Signings, Suggestions & Rumours Discussion

[The-moP]

WestsTigers reportedly offer veteran one-year deal.

After months of turmoil regarding their halves, the Wests Tigers have reportedly found the solution to their troubles, signing Super League playmaker Aidan Sezer.

While not official, the club has offered the former Gold Coast Titans and Canberra Raiders playmaker a one-year contract, per News Corp. The same report indicates that the contract will see him secure a potential 12-month option on top of the deal.

Sezer's potential recruitment also comes as they step up their pursuit of young Dragons playmaker Jayden Sullivan and have signed NSW U19 representative Latu Fainu from the Manly Sea Eagles.

“The Tigers are going to have Aidan Sezer possibly, Sullivan and Fainu, so three halves signings within a week,” Braith Anasta said on NRL 360.

It is understood that Jayden Sullivan is set to meet Wests Tigers' club officials at the club's Centre of Excellence on Thursday ahead of the Tigers' clash against the South Sydney Rabbitohs on Friday night.
Sezer, the former Titan and Raider, has been playing overseas in the Super League for the past four seasons after departing the NRL at the end of 2019.

In the past, he has played with the Gold Coast Titans (2012-15) and the Canberra Raiders (2016-19) and has also earnt representative honours for the Indigenous All Stars, NSW City, and the Combined Nations All Stars.

If the Sezer deal goes through, it will add much-needed experience to the Tigers roster, and he will be seen as a mentor to the likes of Sullivan, Fainu and Australian Schoolboy Lachlan Galvin, who will join the top 30 roster next season.

“They have offered Aidan Sezer a one-year contract. He is 32 and has played 16 games in the English Super League for Leeds this season. Clearly they are looking for some experience there," James Hooper said on NRL 360.

 

[The-moP]

Another POM is about to test the NRL and is open to offers ..

Irish international and Leeds Rhinos forward James Bentley could make his way to Australia after reportedly attracting the interest of several NRL clubs.

Mainly known to Australian audiences as the individual that was involved in an off-field fight with Victor Radley during the Rugby League World Cup, Bentley is renowned for being a hard running forward.

Off-contract at the end of the season in the Super League, Wide World of Sports has indicated that multiple NRL clubs are interested in his services. If he arrives in Australia, it will mark his first stint in the NRL after eight seasons in the English competition.

The 25-year-old plays a similar style to Radley as he is an aggressive and hot-tempered forward on the field. His versatility will also be crucial to NRL teams as he can play anywhere in the forward, including the dummy-half position.

While it is unknown which NRL clubs may be interested, Bentley has previously played for the Bradford Bulls, St Helens RLFC, and Leeds Rhinos- as well as loan stints with the Sheffield Eagles and Leigh Centurions in back-to-back seasons.

He has also played eight games for the Ireland national team, which included being part of the national squad in last year's Rugby League World Cup.

 

[supercoach]

Yep I wonder what Pascoe did to Hooper to rattle his cage. Not a fan of Pascoe but dislike Hooper a ton more

 

[dazza65]

TIGERS SIGNING WARS EXPOSE CLUB’S MISSMANAGEMENT

YOU’VE got to admire Wests Tigers captain Api Koroisau making a return five weeks after suffering a broken jaw to try and help the club avoid a second straight wooden spoon.

Koroisau, 30, has consistently been the Tigers best player all season with his guile and deception out of dummy-half providing the rest of the team with a far superior platform to play off.

In a rare smart play from the Tigers, the club has now extended Koroisau’s contract until the end of 2026 in a bid to provide some much-needed stability to the playing roster.

The only problem? Wests Tigers new head of recruitment Scott Fulton knew nothing about Koroisau being given an additional year on his contract.

Instead it was Tigers CEO Justin Pascoe and soon-to-be head coach Marshall who did the deal.

This is the same CEO who decided it was a good idea to sign Fulton as head of recruitment without consulting Tim Sheens or Marshall a couple of months back.

That’s gone well so far.

And even though Fulton is against signing UK Super League halfback Aidan Sezer from Leeds, Marshall’s agent Matt Desira has now been sent a one-year contract for the ex-Raiders grand final halfback from 2019 to join the Tigers next season.

Is it any wonder the Tigers are all over the shop with management like this?

We keep going back to the late, great Jack Gibson line. Winning starts Monday and winning starts in the front office.

Paddle pop lion CEO Pascoe’s next job should be building a new trophy cabinet to house the back-to-back wooden spoons the Tigers have collected in 2022-23.

He can put it next to the barber shop at the Concord-based club’s Centre of Excellence. In fairness it’s been a Centre of Mediocrity to date.

Spare us the dribble about how well Pascoe’s got the club going on a commercial level. The NRL grant now gifts every club $5 million each year.

So the 17 NRL clubs all start $5 million in the black. By the time you throw in sponsorships and memberships it’s almost impossible to run at a loss.

Api blindside as signing mess exposes Tigers war; Storm stars in Tino bid: Jimmy Brings

Api blindside as signing mess exposes Tigers war; Storm stars in Tino bid: Hoops

www.foxsports.com.au

ho hum...

