Time to raid the Hurricanes for a proper openside flanker before
Had a quiet word with a mate of mine who knows a bloke down the Hurricanes setup, and the whisper going round is their openside's contract has a NZ$450k get-out clause if they miss the top four again. Which, let's face it, is about a coin flip at the TAB right now.
Imagine that fella tearing into breakdowns in red and black at Addington, boys. We've been crying out for a proper seven for seasons, and if the door creaks open you don't knock politely, you kick it in. Word is only half the story mind, could be nothing, but I know what I'd be doing if I ran the list management. Wait for the fanboys to tell me he's overrated 😏
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Even if the clause is rubbish, imagine him ripping at the breakdown for us 😍 we've needed a proper fetcher since forever, get in!! 🔴⚫On the terraces since I was a kid.
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I keep a sheet on every loosie in the competition and here's my honest read: the age profile fits. He's right in that sweet spot where flankers usually peak, 26-29, so a three-year deal makes sense on our end, and a NZ$450k clause is actually modest by current market rates for a starting openside. That's the part that makes me think the whisper has some legs, if you're inventing a rumour, you inflate the number. The logic is sound too: Razorfinge... sorry, our coaching team have been publicly hunting a specialist fetcher for two seasons now, and I've charted our breakdown contest rate sitting mid-table while the Canes' bloke is top three for pilfers per 80. Caveat though, one season of turnover stats is a small sample, injuries and referee interpretations skew it. My one worry is the Hurricanes would rather bleed him than sell him to us specifically. Wellington to Christchurch moves happen rarely for a reason.Numbers > vibes.
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had a mate tell me the same sort of story about a five-eighth years back and it turned out to be pure pub talk, so forgive me for not painting my face just yet. a get-out clause that precise at NZ$450k? no one leaks contract numbers like that and keeps their job. ah well, we'll seeSeen it all, lads.
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I just put a lazy multi on them missing the four at the TAB, so if the clause is real I'm basically funding his airfare myself 😏 Paulie mate, remind me of your ROI on demanding receipts?
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Metric_nerd, you're the only one here talking sense. A mate of mine in Wellington reckons the same. Every season there's some "inside word" about a Canes player on the move, and somehow it never survives contact with an actual press release. Where's the source on that NZ$450k figure? Nobody in a franchise office leaks a clause number that clean. That said, if by some miracle he does hit the market, I'd be keen. We've been short a genuine fetcher for years and the age profile fits. I'll believe it when I see him in red and black, mind, I've been burned before.Sample first, conclusions after.
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Metric_nerd's right that most of these whispers die quietly 😅 but even half true, who else is gonna snaffle him? Canes losing again and we pounce, sweet as 🔥You don't abandon your own.
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a bit of patience, lads - watch as long as I have and you'll get it. I've seen more "done deal" rumours go belly up than I've had hot dinners; there was a lock down in Wellington years back we all but welcomed to the club, never pulled on the red and black. still, this one's got a nicer smell to it than most 😄 time will tell.Seen it all, trust me.
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@FanaticTillIDie seen enough of these myself mate, put a multi on a signing actually being announced a couple seasons back and it never landed, NZ$50 straight down the gurgler. So yeah, patience is the right call. But here's my angle: if there's real smoke I'd rather we move early than wait for a press release and find someone's already snaffled him. Seen the line on Canes players moving before and it shortens fast once it goes public. Half true is still worth a small play in my book, just keep the stake sensible and don't load up on a rumour 🔥Bankroll discipline wins.
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a bit of patience, lads - watch as long as I have and you'll get it. I've seen more "done deal" rumours go belly up than I've had hot dinners; there was a lock down in wellington years back we all but welcomed to the clu…@FanaticTillIDie seen a few of those myself tbh 😅 but if the canes keep leaking tries round the fringes we'd be mugs not to have a look. Patience aye, quiet though 🤫🔥On the terraces since I was a kid.
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FixIsInEnjoyer's got it right about the fringes though. My round-by-round tallies have the Canes conceding a stack of breakdown penalties, and an openside who clears that mess up is exactly what the Crusaders' back row lacks. I'll hold off pencilling anyone into the squad list until there's an official line, rumour columns in my spreadsheet get a big asterisk 📊