Signings, Suggestions & Rumours Discussion

[Tiger-ferret]

I’m sure if Trindall walked up to his coach and said I can get a full time nrl spot at Tigers as the 7 , you need to release me so I can take Take this opportunity to play top grade NRL. They would release him plus $ 450 k may help him choose as well

If I were sharks coach I would say I don’t need to do anything…you are the future of this club.

 

[king_sirro]

Reading the play these are some strategies I think Sheens & Benji may be cooking in terms of halves recruitment.

I am speculating that Brayden Trindall will not be released by the Sharks in the immediate future as he is under contract (until the end of 2025) and provides ideal cover for Hynes or Moylan with the Sharks in their premiership window.

Strategy 1 – Experienced halfback who provides direction, leadership & solid kicking game + younger but still experienced five-eighth with running game, bit of x-factor.

SHAUN JOHNSON (Halfback)

Off contract after this season, has rediscovered his mojo this season albeit in a directional capacity, has a relationship Benji, can goalkick, 33 yo next season, only if Warriors do not want to hold up the progression of Volkman.

MITCHELL PEARCE (Halfback)

Reportedly sounded out by Benji so there is interest from our side there. Has a 1 year option in his favour for next season with Catalans so we could potentially lure him with $$$ & chance to play for his father’s club (well one half of it) and potential staff position after that, 35yo next season.

BLAKE TAAFE (Five-eighth)

Off contract this season. Benji will know his game & ability well from his season at Souths. Has experience beyond his years, would be a progressive running & ball-playing 5/8 who has an ok kicking game as well, 24 yo next season. Managed by Sam Ayoub.

CONNOR TRACEY (Five-eighth)



Under contract until end of 2024. Has slid down the pecking order at the Sharks due to his injuries. Back this season & NRL quality when fully fit. Played halves coming up through juniors & could become a versatile running 5/8 for us with plenty of energy & leadership. Managed by Sam Ayoub.

Strategy 2 – Experienced five-eighth with younger up-and-coming halfback who has some NRL experienced

BRAD SCHNEIDER (Halfback)

Off contract this season. Was Canberra’s rookie of the year last season with 12 NRL games experience, will be 23yo next season, reportedly rated by Tim Sheens, ok kicking game & could be one to come on with experience. Managed by Sam Ayoub.

JAKE ARTHUR (Halfback)

Under contract until end of 2024 but won’t be getting a look in at the Eels unless there are injuries. This could be time to take ownership of a team out of his father’s shadow. Has experience beyond his years, will be 22yo next season. Could also be transitioned to Lock in future given his size.

DEAN HAWKINS (Halfback)

Off contract this season. Like Taafe, Benji will know his game & ability well from his season at Souths. Seems to down the pecking order at Souths so not sure what to read into that but past couple of seasons has arguably been the best halfback in NSW Cup.

JAYDEN SULLIVAN (Halfback)

Under contract until end of 2025. But is now behind Ben Hunt & Amone in the Dragons halves battle. Good organiser & kicking game. He wants to be a halfback & depending on whether the coach at Dragons wants him could determine his availability. Potential like a Scott Prince for us. Managed by Crown Sports who also manage a lot of our up-and-comers in SG Ball.

JACK WIGHTON (Five-eighth)

Off contract after this season. Will be 31yo next season. Could be the high profile signing we need to lead our halves with a less experienced halfback. Can be a game-changer & is a leader. Wouldn’t lose him to SOO either now.

TUI LOLOHEA (Five-eighth)

Off contract after this season I believe. Will be 29yo next season. Had a good World Cup campaign with Tonga in the halves. Good running game, ok kicking game, can goal kick and can break the line.

JOSH SCHUSTER (Five-eighth)

Under contract until end of 2024. Will be 22yo next season. This is the one I think could be our game changer now. If Benji’s relationship & belief in Josh can come off (and reportedly Josh was a Tigers & Benji fan growing up), Josh could become our marquee player which he wouldn’t have at Manly with Tommy Turbo there. Captain material and we could pay him a lot more than Manly I’m guessing. If Josh wanted a release, Manly have plenty of young guns coming through including Fainu. Managed by Crown Sports.

TOP 5 PRIORITIES

• Josh Schuster
• Jack Wighton
• Shaun Johnson
• Jayden Sullivan
• Tui Lolohea

Tui Lolohea is an interesting one. If he is fit and has his weight under control, he could actually be a superb option at five eighth. At 27 he is in his prime, has spent time playing 7 which has taught him to take on the responsibility of a team, holding him in good stead to return to the NRL as a 6 where he can have a mix of natural flare but also identifying when to play controlled and high percentage plays.

Skill wise he is the ideal 6 we are looking for, it's just a matter of how much has he matured and how fit is he.

Anyone know how he is going in SL and how fit he is?

 

[liltiger]

Yes but if the players intensity drop then it’s on the coach’s to remind them of the importance and penalise for lot toeing the line isn’t it?

That's true.

 

[Wiz]

Not sure about then. But we know Benji rates him highly and then today's story appears in the DT how he's on our radar now.

