Signings, Suggestions & Rumours Discussion

[tony soprano]

There was an English article recently saying that fulton spoke with Sezer

 

[weststigerman]

Sezer is twice as fast as Hastings off the mark. He might not be quick, but his initial acceleration is enough to ask questions of the defense.

Two line breaks and zero tries so far in England this year.

For context, even Hastings had 4 tries and 5 line breaks in his last year.

I don’t see how this is better than Sexton, Trindall or Volkman.

 

[pawsandclaws1]

The first installment of the WTs' aggressive recruitment programme may have been leaked. Can't wait for the next episode.

 

[Tigers_Wests]

I'm sold.

I'm a fan of this signing.

Too old? Too slow?
Some wanted Pearce.

I'm with you Demps. I reckon he will go well for us if we pick him up on a short term deal.

 

[Vicious]

If True it sounds like it might be a signing for now not next year with a medical been done.

That would be the smart thing to do, sign him for the rest of this season and advise a top 39 spot for 2024 depends on what he does this season.

 

[Tiga]

Get rid of all of them Fulton Sheens and Pascoe. They are of no value to the club if they are acting on self interest and power plays.

Is there room for hagi & the board on that bus?

 

[Todd Packer]

Most NSW Cup teams would be mid table or better if playing in the UK Super League.
Lack of speed is already a massive problem for us, without signing old, injury prone, drastically slowing has beens.

Penrith and St Helens say hello.

 

[stevo133]

 

[gregjm87]

So we let Hastings go because he was too slow so we could sign someone even slower?

No.
We let Hastings go because Newcastle were claiming they would not release Klemmer without a half in return (a- i don't think they would have stuck to their guns on this but we bowed to their demands anyways. b- both ours were more than happy to go there, says something about the state of our club).
Allegedly, we also let Hastings go as Bateman would not sign if he was part of the club. It is further alledged that our players also did not get along with Hastings but there is little evidence of these allegations other than media gossip.

Whether you agree with letting Hastings go or not him being to slow was not likely a consideration in releasing him (may have been a consideration in asking him to play in 13, which he sooked about despite reports that was what he was originally signed for).

 

[weststigerman]

No.
We let Hastings go because Newcastle were claiming they would not release Klemmer without a half in return (a- i don't think they would have stuck to their guns on this but we bowed to their demands anyways. b- both ours were more than happy to go there, says something about the state of our club).
Allegedly, we also let Hastings go as Bateman would not sign if he was part of the club. It is further alledged that our players also did not get along with Hastings but there is little evidence of these allegations other than media gossip.

Whether you agree with letting Hastings go or not him being to slow was not likely a consideration in releasing him (may have been a consideration in asking him to play in 13, which he sooked about despite reports that was what he was originally signed for).

Why was he moved to 13?

 

[Fainu Brothers]

I thought we would end up with Seizer. IMO not a bad signing. Good kicking game.

I think we will also get croft and a you back half like a latu or sanders

Plus i think we will get Seam Keppie and maybe fultons son.

We really need to resign the Forbes Farrai and another quality outside back

 

[gregjm87]

Why was he moved to 13?

can do the role defensively.
Play as first receiver organising the middle and main kicking option, allow our two ball runners (Brooks and Doueihi) to play either side of the ruck.

 

[Odessa]

Galvin 6 Sezer 7 next year

 

[diedpretty]

Glad we didn’t sign Schuster. So lazy

Yep - i still can't understand why Manly re signed him.

 

[gregjm87]

I thought we would end up with Seizer. IMO not a bad signing. Good kicking game.

I think we will also get croft and a you back half like a latu or sanders

Plus i think we will get Seam Keppie and maybe fultons son.

We really need to resign the Forbes Farrai and another quality outside back

Hope we dont sign Zac Fulton. He tries hard but isnt skilled enough for the backs or big enough for the forwards.

 

[weststigerman]

We really need to get Fainu now.

