Signings, Suggestions & Rumours Discussion

[Vicious]

Just read this about Latu Fainu originally signing with Manly:

Manly teen star signs record-breaking deal

Monster contract to shatter previous signings

wwos.nine.com.au

It appears reading between the lines that Wests Tigers think they can sign Latu and Samuela Fainu for 2024.
If it happens it would be a huge coup as they are two of the most promising young players in the game, just hard to imagine Manly would let them out of the contracts they have signed.

 

[Coastie_Tiger]

Target number one.

To partner Brooks, Wakeham or someone else?

 

[jrtiger]

To partner Brooks, Wakeham or someone else?

it's interesting. Fainu is very left side dominant, played there through the entirety of his short career. if we keep Brooks and manage to sign Fainu (which I still think is highly unlikely), then I think Brooksy has to move to the right to accommodate Latu. I don't think they'd partner Wakes with him as first choice, that would kill both of their careers given their relative inexperience.

I still believe we're after an experienced half to fill the void. I think you'll hear a little more after Hunt meets with his agents early next week.

 

[tigertragic]

I think it would be one of them not both as both would want starting spots in the backrow if a plan is to move Bateman to lock. That would still leave us with backup 2nd row options - moving Bateman back, Kepaoa, Mansfield/Tumeth.

I don’t think Bateman will ever be a 13, like Murray, Yeo or radley , his an off the cuff player rather than a play book link
But still a great player for Tigers

 

[Coastie_Tiger]

it's interesting. Fainu is very left side dominant, played there through the entirety of his short career. if we keep Brooks and manage to sign Fainu (which I still think is highly unlikely), then I think Brooksy has to move to the right to accommodate Latu. I don't think they'd partner Wakes with him as first choice, that would kill both of their careers given their relative inexperience.

I still believe we're after an experienced half to fill the void. I think you'll hear a little more after Hunt meets with his agents early next week.

You would have to think we have something in the works. As much as I’m not really a fan of Brooks if we don’t have someone else lined up and we let him go rumoured to Leeds we are in allsorts.

 

[Ermo]

Now I'm convinced it's bullshit.

Thanks for the confirmation.

Why ask when you are not going to like the answer either way?

 

[Vicious]

I don’t think Bateman will ever be a 13, like Murray, Yeo or radley , his an off the cuff player rather than a play book link
But still a great player for Tigers

Bateman was playing at 13 when we scored all our points on Friday night.

 

[earl]

it's interesting. Fainu is very left side dominant, played there through the entirety of his short career. if we keep Brooks and manage to sign Fainu (which I still think is highly unlikely), then I think Brooksy has to move to the right to accommodate Latu. I don't think they'd partner Wakes with him as first choice, that would kill both of their careers given their relative inexperience.

I still believe we're after an experienced half to fill the void. I think you'll hear a little more after Hunt meets with his agents early next week.

Brooksy has been great and I hope we keep him but it depends on the money. Fainu is highly rated and the club has shown they will play kids ala Bula and Pole and actually get those decisions right.

I also think it's highly unlikely we get Fainu but if true just have 3 halves and let them fight it out. Brooks and Wakeham should get shorter term deals or longer term deals on less money.

We need to be aiming to be a top 4 club and I can't see us doing that without signing guys like Bula, Pole and maybe Fainu.

 

[clontarfkid]

I don't agree that our current halves are bad but we need more options. Brooks has been great. I honestly think we lost the game because we didn't go to him enough. Did you see him kick that field goal. We should have won from that point on. Wakeham is that controlling halfback that we've wanted. He just doesn't have the speed or zip to be a top quality half because he won't threaten with the ball. I think he is better than Hastings though. He has a significantly better kicking game.

I reckon Brooks and Wakeham plus Taafe if we can get him plus look to develop juniors. The area we can probably most improve is a gun half but I can't see us getting one.

