Signings, Suggestions & Rumours Discussion

[jadtiger]

It's interesting that Gus said last night on 100% Footy that he thinks Bulldogs are 3-4 years behind Tigers in Pathways development. As originally quoted to me by bathursttiger.

I also honestly don't think you need great junior sides across the board, of course though it doesn't hurt, but that having a great SG Ball or Flegg side is only a fraction of the story, if most of those boys don't go on to first grade. In other words the lower grade results are not necessarily an indicator of the quality of candidates coming through that actually will play first grade.

E.g. even within our own juniors, the 2012 and 2013 SG Ball back-to-back premiers, most of them didn't go anywhere near first grade
2012
1 Mason Farrell, 2 Max Dimarco, 3 Leva Li, 4 Nathan Milone, 5 Paul Simona, 6 Mitchell Moses ( C ), 7 Mark Daoud, 8 Leki Taumalolo, 9 Manaia Cherrington, 10 Fosio Tatola, 11 Salesi Funaki (Junior's bro), 12 Daniel Rakvin, 13 Andrew Kazzi, Interchange 14 Jason Vikilani, 15 Rhys Armstrong, 16 Matthew Woods, 17 Lolo Funaki

2013
1. Camden Sutton, 2. Jayden Wheelhouse, 3. Tom Satterthwaite, 4. Jaleel Seve-Derbas, 5. John Tohi, 6. Rhys Armstrong, 7. Jeremy Marshall-King, 8. Fosio Tatola (C), 9. Jack Wheelhouse, 10. Pio Sokobalava, 11. Junior Tatola, 12. Matthew Woods (C), 13. Peter Ta’auso. Int 14. Dwayne Lemafa, 15. Tyler Cassel, 16. Adam Spicer, 17. Josh Camroux

I'm not saying you are wrong, I am just noting that Gould himself says Tigers are ahead in pathways development and commented that Bulldogs should have started the same process 6-7 years ago.

As you have highlighted perfectly even in the best junior sides (winners) most of the players just don't reach the level that people expect

 

[hank37w]

Good chance that it's just Gus deflecting as he does.

 

[Jedi_Tiger]

Fair enough I don’t know anything about this Schneider bloke Sezer could be a half decent stop gap I guess.
As for Sheens & Marshall they may have wanted to re sign Brooks but Brooks didn’t want to be re signed. We would have only been his back up plan, clubs have been able to sign him for ages Moses has had Manly’s pant down imo getting him the deal he got. Manly could be in a bit of trouble if Moses keeps bringing more and more of his players in he’ll have them by the balls like he did with us.

Brooks got offered less than he thought was going to be offered and was originally told he was going to be offered. If we had offered him the 100k or 150k more we probably keep him.
He has done very well for a player no other team wanted to sign, he held out and a lack of halves he got a 4 year deal and moving from a club that is likely to get 2 spoons in a row. Lucky by way of no halves on the market as tigers are finding out that led to the 4 year deal.
Manly will end up like we did with the big 4 controlled by Moses
We on the other hand might end up down the track in the same predicament with Tartak

 

[Jedi_Tiger]

Mole:

Several players under contract for 2024, including injury-plagued utility Adam Doueihi are likely to be told they can shop around for new clubs.

Doueihi suffered yet another ACL injury recently and may miss the entire 2024 season.

The Tigers' management realises changes need to be made, with Fulton set to start his recruitment soon by signing Manly's talented young Fainu brothers on a package deal.

 

[BlackWhiteGold]

Mole:

Several players under contract for 2024, including injury-plagued utility Adam Doueihi are likely to be told they can shop around for new clubs.

Doueihi suffered yet another ACL injury recently and may miss the entire 2024 season.

The Tigers' management realises changes need to be made, with Fulton set to start his recruitment soon by signing Manly's talented young Fainu brothers on a package deal.

Tigers plan ruthless cleanout with star facing chop

'At least half a dozen players' heading for exit

wwos.nine.com.au

Promising on the Fainu brothers but I'd like to think we will re-resign Charlie Staines.

 

[earl]

Mole:

Several players under contract for 2024, including injury-plagued utility Adam Doueihi are likely to be told they can shop around for new clubs.

Doueihi suffered yet another ACL injury recently and may miss the entire 2024 season.

The Tigers' management realises changes need to be made, with Fulton set to start his recruitment soon by signing Manly's talented young Fainu brothers on a package deal.

This first part of this is hilarious. There is no way any club would want Doueihi. Terrible form with a busted ACL and a contract that is way over what he is worth. Hopefully he comes back next year and does well but the chances are so low.

I hope we get the Fainu brothers but I'll be waiting for the official announcement.

