Tucker
Well-known member
Thats frightening
OFFICIAL Fainu Brothers.
- Thread starter TigerNeddyK
- Start date
hank37w
Well-known member
As much as I like Benji, can someone please explain to me how someone that didn't know what he was going to do next on the football field coach someone else to do that?
As good as he was in his prime I just can't help but feel that he offers 3/5 of 5/8 of f*ck all to a young up and coming half other than what Sheens has always said about, "do whatever you like on the football field as long as you practice it at training."
Don't get me wrong, it was a thing of beauty when it came off but there were also all those passes to the 5th row that we had to contend with as well.
I was pleased at the end of last year to hear that there was going to be an emphasis on skills in the pre-season, but concentrating on basic skills and 200 passes at training everyday hasn't exactly reaped too many rewards so far.
Tired Tiger
Well-known member
Wests Tigers have secured a much-needed recruitment win by beating the Dolphins to rising stars Samuela and Latu Fainu with lucrative four-year deals.
As reported by this masthead, the Tigers have pursued the Fainu brothers with serious interest since they were granted permission by Manly to negotiate with rivals.
The pair are due to join the Tigers from November 1 and are seen as two of the best youngsters in the game after Latu, a five-eighth, and Samuela, a forward, performed strongly in NSW’s under-19s State of Origin victory last week.
While Canterbury never weighed in with an offer for the pair despite club supremo Phil Gould’s visit to their incarcerated brother Manase in prison, trumping the Dolphins’ own four-year offers for the pair is a sorely-needed win for the joint-venture.
The signings cap yet another dramatic week in which the club’s recruitment strategies came under the microscope following clashes between head coach in-waiting Benji Marshall and newly appointed talent scout Scott Fulton.
Fulton’s western Sydney connections and relationships with several player agents, including Mario Tartak, who manages the Fainu brothers, has long been seen as key to the club’s pursuit of the pair.
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This masthead has been told by several sources that suggestions of coaching reinforcements being added to the Tigers staff - with sacked Titans boss Justin Holbrook and Rabbitohs assistant John Morris among the options - have been mentioned in recent recruitment negotiations with prospective players.
Fulton’s appointment by the Tigers board without consulting Marshall or current coach Tim Sheens led to escalating tensions that required intervention from CEO Justin Pascoe earlier in the week, with Marshall and Fulton vowing to work together.
The signing of 18-year-old Latu Fainu especially, is seen as a move toward shoring up the revolving scrumbase at Concord, but there are realistic expectations that he is still not ready for a full season of first grade from 2024.
Former Raiders halfback Aidan Sezer has since been targeted as a short-term fix from the English Super League, where his form has been middling since leaving the NRL in 2019.
Speaking on Thursday before the Fainus had committed to the Tigers, Sheens said a board meeting at the start of the week saw he and Marshall address club powerbrokers on the club’s recruitment processes and the relationship between Marshall and Fulton.
“I don’t think there’s going to be an issue where someone can’t work with someone,” Sheens said of the backroom drama.
“We’ve all got to be professional in these sorts of situations and that’s what I would expect from both guys.
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“It’s about recruitment, that’s what we’re doing all the time is talking about our recruitment, not only from the outside in, bringing people in, or what we’ve got to do is our own juniors, our own kids, and obviously the halves situation at the club by way of experiences halves isn’t obvious.”
Marshall has taken on increasing responsibility in preparation for replacing Sheens as the veteran coach insisted once again he will not move on from the position sooner than originally planned, at the end of 2024.
He did concede though that off-contract utility Daine Laurie, who has been in talks with Penrith about a return to his junior club next season, has his own contract call to make as the Tigers have waited him to return to the paddock.
Laurie is named to partner Brandon Wakeham in the halves against fellow cellar dwellers St George Illawarra on Thursday night.
“That hasn’t been decided yet as to what [Laurie] wants to do,” Sheens said.
“He would have been playing six probably three weeks ago, except he had an injury, that head concussion then a leg injury, so we will need to see him play the next two or three games in that position and we’ll make a decision from there.”
Elsewhere, Parramatta are expected to ramp up their own search for a short-term hooker signing before the August mid-season transfer deadline after confirmation Josh Hodgson will miss the rest of the season due to a neck injury.
Hodgson underwent surgery recently and hasn’t played since mid-May, leaving the Eels short at dummy-half despite the emergence of rookie No.9 Brendan Hands.
Hodgson, 33, has already taken up an option in his contract for 2024 valued at approximately $450,000.
As reported by this masthead, the Tigers have pursued the Fainu brothers with serious interest since they were granted permission by Manly to negotiate with rivals.
The pair are due to join the Tigers from November 1 and are seen as two of the best youngsters in the game after Latu, a five-eighth, and Samuela, a forward, performed strongly in NSW’s under-19s State of Origin victory last week.
While Canterbury never weighed in with an offer for the pair despite club supremo Phil Gould’s visit to their incarcerated brother Manase in prison, trumping the Dolphins’ own four-year offers for the pair is a sorely-needed win for the joint-venture.
