Signings, Suggestions & Rumours Discussion

[Hbom]

A bit disappointed if Asitasi James has departed.
We cannot keep developing players in our lower grades and then let our best performed players go once they are on the verge of becoming good standard NRL players.
I understand we only have limited too 30 spots available and he’s likely leaving as we cannot fit him in, but props who run onto the ball hard and fearless, but also have a half decent engine to play decent minutes and defend ok laterally are not easy to find.
I’d say we are fast tracking a lot of our best young players into our top 30 possibly before some of them are ready in order to keep them at the club and I can understand that theory too.
Possibly promoting Kit Laulilli ahead of him ?

Kit and Faagutu surely worth retaining over James.

 

[pawsandclaws1]

A bit disappointed if Asitasi James has departed.
We cannot keep developing players in our lower grades and then let our best performed players go once they are on the verge of becoming good standard NRL players.
I understand we only have limited too 30 spots available and he’s likely leaving as we cannot fit him in, but props who run onto the ball hard and fearless, but also have a half decent engine to play decent minutes and defend ok laterally are not easy to find.
I’d say we are fast tracking a lot of our best young players into our top 30 possibly before some of them are ready in order to keep them at the club and I can understand that theory too.
Possibly promoting Kit Laulilli ahead of him ?

That is the way it will be now with club's attempting to manage the salary cap and trying to find gems at a bargain price. It is a complement to our development system that other clubs see WTs as a nurturing environment.

 

[hammertime]

Assuming Fainu and Sullivan go gang busters, and Bula signs till the end of 2027, that means all 3 would come off contract at the same time. What happened the last time a situation like that happened at this club? Ah I’m gonna have to Google it.

Haha... I think the "big 4" were the same agent? No? That's what made it really bad.

But extending 1 or 2 earlier will solve it.

 

[crazycat]

Bulldogs and Tigers look to be taking two different approaches in regards to filling up squad spots. Dogs after fringe first graders from strong clubs to develp their "culture" of hard workers. Tigers have tried to fill spots with promising juniors from within to create a sense of loyalty and identity. Interesting considering all the garbage Gus was talking about being a development club. Interesting to see who comes off best (although i'd argue that as it stands Bulldogs have a much better first 13 when all fit).

True and while were both at the bottom...

The dogs have done something different. Their training has been strong but for a few years they haven't been able to get top talent.

This year they got half the talent they wanted. Gould is already moving on TPJ and others. Josh Jackson shifted to training...

We need to promote from within, but we also need to identify our gaps (defensive Center/entire backline defense). I hate every mention of DEPTH because that means our juniors are blocked and our cap is wasted on fringe graders not playing. Splurge on a few guns who will take the field every game even if they decline over hiring "potential" that fizzles and wastes our cap on the bench.

Club culture is dead. It is sad and it is even sadder to see players take unders to play at flight decks like the chooks.

 

[crazycat]

That is the way it will be now with club's attempting to manage the salary cap and trying to find gems at a bargain price. It is a complement to our development system that other clubs see WTs as a nurturing environment.

Re: Asitasi James

We seem to have a stack of lower grade props/front rowers. Shawn Blore,.. James, Lauliililili, Matumah, Seyfarth, etc.

I kinda wish we would punt Blore as he hasn't lived up to potential. It would also be good to get a junior in a position of switching between prop/center as we need a heavier back row defener and a player like that would work on our bench.

but we have to let someone go. Were last, no one should be safe.

 

[Jedi_Tiger]

so does blore take a middle spot next year then ?

 

[Tigers_Wests]

so does blore take a middle spot next year then ?

I think yes. He has seemed more effective coming off the bench and playing in the middle. If Papali'i/Bateman go down, I wouldn't be surprised to see Samuela Fainu given a crack in 2nd row.

 

[WesternSuburbsBoy]

so does blore take a middle spot next year then ?

I think Benji wants to give the Bateman at lock experiment a go again & Blore will play in the back row

 

[Lestronge]

I think Benji wants to give the Bateman at lock experiment a go again & Blore will play in the back row

I hope not . His defence is diabolical on the edge

 

[Magpie_Magic]

I hope not . His defence is diabolical on the edge

Really?

Anyway, I think if Fainu gets going ok in the halves Bateman will shift into the second row.

All the imbalance has stemmed from our halves.

 

[Johnnycash]

You guys and the “juniors”. We have had that many juniors debut that are rubbish
Tigers need established first graders that have actually built a name for themselves. These juniors aren’t gonna win u a comp anytime soon. Tigers been relying on juniors since 2012 and look how far that’s got them 🤣

 

[Holman Barnes #1 Fan]

You guys and the “juniors”. We have had that many juniors debut that are rubbish
Tigers need established first graders that have actually built a name for themselves. These juniors aren’t gonna win u a comp anytime soon. Tigers been relying on juniors since 2012 and look how far that’s got them 🤣

wrong on so many levels.

