Signings, Suggestions & Rumours Discussion

Todd Packer said:
The hysteria is large, very large.
Kepoa's try is allowed, Twal puts the ball down and all the sooks are talking about how it's an improved performance and something to build on. Same game, but the perception changes for those who only look at the scoreboard.
The only change apart from Bateman Blore and Pole coming back would be at fullback. Laurie offers nothing.
I'd change the half as well but it's pointless suggesting that because it won't happen.
I also have a special offer for those of you who believe Hastings is a good guy who only wanted to apologise. I'm actually a Nigerian prince who has 60 million in gold that I can't access. If you can send me $50k to pay federal taxes I will share the gold with you.
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Not really, any half decent side wins yesterday's game by 18 - 20. Not by 4 points. I'd still be hammering them.
 
Roar_Power said:

Kikau helps Bulldogs snare promising forward from Tigers​


The Wests Tigers are privately fuming over losing one of their brightest young stars to the Bulldogs.
Kitione Kautoga, who made his one and only NRL appearance for the Tigers against the Dragons in round 24 last year, is on his way to Belmore.
The Fijian forward, who scored three tries in NSW Cup in the opening round, was brought to the Tigers by former general manager Adam Hartigan. Hartigan is now at the Bulldogs working with Phil Gould.
The pair organised for Kautoga to meet with coach Cameron Ciraldo and his idol Viliame Kikau. It was enough to get him over the line.
The Tigers requested a $160,000 transfer fee from the Bulldogs to release him this year, but that doesn’t look like happening.

www.smh.com.au

‘Put up or shut up’: Tigers boss slams ‘clickbait’ media in fiery pre-game speech

Tigers chairman Lee Hagipantelis addressed more than 200 guests inside the Centurions Lounge at Leichhardt Oval before kick off. He didn’t miss.
www.smh.com.au www.smh.com.au
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A big blow...he is NRL ready right now.

I get the feeling lost Kitione and signing Bateman for four years is going to look really, really bad by mid 2025.
 
Bones said:
Took all of 2 minutes of Staines at fullback to see a sweep play actually create some space. Think Staines to fullback and Toupou into the wing is worth a try. We can’t get any worse.
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Yep...Laurie was late or not involved on most sweeps.

He is a terrible FB.

People defending him just see a small bloke run back hard on kicks...but the position needs much, much, more than that.

He is absolutely horrible positionally on attack and D.

Will be very surprised if he is not dropped this week / Staines FB.
 
ElleryHanley said:
Yep...Laurie was late or not involved on most sweeps.

He is a terrible FB.

People defending him just see a small bloke run back hard on kicks...but the position needs much, much, more than that.

He is absolutely horrible positionally on attack and D.

Will be very surprised if he is not dropped this week / Staines FB.
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You're talking about Sheens here. He is the epitome of stubborn.

Laurie will be named at fullback again.
 
ElleryHanley said:
Yep...Laurie was late or not involved on most sweeps.

He is a terrible FB.

People defending him just see a small bloke run back hard on kicks...but the position needs much, much, more than that.

He is absolutely horrible positionally on attack and D.

Will be very surprised if he is not dropped this week / Staines FB.
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I must have a bad memory because i can;t ever recollect Shonky Sheens ever dropping an incumbant after 2 weeks no matter how poorly they play.He just never admits fault in his selections
 
jadtiger said:
I must have a bad memory because i can;t ever recollect Shonky Sheens ever dropping an incumbant after 2 weeks no matter how poorly they play.He just never admits fault in his selections
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Reckon the writing was on the wall after his comments during the preseason, saying it's a fight between him and Staines and that we have a great kid in Bula coming through. Personally just think he's trying to buy time till round 10 odds on its Bulas
 
Mighty_Tiger said:
If Sheens does that Staines needs a good 6-8week min crack at it. Gets told it’s yours. Not a chop this week and Laurie is back. That takes us to round 10 when Bula or some other kids could step up if we want to focus on the future.
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Love it 👌
 
jirskyr said:
Kautoga barely played in 2021-2022 and the club "stuck by him" when he initially had visa issues (his own words from his debut game interviews). But the player still chooses to leave, despite loyalty shown by Tigers for very little return.
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I posted previously how I met Kautoga. He told me Madge had spoken to him and he seemed like a good young kid. He was with his mum and the impression I had was they needed every cent they could get. My impression could be completely wrong but I think some of these kids are playing major roles in supporting their families.

Remember the Tiger kid who busted his pec and went home and committed suicide. I think his family were dependent on him and it was too much.

I'm careful about judging these situations now.
 
jirskyr said:
Not that you are wrong about our depth and recruitment outcome failures, but what if the player simply wants to leave?

The one problem I find with these arguments is an assumption that the club recruitment has failed or made some mistake that was avoidable. First and obvious: Tigers recruited Kautoga, so they saw potential and he was in their plans. According to the article, Hartigan brought Kautoga to the Tigers and has now done the same for Bulldogs, and the guy "idolises" Kikau as a fellow Fijian.

Tigers have since bought Bateman for 4 years and IP for 3 years so the starting pathway for backrow is clearly blocked. Kautoga signed for Tigers from Sharks, so he clearly follows money and opportunity rather than sticking with the club that is giving him a go.