The signings cap yet another dramatic week in which the club’s recruitment strategies came under the microscope following clashes between head coach in-waiting Benji Marshall and newly appointed talent scout Scott Fulton.
Fulton’s western Sydney connections and relationships with several player agents, including Mario Tartak, who manages the Fainu brothers, has long been seen as key to the club’s pursuit of the pair.
Loading
This masthead has been told by several sources that suggestions of coaching reinforcements being added to the Tigers staff - with sacked Titans boss Justin Holbrook and Rabbitohs assistant John Morris among the options - have been mentioned in recent recruitment negotiations with prospective players.
Fulton’s appointment by the Tigers board without consulting Marshall or current coach Tim Sheens led to escalating tensions that required intervention from CEO Justin Pascoe earlier in the week, with Marshall and Fulton vowing to work together.
The signing of 18-year-old Latu Fainu especially, is seen as a move toward shoring up the revolving scrumbase at Concord, but there are realistic expectations that he is still not ready for a full season of first grade from 2024.
Former Raiders halfback Aidan Sezer has since been targeted as a short-term fix from the English Super League, where his form has been middling since leaving the NRL in 2019.
Speaking on Thursday before the Fainus had committed to the Tigers, Sheens said a board meeting at the start of the week saw he and Marshall address club powerbrokers on the club’s recruitment processes and the relationship between Marshall and Fulton.
“I don’t think there’s going to be an issue where someone can’t work with someone,” Sheens said of the backroom drama.
“We’ve all got to be professional in these sorts of situations and that’s what I would expect from both guys.
Loading
“It’s about recruitment, that’s what we’re doing all the time is talking about our recruitment, not only from the outside in, bringing people in, or what we’ve got to do is our own juniors, our own kids, and obviously the halves situation at the club by way of experiences halves isn’t obvious.”
Marshall has taken on increasing responsibility in preparation for replacing Sheens as the veteran coach insisted once again he will not move on from the position sooner than originally planned, at the end of 2024.
He did concede though that off-contract utility Daine Laurie, who has been in talks with Penrith about a return to his junior club next season, has his own contract call to make as the Tigers have waited him to return to the paddock.
Laurie is named to partner Brandon Wakeham in the halves against fellow cellar dwellers St George Illawarra on Thursday night.
“That hasn’t been decided yet as to what [Laurie] wants to do,” Sheens said.
“He would have been playing six probably three weeks ago, except he had an injury, that head concussion then a leg injury, so we will need to see him play the next two or three games in that position and we’ll make a decision from there.”
Elsewhere, Parramatta are expected to ramp up their own search for a short-term hooker signing before the August mid-season transfer deadline after confirmation Josh Hodgson will miss the rest of the season due to a neck injury.
Hodgson underwent surgery recently and hasn’t played since mid-May, leaving the Eels short at dummy-half despite the emergence of rookie No.9 Brendan Hands.
Hodgson, 33, has already taken up an option in his contract for 2024 valued at approximately $450,000.
tig_prmz
Well-known member
Apparently signed on 4 year deals.
innsaneink
Well-known member
Correct.
Glad there's a dedicate thread for thses signings instead it lost in the rumours rubbish thread
Club is getting my hopes up again... Bula, DaSilva, Stef.... These two... Things holey are looking.promising let's just hope the coaching works
gallagher
Well-known member
Let's hope they can play.
✅️
Tiger_Fanatic3
Well-known member
Pin this on your fridge, the Fainu bros WILL win Wests Tigers a premiership.
Tucker
Well-known member
Is this official?
What sort of contract conditions did they receive?
What sort of contract conditions did they receive?
Todd Packer
Well-known member
Ha Ha it's time to be full of hope for next year again.
It doesn't get any better than this.
Tucker
Well-known member
…or go to jail trying
Their own management company has just shared the news story on Twitter.
Tiger_Fanatic3
Well-known member
Watched them during u19 Origin, Latu... Way he was communicating and organising the attack was beyond impressive by nrl standards let alone just a kid.
How many no look passes did he have also though.
How many no look passes did he have also though.
TigerNeddyK
Well-known member
I’m absolutely stoked that they signed. Also it appears that Benji has been instrumental in securing their services as he sees a bit of himself in Latu and obviously feels he can contribute to Benjis vision for the clubs future… very exciting
Halbrowne61
Well-known member
At last, something positive, now let’s knock over the Dragons tomorrow to really put a cherry on top.
And offload the spoon !!
Halbrowne61
Well-known member
I think we also should recognise this as Fultons first big coup for the club. Hopefully some more to follow.
Read something online quoting Mario as saying that Scott has known the biys since they were 8/9.
They wanted assurances that Scott was going to be there long term and Benjis support crew would be increased.
I'd caulk this up as a clear win for Scott.
Halbrowne61
Well-known member
Can I hear the clubs squeaky wheels just starting to roll, ever so slightly, or am I being overly optimistic ?
Classic 😂
