Signings, Suggestions & Rumours Discussion

[balmain boy]

You need to look at it from Lee's perspective. He's effectively paid Chris's wage for a period of time through his sponsorship. Money that he could have kept in his pocket.

He's also doing the board job for free I believe.

I mean, you cant have a go at the guys intent or effort. At least send messages with a bit of respect of that.

Lee hasn't paid any players' wage, ever. I would think most, oif not all, board roles at nrl clubs are unpaid. It's not like they're running an ASX200 company.
The man is one of the biggest egotistical wankers in the nrl. he reaps what he sows.

 

[hammertime]

He may not be doing the chairman's position for dollars up front but you can't honestly believe he is getting nothing out of it,he would not need the dollars but no doubt in my mind he needs the feeling of power which feeds his ego

He runs a huge law firm, he has all the power he needs. He was helping initially without the chairman title. He'll be getting enjoyment as you or I would being able to help the team we love.

He has a hell of a lot of improvement in him (losing the cowboy hat being one), but there wouldn't be too many people capable or eager to be doing what he is doing. We shouldn't lose sight of that.

 

[hammertime]

Lee hasn't paid any players' wage, ever. I would think most, oif not all, board roles at nrl clubs are unpaid. It's not like they're running an ASX200 company.
The man is one of the biggest egotistical wankers in the nrl. he reaps what he sows.

He pays it indirectly man.... his sponsorship gives the club money which pays the wages.

Man our supporters really like to attack our own. No wonder we suck.

 

[Yossarian]

Our d1ckhead of a chairman who can’t keep his mouth shut has forced out club legend Chris Lawrence because he said something to him after we got thrashed by the Cowboys.

I can’t emphasise how much of a stain & cancer this eff wit is on our club & everytime I see him spew more pointless dribble my blood boils. We’re stuck with this loser & his little man syndrome for a while because he wipes the boards ass with his lawyer dollars. Can’t wait till this flop effs off

Forced out? He was or still may be a club ambassador. It’s not like he got sacked, as far as I know Chris has a day time job running his own business. In any case it’s hard to form an opinion on what actually happened here based on James Hooper’s utterings. Guy is a serial offender in writing negative WT stories out of nonevents.

 

[Bellend]

On the Chris Lawrence vs Lee H there is more to the story then the cowboys incident than has been reported and spoken about. And if people talk to Chris he does a lot of work behind the scenes at West Tigers and he is one of the old boys who is telling the Macarthur players to stay at the club.
And regardless of who is wrong or right it is another bad stain on the club,.

Heard this rumor while in Perth this week staines and simpkins go to the eels and we get Saunders in return,
as i said only a rumor,

 

[Yossarian]

He runs a huge law firm, he has all the power he needs. He was helping initially without the chairman title. He'll be getting enjoyment as you or I would being able to help the team we love.

He has a hell of a lot of improvement in him (losing the cowboy hat being one), but there wouldn't be too many people capable or eager to be doing what he is doing. We shouldn't lose sight of that.

To be fair to Lee, someone up top has been doing a stack of work to rectify things regarding the club’s relationship with player managers. I don’t think that someone was to Pascoe… If he, meaning Lee, has been able to convince agents to recommend the club to clients (and the Fainu brothers are a manifestation of that), then he’s possibly orchestrated one of the most important off-field results in the club’s history.

He’s fronted up a lot recently and been mostly on the money. He needed to be more disciplined with the press and he seems to be making some headway there.

 

[balmain boy]

Finally some great news for us long suffering WT fans signing Latu and Samuela Fainu.

I would like WT to now extend the contracts of Bula, Blore, Staines, Pole, James, Seyfarth, Wakeham (need depth for injuries) and any other promising junior coming through the ranks.

Now need a quality centre or two (speed and can defend) and half back (who has experience and great game management).

Our forward pack looks good and with James and Pole part of the prop rotation I think we are well stocked. I believe Samuela is a second rower so should add to the forward pack.

I am a big fan of Shaun Blore and in recent weeks has proven what a good player he can be injury free. I don't know what his best position in the pack is. Maybe off the bench with Pole, James and Da Silva next season.

I would love the club to say goodbye to AJ, Naden. Laurie and Jake Simpkin at season's end. Not good enough for NRL. Maybe the Eels can take Simpkin for the rest of the season in a player swap for a back. I would even pay out Adam Doueihi's contract as it would be hard for him to come back after all the injuries plus I have never really rated him.

What is the deal with Justin Matamua. Is he the real deal or just another forum "God of State Cup" (We have had so many of this hyped up Gods of State Cup over the years).

Is Josh Feledy a player who can step up in 2024 as a quality centre we have been lacking?
I think To'a can continue to develop into a strike weapon and just needs a good winger along side him.

Still would like to see the Board and CEO changed and Sheens moved on to Director and let Benji and his team start to develop the team for success in 2025.

It can very reasonably be assumed that James won't be top 30 with us next year. We have too many props and forwards coming through the ranks. Our props already include Klem, Stef, Twal, Pole, Blore, Fainu x2, Faagatu, Miller probably on a development contract, along with Kit. Seyfarth may get squeezed out too. Can't see any room in the 30 for a prop with average fitness who's still a work in progress.

