General Luke Lewis/Israel Folau - Do the Warriors make a play?

[eX | Machina]

Quality second-rower like Luke Lewis are seldom up for grabs. Do the Warriors table an offer?

 

[Magic Stick]

If Penrith take Taylor and Tupou hell yeah...but cant see Lewis wanting to come to NZ

Lewis and SBW at the Roosters maybe

 

[¿N. ig-mah¿]

I would assume you would need to hand him the captaincy to get him. Mannering would have to take a sidestep. Not neccessarily a bad thing for mine. Let him concentrate on his own game and let a seasoned pro take the reins.

But I don't think we have enough to attract him. Would be interesting to hear his reasoning for leaving.

 

[BA-AD Luck]

Yes absolutely. After watching him in Origin III was hoping that this would be the case. He offers so much and will allow Mannering, Mateo and Lewis to play ball in each third of the field. I say yes in a big, big way.

 

[tajhay]

He has 2 years remaining on a 425k per year deal. Panthers are unlikely to subside his salary. As such no thanks. Only club that probably can afford him are eels and dogs.

 

[Hitman82]

Hmm, Lewis will be 29 this August. Not too old really - he'd have at least 3 good seasons left in him I'd say.

With our second row supposedly sewn up with the excitement machines of Simon Mannering, Ben Henry and Elijah Taylor, I doubt we'd make a play for him.

Having said that:

11 Simon Mannering
12 Luke Lewis
13 Feleti Martel

...looks pretty amazing.

You know what, screw it. I'd sign Luke Lewis to replace Manu Vatuvei as our x-factor winger, and move big Manu to impact bench forward.

Or we could play Dane Nielsen as a winger and use Luke Lewis in the centres.

I mean, we aren't going to sign him anyway... but it would be neat.

 

[Hitman82]

He has 2 years remaining on a 425k per year deal. Panthers are unlikely to subside his salary. As such no thanks. Only club that probably can afford him are eels and dogs.

If we can justify paying Vatuvei over 500k, and Inu 300k I'd be totally down with paying 450k for Luke Lewis.

 

[Magic Stick]

Sam International Prop of Mystery McKendry...is on big money.He must be next out the door at the Panthers

 

[Miket12]

Eels, Doggies & Tigers seem to be the clubs most likely to be after him.

https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/nrl/former-penrith-panthers-captain-luke-lewis-wants-a-release-from-the-club/story-e6frexqi-1226420608097

 

[Konrad Hurell]

Would love this guy. But I'd imagine somebody like Hinchcliffe is more realistic for us.

With our second row supposedly sewn up with the excitement machines of Simon Mannering, Ben Henry and Elijah Taylor.

Oh lord, I pray to the league gods our starting backrow does not look like this come round 1 next year

 

[Hitman82]

Eels, Doggies & Tigers seem to be the clubs most likely to be after him.

https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/nrl/former-penrith-panthers-captain-luke-lewis-wants-a-release-from-the-club/story-e6frexqi-1226420608097

The most likely to sign him perhaps. But every club in the world will be trying to sign the guy! he's a freak.
I assume the Panthers are making a play for someone like Thurston...

 

[eX | Machina]

Hmm, Lewis will be 29 this August. Not too old really - he'd have at least 3 good seasons left in him I'd say.

With our second row supposedly sewn up with the excitement machines of Simon Mannering, Ben Henry and Elijah Taylor, I doubt we'd make a play for him.

Having said that:

11 Simon Mannering
12 Luke Lewis
13 Feleti Martel

...looks pretty amazing.

You know what, screw it. I'd sign Luke Lewis to replace Manu Vatuvei as our x-factor winger, and move big Manu to impact bench forward.

Or we could play Dane Nielsen as a winger and use Luke Lewis in the centres.

I mean, we aren't going to sign him anyway... but it would be neat.

Tell you what how about a straight swap of contracts, Manu for Lewis. Luke can have the extra $100k as pocket money and a three deal boot. I'm sure Gould would be delighted to have Manu over at Penrith seeing as he loves it how he smiles when he drops the ball!

 

[eX | Machina]

Just read this from his Wiki page: Lewis has also played representative football at wing, centre, lock and second row, and won first grade Man of the Match awards at five-eighth and halfback.

 

[Hitman82]

Just read this from his Wiki page: Lewis has also played representative football at wing, centre, lock and second row, and won first grade Man of the Match awards at five-eighth and halfback.

Yeah he is ridiculously talented and versatile. He's in reality more of a $600k player... his feats at Origin and Test level attest to this.

I'd swap Manu plus 3 of our best Under 20s for Luke Lewis. He's the kind of guy who would make a decent team into title contenders.

 

[facefacts]

No more forwards, we arent exactly struggling in that department....we need to buy a winger with some skill and speed, who can catch and hold onto the ball.

Sadly our wings is where backline moves go to die.

 

[eX | Machina]

Yeah he is ridiculously talented and versatile. He's in reality more of a $600k player... his feats at Origin and Test level attest to this.

I'd swap Manu plus 3 of our best Under 20s for Luke Lewis. He's the kind of guy who would make a decent team into title contenders.

Looks like the Panthers have either signed or about to sign Thurston. Personally I'd prefer sticking with a quality utility like Lewis and bringing up the juniors rather than forking out $1M + for JT. Don't get me wrong JT is a beast but the price tag to lure him away from the Cows will be monstrous!

 

[eX | Machina]

No more forwards, we arent exactly struggling in that department....we need to buy a winger with some skill and speed, who can catch and hold onto the ball.

Sadly our wings is where backline moves go to die.

I though he was only a second-rower as well but apparently he's actually a utility and played centre and wing at rep level. I only just found this out this morning.

 

[Hitman82]

No more forwards, we arent exactly struggling in that department....we need to buy a winger with some skill and speed, who can catch and hold onto the ball.

Sadly our wings is where backline moves go to die.

While I agree we struggle to populate the wings with quality players, I disagree on our forward stocks.

Our PROPS are awesome. Our BACKROW is lacklustre.

Simon Mannering is good at what he does - tackling hard and making decent runs, without offering much in the way of attack. Feleti Martel, when applying himself, is obviously an attacking machine. From there onwards we lack penetration and ball-playing ability. Lewis Brown is the only other attacking second rower we have (though I think he's over rated), and he's leaving anyway.

Regardless, Luke Lewis can play pretty much any position on the field.

 

[Inruin]

If we can justify paying Vatuvei over 500k, and Inu 300k I'd be totally down with paying 450k for Luke Lewis.

Lewis is on $700k a season. our fowards are ok. maybe a tough veteran backrower/prop. we need another half/6 and another centre/winger. i would pay big money for a top quality half who is going to guide your team and create for them. not on an injury prone forward who will be missing at rep time.

 

[Hitman82]

Lewis is on $700k a season. our fowards are ok. maybe a tough veteran backrower/prop. we need another half/6 and another centre/winger. i would pay big money for a top quality half who is going to guide your team and create for them. not on an injury prone forward who will be missing at rep time.

Where did you get that figure from? And are you talking AU$?

Yeah my ideal forward signing would be a Glenn Stewart type. A hardnosed, experienced second rower who won't jersey grab, and can make quality attacking plays.

I'm a Leuluai fan and don't think we need to sign any halves, except perhaps a youngish 6 as backup.

Centres/wings are where we lack depth and quality. Nielsen will help with this, but with Manu varying between injured and out of form, all we really have is Hurrell.