Signings, Suggestions & Rumours Discussion

hsvjones said:
WOW ... People are so negative towards the club and rightly so if it was 12-18 months ago.

Take away all the emotion and look at the facts as our club has done wonders over the last 12 months to turn this club around. We have offloaded most of the deadwood that were just happy to get a pay cheque and replaced with some serious talented players E.g. Bateman, Klemmer, Pap, Api and blooded players like Bula, Tupou, Pole, Starford To'a, Naden etc... Not sure what you all expect because we are building from the very bottom but for me we are 100% heading in the right direction and the playing group seem to be all in (Even after the tough start to the year) .

I love Joe O and will miss him greatly, but I have total faith in the team to replace him or upgrade the guys we don't want to lose E.g. Bula, Stef, Tupou etc.. (Ask yourself would you rather lose Joe O or a Bula / Tupou because we don't have the funds to keep them? I know my choice)

All we really need is a top line 7 and some nice back up players and we are building nicely.

There is a method to Sheen's madness and IMO is working perfectly and we are not getting belted like the past.

Anyway, just wanted to add a positive post and back what the club is doing.
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This is an enjoyable post to read. Well written.
 
diedpretty said:
No - its about balancing your roster. Its impractical having a bench prop on $600k when it is imperative that guys like Tupou and Toa get locked in past 2024. And to do that will require upgrades on their current contracts.
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Yeah, but why balance it mid season? Parra are obviously struggling for depth, so why help them out when we are competing with them to make the eight?

It's as stupid as playing our home game against the warriors, in nz.
 
Tigerstigerstigers said:
talk of Latu Fainu. ... have not really followed him but one thing i must say.. he was very underwhelming on his debut in the NSW Cup game against the Magpies.. maybe nerves and has improved since? Had a barry crocker shocker that day.
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He’s the same age as our kids like Da Silva, Miller, Laulilii etc. who are still a while off NSW Cup.

For a 17-year-old to even be playing at that level is a feat in the modern game.

Don’t think he’ll be coming to us.
 
BAGNF05 said:
We’re coming equal last and just weakened our squad with (seemingly) no appropriate replacement. The lunatics are running the asylum at WT.
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The point of releasing him didn't appear to be a direct replacement or upgrade, but a funds release.

In that case, the internal replacement looks like Blore (or, hopefully not, Seyfarth) straight into his spot on the bench to play the 30/40 minutes a game.

Or, Kepaoa/Blore into 2nd row, Bateman to Lock and Pole into the prop rotation.

Either way, the above options are more than adequate and cost 1/3 the price.

People may not agree with it, truth be told I'm torn on it too, but it's done and people's ability to see both perspectives on why the decision was made shouldn't be affected by whether or not they agree with it.

You (not you specifically) can hate the call and vehemently say it is the wrong one, whilst still understanding and acknowledging the thought processes behind why the decision makers made it.
 
SeanT said:
Yeah your right. They are both similar. I feel that Twal has upped his game alot this year though. Lot faster and runs angles more.

Interesting times.
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If only he can get his first "Meat Pie". I must say I do like the 2023 version of Alex Twal and I can only assume that having Klemmer, Bateman, Isaiah (spelling) and Koroisau as teammates has given him confidence.
 
Tom Shines said:
cmon Lili..

There must be more too it then that..
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No doubt, but iv got no clue what it might be, I was hoping they were going to announce someone to take the top 30 spot or promote someone from within, maybe they will keep a spot open incase someone pops up from left field until the deadline, but I just don't like the fact we are helping a competitor. I know Joffa was on a bit of coin and it frees up some money for us but in all honesty he was playing well, always put in and we can't find anyone to take the coin we had free before. I'm just gutted he's gone, he really put in under Madge and they were some pretty lean years.
 
PabloX said:
Yeah, but why balance it mid season? Parra are obviously struggling for depth, so why help them out when we are competing with them to make the eight?

It's as stupid as playing our home game against the warriors, in nz.
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Didn't mind us taking a game to NZ after all the sacrifices the Warriors made over COVID to keep the NRL competition alive when sporting competitions all around the world came to a stop.

Fact of the matter is that we are just a nice club, probably too nice, too nice and too dumb for our own good when we actually need to be ruthless to be successful.

We were probably the only side to make some sort of concessions towards the Warriors in gratitude for what they did to keep the competition alive, and you can certainly argue that hat we did was probably to our detriment.

The way things look at the moment I see the release of Joe as a poor move at this point in time, where we strengthen an opposing club that are having injuries issues, especially when that club has done nothing in the past to assist us.

I should probably wait and see who we replace Joe with to make up the numbers and can only hope that it is a good signing in a position that strengthens us, but going on past experiences, I see this just as dumb as sacking a coach with no replacement lined up or releasing players mid season and throwing Noddy under the bus, basically ensuring we got the spoon.

As I have stated elsewhere, what other club does stuff as dumb as this and St.George come to mind with their coaching fiasco and it's probably no coincidence that they are last on the ladder along with us.
 
PabloX said:
I think you're missing the point. Joe leaving mid season weakens our team and strengthens our competitors team.
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He understands that, but you're ignoring the purpose of this from a Wests perspective.

It may (minorly) weaken our squad in the now, but it vastly strengthens our cap situation now and into the future, which is the purpose.

The discussion about the gap between Joffa and his likely long-term replacement in Blore is open for debate, but I think that gap is being overblown, as is the point as to whether we really lose that much on the field at all, considering Joe's role this year from the bench.

'strengthens our competitors team'

In my opinion, if you wanna talk bad business, holding an inflated bench player contract, simply to spite another team (and in the process eating your own cap away) is the very definition of bad business.

I love Joffa and all he brought to the club, but this situation is mutually beneficial, whether people agree with it or not.
 
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BAGNF05 said:
He was contracted, nobody made him leave.
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It doesn't make any sense to me. He was contracted for a further 2 - 2.5 years with us, then jumped ship for a 3 year deal at the Eels. Where's the upside for him apart from a further year that he would have got anyway. I reckon to free up cap space he was tapped on the shoulder, reckon Sheens or Fulton moved him on and convinced him of it by telling him he will only be a bench player. He didn't look anything like someone who wanted to leave on Saturday night.
I totally get the N.R.L cattle trading, it's a part of the business, this is more than likely the best move for the club. But personally I had a soft spot for Joffa. Just the way he always put in for the jersey, he had bad games like everyone but he always played with heart. He was a shining light in the Madge years that at a lot of times were pretty bleak. Good luck to him, like I said it'd prob the best move for the club a 600k bench prop isn't really responsible salary cap management, but he was one of my favourites. Am peeved apart from easing the cap we didn't get a junior or another player in return.
 
Kelce68 said:
He understands that, but you're ignoring the purpose of this from a Wests perspective.

It may (minorly) weaken our squad in the now, but it vastly strengthens our cap situation now and into the future, which is the purpose.

The discussion about the gap between Joffa and his likely long-term replacement in Blore in open for debate, but I think that gap is being overblown, as is the point as to whether we really lose that much on the field at all, considering Joe's role this year from the bench.

'strengthens our competitors team'

In my opinion, if you wanna talk bad business, holding an inflated bench player contract, simply to spite another team (and in the process eating your own cap away) is the very definition of bad business.

I love Joffa and all he brought to the club, but this situation is mutually beneficial, whether people agree with it or not.
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Agree with everything you posted, the issue the club has though is we can't find anyone to take the cap money before we let Joffa go. If results improve, then at some stage players would be more likely to join, but as of now we just can't seem to spend our cap.
 
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