Signings, Suggestions & Rumours Discussion

He plays a role in the team, and he plays it well, but certainly dont think he is going to get offers as high as 750k.

Remember when Matt Dufty asked his agent to shop him around for $850k/year and absolutely no one was interested?
His attitude and will to win is what we require. He reminds me of Luke Lewis the way he plays and it was noticeable how the Cronulla Club changed with his recruitment.
 
Sheen's did not panic he just wanted to complete with the bigger clubs and try to win the title and knew he could not compete with the TPA's he rolled the dice and should have won in 2010 and could have in 2011 good on him for having the stones to do it

And don't blame him for 2014 onwards because alot of contacts was renewed under Potter and the board went over Potters head head to sign massive contacts
Isn't "rolling the dice" a form of panicking? Rolling the dice literally means to gamble on an outcome, and strictly speaking that is a 1/6 chance (i.e. low outcome). I've never heard of someone rolling the dice in a calm, measured, self-assured fashion.

It is my opinion that Sheens saw the writing on the wall after his long tenure - that despite some real success, Tigers had only made the finals 3 times, and after the premiership, the club (the board) became aggressive about maintaining regular success.

I think that after failing to win a comp in 2010-2011 (and I would agree there is a consensus even amongst non-Tigers fans that Tigers probably should have won another comp) that Sheens panicked.

Why do I think he panicked?
  • He aggressively moved to break up what became called "the boys club", though that playing group had made Tigers a short-lived strong premiership threat
  • He fatally agreed to transfer Andrew Fifita in order for Sharks to take on Bryce Gibbs, and Fifita quickly became one of the competition's premier players
  • He invested heavily in Adam Blair, hoping that a big-name Melbourne recruit would take the Tigers to another level, and failed to understand the pitfalls of attempting to transfer Storm players out of their system
Obviously in hindsight these things are easy to say when the outcomes are known, but I believe these points speak to a rapid and specific change in tactics, to try and save his coaching career. I call that panicking, but semantics aside, it was a rapid departure for Sheens.

Sheens is old and wily enough to know that the board would not tolerate Tigers failing to remain competitive in 2012. Otherwise, Sheens could have kept doing what he had been doing the past decade and Tigers would have continued to still be a periodic finals contender (about 50% of the time).

BTW not blaming Sheens for anything beyond 2012.
Anyhow the proof is in the pudding, is it not? Sheens gambled, Tigers crashed spectacularly in 2012 and Sheens was sacked. These are not the outcomes of a calm, measured coach who is building long-term plans, it is an outcome for someone who can smell the winds of change.
 
Isn't "rolling the dice" a form of panicking? Rolling the dice literally means to gamble on an outcome, and strictly speaking that is a 1/6 chance (i.e. low outcome). I've never heard of someone rolling the dice in a calm, measured, self-assured fashion.

It is my opinion that Sheens saw the writing on the wall after his long tenure - that despite some real success, Tigers had only made the finals 3 times, and after the premiership, the club (the board) became aggressive about maintaining regular success.

I think that after failing to win a comp in 2010-2011 (and I would agree there is a consensus even amongst non-Tigers fans that Tigers probably should have won another comp) that Sheens panicked.

Why do I think he panicked?
  • He aggressively moved to break up what became called "the boys club", though that playing group had made Tigers a short-lived strong premiership threat
  • He fatally agreed to transfer Andrew Fifita in order for Sharks to take on Bryce Gibbs, and Fifita quickly became one of the competition's premier players
  • He invested heavily in Adam Blair, hoping that a big-name Melbourne recruit would take the Tigers to another level, and failed to understand the pitfalls of attempting to transfer Storm players out of their system
Obviously in hindsight these things are easy to say when the outcomes are known, but I believe these points speak to a rapid and specific change in tactics, to try and save his coaching career. I call that panicking, but semantics aside, it was a rapid departure for Sheens.

Sheens is old and wily enough to know that the board would not tolerate Tigers failing to remain competitive in 2012. Otherwise, Sheens could have kept doing what he had been doing the past decade and Tigers would have continued to still be a periodic finals contender (about 50% of the time).

BTW not blaming Sheens for anything beyond 2012.
Anyhow the proof is in the pudding, is it not? Sheens gambled, Tigers crashed spectacularly in 2012 and Sheens was sacked. These are not the outcomes of a calm, measured coach who is building long-term plans, it is an outcome for someone who can smell the winds of change.
No I don’t think “rolling the dice” is always panicking. You can make a calm measured decision as to wether you are going to bet on a 6:1 shot, or you can stand back and throw your money at a risk and then that would be a panicked decision. Depends on the thought process before the decision to “roll the dice”. Either way as you pointed out there were some poor decisions made over a long period.
 
Recent targets
I think you're being a bit unrealistic. Every club is going to look at loads of players and not sign them all. If you have a look at the NRL signings tracker its pretty clear that having two top line new players already signed for 2023 puts the Tigers in pretty rare company. Looking at the other teams who should be looking to improve their rosters with external signings, would you rather be the Broncos (Jesse Arthars returning from loan), Raiders (no signings), Bulldogs (no signings), Titans (Kieran Foran), Knights (no signings), Dragons (no signings) or Souths (Kodi Nikorima)? The only really active one has been the Warriors and honestly I'm not sure I'd rather take their haul (Marata Niukore, Luke Metcalf, Dylan Walker and Mitchell Barnett).
 
