The fight ahead for Corey Oates

I bleed Maroon

I bleed Maroon

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After all the players we've lost over the past 2 seasons, it's time for our recruitment and retention staff to stand up and actually do something constructive. Oates put in an incredible performance today, 2 weeks back from an injury no less. His metres out of our own end are invaluable, his finishing is uncanny for such a big man and he's a future leader with how much he puts in every week.

It's no secret Melbourne have been sniffing around, and they're the last club I want to see such a quality Bronco playing for. We have to fight tooth and nail to retain him. Shove Thaiday flying into retirement and I don't care if we have to cull 6+ juniors to free up the space in the cap, it has to be done.

How much do you think he is worth tops? Discuss.

I wouldn't be against throwing 800k+ at him if necessary.
 
I bleed Maroon said:
After all the players we've lost over the past 2 seasons, it's time for our recruitment and retention staff to stand up and actually do something constructive. Oates put in an incredible performance today, 2 weeks back from an injury no less. His metres out of our own end are invaluable, his finishing is uncanny for such a big man and he's a future leader with how much he puts in every week.

It's no secret Melbourne have been sniffing around, and they're the last club I want to see such a quality Bronco playing for. We have to fight tooth and nail to retain him. Shove Thaiday flying into retirement and I don't care if we have to cull 6+ juniors to free up the space in the cap, it has to be done.

How much do you think he is worth tops? Discuss.

I wouldn't be against throwing 800k+ at him if necessary.
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Big issue is, if he wants to play second row, and we only offer him wing, he wont want to stay no matter what we offer
 
I think the conundrum becomes more of Wing or back row. Personally i think he should stay on the wing until he started to get older and slows down...Hes fantastic out there, bringing him into the back row potentially could limit his league life span injury wise.

Then there's the issue of him being a rep winger v rep back rower. I dont hink he would make QLD team s a back rower, def not the Australian team. Based on current form i think he would have a secure QLD spot on the wing as Gagai and Holmes arent setting the world on fire.

If Oates is tunnel blind on being a back rower ( i do not understand why) then the choice might be out of our hands.
 
I haven't been blown away by Su'a at all, Oates can def compete for a starting 2nd row spot here if he tries hard and starts from the bench.
 
007 said:
I think the conundrum becomes more of Wing or back row. Personally i think he should stay on the wing until he started to get older and slows down...Hes fantastic out there, bringing him into the back row potentially could limit his league life span injury wise.

Then there's the issue of him being a rep winger v rep back rower. I dont hink he would make QLD team s a back rower, def not the Australian team. Based on current form i think he would have a secure QLD spot on the wing as Gagai and Holmes arent setting the world on fire.

If Oates is tunnel blind on being a back rower ( i do not understand why) then the choice might be out of our hands.
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He is without a doubt a chance at the Qld backrow, especially if he actually plays there. Right now the Qld backrow options basically are - Cooper, Papalii, Lowe, Guerra, Hess, Thaiday, Su'a. How is he not a chance?
 
Sproj said:
He is without a doubt a chance at the Qld backrow, especially if he actually plays there. Right now the Qld backrow options basically are - Cooper, Papalii, Lowe, Guerra, Hess, Thaiday, Su'a. How is he not a chance?
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Exactly. All 3 of the Cows backrowers are out of form, Papa is playing for Mounties, Thaiday's rep days ended last year, Su'a is too young and unproven and Guerra is Guerra. If Walters rates Oates in the 2nd row, and I'm pretty sure he does, he won't hesitate.
 
Alec said:
I haven't been blown away by Su'a at all, Oates can def compete for a starting 2nd row spot here if he tries hard and starts from the bench.
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How can you make a call on sua so early. Next month or so we should get a good indication.
 
Alec said:
I haven't been blown away by Su'a at all, Oates can def compete for a starting 2nd row spot here if he tries hard and starts from the bench.
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He would have to address his defensive issues, he may get away with poor reads out on the wing more often then you like but being called upon more infield you don't have that luxury and your workrate requirements are higher and more demanding. I have no problem with giving the bloke a shot, but I wouldn't be saying to him you got it locked in either, especially not with the specialist backrowers we got coming up through the lower ranks.
 
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I bleed Maroon said:
Exactly. All 3 of the Cows backrowers are out of form, Papa is playing for Mounties, Thaiday's rep days ended last year, Su'a is too young and unproven and Guerra is Guerra. If Walters rates Oates in the 2nd row, and I'm pretty sure he does, he won't hesitate.
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Papalii just scored a try against the Eels and is tearing them a new one.

Form means nothing when it comes to Origin selection, they don't pick on form. There are too many backrowers ahead of Oates for him to get a call up in a position he isn't playing.

Maybe next year after he has some time in the backrow, but at the moment, he won't even be a thought.
 
Super Freak said:
at the moment, he won't even be a thought.
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He absolutely will be a thought, doesn't mean he will get in but he will certainly be thought about. He won't be thought about as a starter but he will definitely be very, very considered for a spot on the bench. It will depend on whether the selectors go with Hunt or not as to whether Oates gets in but even then, don't be surprised if he is 18th man at worst. With limited interchanges now, having a guy on your bench who can play centre/wing or 2nd row is gold.
 
Sproj said:
He absolutely will be a thought, doesn't mean he will get in but he will certainly be thought about. He won't be thought about as a starter but he will definitely be very, very considered for a spot on the bench. It will depend on whether the selectors go with Hunt or not as to whether Oates gets in but even then, don't be surprised if he is 18th man at worst. With limited interchanges now, having a guy on your bench who can play centre/wing or 2nd row is gold.
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He hasn't played second row since 2014.

Let's be realistic here, he isn't even going to come close. Not with our stocks in the backrow and not without playing a fair few games there leading into Origin.

Right now Hunt is the front runner for that utility spot and it's going to take a lot from Oates to take it from him, as well.

Oates can cover wing, but a centre he is not. He is also terrible at fullback and can't play in the halves.
 
That was Sua's second starting game. I think you have to give the bloke a break. The kind of player he is, he will be more impressive the more time he is given. I also thought Offa lifted it a notch. Both give me the impression they should be persisted within their respective roles. As much as i hated losing arrow, esese etc, we have the players to cover the forwards.
It's what happens when a winger is injured that concerns me. Replacing those between games seems to be the hardest at the moment (shouldn't be, but there you have it). We seem to lose our defensive structure every time a winger goes down in a game. I know there are specialist skills there, but you have to wonder why roberts, opacic, bird etc cant number up when the starting two or five go down. Maybe its something the coaching staff can address some time (though their time is probably pretty scant between the twenty hour kicking drills for knik and milford and bennets Mr Media Congeniality try outs :)
 
Thelmus said:
That was Sua's second starting game. I think you have to give the bloke a break. The kind of player he is, he will be more impressive the more time he is given. I also thought Offa lifted it a notch. Both give me the impression they should be persisted within their respective roles. As much as i hated losing arrow, esese etc, we have the players to cover the forwards.
It's what happens when a winger is injured that concerns me. Replacing those between games seems to be the hardest at the moment (shouldn't be, but there you have it). We seem to lose our defensive structure every time a winger goes down in a game. I know there are specialist skills there, but you have to wonder why roberts, opacic, bird etc cant number up when the starting two or five go down. Maybe its something the coaching staff can address some time (though their time is probably pretty scant between the twenty hour kicking drills for knik and milford and bennets Mr Media Congeniality try outs :)
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Su'A played from the bench.
 
Corey Oates is critical for us with his work out of our own end. If he is demanding to play in the back-row, I say let him go. If he only wants to play there for the money, pay him what he wants to stay on the wing.
 
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