 

[Tigers_Wests]

Tigers plan ruthless cleanout with star facing chop

'At least half a dozen players' heading for exit

wwos.nine.com.au

Promising on the Fainu brothers but I'd like to think we will re-resign Charlie Staines.

I think Staines staying might depend on if we get any takers for Nofoaluma to take him off our books. I too hope that we keep Staines as I thought he was one of our best to start the year. I will be disappointed if he goes elsewhere.

 

[pawsandclaws1]

I think Staines staying might depend on if we get any takers for Nofoaluma to take him off our books. I too hope that we keep Staines as I thought he was one of our best to start the year. I will be disappointed if he goes elsewhere.

Staines is a breath of fresh air in the joint. I like his commitment to the team and he seems to be a level headed young man. We can never have too many of them in our club.

 

[BlackWhiteGold]

I think Staines staying might depend on if we get any takers for Nofoaluma to take him off our books. I too hope that we keep Staines as I thought he was one of our best to start the year. I will be disappointed if he goes elsewhere.

Yes and he's our #1 backup fullback and adds much needed speed to our backline.

 

[tony soprano]

Staines is a breath of fresh air in the joint. I like his commitment to the team and he seems to be a level headed young man. We can never have too many of them in our club.

I believe I identified an oxymoron.

 

[tony soprano]

This first part of this is hilarious. There is no way any club would want Doueihi. Terrible form with a busted ACL and a contract that is way over what he is worth. Hopefully he comes back next year and does well but the chances are so low.

I hope we get the Fainu brothers but I'll be waiting for the official announcement.

Such a failed Signing in hindsight

 

[hammertime]

Such a failed Signing in hindsight

At least it was only a year. To be honest, it was a good decision at the time to stagger the halves coming off the books.

Just unlucky.

 

[earl]

Such a failed Signing in hindsight

It made sense at the time. We just paid way overs. He was a utility that wasn't making the top team at Souths. He looks likely at times as well.

The problem is he is slow and isn't very skillful for a half. The question becomes where do you play him ?

 

[earl]

Staines is a breath of fresh air in the joint. I like his commitment to the team and he seems to be a level headed young man. We can never have too many of them in our club.

I hope we retain the guy as well.

 

[BlackWhiteGold]

‘That’s my role’: Sheens the Benji bodyguard

Tim Sheens is adamant he will remain head coach until the end of 2024, which is good news for Benji Marshall and the Generation Next at Wests Tigers.

www.smh.com.au

Tim Sheens insists he will remain head coach at Wests Tigers until the end of 2024, and by doing so says he can keep protecting Benji Marshall from relentless attacks on the club.

As the Tigers try to bounce back against Cronulla on Thursday, five days after a 74-0 thrashing in Townsville, Sheens says it would be foolish to parachute Marshall into the job too soon, especially with the perennial strugglers in the middle of a “rebuild”.

The club’s Generation Next will continue to be rolled out against the Sharks with Aitasi James, a prop who is not even in the club’s top-30 squad – but “with an offload to kill for” – to feature at CommBank Stadium.

When asked about protecting Marshall from negative headlines, Sheens said: “That’s my role. Who did Canterbury’s press conference [on Tuesday]? [Canterbury football manager] Gus Gould kept [coach] Cameron Ciraldo out of it. Benji is the same situation.

“My role is to steady the ship and keep going forward.

“We ran last, last year, it was going to be a climb. We’re developing, it’s a rebuild, even though I hate that word, but it is.

“I’m not worried about my record or what your [win] percentages are. I have a job to do at the moment, and I’ll do my best to do it.

“By having two years with me, anyone signed by me is agreed to by Benj.

“Benji has a huge role already, more than what most people think. Benji and I work very closely together.”

Sheens said apart from the blowout against the Cowboys, and the Brisbane loss, he was happy with the effort the players had shown.

What could not be forgotten, he said, were the injuries to Luke Brooks, Api Koroisau and Adam Doueihi – three members of the all-important spine – while several players had struggled with illness before the Cowboys clash.

To make matters worse, industrial action involving the airlines over the weekend meant the Tigers did not arrive home until late on Sunday.

Winger David Nofoaluma and centre Brent Naden will miss the Cronulla showdown because of injury and be replaced by AJ Kepaoa and Tommy Talau.

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Sheens was also excited by the potential of James, who has spent time in the lower grades at Parramatta and comes in for the suspended Alex Twal.

“Aitasi James is a big lump of a prop. He played in our first trial against Canberra, he’s bided his time, very good mates with ‘Ice’ [Isaiah Papali’i], and a very well put-together kid,” Sheens said.

“He’s been playing well in NSW Cup, now playing big minutes in that grade, which you need to do to play any sort of first grade.

“He’s a different body shape and work rate to ‘Twaly’, but in saying that, he’s got an offload to kill for, leg speed and good size.”

