Signings, Suggestions & Rumours Discussion

[supercoach]

WT or any other potential suitors will be paying $700k plus, and I think it silly to think otherwise with the new salary cap level.

Agreed, we might think it’s stupid money, but that is the sort money you need to pay to get a middle of the road no7 or 6 under the current salary cap

 

[Vicious]

Wakeham would look like the Fox in comparison to Schuster

That’s for sure and Wakeham is far too slow for an NRL 5/8.
Our overall 1-7 is still currently very slow compared to most other NRL sides, so we definitely cannot afford an even slower 5/8.

 

[supercoach]

If Schuster is worth a million plus a year Brooks is worth 2 million. Someone said Manly are paying him 800 now, total madness. You might pay him 500 based on potential but even that would be to much. Benji scares me with his love for Schuster

 

[finnzo]

Yes. But were we not singing the praises of Laurie and Hastings etc after back to back wins over top four clubs in 2022? This happens a lot at our club, we see some green shoots but again we backed up a famous win with another disappointing home loss. For all the positives we currently don’t have a halfback or five eighth for next year. That’s the challenge that looms large.

I think the difference is we have seen about 8 weeks of consistent good football from the team we not always be getting the win but over time if we continue to improve the wins will come

 

[Tim Sheens]

Yes. But were we not singing the praises of Laurie and Hastings etc after back to back wins over top four clubs in 2022? This happens a lot at our club, we see some green shoots but again we backed up a famous win with another disappointing home loss. For all the positives we currently don’t have a halfback or five eighth for next year. That’s the challenge that looms large.

No, we were not, well, at least some of us were not blinkered or blinded, particularly by the then still shiny new toy.

That said, I would have kept him for the 13 role.

 

[Ermo]

Man we can't bend over to Brooks in a negotiation where he's played decently for the first time in years. Can you say he's been that much better than Wakeham? I mean he's been a bit better but not by a remarkable amount.

A 2 year deal for 450-500k a year would work. Anything more than that and we're entering overpay territory. Yes Canberra spoiled the ruck but we had 0 points in 70 minutes when they had 13 on the field. You can't back up 66 with a near 0. He's never been consistent and his game is still very flawed.

When you're flush with cash you overpay stars because they're the building blocks of your team, not average players.

Prioritise a true halfback and then make a call on whether Brooks is a fit with them.

A bit better than Wakeham, cmon man

 

[The Chad]

Paying Brooks anything higher than that $600-650k a year is a risk. I'm a Brooks fan. But I'm not blind. He hasn't played up to his contract numbers. Neither did Mbye, Reynolds, Packer etc.

The argument that Brooks is 'the best 7 left' is probably true. But if he is signed for $700k+ for however long- that impacts the squad salary balance AGAIN. There are young players coming through. I don't think too many of us see the Tigers winning a comp within 2 years, do we? I used Mbye as an example earlier as a player if had at around $400k a year isn't terrible value. The likes of Taaffe, Jack Cogger, Flanagan, Wakeham, Frawley, Volkmann, Trindall, Metcalfe etc...if you can sign them for $300-$450k a year & get first grade standard play (Wakeham 2023 level, let's say) and this allows the club to invest in Utoikamanu, Pole, Da Silva, Topou, Bula, Large , Matamua etc, etc...I'd argue this might be better value in the short term that overpaying Brooks simply because he is 'the best left'.

There are only a handful of players I would consider offering $700k+ to play 7 at this point. Young Fainu from Manly, Walker from the Roosters, MAYBE Schuster if he can stay on the field the rest of the year. These players CAN be part of the reason we win comps. So you pay them accordingly. Getting a veteran like Sezar (who is 29 to be fair), or Mitch Pearce, also has VALUE at around that $500k-$600k range.

I like Luke Brooks. But this is more about Benji Marshall in Year 1. He needs the roster, and salary cap, to be aligned. You don't overpay guys simply through need. If Brooks stays on $600k or less- he is the short term answer.

 

[hammertime]

Everyone is forgetting about the increase in the cap. 700k would probably translate to about 550k on the older scale. It was a 25% increase.

Even if we paid 700k, it would be a good buy.

 

[balmain boy]

In 2023, the salary cap is $11.45 million for Top 30 (excluding dev players whose cap was upped to 650k). I couldn't find the figures for 2024, so I suspect that in true NRL style, they haven't been ratified yet. So let's work with this figure...

If the Top 30 salaries were a mean, each player would receive approximately 380k.

