Signings, Suggestions & Rumours Discussion

earl said:
I reckon Bula is going pretty well but his faults are not the fault of our halves. The same as our halves aren't poor because our forwards are duds or our outside backs are duds.
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I actually don't see Bula being out of position much? I think he is good at being where he should be. Could possibly back up through the middle a bit more, but he's probably too tired from having to chase all the line breaks, etc.

I guess when you replace Laurie you don't have to be a master at positioning yourself to live up to expectations.
 
Okay,
Roar_Power said:
Mate, I think 2025 is where it's at. Only 13 signed on. Next year 2024 will be about clearing the deadwood, giving some young fellas a chance in first grade and improving on a dismal current season. The idea will be to promote within, buy the odd seasoned first grader and some decent depth for Benji's debut coaching year.
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I think I am in full grumpy old man mode today, because I'm thinking "how many years have we been saying or hearing this?".

I may be in the minority, but I am however, pretty content with who they're letting go and who has been re-signed. I think the talent pool is shallower than I can remember right now, and hope they are able to produce a few gems from the young guys at the club.

As many have said and also experienced - it's not always simply the talented kids who make it. It's the ones who really want it and put the work in.

A lot of young guys' ambitions to play nrl wane, whilst others you wouldn't have necessarily picked maintain the passion and become good nrl players.

Hope we get a few of the latter!
 
Masterton said:
Buzz is the opposite of a schooner of Resch's, which I suck on every Saturday.
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Its a funny beer Reschs on tap - you get a good one its like liquid gold but a bad one will turn you off beer for life. I'm a member of Reschs Appreciation Society and fortunately both watering holes in my town serve a really good Reschs. With my membership i get a schooner for $5 at the bowlo and $5.50 at the tavern.
 
TurnStyle said:
Okay,

I think I am in full grumpy old man mode today, because I'm thinking "how many years have we been saying or hearing this?".

I may be in the minority, but I am however, pretty content with who they're letting go and who has been re-signed. I think the talent pool is shallower than I can remember right now, and hope they are able to produce a few gems from the young guys at the club.

As many have said and also experienced - it's not always simply the talented kids who make it. It's the ones who really want it and put the work in.

A lot of young guys' ambitions to play nrl wane, whilst others you wouldn't have necessarily picked maintain the passion and become good nrl players.

Hope we get a few of the latter!
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I agree mate. How much deadwood do we have to clear? We’ve let so many players go.

We just keep buying more of it
 
The Chad said:
Looking at the roster breakdown (27/30 confirmed) the Tigers are really going to have to shift 2-3 players.

Charlie Staines, Sezar & Sullivan, if signed, fill the roster.

As far as I think, most of us, believe...we lack any impact in the centres if this fills out the roster.

What I see as the 'immediate' problem is that we have a bunch of youngsters that play backrow only, but are clearly not ready to play 1st grade, in Tumeth, Mansfield, Sione Fainu on the roster. That's 3 spots allocated for future options. Matamua can be added to that, but seems 'close' to at least being in the top 17.

Additionally, our centres are To'a, Tupou, Naden , Feledy & Reilly. It could be argued that there really isn't a #1 centre in that group. Yet, 5 spots allocated to it.

Wing- Nofa, Staines (if), Kepaoa gives us a very limited selection of wingers, with Tupou able to also play wing.

That is 8 spots allocated & really....2-3 guys are 'locked in'- Tupou, Staines & To'a (and only if Staines signs, of course). The others can all have arguments made for & against.

2-3 of our outside backs either need to become locked in starter types, or moved on. Otherwise we are too heavily invested in 'almost 1st graders'. Naden, Reilly, Kepaoa & Nofa are the obvious names. Feledy isn't going anywhere & could almost be in the conversation to be in the top 17 at some point next year.

One of the back row guys probably needs to make way for either Aitasi James or Seyfarth. Or Fa'agutu if they move him into the top 30 (I feel like he would contribute quickly if top 30).

If the club can't move on a large selection of players, we are likely looking at losing guys better than them simply through lack of roster spots.

