Signings, Suggestions & Rumours Discussion

[Red88_Tiger]

I just don't like the Benny thinks he's the voice of the tigers. I say tigers because he often refers to us as that.
Benny we are the Wests Tigers and it's time you but out.

I’m not a fan of Benny in the media but in fairness mm being his nephew gives him more relevance

 

[Jedi_Tiger]

Was Ben Houston a breakaway or a prop?

breakaway

 

[240z]

Was Ben Houston a breakaway or a prop?

Breakway/Flanker

 

[Properossi]

#tosserNo1

Lost his relevance a long time ago

 

[Chipofftheoldblock]

The only halves trialling over pre-season are Camroux, Will Smith, Kade Hill and Luke Knight.

We know Smith is just a fringe first-grader who can sometimes do a job; not sure if the others will end up making it.

Knight has joined us from the Roosters and he’s a fullback/half so haven’t seen heaps of him.

I thought Kade Hill was very good this year at Jersey Flegg level.
Not sure if his skill will translate to first grade, as he’s all skin and bones, but he’ll start the year in NSW Cup and go from there.

Have also read a few times that they’re training Reilly as a half, not as an outside back, interestingly enough.

Thanks mate, then if that is the case we need to worry because that is not good to hear at all.

Reilly is one of the most ill informed recruitments i have ever seen. How can a kid that played outside back in both league and union, now train as a half in the NRL. That will do me.

This is where Sheens recruitment scares me. Under the covers we are skinn and bone and no muscle. You have 2 halves (and i use AD loosely as a 5/8 as i dont rate him as a 5/8) yet have no back ups. Is he hoping that Benji pulls the boots on again???

You could go get Mason Lino (Wakefield) or Jai Field (Wigan) and pay them more than what they get in Super League to act as your backup for a year.
It scares me how ordinary the production of halves is across the league to be honest.

 

[bigsiro]

It will be a stain on the club to induct that moron as a life member

I don’t know what gets you to be a life member, but he was a great player. So different, so dynamic. Skill-set the envy of every hooker and every club. Was way ahead of his time.
Such a shame how his post-footy life has destroyed his cult hero status. He is not revered with much affection at all by tigers fans.

 

[tiger_one]

Rugby union players coming over to rugby league has been happening since Day 1 when league started.
We all know about Dally Messenger as the first way back when and there's been heaps more over the years, especially when league players were paid and the union players were amateur.

Then in more recent times (sort of), Rex Mossop, Michael O'Connor, Ricky Stuart, Semi Radradra, Daryl Halligan, Ben Kennedy, Matthew Ridge, Brad Thorn, among others.

Some hits, some misses.

​

 

[happy_tiger]

Was Ben Houston a breakaway or a prop?

2nd row

 

[innsaneink]

Rugby union players coming over to rugby league has been happening since Day 1 when league started.
We all know about Dally Messenger as the first way back when and there's been heaps more over the years, especially when league players were paid and the union players were amateur.

Then in more recent times (sort of), Rex Mossop, Michael O'Connor, Ricky Stuart, Semi Radradra, Daryl Halligan, Ben Kennedy, Matthew Ridge, Brad Thorn, among others.

Some hits, some misses.

​

You forgot Peter Rowles

 

[diedpretty]

Rugby union players coming over to rugby league has been happening since Day 1 when league started.
We all know about Dally Messenger as the first way back when and there's been heaps more over the years, especially when league players were paid and the union players were amateur.

Then in more recent times (sort of), Rex Mossop, Michael O'Connor, Ricky Stuart, Semi Radradra, Daryl Halligan, Ben Kennedy, Matthew Ridge, Brad Thorn, among others.

Some hits, some misses.

​

Taniela Tuiaki

 

[Kaito]

Taqeli Naiyaravoro, Marika Koriebete, even Nemani Nandolo,
before he signed to Waratahs.
Had a whole host of giant wingers

 

[Kaito]

We let Marika & Taqs go around
the same time I don't want to hear
about beastly wingers had them
both in our system and let them
walk 2013 they were in our system

 

[happy_tiger]

You forgot Peter Rowles

Geoff Richardson as well

 

[Love_the_WestsTigers]

Taqeli Naiyaravoro, Marika Koriebete, even Nemani Nandolo,
before he signed to Waratahs.
Had a whole host of giant wingers

Someone knows their Fijian boys

 

[Eternal Tiger]

Curtis Rona.... it'll happen

 

[Kaito]

 

[Asu Kepaoa's #1 Fan]

Thanks mate, then if that is the case we need to worry because that is not good to hear at all.

Reilly is one of the most ill informed recruitments i have ever seen. How can a kid that played outside back in both league and union, now train as a half in the NRL. That will do me.

This is where Sheens recruitment scares me. Under the covers we are skinn and bone and no muscle. You have 2 halves (and i use AD loosely as a 5/8 as i dont rate him as a 5/8) yet have no back ups. Is he hoping that Benji pulls the boots on again???

You could go get Mason Lino (Wakefield) or Jai Field (Wigan) and pay them more than what they get in Super League to act as your backup for a year.
It scares me how ordinary the production of halves is across the league to be honest.

Halves take years to develop. Most don't come good until mid-20s. Many are burned out by the time they get to the ages where they should be dominating. Ash Taylor couldn't handle being the million dollar man. Chanel Haris-Tavita decided to take indefinite time away from the game.

These are just two recent examples. There are plenty more who struggled in first grade who could have been better players had they spent more time in reserve grade. 5/8 and 1/2 are the hardest positions in the game. It's the reason they get paid so much.

Then there are some who go to England and develop away from the limelight. Think Blake Green and Jackson Hastings. These are the guys you want to pick up, but you often pay a decent price to get them back here. If they're killing it in super league they may be getting paid $500K+.

 

[Kaito]

Curtis Rona.... it'll happen

Vunivalu next up bro. Him & Tuivasa Sheck are odds on to
not get world cup jerseys.
Goodhue for the AB's and
Nawaqanitaswase for Wallabies
are shoes in to claim their spots

 

[tigerballs]

Halves take years to develop. Most don't come good until mid-20s. Many are burned out by the time they get to the ages where they should be dominating. Ash Taylor couldn't handle being the million dollar man. Chanel Haris-Tavita decided to take indefinite time away from the game.

These are just two recent examples. There are plenty more who struggled in first grade who could have been better players had they spent more time in reserve grade. 5/8 and 1/2 are the hardest positions in the game. It's the reason they get paid so much.

Then there are some who go to England and develop away from the limelight. Think Blake Green and Jackson Hastings. These are the guys you want to pick up, but you often pay a decent price to get them back here. If they're killing it in super league they may be getting paid $500K+.

A good dummy half makes a massive difference. The game is managed by the hooker first, the half on 5th or 6th tackle. A good d/h and a big, strong running set of middles gives you plenty of options. I think we've got that this year. Whilst it would be great to have a marquee 7, the position has never been easier at WT than it will be 2023. Someone might step up!

 

[Odessa]

And he was not good enough for the Tigers