Our current halves simply cant get the job done ,which is why were at the back of the field..we need better.Much better.
..and Brooks is better than Wakeham..by a fair bit these days
So Wakeham becomes back up ..yet again

 

[clontarfkid]

Klemmer, Bateman and co have been purchased and others have left. We don't know what is planned but roster management is like chess. If we can move on players who can get more game time elsewhere and their new clubs are prepared to pay full rate, it seems like a good plan. We don't know what moves our club is making but there will be a plan.

 

[clontarfkid]

Its not about ensuring our players get better game time here or elsewhere...its our agenda,not the players
WE need the best squad WE can get for both today and tomorrow,an we'll pay em and play em to what is optimal for WTs.
If we let any more top 17 players go..like Blore and Talua..this season without like replacements(ie top 17 players)...were simply giving up on 2023 which I wldnt be happy about

 

[tigertragic]

Bateman was playing at 13 when we scored all our points on Friday night.

Any forward can play 13 doesn’t mean he plays the ball playing link man that’s been suggested as what we are looking for

 

[earl]

Any forward can play 13 doesn’t mean he plays the ball playing link man that’s been suggested as what we are looking for

He offers though a point of difference there compared to most players. He isn't a prop playing lock.

 

[bathursttiger1]

You would have to think we have something in the works. As much as I’m not really a fan of Brooks if we don’t have someone else lined up and we let him go rumoured to Leeds we are in allsorts.

With a young baby I don’t think Brooks will be moving overseas at all.

 

[pawsandclaws1]

Its not about ensuring our players get better game time here or elsewhere...its our agenda,not the players
WE need the best squad WE can get for both today and tomorrow,an we'll pay em and play em to what is optimal for WTs.
If we let any more top 17 players go..like Blore and Talua..this season without like replacements(ie top 17 players)...were simply giving up on 2023 which I wldnt be happy about

Other clubs will come calling when NRL quality players are not in the 17 (Ofahengaue) or in Talau's case, reportedly off to the Eagles next season. It's part of the NRL landscape. We may miss them, we may not. If we clear a top 30 spot and save on salary cap, we may recruit a better player(s) we have identified for next year eg as we did with Bateman, Klemmer. As we are not across all considerations we simply do not know what is optimal for WTs.

 

[bptiger 0]

Other clubs will come calling when NRL quality players are not in the 17 (Ofahengaue) or in Talau's case, reportedly off to the Eagles next season. It's part of the NRL landscape. We may miss them, we may not. If we clear a top 30 spot and save on salary cap, we may recruit a better player(s) we have identified for next year eg as we did with Bateman, Klemmer. As we are not across all considerations we simply do not know what is optimal for WTs.

But u can’t just keep moving players on and having a massive cap , I know we don’t know what the club has planed , and I don’t want to know , but it would be nice to here them tell us fans , don’t worry we have 3-4 players that we hope will join us this year or next year .

 

[pawsandclaws1]

But u can’t just keep moving players on and having a massive cap , I know we don’t know what the club has planed , and I don’t want to know , but it would be nice to here them tell us fans , don’t worry we have 3-4 players that we hope will join us this year or next year .

I don't have the answer but we are all WTs' supporters, so we just have to wait to see what happens.

 

[Tiger-ferret]

But u can’t just keep moving players on and having a massive cap , I know we don’t know what the club has planed , and I don’t want to know , but it would be nice to here them tell us fans , don’t worry we have 3-4 players that we hope will join us this year or next year .

Yeah they damned if they do and damned if they don’t communicate. They could be targeting 4-5 top liners but if we snag only one that’s a “loss”.

 

[Halbrowne61]

if Frizell is signed in 2024 we would likely have a backrow of

11.Frizell

12. Bateman

13 Papali

probably one of the better backrows in the comp

Bench Pole, twal

JT. Not exactly sure what makes you think Ice would be a suitable 13 ? Bateman much more creative and think better spot for him.
I also think Frizell is not a consistent player and imo not a good buy at his age.

 

[Tiger-ferret]

JT. Not exactly sure what makes you think Ice would be a suitable 13 ? Bateman much more creative and think better spot for him.
I also think Frizell is not a consistent player and imo not a good buy at his age.

It always comes back to $$ and time. I’d love to have him in the squad.