Benji is a bit like Gould. You can’t trust anything he says. Benji had a huge wrap on Tommy Talau but I am yet to see anything to justify that.

 

[Halbrowne61]

Geez they like to make crap up. Our fitness levels aren’t the issue as we are playing stronger in the 2nd half than our opponents.

Or are they so buggered after giving it to us for the first 40, it appears we are the stronger in the 2nd half.
Note MT, none of our fantastic comebacks has resulted in a win as yet.

 

[liltiger]

Or are they so buggered after giving it to us for the first 40, it appears we are the stronger in the 2nd half.
Note MT, none of our fantastic comebacks has resulted in a win as yet.

Good point, tough to gauge atm. Are we fitter after tougher runs and defensive hits on the opposition, or are they generally dropping intensity and clocking off in the 2nd half. I think it might be a bit of both but don't really know atm.

 

[Roar_Power]

Benji is a bit like Gould. You can’t trust anything he says. Benji had a huge wrap on Tommy Talau but I am yet to see anything to justify that.

Out of interest, what justification were you keen to see? Tommy was in the squad until he got injured. As far as I know, Benji isn't flicking him. TT is agitating for a release (for whatever reason).

 

[Halbrowne61]

Out of interest, what justification were you keen to see? Tommy was in the squad until he got injured. As far as I know, Benji isn't flicking him. TT is agitating for a release (for whatever reason).

It would be interesting to know why, given he made a heart rending declaration of how we had helped him through a bad year and wanted to repay us.
Wonder why the turnaround , money, finals prospects , Aloai needs a partner for his lawn mowing business ?
King Robbie, any behind the scenes feedback ?

 

[NCC_Tiger]

I was thinking about this... We really need a basics coach.

People lash at Tim Sheens... Yet call him what he is. If Bennett is the Rolls Royce of Coaching and Bellamy is the Bentley... Sheens is the Citroen DS (or Layland P76). In some ways brilliant in other ways "damn that car".

Sheens is unique, he has some strong attributes as a coach but has some weaknesses. He doesn't build players tough enough.

Heck, thinking about the WT, we had some absolute GUN wingers under Sheens and sheens 10,000 passes a day style works with that kind of player. Pass the ball till someone has open space. Fast players like Tukali, Koroisau, Tiquiri, Chris Lawrence (who was a very fast Centre who outraced Billy Slater)... works with that style.

Sheens' fast footy should work with the current rules. We clearly have the hooker in Api for it. We don't have the pace at the back line, not moving up with the line and making small mistakes hurts us bad.

No one in our squad, from what I can see has the pace to beat a rival team. NO ONE.

To use a car analogy, Sheens is that highly experimental european model when we need a Toyota Corolla.

Nothing wrong with a Citroen DS.

 

[Mighty_Tiger]

Or are they so buggered after giving it to us for the first 40, it appears we are the stronger in the 2nd half.
Note MT, none of our fantastic comebacks has resulted in a win as yet.

Missing the point. If conditioning was a concern it wouldn’t matter we would be getting thumped in the 2nd half. Our defensive efforts are actually top 6 within the comp currently in 2nd half.

We are getting thumped in spurts 15-20min in the 1st half periods this year and then after that we actually hold our own or finish stronger.

1st half is terrible 108pts v 30pts total or 18 v 5pts per game

2nd half is a massive change of 46pts v 70pts total or 8 v 12pts per game our way.

Our line breaks conceded in the 2nd half are 70% reduced also & we make 58% more meters in the 2nd half. Effort areas normally against fatigue are actually opposite direction indicating otherwise.

I find it really interesting looking at our numbers across the park 1st v 2nd half when someone mentions a guy who had been at the club for years heavily involved with training etc getting benched but our 2nd half performances are actually the best they have been for a very long time.

Also re wins thats nothing to do with fitness, we are stuffing up our options and it’s a general lack of capability which makes the 2nd half performances even more interesting.

 

[liltiger]

It would be interesting to know why, given he made a heart rending declaration of how we had helped him through a bad year and wanted to repay us.
Wonder why the turnaround , money, finals prospects , Aloai needs a partner for his lawn mowing business ?
King Robbie, any behind the scenes feedback ?

Prob just Manly in his ears filling his head with crap

 

[coivtny]

Heard Aaron Woods on radio tonight saying how great it is to be played at Manly and how he followed them as a kid. What a twerp.

 

[bptiger 0]

If played as a 5/8 and with the experience he has accumulated in SL and at the WC, I believe so. And at his age, he wouldn't hold up the progress of the 17-18yos coming through.

Maybe some avid SL watchers can shed more light on his current form.

 

[izotope]

Missing the point. If conditioning was a concern it wouldn’t matter we would be getting thumped in the 2nd half. Our defensive efforts are actually top 6 within the comp currently in 2nd half.

We are getting thumped in spurts 15-20min in the 1st half periods this year and then after that we actually hold our own or finish stronger.

1st half is terrible 108pts v 30pts total or 18 v 5pts per game

2nd half is a massive change of 46pts v 70pts total or 8 v 12pts per game our way.

Our line breaks conceded in the 2nd half are 70% reduced also & we make 58% more meters in the 2nd half. Effort areas normally against fatigue are actually opposite direction indicating otherwise.

