year how good jennings was with no pritchard. 100% frigen useless. in fact i think youll find gordon scored more tries in his 10 games than our 400k jennings did in the whole season

Girds, I think you will find Jennings scored onyl 1 try last year. correct me if I am wrong

 

[GiRDS-]

Girds, I think you will find Jennings scored onyl 1 try last year. correct me if I am wrong

i think your right mate. and hes on 400k. originally it was 250k for the first year but its a bloody back ended contract where on his 3rd season he gets 400k. bloody ridiculous.

MJD - your probably right im not to fussed about that if he goes good on him, he deserves a better team anyway. i just hope its the tigers and not titans. however he is from gold coast so there a good chance but they surely have $0 left.

 

[Brplat]

Jennings is very much overpaid for what he does. If he doesnt have a whopper of a season, it is just dissapointing. I would love to see Gordon stay (i cant name one panthers fan who wants him gone honestly) however with that said i think coote should also stay, give him a shot somewhere else on the field. do it during the trial games where there is nothing to lose. Or even send him back to the lower grades in a different position. We should be working WITH gordon, he is our goal kicker too (i know Burns proved himself to be a pretty good kicker in Gordons absence - but its Gordons spot). Give gordon a contract for 300k, make him comfortable and make him want to stay. Personally i think the papers have blown this up abit, Gordon has been at the panthers for a long time now, hopefully loyalty helps his decision along...

 

[hobo]

wasnt much of a tackle at all ? was just a solid hit.

not trying to be annoying or anything. but ive seen it so many times. if burns doesnt get him. cootes knocked out cold and uasieles a hero laying over the ball 70m down the field under sticks. and that pass was so forward.

stuff it my project for tomorrow, go through my panthers game ive downloaded and form a coote lowlights package.

Girds your not annoying more like entertaining all I was doing was just stirring the pot looking for another tirade.....I also think Gordon excelled at fullback but see Coote as more a long term proposition for the Panthers and as suggested he needs to find more versatility than just being a specialist fullbook.

I also think that Burns whilst solid wont lead the Panthers to a premiership....longer term will probably find himself as a utility.

IMO the Panthers aren't likely to make the 8 this year.....It's hard to pick but I can fing 8 teams more likely.

Ross

 

[AyiosYiorgos]

Canberra Raider Josh Dugan to face court charged with driving at more than 45km/h over the speed limit.

THE NRL's most exciting young player, Canberra Raiders fullback Josh Dugan, is renowned for his blistering speed on the footy field.

And he's a tearaway on our roads as well, according to Canberra police, who charged him with driving at more than 45km/h over the speed limit.

Dugan will appear in ACT Magistrates Court next week to face charges of high-range speeding and driving while unlicensed.

The Daily Telegraph understands police will allege he was travelling at more than 105km/h in a 60km/h zone.


The NRL All Stars fullback pleaded not guilty to both charges from August last year that the Canberra Raiders chose to keep under wraps - not even informing the NRL as most clubs do out of courtesy when police charges are laid against their players.
Play Kennards Hire NRL Tipping 2012*

They also organised his legal representation for the hearing on Thursday next week.

Dugan declined to comment, even through his manager Paul Sutton when approached by The Daily Telegraph last night.

"I understand Josh wasn't aware he was suspended at the time this happened," Sutton said.

"And I'm told the speed was not recorded by a camera but by a police vehicle following.

"This is why he's pleading not guilty to both charges," he said.

The boom fullback is one of the NRL's hottest properties.

The Canterbury Bulldogs, Sydney Roosters and St George Illawarra are all chasing his signature for next year's season.

Sources in the national capital have indicated that he is close to rejecting the offers and signing a new deal with the Raiders

 

[Brendan_B]

This isn't a recent charge it was from August 2011 and is only just going to court now. I remember that it was the week before the bulldogs game in round 11 or 12.

I am still very hopeful that he will re-sign with the raiders for at least 2 years

 

[ooneil]

I will never doubt you again AY.

 

[ooneil]

I wonder if the Raiders would have covered this up if he was not off contract.

 

[Brendan_B]

Apparently DUGAN kept this from the raiders officials until after the game v the Bulldogs and they obviously then went into damage control. I can't undertsand why these young players with the world at their feet want to throw it all away.

 

[GiRDS-]

guess what gordons starting fullback for trial vs the knights.

i hope you like the windsor wolves coote, feel free to do us all a favour and find another club.

even more dissapoinitng news i found out why the reason was they dont want to drop him, there paying him a ridiculous amount of money over 200k a year and they dont wanna pay him that much to reserve grade.

 

[GiRDS-]

Dont hate

 

[shane_sharks]

2nd half
coote in
gordon off

 

[ooneil]

Just in case you wondered what Matt Orford is doing.......

http://www.theherald.com.au/news/lo...takes-on-rosellas-assistant-role/2455560.aspx

 

[1967Sharks]

Thanks for the info. My life is now complete.

 

[Brendan_B]

Terrible signing by the Raiders, glad they released him!