Or if we are getting the Fox for Smith, I take it all back.

Nothing in the media is official.

Surely T Baz has 1 or 2 backs lined up..... with JO out for half the season, and we’ve just released the useless duo of Holland/Montoya & now R Smith, only for Cotric to be the only purchase in the backs, we need more depth. 

It doesnt make sense unless S Crichton is coming.

There’s no way Penrith would release S Crichton 

I thought it odd that the storm said they would only release JAC if they got a replacement ie Reimis Smith.. Carr signed that heads of agreememt thing with West Tigers, Storm reneged and refused to release Carr, we released Smith to storm and got fvck all in return. So I guess we are the biggest loser in this whole circus performance. We should have told storm they only get Smith for a swap of a player even if it isnt JAC, B Smith or Grant would have done.

Smith was listed in our top 30.

If we are letting him go, we are freeing up cash and a spot to sign someone.

If it isn't a player from the Storm maybe it is Burton.

I find it hard to believe that Smith is getting more money at Melbourne or that him and Baz don't get on.

Even if Baz didn't have him in the top 17, there is no pressing need to let him go.
Just seems like there has to be more to this.

The other explaination is the media have got it wrong.

We can only hope this means some one better is lined up

With Barrett thinking of Averillo at FB, that pushes Hoppa at centre and Meaney or Chrichton to wing with OK on other wing. 

IMO Smith regressed last season both at wing or at centre. Barrett may have spoken to him about it already and he may have decided to go if he outside the 17. 

But as you say, he was a top 30 player so most plausible reason is that we are making room for a new player.

Maybe the JAC swap is happening after all...

You could understand if T Baz sits down with each player to talk about his plans & somehow R Smith isn’t part of them, you move him on.... but the players haven’t come back to training yet, so this move is strange. I think you said it the other day HD, it would have been good to see what R Smith would deliver under a proper coaching system.... but not to be. 

Backline currently looks very light. I’m assuming we are signing some outside backs. I really hope that we announce JAC for 2022. And somebody to replace Smith for next year. Because it’s looking like a major fail if we released Smith without a replacement 

I am a bit mystified at present, but lets see how it plays out.

Maybe Smith wants to play centre and Baz wants him to play wing?

I hope this is simply one step in a wider plan.

There’s a new factor in how clubs balance their roster in recent years, one that’s not that apparent to anyone except maybe The CEO and the board. And that is clubs are trying to balance how many players a player manager has at the club.

It caused problems at The Knights and publicly at The Warriors, who’s boss openly said one of the reasons Blake Green was punted was because he was managed by.... whoever it is... who’d already used his players as a block in negotiations for an individual. Warriors are quite open about breaking up that block and won’t let it happen to them again, neither will The Knights, and I think every other club took note and are making sure now no single player manager has a block of numbers that they can exert pressure with.

Now I’m not saying it is the issue with Smith, but I do remember when it was first floated we’d be interested in a JAC-Smith swap it was reported Tyrone Smith (his dad and player manager) spat the dummy and was threatening to take his players out of The Dogs ( whoever they are, think Hoppa is one and a few others).

Exactly the sort of power play that clubs are now actively trying to limit the opportunity of.

So, why I can’t say for certain, it wouldn’t surprise me one bit if letting Smith go was not just about on field, but also about sending a message to and limiting the power of his dad too.

And whether it was or not, be assured going forward one of the things considered when balancing a squad, is balancing the player managers, in every club.

It's a sad state of affairs when player managers have that much leverage (or power) over clubs..

Strange that his dad didn't want him playing for Melbourne.
I do understand the point about player managers, they are a blight on the game in many areas.

If you need a good laugh excepts from the Trump court cases are on Twitter.

Biggest issue is when you are chasing 2 marquee players for 1 key position and they are both managed by the same manager. He holds all the bargaining chips.....

I’m so pissed that Smith is gone and we got nothing

Tim Lafai its been mentioned on Twitter today is on a Train & Trial with the Raiders

So am I. I want to know why we let go one of our most promising outside backs and have nothing in return. It’s happened too much over the last five years

I liked Reimis as a winger & thought he was good there. Not so convinced about him as a centre as he's more of a finisher & not so much was happening with him at centre, but it was worth a go.
The Storm have the advantage/smarts to create many more 2 on 1's than Canterbury were doing, so if they get him on as a winger I'm sure he'll do really well there putting his pace to good use with more opportunities in the clear. Disappointing it wont be at Canterbury... 

So, Anastasia Alphabet is going to pull the covid card on NSW and only allow the blues to enter queensland on the day of the game, but at the same time relax the rules for queenslanders so the stadium can be at full capacity for the game. Double standards. If I was in charge I would have told the mutt that the boys either travel up with reasonable amount of prep time or she could shove her third game up her arse, but I'm not in charge so I hope the blues smash them.

BN, also the storm retaining JAC, funny one that because he was adamant he wanted to play FB and there is no chance in his wildest dreams that will happen while he remains in melbourne.

What better cure for homesickness, needing to be close to family, leaving on compassionate grounds, positional change etc.....than a pay rise.

It's not the money it's the principle means only one thing..

I think the election showed who can shove what where

https://www.nrl.com/news/2020/11/12/tigers-drop-off-foxx-hunt-after-storm-reject-addo-carr-release/

This article goes on about a "Heads of Agreement". Yet over a week ago when JAC was asked in a TV interview if he'd agreed to one - he said no.

Unless a Heads of Agreement contains all the elements of a legally enforceable contract I don't believe it's enforceable.  It would simply set out some procedural and agreed points as a prelim to a later contract.

It's all statesmanship.....

Works all the time...

QLD businesses are banking on the summer tourist dollar. There is no way AP will keep out the tourist dollars otherwise she will come under fire.

She won the election over the winter-spring period and with federal government propping up the closed businesses. But she knows she'll be in big trouble if she let's her ego get the better of her and doesnt allow Sydney siders up.

I said it a while ago, she will wait till after origin 3 to allow Sydney folk up.