Signings, Suggestions & Rumours Discussion

[LeichhardtTiger]

Jake Clifford exits Knights to join Hull DT reports tonight. Brooks Ponga halves option looming large. ... or not.

 

[Odessa]

Lodge could easily turn me into one.

Question for you ..I was talking to someone about Garry Jack the other day the guy was older then me he said jack was a very hot and cold player but I just remember him as being super consistent I just read your comment about the pearl in 86 was just thinking you mite remember him better than me did you watch much of Garry Jack?

 

[Tigersmurf]

Question for you ..I was talking to someone about Garry Jack the other day the guy was older then me he said jack was a very hot and cold player but I just remember him as being super consistent I just read your comment about the pearl in 86 was just thinking you mite remember him better than me did you watch much of Garry Jack?

I saw plenty of Garry Jack. I can honestly say that when the opposition made a break, I was always confident that he could stop them as the last line of defence. His defensive game was second to none and he was great under the high ball too. Had speed off the mark and could hit a hole.

Great all round player.

 

[Needaname]

Jake Clifford exits Knights to join Hull DT reports tonight. Brooks Ponga halves option looming large. ... or not.

Well someone got half the story right re a half to Hull

 

[Lebanese_Coach_aspiration]

still think if dogs offload flannagan they will have a good crack at Hastings for 2024 in the number 7

There has even been talk of a Hastings\Flanagan player swap for next year.

 

[Lebanese_Coach_aspiration]

A few things guys reading through last few pages.

-Us being linked to David Fifita. This isnt the Dave Fifita from the Titans, its Andrews twin brother that just returned from England.

-Someone said Franklin Pele. Can confirm he is at the dogs. Dont take my word for it, Andrew Fifita (coincidentally from first post) said it live in an interview.

 

[Thaiger]

Pretty sure they won't as they want to play 1sts if they back themselves, so this is a rubbish response at best. We have probably 10-15 or so kids for 1 or 2 spots if Dom Young is as good as everyone believes. we lose kids from centre, fullback and wing by signing young (sorry about the pun) wingers. My question is real unless no one believes the kids are good enough. Nofo already has a wing locked up.

Clubs will come knocking as they do for the panthers kids. If they dont we have the wrong kids, if they do we need to sign the right ones. Life of a club that signed many kids.

I ask a real question and your response is they should stay "because"? Other clubs will show them a first grade spot like we did for Staine, Laurie, Blore... the list is long. You are in a dream world if you believe they will all stayIf your

Pretty sure they won't as they want to play 1sts if they back themselves, so this is a rubbish response at best. We have probably 10-15 or so kids for 1 or 2 spots if Dom Young is as good as everyone believes. we lose kids from centre, fullback and wing by signing young (sorry about the pun) wingers. My question is real unless no one believes the kids are good enough. Nofo already has a wing locked up.

Clubs will come knocking as they do for the panthers kids. If they dont we have the wrong kids, if they do we need to sign the right ones. Life of a club that signed many kids.

I ask a real question and your response is they should stay "because"? Other clubs will show them a first grade spot like we did for Staine, Laurie, Blore... the list is long. You are in a dream world if you believe they will all stay

If you read the post properly, you’d understand the difference between leaving and getting poached. For those unproven, they will stay and wait to get their opportunity when they have nowhere else to go, unless of course they think they’re “special”.

 

[pawsandclaws1]

Young Liam Scolari and Jordan Hill seem determined to be with the club and I look forward to watching them again next year. Both have had injury setbacks but are still at WTs. I like that commitment and attitude.

 

[Stevec]

It is not simpy the spoon but year upon year of failure. No clear plan on how or why the team will improve and the continued instability of the club. Recruiting established stars has absolutely nothing to do with how our junior systems are run or named. The would be recruit is already beyond that level and most likely has no ties to our junior system. Why would they care about any of it?
(Admittedly i don't truly know the set up, but) I can see more arguments against merging our junior sides than for it.
The arguments for is one club with clear pathways and a style of football to be played the whole way through. It has some merit but, in my opinion very little. It would ease players moving through the different grades mid-season. I certainly believe that the structures in place in first grade should be replicated in reserve grade (i dont care what name the reserve grade plays under) but below that i don't see the need to make it club wide.
The arguments against merging juniors is that it keeps the pre-merger identities. By this i dont simply mean as Balmain Tigers and Wests Magpies but i mean as a sense of our club being a part to each community. This is needed to ensure the next generation in these areas grow up to be Wests Tigers fans. More importantly, this also allows us to continue to draw talent from two areas instead of limiting it to just the one. Quite simply we would have a difficult time convincing any Balmain kids to travel to Campbelltown 2 or 3 times a week to train or vice versa. Worse still would be trying to convince them all to go to Concord and losing our identity and attachment to both areas.

Thanks for giving thoughtful response most just sweep this topic under the rug . So I gather its really important that our reserve grade side is Western Suburbs Magpies ? I know one thing in terms of our NRL performance - whatever we have been doing hasn't been working .

 

[pawsandclaws1]

seriously we end up with 10 kids for a cowpoke of spots - we lose some. that's the joy of development clubs. cant keep them all. I asked a real question because I dont know the kids.

