Signings, Suggestions & Rumours Discussion

[Robbie's Love Child]

I'm sorry, but Toa is one of the faster outside backs in the comp

Agree, there are some harsh critics on here. The guy was everyone's favorite when he slaughtered Valentine Holmes, now he is terrible. Newsflash he is young and inexperienced in terms of NRL experience, he is a dangerous attacker and his defence is not that bad. Give him another year and then see where he is at.

 

[Tucker]

And his defence was rubbish lol, now chucked straight into NRL.
I hope he goes good on his debut, I just don’t understand the hype around him.

He is strong with the ball.

 

[Fingers83]

I know this is slightly off topic - but I am frothing at what I am reading about the bulldogs and their trash culture.

All of the drama after they money they have spent, Phil Gould basically doing what ever he wants, and the ball cupping the papers have done of Ciraldo and the turn around that was about to happen - it's all fallen flat on it's face.

I don't care what anyone says, we are further ahead in our rebuild than they are, just on culture alone.

In the last 24 hours multiple Tigers players have confirmed how good the culture is and how everyone is on the same page, and then there's the dogs.....

Did Cameron Ciraldo save us from ourselves?

 

[vlad]

Unless the knights want gagai gone I couldn’t see him leaving for one year

The Knights might want to upgrade & extend Bradman Best & offload Gagai to accomodate that .

 

[teddy23]

The Knights might want to upgrade & extend Bradman Best & offload Gagai to accomodate that .

Neither are going anywhere unfortunately

 

[Lukic]

In a world where the bounce of the ball favours us, we end up with around 8 or 9 wins this year. Even when we were 0-6 or 0-7 to start the year, we probably should've won 3 or 4 of those matches.

Yes we had a slump in the middle of the year and some awful results, but for the most part we were competitive against some good teams. We might be coming last but aren't as far off as it seems either. In fact, a good halves pairing could probably have had us competing for a spot in the 8, if not even in it.

I'd definitely much rather be where we are than where the Dogs or Dragons are. Our pack is good. We've got some talented young backs. Star fullback in the making, elite number 9. Couple of highly rated prospects in the halves in Fainu and Sullivan. In Sezer we'll have our first out and out halfback in ages.

Gagai would turn 34 in the year he comes across. Little older than I'd like. He may be going good now but a lot can change in two years.

Olam age wise is a better option but he's a flawed player too. How often have we seen players flaws magnify the minute they leave Melbourne. Very realistic chance there's some injury issues too which we don't have visibility of.

Best would be the best signing of those we're linked to as far as centres go, but I don't think we should be breaking the bank either. Someone who can defend well and not mess up an overlap is what we need, anything else is a bonus.

 

[balmain boy]

I'm sorry, but Toa is one of the faster outside backs in the comp

Then why does he always get run down when he makes a break or half break. He has acceleration over 10-15m, but then he has no top speed. This is the same way that Nof has been talked about as 'one of the fastest players in the comp - statistically'. Nof has never been fast, he just had decent acceleration over a short distance.
Fast players make breaks and finish them. Lawrence was fast once upon a time, JAC, Saab, Walsh etc. These players are fast. Toa wouldn't be in the top 50 players in the comp for pace. Nof would be in the bottom 5 out of all NRL backs.
Perhaps Toa can develop some speed with more training, but the fact is his body has matured, he's 23 now and has been playing NRL for 5 years. Chances of him developing a new skillset is slim, he is what he is, and that's a capable backup at present. We need two starting quality centres, Naden is a winger too.

 

[balmain boy]

And his defence was rubbish lol, now chucked straight into NRL.
I hope he goes good on his debut, I just don’t understand the hype around him.

He's scored at almost a try a match at all levels he's played at throughout his career to date. That's what he's got.
Our current NRL centres are atrocious defensively, and offer nothing in attack. If he brings strike power in attack and average defence we're still miles ahead of what we've been doing this year.

 

[gregjm87]

I know this is slightly off topic - but I am frothing at what I am reading about the bulldogs and their trash culture.

All of the drama after they money they have spent, Phil Gould basically doing what ever he wants, and the ball cupping the papers have done of Ciraldo and the turn around that was about to happen - it's all fallen flat on it's face.

I don't care what anyone says, we are further ahead in our rebuild than they are, just on culture alone.

In the last 24 hours multiple Tigers players have confirmed how good the culture is and how everyone is on the same page, and then there's the dogs.....

Did Cameron Ciraldo save us from ourselves?

Meh, I see little to celebrate in the Dogs drama.

This forum constantly talks about "all the money they've spent" as you have or "they're recruiting anyone and everyone". For me it's a false criticism. They have spent anymore than anyone else and their recruitment hasn't been anymore than ours.

