Signings, Suggestions & Rumours Discussion

Been on the road touring Europe for over 5 weeks with a couple more to go. In that time we have not won a game, we had a lucky win against the bye and have not been linked or signed a soul. Except a ageing no9 on a reserve grade contract.

We are a spineless club minus API so nothing is ever going to change till this is rectified. Ok young Bulla looks to have a future but with no 6 or 7 to help him, he will be doing tuff.

I guess I am lucky being over here..keep the banter going I enjoy the read

Reading about the games is far better than watching the games at the moment.The team plays like they are uncoached and completely rely on individual efforts to make any attack,i have never seen it worse in my 70 years of life especially when you consider the team is probably an 11-13 outfit.Each week they play to well below their ability and squander their chances with zero organisation where it counts
 
I still go back to Sheens' comment about looking for an 'experienced half' (or 5/8).

Who fits that bill? Make another play at Pearce after the season? Sezar? Townsend probably fits. Moylan?

Given the situation at the Tigers, it can't be a 'glory chaser'. This needs to be a guy toward the end of his career looking for a challenge, or a lifeline. Attracting the top-end talent doesn't work- Moses, Munster etc.

They need someone that WANTS to play with Ice, Api, Bateman. I honestly don't know if Sheens can get his experienced half. I cringe & think we might need to look at the guys squeezed out elsewhere or looking for redemption.

Gareth Widdop?

Sezar is probably the one I'd lean to, OR you go all-in on Mitch Pearce, knowing it's not the perfect solution BUT he brings the ability to steer a team around the park.
You know who keeps popping in my head who would have been absolutely perfect if he was younger of course.
James Maloney, he had defensive deficiencies but that guy now would have been perfect for us, would transform us overnight.
 
I agree we need to get an organising half (I’d give 2M for Cronk to come out of retirement) but was interested in Sheens’ interview when he said AD was a “big voice” and did a lot of organisation.

I thought we looked much more fluent and organised on Sunday compared to earlier. Could we be better without AD? Does he overrule or confuse the other playmakers?

Just a thought and not an excuse for the earlier rounds.
 
I still go back to Sheens' comment about looking for an 'experienced half' (or 5/8).

Who fits that bill? Make another play at Pearce after the season? Sezar? Townsend probably fits. Moylan?

Given the situation at the Tigers, it can't be a 'glory chaser'. This needs to be a guy toward the end of his career looking for a challenge, or a lifeline. Attracting the top-end talent doesn't work- Moses, Munster etc.

They need someone that WANTS to play with Ice, Api, Bateman. I honestly don't know if Sheens can get his experienced half. I cringe & think we might need to look at the guys squeezed out elsewhere or looking for redemption.

Gareth Widdop?

Sezar is probably the one I'd lean to, OR you go all-in on Mitch Pearce, knowing it's not the perfect solution BUT he brings the ability to steer a team around the park.
Agree. We need to float up from the bottom a little before we would even look like becoming a destination club.
We need someone to get us moving upwards, even if it's for the short-term.
 
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Braydon Trindall as 18th man not playing either grade. Their nsw cup halves are good and they have Tracey. Surely we could sign Trindall to be out starting half and lead a team around.
I think soon as Hynes goes off on origin duty you will see Trindall. We can then have another assessment with a view to signing him for 24.
 
I think soon as Hynes goes off on origin duty you will see Trindall. We can then have another assessment with a view to signing him for 24.
Ok ,we need a 1/2 , I think most on here and maybe even the coaching staff think trindall or Hawkins maybe be our way out of are shit start to the season . Well we have $1,000,000 dollars sitting there doing jack shit , put a package to there managers and a guarantee that they have a 1st grade spot and see what happens ,
 
Anyone know why the talk of Ethan Sanders has died down? Is Hawkins better than him?
They’re completely different.

Hawkins is a 24-year-old reserve grade halfback who has never been (and likely will never be) anything special.

Very similar to Wakeham in terms of how good they are.

Ethan Sanders is a 18/19-year-old kid who has a lot of potential as a conservative, game-managing halfback but who also isn’t the finished product yet due to his age.
 