A lot of interest in Selwyn Cobbo. Foxsports reporting 8 clubs have expressed interest. But likely to stay at the Broncos.………

‘The winger is considered a long-term fullback at Brisbane and has been compared to a young Greg Inglis.

Cobbo is on $180,000 this season but his stellar form has seen his value skyrocket and he’ll soon earn more than $600,000 per year.

Cobbo is reportedly on the cusp of re-signing at the Broncos on a $2 million dollar deal that will keep him at Red Hill until 2025.

That’s prompted as many as eight clubs to chase Cobbo’s signature, but Brisbane coach Kevin Walters insists the future fullback is going nowhere.’
 
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Was at Coffs the other day.
Very chill area.

Prob stop there again on the way home.
Go to Urunga. Very nice little village. The boardwalk is nice. Valla Beach is also good; and of course Nambucca Heads andnot to mention Scotts Head.
Just don't go to the southern end of Middle Beach near Grassy Heads unless you are into old men in the nude.
 
He’s a rep player and worth paying a bit overs for.
Totally agree, we need to start to aim at the top tier players, so what if we pay overs, at least we will start to move up the so called ladder, thus attracting the better class players to help out the youth.
As otherwise we will always be in the bottom 4 clubs .....
 
Go to Urunga. Very nice little village. The boardwalk is nice. Valla Beach is also good; and of course Nambucca Heads andnot to mention Scotts Head.
Just don't go to the southern end of Middle Beach near Grassy Heads unless you are into old men in the nude.
Or 'little' Diggers on the northside of Coffs... No dress code there.

Bellingen, Coramba, Arrawarra, Emerald. It's a goldmine for awesome little pocket villages.
 
We have the same record as the Dogs. I’m not saying we should have thrown the kitchen sink at Nikora but the reality is that we’ve won two games this year and have a massive whole in the backrow for next year so we have to do something in terms of signings l.
We've got the same record as the Dogs but this is as good as it's going to get for them. They're not building to be a successful roster for an extended period, they've spent all their cap on players who are - or should be - at their peak right now. I mean, they can hope for more from Burton I guess but in general when you sign big name free agents you're paying for immediate results. If you don't get them, you just go into the same old cycle of a ruined salary cap, waiting to clear bad contracts, signing a bunch of new free agents and repeat.

I've said it plenty of times before but it amazes me when people look at the Dogs, Titans and Knights on one hand and the Panthers and Storm on the other, and think "we're going to get out of this mess by signing a bunch of big name free agents".
 
I’m going to play recruitment manager & outline who I think the Club should target for 2023. This is based on;
  • Dolphins coming in & creating an inflated market where managers are inflating their player’s value at this point in time (i.e. Aitken)
  • Players wanting to stay at current Club but testing the market to pressure current Club (i.e. Nikora, Bird)
  • Limited ELITE players off contract for 2023
  • Knowing how the Tigers are currently recruiting (not paying ‘overs’ on MID-TIER players; McDonnell’s knowledge of Bulldogs players 2016-19 etc)
  • Tigers not being a current ‘destination’ club so being realistic on who will want to come here
  • Having plenty of salary cap space for the ‘right’ player
  • Needing to recruit for the positions of 2nd row, Prop, Centre, Wing (depth), Fullback (depth)
  • ‘Contracted’ players that have been rumoured on here or in the media as potential releases from current Club
Based on the above I think it is fairly accurate to assume …

We will hold out to give a ‘big’ contract to an ELITE player with at least 3-4 seasons of ‘peak’ footy in them and in positions where a ‘big’ contract is warranted in positions of need for us. Thus, I would target a ‘big’ contract player for the positions of 2nd Row & Prop.

TARGETS: Angus Crichton, Joseph Tapine, Hudson Young, John Bateman, Luke Thompson (at a subsidised amount)

Then other targets will likely be those players who ...
  • still have an upside & not seeing any likelihood of 1st team football at their current club.
  • provide experience & sure up the depth in a position of need
BACKS: Kade Dykes, Sunia Turuva, Kayal Iro, Matthew Komolafe, Taylan May, Mawene Hiroti (depth)
FORWARDS: Matthew Doorey, Euan Aitken (if $350 max), Franklin Pele, J’maine Hopgood, Terrell May

The disclaimer on this recent set of targets is that I think Sheens will be patient & keep 1-2 spots up his sleeve until November/December to see what emerges from England & Pacific Island nations in the World Cup.

So for me, I’d be ecstatic if we could land Angus Crichton, Kade Dykes, J’maine Hopgood & Matthew Komolafe with the re-signing of Tommy Talau & James Tamou.

If Jock Madden was to leave, then that would leave us with halves options of Hastings, Brooks, Doeuhi, Laurie, Dykes, Peachey (with development player Zane Camroux or NSW Cup player Nu Brown if desperate.)
 

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