Signings, Suggestions & Rumours Discussion

[Kelce68]

No way should we let Ofahengaue go unless we are getting a proper good player in return. Maybe Jake Arthur plus some coin our way would be a decent trade. Or even better give us that new young half who is supposedly a gun (Sanders).

Doesn't have it.

We'd be fools to go down this path. He seems pretty entrenched as their perennial backup anyway with his father as head coach and his brother in the pathways.

 

[Curaeus]

Very surprising if true. Club must see him as blocking the pathway of matamua, blore, Mansfield etc. Joffa is a proper, consistent first grader. Only acceptable if we get a proper first grader in return.

Only acceptable if we get a proper first grader in return-whose name isn't Matterson!

 

[Dino]

Doesn't have it.

We'd be fools to go down this path. He seems pretty entrenched as their perennial backup anyway with his father as head coach and his brother in the pathways.

I think jacob arthur has a nrl future he's only 20 but is already too good for cup, just needs to get out of his father's shadow and get used to the nrls pace

 

[twentyforty]

Doesn't need to be upgraded to play now. Would be a waste of a spot for this year and close off potential signings.

Yes, he could have played the last couple of games.
Sounds like the players have had their mid season performance reviews? If you’re not part of the solution, then you’re blocking the pathway?

 

[bptiger 0]

Only acceptable if we get a proper first grader in return-whose name isn't Matterson!

We cannot roll over on this if they want joffa then we need to get someone in return and not have to pay any part of joffa s wage , the club needs to grow a set of balls and stop rolling over

 

[earl]

Yes please do this deal . We get a potential half and save 700 on cap , love joffa but he is blocking blore etc . Shawn Johnson plus sanders and keep brooks and halves are done with plenty left for a marquee center

This would be awesome. It just sounds too good to be true. I was Joffa's biggest fan after his performances for us over the past couple of seasons but he has been poor and I'd probably drop him.

 

[Tiger_Fanatic3]

View attachment 5445
What could we get in return? Is Joffa not happy playing off the bench or maybe the coaching staff want to bring james up onto the bench

Tigers have no reason to agree to this.
I highly doubt Joe wants out.
Joe O was awesome last year, arguably Tigers hardest working player.
If Parra are willing to give up Paulo for Ofahengaue...
Whatever the outcome, the fans will always respect him.

 

[earl]

This is the one. 6 foot tall, 20 this year, playing up 2/3 years last year into Flegg and still dominating at that level for the Eels. Solid defensively. Goal kicker. And has Jakob Arthur, Brown and Moses in his way.

He, with Oliver Lawry and Iverson Matai (possibly) on the horizon and Conti and Large into the future, would make a very good future pool of halves.

He may be good enough with an experienced half by his side to taste first grade next year and start in '25.

Snag Johnson for 2 years. Resign Brooks and Wakeham for 12 months. Give Lawry and Sanders a taste in '24 and see where the chips lie for Benji to start 2025.

That way, one of Brooks, Wakeham and Doueihi can fight for a squad spot in '25 to compete with Johnson, Lawry and Sanders, by which time Large and Conti will be in NSW Cup and pushing for a taste themselves.

We need to future-proof the halves stocks and that, to me, is a very thorough way to do it, considering the current state of the halves market.

This post is gold as well. We need options.

 

[AdelaideTiger]

How can the Eels even talk to Joffa without the Tigers saying he can leave? I don't understand the rules around player discussions at all...
Aside from that, do the Eels really need Joffa? He'll just be coming off the bench there too?
This is a strange one.

 

[earl]

How can the Eels even talk to Joffa without the Tigers saying he can leave? I

The way I read it is you can talk as much as you want but you can't make a formal offer.

 

[Kelce68]

Yes, he could have played the last couple of games.
Sounds like the players have had their mid season performance reviews? If you’re not part of the solution, then you’re blocking the pathway?

Could be the case

 

[jrtiger]

This is the one. 6 foot tall, 20 this year, playing up 2/3 years last year into Flegg and still dominating at that level for the Eels. Solid defensively. Goal kicker. And has Jakob Arthur, Brown and Moses in his way.

He, with Oliver Lawry and Iverson Matai (possibly) on the horizon and Conti and Large into the future, would make a very good future pool of halves.

He may be good enough with an experienced half by his side to taste first grade next year and start in '25.

Snag Johnson for 2 years. Resign Brooks and Wakeham for 12 months. Give Lawry and Sanders a taste in '24 and see where the chips lie for Benji to start 2025.

That way, one of Brooks, Wakeham and Doueihi can fight for a squad spot in '25 to compete with Johnson, Lawry and Sanders, by which time Large and Conti will be in NSW Cup and pushing for a taste themselves.

