Signings, Suggestions & Rumours Discussion

[Magpie_Magic]

And yet every player you hear talk about the place says how much they love the joint, including Api and Bula who both could've got a start at many other clubs but chose to extend with us.
I can believe them or believe the echo chamber. It's a hard choice

Sadly some just focus on the negative in a destructive way.

Even hearing the possibility of acquiring Luai and Best are problematic.

 

[jadtiger]

Man you are so right. yesterday there was even a bloke bitching about the review into the governance of the club. Can you imagine it? What kind of depressive lunatic wants things to stay the same as they are?

Probably the ones who either sit on the board who are close friends of the ones who do.

 

[Todd Packer]

Man you are so right. yesterday there was even a bloke bitching about the review into the governance of the club. Can you imagine it? What kind of depressive lunatic wants things to stay the same as they are?

You're confusing crime fighting heroics with negativity.
There's Superman, Batman and Todd Packer.

 

[upthetigers]

John Morris sitting in front of me on the train. Looks like he could still pull a guernsey on.

You should have said to him "you better not take Benji's job".

 

[BlackWhiteGold]

Recruitment update!

Club have been keeping tabs on Bradman Best for a while I posted a couple of months ago he was our main recruitment target along with Olam as the plan is to upgrade our stocks within the outside backs.

Storm threw a potential Olam for Blore trade up - however with Blore recent rise in form to end the year and Olam’s defensive struggles to end the year it seems we’ve denied that deal.

The club have been monitoring Best for a while and I posted on here that Best’s management put the notion that deals would have to start at around 700k for him to entertain leaving Newcastle. Which was initially scoffed at - however his form to end the year and most especially his SOS performance has switched us to engage in those talks and will most probably offer anywhere in the region from 700-800k.

I wouldn’t get too excited though cause I’m hearing Best is leaning towards remaining at Newcastle but we’ll make them sweat.

Ezra Mam will remain at Brisbane - Dragons want him badly but he’ll ink a new deal pretty soon.

Luai is definitely being circled by Benji - however the club are eager to see Sullivan’s development and ability through pre season before putting a formal offer towards him.

Thanks @teddy23 I'm sure there are some other things bubbling away re outside backs & 'train & trial' deals. Good move by the club re Sullivan, if he returns to pre-season training in great nick & really rips in with leadership, skill & fitness, it may alter future recruitment targets.

Anything on who may be allowed to look elsewhere from our top 30?

Good news that Asu Kepaoa made the Kiwis A squad this morning, it means his value as a trade pawn went up!

 

[upthetigers]

can’t believe people aren’t happy with back to back wooden spoons, eight wins out of their last 50 games and missing the finals 12 years in a row…

Exactly, until results change expect more of the same. This is the only outlet for most of us. But personal attacks are taking things too far (I'm guilty of this too).

 

[tony soprano]

Man you are so right. yesterday there was even a bloke bitching about the review into the governance of the club. Can you imagine it? What kind of depressive lunatic wants things to stay the same as they are?

You mean the John Coates review to make wests tigers great again?

That's cute.

 

[tony soprano]

John Morris sitting in front of me on the train. Looks like he could still pull a guernsey on.

Travelling to Concord?

 

[Coastie_Tiger]

Recruitment update!


Luai is definitely being circled by Benji - however the club are eager to see Sullivan’s development and ability through pre season before putting a formal offer towards him.

Maybe we should have thought a little bit more about Sullivan's development before offering him a 4 yr deal, especially if the intension was to chase Luai. I know these things are a difficult balance but at the time many people including myself thought 4yrs was perhaps a year too long.
I hope he works out well by the way im not death riding the kid at all, hopefully he kills it for us.

 

[BlackWhiteGold]

Maybe we should have thought a little bit more about Sullivan's development before offering him a 4 yr deal, especially if the intension was to chase Luai. I know these things are a difficult balance but at the time many people including myself thought 4yrs was perhaps a year too long.
I hope he works out well by the way im not death riding the kid at all, hopefully he kills it for us.

If he doesn't work out as desired, we'll have a good backup halfback in NSW Cup like Dean Hawkins until he can find a new suitor.

 

[Donny Brasco]

can’t believe people aren’t happy with back to back wooden spoons, eight wins out of their last 50 games and missing the finals 12 years in a row…

who would be happy?
just proving the point.