 

[Buttface]

It made sense at the time. We just paid way overs. He was a utility that wasn't making the top team at Souths. He looks likely at times as well.

The problem is he is slow and isn't very skillful for a half. The question becomes where do you play him ?

“The question becomes where do you play him ?”
The answer is reserve grade at a different club.

 

[tony soprano]

It made sense at the time. We just paid way overs. He was a utility that wasn't making the top team at Souths. He looks likely at times as well.

The problem is he is slow and isn't very skillful for a half. The question becomes where do you play him ?

Yeh, injury was the beginning and end.

 

[Tigers_Wests]

Staines is a breath of fresh air in the joint. I like his commitment to the team and he seems to be a level headed young man. We can never have too many of them in our club.

Totally agree. I just wonder whether it becomes a $$$ issue yo retain him, as I am sure other clubs will be interested. The big money contract given to Noffa might come back to bite us.

 

[hsvjones]

‘That’s my role’: Sheens the Benji bodyguard

Tim Sheens is adamant he will remain head coach until the end of 2024, which is good news for Benji Marshall and the Generation Next at Wests Tigers.

www.smh.com.au

Tim Sheens insists he will remain head coach at Wests Tigers until the end of 2024, and by doing so says he can keep protecting Benji Marshall from relentless attacks on the club.

As the Tigers try to bounce back against Cronulla on Thursday, five days after a 74-0 thrashing in Townsville, Sheens says it would be foolish to parachute Marshall into the job too soon, especially with the perennial strugglers in the middle of a “rebuild”.

The club’s Generation Next will continue to be rolled out against the Sharks with Aitasi James, a prop who is not even in the club’s top-30 squad – but “with an offload to kill for” – to feature at CommBank Stadium.

When asked about protecting Marshall from negative headlines, Sheens said: “That’s my role. Who did Canterbury’s press conference [on Tuesday]? [Canterbury football manager] Gus Gould kept [coach] Cameron Ciraldo out of it. Benji is the same situation.

“My role is to steady the ship and keep going forward.

“We ran last, last year, it was going to be a climb. We’re developing, it’s a rebuild, even though I hate that word, but it is.

“I’m not worried about my record or what your [win] percentages are. I have a job to do at the moment, and I’ll do my best to do it.

“By having two years with me, anyone signed by me is agreed to by Benj.

“Benji has a huge role already, more than what most people think. Benji and I work very closely together.”

Sheens said apart from the blowout against the Cowboys, and the Brisbane loss, he was happy with the effort the players had shown.

What could not be forgotten, he said, were the injuries to Luke Brooks, Api Koroisau and Adam Doueihi – three members of the all-important spine – while several players had struggled with illness before the Cowboys clash.

To make matters worse, industrial action involving the airlines over the weekend meant the Tigers did not arrive home until late on Sunday.

Winger David Nofoaluma and centre Brent Naden will miss the Cronulla showdown because of injury and be replaced by AJ Kepaoa and Tommy Talau.

Loading
Sheens was also excited by the potential of James, who has spent time in the lower grades at Parramatta and comes in for the suspended Alex Twal.

“Aitasi James is a big lump of a prop. He played in our first trial against Canberra, he’s bided his time, very good mates with ‘Ice’ [Isaiah Papali’i], and a very well put-together kid,” Sheens said.

“He’s been playing well in NSW Cup, now playing big minutes in that grade, which you need to do to play any sort of first grade.

“He’s a different body shape and work rate to ‘Twaly’, but in saying that, he’s got an offload to kill for, leg speed and good size.”

People can bag him as much as they want but he is doing what we need him to do and he has a nack of bringing in young talent. We all know if we had a decent halfback we would not be on the bottom of the ladder. I'm glad we didn't get Ciraldo as he looks out of his depth with a better roster and with all his years as assistant.
For us it all comes down to who we get for the halves and I am starting to think Fulton might actually be the right guy to fix our recruitment. I have said for a while we are a sleeping giant of a club but it's been harder to wake us up then expected but when we do I think with all the money and development we have done into juniors we will be up there for a while.
I think Aitasi James guy is going to kill it and Papa will pump him up.

 

[Tucker]

People can bag him as much as they want but he is doing what we need him to do and he has a nack of bringing in young talent. We all know if we had a decent halfback we would not be on the bottom of the ladder. I'm glad we didn't get Ciraldo as he looks out of his depth with a better roster and with all his years as assistant.
For us it all comes down to who we get for the halves and I am starting to think Fulton might actually be the right guy to fix our recruitment. I have said for a while we are a sleeping giant of a club but it's been harder to wake us up then expected but when we do I think with all the money and development we have done into juniors we will be up there for a while.
I think Aitasi James guy is going to kill it and Papa will pump him up.

Hahaha ‘sleeping giant’ hahaha