One of the reasons I enjoy the footy is watching our local juniors progress through the grades to the NRL. Watching young Matamua play his first game was outstanding and he did his family and the club proud. I hope we see many more debuts of our local players.

 

[coivtny]

Hey Coivtny

Yeah it a great club and a great history - 93 years since out last 1st grade premiership ( and people think the West Tigers are bad) lol. But we continue to delivery amazing players thats why I love it so much

When we play out first game at Concord I will organise an invite for you and Kaito and anybody else you want to bring along

Cheers

Thank you, what a lovely thought. I remember some of the great players who played there. Just a few that come to mind are Laurie Monaghan, Bob Lamaro, Mick Ellem and Rick Russo. All those guys played in the 60s and 70s. A long time ago, now.

 

[pawsandclaws1]

I saw plenty of Garry Jack. I can honestly say that when the opposition made a break, I was always confident that he could stop them as the last line of defence. His defensive game was second to none and he was great under the high ball too. Had speed off the mark and could hit a hole.

Great all round player.

Garry Jack worked overtime on his sprint training in Wollongong. He could not quite get through a gap but plenty of hard work with sprint training overcame that issue. What a great player he was for Wests and Balmain.

 

[hank37w]

Question for you ..I was talking to someone about Garry Jack the other day the guy was older then me he said jack was a very hot and cold player but I just remember him as being super consistent I just read your comment about the pearl in 86 was just thinking you mite remember him better than me did you watch much of Garry Jack?

Hey mate, I think your question was probably meant to be directed at Happy who I would consider would be more knowledgeable than me when it comes to most things rugby league.

For what it's worth I was certainly around when Garry Jack was playing and as far as I can recollect I thought he was a great player and that he was consistent in the way he played unless my memory has failed me and I am only remembering the highlights.

I consider him to be one of "our greats" having played for both our foundation clubs, but mostly remembered for his time at Balmain where he spent most of his career other than a couple of stints in England.

Have to feel for the guy suffering the Grand Final disappointments at the end of the 80's with Balmain and then having to suffer through the disastrous Allan Jones years.

 

[Stevec]

So let me get this straight. You believe players are knocking us back because of what our lower grades are called.

No its because a wide range of nrl journalists ,commentators and former stars keep referring us as a basket case and having a stench . Personally I get irritated when I hear them make these comments .Its like they don't want to give us a chance . When Potter first arrived at the Tigers and said that the club was unlike any other and was a political hotbed ? What did mean ? I'm just hoping for a new era where we are a popular destination and stop recruiting aging former stars because we can't land those in their prime . I'm still hopeful that Nov 1 comes and we get some good news . Hopeful yes confident no !

 

[sleeve]

Garry Jack worked overtime on his sprint training in Wollongong. He could not quite get through a gap but plenty of hard work with sprint training overcame that issue. What a great player he was for Wests and Balmain.

The best fullback ever , before Billy and Teddy changed the game,

 

[Fainu Brothers]

There has even been talk of a Hastings\Flanagan player swap for next year.

Gould must think he has it over us! We will finish higher than the dogs

 

[Spartan117]

Gould must think he has it over us! We will finish higher than the dogs

Im not so sure, They have a more determined club culture.

 

[twentyforty]

I see the Klemmer thing is not on at least for 2023 . I'm not surprised yet I still. read lots of fantasy recruitment Moses , Dylan Brown and even Burton let's face it recruitment is hard and yet few want to admit it and soul-search why ?
On Oct 18 I expressed some views on this but no one challenged and I would love someone to debate me
So I'm clear Wests Tigers have an NRL side and a Jersey Flegg side
Western Suburbs Magpies have a NSW cup side and a SG Ball and Harold Mathews side and Balmain has a SG Ball side .
We are just not where top nrl stars want to go and its not to do with the spoon
just look at the dogs . I feel ONE club One name gives our profile more power
If someone disagrees and feel that Cup ,Ball and Matt's sides should be called magpies tell me why and how it helps
The JV was taking the Wests from one club and the Tigers from the other and when mixed together a club called Wests Tigers is born and that is the club I support

Imagine the feeling of disengagement when Wests Tigers sign a promising junior and he is shipped off to play with Western Suburbs Magpies? Or Balmain?
I could be wrong, but I’m convinced a pathway, or any succession plan, would become more established if it were seamless.

 

[jadtiger]

Imagine the feeling of disengagement when Wests Tigers sign a promising junior and he is shipped off to play with Western Suburbs Magpies? Or Balmain?
I could be wrong, but I’m convinced a pathway, or any succession plan, would become more established if it were seamless.

That is an excellent point

 

[twentyforty]

My final word on Garry Jack, to me his most memorable moment was his tackle on a runaway Alan McIndoe (the Emerald Express) in a SOO game on the touchline. Tedesco couldn't have made the tackle and I believe even the great Billy Slater wouldn't have made it, both aren't quick enough over the distance.

My final word on Gary Jack..if only we had a FB of his caliber today? He had all the skills and a tough resilience. Loved watching his kick returns, at top speed.