Signings, Suggestions & Rumours Discussion

[The Chad]

Does anyone else just have the slightest doubt that if Fainu was close to being ready for first grade ..then why did Manly move him on for our legend Luke Brooks?

Cap & Roster management with a dash of player manager/recruitment officer shenannigans.

You're talking about the same club that signed him to the biggest junior deal ever.

Manly's financials are a mess. Fainu was on too much for their cap balance, plus they (the brothers) were making noise about getting a release (re-Tartak to Fulton).

On a lesser scale, to use as an example, given our roster spots are nearly full- I have no doubt the Tigers want to keep Seyfarth. But, given how the roster is built, given how many spots are left etc...it looks unlikely at this point.

I think the Fainu's moving on is more to do with a quickly dismissed report about their unhappiness with the club's support of their troubled brother.

 

[Tom Shines]

Cap & Roster management with a dash of player manager/recruitment officer shenannigans.

You're talking about the same club that signed him to the biggest junior deal ever.

Manly's financials are a mess. Fainu was on too much for their cap balance, plus they (the brothers) were making noise about getting a release (re-Tartak to Fulton).

On a lesser scale, to use as an example, given our roster spots are nearly full- I have no doubt the Tigers want to keep Seyfarth. But, given how the roster is built, given how many spots are left etc...it looks unlikely at this point.

I think the Fainu's moving on is more to do with a quickly dismissed report about their unhappiness with the club's support of their troubled brother.

i will keep saying this… criticise Manly until you are blue in the face… they have had a lot more success than us…

Fanui was on for next season for $350k … this is not too much for a starting half ( that is what we are hoping he will be next year right?)…

Im going to dismiss your last comment as media/ social media BS

 

[Vicious]

No doubting the talent of Jayden Sullivan and Latu Fainu.
The issue is getting the right balance of players around them to make their playmaking simple.

 

[Mighty_Tiger]

I’m generally an optimist too, but I agree that it doesn’t look like it will get much better anytime soon.
Brooks at his worst as a 7 is still better than a 33y.o Sezer at his best.
Sullivan and Fainu both have obvious talent and I’m glad we signed them, but I can’t see them producing their best in the short term as I don’t think we have the players with enough quality around them to help them shine.
Our forward pack is over rated, particularly with Bateman in it and I don’t believe Bula has the natural attacking instincts to spark our attack like a top class fullback can.

For me its all about W & L.
I don’t see how we can lose more, heck we won 3 games with Wakeham in the side the big Q is can these 3 get us more wins than 3.

Sezer kicking game is miles better than Brooks especially in the attacking zone he does him better landing points but lacks the speed of Brooks. As an organizer he is absolutely an improvement mixed with Api could be a nice fit. We need time for the kids to mature so he makes sense. Sullivan and Fainu can cover Brooks speed plus offer a different attacking dynamic to Brooks - they will make bad decisions especially early on but the key will be moments when they happen & can they recover enough to win us more games.

The optimistic side in me can’t possibly see them stuffing up more than what our halves options have over the last 2 years but it’s the Wests Tigers and we are in a huge rut atm. They need support and our backline is hardly one of fear or ability, they are slow and struggle to take an opportunity.

 

[Mighty_Tiger]

Does anyone else just have the slightest doubt that if Fainu was close to being ready for first grade ..then why did Manly move him on for our legend Luke Brooks?

Manly are clearly win now mode.
DCE has maybe 2 more years
Turbo is a bench warmer more than player
Jake is running out of puff and starting to slow down

They sacrificed longer term for short term.

 

[Mighty_Tiger]

Cap & Roster management with a dash of player manager/recruitment officer shenannigans.

You're talking about the same club that signed him to the biggest junior deal ever.

Manly's financials are a mess. Fainu was on too much for their cap balance, plus they (the brothers) were making noise about getting a release (re-Tartak to Fulton).

