Signings, Suggestions & Rumours Discussion

[Todd Packer]

Read somewhere he bagged the club out on a podcast.... then was moved on.
The fans didn't like it (him being moved on)

The Leeds chairman reckons Austin's manager demanded a transfer and it wasn't Leeds' decision.
The manager was probably getting in first.
It was just a strange choice of new clubs. If Castleford had lost this morning, they would've been headed for relegation. He mustn't have had any other options.

 

[Todd Packer]

Mate, we signed Pap and Api and are still dead last. What’s a 33 year old half who hasn’t played NRL for nearly 5 years and an unproven kid going to do for us?

You can't win football games without halves.
We haven't had any for a decade.
It'll be a nice change.

 

[weststigerman]

Mate, we signed Pap and Api and are still dead last. What’s a 33 year old half who hasn’t played NRL for nearly 5 years and an unproven kid going to do for us?

Hopefully not make horrible decisions when the game is on the line like our current first choice 7.

Have to take a risk and hope it comes off.

 

[426Tlgerland]

More than Brooks ever did.

100% mate , we tried different players next to brooks and multiple coaches over 10 years and we didn’t make finals , time will tell but I just feel Sezer being an older head with finals experience and Sullivan could and will be much better

 

[Needaname]

Hi,
Yes, you can watch any game on demand but once Monday morning roles around is there any point for a footballer watching games that doesn't involve their upcoming opponents?
Also, they've played and possibly watched a few other games that weekend. Then gone to training and done a video review of their game. Then gone to training the next day and done a video session of their upcoming opponent.
How many players would be then likely to go home and watch more games of a team they are not about to play, and how would it really help them for their upcoming game if they did?
My comments are less about defending Brooks, whom yes I do believe has said little wrong despite the outrage on here, and more about trying to understand the expectations of all those outraged.

Put simply, a professional footy player or let me rephrase that a footy player who has become a professional in their field would have a general interest in the game as a whole, to watch, study, enjoy how other teams and individuals play. Simple as that.

 

[jadtiger]

I think with Heighington we knew what we were loosing... A good quality forward.
Who we replaced with a wrecking ball in Adam Blair... It wasn't the right decision yet I understand it.

Austin, Sironen have their downsides but it is sad we have lost them. Particularly as Siro would just suit that "ball playing lock" role we seem to keep banging on about.

JAC
Pappenheusen.
Koroibiti
Fifita
Taupau

Yep they sting.

I know we tried to keep Taupau... Still hurts.

I was advised years ago when it happened that the main reason we lost Tapau was because of the way Robbie was treated by that idiot coach JT with the backing of the board.Yes he was going to get more money at Manly but if Farah was not shafted he would have stayed with us

 

[gregjm87]

Put simply, a professional footy player or let me rephrase that a footy player who has become a professional in their field would have a general interest in the game as a whole, to watch, study, enjoy how other teams and individuals play. Simple as that.

Yep, hence why he watches the games not on his game day.

 

[Tom Shines]

Is anyone that was outraged by Joe leaving still feeling that way after watching his insipid performances for Parra?
28 minutes last night and I had to check the team list to make sure he was actually on the field.
Parra trying to play their style of bashing the opposition into submission with Cartwright and Joe as starters was laughable.

He will be moving to boxing in two weeks …

Big Joe had a lot of team mates last night who didn’t do anything either ..

 

[twentyforty]

You can't win football games without halves.
We haven't had any for a decade.
It'll be a nice change.

Who did the club give those 3 Kelly Barnes awards to?

 

[hank37w]

I'm saying they are both crap. Except Brooks is crap but has some speed, Wakeham is crap and also slow which makes him more crappy

Oh, and they can't pass despite doing 200 passes every day at training for the whole year.

 

[LeichhardtTiger]

Put simply, a professional footy player or let me rephrase that a footy player who has become a professional in their field would have a general interest in the game as a whole, to watch, study, enjoy how other teams and individuals play. Simple as that.

Yep - especially when combined with a few beers at the local Hooters bar which has Foxsports on the big screen - hard to miss the other professionals from there. Hmmm, what was Brooks doing there that day in a house of old professionals?

 

[Vicious]

A man who gave everything he had to give to the West Tigers in his playing days.

And now is willing to give whatever he possibly can towards bringing some glory back to a team he loves By coaching the team, I wish him all the very best with what he is trying to acheive, and I think next year will be far better than this year, and 2025 will see him get the team in the finals,

Pity there isnt more of WTF members willing to give Benji the benefit of the doubt.

The general opinion seems to be that a high amount of members already want a new coach, come on give him a go.

Benji and Farah are the heart and soul of the Wests Tigers and great to see Heighno back as well.