 

[Stevec]

My opinion - There is no way we will play finals in 2024 if our strategy is to create our team thru Pathways and our Juniors .Our Cup ,Flegg results show very little from the lower grades will make it in the top grade
More targeted recruitment Essential !
If our executive don't have the goal to make finals next year that is 2024 then its
UNACCEPTABLE
No more 3 year plans

 

[Kaito]

All the imbalance has stemmed from our halves.

I concur MM. Wanted 2 say the same thing actually

 

[king_sirro]

My opinion - There is no way we will play finals in 2024 if our strategy is to create our team thru Pathways and our Juniors .Our Cup ,Flegg results show very little from the lower grades will make it in the top grade
More targeted recruitment Essential !
If our executive don't have the goal to make finals next year that is 2024 then its
UNACCEPTABLE
No more 3 year plans

I think we need to acknowledge it isn't just young players from within. It's a combination of the best young players at the club from our champion Magpies team, a couple of guns younger then them, and a mix of signing the best young talent at other clubs on slight overs and promise of opportunity.

IMO this approach is our only way out. It also positions our cap to have a crack at a high profile recruit when available, like we did with Munster and Moses.

I would much prefer this approach then the random fringe signings the dogs are doing.

Sullivan and Fainu could be anything. I'm very confident Fainu will be our 6 round one and will be very good.

 

[tony soprano]

My opinion - There is no way we will play finals in 2024 if our strategy is to create our team thru Pathways and our Juniors .Our Cup ,Flegg results show very little from the lower grades will make it in the top grade
More targeted recruitment Essential !
If our executive don't have the goal to make finals next year that is 2024 then its
UNACCEPTABLE
No more 3 year plans

It really is if the new guys can bring in a winning culture or sink with the current culture.

 

[king_sirro]

Hard to see when they're not coming from winning clubs....

Interesting to see the hope/hype on Latu,
He had 3 Tries and 2 Try Assists in 9 games in Ressies....
By Comparison - Wakeham had no Tries, But 9 Assists
- in 7 Games.

Obviously, There's more upside to Latu than Wakeham...
But it might be a way off....

Hopefully it won't be a way off.

How long has it been since we had two halves who didn't play rushed? Players who can go to the line and play late, play soft, play short or play long naturally?

I have always stuck up for Brooks, more to counter the over the top criticism rather then to argue he is our answer at 7, but the fact is he played rushed. He didn't have that finesse to play straight, and play slow motion. Both Sullivan and Fainu have that. It's something you can't learn, it's just in you. That's why I think Latu will hit the ground running at 6 next year. Physically he is capable, especially with another pre season ahead of him.

As for Sullivan, I think he will really challenge Sezer for the 7. I know Sezer has been told he needs to earn the spot over Sullivan and is no guarantee for the role. So that's exciting to see who wins the battle.

 

[tony soprano]

Hard to see when they're not coming from winning clubs....

Interesting to see the hope/hype on Latu,
He had 3 Tries and 2 Try Assists in 9 games in Ressies....
By Comparison - Wakeham had no Tries, But 9 Assists
- in 7 Games.

Obviously, There's more upside to Latu than Wakeham...
But it might be a way off....

Latu is a main ingredient.

 

[vlad]

OLAKAU’ATU 7-YEAR DEAL

Manly has begun talks to lock down explosive edge forward Haumole Olakau’atu on a seven-year contract worth around the $6m mark.

Both Sea Eagles chief executive Tony Mestrov and player agent Mario Tartak have confirmed that negotiations are under way to keep Olakau’atu at Brookvale until 2030.

The 24-year-old is regarded among the best edge forwards in the competition alongside the likes of Liam Martin, David Fifita, Billy Kikau, Keaon Koloamatangi and Tyson Frizell.

Olakau’atu is already under contract for another two seasons at Manly but is on below-market value at $500,000-a-season.

Mestrov’s plan is to upgrade his deal for the next two seasons then extend for another five years. The new contract averages out at around $850,000 a season.

 

[Bones]

My opinion - There is no way we will play finals in 2024 if our strategy is to create our team thru Pathways and our Juniors .Our Cup ,Flegg results show very little from the lower grades will make it in the top grade
More targeted recruitment Essential !
If our executive don't have the goal to make finals next year that is 2024 then its
UNACCEPTABLE
No more 3 year plans

The thing about junior development is you don’t need 10 star players in every age group. You only need 2-3 player each year that can make the step up and before you know it you can’t hold on to all of them.

Sure it would be nice if we were winning comps in juniors but that’s not really the end game.