Transfer news, rumours, suggestions, frenzied speculation, and outright lies - Season 2023-24

[Danno]

Both garsides now finally confirmed at wuss, as previewed. In fairness wuss aren’t going ott though look like fully pro. Interested to see where the money is coming from.

You're not the only one. I had a snoop about around a month ago and found nowt.

Odd isn’t it. Reputedly sold 3000 season tickets so there’s that.

It's a start I suppose

[Puja]

Telegraph reckon Leicester have signed James O'Connor to be the starting 10, with Billy Searle as the backup. I haven't seen much of O'Connor in years and the memories I do have of him are mostly from his younger days, when he was a mercurial flaky utility back that was occasionally press-ganged into playing fly-half. I know that a *lot* has changed over the time and that, especially after his stint at the Crusaders, the general consensus has been that he is highly thought of as a secure and experienced 10.

Seems like a decent signing and hopefully the plan is that he'll help develop one of the youngsters into being his successor in a year or two.

Puja

[Mikey Brown]

Yep, sounds like he’s playing the ‘wise old head’ role very well for Crusaders while they bed in some youngsters.

What a bizarre career he’s had - I guess if you want someone who has already made all the mistakes there can’t be many better. It would be fun to see more of him in the Prem.

[Puja]

What a bizarre career he’s had - I guess if you want someone who has already made all the mistakes there can’t be many better. It would be fun to see more of him in the Prem.

Just looking back over his career stats and reports: 5 different moves over 7 seasons at one point. Notable that the majority of the pre-2019 Australian ones ended with "the Rebels/Reds/Force withdrew from contract extension because of off-field indiscipline" and his stints at LIrish and Sale ending with "He returned to Australia to pursue selection for the 2015/2019 RWC".

Reading between the lines, it seems like he grew up a bit after getting himself in serious trouble over cocaine with Toulon in 2017. He became another Steve Diamond project in giving a chance to a troubled talent when he replaced Cipriani at Sale and then, despite his deal with Queensland Reds coming with "strict behavioural clauses" there's not been a whisper of off-field problems since then.

My only concern is whether he's a front-line, reliable goal-kicker at 10, cause Leicester don't really have other options in the backline. I know Steward and van Poortvliet are both capable of goalkicking, but it's very much not a speciality for them, so if JOC isn't 80%+ then we've not got a plan B like Bath have with Spencer.

Puja

[FKAS]

What a bizarre career he’s had - I guess if you want someone who has already made all the mistakes there can’t be many better. It would be fun to see more of him in the Prem.

Just looking back over his career stats and reports: 5 different moves over 7 seasons at one point. Notable that the majority of the pre-2019 Australian ones ended with "the Rebels/Reds/Force withdrew from contract extension because of off-field indiscipline" and his stints at LIrish and Sale ending with "He returned to Australia to pursue selection for the 2015/2019 RWC".

Reading between the lines, it seems like he grew up a bit after getting himself in serious trouble over cocaine with Toulon in 2017. He became another Steve Diamond project in giving a chance to a troubled talent when he replaced Cipriani at Sale and then, despite his deal with Queensland Reds coming with "strict behavioural clauses" there's not been a whisper of off-field problems since then.

My only concern is whether he's a front-line, reliable goal-kicker at 10, cause Leicester don't really have other options in the backline. I know Steward and van Poortvliet are both capable of goalkicking, but it's very much not a speciality for them, so if JOC isn't 80%+ then we've not got a plan B like Bath have with Spencer.

Puja

I suspect Searle is seen as the starter and JOC will take a role similar to that he had at the Crusaders where he's the experienced bench utility option to come on and run the show if needed. It being a one year deal suggests we have an eye on a marquee option next summer.

Volavola is supposed to be staying and we've signed Titcombe as well which gives us plenty of options at 10/15. Presumably with the intention that Threlfall will have a full season with Notts to continue his development. He's been starting games at 10 coming into the end of the season which is a good sign at 18. Talbot the 17 year old who's already played up to England under 19s level is another in the pipeline so it might be were hoping a meteoric rise takes place and similar to Marcus Smith at Quins a youngster emerges and just takes over long term.

[Cameo]

I've seen a fair bit of O'Connor this year. He's got some rave reviews, but to me he hasn't been anything more than reasonably solid. My view may be coloured by thinking he's never been up to much at 10. He's done a decent job there but never shown the spark that he sometimes had out wide.

[Banquo]

I've seen a fair bit of O'Connor this year. He's got some rave reviews, but to me he hasn't been anything more than reasonably solid. My view may be coloured by thinking he's never been up to much at 10. He's done a decent job there but never shown the spark that he sometimes had out wide.

He’s also pretty ancient to be fair

[Danno]

I've seen a fair bit of O'Connor this year. He's got some rave reviews, but to me he hasn't been anything more than reasonably solid. My view may be coloured by thinking he's never been up to much at 10. He's done a decent job there but never shown the spark that he sometimes had out wide.

He’s also pretty ancient to be fair

Glass houses dude

[Puja]

I've seen a fair bit of O'Connor this year. He's got some rave reviews, but to me he hasn't been anything more than reasonably solid. My view may be coloured by thinking he's never been up to much at 10. He's done a decent job there but never shown the spark that he sometimes had out wide.

Ugh, that's less encouraging. Mind, I was saying earlier in the thread that I would be happy with Searle at 10 as I think he's massively underrated, so if JOC isn't first XV 10, then he's versatile enough to play anywhere in the backs and will be a hell of a mentor to the young backs we've got coming through. As long as we're not overpaying for him, should still be decent.

