Signings, Suggestions & Rumours Discussion

[Needaname]

We need someone in a Football Manager role similar to Gus at the Bulldogs who has complete control of overseeing the coaches, recruitment & retention etc.
This is the role who should ultimately be responsible for on field results based on the ability to have the right coaches, the right recruitment manager and the right player recruitment & retention.

This is crux of it all. That position was previously filled by Tim Sheens and is currently sitting vacant. By respect you would think that anything set up by Tim the year prior for the year that he has decided to coach to help get management out of a bind that that would continue unless you were to fill that position with a new person with new ideas.
That’s why it makes no sense at all to not include Tim as current NRL coach and former Head of Football in decisions made around the structure of the Football Operations staff.

 

[AmericanHistoryX]

That's what I thought Sheens was brought in to do. They buggered that up though

After he was sacked for not doing it many moons ago

 

[Sunnycoast_tiger]

We need someone in a Football Manager role similar to Gus at the Bulldogs who has complete control of overseeing the coaches, recruitment & retention etc.
This is the role who should ultimately be responsible for on field results based on the ability to have the right coaches, the right recruitment manager and the right player recruitment & retention.

Someone like Shane Richardson .

 

[pawsandclaws1]

All of these strengths you have listed suggests he'd be perfect for the Head of Football role which he was originally brought in to do. However, his head coaching record the last 15 years speaks for itself really & he should've never been moved back into the role of Head Coach.

Most recognise Sheens is in the position out of necessity. He acts as a buffer to Benji and is doing a fine job. Sheens' records speaks for itself.
The backline that appeared against the Knights was weak except for the two youngsters and Toa who had a poor game. It was always going to be a loss.

 

[AmericanHistoryX]

Most recognise Sheens is in the position out of necessity. He acts as a buffer to Benji and is doing a fine job. Sheens' records speaks for itself.
The backline that appeared against the Knights was weak except for the two youngsters and Toa who had a poor game. It was always going to be a loss.

Doing a fine job?

 

[boonboon]

Someone like Shane Richardson .

Let's be honest he wouldn't work for our board

 

[pawsandclaws1]

Doing a fine job?

Taking the heat at the difficult media conferences. It cannot be easy fronting up after losses like last weekend.

 

[BlackWhiteGold]

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.

Now that all is well with our Head Coach & Recruitment Manager after this morning's meetings (cough cough), here is who I think we will look at based on the analysis above.

If we don’t sign the Fainu brothers (bring in 6 players)
Halfback - Jack Cogger or Aiden Sezer or Mitchell Pearce or Lachlan Lam or Chad Townsend
5/8 - Te Maire Martin or Brodie Croft or Blake Taafe
Centre - Braidon Burns or Brad Parker or Paul Momirovski or Isaiah Tass
Utility - Bayley Sironen or Connor Watson (#14 utility who can fill-in at hooker)
Wing - Nick Cotric or Terrell Kalo Kalo or Jeral Skelton or Xavier Savage

If we do sign the Fainu brothers (bring in 5 players)
Halfback - as above
5/8 - Latu Fainu
Fwd - Samuela Fainu
Centre - as above
Utility - Connor Watson (as he can also play 5/8 at a pinch if Fainu not ready)
Wing - nil as we don't have that extra space (due to keeping Sione Fainu)

 

[AmericanHistoryX]

Taking the heat at the difficult media conferences. It cannot be easy fronting up after losses like last weekend.

Thats the thing. Losses every week. He is the coach

 

[AmericanHistoryX]

Now that all is well with our Head Coach & Recruitment Manager after this morning's meetings (cough cough), here is who I think we will look at based on the analysis above.

If we don’t sign the Fainu brothers (bring in 6 players)
Halfback - Jack Cogger or Aiden Sezer or Mitchell Pearce or Lachlan Lam or Chad Townsend
5/8 - Te Maire Martin or Brodie Croft or Blake Taafe
Centre - Braidon Burns or Brad Parker or Paul Momirovski or Isaiah Tass
Utility - Bayley Sironen or Connor Watson (#14 utility who can fill-in at hooker)
Wing - Nick Cotric or Terrell Kalo Kalo or Jeral Skelton or Xavier Savage

If we do sign the Fainu brothers (bring in 5 players)
Halfback - as above
5/8 - Latu Fainu
Fwd - Samuela Fainu
Centre - as above
Utility - Connor Watson (as he can also play 5/8 at a pinch if Fainu not ready)
Wing - nil as we don't have that extra space (due to keeping Sione Fainu)

Hope you will be ar the secret meeting today. Breath of fresh air you are!