I think you are right in that we probably are slightly ahead in our rebuild. So what? Are we judging ourselves compared to just the Dogs or all the NRL clubs? The Dogs problems does nothing to alleviate our own.

As for Ciraldo I think he is probably a fine coach in a difficult position. I dont think his coaching credentials should be determined by his first year at a club that has so many issues both on and off field. Much like many of our past coaches have failed here despite success elsewhere.

Maybe if you have some sort of unaccountable personal dislike for them I get it. Like I'm pleased Eels haven't made the 8 because I personally dislike the Eels. The Dogs though?, Couldn't care one way or the other.

 

[teddy23]

Best way for Feledy to adapt to FG is to play FG..... give the kid a crack in a nothing game to end the year and allow him to have that hunger following his debut with a desire for more heading into pre season - it'll allow us to watch his defence in FG and to do some video or additional training to pin point how we can help him get to the level we want him to throughout the off-season. Better than playing Naden, Talau or Asu instead and it'll help with his development/confidence.

Attacking wise he's an exceptional prospect and if I was to compare him he reminds me a little of Bradman Best in terms of his build and style - just needs to work on his defence. Instead of paying 800k for Best let's develop this kid and see what he can do. I have high hopes for Feledy I think he'll come good.

 

[Bellend]

A lot our top 30 need to spend time with Roger Fabri as he is one of Australia's best-credentialed sprint coaches. In the afternoon they need to go to TDS place so his dad can show they how to tackle. correctly.

 

[king_sirro]

Then why does he always get run down when he makes a break or half break. He has acceleration over 10-15m, but then he has no top speed. This is the same way that Nof has been talked about as 'one of the fastest players in the comp - statistically'. Nof has never been fast, he just had decent acceleration over a short distance.
Fast players make breaks and finish them. Lawrence was fast once upon a time, JAC, Saab, Walsh etc. These players are fast. Toa wouldn't be in the top 50 players in the comp for pace. Nof would be in the bottom 5 out of all NRL backs.
Perhaps Toa can develop some speed with more training, but the fact is his body has matured, he's 23 now and has been playing NRL for 5 years. Chances of him developing a new skillset is slim, he is what he is, and that's a capable backup at present. We need two starting quality centres, Naden is a winger too.

He doesn't get run down. Seen cover come across as he is trying to beat the fullback with footwork that isn't run down as you lose a good 10 metres when trying to beat the fullback. He hasn't been run down in a straight out sprint with no one in front of him

 

[BlackWhiteGold]

Best way for Feledy to adapt to FG is to play FG..... give the kid a crack in a nothing game to end the year and allow him to have that hunger following his debut with a desire for more heading into pre season - it'll allow us to watch his defence in FG and to do some video or additional training to pin point how we can help him get to the level we want him to throughout the off-season. Better than playing Naden, Talau or Asu instead and it'll help with his development/confidence.

Attacking wise he's an exceptional prospect and if I was to compare him he reminds me a little of Bradman Best in terms of his build and style - just needs to work on his defence. Instead of paying 800k for Best let's develop this kid and see what he can do. I have high hopes for Feledy I think he'll come good.

You got any lunches with informative sources coming up @teddy23 😉

 

[Flippedy]

In a world where the bounce of the ball favours us, we end up with around 8 or 9 wins this year. Even when we were 0-6 or 0-7 to start the year, we probably should've won 3 or 4 of those matches.

Yes we had a slump in the middle of the year and some awful results, but for the most part we were competitive against some good teams. We might be coming last but aren't as far off as it seems either. In fact, a good halves pairing could probably have had us competing for a spot in the 8, if not even in it.

I'd definitely much rather be where we are than where the Dogs or Dragons are. Our pack is good. We've got some talented young backs. Star fullback in the making, elite number 9. Couple of highly rated prospects in the halves in Fainu and Sullivan. In Sezer we'll have our first out and out halfback in ages.

Gagai would turn 34 in the year he comes across. Little older than I'd like. He may be going good now but a lot can change in two years.

Olam age wise is a better option but he's a flawed player too. How often have we seen players flaws magnify the minute they leave Melbourne. Very realistic chance there's some injury issues too which we don't have visibility of.

Best would be the best signing of those we're linked to as far as centres go, but I don't think we should be breaking the bank either. Someone who can defend well and not mess up an overlap is what we need, anything else is a bonus.

Good post Lukic. I feel both us and the Dragons performed better than where we ended up on the table. If the bounce of the ball, as you say, had have gone both teams way even just a couple times, they would definitely have leaped frogged Canterbury, who considering their cattle performed very poorly. Still they somehow managed jag a couple of extra wins and we shot ourselves in the foot too many times.

