Signings, Suggestions & Rumours Discussion

[tigerballs]

You don't remember when we had the 20's premiers coming through with the likes of Moses, Tedesco & Brooks over and above that and then with players like Farah, Benji and Woods....
I'm very frightful we'll repeat history, Overpay them all to keep them (Or lose them completely)
and leave a shell of a low level squad to attempt help them become consistent NRL Players...
Just like we did 10 years ago...

The reason Addo Carr, Koroibete etc. kicked on was the environment and work ethic in the clubs they went to
Not talent.

The shite is in the walls of this place, no matter how many coats of paint we give it....

Addo Carr and Koroibete not talented?

 

[bptiger 0]

I’ve got huge doubts about Sezer also.
No club in the UK want him, we are the only NRL club interested in him.
I hope I’m wrong, but I can’t see it ending well if we do sign him,

Think he will do a job , but I would like to see Austin as his 5/8 , they really seem to work well at Leeds , there old but for 1-2 years I think they could do a good job

 

[bptiger 0]

Spewing if Staines is on the move. One of our few decent backs.

Heads need to roll if he isn’t re-signed , where the hell are we going to fine one better . If this happens then we deserve to be where we are

 

[lathami]

good signing a signing for the future along with Fainu

We tried to get Sullivan a few years back, but failed. So not surprising we were keen!
If he has signed, we will at least have options for a change. Still want us to throw the sink at Pezet, we desperately need a controlling half in the mix.

 

[Tigers0505]

We tried to get Sullivan a few years back, but failed. So not surprising we were keen!
If he has signed, we will at least have options for a change. Still want us to throw the sink at Pezet, we desperately need a controlling half in the mix.

Would love Pezet….. however we would have no chance given who his manager is (B Anasta)

 

[lathami]

Would love Pezet….. however we would have no chance given who his manager is (B Anasta)

Gee we just can’t take a trick! Still would try, give him an offer to good to refuse!

 

[Todd Packer]

So we're good for halves. Now to find a centre and a winger.

 

[Fallen Angel]

So we're good for halves. Now to find a centre and a winger.

There is a difference between signing halves and being good for halves.

 

[FrodoTBaggin]

So we're good for halves. Now to find a centre and a winger.

If Sezer & Sullivan are signed then we are good for now. If a controlling player pops up though we need to go all in for 2025.

We won't have any more than a million put into halves for next season (If we view Doueihi as a centre / lock now instead of a half) which is great considering we have upgraded and Doueihi & Brooks were almost on 2 mil this year combined.

Edit: Actually all 4 of these Halves next year (Galvin, Fainu, Sullivan, Sezer) would be paid less than we paid brooks this year (1.1 Million)

 

[gregjm87]

I don't understand these comments. Has Stef been a top tier prop this season ? The answer to me is clearly no. Does he have that ability ? I think he does.

We need players to make that step up and become top tier players in their positions.

He has not but as far as development goes he is probably on par with the likes of Moale, Willison and Mariota. The difference is at their clubs they are fringe first graders who rarely play more than 30minutes. Our club needs Utoikamanu to consistently perform for 40+ each week. Its just an unreasonable expectation at this point of his career.

 

[Todd Packer]

There is a difference between signing halves and being good for halves.

We're good. An experienced 2 GF's 7 and a real up and comer plus Fainu and Galvin coming through.
They're all better options than dopey and dumbo who are playing now.

 

[Tomatosoup912]

I'm definitely not stating let him go. My expectations are reasonable assuming that I want to see this club become a successful club. All I'm stating is that we require our players to be top tier players and so far he hasn't delivered. We need him too.

He hasn't been a very good prop this season. Against Souths he was very good and I was really happy with him against Saints as well but that is two games. He has had some decent games apart from that but he hasn't been very good.

Api is top tier and has consistently played exceptionally well for us. I do not expect Stef to do that now although it would be great. We do need Stef though to maybe not improve his top level performances but definitely improve his consistency.

