Signings, Suggestions & Rumours Discussion

[Fainu Brothers]

Just listened to the WestsLife podcast. Apparently one of the presenters caught up with the Fainu brothers manager last Wednesday and he was told by their manager that the WT are behind the Dolphins and the Dogs(yep they met with Gould last Thursday). Apparently money is not the issue, They are not sold on our club vision, Tarak wants Latu and his brother to go to a successful club. Looks like we missed out on them.

They are a bunch of dribblers on that podcast. They said John Morris was going to be coach and many other predictions that have never come true. We probably are behind other clubs, look at where we sit on the ladder. Sign with us we can we 3 spoons in a row. With 2 leaders who think everything is great and wont stop talking in the media. Yay tigers

 

[tigertuff]

Agreed. Sheens articulated something similar when he came on board. It is our chance to build our own culture from the ground up with locals who are proud to play for WTs and other outstanding juniors WTs have recruited. I look forward to the day our young players tell their managers no I want to play for WTs not some other team which can't produce its own.

Spot on Paws. I'm actually loving the kids getting exposure to first grade this year. It's been one shining light on an ordinary season. I reckon there is a few more debuts to come yet before the end of the year.

 

[TigerLouis]

We need three new halves and I would go for Mitchell Pearce & Blake Austin with Latu Fainu as the back up until one of the above do not perform or retire. If we cannot get them, then I would go for Aidan Sezer & Tui Lolohea. All these players are off contract except for Fainu who has been given permission to negotiate. I would also try and sign
Zac Lomax who is clearly not happy
at the Dragons and apparently was a Tigers supporter growing up.
My 2024 Team
Bula
Staines
To’a
Lomax (Goalkicker)
Tupou
Austin
Pearce
Pole
Papali’i
Bateman
Klemmer
Koroisau (c)
Stefano
Bench
Fainu
Blore/S Fainu
Twal
James

That gives us much more experience & guidance in the halves & a very good centre who is also a good goalkicker which we need. These are the positions we need to fill for next year.

 

[Roar_Power]

We need three new halves and I would go for Mitchell Pearce & Blake Austin with Latu Fainu as the back up until one of the above do not perform or retire. If we cannot get them, then I would go for Aidan Sezer & Tui Lolohea. All these players are off contract except for Fainu who has been given permission to negotiate. I would also try and sign
Zac Lomax who is clearly not happy
at the Dragons and apparently was a Tigers supporter growing up.
My 2024 Team
Bula
Staines
To’a
Lomax (Goalkicker)
Tupou
Austin
Pearce
Pole
Papali’i
Bateman
Klemmer
Koroisau (c)
Stefano
Bench
Fainu
Blore/S Fainu
Twal
James

That gives us much more experience & guidance in the halves & a very good centre who is also a good goalkicker which we need. These are the positions we need to fill for next year.

All nice in theory but no-one wants to come here.

 

[Red88_Tiger]

If their manager is doing their job properly they would want them to go to a club where they can get developed but also be first choice on their way through.

 

[Todd Packer]

They are a bunch of dribblers on that podcast. They said John Morris was going to be coach and many other predictions that have never come true. We probably are behind other clubs, look at where we sit on the ladder. Sign with us we can we 3 spoons in a row. With 2 leaders who think everything is great and wont stop talking in the media. Yay tigers

All these podcasters are desperately seeking access to the island of relevancy.

 

[Nonotmeagain]

And both of them have been a lot more successful than us.

Dont see too many premiership trophies in Parramatta's cabinet.

 

[851]

croft started his career under Bellamy at storm and got the flick then went to Brisbane and got the flick.
The bloke is not an nrl 7
but hey anyone but Brooks right...

Croft is as good a 7 as Brooks

 

[Needaname]

Reckon we should shake up the apple try and offer Jarome Luai a ridiculously large contract to leave Penrith. Similar to the Moses deal. His proven, has youth on his side, X factor, rep player. Give him the opportunity to grow out of Nathan’s shadow.
Second to that, get young Sandon Smith out of the chooks to partner him.

