Signings, Suggestions & Rumours Discussion

jirskyr said:
Well the one caveat is they cheated - they cheated big and they cheated for quite some time, and they did so to keep themselves at the top of the ladder.

We can only speculate what would have happened if they didn't cheat, dropped down the ladder, and had to struggle like everyone else to get back to the top.

Tigers on the other hand are rarely at the top of the ladder, and because basically the same teams populate the Bottom 8 every year, there's a clear advantage if you can maintain a winning run.

In other words - if Tigers cheated the cap for 3 or 4 years, even if we were found out and heavily sanctioned, could that possibly be enough of a platform to keep ourselves near the top?
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Possibly...
Have you been watching Parra since they got done for Cap Rorting?
They've gone from 3-4 Wooden Spoons to 3-4 Top 4 finishes in the space of a decade.

Melbourne have proven what happens if they're not cheating....
They're the top team. They've got the top people - who get the top players - and make them a top team.
People forget the scandal was 12 years ago... They've won at least a couple comps since then, And been in the battle for a few others.

Remember when we got their 3rd best hooker and he was our best player!!
 
BlackWhiteGold said:
Been stewing over some 'possible' recruits for next season based on our needs, who is off contract & some names already mooted. Be interested in your opinions ...

Centre
1 - Tom Opacic (for experience & much-needed defensive steel on an edge, lacks speed but finishes well, thinking the Shane Elford type signing, hopefully be end-of-season Gildart or Toa will prove themselves as 1st Grade standard & Fautimau/Ogden/Tupou emerge)
Really who else are we going to get that is off contract & would come to the Tigers. I'd love Farnworth but I think the Dolphins would be his likely destination or staying at Broncos.

Back Row
1 - Briton Nikora (experience, hole-running, decent defensively & will hopefully have a point-to-prove). Would prefer Jeremiah Nanai but I think Dolphins will be his preference.
2 - a solid experienced defensive back rower to provide cover for Nikora, Papaali, Blore and before the likes of Tumeth, Saakuru, O'Kane are ready. One of Joe Stimson, Jackson Topine or Jack Williams.

Front Row
1 - Sione Fainu or Franklin Pele
2 - Not off-contract with St Helens but I'd try to lure Alex Walmsley. Although 32, get him for a couple of seasons to provide experience (with departures of Tamou & possibly Joffa & Mikaele), a hard nut & maybe a point to prove he is the best English prop & can cut it against the best Aussies & Kiwis.

Thoughts?
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Opacic is serviceable. Not a huge game breaker but solid and has a good attitude I think. Fairly reliable defender too.
 
jirskyr said:
In other words - if Tigers cheated the cap for 3 or 4 years, even if we were found out and heavily sanctioned, could that possibly be enough of a platform to keep ourselves near the top?
Click to expand...

It's hard to state. Melbourne now probably cheat as much as any other club as well. I think it requires more than just that initial massive rort although that helped them a lot. You also need to recruit juniors really well. Melbourne don't buy many players who are established stars. I can only really think of Coates.
 
Earl said:
It's hard to state. Melbourne now probably cheat as much as any other club as well. I think it requires more than just that initial massive rort although that helped them a lot. You also need to recruit juniors really well. Melbourne don't buy many players who are established stars. I can only really think of Coates.
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They have a brilliant scout network and then pathways development & structure in training/skills/game plan starts well before those players hit NRL.

They also know what a players value is and when to let a player go as well.

Regarding buying players it's interesting as it shows the struggles with quality wingers as it's one position they do often buy players for.
 
I think Maumalo is one of the best wingers in the comp. We just need to use him more, whether that is via the centre passing or crossfield kicks, he should be on the scoresheet most weeks.
Noffa is what he is. He has value in the starting of sets and can finish a try. Wonder if he should defend in the centre postion, with a winger outside him telling him when to come in etc?
 
jirskyr said:
Well the one caveat is they cheated - they cheated big and they cheated for quite some time, and they did so to keep themselves at the top of the ladder.

We can only speculate what would have happened if they didn't cheat, dropped down the ladder, and had to struggle like everyone else to get back to the top.

Tigers on the other hand are rarely at the top of the ladder, and because basically the same teams populate the Bottom 8 every year, there's a clear advantage if you can maintain a winning run.

In other words - if Tigers cheated the cap for 3 or 4 years, even if we were found out and heavily sanctioned, could that possibly be enough of a platform to keep ourselves near the top?
Click to expand...
Yeh, probably not.
Cheating the cap only proves one thing. A strong desire to win, which in itself is not something we have been renowned for in recent times. Sure, it can help if you’re locked in a tough fight to get that new player, or to incentivise existing players, but it’s only part of the story.

I think their success is mainly due to everyone in the organisation knowing their responsibilities and knowing how to perform their tasks. Also having a good understanding of their value within the role they play.
Not having constant personnel changes allows them to continue driving each other to adhere to systems and procedures. It’s now part of the club’s culture. As you know, it’s not rocket science.
 
Mighty_Tiger said:
They have a brilliant scout network and then pathways development & structure in training/skills/game plan starts well before those players hit NRL.

They also know what a players value is and when to let a player go as well.

Regarding buying players it's interesting as it shows the struggles with quality wingers as it's one position they do often buy players for.
Click to expand...

The fact they recruited 3 of the greatest champions the game has seen in the last 20 years - Right out from under the nose of the Biggest club in the game at the time...
Not only that, then modelled them into the champions they became tells you about all you'll ever need to know about Bellamy and the Storm system.

Cap cheating or not - No coach / club has ever built a club like theirs...
 
tiger_scott said:
I think Maumalo is one of the best wingers in the comp. We just need to use him more, whether that is via the centre passing or crossfield kicks, he should be on the scoresheet most weeks.
Noffa is what he is. He has value in the starting of sets and can finish a try. Wonder if he should defend in the centre postion, with a winger outside him telling him when to come in etc?
Click to expand...

He 100% is when he is an attacking winger.
Kick returns meters and attacking high balls are his strengths.
We need him to play that way all the time.
 
Earl said:
It's hard to state. Melbourne now probably cheat as much as any other club as well. I think it requires more than just that initial massive rort although that helped them a lot. You also need to recruit juniors really well. Melbourne don't buy many players who are established stars. I can only really think of Coates.
Click to expand...
Interestingly, when Bellamy was asked about new player profiling, his job specifications were simple. Someone who could run hard with a bit of size about them, and for backs it’s a little bit different, they need to be quick with a good step. Or words to that affect. Meaning they looked for natural physical, athletic qualities, with the confidence they could do the rest?
 
batboy said:
The fact they recruited 3 of the greatest champions the game has seen in the last 20 years - Right out from under the nose of the Biggest club in the game at the time...
Not only that, then modelled them into the champions they became tells you about all you'll ever need to know about Bellamy and the Storm system.

Cap cheating or not - No coach / club has ever built a club like theirs...
Click to expand...
It was also imperative that they were a success, the alternative would have been demoralising for the game.
 
batboy said:
Recruit on Character mate....
You can teach a rock to play footy, Get a bloke that will go to war for you...
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That's what we've started doing in recent years with our junior signings. Players like Utoikamanu, Blore. Young players that are leaders and have good attitudes. And as we saw with Stefano he repaid us by re-signing when he could have left to a richer club.
 
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