Need a fast 6 with X factor.

 

[tigertragic]

This is really screwed.

I thought Cogger had said NO to the tigers, so not an option.
But surely Sezer doesn’t provide the ‘pace’ Sheens required as part of a half back and one of the reasons Hastings was punted
Fully agree, the club is screwed with these multi direction decisions - DUMB

 

[Needaname]

Here is a bit of a summary of our top 30 numbers based on what we know as fact & which identified juniors are likely to progress. In my opinion, our aggressive recruitment drive is for 5-6 external players of which 2 need to be halves, reasoning below ...

Current Squad: 29

Departing end of season: Luke Brooks, Tommy Talau (2)

Incoming juniors into top 30 for 2024: Josh Feledy, Brandon Mansfield, Lachlan Galvin (3)

Off-contract 2023: Brandon Wakeham, Lomi Saukuru, Charlie Staines, Tuki Simpkins, Alex Seyfarth, Daine Laurie (6)

Summary: That leaves us with 24 contracted players for 2024.

Opinion #1: We will re-sign Charlie Staines & Alex Seyfarth.

Opinion #2: We will also progress Tallyn Da Silva & Chris Fa'agutu into top 30 for 2024.

Update: That gives us 28 contracted players & the room to sign 2 players.

Opinion #3: Our priority external signings are 2 halves - a directional experienced halfback and a running/ball-playing 5/8.

Update: That will take us to our maximum 30 players.

Opinion #4: We are significantly depleted in experienced outside backs who are good defensively, decent IQ levels and provide energy & effort.

Opinion #5: We allow the following contracted players to explore other opportunities telling them they will get a greater opportunity at First Grade elsewhere - Asu Kepaoa, David Nofoaluma & Jake Simpkin. (Note: Depending on the negotiations with the Fainu brothers, if they decide on Redcliffe, I'd be allowing Sione Fainu to depart as well)

Update: That takes our squad to 26-27 and the ability to recruit 3-4 external players.

Opinion #6: We will progress 4 juniors into top 30 for 2025 - Kit Laulilii, Luke Laulilii, Jordan Miller & Solo Saukuru. (Note: I think the highly touted Onitoni Large will be development in '25 to top 30 in '26.)

Update: We have 10 players off-contract 2024 - Adam Doeuihi, Brandon Tumeth, Triston Reilly, Rua Ngatikaura, Shawn Blore, Starford T'oa, Junior Tupou, Alex Twal, Api Korisau (mutual option) & Stef Utoikamanu (mutual option).

Opinion #7: We have probably identified Doueihi, Reilly & Ngatikaura to be released to allow our juniors to progress into top 30 in '25. Will likely need to offload maybe a 1-season external recruit from the year before to create enough space.

FINAL COMMENT: This is a perfect world analysis and does not factor in injuries, players asking for a release and other WT juniors progressing faster than anticipated. So in my opinion, we will look to recruit 5-6 players for next season which includes 2 halves and at least 1 other player on just a 12-month contract. I can understand why we are now in an aggressive & vigorous recruitment period now because future years will be focused on retention & progressing our juniors into the squad.

I read somewhere Will Craig has a contact for nrl can’t remember what year? Need to get Heath Mason signed up and playing 6 or 7 consistently.

 

[carltonleach]

I thought we would end up with Seizer. IMO not a bad signing. Good kicking game.

I think we will also get croft and a you back half like a latu or sanders

Plus i think we will get Seam Keppie and maybe fultons son.

We really need to resign the Forbes Farrai and another quality outside back

I can almost guarantee we don’t get keppie, a bloke I work with is friends with his family and he’s still very salty with how he was handled as a junior coming through the junior ranks

 

[Tigerbenb]

Sezer is twice as fast as Hastings off the mark. He might not be quick, but his initial acceleration is enough to ask questions of the defense.

What this means , no fainu, no Croft, no trindall, no taffe, no sanders …. No more 312 pages pissing on about them