Signings, Suggestions & Rumours Discussion

[liltiger]

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.

Mosese Fotuaika. Poor guy.

 

[Needaname]

Mosese Fotuaika. Poor guy.

Rip.

 

[Needaname]

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.

I tell you a project player that was more ready than Kit. He is at the Storm now and was playing last year with the Warriors!

 

[balmain boy]

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?

But Papalii and Bateman aren't guarantees to stay second row forever, one of them could play lock. Papa could transition to the prop rotation. You always need several players to cover a position.
The recruitment team prioritised Tumeth over Kautoga, which is a terrible decision. They prioritised L Saukuru over Kautoga, which is appalling. They prioritised Kepaoa over him too which is terrible.

The club keeps offering contracts to losers! Even now, half our squad have already ben extended when we have the worst roster in the nrl!

It's not as if he's walking into first grade at the dogs either. He would be their 4th-5th backup player too.

Maybe we should have shown him how he can create his own Fijian combo at our club, with Api, Miller, Wakeham, S Saukuru and himself all at the forefront.

 

[Tito Santana]

I find it ironic that Nofa went to Melbourne and they did sweet FA in the finals. Mmmmm

 

[balmain boy]

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.

He would be on minimum wage at the Dogs, we could offer him more cash, and better game time than they can.

 

[balmain boy]

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

Bula is at least a year away from first grade. He's currently no better than Laurie, and probably even worse albeit younger.

He has a high ceiling, but he's still a young kid learning how to play footy. He's not a natural footballer, he's a natural athlete. We have to train the football into him, for both attack and defence.

 

[earl]

He would be on minimum wage at the Dogs, we could offer him more cash, and better game time than they can.

It's too late now though right.

 

[Dennisspicer1]

1 Nick Meany - Safe and reliable
2 Tyrell Sloane - JAC clone
3 Declan Casey - looks strong, could be available due to Dogs having a lot of other options
4 Kayal Iro - always playing cup, deserves a start
5 Juniour Tupou - future star
6 Kaeo Weekes - kid looks likely and exciting, Manly will probably extend him...
7 Maybe some UK options - Mitch Pearce, Aiken Sezar, Dodd from Wigan... Wakeham? Temaire Martin? Ronald Volkman


Out with the old, in with the new.

Yep, We are in pretty much the same position we were a year ago.
some players we kept were wrong ones, and again we keep buying players that are almost at retirement stage, and Bateman ??????
Anybodies guess.

 

[tigerbenji]

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?

You speak to much sense.

 

[sleeve]

I'm posting a lot of crap tonight because that was so bad, but surely we score more than 3 tries in 2 weeks with a Volkman, Trindal, Pezet etc...that's without even mentioning our statistical advantage in both games. Just get a half.

Don't care who we drop, hell, get two halves and drop them both.

Did anyone think that a Wakeham/Smith combination would start to look feasible 2 weeks in?

I mentioned it before the first game.

 

[Eternal Tiger]

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?

Maybe, we need to ask the Admin of this Club, why we are perennially "on the nose" and why they can't change that perception.

 

[OzLuke]

We should put a big offer in for Kennedy. He is a good fullback.

I agree with this...the guy is a gun

 

[Needaname]

Maybe, we need to ask the Admin of this Club, why we are perennially "on the nose" and why they can't change that perception.

Coz Madge can’t recruit players…

 

[finnzo]

We need a new fullback and half end of story

 

[SeanT]

1 Nick Meany - Safe and reliable
2 Tyrell Sloane - JAC clone
3 Declan Casey - looks strong, could be available due to Dogs having a lot of other options
4 Kayal Iro - always playing cup, deserves a start
5 Juniour Tupou - future star
6 Kaeo Weekes - kid looks likely and exciting, Manly will probably extend him...
7 Maybe some UK options - Mitch Pearce, Aiken Sezar, Dodd from Wigan... Wakeham? Temaire Martin? Ronald Volkman


Out with the old, in with the new.

No idea why Tupou isn't in the side. He's a bit shy but he's talented as. Nofo can go to reserves. That whole bench can go as well. I want strong boppers on the bench.

 

[Demps]

No idea why Tupou isn't in the side. He's a bit shy but he's talented as. Nofo can go to reserves. That whole bench can go as well. I want strong boppers on the bench.

Sometimes common sense isn't so common.... when it comes to this club.

 

[Scare]

Anyone know if there is any truth to the doggies signing kautoga? Seen it all over fb

 

[tony soprano]

We need a new fullback and half end of story

And 6

 

[Flippedy]

We need a new fullback and half end of story

Staines to fullback, I think that’s his position and try Wakeham at half. It’s all we have right now, can’t do any worse.

The problem is all this wishing for Brooks to be dropped, punted or whatever is just that - wishing. While ever he’s fit and at the club he will be chosen at half. I don’t get it I really don’t. When are they ever going to realise he is not a game manager!

Admittedly it was only a trial, but the way we played against Canberra with Wakeham and Doueihi in the halves, you would think the coaches might at least entertain the thought of giving it another go. Alas, I’m sure Brooks will be named at half again tomorrow 😞