Signings, Suggestions & Rumours Discussion

[magpies forever]

We have 30 players under contract for next season if Uto, Sezer & Tumeth's options are exercised. Here is a little depth chart I have put together just on our top 30 contracted for next season.

View attachment 11862

So to recruit, re-sign or promote any more players mean we have to release some.

Think Tumuth would be a good case to release as not set the world on fire, the issue of Sullivan / Sezer for next year will have to be resolved with one of them gone, as well as the issue of Twal / Seyfarth somewhat competing against each other for same similar role, Matamua, Klemmer and Toa might be cut too if theyre making hard decisions (klemmer only if his stats are lessening as he ages).

 

[AdelaideTiger]

I think his job is pretty simple. the biggest worry has always been his ability to bend the line and hit hard in contact, but that is consistently improving. given our issues at 13 I think he's best placed to fix it right now.

Siotame Havea is the player we have internally that is the ideal candidate moving forward, the issue is that he's 16 and a long long way off. I'm talking another 5 years. the rumoured plan to pursue Tallis Duncan certainly makes sense to me.

I know Matamua has been up and down but I still think there a real gem there. If our middle defence was better, I'd have no issue with him playing 60min in the middle for first grade. Teams just seem to be able to find too much space in and around the ruck and it kills us.
Our 13 just needs to get through soo much work on defence, which is why I think they have favoured Pole to date.
The team's that haven't been able to break us down in the middle is where we have had success. I honestly think we will put the dogs to the sword this week, our pack should dominate theirs

 

[weststigerman]

We have 30 players under contract for next season if Uto, Sezer & Tumeth's options are exercised. Here is a little depth chart I have put together just on our top 30 contracted for next season.

View attachment 11862

So to recruit, re-sign or promote any more players mean we have to release some.

You'd think the club would want to re-sign Sione Fainu to keep the other Fainu's happy and he did look good in the trials before his injury.

 

[BlackWhiteGold]

You'd think the club would want to re-sign Sione Fainu to keep the other Fainu's happy and he did look good in the trials before his injury.

It's looking more and more likely (due to current contracts) that the best offer he'll get from us is a Train & Trial deal. Then it'll be down to whether he gets offered a top 30 elsewhere which I currently can't see happening.

 

[BlackWhiteGold]

Think Tumuth would be a good case to release as not set the world on fire, the issue of Sullivan / Sezer for next year will have to be resolved with one of them gone, as well as the issue of Twal / Seyfarth somewhat competing against each other for same similar role, Matamua, Klemmer and Toa might be cut too if theyre making hard decisions (klemmer only if his stats are lessening as he ages).

I think you're right.

I reckon Benji will want to free up some spots for player types we desperately need.

Tumeth released & only one of Sezer or Sullivan retained would give us 2 spots.

Big watch on Twal, Seyfarth, Naden, To'a, Staines, Doeuihi, Alaimalo, Faataape, Sione Fainu over rest of the season - they all need to seriously impress to cement spots.

 

[razor7]

I know Matamua has been up and down but I still think there a real gem there. If our middle defence was better, I'd have no issue with him playing 60min in the middle for first grade. Teams just seem to be able to find too much space in and around the ruck and it kills us.
Our 13 just needs to get through soo much work on defence, which is why I think they have favoured Pole to date.
The team's that haven't been able to break us down in the middle is where we have had success. I honestly think we will put the dogs to the sword this week, our pack should dominate theirs

It's sort of like the late 90's when a lot of halves switched to hooker successfully.

Generally speaking the players who come through as halves are the most talented players. Some kick on, some fall just short. Those that fall just short can transition to a position that requires less skill and pressure, like hooker and lock.

 

[razor7]

Matamua is improving a lot in koe cup. Tumeth has been underwhelming

 

[balmain boy]

And you would think they might be looking to hang onto Faataape who seems higher up the depth chart than several other guys here ..so not a lot of room left …

We can't re-sign him. He's really just another plodder. If we release both Toa and someone like Staines or Naden then maybe he could sneak a top 30 spot. But really he's a backup, too small, too slow to ever be a starting player. But a better backup than the likes of Kepaoa

 

[Camel2281]

I’d be surprised if Da Silva doesn’t become an NRL regular, just not sure what’s going on with him at the moment.

He's still a kid

 

[Vicious]

He's still a kid

Yes but the fact that he’s only played around 10-15mins game time on each of the coast 2 games is quite strange for a highly rated young player we’re supposed to be developing.

 

[Snidest 0]

Yes but the fact that he’s only played around 10-15mins game time on each of the coast 2 games is quite strange for a highly rated young player we’re supposed to be developing.

He was getting ragdolled by attacking forwards at times in those first grade minutes he had.

Needs more physical development to consistently defend in the middle for more than a a few sets (despite his muscular physique - he's a lightweight).

Would be good to see him play some open-age in Massey Cup like the backrowers - but they obviously don't think he's physically robust enough yet.

 

[InGalvinWeTrust]

does anyone know what LSB means, i keep on seeing it pop up on stories

 

[Tiger Stripes]

I’m surprised by him saying we are done in the recruiting, we are still not a first grade team who goes well each week , we need probably 2 more , I note the panthers signing he noted centre next year so we need a big prop with strong go forward carries and a speedy big winger , prop will let Pole play back row , the other thing is our second grade team shows not much in the players who can meet first grade we need to unload half of them and get firing first graders from other clubs who are behind top class players

I just hope we snag Willison from the Bronco's.
He is the big, young prop we need for starters!
Hoping they waive enough $$$ and incentives to get him?

 

[weststigerman]

You can't expect all 18 year olds to jump in and belong at NRL or even NSW Cup level.