 

[earl]

Reckon that means they are certain to come here. Rob on that podcast is always wrong on his club predictions. Lock on the Fainu brothers at the Tigers of that's the case

That was good news wasn't it. I'm not stating we get them but it sounds real positive.

 

[earl]

Our only way out of this is with the kids coming through. No one is coming here, and its only scraps left to sign now for next year. The key now is holding on to and keeping the good ones but a lot of pain until they are genuine fist graders.

I think our biggest problem hasn't been recruitment but retention. We overpay to keep players and we let players that we need go.

Nofo on big dollars and letting Brooks go too easily are classic examples. I'm not stating the following statement is true because I don't know however members of the board were apparently involved in both of these decisions.

 

[earl]

well…. One of them will probably turn out well..

it’s a better strategy than putting all your eggs in the Brooks basket..

This is a false dichotomy (or at least I think that is what it is called) because we should have been able to keep Brooks and go after a bunch of young halves.

 

[earl]

If you don’t have that any claims you are a development club are BS. Until player managers see a good first grade side, they won’t be suggesting their young clients come or stay, as they have to do what’s in their clients best interest.

I don't think managers always act in their clients best interest at all however I think the point about being a good first grade side is relevant. We are going to struggle until we start winning games. We do get signings as well. Api, Klemmer, IP and Bateman are 4 high quality signings. They might not all be performing to standard but they are quality signings.

So we can sign players. We just can't develop a winning team.

 

[Tom Shines]

This is a false dichotomy (or at least I think that is what it is called) because we should have been able to keep Brooks and go after a bunch of young halves.

Im talking about this year…how is that false?

 

[earl]

Im talking about this year…how is that false?

The same principle applies. Surely we could have gotten some more junior halves to come through.

Three Wests Tigers named in Australian Schoolboys

Wests Tigers would like to congratulate junior representative players Lachlan Galvin, Heath Mason and Luke Laulilii on being selected in the 2023 Australian Schoolboys squad.

www.weststigers.com.au

We even have Galvin on our books.

I'm starting to think I'm not understanding what you are stating though. I see no reason at all why Brooks is the issue at all apart from being clearly our best half (debating this to me is pretty out there) and being injured.

Do you mean something different to the way I've taken it ?

 

[BZN]

Bang bang.

Gees, that cold air in Bathurst must be good for you.
You've got a great sense of humour, which we all need atm.
So, thank you bt1.

 

[Tiger_Yoshi]

I think all managers want their young guns going to successful clubs. It helps their branding. It’s also a growth income stream for their business. Return on investment. Player is more likely to develop at a successful club. More likely to grow their contract size and a higher commission over longer timeframes.

A part of a long list of why clubs with poor results struggle to sign players…this complements well the business model to sign older busted, 2nd rate players on overs.. managers win:win.

Which is why a draft is needed urgently

 

[Tom Shines]

The same principle applies. Surely we could have gotten some more junior halves to come through.

Three Wests Tigers named in Australian Schoolboys

Wests Tigers would like to congratulate junior representative players Lachlan Galvin, Heath Mason and Luke Laulilii on being selected in the 2023 Australian Schoolboys squad.

www.weststigers.com.au

We even have Galvin on our books.

I'm starting to think I'm not understanding what you are stating though. I see no reason at all why Brooks is the issue at all apart from being clearly our best half (debating this to me is pretty out there) and being injured.

Do you mean something different to the way I've taken it ?

I think you have…

The decision to get rid of Hastings and go with Brooks as 7 ( which is not his best position) and pretty much now have to rely on Wakeham at 7 as our depth sucks has not turned out well…

 

[bptiger 0]

I don’t think a player has ever kicked stones in order to come to Wests Tigers 😂

True. But we got to push is a massive up grade in wages and a starting 1st grade spot , they would be mad to knock that back just to run around in the nsw cup

 

[426Tlgerland]

Why not do a uncle wayne
go out and buy Dylan Edwards and turn him into 5/8 like Lockyer did
keep Bulla at the back and go grab a 1/2 decent half back like Trindall or Volkum or Taffe
running out of options but this would get a very good player and a good attacking player with speed and strength