 

[cktiger]

Taking the heat at the difficult media conferences. It cannot be easy fronting up after losses like last weekend.

Well, he should be taking the heat.
He’s the coach and former football manager.
The results are on him.
The board are to blame as well for appointing him in the first place.

 

[bathursttiger1]

I don’t think you’ve got my cousin right lol

He wasn’t let go lol and wasn’t at the tigers

You want me to share emails with you?

Why?

If you don’t believe me than just block me.

Otherwise I suggest you stay off the forum and wait for the newspaper articles to get printed

…

I wouldn’t be sharing any private emails either, especially with someone sitting behind a computer desk that you don’t know from a bar of soap.

 

[AmericanHistoryX]

I wouldn’t be sharing any private emails either, especially with someone sitting behind a computer desk that you don’t know from a bar of soap.

My daughter learned the hard way

 

[bptiger 0]

If I was head coach I would want sole say of who I wanted , yes I would have a recruitment manager , I would be telling him this is what I want in a player in this position, go and see what’s available, check out ur sources and give me a list with ur recommendations, I would then sit down with him and and coaching team and go over all the players and listen to what all they had to put forward, then I would make my decision. It’s not that f ****** hard

 

[Vicious]

Now that all is well with our Head Coach & Recruitment Manager after this morning's meetings (cough cough), here is who I think we will look at based on the analysis above.

If we don’t sign the Fainu brothers (bring in 6 players)
Halfback - Jack Cogger or Aiden Sezer or Mitchell Pearce or Lachlan Lam or Chad Townsend
5/8 - Te Maire Martin or Brodie Croft or Blake Taafe
Centre - Braidon Burns or Brad Parker or Paul Momirovski or Isaiah Tass
Utility - Bayley Sironen or Connor Watson (#14 utility who can fill-in at hooker)
Wing - Nick Cotric or Terrell Kalo Kalo or Jeral Skelton or Xavier Savage

If we do sign the Fainu brothers (bring in 5 players)
Halfback - as above
5/8 - Latu Fainu
Fwd - Samuela Fainu
Centre - as above
Utility - Connor Watson (as he can also play 5/8 at a pinch if Fainu not ready)
Wing - nil as we don't have that extra space (due to keeping Sione Fainu)

I know we are fast running out of options, but I really cannot see players such as Sezer, Cogger or Pearce improving us much.
Likewise I really don’t think Latu Fainu will be ready for a regular NRL starting spot in 2024.
Of the centres you mentioned I think. Brad Parker could help us if he signed and cone with the right frame of mind.
I would agree anyone is better than nobody and every bit of negativity towards us as a club just makes recruiting decent players even harder.

 

[diedpretty]

Anybody seeing a modern day backrower in Bateman, and the club signing him to a 4 year contract for over 700k per year and plus the transfer fee they paid 250,00k, seriously he offers nothing, his competitive nature doesn't now even exist. Bula has shown how special he is going to be, from Nov 1 next year, he is open to signing with another club even though he is signed for 25, just go and offer another 4 years and do something normal Weststigers

Yes i agree - 2 more would be more realistic tying him up to end of 2027. Its reported he is only on 120k at the moment so at least an additional 2 years and a major pay rise should be getting done now.

 

[AmericanHistoryX]

Yes i agree - 2 more would be more realistic tying him up to end of 2027. Its reported he is only on 120k at the moment so at least an additional 2 years and a major pay rise should be getting done now.

Give him 6. The guy has heart

 

[Tore85]

Anybody seeing a modern day backrower in Bateman, and the club signing him to a 4 year contract for over 700k per year and plus the transfer fee they paid 250,00k, seriously he offers nothing, his competitive nature doesn't now even exist. Bula has shown how special he is going to be, from Nov 1 next year, he is open to signing with another club even though he is signed for 25, just go and offer another 4 years and do something normal Weststigers

💯
#1 priority is Jahream the dream. Forget the rest. Make sure that kid is Tiger for Life 🧡🖤🤍

 

[gregjm87]

They have certainly found some diamonds in the rough like Ford and Metcalf

I can't believe it has taken this long for a club to identify Ford's talents.

 

[diedpretty]

Ray Hadley just defended Fulton on air, called for Sheens to be sacked and said Fulton should be allowed to buy whoever he wants and Benji should basically just accept it.
We've created a monster.

Why do you think Manly weren't all that worried when he left. They had already sacked his sister. They were glad to see the back of them.