When we purchased Crichton, I’m sure it was a 3yr deal which would’ve ended in 2021. 

Chrichton is in the 30 next year for whatever reason, must’ve been already under contract or pity the fool that extended him.

Ogden’s a strange one and I hope a typo. Absolute dread he got spot 30 ffs.

Team list is out… a bit of dribble about the departing players, naming & thanking them etc!

But Ogden & Crichton both not named as departing the club like the rest??

Old mate Gus telling porky pies again it seems…

As you've said before, guys like Dufty, Vaughan and Flanno fell into our lap.
Dufty and Vaughan being only 1 year deals are no risk at all.
Flanno didnt seem like a risk at the time, its just turned out to be a bad choice. I cannot believe how bad he is. He was so good in his breakout season at the Sharks and looked good enough at the Roosters until he had to do something. My suspicions is that he looks OK in a good team but is not good enough to run a poor or developing team.

I will admit that i am worried about the length of TPJ contract. I think was risky getting him on a long contract. Hope im proven wrong but our success rate is not very good.

The real cleanout will need to come once the current contracts come to an end. Guys like Jacko, Elliott, JMK will either have to accept alot less or will need to find another club.

I am just trusting that Gus, Baz and the rest of the club management know what they are doing.

1,6, 7 being priorities for 23 is dependent on the performance of the players in those positions in 22.
Also whis available for 23 and how much we have to spend.

Injuries are also a factor, by June 22, the priorities could be different.

I am hopeful aboit the 22 spine, but equally Burton is the only one who I have total confidence in. It is possible that the others might step up to my expectations, but these are the most important positions we can't run with 2nd best.

Footy isn't that complicated most people can judge who is playing well and who isn't.
That also means that proven talent in key positions always carries a high price tag.

The thing is Zef, this is not rocket science and I'm surprised we had to wait this long and get Gus to open our eyes to it.

Since 2002 when I've been on the BDP all the club had to do is listen to me FFS.

Dont get me wrong Zef, I'm not fixated on Cust. I'd prefer we didnt waste our money on him.

And I'm all for the 1,6,7 being the highest paid players. It's been my biggest gripe about our club who splashes money on forwards who I consider nothing more than pawns. That's the Storm model.

But I have a slightly different opinion for SC management....

To SUSTAIN a premiership team, you need 3 of your spine to be highest paid and smartest players in the team.

But to WIN a premiership you can spread it differently to include centres or back rowers or maybe prop. But it's not sustainable. It's why the Bulldogs and Cows and Sharks win a premiership but flop the next year or 2.

The minute you deviate away from the spine model, you become a one hit wonder. And you better win a premiership in that time or you are back to the cellar.

FFS, forget Cust was ever mentioned, because he wasn’t.

Gus’s 1, 6 & 7 model is Easts model, the best they can get at FB and the halves and a tradesman at #9 will do. Being as it’s Easts model I’m surprised you’re not cheering it home.

Yep, his use of the word "targeted" was probably the clincher. It implies intent by the officials to affect the outcome which is a big no no.

Had he simply said his team was a victim of a number of these kind of calls throughout the year, he may have saved himself. Because that would have been factual.

Still, he got his point across and didnt lose any support from the public. Just lightened the Roosters coffers....

The mistake Robinson made was not knowing when to stop. Not often I'd agree with anything anyone from the Rorters had said but the initial part was pretty factual. Perenara totally stuffed it. Klein could only act on what Perenara had told him. But to suggest the Rorters had been targetted all year is of "Marki proportions" ridiculous. Had he stopped after criticising Perenara he could not have been fined as it was factual.

There are a few players, Vaughn, TPJ, Flanno etc that fell into our hands by chance. Apart from Burton our targeted recruitment seems to have been from the outside in.

If Gus is making claims that positions 1, 6 and 7 are positions of interest, then it makes sense that someone like Cust would come into consideration.

I dont particularly want him so I'm not advocating him. These positions are spine positions and you only bring in proven players or promote talent from within. He is neither.

I guess it also proves that we may only have Dufty for the 1 year or maybe Gus doesn't rate him and is already looking for future options.

I think those decisions need to be made mid next year. 

Given we have Dufty, JAC, Burton, Wakeham and Averillo, I dont see why he would focus on these spine positions when our glaring weakness is hooker.

I sometimes worry Gus is either putting all his eggs in the JMK/BBO basket or hanging his hat on this young Cook guy. 

