The 50k applies to one player with 10 years service for the same club IIRC. Surely Langley would qualify if Deacon was cut.

I think you misunderstood what I was saying, I was saying I would prefer it if Deacon was to go, but because he isn't out of contract, he wont be going anywhere, simply because Steve rates him and it would cost us to pay him off. I don't rate Deacs at all very much now. I think you've got it mixed up somewhere along the line.

They only problem I see with keeping Jeffries is I think he will be fairly highley paid, along with Deacs, and if we were to sign Wing, then that would leave us with 3 relatively high paid half backs, cover men shouldn't be highley paid, that's why I think we should cut BJ, because if we signed Wing then BJ would indeed be cover, given that Macca is highley unlikley to drop Deacs to cover. If Jeff and Deacs were both out of contract right now, it would be Jeffries who I would retain, simple as.

Newton/Rinaldi isn't a difficult one at all. Newton is in a league of his own compared with any other hooker we currently have in the squad. I'd keep Rinadli, but as that cheap cover I mentioned earlier, as he'll be a damn site cheaper than Jeffries.

The problem I have with Wing is that some of the best coaches in Australia have never been able to decide where he's best at. He seems to be a jack of all trades a master of none.

He's still a top class playmaker and makes the plays wherever on the field he his. It's probably his versatility that makes it hard for coaches to give him one specific position to play, but if he were to say 'right Craig' youre playing stand off for Bulls' I'm sure he would play it and play it very well.

I'm not so sure he is one of the best nowadays to be honest. But I would retain him if the money was right, but I'm not sure him leaving would be catastrophic for us. I'm interested to see how Rinaldi goes now he has found his feet a little.


I don't reckon BJ is anywhere near one of the highest paid. People such as Deacon, Lynch, Burgess, Newton, Menzies, Morrison, Solomona etc will be on much more. I'd say BJ would be among the average pay category and we should be able to retain him and still bring somebody in. We had enough to have Deacon, BJ and Bird.

Sure tez is knocking on a bit now, but he has had and still ha sreal class, but apart from that he is one of those rare things, a player with a real bit of dog in him, and a leader of men, and someone who is guaranteed to get under the skin of and rile the opposition. These qualities are worth keeping when you get someone who has them and should not be underestimated.

You need these sort of players. Who are the intimidating players, who are the leaders? Tez, for one. Morrison. OK although a quieter lad, Lynch.

Take Newton out and the team loses a lot more than one player.

Totally Agree.

thats where we agree and disagree. deacs isnt good enough to be the starting half next year, on that we agree. but the u go on o say that hes too highly paid to be cover so weve got to let BJ go cos he costs too much.

1. as others have said BJ wont be as highly paid as deacs
2. we need three out and out halves, only justification for keeping rinaldi is if newton goes.
3. WIng would be taking solomona wage + tupou's. neither of whom have featured to any great extent this year but both of whom have been paid, so don't see why u say we can't afford to kepp all 3 of deacs,jeffries and wing.

If we release BJ and gget wing then ew're no better next year than this . one good half and one average one. which tbh has been our main problem ever since robbie left. deacs has been gradually getting worse every year now for a few years and sadly I'd no longer class him as anything over than average. kicking apart he would get in the team if we had another choice. compare his and jeffries stats for this year or even last year ( ignoring goal kicking) and its pretty obvious who should be first choice.

First time writing on here so go easy on me .......
How we could ever think about not signing jeffires is crazy, he would have set up at least 50% of our tries this year thats got to be a no brainer, dec's was great once but his not the player he once was,
and for wing it would be great to see him in a bulls outfit but its not worth paying very large pots of gold for one man, just hope we don't put all our eggs in one basket.

one last thing i'm sure i read in the Argus 3 or 4 weeks ago that jeffries was ready to sign, anyone know if he has signed yet ??? (maybe we missed the boat and he went else where)

Welcome aboard Softbull.

Now what are your feelings on McNamara?

Give him till the end of year.
and if they don't come good Macca will have to go.
but happy for him to stay if he gets the job done.

thats my problem with that combo. It means we're still stuck with deacon in a starting spot and on recent form he isnt worth it.

Hope this signing comes off. It's quality players we need, also hope we keep Ben Jeffries.

But Jeffries has been playing very well this year for us, whilst Deacon has been a passenger for the most part. I see your point in that Wing is a better stand off than BJ but I think BJ could do us a job at 7 also. I do not think it is unrealistic to have Deacon, BJ and Wing in one side.

Also I bet Tupou was on a fair salary, I doubt he'd have upped sticks and come to SL for peanuts.

he would be because BJ is a halfback who weve played at standoff ( with a few exceptions when deacons been injured, and its no coincidence that he's looked much more comfortable in those games)

Craig Wings best displays have come when playing 7 with Fitler at 6.

doesn't change fact that wings better at standoff than jeffries. just that he's also a better halfback too

Finally, was just gonna say why can't Wing play 7? Jeffries has said himself he prefers stand off so leave him there.

For me its simple.

6. Jeffries
7. Wing

No Deacs, sorted.