 

[Tiger_Yoshi]

I was advised years ago when it happened that the main reason we lost Tapau was because of the way Robbie was treated by that idiot coach JT with the backing of the board.Yes he was going to get more money at Manly but if Farah was not shafted he would have stayed with us

Looking back at how Farah was treated back then, he was shafted big time by the club. If there is anyone involved in those decisions from that era still around they should be sacked

 

[Wildcat777]

More than Brooks ever did.

Lol too funny. Seizer well will never come close to Brooks. That’s obvious to anyone that’s knows rugby league and has no agenda. But I am hoping that Fainu is better! That’s also on the cards. For 24 our best halves combo would have been Brooks & Sullivan or Fainu. Combined with Api and Bula would have been a great spine! But Brooks is gone and looking forward to the Fainu / Sullivan combo in 24/25. They will be on fire so very happy with those 2. As for Seizer can see some short term benefit till they are ready and firing but don’t have any high expectations like I didn’t for Wakeham/Laurie and co. They would do ok in the State Cup. Laurie will however do ok at the Panthers with their outfit but he is nothing special. Unlike Fainu and Sullivan!!! 25 will be a great year if no injuries.

 

[Furious1]

A man who gave everything he had to give to the West Tigers in his playing days.

And now is willing to give whatever he possibly can towards bringing some glory back to a team he loves By coaching the team, I wish him all the very best with what he is trying to acheive, and I think next year will be far better than this year, and 2025 will see him get the team in the finals,

Pity there isnt more of WTF members willing to give Benji the benefit of the doubt.

The general opinion seems to be that a high amount of members already want a new coach, come on give him a go.

That may be the case. I will most certainly be giving him a go. I know he will give it everything he has. Whether its good enough or not time will tell. My biggest fear is will Benji be afforded the right to live and die by his decisions and ability or will those that don't interfere in the football side of things do what they do best and interfere in the football side of things and undermine him?

 

[Wildcat777]

Oh, and they can't pass despite doing 200 passes every day at training for the whole year.

You can train 24/7 and have the best coaching possible. But if there is no talent…we’ll just a waste of time. Can’t learn talent, just have to admit sometimes the cattle you have just ain’t good enough and just make up the numbers. And some of these could have, should have, would have but just never did. Lots of people like that. For one reason or another just missing a little something and that’s the difference between park football and NRL. Work out what that little something is, bottle it and you will make squillions.

 

[The Chad]

Sezar, when signed, gives the Tigers the best available kicking game option of the 3 halves.

In time, Sullivan & Fainu will have the job, but Sezar is being brought in for a reason.

I doubt he will be a dynamic signing, but strategically, we should be better at pinning teams deeper for their set restarts & helping the Tigers take advantage of the platform our forwards now offer.

Good teams are boring before they are exciting. Kick into corners, pin teams deep, give them weaker field position, get repeat sets. Once these things are established, flair etc takes over. Our forwards are good at moving us beyond halfway through our sets (think last season when halfway was an achievement at times). Sezar will be able to take advantage of that field position, not through his running, but by pinning teams close to the line. Brooks/Hastings/Wakeham etc- their kicks are poorly executed & don't give us either an attacking option or the ability to make the opposition waste 2-3 tackles inside their own 10.

Fainu & Sullivan need to learn the finer points on kicking through what Sezar offers. Both these guys will be the better attacking players. Their field management needs development still.

 

[The Chad]

Additionally, when we look at wide players (second row & centres) their kick chase ability needs to be on point. Lazy kick chase gets the club nowhere. This is where Kepaoa, Tupou & To'a really let the team down. More dedication to starting your sets right is needed. I miss Momorovski. Bateman & Papali'i are pretty good at this, but out wider, our kick chase is inconsistent.

 

[crazycat]

??? That’s like saying I’m a better footy player than Benji Marshall . Except he’s faster , more agile , better passer , better at reading the game . But I’m still as good …… lol huh ?

I always thought we hired Wakeham as a Reggie's half, not a first grade half.

I get it, First grade Wakeham is not up to scratch. Reggie's at least he provides a little structure.

Meh, move him on.

 

[pawsandclaws1]

Lol too funny. Seizer well will never come close to Brooks. That’s obvious to anyone that’s knows rugby league and has no agenda. But I am hoping that Fainu is better! That’s also on the cards. For 24 our best halves combo would have been Brooks & Sullivan or Fainu. Combined with Api and Bula would have been a great spine! But Brooks is gone and looking forward to the Fainu / Sullivan combo in 24/25. They will be on fire so very happy with those 2. As for Seizer can see some short term benefit till they are ready and firing but don’t have any high expectations like I didn’t for Wakeham/Laurie and co. They would do ok in the State Cup. Laurie will however do ok at the Panthers with their outfit but he is nothing special. Unlike Fainu and Sullivan!!! 25 will be a great year if no injuries.

Good post which I enjoyed reading.