Storm co-captain Dolphins-bound in major coup

The difference is exactly as we have discussed. Your opinion, and I'm not questioning this, is that he never reached his full potential because he was a lazy trainer, played too casual, played with no heart means you believe he could have went on to higher honours or taken a team to a premiership had he tried a bit harder. A lot of people would agree with that. To say he wasted his career takes that opinion too far. As you know, 40 games is the average career. Plenty of very talented kids who have no discipline last about that 50 game point. Norman played 228 games. Plenty of talented and disciplined players don't get to play half of that. Further, he was paid very handsomely for the majority of his career which is a clear indication of the value the clubs put on him. While he only played one SoO, when he was at the peak of his powers, Qld had some pretty handy halves in front of him at that level. If he was from NSW, I would be pretty confident he would have played many more. Didn't Buzz (?) once write an article "why wasn't born blue"? He was top 10 in the Dally M medal count at least 4x that I can find. He was leading by a long way in 2017 before suspension. Unfulfilled Potential is what you believe he could have achieved. His Career is in the history annals now and what was achieved is, by any measure, well above the average.

So what is the difference between unfulfilled potential and a wasted career? My argument is they are one and the same. You seem to be of a different opinion which is fine but just curious

Wow, that is a long time to be an armchair critic but let's not get into experience mate, you lose that one as well. I know I am an online nobody and it is quite obvious you are trying to argue against me personally but I am not arguing my opinion. Everything you've opined is the exact definition unfulfilled potential. 228 games over 11yrs as one of the consistently highest paid players is a very long way from "one of the great wasted careers in the NRL era". Trying to insult me personally doesn't change that fact.

I've watched the game for 25 years I think I know a bit about it but happy to be proven otherwise by a nobody online

Yes, ok Adam. I guess when you're happy to contradict yourself on both points we are debating for the sake of an argument only. :unhappy: You do you and I'll take the word of the clubs, including yours, who were happy to pay him 2x as much as the average for 5x longer than the average player. :thumbup:

Actually it is. He had all the talent in the world but no heart. Played too casual and had no work ethic. Wasted his talent and did fulfill his potential. Also the average career is around 40 games. Not sure where you get 2 years from

No, it's really not. 11ry NRL career is not a wasted one. It's about 9yrs more than the average. Not playing rep when you had the potential is unfulfilled.

I reckon Wayne Bennett is not as clever now as he used to be. If his instinct hasn't cut in already, and told him to not waste his time, then the Redcliffe Dolphins have a problem. Out of curiosity self interest :stoked: (about whether I was witnessing waning powers) I observed how The Oracle handled that Mitchell character during the past two years. I say he pulled the wrong rein in taking him on in the first place (indifferent performer, terrible positioning for a millionaire full back, big gob, self entitlement, etc) and that proved to be the case with fitness, attitude and absence on suspension. Wayne mastered no discernible change. He was characteristically evasive and dismissive when questioned. On the same player, during the same period, Brad Fittler had no hesitation dropping him and no difficulty saying publicly, unequivocally, why; he also commented last September his indiscipline would shorten his career. It was of interest to me that Fittler is 49 years old, 23 years younger than Bennett. You will recall both Milford and Mitchell do not brook criticism.

Wasted career/unfulfilled potential is the the same thing

Fool me once...

:laughing: The Dandenong Dolphins, a nice ring to that :stoked:

I’m a local so I can say this: The Dolphins firmly establishing themselves as the Redcliffe team. A place Victorians go to retire :laughing: :laughing:

Not much of a side. Bennett has no pull whatsoever

I suppose they will have to. That does put them in direct competition with Bennett as well and Parra with big chq books. Hughes and Welsh are the only long-term signings. Both Munster and Grant are only guaranteed (if there is such a thing) until 2023. If Bellamy continues his finals strangle hold after this transition it will be phenomenal.

Yep, my bad. My comment did extend beyond the scope of the discussion. That 80m Capt's knock from JWH was as good as I've seen. I would still stand by the Bromwich/Tui for that consistency reason. Not sure what happened to Papa, maybe the time away from home but he was nowhere near his best or even consistent for that matter. When his namesake ran over him against Parra was an example of his season. Qld need him to be better to help bring the young guys through.

Original comment was about the form in the just completed season. Jessie has had an unarguably absolutely marvelous career but in all honesty last year was at best, bland . As you said nothing between his good and bad games. On the other hand the Rooster trio, particularly JWH and Lui when the injuries started to bite in, played quite a few really outstanding courageous games in taking their pack over the advantage line and hammering the defence back off it. There were times when SST was noticeably wounded on field but played through it because he had to. As for the Raiders, it wasn’t a memorable year for any of them. But Papa still went better than J.Brom. and Tapine had more high quality games in the position in ‘21…imho.

Maybe we will see the Storm pivot in how they had previously operated around their cap. The successful formula in past seasons was to pay unders on talent, knowing they would get the best out of them (think Brandon Smith, Nico Hynes or petty much anyone they signed from the Q Cup). It frees up money to keep their absolute guns, currently Munster, Hughes, Paps, Harry Grant. But with a raft of players leaving at the end of 2022, suddenly they are going to be flush with cash. Smith ($500k), Finucane ($580), Kaufusi ($640k), Bromwich ($660k) and NAS ($675K) will have Storm in the market in a way we haven't seen for some time. Paps and Welch are locked down long term, Grant, Hughes and Munster can probably expect an upgrade, which will still leave money in the cap. I can't recall the last time the Storm went after a truly big name, an established player in in the peak of their powers? Someone like an Angus Crichton or Latrell Mitchell.

I'll be waiting to see what Bennett has to say.

Yesterday signings were all about establishing culture this morning he’s ready to sign a bloke charged with assaulting 2 women and a renowned lazy trainer.

Reading this morning that Milford could be heading to the Dolphins in 2023. Looks like he's not going to wear the cardinal and myrtle.