We need to future-proof the halves stocks and that, to me, is a very thorough way to do it, considering the current state of the halves market.

great post. Doueihi for mine is done. very rarely do you ever see a player come back from a third ACL and into a spine position, and even then I don't think you'll ever see him lace a boot for WT again.

that said, having Johnson, Brooks, Wakeham and Sanders in the top 30 with Lawry, Conti and Large either on development deals or in the pathways is a smart move. the first three I mentioned should all be signed on 1-2 year deals (potentially an option of a third for SJ) and it ensures we're completely covered in an area that has hampered us in recent years.

I'm unsure if they'll give us Sanders, although he'd be my top target. I think Dunster (Benji's cousin) is the likeliest to head our way, but Blaize Talagi played a stack of footy at Westsfields with our SG Ball boys and I wouldn't be unhappy if we got him either.

 

[Westsboi2019]

 

[ElleryHanley]

Moving Joe O would be a very positive move going forward.

Solid player, but has 2.5 years to go and will be a bench player at most.

We have kids like Chris Fa’agutu coming through who are going to be vastly better than Joe. That spot needs to be opened up / cleared.

If we can jag Sanders in the deal...it will be an absolute masterstroke.

 

[Kelce68]

great post. Doueihi for mine is done. very rarely do you ever see a player come back from a third ACL and into a spine position, and even then I don't think you'll ever see him lace a boot for WT again.

that said, having Johnson, Brooks, Wakeham and Sanders in the top 30 with Lawry, Conti and Large either on development deals or in the pathways is a smart move. the first three I mentioned should all be signed on 1-2 year deals (potentially an option of a third for SJ) and it ensures we're completely covered in an area that has hampered us in recent years.

I'm unsure if they'll give us Sanders, although he'd be my top target. I think Dunster (Benji's cousin) is the likeliest to head our way, but Blaize Talagi played a stack of footy at Westsfields with our SG Ball boys and I wouldn't be unhappy if we got him either.

In regards to Doueihi specifically, yeh, it's hard to argue with that, if anything, I think it may be the perfect opportunity for him to transition in a lock role, I think that would be his best path moving forward personally. I actually think his front on defence is sufficient and would be better supported in the middle rather than his glaring weaknesses laterally and reading the sweeps when he has been on an edge, either when he's been in the halves or at centre.

I can't speak to Talagi or Dunster that much, have you got a read on them in terms of quality?

 

[Kelce68]

Moving Joe O would be a very positive move going forward.

Solid player, but has 2.5 years to go and will be a bench player at most.

We have kids like Chris Fa’agutu coming through who are going to be vastly better than Joe. That spot needs to be opened up / cleared.

If we can jag Sanders in the deal...it will be an absolute masterstroke.

Fa'agutu is the one I'm most excited about.

 

[851]

kyle flannagan says hello

I would rather head in to 2024 with Flanagan at 7 then have another year of Brooks, we have to try something different, trotting Brooks out every year hasn't and will not ever work.

 

[DJG]

View attachment 5444

I think he should go.

Playing like Seyfarth lately.

No impact at all.

Although, who do we get as a replacement, or do Parra pay full freight and we have a spot up for grabs.

 

[DJG]

I would rather head in to 2024 with Flanagan at 7 then have another year of Brooks, we have to try something different, trotting Brooks out every year hasn't and will not ever work.

Hahahah... jeeze... taking a step back..

 

[jrtiger]

In regards to Doueihi specifically, yeh, it's hard to argue with that, if anything, I think it may be the perfect opportunity for him to transition in a lock role, I think that would be his best path moving forward personally. I actually think his front on defence is sufficient and would be better supported in the middle rather than his glaring weaknesses laterally and reading the sweeps when he has been on an edge, either when he's been in the halves or at centre.

I can't speak to Talagi or Dunster that much, have you got a read on them in terms of quality?

yeah I don't know on Doueihi. personally I think Matamua will be the lock week-to-week by the back end of this year, hence why I think they're listening to Parra re: Joffa. it's going to be a long way back for AD.

Talagi is a 6 but was moved to the centres in SG Ball to accommodate Josh Lynn. really really silky. great footwork, throws a good long pass and has a decent short kicking game. as I said, if he wanted to play in the halves he'd probably be a walk-up starter in Ball next to Matai with an eye on progressing thru the grades.

Parra were chips in on Dunster pre-injury. taking a little while to find his feet this year but that's expected, especially given he's playing out of position. great footwork, nice little in and away, needs some work defensively. the fact he's Benji's cousin makes me think he's likely.