Signings, Suggestions & Rumours Discussion

Snidest 0 said:
Anasta actually bristled at the report that manager Mario Tartak (via Carayannis) was complaining his young players were not receiving adequate teaching to develop their games.

Anasta stated in no uncertain terms that he knew Benji & Sheens well - and that players would definitely be learning a lot!

There are rugby league people - and there are random spectators who never get it!
Click to expand...

So what about he when he sticks the boot into the club every chance he gets?
 
bptiger 0 said:
Gee glad we didn’t sign that imposter he is a joke , he really looks like he not interested
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Good decision by Benji, not a lot in the ticker department. No wonder he was up for sale, and the ploys they’re using to try and fire him up are wasted. Only hope for Manly is that Brooks can make them a threat some time in the next 10 years !🤣🤣🤣🤣
 
tony soprano said:
Apparently a McDonnell man too.

How far away to people think conti is?

@jrtiger
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i think he’s probably 18 months away at minimum given that he’ll have to unseat a lot of players on his way to the top grade. i’m actually glad that it will take him a little while because halfbacks require a decent apprenticeship before moving into the top grade.
 
jrtiger said:
i think he’s probably 18 months away at minimum given that he’ll have to unseat a lot of players on his way to the top grade. i’m actually glad that it will take him a little while because halfbacks require a decent apprenticeship before moving into the top grade.
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Was thinking anasta making comments alluding to we need a controlling half he had conti in mind.
 
851 said:
I will put this in here, it's a decent read.

www.sportingnews.com

Wests Tigers NRL news: Api Koroisau reflects on 'difficult' Panthers transition amid wooden spoon battle | Sporting News Australia

Api Koroisau has admitted his transition from back-to-back premierships to a wooden spoon was harder than he anticipated, with the Wests Tigers captain staring down the barrel of a long-term rebuild.
www.sportingnews.com www.sportingnews.com

Wests Tigers NRL news: Api Koroisau reflects on 'difficult' Panthers transition amid wooden spoon battle​

Liam O'Loughlin

Api Koroisau has admitted his transition from back-to-back premierships to a wooden spoon was harder than he anticipated, with the Wests Tigers captain staring down the barrel of a long-term rebuild.

The 30-year-old left Penrith in the off-season and moved to Concord on a two-year deal, before further extending his stay in the middle of his first campaign in black and gold.

Koroisau has been among the club's best performers, but with just three wins from 20 games, the Tigers are now on the verge of a second-straight 17th-placed finish.

Despite signing the likes of Isaiah Papali'i and John Bateman, as well as adding a new coaching duo of Tim Sheens and Benji Marshall, Wests have struggled for any level of consistent performance during the 2023 season.

Tigers captain Api Koroisau reflects on Panthers transition​

Speaking to the media prior to the side's Round 24 clash with the Warriors, the classy hooker was honest about the challenges he faced moving from the Panthers to the Tigers.

“It took quite a bit out of me to start," he said.

"I sort of came to realise that I’m not at the same place that I was. There’s a lot that needs to be done in this place and I’m taking that challenge head-on.
"I’ve sort of shifted my mentality to more growth around the place, rather than try to sustain a high-level and high-performance thing... it’s been good, but it’s taken a bit to get used to as well.

“The challenge was there, I knew it was when it was presented to me. I didn’t think it was going to be this difficult I guess, to sort of get up there and knowing the position that we’re in.
"I’ve learned so much this year and I’m still learning to this day and I’m really looking forward to the challenge of rebuilding this club."

Will the Wests Tigers make the NRL finals in 2024?​

Amid the lacklustre form on the field, Tigers fans have continued to clamour for success, with their last finals berth coming in 2011 and no sign of improvement on the horizon.

When quizzed on whether or not the current squad can develop into a top-eight side, Koroisau made no promises and believes there is a long way to go before the Tigers compete for a premiership.

“To be honest, I haven’t even though that far ahead – a lot of it has been getting us week-to-week and how we need to improve on the field," the skipper said.

"There’s little things in our game, like our discipline, that we haven’t really focused on enough. At the end of the day, it’s an inexperience thing and it’s just something that we’re gonna have to fix over the coming years.

“I wouldn’t say it was easy at Penrith, but there was a lot of elite players there who were taking a lot of the load and sharing it between themselves - whereas here, we have such a young and inexperienced team.

"Coming together as a team and learning how to play together is something, and learning how to win is another thing.

"It’s all a work in progess, but I see steps forward for sure."
There have been some positives during the year, with the club debuting the likes of Jahream Bula and Tallyn Da Silva, but there are still major changes necessary for the Tigers to compete with the NRL's heavyweights in 2024.

Api Koroisau 2023 NRL stats​

Games17
Tries5
Try Assists7
Linebreak Assists6
Offloads10
Avg. Run Metres57
Avg. Tackles34
Tackle Efficiency87%
Click to expand...
Love the “on the verge of a second straight 17th place finish” line. Pretty clever thing to do since there was only 16 teams in last year’s comp. Why not say on the verge of a second spoon or another last place finish? No too sensible, these ‘journos’ try to be all poetic and fanciful with their words, but only end up making absolute dicks of themselves 😂
 
Tigers_Wests said:
When you invest in 2 young halves (Fainu and Sullivan) with 4 Year Top 30 contracts, there will always be some casualties below them. Look at Panthers who have lost many good halves from their system of late.

