Signings, Suggestions & Rumours Discussion

[tony soprano]

Funny pretty sure plenty had Newcastle as cellar dwellers this season and look at them now. Same coach and most of the same roster, an ordinary beginning to the season and beating close to full strength StGeorge with half their side out.to make 9 in a row.
The biggest surprise packet of the season and just backs how winning is contagious just as much as losing is.

From round 1 or 2 whenever we played them. I could tell how fit and strong they were and could tell they had a massive off season. Selections and internal stuff almost derailed them but got it back together. Starts with systems in the off season which they did well this year.

 

[Tom Shines]

Funny pretty sure plenty had Newcastle as cellar dwellers this season and look at them now. Same coach and most of the same roster, an ordinary beginning to the season and beating close to full strength StGeorge with half their side out.to make 9 in a row.
The biggest surprise packet of the season and just backs how winning is contagious just as much as losing is.

They have a much superior team to ours ..

 

[Telltails]

They have a much superior team to ours ..

Every team looks superior when they are playing well. The turn around in their form has been remarkable.

 

[Tom Shines]

Every team looks superior when they are playing well. The turn around in their form has been remarkable.

Nah… they are just heaps better.

Ponga is one of the best players in the comp… their centres and wingers are try scorers that play with confidence compared to our plodders…

I really rate the Safiti brothers as well…

 

[Telltails]

Nah… they are just heaps better.

Ponga is one of the best players in the comp… their centres and wingers are try scorers that play with confidence compared to our plodders…

I really rate the Safiti brothers as well…

Cause they are playing well. They have the nucleus of the same squad and same coach and for the last few seasons and have been patchy at best. The coach was one game away from being sacked on the back of seasons of disappointment and a poor start to the year. Pongha is having a stellar season - after some less than ordinary form - but when a club can field a team missing 6/7 Of their FG team and beat a team at full strength there has been a massive shift in performance right through the organisation that few would have predicted after the first few rounds of this season.

 

[tiger_one]

Cause they are playing well. They have the nucleus of the same squad and same coach and for the last few seasons and have been patchy at best. The coach was one game away from being sacked on the back of seasons of disappointment and a poor start to the year. Pongha is having a stellar season - after some less than ordinary form - but when a club can field a team missing 6/7 Of their FG team and beat a team at full strength there has been a massive shift in performance right through the organisation that few would have predicted after the first few rounds of this season.

Actually, at the beginning of the year, the coach selected Ponga as fullback, the team slid and next thing, the coach was in the firing line.
Then he swapped Ponga back to 5/8, the team turned round, and all was forgiven.
Footy is funny, eh!

 

[tigeress]

Needing all hands on deck, every player running hard, tackling hard, putting their body on the line for the jersey.
Not every team can have the best players, but any team can play with the best energy, effort and intent.
As others have alluded too, young Kit at age 18 in his first ever NRL game ran the ball harder than any of our other forwards.
Reilly who was playing his 3rd NRL game before getting injured was a clear standout in energy and effort, he was at least getting off his line and rushing the Manly attack defensively, showing good acceleration with ball in hand with limited opportunity and always put pressure on the opposing kicker when he was in the vicinity, why can’t others demonstrate these one 1% plays ?
Can’t fault the effort of Api, Twal and Seyfarth either, but the others need a reality check in their attitude and commitment.

Excellent posts

 

[Tom Shines]

Cause they are playing well. They have the nucleus of the same squad and same coach and for the last few seasons and have been patchy at best. The coach was one game away from being sacked on the back of seasons of disappointment and a poor start to the year. Pongha is having a stellar season - after some less than ordinary form - but when a club can field a team missing 6/7 Of their FG team and beat a team at full strength there has been a massive shift in performance right through the organisation that few would have predicted after the first few rounds of this season.

So what is your point exactly in relation to the Wests Tigers … that they will do something similar next season?

The Warriors have improved this year as well… doesnt mean anything in relation to the Tigers

 

[Vicious]

James Schiller is a big, fast, athletic body type that we need in our outside backs.
Likewise the rest of the Canberra NSW Cup backline in Xavier Savage, Harley Smith-Shields and Brad Morkos.
I think all are currently contacted to Canberra for another year at least, but would highly likely be looking for better NRL opportunity.