We need our top development players to develop into top tier players if we are to move up the ladder. Stef is one of those players.

Everyone is entitled to their opinion bit geez it's obvious that a lot of blokes here haven't played a lick of football in their life.

The criticism of Klemmer and Stefano is quite frankly absurd. For front rowers Klemmer is 5th in all run meters and 4th in post contact meters. Stefano is 13th in run meters and 12th in post contact meters. The sheet below shows that they both maintain elite workrates in defence with high tackle efficiency. Our play the ball speed is 6th in the NRL our all run meters is 8th. The problem is not our forward pack and anyone who thinks the pack is the problem is Rugby League illiterate.

You know what we are god awful at? Linebreaks 17th, LBA 17th, Try assists 17th, Kick meters 17th, effective short drop outs 17th, errors 1st. Our halves couldn't put a nail through balloon and despite our lack of creativity we make the most errors in the comp. Our top error makers are Tupou, Toa, Wakeham, Brooks, Bateman, Bula, Nofoluma and Naden. 1 Forward out 8 players.

Get off the narrative that our forwards are deficient. Big hits and tackle busts don't make a great pack. Controlling the middle with meters and ruck speed does.

We are making the right moves with Sullivan, Fainu etc because if we can find even just one decent half that can put someone into space and kick the ball further than 20m this side will be a legit top 8 team.

 

[pawsandclaws1]

Everyone is entitled to their opinion bit geez it's obvious that a lot of blokes here haven't played a lick of football in their life.

The criticism of Klemmer and Stefano is quite frankly absurd. For front rowers Klemmer is 5th in all run meters and 4th in post contact meters. Stefano is 13th in run meters and 12th in post contact meters. The sheet below shows that they both maintain elite workrates in defence with high tackle efficiency. Our play the ball speed is 6th in the NRL our all run meters is 8th. The problem is not our forward pack and anyone who thinks the pack is the problem is Rugby League illiterate.

You know what we are god awful at? Linebreaks 17th, LBA 17th, Try assists 17th, Kick meters 17th, effective short drop outs 17th, errors 1st. Our halves couldn't put a nail through balloon and despite our lack of creativity we make the most errors in the comp. Our top error makers are Tupou, Toa, Wakeham, Brooks, Bateman, Bula, Nofoluma and Naden. 1 Forward out 8 players.

Get off the narrative that our forwards are deficient. Big hits and tackle busts don't make a great pack. Controlling the middle with meters and ruck speed does.

We are making the right moves with Sullivan, Fainu etc because if we can find even just one decent half that can put someone into space and kick the ball further than 20m this side will be a legit top 8 team.

Good post. Sullivan and Fainu are a pretty good duo to emerge when there is a shortage of halves in the NRL.

 

[Wildcat777]

If Sezer & Sullivan are signed then we are good for now. If a controlling player pops up though we need to go all in for 2025.

We won't have any more than a million put into halves for next season (If we view Doueihi as a centre / lock now instead of a half) which is great considering we have upgraded and Doueihi & Brooks were almost on 2 mil this year combined.

Edit: Actually all 4 of these Halves next year (Galvin, Fainu, Sullivan, Sezer) would be paid less than we paid brooks this year (1.1 Million)

Wishful thinking. But somehow I don’t think so.

 

[FrodoTBaggin]

2023 Round 1 best spine:
1. Laurie - 500k
6. Doueihi - 600k
7. Brooks - 1.1 Mil
9. Api - 700k

14. Simpkin - 350k

Est total - 3.25 mil

2024 Round 1 best spine:
1. Bula - 300k
6. Fainu - 300k
7. Sezer - 400k
9. Api - 700k

14. Sullivan - 350k

Est total - 2.1 Mil


I don't know how nearly halving the cost of your spine (if we increase the cap for 24 by the estimated 30%) while nearly doubling the quality is looked at as going backwards.

 

[FrodoTBaggin]

Wishful thinking. But somehow I don’t think so.