The 2 back-up hookers have to be in consideration as well- Simpkin & Rua. Particularly if Connor Watson is actually being discussed. Da Silva is already the #2 hooker at the club.

There's not a lot of great available talent, but we still need to find spots on the roster & move some guys on in order to strengthen the overall roster.
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Agreed. The outside backs situation is pretty dire. Also, they must have really been feeling the pressure from his manager to give Galvin a top 30 spot looking at the dearth of places.

Can anyone with a bit more knowledge tell me, if Tigers are under the cap this year are they allowed to use that money to pay out the following year of a players contract without it counting on the following years salary cap?

For example, paying out the remainder of Reilly's (probably small) contract to free up a spot without it counting in next year's cap?
 
king_sirro said:
Similar line running, similar build, similar strength. No where near as quick as Bradman though, but thats ok. As long as he is quick enough to adjust defensively, which is questionable at the moment unfortunately.
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From what i have seen, that is my take also. I think a big off-season for his fitness/speed and drop some KG's and work on his defense and we will have a decent center.
 
TurnStyle said:
I actually don't see Bula being out of position much? I think he is good at being where he should be. Could possibly back up through the middle a bit more, but he's probably too tired from having to chase all the line breaks, etc.

I guess when you replace Laurie you don't have to be a master at positioning yourself to live up to expectations.
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Old Greg seems to be Bula's harshest critic on here but I'm not sure he's watching the same game.
 
Beau Ryan killed of Ayshfords career here,by starving him of ball.Blake from lack of effort ,injuries finished it at the Warriors.Funny character B A ,played nice until he got slapped,then came alive
 
batboy said:
Played for Australia after his hip - I think our whole squad was on the decline after 2011 with benjis dip in form exposed them a bit more for where they were at.

I remember posting here that Lawrence and Ayshfords 2011 was miles behind 2010’s form and was howled down as we were still winning…

Hard to say, but I think the hip injury was just a full stop on Chris’s form… he was quick - but had poor defence for his first few years, but he got a pass for being young, local junior and a top bloke…
Late 2009-2010 he was Prime, 2011 he dipped - got injured and never got back…

Funny, most people I spoke to around the joint back then said it wasnt his hip that slowed him up - was hammys…
He was well worn with sports from a very young age and it wore him out eventually…
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Defense from mid to end of career ended up being first class.
First few seasons was poor
 
quick update
  • following players are free to leave, noffa, simpkin, kepoa, rua, no word on twal but i feel like he could also be a casualty, he has reached his ceiling
  • there is interest in bringing luke garner back to the club
  • bradman best will not be coming to the club, not a huge amount of interest from the club, manager trying to spike his price will resign with newcastle
 
tigermate said:
How funny is it watching sheens every press conference say the same things

We don’t have douehi and brooks

And the refs always are against us

And that’s the reason we are 4 points clear of winning our second wooden spoon since he came back

Lol

How about Fcking play through the middle of the ruck and leave Api on and get rid of 3 out of 4 coaches who are our “attack” coaches

Play hard and fast and simple through the middle

Can’t wait to hear the excuses when it finally dawns on him we are going to win the spoon

The old bloke thinks we’re still a chance of making the 8!!!

And thanks for letting Hastings go… as much as people are polarized by him… he is a better 7 than brooks…(who is a 6)

Now we’ll end up with a battler from England who is no better and we have wasted another season.

We should all buy wooden spoons - and drop them at Wests Ashfield next board meeting !
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Brooks missed 1 (?) game last year? Don’t think that is the reason back to back spoons coming up.
 
kade7 said:
quick update
  • following players are free to leave, noffa, simpkin, kepoa, rua, no word on twal but i feel like he could also be a casualty, he has reached his ceiling
  • there is interest in bringing luke garner back to the club
  • bradman best will not be coming to the club, not a huge amount of interest from the club, manager trying to spike his price will resign with newcastle
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Thanks for update @kade7

I don’t think Twal will be a casualty given what a good clubman he is & his resolute defence.

Hopefully the interest in Garner wanes. He would take up a spot that one of our youngsters can fill. Plus we’ve seen his ceiling.

Any word your end on Cotric interest?
 
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