I'd say there is less risk with Dufty at fullback, Burton in halves with either Avo or Wakes than there is with hooker.

Anyway....next year is all about getting off the bottom of the table. I don't have too much hope for huge turnaround.

Jeeeeeeezuz.

Let me make it clear.

There is zero interest from our club in Cade f***ing Crust and never was.

Don’t ever mention his name here again unless it’s in relation to Hetho crushing him like a grape (legally, I hope) sometime in season ‘22.

Latest Gus watch.

In response to a question of which players he’d target if everyone was off contract he replied 1, 6 & 7.

A question about Top 30’s being finalised stated it is a “moving, fluid, organism”. Really stating what we already know - it’s never finalised. But I think there is a hint in our case because as always what Gus doesn’t say is usually the most important point - he’s still looking to move players on and move players in.

Asked about Brandon Smith stated he doesn’t see him ever leaving Melb, we couldn’t afford him for ‘22 anyway, if he decides to move he’d have plenty of options, let’s see what the next 12 months brings. 

I think he is reading Gus' twitter posts.

Cust was the absolute limit on the kind of money I thought we might be able to fit under the  cap.

Only question remaing for 22 is Elliott is at the club. If he goes, most probably we will promote a young unknown player.

Zef, are you Gus?

But fits every requirement for someone Marki wants to sign.

FMD, you too.

Zef, I came to the same conclusion. Custs name was mentioned on Gus's twitter account, Gus agreed he is a good prospect and we are full for 22. I think someone has taken it completely out of context and has run with it on farcebook.

Damn. 
Back to the drawing board....

Johnny O'Keeffe died years ago

If we are going to consider Cust, we may as well get Benji.

At least he is a proven game manager.

That is absolutely hilarious to watch misinterpretation of a Gus tweet run with by some idiot FB page and then swallowed whole by TK.

There’s even people over there pulling up the kids saying “Look it’s not what he said, you’ve got it wrong” but they just gloss over it and name their revised ‘22 teams - #7 Cust #6 Burton. They’re off searching for YouTube highlights.

For the record this all started by someone tweeting Gus that we should sign him and Gus responded “Cade is a good player. Bulldog recruitment for ‘22 is complete”.

How they got that to mean we signed him is a f***in’ hilarious mystery.

Cust is a ok player, plays tough, some skill.
We would probably use him a utility, covering, hooker, half and maybe lock.

TK going off with some reports/rumours that the Dogs have signed Cade Cust

Odgen seemed to have one of his better games, not sure of his contract status.

Probably going. 

Ok next season is fine.
We also have the young beast 2nd rower from QLD cup and the young beast of a prop from the Tigers throw both of them into the 30.
I think we may have the same issue with Doorey and RFM next season as we had with Stimson this season, coming back from a long injury lay off is hard.
We need a good young 2nd rower in the development squad who is good in attack and defence, if that guy steps up he can replace Stimson. When in doubt just give Stimson another year.

Some times we need a cheaper option, not every good player is a household name, but every household name has a price tag.

If Gus is saying we need to trim the spending on forwards I agree.
If RFM returns to his prior form, Patolo and Topine develop as expected and the 2 young beasts are the real deal. We will have the best pack we have had for a while. We then need to trim  some of the more highly priced forwards.

I must admit, Stimpson did play well yesterday…. But that doesn’t warrant any extension at all. He’s contracted for next year anyway, but I still wouldn’t be surprised if Gus tries to shift him elsewhere along with 1 or 2 other contracted deadbeats

If Elliott goes I can see us extending Stimson.
Long time coming but he was good against Manly.

We might use the money for a shot at Pearce, I don't know his age, but he seems to only have 1-2  seasons left.
If he is only on 500k, I don't know why the Knights are not keeping him, unless their cap is a total mess.

Doorey has an ACL 6-9 months, play about June 22.
These days Elliott is more of a middle forward, Jackson, Thompson, Topine and Patolo are better options.

Patolo a young player on the rise, much improved already.

Elliott, Wardell and Doorey have been well below par defending in the 2nd row.
We can move Jacko there to start games, Topine might end up in the 2nd row.

TPJ should be playing prop.

I would be very happy to see Elliott go.
Stimson about the best defensive effort from any 2nd rower other than Jacko all season.

The most 2 recent cases of teams with heavy investment in the forwards (Broncos and Bulldogs) have been last and second last in the last 2 years.... 

#ProofIsInThePudding