I am confused, what did I say there that was wishful?

We have gone for any controlling half that has been available and will continue to with Sezer only signed to a 1 year deal.

All 4 of our halves cost less than Brooks did this year.

All 4 of our halves are better investments than anything currently on the market for 2024. Unless you think somebody like Jack Cogger is actually the answer.

 

[Jedi_Tiger]

any news on Sezer ?

 

[WestsEffTheRest]

Everyone is entitled to their opinion bit geez it's obvious that a lot of blokes here haven't played a lick of football in their life.

The criticism of Klemmer and Stefano is quite frankly absurd. For front rowers Klemmer is 5th in all run meters and 4th in post contact meters. Stefano is 13th in run meters and 12th in post contact meters. The sheet below shows that they both maintain elite workrates in defence with high tackle efficiency. Our play the ball speed is 6th in the NRL our all run meters is 8th. The problem is not our forward pack and anyone who thinks the pack is the problem is Rugby League illiterate.

You know what we are god awful at? Linebreaks 17th, LBA 17th, Try assists 17th, Kick meters 17th, effective short drop outs 17th, errors 1st. Our halves couldn't put a nail through balloon and despite our lack of creativity we make the most errors in the comp. Our top error makers are Tupou, Toa, Wakeham, Brooks, Bateman, Bula, Nofoluma and Naden. 1 Forward out 8 players.

Get off the narrative that our forwards are deficient. Big hits and tackle busts don't make a great pack. Controlling the middle with meters and ruck speed does.

We are making the right moves with Sullivan, Fainu etc because if we can find even just one decent half that can put someone into space and kick the ball further than 20m this side will be a legit top 8 team.

@batboy Here is some truths for you mate

 

[FrodoTBaggin]

Everyone is entitled to their opinion bit geez it's obvious that a lot of blokes here haven't played a lick of football in their life.

The criticism of Klemmer and Stefano is quite frankly absurd. For front rowers Klemmer is 5th in all run meters and 4th in post contact meters. Stefano is 13th in run meters and 12th in post contact meters. The sheet below shows that they both maintain elite workrates in defence with high tackle efficiency. Our play the ball speed is 6th in the NRL our all run meters is 8th. The problem is not our forward pack and anyone who thinks the pack is the problem is Rugby League illiterate.

You know what we are god awful at? Linebreaks 17th, LBA 17th, Try assists 17th, Kick meters 17th, effective short drop outs 17th, errors 1st. Our halves couldn't put a nail through balloon and despite our lack of creativity we make the most errors in the comp. Our top error makers are Tupou, Toa, Wakeham, Brooks, Bateman, Bula, Nofoluma and Naden. 1 Forward out 8 players.

Get off the narrative that our forwards are deficient. Big hits and tackle busts don't make a great pack. Controlling the middle with meters and ruck speed does.

We are making the right moves with Sullivan, Fainu etc because if we can find even just one decent half that can put someone into space and kick the ball further than 20m this side will be a legit top 8 team.

What's worse is how bad Papali'i is copping it because he can't find a half to put him in space. I think Bula is great, and he gets rightly praised but if Papali'i was as quick as him he would save even more points. There have been times where someone has beaten him 1 on 1 but he is making an effort on every tackle in defence and has made 3 or 4 tackles on someone different in the same play multiple times.

But it's our forwards fault when our right edge backs consistently get exposed. Dearden literally walked around Wakeham the other week.

 

[Vicious]

What's worse is how bad Papali'i is copping it because he can't find a half to put him in space. I think Bula is great, and he gets rightly praised but if Papali'i was as quick as him he would save even more points. There have been times where someone has beaten him 1 on 1 but he is making an effort on every tackle in defence and has made 3 or 4 tackles on someone different in the same play multiple times.

But it's our forwards fault when our right edge backs consistently get exposed. Dearden literally walked around Wakeham the other week.

No idea how Papali’i would be getting criticised, he’s been very good for us and seems to be getting better as the season progresses.