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.

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

At least he is a proven game manager.

Johnny O'Keeffe died years ago

Damn. 
Back to the drawing board....

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.

FMD, you too.

But fits every requirement for someone Marki wants to sign.

Zef, are you Gus?

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.

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. 

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.

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.

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.

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.

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....

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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…

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.

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

It would be unprofessional if we accidentally got the list of departing players wrong.

Odgen needs to improve his fitness and defence, not totally a lost cause, probably  not on big dollars, and better than some who are going.

Chricton a bit small and slow, but has a dig...

Neither of these guys is in my top 17 or even close to it. But with injuries and suspensions. we need depth and someone has to play reserve grade.

Cap wise we will probably see a similar number of departing players next season probably including these 2.

We have lost Dr Marki's first choice hooker combo of Katoa and Dietz. Gus asked for Dr Marki's no for advice, I accidentally gave him Dman's no. But I am sure Dman talked up Dietz.

I noticed on the home page that it mentioned 24 tries for Hopoate in his 5 years.
24!!
Alex Johnstone, Turbo Tom, Saab and JAC are nearly getting that in 1 season! 
In fact AJ above gets that nearly EVERY season.

I know most on above list are wingers and not a centres, but im also sure Olam, R Smith, Parker, Harper, Burton, S Chrichton, C Graham, Gagai etc are easily over 12 tries this season.....

It just goes to show how poor we have been when one of our main stay backs of the last 5 years has only got 24 tries to his name....

As for Dietz, its a shame. I honestly think we could keep him or Katoa as reserve grade players who can step up when needed.
As i have said in earlier posts. Gus is putting a lot of eggs in the basket case of JMK and some young kid. There could be egg on his face next year.
Then again, he could just be playing Zef all along and making a secret plat at Cheese....(hoping)

There is no one on the list of departing players who I want to keep.
Manu is probably a 50/50 about the same as Crichton.
I will be overjoyed to see the end of Napa.

In other good news, that Kiko Manu guy is noted as departing.

Thank goodness for that!

I haven't see a worse winger since Heka Nanai......

Could just be no decision’s been made on them yet.

Let me help Gus - Bzzzzzzzz. Get it over with.

Have you forgotten Doc about your new best mate Cade Cust already?

Ahem....

Lachlan Lewis is on that list.

I can almost guarantee you, there will be posts next year along the lines of:
"Why did we not resign Lewis? Whoever made the decision to not resign him should be sacked immediately"

It might be me that says it come round 5