Signings, Suggestions & Rumours Discussion

[Blocker1963]

Tigers sign Manly’s Fainu on immediate deal​

 

[batboy]

I hope we don't offer Briton Nikora a contract. Have watched his first 3 NRL matches this season & unimpressed with what he brings. He would just be another 'passive' forward. Yes he racks up the tackles but he was missed a terrible one on Jack Bird last night, offered little in attack & shows little to no mongrel. We need enthusiasm, a desire to be given the ball & can smack in defence. I rate Shaun Blore above this guy. One of those Bulldogs off contract backrowers or Jack Williams offer much better value than Nikora. Even prefer Jack Bird.

Bird can play anywhere...
Would make a great middle forward.

Wants big money I believe... OK if you can keep him fit.

 

[cktiger]

Get out and watch him play mate - You'll understand why the commoners aren't overly excited.
He's OK... But a half that doesn't rip it up in Ressies, Isn't all of a sudden going to take the NRL by storm...
Oh yeah, He's got 5 offers on the table (Despite having played little football in the last 2 years for anyone to have an opinion on him) Out of those "5 whimsical offers"
(Shouted out by his management I'd bet) - I wonder how many are for first position halves, Or as a back up.
I'd bet my bottom dollar the guys pushing Jocks' barrow are the same ones that have the likes of Blake Lazarus and Sean Meaney as the butt of many a joke...

I've see all the games televised reggie games plus the three times he's started in firsts.
At least worth a shot.
I've also watched Brooks play for 9 long years... so you'll also understand why the commoners aren't overly excited with him either.

 

[Tigermars]

NRL 2022: Wests Tigers sign Manly Sea Eagles forward Sione Fainu in immediate transfer​

Under-pressure Wests Tigers continue to delve into the NRL transfer market, this time bolstering their stocks with a Sea Eagles signing hoping to make an instant impact.
Wests Tigers have signed NSW under-18 prop Sione Fainu from rivals Manly on an immediate long-term deal.
Fainu will make the switch to the Tigers from the next two-and-a-half seasons after being granted a release from the Sea Eagles.

The 20-year-old is yet to play first grade but, at 185cm and 109kg, will join the Tigers’ top squad and push for a NRL spot immediately.

Fainu represented NSW under-18 in 2019 when he was named the state player of the year.

He is the younger brother of sidelined Manly hooker Manase Fainu, who hasn’t played since 2019.
He remains stood down under the NRL’s no fault stand-down policy, as he waits to face court in July over charges relating to the stabbing of a then 24-year-old man at a Mormon church dance in southwestern Stydney in October, 2019.

Manase Fainu, 23, has also been recovering from a shoulder injury.

His siblings including Latu and Samuela remain committed to the Sea Eagles on long-term deals.

 

[Tiger_Fanatic3]

Decent signing !
Hope Sione makes his debut real soon.
Keen to see a Fainu finally get a stab at playing footy.
He and Stefano will be lethal 🔥

 

[tigerman 0]

The thing with Xerri is that he only played a handful of games and it makes you wonder if he was only as good as he was due to being on the juice.

Aligator Blood 🐎

 

[hank37w]

Decent signing !
Keen to see a Fainu finally get a stab at playing some footy.
He and Stefano will be lethal 🔥

I see what you did there but Manase is the one we need to bring fear to the opposition.

 

[Tiger_Fanatic3]

I see what you did there but Manase is the one we need to bring fear to the opposition.

So Manly still have the most promising one? 🔪

 

[tony soprano]

I hope we don't offer Briton Nikora a contract. Have watched his first 3 NRL matches this season & unimpressed with what he brings. He would just be another 'passive' forward. Yes he racks up the tackles but he was missed a terrible one on Jack Bird last night, offered little in attack & shows little to no mongrel. We need enthusiasm, a desire to be given the ball & can smack in defence. I rate Shaun Blore above this guy. One of those Bulldogs off contract backrowers or Jack Williams offer much better value than Nikora. Even prefer Jack Bird.

I thought bird was rubbish and nikora played much better last night.

 

[pawsandclaws1]

Nikora looked a player who would improve us significantly. It was good to see the Sharks' team playing for each other and the crisp short passing game. They do the basics really well and look liked a well coached side. Fitzgibbon has always been a good and smart footballer. Pity with his father's link to Balmain, we couldn't have attracted him to WTs.

 

[Mighty_Tiger]

I hope we don't offer Briton Nikora a contract. Have watched his first 3 NRL matches this season & unimpressed with what he brings. He would just be another 'passive' forward. Yes he racks up the tackles but he was missed a terrible one on Jack Bird last night, offered little in attack & shows little to no mongrel. We need enthusiasm, a desire to be given the ball & can smack in defence. I rate Shaun Blore above this guy. One of those Bulldogs off contract backrowers or Jack Williams offer much better value than Nikora. Even prefer Jack Bird.

My biggest concern with both Nikora and Nanai is they don't fix our defensive weaknesses.

They both have good upside (Nanai is soooo young and huge talent) in attack but defensively they are both top 5 in missed tackles and low end in tackle efficiency scale. Its round 3 so early days but it's an interesting start if we want to fix up leaking points.