I find it really interesting looking at our numbers across the park 1st v 2nd half when someone mentions a guy who had been at the club for years heavily involved with training etc getting benched but our 2nd half performances are actually the best they have been for a very long time.

Also re wins thats nothing to do with fitness, we are stuffing up our options and it’s a general lack of capability which makes the 2nd half performances even more interesting.

Combination of playing catchup and teams dropping off i reckon.
Almost like he that shall not be named plays 10x better when 'theres nothing to lose'. Before that appears to be gripped with indecision and fear of the wrong play, which inveitably happens anyway

Hard to say if it would be the same in second halves if we were 20 up at half time (god forbid)

 

[tony soprano]

It would be interesting to know why, given he made a heart rending declaration of how we had helped him through a bad year and wanted to repay us.
Wonder why the turnaround , money, finals prospects , Aloai needs a partner for his lawn mowing business ?
King Robbie, any behind the scenes feedback ?

Maybe seeing what happened to Douhie wants to sure up his future.

 

[tiger05premier]

Heard Aaron Woods on radio tonight saying how great it is to be played at Manly and how he followed them as a kid. What a twerp.

Let the germ task it up

He will be lucky to play an NRL game there

Go journey man

Suck it up loser

You will be on to your 40th club next year

 

[Wiz]

Out of interest, what justification were you keen to see? Tommy was in the squad until he got injured. As far as I know, Benji isn't flicking him. TT is agitating for a release (for whatever reason).

As a centre I’d like to see him (or someone else) with more speed, better hands, the ability to look more threatening with the ball in hand, and to stop jamming in when it’s not necessary in defence (which causes an overlap).

I see TT as a “clunky” player, someone who doesn’t really have a position. Not fast enough or skilful enough for the backs and (probably) not big or powerful enough for the forwards (granted, he hasn’t been given a go there yet). I doubt he’d make the 17 at any other club.

I was really thrilled a few years ago when we signed Jock Madden and TT. They were the Australian schoolboys half and five eighth respectively. I thought at least one of them would work out by the time they got to first grade and that would be the end of our lean years. Alas, Madden is already gone (gee I’d love him back) and it sounds like TT has one foot out the door.

I wish TT all the best whether here or elsewhere. If it was my decision, in a vacuum, I’d be letting him walk at the end of the year when his contract expires. If there’s a swap that makes sense now I’d be all for it. Recruitment seems really hard for us at present. I worry that whenever we let someone walk, can we get a better player or a better value player into the squad? Our reserves and JF are very ordinary and people from outside the club don’t seem too keen to join.

 

[Mighty_Tiger]

Combination of playing catchup and teams dropping off i reckon.
Almost like he that shall not be named plays 10x better when 'theres nothing to lose'. Before that appears to be gripped with indecision and fear of the wrong play, which inveitably happens anyway

Hard to say if it would be the same in second halves if we were 20 up at half time (god forbid)

It’s actually somewhat remarkable the degree we are better in the 2nd half. Was looking at stats over the last 10yrs and haven’t seen anything like it, we are absolutely going against the grain considering we aren’t winning any games. It’s really strange looking at our stats even down to forward efforts etc.

It would be really interesting to see what happens if we can convert our great field position & ball positioning early on in games and lead at halftime how we hold up.

 

[The_Patriot]

Lolohea I give up

 

[Halbrowne61]

Missing the point. If conditioning was a concern it wouldn’t matter we would be getting thumped in the 2nd half. Our defensive efforts are actually top 6 within the comp currently in 2nd half.

We are getting thumped in spurts 15-20min in the 1st half periods this year and then after that we actually hold our own or finish stronger.

1st half is terrible 108pts v 30pts total or 18 v 5pts per game

2nd half is a massive change of 46pts v 70pts total or 8 v 12pts per game our way.

Our line breaks conceded in the 2nd half are 70% reduced also & we make 58% more meters in the 2nd half. Effort areas normally against fatigue are actually opposite direction indicating otherwise.

I find it really interesting looking at our numbers across the park 1st v 2nd half when someone mentions a guy who had been at the club for years heavily involved with training etc getting benched but our 2nd half performances are actually the best they have been for a very long time.

Also re wins thats nothing to do with fitness, we are stuffing up our options and it’s a general lack of capability which makes the 2nd half performances even more interesting.

WTF , I’m not missing the point. Ok you say our fitness is not a problem and we come good after half time , right.
Impressive statistics but useless if we keep getting beat.
I think everybody knows we fall asleep for a while and then wake up, right .
What is your assessment then of the teams who have beaten us, don’t they wear themselves out during our sleep time and then back off with a good lead coz they don’t rate us a threat in the 2nd half.
And don’t we find it difficult to score as many points as them in our strong second halves when we prove our fitness.
Does your statistical analysis tell you when we will turn that all around and win some games.
Maybe what you’ve just done is indicative of how people make a really simple game over complicated, you know with so much statistical analysis.
Why are we getting thumped in those 15-20 min spurts is the key to the whole thing ?
So please give me the answer to that, statistically, or any other way.