Galvin is something different altogether as he's doing more than even Benji did at that age. Latu is also doing well holding his own at NRL level. Da Silva is probably a year away.

Forwards like Miller, Laulilli, Faagatu will likely take a bit longer to develop. I expect it won't be until 2026 before they regularly appear in the NRL.

We have too many 18-19 year olds in the top 30, but the club chose to do that so we wouldn't lose them. IMO we need some stopgap players for the next year to help them out. Would be nice to find someone who can play 13 if the club doesn't rate Matamua.

 

[pawsandclaws1]

There was a good article this morning on MSN where Billy Slater offered his opinion that the WTS with the purchases of Luai, Turuva and the emergence of very good young talent are on the way up. Slater imo is one of the best commentators and his opinions are to a large extent free from club bias. I would like him at our club as a consultant.

 

[finnzo]

There was a good article this morning on MSN where Billy Slater offered his opinion that the WTS with the purchases of Luai, Turuva and the emergence of very good young talent are on the way up. Slater imo is one of the best commentators and his opinions are to a large extent free from club bias. I would like him at our club as a consultant.

Jareams person on field coach

 

[BlackWhiteGold]

Currently we have our top 30 spots locked up for 2025 if the options for Uto, Sezer & Tumeth are exercised.

We all know that there will likely be a player or 2 currently under contract moved on which will free up some more spots.

But it got me thinking which young players do we have could be integral to the team based on their physical attributes (and what we currently lack in our top 17) ...

1 Jordan Miller - big, metre-eating prop with offloading ability.
2 Solo Saukuru - big tackle-busting centre/wing with good aerial ability.
3 Heath Mason - dynamo with quick acceleration & footwork.
4 Nav Willett - tall, strong wing/centre with with good aerial ability.
5 Herman Tofaeono - explosive prop that can bust a line, provide impact off bench.
6 Lachlan Broederlow - strong, powerful backrower in both A&D, brings effort.
7 Luke Laulilii - strong, powerful tackle-breaking wing.

 

[Tcat]

There was a good article this morning on MSN where Billy Slater offered his opinion that the WTS with the purchases of Luai, Turuva and the emergence of very good young talent are on the way up. Slater imo is one of the best commentators and his opinions are to a large extent free from club bias. I would like him at our club as a consultant.

He's way better than Cronk. Cronk comes across like a rich spoilt school kid. Thinks everyone is below him. He was lucky with the teams/systems he played in. Never did it tough and turned a struggling team around.

 

[851]

The Slater article, he thinks we are trending up.

MSN

Slater's bold call amid 'exciting' Tigers rebuild​

Billy Slater has made a bold call on the Wests Tigers, claiming the struggling club is "not far off" after landing some massive recruitment coups in recent months.

After locking in the services of three-time premiership winner Jarome Luai for 2025 and beyond, the Tigers also managed to sign Penrith teammate Sunia Turuva on a three-year deal beginning next season.


Despite the interest from St George Illawarra and a desire from the Panthers to retain the 2023 Dally M Rookie of the Year, Turuva surprised many by opting to move to Concord, where he will add plenty of spark out wide for Benji Marshall's side.


The club has also brought in Api Koroisau, John Bateman and Isaiah Papali'i over the past 18 months, bolstering the roster in the middle of the field.

And according to Slater, Marshall's team is on the cusp of something special with the likes of young stars Lachlan Galvin, Jahream Bula and Latu Fainu also coming through.

Lachlan Galvin has been a standout for the Tigers in 2024.© Getty
"They are certainly building something there," he said on Nine's Billy Slater Podcast.

"If we see some growth in Lachlan Galvin and these young guys coming through and put some experienced and classy players around them, they are not too far off.

"If you're a Tigers fan, I'd be getting pretty excited."



Galvin has been brilliant in his first handful of games in the top grade, while the excitement machine that is Bula in the No.1 jumper continues to show great potential.

And the impending arrival of Turuva, who played in last year's grand final for the Panthers, will add a vital cog in the wheel to Marshall's backline.

Sunia Turuva will head to the Tigers next year.© Getty
"He brings a whole heap to the game," Slater said.

"Now more than ever, the wingers bring so much to the game.

"They are not just tryscorers, which Sunia Turuva is wonderful at, but I believe he does his best work up the other end of the field when he brings the ball out of trouble.

"Sunia is a great pick-up. He is a wonderful player, he is only young, and to get someone like that at the Tigers [is great]."

 

[Canadian Club]

Currently we have our top 30 spots locked up for 2025 if the options for Uto, Sezer & Tumeth are exercised.

We all know that there will likely be a player or 2 currently under contract moved on which will free up some more spots.

But it got me thinking which young players do we have could be integral to the team based on their physical attributes (and what we currently lack in our top 17) ...

1 Jordan Miller - big, metre-eating prop with offloading ability.
2 Solo Saukuru - big tackle-busting centre/wing with good aerial ability.
3 Heath Mason - dynamo with quick acceleration & footwork.
4 Nav Willett - tall, strong wing/centre with with good aerial ability.
5 Herman Tofaeono - explosive prop that can bust a line, provide impact off bench.
6 Lachlan Broederlow - strong, powerful backrower in both A&D, brings effort.
7 Luke Laulilii - strong, powerful tackle-breaking wing.

I really like Luke Laulilii from what i have seen so far this season and think he may be the most underrated of the young prospects coming through. He also has a clear path to first grade given our lack of standout wingers. It seems like the club are happy with his progress given he has gone from SG Ball to Flegg to NSW Cup already this season.

He made the Aus schoolboy side last year along with Galvin and Mason albeit being one year younger (18 this year) and is still eligible for SG Ball next season.

His speed, agility, power and ball running style reminds me a of a young Val Homes who also played his juniors at fullback but came into grade as winger at the Sharks.