Signings, Suggestions & Rumours Discussion

Hey Curly, when you first got your Luai to Tigers mail was it for 24 or 25?

I heard something similar last night about tabling him a massive 2 year contract (his management wanted a 3rd) but it is conditional on him starting in 2024. Was additionally told highly unlikely to get approval from Penrith and would need a whole lot of negotiations, moreso between the clubs than between Tigers and Luai to get off the ground.
I heard for 2025 from the guy I trust who also said he would become the highest paid player in the NRL with the deal
From a somewhat sketchier source I heard a long term deal of 5 years at $1.4m, which in terms of dollars would fit the highest paid player claim
 
Is it 3 years conditional to starting in 24? And 2 years if from 25 or just 2 years conditional to starting in 24?
No evidently Tigers only keen if available 24 due to salary cap space available to afford overs in 24 and 25 and the hope that 26 onwards some of the youth will be ready and have a strong team to be integrated into.

The initial offer (which was one of those informal getting a 3rd party to reach out offers rather than a formal contract offer) was would he be keen for 24 and 25 on well over a mil. He essentially responded with yes he is interested but tee it up with black money (before the announcement of him actually signing with them).

Then when it got put to his manager they advised he see what Penrith is offering. They want to leverage the Penrith offer for a 3rd year as the Penrith offer is essentially an extra year given their 2 year offer was for 25 and 26.

He does not know if Tigers will go for a 3 year contract. He speculates that a 3rd year player option at a lower rate may appease all parties but that was his input not what he has heard may happen. However he also said no way Penrith will release him early anyways and Tigers wont be putting up the big money for a contract starting in 25.

I then asked him if Penrith would release him early as part of a trade. He said possible but trades take ages to negotiate and that is the lots of negotiating between clubs I was referring to.

Same bloke that gave me the Brooks low balled and won't be re-signing news a few weeks before the media got it.
 
He’s a liar.
The Bulldogs are not interested in Cameron Ciraldo, we haven't spoken to Cameron, he hasn't even been discussed internally. The Bulldogs need an experienced coach. The Tigers offering Ciraldo a 5 year deal seems like desperation. Next minute. The Bulldogs are not interested in Ado Carr, next minute. Trent Barrett will be at the Bulldogs long after I am gone, the media just make these stories up. Gus is an habitual liar, with an agenda, don't believe a word he says
 
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The biggest indictment on us is that deep down we can't wait for rugby league to be played again, even if it means watching our team lose 20 of 24 games.

We are all masochists, and that's why we come here. We need daily doses of hope, and it builds as the season gets closer, only for us to realise after 1 game, we are gone again for another year.
Hopefully we can turnaround those 6 point losses
 
The Bulldogs are not interested in Cameron Ciraldo, we haven't spoken to Cameron, he hasn't even been discussed internally. The Bulldogs need an experienced coach. The Tigers offering Ciraldo a 5 year deal seems like desperation. Next minute. The Bulldogs are not interested in Ado Carr, next minute. Trent Barrett will be at the Bulldogs long after I am gone, the media just make these stories up. Gus is an habitual liar, with an agenda, don't believe a word he says
The best thing I have ever seen at Origin.

4 Passionate fans including a chick waving a banner saying
"Shut
up
Gus!"
 
The Manly Sea Eagles have offered rising star Haumole Olakau’atu the equal-longest deal in the club’s history, worth almost $7 million in a bid to keep the back-rower away from rival clubs.

It is understood the Sea Eagles have upped their deal to re-sign Olakau’atu by tabling a bumper eight year offer worth about $850,000 a season.

The contract length matches the club’s longest ever deal which was given to skipper Daly Cherry-Evans. Cherry-Evans just completed the final year of that mega contract before re-signing with the club for another two years.

Olakau’atu is still not off-contract until the end of 2025, but the Sea Eagles know that other clubs are preparing to entice the Tongan international on deals worth more than $900,000 a season.

The new contract will take Olakau’atu through until the end of the 2031 season where he will be 33. Should he sign he will become the only Sea Eagles player contracted beyond 2027 when the current deals of Josh Schuster, Luke Brooks and Tolutau Koula expire. (DT)
100% right decision.

