Signings, Suggestions & Rumours Discussion

[pawsandclaws1]

Let's wait and see. The way I see it is Doueihi is no 1 target, Hastings no 2 and then on value for money you have to go with Madden.

I don't think Brooks is terrible. I think he can play. I just think you are better off spending money on your cap on other positions.

The thing is Brooks is under contract next year and Madden isn't.

I hope Sheens doesn't stuff this. We have the makings of a team that can move up the ladder next year with some luck with injuries and the officials.

Sheens will not get this wrong. The article with the mention of Penrith is interesting because wasn't Madden recruited to the club during the Cleary era? Wasn't Garner also recruited during the Cleary era>

 

[Lauren]

What happens if Madden gets injured

Don't get all the panic over him tbh. ( Papalii committing) Joffa, Doueihi and Hastings re-signings should be top of the agenda. The Tuilagi and Garner replacements a priority also.
Since when does a club let a 5 gamer call all the shots.
You'd think we'd witnessed the second coming of Jesus.

 

[diedpretty]

From the Mole.

Wests Tigers are in danger of losing Saturday night's hero Jock Madden to premiers Penrith.

Madden, a late replacement for the injured Luke Brooks, scored a try and had a hand in two others in the Tigers' superb 32-18 win over the Broncos.

A former Australian Schoolboy, Madden has been at the Tigers for three years but has barely had a look-in, with Brooks an automatic selection every week.

The Panthers are looking for a replacement for Sean O'Sullivan, the back-up for star halves Nathan Cleary and Jarome Luai, for 2023.

O'Sullivan, who has proved a handy fill-in for Penrith, is off to the Dolphins for their maiden season.

Several other clubs, including Newcastle, are also in the hunt for Madden, who is unsigned for 2023.

"If Luke Brooks stays at the Tigers, Jock will go - there is no point him staying," a spokesman for Madden's management told Wide World of Sports.

"The Tigers just haven't been giving him a chance - he only got a game last night because Brooks was injured and he won them the match.

"There is a lot of interest in him."

So why would he go to penriff - less chance of getting a run there. Newcastle i could understand.

 

[Nelson]

Ordinary of Madden’s management company to publicly single out Brooks like that. Complain about a lack of opportunities and a logjam of halves sure but don’t knife a teammate regardless of whether you think they suck and are getting a rails run by the club.

 

[Schooner hands]

Always been a fan.
Just wasn't delivering.

Last night he delivered.
Glimpse of things to come I think.

Great defence.
Needs to step his attack up, like you said.

He’s like a man child. Full of energy and commitment but doesn’t realise how big he is and what his strengths are. He’ll come good. I’ve played with a few guys like this and once they get it they become solid players

 

[Dino]

heres the deal right, I just can't believe for the life of me why Brooks is such a protected species. He's never played reserve grade, just gets thrown right back in when fit, doesn't play eyes up at all. Madden is not necessarily the savior (at least yet) but he plays what's in front of him, give that kind of player 180 or whatevr the damn brooks has played and you have a top shelf player. Brooks is a premeditated player, try tell me otherwise. Sometimes it works out, other times, even if it won't work out he'll still try it anyway. Ill give it to brooks, he always 'looks' like he could go on and be a top quality half (whereas Madden has a bit more of an awkward running style etc.), but it stops there. To the new coaching staff, try to see one of the very few constants over the last decade of shambles, with due respect send him packing.

And to those against paying a portion of his overinflated salary to play elsewhere, I believe it'll be better than playing his full salary to remain here. Theres no point, face the reality the deal was atrocious, much like Nofo, in some way we have to be held for that.

He was dropped by madge a couple time in 2020 I think? But cause of covid didn't play in the ressies

 

[sparci]

He was dropped by madge a couple time in 2020 I think? But cause of covid didn't play in the ressies

From memory he was just pushed to the bench

 

[rihannafan1]

From the Mole.

Wests Tigers are in danger of losing Saturday night's hero Jock Madden to premiers Penrith.

Madden, a late replacement for the injured Luke Brooks, scored a try and had a hand in two others in the Tigers' superb 32-18 win over the Broncos.

A former Australian Schoolboy, Madden has been at the Tigers for three years but has barely had a look-in, with Brooks an automatic selection every week.

The Panthers are looking for a replacement for Sean O'Sullivan, the back-up for star halves Nathan Cleary and Jarome Luai, for 2023.

O'Sullivan, who has proved a handy fill-in for Penrith, is off to the Dolphins for their maiden season.

Several other clubs, including Newcastle, are also in the hunt for Madden, who is unsigned for 2023.

"If Luke Brooks stays at the Tigers, Jock will go - there is no point him staying," a spokesman for Madden's management told Wide World of Sports.

"The Tigers just haven't been giving him a chance - he only got a game last night because Brooks was injured and he won them the match.

"There is a lot of interest in him."