We can only hope next season will be better with a long overdue change of halfback, a good forward pack and some exciting young prospects coming through. Centre is still our Achilles heel though and I’m not sure if either Olam or Gagai, at this stage of their careers, is the answer. I imagine we’re no hope of getting Best.

That said, if we could somehow jag both Olam and JAC from the Dogs, I certainly wouldn’t say no to that. If the rumours that JAC wants out are true of course. They were absolutely dynamic playing alongside each other at the Storm a couple of years ago. Not sure if they could recreate that form here in a different team environment, but geez wouldn’t it be nice!

 

[phil1986]

In a world where the bounce of the ball favours us, we end up with around 8 or 9 wins this year. Even when we were 0-6 or 0-7 to start the year, we probably should've won 3 or 4 of those matches.

Yes we had a slump in the middle of the year and some awful results, but for the most part we were competitive against some good teams. We might be coming last but aren't as far off as it seems either. In fact, a good halves pairing could probably have had us competing for a spot in the 8, if not even in it.

I'd definitely much rather be where we are than where the Dogs or Dragons are. Our pack is good. We've got some talented young backs. Star fullback in the making, elite number 9. Couple of highly rated prospects in the halves in Fainu and Sullivan. In Sezer we'll have our first out and out halfback in ages.

Gagai would turn 34 in the year he comes across. Little older than I'd like. He may be going good now but a lot can change in two years.

Olam age wise is a better option but he's a flawed player too. How often have we seen players flaws magnify the minute they leave Melbourne. Very realistic chance there's some injury issues too which we don't have visibility of.

Best would be the best signing of those we're linked to as far as centres go, but I don't think we should be breaking the bank either. Someone who can defend well and not mess up an overlap is what we need, anything else is a bonus.

Nice post mate

 

[Tucker]

🤣 you guys trying to convince yourselves we did well this year make me laugh.
We lost with full strength sides to teams who were weakened by injury and sinbins.
Dragons and Tigers weren’t that bad Flip? Lmfao they won 9 games between them from 40…soon to be 42.
We are a one man team. Api needs to play in a Kevlar suit next year or we will be at the arse end of the comp once more.

 

[Lestronge]

🤣 you guys trying to convince yourselves we did well this year make me laugh.
We lost with full strength sides to teams who were weakened by injury and sinbins.
Dragons and Tigers weren’t that bad Flip? Lmfao they won 9 games between them from 40…soon to be 42.
We are a one man team. Api needs to play in a Kevlar suit next year or we will be at the arse end of the comp once more.

How many games have we played with our top 2 halves . Whatever you may think of them as footballers . The answer 4 . You can’t win nrl games as a bottom club if your top 2 halves spend the majority of the season riding the pine .
In saying all that the year is a failure . To think otherwise is ridiculous / and I highly doubt that Benji is saying we succeeded this year . You do however need to find some green shoots to build upon otherwise you could be like a few guys on here . Going full Travis bickle yelling at the mirror for no actual response .

 

[Magpie_Magic]

How many games have we played with our top 2 halves . Whatever you may think of them as footballers . The answer 4 . You can’t win nrl games as a bottom club if your top 2 halves spend the majority of the season riding the pine .
In saying all that the year is a failure . To think otherwise is ridiculous / and I highly doubt that Benji is saying we succeeded this year . You do however need to find some green shoots to build upon otherwise you could be like a few guys on here . Going full Travis bickle yelling at the mirror for no actual response .

Finally a decent post.

 

[Tucker]

How many games have we played with our top 2 halves . Whatever you may think of them as footballers . The answer 4 . You can’t win nrl games as a bottom club if your top 2 halves spend the majority of the season riding the pine .

Who were our top two halves?
Sure as shit isnt Brooks/Doueihi…that wasn’t your answer was it?

In saying all that the year is a failure . To think otherwise is ridiculous / and I highly doubt that Benji is saying we succeeded this year . You do however need to find some green shoots to build upon otherwise you could be like a few guys on here . Going full Travis bickle yelling at the mirror for no actual response .

There are green shoots. As there is every year.
Bula is a shoot. The forward pack is a shoot. Api as an onfield leader is a shoot.
I don’t count the new halves or juniors as shoots yet as they haven’t displayed enough or in most cases anything to encourage that type of talk.

 

[tony soprano]

🤣 you guys trying to convince yourselves we did well this year make me laugh.
We lost with full strength sides to teams who were weakened by injury and sinbins.
Dragons and Tigers weren’t that bad Flip? Lmfao they won 9 games between them from 40…soon to be 42.
We are a one man team. Api needs to play in a Kevlar suit next year or we will be at the arse end of the comp once more.

While I agree we sucked hard this year.

I think I see improvement in culture, recruitment and pathways for the future.