Brooks, if resigned for somewhere in the realm of ~750k/ year, he would represent 6.5% of the cap. If you factor in the long-serving player allowance of 188k and assign it all to Brooks, that brings his salary to ~560k/year or 4.9% of the cap.

To put that in perspective, Moses, whose new contract is in the realms of (reported) ~ $1.25 million/season and who doesn't qualify for the long serving player allowance at Parramatta, represents 10.9% of their cap; more than double Brooks' share of ours.

Is he more than double the player?

Something along these sort of lines would be good for all parties, especially considering the lack of halves available.

Unless Munster, Cleary, Hynes, Moses or Reynolds come begging to play for the black, orange and white of course... (as some seem to think may miraculously happen)

You are wrong, and it appears many on here are poorly informed.

Players eligible for the long serving players next season at our club include Klemmer, Korisau, nofoaluma and Brooks (if he signs). Twal is also eligible next season. Likewise players like Hunt, Frizzel would also be eligible.

Moses most definitely IS eligible for the allowance.

I posted this a few days ago but for those who didn't read it then...

"Veteran and Developed Player Allowance for eligible players who were either developed by the Club prior to becoming NRL players and / or have been a Top 30 player for at least 8 years at the Club or have been a Top 30 player for at least 10 years across the game".

 

[jadtiger]

Shifty…not shonky

Sheens has had many nicknames over the years Shonky Shifty and Teflon are just 3 that immediately come to mind.I am sure he has had plenty of others over the years some complimentary and some not so

 

[bigsiro]

So using that logic an average to below average half is worth more than an above average winger. Brooks is worth more than 500k

I don’t see it as that simple.
A halfback is significantly more influential to a team’s fortunes than a winger.
And a poor halfback is a dreadful liability.

 

[Snidest 0]

I don’t see it as that simple.
A halfback is significantly more influential to a team’s fortunes than a winger.
And a poor halfback is a dreadful liability.

Tell us about it!!

Funny how the whole team can improve when imposters are no longer in the way!!

Go to Specsavers BS!!

 

[Mighty Mouse]

If brooks had any decency he’d take the 500k and work his arse off for a better contract the next time round. The bloke has been sitting on a winning lottery ticket for far too long.

 

[liltiger]

I don't think Schuster is worth half that $$..has no consistency.
Looks more like a secondrower with a few no look passes that rarely come off

All the talent in the world, he has just come off to me this year as a bit of a petulant child, throwing his toys out of the cot. I hope we don't go anywhere near him. Anything over 450k were getting ripped off.

 

[tigertragic]

The difference is we are actually starting to see players improve and young players coming in and thriving

Plus adding 4 quality forwards makes a difference

 

[pawsandclaws1]

I'd like to add that it would be an excellent outcome for WTs to recruit at least another forward with the skills of Bateman. He stands out due to his skill, unorthodox style and creativity. He is not like the many robots who are produced through the various club systems.

 

[Tiger-ferret]

I don’t see it as that simple.
A halfback is significantly more influential to a team’s fortunes than a winger.
And a poor halfback is a dreadful liability.

That’s fair.

Problem I see is that there needs to be 17 halfbacks. There’s probably only 6 that people would all agree they would like at the tigers. The next 6 are still in high demand because of basic economics. They can hold their own in first grade, maybe cant/won’t win a comp with them but teams still need a halfback.

 

[Stevec]

I'm really concerned Scott Fulton is a CEO/ board appointment .What kind of club doesn't even tell the coach they have appointed a new recruitment manager until its happened ?
Its like saying you just coach them ! We are running the show .
Now Shusters manager gets all excited trying to shop him for $1.2 mill . This half hearted 30 minute player is not worth the $800k he currently gets
We finally have a reasonable footy side showing a lot of effort and team harmony on the field . Whats Pascoes strategy ? Drive new wedges and factions ?

 

[carltonleach]

Sorry it’s not a signing rumour or anything but does anyone know more about the parramatta incident with the media personnel?

 

[Mighty_Tiger]

If brooks had any decency he’d take the 500k and work his arse off for a better contract the next time round. The bloke has been sitting on a winning lottery ticket for far too long.

These comments are ridiculous.
Have seen a few around if brooks was decent bloke.
500k with the cap increase would struggle to get you a top 13 player these days let alone a half.

As if you would do that. Walk into your current employer in the current economy and where the cap had a massive increase and say hey can you take 20% off.

Why expect someone else to do so.