 

[teddy23]

I don't like Pascoe as a CEO option and think he should be removed..... however, that article is a joke and shouldn't have ever been approved to be released. The difference between attacking someone from a business perspective and attacking them personally is significant.

The media within the NRL gets to a lower level by the day - give it a couple of weeks and they'll get bored of beating the dead horse and turn their attention to the Bulldogs or Dragons. Absolute joke.

 

[hsvjones]

TIGERS SIGNING WARS EXPOSE CLUB’S MISSMANAGEMENT

YOU’VE got to admire Wests Tigers captain Api Koroisau making a return five weeks after suffering a broken jaw to try and help the club avoid a second straight wooden spoon.

Koroisau, 30, has consistently been the Tigers best player all season with his guile and deception out of dummy-half providing the rest of the team with a far superior platform to play off.

In a rare smart play from the Tigers, the club has now extended Koroisau’s contract until the end of 2026 in a bid to provide some much-needed stability to the playing roster.

The only problem? Wests Tigers new head of recruitment Scott Fulton knew nothing about Koroisau being given an additional year on his contract.

Instead it was Tigers CEO Justin Pascoe and soon-to-be head coach Marshall who did the deal.

This is the same CEO who decided it was a good idea to sign Fulton as head of recruitment without consulting Tim Sheens or Marshall a couple of months back.

That’s gone well so far.

And even though Fulton is against signing UK Super League halfback Aidan Sezer from Leeds, Marshall’s agent Matt Desira has now been sent a one-year contract for the ex-Raiders grand final halfback from 2019 to join the Tigers next season.

Is it any wonder the Tigers are all over the shop with management like this?

We keep going back to the late, great Jack Gibson line. Winning starts Monday and winning starts in the front office.

Paddle pop lion CEO Pascoe’s next job should be building a new trophy cabinet to house the back-to-back wooden spoons the Tigers have collected in 2022-23.

He can put it next to the barber shop at the Concord-based club’s Centre of Excellence. In fairness it’s been a Centre of Mediocrity to date.

Spare us the dribble about how well Pascoe’s got the club going on a commercial level. The NRL grant now gifts every club $5 million each year.

So the 17 NRL clubs all start $5 million in the black. By the time you throw in sponsorships and memberships it’s almost impossible to run at a loss.

Api blindside as signing mess exposes Tigers war; Storm stars in Tino bid: Jimmy Brings

Api blindside as signing mess exposes Tigers war; Storm stars in Tino bid: Hoops

www.foxsports.com.au

When does the club say Enough us Enough and go hard at DT and Fox ??

Blind Freddy can see they have and agenda and it's getting beyond a joke tbh.
I know winning helps but every day they have like 2-3 Negative stories about the club even if we have a win etc.. We signed the Fainu boys and extended Api yet nothing positive.

It has a massive effect on the brand and they don't touch certain clubs as they know they will be called out but we just keep taking it.

I am losing the love for the game and feel the club could do something if they wanted.

Dogs sign some fringe 1st graders and it's a love feast and no talk about how the Fainu boys knocked them back for us.

 

[Fallen Angel]

That's me too... Mostly anywhere
Going up to players is for kids.... I'm old enough to be their ol man

So is following them on social media. Will never understand that trend.

 

[pawsandclaws1]

When does the club say Enough us Enough and go hard at DT and Fox ??

Blind Freddy can see they have and agenda and it's getting beyond a joke tbh.
I know winning helps but every day they have like 2-3 Negative stories about the club even if we have a win etc.. We signed the Fainu boys and extended Api yet nothing positive.

It has a massive effect on the brand and they don't touch certain clubs as they know they will be called out but we just keep taking it.

I am losing the love for the game and feel the club could do something if they wanted.

Dogs sign some fringe 1st graders and it's a love feast and no talk about how the Fainu boys knocked them back for us.

Good post. You could offer the view some are worried that the WTs' Pathways has started to produce quality graduates and this may have the potential to usurp the pecking order of clubs.

 

[The-moP]

Let's have a look a the players the Dogs have or are about to recruit (last 2 years):

Braiden Burns - Souths
Hayze Perham - Parramatta
Josh Addo Carr - Melbourne
Matt Burton - Penrith
Fa'amanu Brown - WestsTigers
Reece Hoffman - WestsTigers
Toby Sexton - Titans
Corey Waddell - Manly
Franklin Pele - Cronulla
Liam Knight - Souths
Reed Mahoney - Parramatta
Ryan Sutton - Canberra
Tevita Pangi-Junior - Brisbane
Viliame Kikau - Penrith

Who's coming:

Stephen Crichton - Penrith
Blake Taaffe - Souths
Jaeman Salmon - Penrith
Bronson Xerri - Purgatory

 

[teddy23]

Let's have a look a the players the Dogs have or are about to recruit (last 2 years):

Braiden Burns - Souths
Hayze Perham - Parramatta
Josh Addo Carr - Melbourne
Matt Burton - Penrith
Fa'amanu Brown - WestsTigers
Reece Hoffman - WestsTigers
Toby Sexton - Titans
Corey Waddell - Manly
Franklin Pele - Cronulla
Liam Knight - Souths
Reed Mahoney - Parramatta
Ryan Sutton - Canberra
Tevita Pangi-Junior - Brisbane
Viliame Kikau - Penrith

Who's coming:

Stephen Crichton - Penrith
Blake Taaffe - Souths
Jaeman Salmon - Penrith
Bronson Xerri - Purgatory

Geez they really poached some of our young guns.....