Even if Olakau'atu turns out to be an 850K season gun it's the right decision.
We need to let the players we have picked gel and settle.
2022 was a year where we missed our forward pack.
2023 was a year where we missed our back line and halves.

Sure if it was end of 2022, I would think about it. We have enough muscle up front and we can't afford a David Fifita/TPJ like contract, i.e. the one that the Titans/dogs are carrying.
 
No evidently Tigers only keen if available 24 due to salary cap space available to afford overs in 24 and 25 and the hope that 26 onwards some of the youth will be ready and have a strong team to be integrated into.

The initial offer (which was one of those informal getting a 3rd party to reach out offers rather than a formal contract offer) was would he be keen for 24 and 25 on well over a mil. He essentially responded with yes he is interested but tee it up with black money (before the announcement of him actually signing with them).

Then when it got put to his manager they advised he see what Penrith is offering. They want to leverage the Penrith offer for a 3rd year as the Penrith offer is essentially an extra year given their 2 year offer was for 25 and 26.

He does not know if Tigers will go for a 3 year contract. He speculates that a 3rd year player option at a lower rate may appease all parties but that was his input not what he has heard may happen. However he also said no way Penrith will release him early anyways and Tigers wont be putting up the big money for a contract starting in 25.

I then asked him if Penrith would release him early as part of a trade. He said possible but trades take ages to negotiate and that is the lots of negotiating between clubs I was referring to.

Same bloke that gave me the Brooks low balled and won't be re-signing news a few weeks before the media got it.
I can understand our ability to frontload for the next few seasons given our lack of stars & large number of U21s in the top 30. Surely we would offer 3 if not 4 years for Luai not just 2 with an option. For a trade, maybe a Shawn Blore homecoming & Jake Simpkin package could tempt Panthers. But it leaves them with no 5/8 next season unless a 3rd club comes into a trade.

Blore & Simpkin to Bulldogs
Burton to Panthers
Luai to Tigers

🤔
 
I can understand our ability to frontload for the next few seasons given our lack of stars & large number of U21s in the top 30. Surely we would offer 3 if not 4 years for Luai not just 2 with an option. For a trade, maybe a Shawn Blore homecoming & Jake Simpkin package could tempt Panthers. But it leaves them with no 5/8 next season unless a 3rd club comes into a trade.

Blore & Simpkin to Bulldogs
Burton to Panthers
Luai to Tigers

🤔
I don't think the 3rd or even 4th year is really the concern so much as not being locked into an overvalued contract long term. The concern with front loading contracts is the final few years the player is likely agitating for an upgrade or release.
Biggest issue with trying to come up with a trade suggestion for Panthers is they have plenty of talent in every position except for the halves. I don't know what we could realistically offer them to convince them to let one of theirs go. About the only two players I could see them having any interested in are Simpkin and Galvin.
Dogs have plenty of holes in their roster but Burton their only somewhat established playmaker. They aren't releasing him for anyone.
 
The best thing I have ever seen at Origin.

4 Passionate fans including a chick waving a banner saying
"Shut
up
Gus!"
Haha that’s funny! Guy loves the sound of his own voice that’s for sure and his opinion is always right, according to himself. One of the most conceited people I’ve ever laid eyes on. He can coach though.
 
I don't think the 3rd or even 4th year is really the concern so much as not being locked into an overvalued contract long term. The concern with front loading contracts is the final few years the player is likely agitating for an upgrade or release.
Biggest issue with trying to come up with a trade suggestion for Panthers is they have plenty of talent in every position except for the halves. I don't know what we could realistically offer them to convince them to let one of theirs go. About the only two players I could see them having any interested in are Simpkin and Galvin.
Dogs have plenty of holes in their roster but Burton their only somewhat established playmaker. They aren't releasing him for anyone.
I do think Blore would interest them as both an edge (Sorensen isn’t getting younger) & middle (with Leniu departed) and maybe Simpkin (as backup hooker depending on how they rate Soni Luke).

Ivan may feel that Daine Laurie or Brad Schneider could work with Nathan like Cogger did or try to lure Bevan French or Brodie Croft from SL as most have NRL get-out clauses.

Just trying to talk myself into it.
 
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