Wakeham will also need to be outside the top 30, he's shown he's not up to first grade standard and we will have Fainu, Galvin and Sezer/other halfback in the top 30 squad. We would need our other half to have more potential to play first grade and possibly some pace and versatility, a Weekes, Tracey, Volkmann, Martin, Metcalfe type.

 

[851]

On the Chris Lawrence vs Lee H there is more to the story then the cowboys incident than has been reported and spoken about. And if people talk to Chris he does a lot of work behind the scenes at West Tigers and he is one of the old boys who is telling the Macarthur players to stay at the club.
And regardless of who is wrong or right it is another bad stain on the club,.

Heard this rumor while in Perth this week staines and simpkins go to the eels and we get Saunders in return,
as i said only a rumor,

Sanders signed with Canberra for 2025, so we get him for this year and next

 

[Yossarian]

On the Chris Lawrence vs Lee H there is more to the story then the cowboys incident than has been reported and spoken about. And if people talk to Chris he does a lot of work behind the scenes at West Tigers and he is one of the old boys who is telling the Macarthur players to stay at the club.
And regardless of who is wrong or right it is another bad stain on the club,.

Heard this rumor while in Perth this week staines and simpkins go to the eels and we get Saunders in return,
as i said only a rumor,

I’m sure Chris will remain a fan and talk us up. The whole reason this blew up, assuming it did, was because he’s an uber fan.

Eels would be nuts to go for that. I’ve heard Saunders is headed for Canberra who are trying for an all Ethan team by 2026.

 

[balmain boy]

He pays it indirectly man.... his sponsorship gives the club money which pays the wages.

Man our supporters really like to attack our own. No wonder we suck.

No, he doesn't.

The NRL gives all clubs a grant which covers all of the players salaries. His sponsorhsip may help get another staff member into the marketing and membership teams and keep the fridge in the lunchroom full but he does not contribute a cent towards any players salary.

 

[Mighty_Tiger]

Hopefully Storm will take him back

Doubt it

 

[balmain boy]

SEN reporting this morning that Charlie Staines will be off to Parramatta next week. Via Vossy and Carryianis (?).

Why would we release staines when our wing depth is very low. A random rumour from a nobody....
The only reason why we might is to get out of paying the remaining 125k of his salary if we had another high priced winger to join us.

 

[Mighty_Tiger]

As confusing as this will sound - if the roles were reversed with the club legend being the chairman and the sponsor deal being Lee and this story broke who's side would you be on?

No one even knows what Lee said to Chris, if it was that bad the quote would be out in the papers right now. As a club we were as shocking as we were before Lee came... so the issue is beyond Lee. We just love to use him as the scapegoat, imo the real issue is Pascoe not the guy who you can tell genuinely cares for the club and pours money into it (unlike others like Harry who just watch on).

Take away the persona and look at the situation entirely - I understand Chris is adored and Lee is the villain but let's be unbiased in this scenario. This private exchange should've never been brought up to the media let alone Hooper - especially the day after we seem to have some positive attention come our way with the Fainu's. Kicking the club when it's already down and out in the manner he did should never be the avenue a club legend takes.

Agree private msgs should remain private.

More interested as to how Hoops even had a convo with Chris where the msgs came up.
Not a good look for Chris.

 

[balmain boy]

Will have no effect, if the 4 million over four years for both is true then it’s not that much . Bula will get a good up grade as he should , as should pole . As we have said on here many times we need to pay overs to get them here , maybe this we bring more in

I read it was much closer to $2 million over the 4 years for both players. Braith just being an ignorant and arrogant twat.
Bula should get an increase an extension in the offseason, reward him for his good play.

 

[teddy23]

I read it was much closer to $2 million over the 4 years for both players. Braith just being an ignorant and arrogant twat.
Bula should get an increase an extension in the offseason, reward him for his good play.

I can assure you those figures are off regarding $2 million over 4 years each.

I believe Latu is on around 250-300k with the last 1-2 years being around 400-450k with incentives built on which could take him to 500k. Samelua is on slightly lower $ wise. We got a good deal.

Not 1000% on numbers but around that ball park.

 

[tigerman 0]

Was mentioned a few pages back but Connor Tracey has not signed with Parra. Im related to him

 

[tony soprano]

Was mentioned a few pages back but Connor Tracey has not signed with Parra. Im related to him

What's his plans?

 

[bptiger 0]

I read it was much closer to $2 million over the 4 years for both players. Braith just being an ignorant and arrogant twat.
Bula should get an increase an extension in the offseason, reward him for his good play.

So that’s even better

 

[BlackWhiteGold]

Was mentioned a few pages back but Connor Tracey has not signed with Parra. Im related to him

He would be a great 5/8 for us next season as Latu develops & then move into the centres (and another back-up fullback)

I'm all for doing a deal with the Sharks as I've heard he's a great club man & type of character we need more of. Swap with AJ or Simpkin.

 

[balmain boy]

Sanders signed with Canberra for 2025, so we get him for this year and next

Hasn't been announced yet, so maybe he hasn't, just a rumour still. I'd be happy to go for him, or Tracey as our 4th halves option for next season