Signings, Suggestions & Rumours Discussion

Kelce68 said:
If Luai were to leave, I think Ivan is underestimating the impact it will have on his team.

This prospective out, not unlike Api's, will be more impactful than the likes of Kikau, Burton, Crichton, etc.

Their best player is clearly Nathan. But having Luai in the team poses a second legitimate threat in the halves and on the other side of the field. It can't be underestimated how much easier it is for defences to load up on a singular dominant half when their halves partner doesn't offer much, as would be the case finding a replacement 5/8th for them.

Penrith have made a habit on this run of having a (somewhat) experienced backup NSW-level half at the ready to step in when required, rather than a raw junior half. This is clearly a nod to consistency over anything else. We have seen this with Kurt Falls, Jock Madden, Jaemon Salmon, Tyrone May and more recently Jack Cogger. All of them came in, executed on a VERY simple game plan and allowed the class around them to get them over the line. I guess Brad Schneider is their 2024 model. But with a significant portion of that class leaving over the last few years, that will continue to become more difficult a plan to pull off.

Now, for all Penrith's junior nursery accomplishments, heading into 24/25 and beyond, they don't have an heir-apparent in the juniors that we have seen a clear pathway to being the obvious next in line, as Isaiya Katoa was before the Dolphins nabbed him. I know there's no shortage of talent there, but it doesn't seem the transition is right if Luai were to depart.

I think they're making a mistake by letting this run its course this way.

But also, it's Penrith, so f_ck 'em.
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I agree, and he is also really good mates with To'o and a few others, that wouldn't be good for team morale
 
Demps said:
If Luai leaves Penrith, do we think we're the likely destination?

I wouldn't be so sure.
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I can't imagine there's too many other legitimate options.

It'll be for money, so only those clubs with the cash available would come into calculations and another major threat, the Dragons, seem pretty hell-bent on Manu, with the other possibility, the Dogs, starting to run out that endless cap of theirs. Finally.

Add to that the (relative) proximity of another western Sydney club and I can't see too many other suitors.
 
HowDugWT said:
I am sick of this signing players for the future. WE HAVE BEEN SIGNING PLAYERS FOR THE FUTURE SINCE 2011. The Tigers need NRL ready and proven players to gel this squad together. It is becoming pretty grim and we need to turn things around ASAP. I would love to see a big money big player signed in the coming days whether we see it or not I don't know fingers crossed.
I stay positive and optimistic but bit of a cash splash wouldn't hurt on a proven NRL player ....
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Literally not true ! Once the big 4 left , we pivoted and did the exact opposite , neglecting youth , for middling veterans with name reputation and not much else .
Or do people just forget the year of Cleary , and the 4 years of Madge , where the average age of our team was like 28 or something .
I understand being upset about lack of success , we all feel that way , but only this last 2 years have we been talking up being a development club , which has coincided with a lot of youth being blooded and 2 wooden spoons , pretty much because of this .
 
Young gun winger Junior Tupou may be priority number one for the Wests Tigers following the November 1 deadline allowing players off-contract at the end of 2024 to negotiate with rivals.

Tupou is one of a host of Tigers' players off-contract at the end of next season, in a list across the competition that features more than 180 players able to negotiate.

News Corp are reporting that Tupou has been offered a two-year extension to remain a Tiger, which could ward off interest expected from the likes of the Canberra Raiders and Canterbury Bulldogs.

Tupou grew up in Canberra, playing both rugby league and rugby union during his youth though, so a deal from the nation's capital could talk.

The deal would lock Tupou in at Concord until at least the end of the 2026 season where he would have hoped to have properly cemented himself into first-grade by that time.

The 21-year-old, who was born in Auckland, has impressed during his time in first-grade, having debuted for the Tigers in 2022. He has gone on to play 26 first-grade times and be a rapid improver for the club.

Raised in Canberra, Tupou made the switch to the Tigers ahead of his first-grade debut, and his youthful age fits in with the club's recent mantra - the Tigers have made no secret of the fact they want to become known as a development club.

The report suggests Tupou has a strong relationship with new head coach Benji Marshall which could seal the deal, although no decision is expected before he returns from England, with the winger currently on tour with Tonga.

However, Canberra are in the process of making a decent offer to him.
 
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