Kautoga barely played in 2021-2022 and the club "stuck by him" when he initially had visa issues (his own words from his debut game interviews). But the player still chooses to leave, despite loyalty shown by Tigers for very little return.

Also of course we are a team who ran last 2022 and currently running last 2023; it remains to be seen whether Dogs are definitely on a superior trajectory compared to Tigers, but it looks that way.

So the player was nursed through injury and migration issues, supported and given his debut opportunity, but signed with someone else despite that investment. And he left the Sharks also despite coming through their system. I am not exactly clear what the recruitment guys are supposed to do when the club is on the nose and the player is obviously only looking out for his short-term interests. Obviously the club's trajectory sucks, but is that on the recruitment or is that as much on the overall club performance and not being a place young players want to stay?
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For one instead of signing him to Dev contract they could have put him on a min wage top 30 contract.
2 ‘if your good enough, your old enough mantra’ if you pick a player to debut give him more than bloody 3mins for the entire season!
 
Earl said:
I posted previously how I met Kautoga. He told me Madge had spoken to him and he seemed like a good young kid. He was with his mum and the impression I had was they needed every cent they could get. My impression could be completely wrong but I think some of these kids are playing major roles in supporting their families.

Remember the Tiger kid who busted his pec and went home and committed suicide. I think his family were dependent on him and it was too much.

I'm careful about judging these situations now.
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Great post.

And facts are facts...he is a second rower and in the past 12 months we:
Signed ICE and Bateman to long term deals
Gave NRL deals to Tumeth and Matamura
Extended Blore
Moved AJ to second row.

And no NRL deal for Kitione.

You can't blame him for taking an NRL deal when presented.

His state cup form has been red hot and he has "x factor"...109 kilos and runs great lines. I think he will be a gun, but time will tell.

IMO will be a big loss.
 
Needaname said:
For one instead of signing him to Dev contract they could have put him on a min wage top 30 contract.
2 ‘if your good enough, your old enough mantra’ if you pick a player to debut give him more than bloody 3mins for the entire season!
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They put him on a 1 year dev contract. When people complain about poor admin this is something that is a detailed and fair criticism.
 
Demps said:

Players we should discuss;

Declan Casey (Bulldogs)
Kaeo Weeks (Manly)
Will Kennedy (Sharks)
Dean Hawkins (South)

Off contract this year.


And off contract next year- early release, maybe.
Deine Mariner (Broncos)
Kayak Iro (Sharks)
Rocco Berry (Warriors)
Nick Meany (Storm)
Tyrell Sloane (Dragons)

Sign a couple of these and they walk straight into our backline
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We should put a big offer in for Kennedy. He is a good fullback.
 
Needaname said:
For one instead of signing him to Dev contract they could have put him on a min wage top 30 contract.
2 ‘if your good enough, your old enough mantra’ if you pick a player to debut give him more than bloody 3mins for the entire season!
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But who says he wasn't going into a Top 30 contract? Dogs have signed him for his NEXT contract, not this one. His next contract offer at Tigers could have been Top 30.

re playing him more - can't really comment; he may not have been ready to play big repeated minutes. Lots of players get a little debut time then back to reggies to develop. You can't honestly accuse the club of failing to blood / play youngsters or give them a go when we debuted so many young forwards back end of last year - Matamua, Pole, Austin Dias, Tommy Freebairn. Tumeth yesterday. Blore and Stefano before this. Tigers are clearly very willing to punt on young forwards.
 
jirskyr said:
But who says he wasn't going into a Top 30 contract? Dogs have signed him for his NEXT contract, not this one. His next contract offer at Tigers could have been Top 30.
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They could have signed him for next year as well. I can't see any explanation other than we stuffed up big time. He might not come good but I wouldn't be surprised if he does.

We prioritized players that at this point aren't as good as he is. We gave him a 1 year dev contract and he is probably the best out of the young kids who are looking ready to play.
 
jirskyr said:
But who says he wasn't going into a Top 30 contract? Dogs have signed him for his NEXT contract, not this one. His next contract offer at Tigers could have been Top 30.

re playing him more - can't really comment; he may not have been ready to play big repeated minutes. Lots of players get a little debut time then back to reggies to develop. You can't honestly accuse the club of failing to blood / play youngsters or give them a go when we debuted so many young forwards back end of last year - Matamua, Pole, Austin Dias, Tommy Freebairn. Tumeth yesterday. Blore and Stefano before this. Tigers are clearly very willing to punt on young forwards.
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Who says, the fact, that the dogs were legally aloud to sign him.
How many players have we seen the past 5 years be presented with Dev contracts only to find out they’ve been promised a top 30 contract for the following 2 years.
All of a sudden we decide not to do that with Kit.
How about instead of signing a project rugby player on a train and trial for half a season including a 2 year first grade contract. You sign a project player that was already in your system.
There is gap between a mature and professional that our club just hasn’t met yet.
 
Needaname said:
There is gap between a mature and professional that our club just hasn’t met yet.
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It's one poor decision but it comes across as a really bad decision. It's like they were looking for the next project player so they could make their mark or something.
 
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