 

[happy_tiger]

Lots of Sullivan talk

If the club who is 16th and losing their No 1 half is not wanting him to stay ....maybe we should steer clear of him as well

 

[Fallen Angel]

10 f bombs in 30 seconds reeks of “look at me look at me, I’m so cool, I can swear”.

 

[balmain boy]

Sheens turned Scott prince into an elite halfback after he was a reject and flop at Brisbane. He also had success turning Rob Lui from a running 5/8 to a good halfback.

Sullivan seems like the sort of player he can develop.

But if Sheens is just sitting around in his office watching YouTube while Benji does everything then the question needs to be can Benji turn a running 5/8 into a halfback. He tried it himself and failed miserably at it.

 

[Todd Packer]

Lots of Sullivan talk

If the club who is 16th and losing their No 1 half is not wanting him to stay ....maybe we should steer clear of him as well

Hunt is staying at St George.

 

[Nounny]

Sezer, Sullivan and Fainu is better than brooks, douhei and wakeham hands down

1 experienced half and 2 young halves with a lot of potential

 

[watersider]

But if Sheens is just sitting around in his office watching YouTube while Benji does everything then the question needs to be can Benji turn a running 5/8 into a halfback. He tried it himself and failed miserably at it.

Benji eventually became a good halfback. Agree that it was ugly at first.

I'm also not enthusiastic about the Sheens-Benji combination, so understand your pessimism, but just observing that at least they'd have some experience in the situation. They eventually got Brooks playing better, after he started the season looking a whole lot worse. Haven't done much for Wakeham.

 

[Saturnalia]

Benji eventually became a good halfback.

Citation needed.

I don't remember that happening, probably because it didn't.

 

[Tiger_Fanatic3]

Wests Tigers have stepped up their pursuit of St George Illawarra half Jayden Sullivan as club officials plan to meet the Dragons playmaker on Thursday.

Sullivan has been given permission to leave the Dragons at the end of the season as part of incoming coach Shane Flanagan’s roster rebuild.

The Tigers have emerged as the favourites to land the 21-year-old, who is sidelined for the rest of the season after again injuring his hamstring.

It is understood Sullivan is scheduled to meet the Tigers on Thursday. Plans to host Sullivan at the club’s Centre of Excellence come as the Tigers’ pursuit of former Brisbane and Melbourne half Brodie Croft hits a roadblock.

Croft’s camp had been in talks with the Tigers over a potential return to the NRL but this masthead understands those negotiations have now cooled after the Tigers offer fell short of expectations.

Croft signed a long-term extension with Super League side Salford last year but was open to a return to the NRL. Those discussions are believed to have collapsed.

Sullivan, who still has two more years left on his contract, is seemingly more of a priority for the Tigers after being told by Flanagan that he would be allowed to leave the club immediately.

The Tigers are desperately looking to lock down some halves. They already added impressive teen Latu Fainu on a four-year contract from next season.

While the Tigers look to re-jig their roster, the Dragons are in the midst of their own revamp.

Sullivan is the first high profile player set to be shown the door by Flanagan. He is not alone though. (DT)

 

[Flippedy]

When does the club say Enough us Enough and go hard at DT and Fox ??

Blind Freddy can see they have and agenda and it's getting beyond a joke tbh.
I know winning helps but every day they have like 2-3 Negative stories about the club even if we have a win etc.. We signed the Fainu boys and extended Api yet nothing positive.

It has a massive effect on the brand and they don't touch certain clubs as they know they will be called out but we just keep taking it.

I am losing the love for the game and feel the club could do something if they wanted.

Dogs sign some fringe 1st graders and it's a love feast and no talk about how the Fainu boys knocked them back for us.

Funnily enough they’ve been going at Canterbury a bit lately as well and Gus is continually calling them out for it. I guess that’s the difference between their boss and ours. One actually cares about the reputation of his club, the other just wants to look good in a swanky suit and fedora!

 

[Alex Seyfarth's #1 Fan]

I don't like Pascoe as a CEO option and think he should be removed..... however, that article is a joke and shouldn't have ever been approved to be released. The difference between attacking someone from a business perspective and attacking them personally is significant.

The media within the NRL gets to a lower level by the day - give it a couple of weeks and they'll get bored of beating the dead horse and turn their attention to the Bulldogs or Dragons. Absolute joke.

Pascoe's job was done once the Centre of Excellence was completed. He has taken us as far as he can. We need new ideas.