They’re completely different.

Hawkins is a 24-year-old reserve grade halfback who has never been (and likely will never be) anything special.

Very similar to Wakeham in terms of how good they are.

Ethan Sanders is a 18/19-year-old kid who has a lot of potential as a conservative, game-managing halfback but who also isn’t the finished product yet due to his age.
@KingRobbie do you know how does Sanders compare to Joseph O'Neill the JF halfback at the Bulldogs who had plenty of wraps on him at school at Westfields (so would assume Wayne Lambkin knows him well)?
 
@KingRobbie do you know how does Sanders compare to Joseph O'Neill the JF halfback at the Bulldogs who had plenty of wraps on him at school at Westfields (so would assume Wayne Lambkin knows him well)?
Not 100% mate.

O’Neill is a year older than Sanders but they seem to be at a pretty similar level.

I personally haven’t been that impressed by Sanders from what I’ve seen but would need to watch more games to get a better picture.
 
Not 100% mate.

O’Neill is a year older than Sanders but they seem to be at a pretty similar level.

I personally haven’t been that impressed by Sanders from what I’ve seen but would need to watch more games to get a better picture.
Insightful bra.

Who do you think we should be targeting to address our halves issue ?

Wether that be from lower grades, cup or overseas. Keen to hear your opinion.
 
They’re completely different.

Hawkins is a 24-year-old reserve grade halfback who has never been (and likely will never be) anything special.

Very similar to Wakeham in terms of how good they are.

Ethan Sanders is a 18/19-year-old kid who has a lot of potential as a conservative, game-managing halfback but who also isn’t the finished product yet due to his age.
I haven't seen too much content on hawkins but what I've heard and remember seeing he is in the reynolds/illias mold where he straighten up the line by running straight and passing late. Plays direct.

Think we could do with this type of halfback.

Heard a few south figures talk him up as similar to Reynolds. You'd think benji would know.

But who knows what they are doing.

Wakeham seems more passive sit back pick a pass kick long type of half.

Read a fox article that the st George 7 upstaged walker last weekend.

Jayden Sullivan he signed up tho I believe
 
Insightful bra.

Who do you think we should be targeting to address our halves issue ?

Wether that be from lower grades, cup or overseas. Keen to hear your opinion.
It’s a tough one mate.

Missing out on Moses really hurt.

Our best halfback prospect coming through looks to be Alex Conti and he’s still years away (if he ever makes it).

I think we have to go for a highly touted junior like O’Neill, Sanders etc. or push for a NRL (or Super League) contracted player to get a release.

Isn’t much available on the market at all unfortunately.
 
I haven't seen too much content on hawkins but what I've heard and remember seeing he is in the reynolds/illias mold where he straighten up the line by running straight and passing late.

Think we could do with this type of halfback.

Heard a few south figures talk him up as similar to Reynolds. You'd think benji would know.

But who knows what they are doing.

Wakeham seems more passive sit back pick a pass kick long type of half.
In the NRL games I’ve seen him play, he hasn’t impressed.

It’s also very rare that a 24-year-old who’s barely played NRL becomes a quality first-grade player.

Like I said, I think he’s at the Wakeham level of quality.
 
It’s a tough one mate.

Missing out on Moses really hurt.

Our best halfback prospect coming through looks to be Alex Conti and he’s still years away (if he ever makes it).

I think we have to go for a highly touted junior like O’Neill, Sanders etc. or push for a NRL (or Super League) contracted player to get a release.

Isn’t much available on the market at all unfortunately.
Can see the announcement now, week after the NRL GF, Wests Tigers sign Mitchell Pearce for 2024 alongside future star (one of Ethan Sanders/Joseph O'Neill/Oliver Lawry as a roughie) in top 30. Pearce then to move into a halves coaching role in 25. Brandon Wakeham extended for one season as depth.

PS. Hopefully the club gets to see Oliver Lawry in Flegg this season. I believe he sustained a shoulder injury in about Rd 2/3 of Ball.
 
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