On a lesser scale, to use as an example, given our roster spots are nearly full- I have no doubt the Tigers want to keep Seyfarth. But, given how the roster is built, given how many spots are left etc...it looks unlikely at this point.

I think the Fainu's moving on is more to do with a quickly dismissed report about their unhappiness with the club's support of their troubled brother.

Financial cap side argument for Fainu to leave makes zero sense. They signed Arthur, Brooks and Talau all 3 would easily offset their outgoings.

It’s clear they are focusing on win now plus player manager/Fulton move has made things happen.

Lets hope it pays off for us.

 

[Tom Shines]

For me its all about W & L.
I don’t see how we can lose more, heck we won 3 games with Wakeham in the side the big Q is can these 3 get us more wins than 3.

Sezer kicking game is miles better than Brooks especially in the attacking zone he does him better landing points but lacks the speed of Brooks. As an organizer he is absolutely an improvement mixed with Api could be a nice fit. We need time for the kids to mature so he makes sense. Sullivan and Fainu can cover Brooks speed plus offer a different attacking dynamic to Brooks - they will make bad decisions especially early on but the key will be moments when they happen & can they recover enough to win us more games.

The optimistic side in me can’t possibly see them stuffing up more than what our halves options have over the last 2 years but it’s the Wests Tigers and we are in a huge rut atm. They need support and our backline is hardly one of fear or ability, they are slow and struggle to take an opportunity.

They have gambled on Fainu/Sullivan coming good quickly … if they dont then nothing else has changed…

to be fair… not sure what else they could do.., they have been after the bigger names and they didn’t want to come here

Outside backs leak too many tries and score too few at the moment … this hasn’t changed and is the biggest worry for next season… if they thought the up and coming outside backs were playing well then why are they persevering with the tried and failed outside backs in these meaningless games to end the season? They should be exposing them to NRL ..

 

[Flippedy]

We should be the last team criticising another teams judgement…

But all we can do is hope that they are wrong I guess … I wouldnt be putting my left nut on it though…

Not sure about Talau as he comes across as lazy, but I’m fairly certain Brooks will give it his best and do well alongside a half like DCE. Anyway that’s Manly’s business now, I’d give anything if we could just sign a game breaking centre!!

 

[Tom Shines]

Not sure about Talau as he comes across as lazy, but I’m fairly certain Brooks will give it his best and do well alongside a half like DCE. Anyway that’s Manly’s business now, I’d give anything if we could just sign a game breaking centre!!

I can’t fathom why any team would sign Talau… he is not NRL standard from what I have seen from him here … good riddance

 

[Tom Shines]

Manly are clearly win now mode.
DCE has maybe 2 more years
Turbo is a bench warmer more than player
Jake is running out of puff and starting to slow down

They sacrificed longer term for short term.

I can see where you are coming from…. but I would be surprised if these moves (Brooks and Talau) make Manly a better team next season …although the last few seasons Manly go as Turbo goes… there isn’t a bigger one player team in the NRL…

I would have rolled the dice on Fainu… unless they know something we don’t…

Anyway… if Fainu comes here and does well then its going to be a bad look for Mestrov … see ya later Tony…

 

[liltiger]

Manly are clearly win now mode.
DCE has maybe 2 more years
Turbo is a bench warmer more than player
Jake is running out of puff and starting to slow down

They sacrificed longer term for short term.

In 2 years they will be where we were 8 years ago. At the beginning of a rebuilding cycle. I reckon it'll take them 5 years at least to sort the mess they now have they're cap in. That 800k for Schuster is going to be a thorn in their side for the whole deal. I can't see any one coming in to take him and free up a dollar of it. He is lazy. They're going into every season till the contract expires with a cap that is 800k less than everyone else's. He's got to start performing of its going to cause them massive problems

 

[earl]

We are playing meaningless games now but still picking the same failures in the backs

Have a look at our roster. There aren't many if any alternatives. Reilly and Feledy are the only guys available. Personally I think Reilly should be given a shot. Give him a chance. Feledy will get a chance at some point. It doesn't have to be this year.