Yeah because he'll get heaps of time at Panthers behind Cleary and Luai 😂😂😂😂😂😂

 

[rihannafan1]

Pretty sure Brooks is gone to Newcastle. All the letting go of players and saving of cash is to help him on his way to someone next year.

 

[Demps]

Pretty sure Brooks is gone to Newcastle. All the letting go of players and saving of cash is to help him on his way to someone next year.

Hope so 🤞

 

[Aceshigh]

So why would he go to penriff - less chance of getting a run there. Newcastle i could understand.

Exactly right why would he , sounds like media spin again

 

[WT2K]

Pretty sure Brooks is gone to Newcastle. All the letting go of players and saving of cash is to help him on his way to someone next year.

Fingers crossed

 

[earl]

Sheens will not get this wrong.

I hope not but he has made mistakes in the past.

 

[Tiger-ferret]

heres the deal right, I just can't believe for the life of me why Brooks is such a protected species. He's never played reserve grade, just gets thrown right back in when fit, doesn't play eyes up at all. Madden is not necessarily the savior (at least yet) but he plays what's in front of him, give that kind of player 180 or whatevr the damn brooks has played and you have a top shelf player. Brooks is a premeditated player, try tell me otherwise. Sometimes it works out, other times, even if it won't work out he'll still try it anyway. Ill give it to brooks, he always 'looks' like he could go on and be a top quality half (whereas Madden has a bit more of an awkward running style etc.), but it stops there. To the new coaching staff, try to see one of the very few constants over the last decade of shambles, with due respect send him packing.

And to those against paying a portion of his overinflated salary to play elsewhere, I believe it'll be better than playing his full salary to remain here. Theres no point, face the reality the deal was atrocious, much like Nofo, in some way we have to be held for that.

I agree with most of what you say. I was against moving Brooks on early in the season because we had an injured Douehi, untried Hastings and untried madden. We had no depth.

The way the season has unfolded and it’s clear we are in another rebuild/clean out, the salary cap appears in good shape then yes if Newcastle or whoever makes an ok offer then I’d go with it now.

Noffa now has healthy competition and if he comes back a better player then great.

I’m impressed how well the boys are gelling at the moment.

 

[earl]

Pretty sure Brooks is gone to Newcastle. All the letting go of players and saving of cash is to help him on his way to someone next year.

I don't think this is true. If it was surely the club would have locked Madden up.

 

[pawsandclaws1]

I hope not but he has made mistakes in the past.

We know from that article Madden is unsigned for next year. If he were in plans surely he would have been re-signed before now. Sheens, Brooks and Marshall no doubt have firm views on the halves. I trust them.

 

[Betterdays22]

I hope we keep Kelma but if he has signed a deal with Manly then we need to let him honour it as we need Papps to honour his one with WT.

Big fan of Connor Tracey from Sharks. Has some pace to him.

Would love to see this as 2023 pack

Hastings (warming to the idea of him a ball playing lock)
Tuilagi or Blore (please stay injury free)
Papali'i (second rower of the year)
Tamou (one more year) or if Tamou moves on Musgrove starts
Koroisau (this guy could be a game changer)
Ofahengaue (so impressed with his form in 2022)

Bench

Pole (an offseason will do him wonders)
Utaoikamanu (need him fit and firing and signed up long term)
Twal (solid player which all teams need) or Nu Brown (Utility)
Musgrove (need some consistency but has something we lack)

Nu Brown
Matama
Seyfarth
Peachey
Dias

It's a solid forward pack on its day but i think there is too much inconsistency. A couple of those players seem to play well for a fortnight and go missing for a few weeks. Regardless we are still 2 edge forwards short.

 

[Plato]

Pretty sure Brooks is gone to Newcastle. All the letting go of players and saving of cash is to help him on his way to someone next year.

The Peter principle. At this point we need cost effectiveness and upside.

 

[earl]

We know from that article Madden is unsigned for next year. If he were in plans surely he would have been re-signed before now. Sheens, Brooks and Marshall no doubt have firm views on the halves. I trust them.

I'd retain Madden for sure. He can play and he is just starting his career. We looked good on that left side for plenty of the game and he made some great passes.

I'm not knocking Brooks but I don't think there is a big difference between the two of them.

I think they might actually be taking the easy option of seeing how Brooks performs next year as he is already contracted. I think they will try and tie up Doueihi and Hastings as these two guys are guys to build around.

Mind you I'm just guessing.

 

[SeanT]

Madds had a good game last night but to be fair It was on the back of a dominant & mobile forward pack . I can’t remember the last game Brooks had the opportunity to play off the back of that.

Madden had an ok game. Annoying how his management is carrying on that he won the game. Sorry the forwards won mate.

Brooks has played over 170 games. In those our forward pack has dominated maybe 20-30% of those. He still hasn't done much with it. I like him but there shouldn't be anymore debate about it. Brooks isn't going to win games.consistently for you. He should move on.