Signings, Suggestions & Rumours Discussion

[batboy]

Expect Stefano, Twal, Koroisau, Papali’i, Pole Blore (who was set to start in ‘22 on an edge), Hastings, Matamua will replace just about the whole pack and bench, come '23. Club also wanting to recruit an experienced starting backrower before season kickoff.

Need 2 good props also. And a centre. Possibly a half.

Said it before - I'll say it again....
Matamua is a million miles from first grade (He's not even playing ressies)
He won't be a mainstay in our pack next year - Unless the pack goes down in a plane crash.
He's not even top 30 in 23 is he?

 

[Tiger_Fanatic3]

Said it before - I'll say it again....
Matamua is a million miles from first grade (He's not even playing ressies)
He won't be a mainstay in our pack next year - Unless the pack goes down in a plane crash.
He's not even top 30 in 23 is he?

Respect your opinion...

'23 will look a whole lot different

 

[KingRobbie]

Said it before - I'll say it again....
Matamua is a million miles from first grade (He's not even playing ressies)
He won't be a mainstay in our pack next year - Unless the pack goes down in a plane crash.
He's not even top 30 in 23 is he?

Matamua’s only playing U/21’s cause they’re putting a lot of the better kids in that team with semis coming up (Peni, Ma’anaima, Fainu etc).

He was 18th man for first grade yesterday.

To answer your other question, development contract for 2023, Top 30 for 2024.

 

[batboy]

Matamua’s only playing U/21’s cause they’re putting a lot of the better kids in that team with semis coming up (Peni, Ma’anaima, Fainu etc).

He was 18th man for first grade yesterday.

To answer your other question, development contract for 2023, Top 30 for 2024.

Possible...

But he was up to his eyeballs in NRL, Out of the recent run of debuts - He struggled most,
Looked lost.

 

[GarryOwen]

Possible...

But he was up to his eyeballs in NRL, Out of the recent run of debuts - He struggled most,
Looked lost.

I agreed - but he's also not under a full NRL contract until the start of 2024, so there's no rush. He hasn't even played much NSW Cup as of yet, so plenty of time for him to develop on and off the field.

 

[Bob]

I agreed - but he's also not under a full NRL contract until the start of 2024, so there's no rush. He hasn't even played much NSW Cup as of yet, so plenty of time for him to develop on and off the field.

I agree here, it’s why the tigers are shocking at development. In any other club he would be in U21 or possibly having a run every now and then learning to play against men in NSW cup.

The average supporters wouldn’t of even heard of the guy. But here at the tigers he gets thrusted into first grade, absolutely no where near ready. Gets belted, drops balls because it so much of a step up and then all of the fans slam him as not skilled enough for NRL. His confidence drops and loses the self belief needed to make the step up. No other team takes him on because they have that vision too.

It’s happened a million times at the tigers - let’s face it. In no other club would he have had a debut by now.

 

[Snoz]

You can see that Sheens is writing off the year and has faith that if we can get all of our players on the park together for an extended period of time - including Api & Papi - we will see an improvement in results.
I'm also assuming that he has a plan of the style of football we want to play in moving forward as a club - although I'm not sure about this either as he didn't want the coaching job at all not so long ago (so we are told).
The reality is that for all of the stars to align in '23 - minimal to no injuries, a favourable draw, the rub of the green during games - the best this club would hope to achieve is 9th-12th. That's the reality.
For long suffering fans, that's not good enough. How can the board accept this?

 

[Stevec]

Matamua’s only playing U/21’s cause they’re putting a lot of the better kids in that team with semis coming up (Peni, Ma’anaima, Fainu etc).

He was 18th man for first grade yesterday.

To answer your other question, development contract for 2023, Top 30 for 2024.

Matamua is another who doesn't know the rules
His first game vs Parra comes on hits Moses with no arms hit gets sin binned Parra score 12 pts while we are down to 12 and Parra won game by 8
His next game great try by tigers dissalowed because he crashed into defender .Would not have stopped try but them is the rules Maybe cost the games
Next Puaga and Kepoa find a way to lose the unloseable . And that's not counting the unloseable Cowboys game .Never seen such talent at snatching defeat from the jaws of victory

 

[cqtiger]

You do realise we'd be paying 100k more than what Melbourne would offer. Players need more money to play for us

In any case paying Joffa 500k is fine. Hes a leader and makes his tackles and busts his ass, a decent role model moving forwards

I thought Offa was on $800k at the Broncs? Broncs have been subsidising his money with us I believe.

Didn’t the Pom say Offa just wanted a bit more than he was on to stay? Over $800k? I can’t imagine Offa wanted a bit more on what we were putting in.