This final feels a bit like the 2022 one though - one last shot to win a title before the spine of the team goes elsewhere and it'll be a season or two of rebuilding. I'd accept top 6 as being a good result for us next season.

Puja

[FKAS]

Farrell set to return to Sarries on a five year deal, firstly as a player/coach and then transitioning to just a coach. I suspect he'll be overpaid as a coach to make up for the much smaller than Racing level of salary he's going to be getting initially.

[FKAS]

I've seen a fair bit of O'Connor this year. He's got some rave reviews, but to me he hasn't been anything more than reasonably solid. My view may be coloured by thinking he's never been up to much at 10. He's done a decent job there but never shown the spark that he sometimes had out wide.

Ugh, that's less encouraging. Mind, I was saying earlier in the thread that I would be happy with Searle at 10 as I think he's massively underrated, so if JOC isn't first XV 10, then he's versatile enough to play anywhere in the backs and will be a hell of a mentor to the young backs we've got coming through. As long as we're not overpaying for him, should still be decent.

This final feels a bit like the 2022 one though - one last shot to win a title before the spine of the team goes elsewhere and it'll be a season or two of rebuilding. I'd accept top 6 as being a good result for us next season.

Puja

If we're rolling into next season with Searle, JOC and Volavola (Titcombe as well). Then we've got plenty of dependable flyhalf cover. Not particularly inspiring but should be able to do a job. Surely JOC isn't costing much, NZ franchises I don't think pay particularly well, it's if you get to AB level the cash starts to come (could be wrong).

Considering who's leaving we should have plenty of cap space available to throw some money at some quality additions. Hooker and tighthead we could do with some ball carrying bruisers to add impact off the bench. A back up scrum half, even if it's a short term option. A winger and possibly a fullback but squad cover options so shouldn't be particularly expensive.

Tevita Ikanivere is leaving the Drua for instance, be an ideal signing to pair with Blamire at hooker. With Montoya and his rumoured £350k coming off the books as well as the about £50k we were paying Vanes, add on Blamire and we should have at least £200k if not more to try and tempt him to the Prem.

We might not have as good a flyhalf but ideally we'd have a more mobile and more threatening forward pack ball in hand.

[Banquo]

I've seen a fair bit of O'Connor this year. He's got some rave reviews, but to me he hasn't been anything more than reasonably solid. My view may be coloured by thinking he's never been up to much at 10. He's done a decent job there but never shown the spark that he sometimes had out wide.

He’s also pretty ancient to be fair

Glass houses dude

...I'm not a professional rugby player in fairness...

[Puja]

Farrell set to return to Sarries on a five year deal, firstly as a player/coach and then transitioning to just a coach. I suspect he'll be overpaid as a coach to make up for the much smaller than Racing level of salary he's going to be getting initially.

I'd imagine he'll probably be the marquee player, given that the rumoured €200k transfer fee will have to be included in the salary cap, IIRC.

Puja

[Mikey Brown]

He’s also pretty ancient to be fair

Glass houses dude

...I'm not a professional rugby player in fairness...

I hope Oakboy is sitting down when he reads this.

[Banquo]

Glass houses dude

...I'm not a professional rugby player in fairness...

I hope Oakboy is sitting down when he reads this.

[Which Tyler]

He’s also pretty ancient to be fair

Glass houses dude

[Which Tyler]

I'd imagine he'll probably be the marquee player, given that the rumoured €200k transfer fee will have to be included in the salary cap, IIRC.

You recall wrongly I'm afraid.

Transfer fees are payment from one club to another, and no part of a player's salary.

[Danno]

He’s also pretty ancient to be fair

Glass houses dude

What no Pollard? Outrageous. He's earned the meme.

[Which Tyler]

He wasn't as joyous about it as Dunn was about selling his dummy

[Puja]

I'd imagine he'll probably be the marquee player, given that the rumoured €200k transfer fee will have to be included in the salary cap, IIRC.

You recall wrongly I'm afraid.

Transfer fees are payment from one club to another, and no part of a player's salary.

Huh. Could've sworn there was something in there about transfer fees counting so that clubs were disincentivised to poach from each other? Maybe that was under a previous regime?

Puja

[Which Tyler]

It's certainly been this way since the [Redacted] debacle - which is the first transfer fee I can remember.

[Mikey Brown]

Glass houses dude

What no Pollard? Outrageous. He's earned the meme.

Yeah, I thought the goalpost featuring was kind of the point.

[Danno]

What no Pollard? Outrageous. He's earned the meme.

Yeah, I thought the goalpost featuring was kind of the point.

If you can't get yourself a jpeg after spannering yourself into a post that hard then what else can you do?

[Which Tyler]

Feel free - I'm busy reminding Leicester fans of the above ahead of tomorrow

[FKAS]

I'd imagine he'll probably be the marquee player, given that the rumoured €200k transfer fee will have to be included in the salary cap, IIRC.

You recall wrongly I'm afraid.

Transfer fees are payment from one club to another, and no part of a player's salary.

Huh. Could've sworn there was something in there about transfer fees counting so that clubs were disincentivised to poach from each other? Maybe that was under a previous regime?

Puja

I thought there was as well. Maybe it was the old regs.

Farrell probably going under injury dispensation as much as possible so that would soak up a good chunk.