They both are an upgrade on what we have (probably comparable to Lucy atm) the challenge though is are they the right upgrades to what we want to be with Stef/Api/Papa rounding them out.

 

[Westie]

Yet Laurie Daley couldn't get a job with our club because he worked for TABSport. Typical NRL double-standard crap.

Never understood why he was allowed to coach the all stars but not work with us??

 

[Tim Sheens]

I hope we don't offer Briton Nikora a contract. Have watched his first 3 NRL matches this season & unimpressed with what he brings. He would just be another 'passive' forward. Yes he racks up the tackles but he was missed a terrible one on Jack Bird last night, offered little in attack & shows little to no mongrel. We need enthusiasm, a desire to be given the ball & can smack in defence. I rate Shaun Blore above this guy. One of those Bulldogs off contract backrowers or Jack Williams offer much better value than Nikora. Even prefer Jack Bird.

Based on his development when finally getting a run of matches last year, I rate Blore as well and expect that WT would be better on the left with him there, particularly so defensively.

Hopefully he can recover from this latest injury and stake his claim upon return, whether here with us or elsewhere.

Not sure on Nikora, lukewarm at best on Bird and keen on Nanai or CHN.

 

[mikey]

Time waits for no man, as the saying goes.

I am 56yo now and I follow one player, well former player in Keith Galloway on Twitter as we share social concerns and some interests, so chat occasionally.

As for relative youngsters, they have grown up in a different era, so we should not expect them to be similar, particularly those mid to late twenties having grown up with a smart phone in their hand as teenagers. They may communicate in a manner we find foreign, but change is a constant and would not have imagined myself writing on here much more than a decade ago.

I get what you are saying but some people are so overly consumed with social media - and not necessarily young people. It's the constant need for attention and approval that does my head in.

 

[batboy]

Based on his development when finally getting a run of matches last year, I rate Blore as well and expect that WT would be better on the left with him there, particularly so defensively.

Hopefully he can recover from this latest injury and stake his claim upon return, whether here with us or elsewhere.

Not sure on Nikora, lukewarm at best on Bird and keen on Nanai or CHN.

Harawira-Naera just re-signed at the raiders for another 3 years....
So you can cross that off the list.

 

[earl]

Get out and watch him play mate - You'll understand why the commoners aren't overly excited.
He's OK... But a half that doesn't rip it up in Ressies, Isn't all of a sudden going to take the NRL by storm...

Madden seems to have been given heaps of rewards without playing that well. That game in the trial was the best I've seen him play in a number of games. I was writing him off prior to that game.

He might make it but he will be one of those players that slowly develops their game to a high level.

 

[batboy]

Madden seems to have been given heaps of rewards without playing that well. That game in the trial was the best I've seen him play in a number of games. I was writing him off prior to that game.

He might make it but he will be one of those players that slowly develops their game to a high level.

He's been here long enough to be given a go, at least.
His stint at the back end of the second trial was as good as I've seen him play in any grade....
His games last year were nothing to sack the current 7 over, In fact - I thought he looked all ends up.
Fingers crossed for him tonight, We're gonna need him and a few others to play as well as they possibly can.

 

[old_man_tiger]

Based on his development when finally getting a run of matches last year, I rate Blore as well and expect that WT would be better on the left with him there, particularly so defensively.

Hopefully he can recover from this latest injury and stake his claim upon return, whether here with us or elsewhere.

Not sure on Nikora, lukewarm at best on Bird and keen on Nanai or CHN.

The good think about Blore is you don't have to worry about that edge as much in defence. The centre and winger still have to do their bit, but Blore hits and sticks better than any other 2RF we have - long term this helps your half. In attack he has underwhelmed me.

In a weird way alot of our pack remind me of Jason Holder from the west indies, huge unit who charges in and bowls... 120km/h. Although holder is less useless in general.

 

[Newtown]

Don't recognise the name.

Profile Link - >

Sione Fainu

The NRL profile of Sione Fainu including career statistics, season stats, games, tries, goals, tackles and fantasy scores.

www.seaeagles.com.au

21 year old Prop, 109 Kg

Any good and why wold Manly let him go>?

23 March 2022

TIGERS READY TO POUNCE ON YOUNG MANLY GUN

The Wests Tigers are interested in signing Sione Fainu — the younger brother of Manase.

Reports have been circulating for last week about the possible club switch, but it seems their chase has taken the next step with AAP’s George Clarke reporting Fainu toured the Tigers’ facilities on Tuesday morning.

The 20-year-old prop/lock is a part of Manly’s Top 30 this year but his contract expires at the end of the season.

He is yet to make his NRL debut but had a taste of New South Wales Cup last season despite still being age-eligible to play Jersey Flegg.

 

[Jedi_Tiger]

Madden seems to have been given heaps of rewards without playing that well. That game in the trial was the best I've seen him play in a number of games. I was writing him off prior to that game.

He might make it but he will be one of those players that slowly develops their game to a high level.

hope Madden kills it tonight but not sure he will make it at nrl level