He’s doing ok with us but not $800k ok.

 

[BlackWhiteGold]

"The 32 year old veteran centre" - sounds like "The Pathways" to a Retirement Home

We need experience and he is still playing well in the SL. Thought process is that our kids are still 2-3 years away in this position so when he finishes contract, a junior like Feledy is ready to be upgraded.

 

[BlackWhiteGold]

Calling Ricky Leutele 'a proven winner' is a bit of a laugh.

I hope we keep Simpkin. A couple of years learning under Koroisau will do him the world of good. Still very young in hooker terms.

Well he's more of a winner than any bloke in our top 30 - an NRL premiership, a Challenge Cup final for Huddersfield this year & a win for the International Allstars last year.

 

[earl]

The reality is that for all of the stars to align in '23 - minimal to no injuries, a favourable draw, the rub of the green during games - the best this club would hope to achieve is 9th-12th. That's the reality.
For long suffering fans, that's not good enough. How can the board accept this?

What should they do ? Commit Seppuku ?

What would you do if you were on the board now ?

 

[The-moP]

Ricky Leutele

Could be a target to bring much-needed experience & steel to our outside backs. Would not hold up progress of Feledy, Dotoi as they are a few years away yet.

Dont worry about the age of the guys who have talent .. if they are good enough they are old enough to make grade .. !! Joseph Sua'ali'i says hi .. he's playing for the Chooks and he's now 19 started with the Chooks at the age of 18.

Josh Feledy from what ive read is only 17 maybe 18 right now .. ??

 

[jadtiger]

What should they do ? Commit Seppuku ?

What would you do if you were on the board now ?

You only commit Seppuku to avoid dishonour and i doubt if any of the flogs who sit on our board would understand the concept.

 

[GarryOwen]

Well he's more of a winner than any bloke in our top 30 - an NRL premiership, a Challenge Cup final for Huddersfield this year & a win for the International Allstars last year.

We've got premiership winners in our top 30.
Gildart came from the SL with two winners medals in his luggage and looked completely out of his depth.
If Leutele is the answer, then we're asking the wrong question.

 

[batboy]

I agree here, it’s why the tigers are shocking at development. In any other club he would be in U21 or possibly having a run every now and then learning to play against men in NSW cup.

The average supporters wouldn’t of even heard of the guy. But here at the tigers he gets thrusted into first grade, absolutely no where near ready. Gets belted, drops balls because it so much of a step up and then all of the fans slam him as not skilled enough for NRL. His confidence drops and loses the self belief needed to make the step up. No other team takes him on because they have that vision too.

It’s happened a million times at the tigers - let’s face it. In no other club would he have had a debut by now.

Well put....
For as long as I can remember, Every 18 year old killing it in Juniors is "Ready for first grade"
Most low lying clubs are the same.... "Put him in, He can't be any worse"
Maybe he can't, But his head needs to be ready....
It can hurt them as much as help them.

Benny Murdoch I feel is a good example.

 

[Snoz]

What should they do ? Commit Seppuku ?

What would you do if you were on the board now ?

They're pretty much at the point of falling on their own swords Earl.
I'd make a list of all the decisions made in the last three years and put them into two columns - Productive Decision, Reductive Decision.
Reflection is a vital skill in moving forward. If no one within the organisation can do this, then an external consultant needs to be appointed to facilitate.
Happens in my line of work all the time - part of the process of accountability

 

[The-moP]

I really liked Nu Brown playing at 13 yesterday .. i think he's a valuable player to our side .. whether he plays 13 or 14 .. he has to be in the 17.

 

[Tiger_claws]

Definitely know about Bellamy and that was my understanding of the Bennett situation but happy if you can fill me in on your info. as to why he knocked us back.

Absolutely wasnt the case with Bellamy. He knocked us back. The deal was all but done and Terry Hill constantly spoke out in the media saying the playing group preferred Paul Langmack instead of Bellamy. He hammered his opinion to every media outlet so Bellamy said if the playing group aren’t United then i wont be coming. That is fact

 

[BlackWhiteGold]

We've got premiership winners in our top 30.
Gildart came from the SL with two winners medals in his luggage and looked completely out of his depth.
If Leutele is the answer, then we're asking the wrong question.

Yes I get that but the points-of-difference with Leutele are he brings a bit more power & strength for that position than Gildart IMO and his experience would be invaluable to our young outside backs (especially with Roberts likely not to re-signed). Anyway Sheens should know him from his time in the UK so if he suits I'm sure Sheens will be all over it.