 

[Juice]

Does anyone know how much Sullivan is signed for per season?

 

[Coastie_Tiger]

If he doesn't work out as desired, we'll have a good backup halfback in NSW Cup like Dean Hawkins until he can find a new suitor.

Probably on a fair whack more than Hawkins though, could be problematic if he doesn't work out. But i hope he does, seems to have the talent maybe just needs a proper crack.

 

[InBenjiWeTrust]

Recruitment update!

Club have been keeping tabs on Bradman Best for a while I posted a couple of months ago he was our main recruitment target along with Olam as the plan is to upgrade our stocks within the outside backs.

Storm threw a potential Olam for Blore trade up - however with Blore recent rise in form to end the year and Olam’s defensive struggles to end the year it seems we’ve denied that deal.

The club have been monitoring Best for a while and I posted on here that Best’s management put the notion that deals would have to start at around 700k for him to entertain leaving Newcastle. Which was initially scoffed at - however his form to end the year and most especially his SOS performance has switched us to engage in those talks and will most probably offer anywhere in the region from 700-800k.

I wouldn’t get too excited though cause I’m hearing Best is leaning towards remaining at Newcastle but we’ll make them sweat.

Ezra Mam will remain at Brisbane - Dragons want him badly but he’ll ink a new deal pretty soon.

Luai is definitely being circled by Benji - however the club are eager to see Sullivan’s development and ability through pre season before putting a formal offer towards him.

Attaboy 🐅 💪 👏

 

[Tiger_Fanatic3]

Benji’s $800k offer for Star Centres

The Tigers are set to make a formal $800,000 offer for Knights star Bradman Best for 2025 and beyond.

Best is coming off a career season in 2023, which including an outstanding Origin debut for the Blues in their Game III win over the Maroons.

According to The Daily Telegraph, the Tigers will offer Best a contract which will make him one of the highest paid centres in the competition.

The Knights are slightly confident they’ll retain Best with a contract worth more than $700,000 a season but if the 22-year-old isn’t re-signed by November 1 deadline, he’ll likely command slightly more from other clubs.

In addition to Best, the Tigers have also got their eye on Dragons back Moses Suli.

Suli had an up-and-down season for the struggling Dragons in 2023 but would be a decent pick-up for a team like the Tigers.

Suli started his career at the Tigers in 2017, spending a year there before moving onto the Sea Eagles where he spent four seasons. (DT)

 

[coivtny]

$800k would be enough to get Best to a top 6 club but won't be near enough to get him to WT. I reckon we'd have to go well above $800k.

 

[hank37w]

I don't really rate him either mate but my judgment could be clouded by the fact i think he's a massive dickhead. In saying that if we were to sign him i'd hope he turns us into a gun team, and he'd be our dickhead.

Would most likely be a huge and expensive failure and go the same way as when Grub was going to be our Grub.

Beginning to wonder if that shoulder is going to impact his career.

 

[Oldman]

I must say it's refreshing not to read Brooks name every three to four comments for a change 😁

Maybe we are getting him back and making him the highest paid player ?
You just never know 🤣🤣

 

[tigerman 0]

My take.

Best wont come here / leave Newcastle unless it’s for way more than Newcastle are offering. So he will certainly be staying.
We are DYING for quality centres but i think you pay a centre like LM that sort of money, not Best (even though i do like him)

Luai is an interesting one. I do think he will be leaving the Panthers and he is a good player. People who say he’s crap or whatever are fools.
But i just don’t understand why we would want him when we have Sezer (obviously short term) and Sullivan. And then in the actual position Luai plays we have a young gun we have massive hopes for. I don’t get it. Am i missing something?

Moses Suli. He was known as a crap trainer with crap commitment who can play when he feels like it. But its not often enough is it. This would be one very much in the “trust Benji” department

 

[balmain boy]

Maybe we should have thought a little bit more about Sullivan's development before offering him a 4 yr deal, especially if the intension was to chase Luai. I know these things are a difficult balance but at the time many people including myself thought 4yrs was perhaps a year too long.
I hope he works out well by the way im not death riding the kid at all, hopefully he kills it for us.

I'm pretty certain at least one, if not two of the years in his contract are club options.