 

[Tom Shines]

You didn't know.... I read it's all Hastings?
- Has nothing to do with the half a dozen Origin Players in their top 17
(Apparently)

I will say, Gamble has been enormous for them....
I watch most their games and he's in everything.

All I know is that Hastings will be straight back into the team, when fit

 

[Vicious]

All I know is that Hastings will be straight back into the team, when fit

Hi will be, but what does he do better than Adam Clune who could have been signed for less than half of the salary Hastings is on ?

 

[Tom Shines]

Hi will be, but what does he do better than Adam Clune who could have been signed for less than half of the salary Hastings is on ?

Well.. the coach must think Hastings is better to change a winning side …

 

[Tucker]

So what is your point exactly in relation to the Wests Tigers … that they will do something similar next season?

The Warriors have improved this year as well… doesnt mean anything in relation to the Tigers

After multiple years in the wilderness, it shows that those sides have matured and built well. They have learnt to win. We are at least 2 years behind them, but it’s something to strive for.

 

[Tom Shines]

After multiple years in the wilderness, it shows that those sides have matured and built well. They have learnt to win. We are at least 2 years behind them, but it’s something to strive for.

Gotta agree with you…

I can’t comprehend any circumstances where this Tigers team in 2024 could show similar improvement to the Knights this season…

I think the Tigers ceiling would be to win 8 or 9 games next season …

 

[Telltails]

So what is your point exactly in relation to the Wests Tigers … that they will do something similar next season?

The Warriors have improved this year as well… doesnt mean anything in relation to the Tigers

It's an observation on the impact of stringing together a few wins and how it can change the performance of a side that was struggling to compete. Now AOB is doing a good job after he was most destined to be the next sacked coach. In regard to WTs while ever the CEO/ Chair continue to dabble/interfere in football matters during the season we are no hope.
The Warriors have a new coach and a big recruitment drive - different to Newcastle.

 

[Tucker]

From round 1 or 2 whenever we played them. I could tell how fit and strong they were and could tell they had a massive off season. Selections and internal stuff almost derailed them but got it back together. Starts with systems in the off season which they did well this year.

Same.
When we played them round 2, we took Ponga out in the first minute and he never returned, they withstood huge goaline pressure from us to take a 2 try lead, lost their winger for 10 minutes for a foul, lost Frizzel to injury as well yet kept playing footy to score again. When they had Saifitti sent off with 15 to go, everyone thought they’d been brave but lose. They kept fighting and held us out. That was at Leichhardt as well with a big crowd.

They are a more mature outfit this year.

 

[Tucker]

Gotta agree with you…

I can’t comprehend any circumstances where this Tigers team in 2024 could show similar improvement to the Knights this season…

I think the Tigers ceiling would be to win 8 or 9 games next season …

Yeah I wouldn’t be buying finals tickets until 26 at the earliest.

 

[twentyforty]

Hi will be, but what does he do better than Adam Clune who could have been signed for less than half of the salary Hastings is on ?

Knights have good outside backs and Clune’s quick feeds have given them room. Hes also quicker than but Hastings’ value is in his energy and leadership.

 

[Telltails]

You didn't know.... I read it's all Hastings?
- Has nothing to do with the half a dozen Origin Players in their top 17
(Apparently)

I will say, Gamble has been enormous for them....
I watch most their games and he's in everything.

They are playing just as well without Hastings. The whole team has gone into another gear after seasons of underachieving. Recruiting Gamble and Hastings were hardly major signings but for what ever reason the team is playing great with the same coach after a poor start to the year where most would not have expected them to finish where they have.

 

[Vicious]

Gotta agree with you…

I can’t comprehend any circumstances where this Tigers team in 2024 could show similar improvement to the Knights this season…

I think the Tigers ceiling would be to win 8 or 9 games next season …

Unfortunately that’s the realistic outlook, but we can only hope it’s surprisingly better.
Teams such as the nights have some genuine superstar attacking players in Ponga, Best, Young that is the big difference.