 

[sparci]

Does anyone else just have the slightest doubt that if Fainu was close to being ready for first grade ..then why did Manly move him on for our legend Luke Brooks?

Speak to any manly fan theyd tell you how disgusted they are with signing old mate for 4 years and letting go one of their best up and comers, Seibold toots to the horn of that manager thats for sure.

 

[earl]

Does anyone else just have the slightest doubt that if Fainu was close to being ready for first grade ..then why did Manly move him on for our legend Luke Brooks?

The problem is way too many on here think Brooks is the only problem with the team. He has been really good this season and I have no faith in anyone being able to remember every game over the last 10 years he has played. It's just feelings and emotions rather than rational opinions.

I think Brooks is clearly an average to above average half and he is NRL ready. Fainu is still a risk.

Personally if it's a choice between Brooks and Fainu for our club I'm all in on Fainu.

 

[ChilledChaos]

Watching Reece Walsh play all SZN, bloke looks like a deadset video game character! Best player in the game right now. His acceleration of the mark from 0 to 100 is like something I’ve never seen! Just a true attacking juggernaut in every sense of the word! Combine him with Ezra Mam who is as tough as they come and I believe is going to be the best five eighth in the game for a very long time. Will replace Munster in that 5/8 jersey for QLD. Both are being paid pennies probably less than 700k combined for what they are producing.
I would have honestly given them over a 1 million each to come to the WT! These are the signings that change a club in an instant

 

[earl]

No doubting the talent of Jayden Sullivan and Latu Fainu.
The issue is getting the right balance of players around them to make their playmaking simple.

If everyone performs to their ability consistently and they have good game plans and luck with injuries we could do really well.

The problem is that it's unlikely those 3 things will happen.

I like those two in the halves though. At least we'll be able to attack in the attacking zone.

 

[Demps]

Watching Reece Walsh play all SZN, bloke looks like a deadset video game character! Best player in the game right now. His acceleration of the mark from 0 to 100 is like something I’ve never seen! Just a true attacking juggernaut in every sense of the word! Combine him with Ezra Mam who is as tough as they come and I believe is going to be the best five eighth in the game for a very long time. Will replace Munster in that 5/8 jersey for QLD. Both are being paid pennies probably less than 700k combined for what they are producing.
I would have honestly given them over a 1 million each to come to the WT! These are the signings that change a club in an instant

Walsh just bought a dodge truck, wears 4k man bags and 2k shoes.

I think he's being paid quite well.

 

[razor7]

No problems with the Sezer Fainu Sullivan signings. We are at least trying to change things up there . It’s in the centres where we desperately need to improve. If Bradman Best is unsigned I’d throw big money at him. Plus a solid defensive centre who could play first grade now ( a Momoroski type). That gives a young guy like Feledy time to develop. Kepoa needs to go and Toa,Tupao are back up standard centres. Reilly should have played this game ahead of the awful Kepoa . Nothing to lose to at look at him in first grade

 

[TigerNeddyK]

In 2 years they will be where we were 8 years ago. At the beginning of a rebuilding cycle. I reckon it'll take them 5 years at least to sort the mess they now have they're cap in. That 800k for Schuster is going to be a thorn in their side for the whole deal. I can't see any one coming in to take him and free up a dollar of it. He is lazy. They're going into every season till the contract expires with a cap that is 800k less than everyone else's. He's got to start performing of its going to cause them massive problems

PrecIsley, overpaid incompetent halves will ruin a team, look what it has done to us Wests Tigers for the last 11 years

 

[hammertime]

The only way that fainu and Sullivan make sense is with sezar. Most successful halves partnerships are with an old head and a dynamic youngster. The 5/8th position will be competitive.

I worry about the next phase after Sezar.