We would still have Galvin, Mason, Isdale, Large and Matai on the books who all played halves for much of their time in the juniors.

Would like us to keep Conti, but he probably has a greater chance of making it to the top quicker in union.

The important part for Tigers now is prioritising the 'right' juniors underneath our main core. Clearly Galvin heads that list with a top 30 spot next year. I would imagine Large is another one who we desperately try to keep on the books and hopefully our other Aus Schoolboy Mason (as a half/fullback utility).
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Thing is Conti is the only halfback out of that lot. Halves don't grow on trees, we desperately need to keep Conti.
Rugby being interested in him isn't a surprise, he plays both codes currently. Rugby being in such a dark state is a mixed situation, less appeal but also greater opportunities as there's very few quality players in Australia.
 
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jrtiger said:
carltonleach said:
I haven’t seen this conti play before, is he a real prospect? I’ve heard him mentioned a few times but no where near as much as Galvin and large
Click to expand...

they’re different styles. while Conti is the short kicking, long pass, clutch play whiz, Isdale is the more methodical, controlling type who has a good running and long kicking game.

it comes down to personal preference of course, but for mine Conti has the more well rounded game and possesses the skillset already, whereas Isdale would be the other way round.

I say this knowing that Isdale has only played one year of Matts, and there’s every chance that in his second year he improves on his showing. I think he’s a good prospect in his own right, I just rate Conti higher.
Click to expand...
When I've seen isdale he's been a runner, bit of a ball hog, not a huge passing or kicking game.
Conti the more classic halfback, steering a team around the field, coming up with big plays but the quiet ones too. Large, Galvin, Fainu more running 5/8s.

Sheens did say a while back that the club had identified their future spine and secured them long term. Who the halfback was a mystery but assumed Conti. Hopefully it's all secured
 
851 said:
I will put this in here, it's a decent read.

www.sportingnews.com

Wests Tigers NRL news: Api Koroisau reflects on 'difficult' Panthers transition amid wooden spoon battle | Sporting News Australia

Api Koroisau has admitted his transition from back-to-back premierships to a wooden spoon was harder than he anticipated, with the Wests Tigers captain staring down the barrel of a long-term rebuild.
www.sportingnews.com www.sportingnews.com

Wests Tigers NRL news: Api Koroisau reflects on 'difficult' Panthers transition amid wooden spoon battle​

Liam O'Loughlin

Api Koroisau has admitted his transition from back-to-back premierships to a wooden spoon was harder than he anticipated, with the Wests Tigers captain staring down the barrel of a long-term rebuild.

The 30-year-old left Penrith in the off-season and moved to Concord on a two-year deal, before further extending his stay in the middle of his first campaign in black and gold.

Koroisau has been among the club's best performers, but with just three wins from 20 games, the Tigers are now on the verge of a second-straight 17th-placed finish.

Despite signing the likes of Isaiah Papali'i and John Bateman, as well as adding a new coaching duo of Tim Sheens and Benji Marshall, Wests have struggled for any level of consistent performance during the 2023 season.

Tigers captain Api Koroisau reflects on Panthers transition​

Speaking to the media prior to the side's Round 24 clash with the Warriors, the classy hooker was honest about the challenges he faced moving from the Panthers to the Tigers.

“It took quite a bit out of me to start," he said.

"I sort of came to realise that I’m not at the same place that I was. There’s a lot that needs to be done in this place and I’m taking that challenge head-on.
"I’ve sort of shifted my mentality to more growth around the place, rather than try to sustain a high-level and high-performance thing... it’s been good, but it’s taken a bit to get used to as well.

“The challenge was there, I knew it was when it was presented to me. I didn’t think it was going to be this difficult I guess, to sort of get up there and knowing the position that we’re in.
"I’ve learned so much this year and I’m still learning to this day and I’m really looking forward to the challenge of rebuilding this club."

Will the Wests Tigers make the NRL finals in 2024?​

Amid the lacklustre form on the field, Tigers fans have continued to clamour for success, with their last finals berth coming in 2011 and no sign of improvement on the horizon.

When quizzed on whether or not the current squad can develop into a top-eight side, Koroisau made no promises and believes there is a long way to go before the Tigers compete for a premiership.

“To be honest, I haven’t even though that far ahead – a lot of it has been getting us week-to-week and how we need to improve on the field," the skipper said.

"There’s little things in our game, like our discipline, that we haven’t really focused on enough. At the end of the day, it’s an inexperience thing and it’s just something that we’re gonna have to fix over the coming years.

“I wouldn’t say it was easy at Penrith, but there was a lot of elite players there who were taking a lot of the load and sharing it between themselves - whereas here, we have such a young and inexperienced team.

"Coming together as a team and learning how to play together is something, and learning how to win is another thing.

"It’s all a work in progess, but I see steps forward for sure."
There have been some positives during the year, with the club debuting the likes of Jahream Bula and Tallyn Da Silva, but there are still major changes necessary for the Tigers to compete with the NRL's heavyweights in 2024.

Api Koroisau 2023 NRL stats​

Games17
Tries5
Try Assists7
Linebreak Assists6
Offloads10
Avg. Run Metres57
Avg. Tackles34
Tackle Efficiency87%
Click to expand...
A lesson for all the young players coming through, that’s how you negotiate a pay rise.
 
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