Signings, Suggestions & Rumours Discussion

[Jimmy]

Olam is not a bad pickup, the style of player we've lacked for some time....hits hard and more importantly actually runs a solid line (none of our players seem to have that ability). However, if we manage to lose Blore and Tupou to the storm that would be the most typical and pathetic display of how Wests Tigers do business... Hopefully, Benji and the team won't allow this to happen. Losing two high-potential players for an aging center would be very poor, blore for Olam is fair given our depth of middles but to then lose Tupou the following year would not be acceptable.

 

[Mighty_Tiger]

The release of Reilly is a good one, he isn’t NRL quality, with kids coming through makes sense and gives up a spot which we needed badly. His development would need a few years and serves little point. Staines in for him is an improvement & for 2yrs also isn’t stupid long and keeps the encouragement going as he can negotiate in 12mths.

BWM moving on is also good business and gives us now a spot breathing room. He wasn’t going to get NRL time unless we were really struggling and Fainu is infront of him now anyway.

Good news day and we keep making smart decisions - someone pinch me….

 

[Tiger-ferret]

Do Melbourne need another winger? I would take both Coates and Warbrick over Tupou.

It’s the difference between us and them. Tupou makes our side every week.

 

[Tiger Stripes]

Hopefully we sign that Q cup beast,
Israel Leota.

And he becomes our very own version of an elite centre.

🔥

Fingers crossed. I liked what i saw on his highlight real.
Would be great in the 2nd row in a year or two if it doesn't work out in the centres long term IMO.

 

[Mighty_Tiger]

I don't want to lose Tupou, but I'm also aware that his value might be obscured by the poor quality around him.

I know there will be a very bad narrative to losing a player like him, but there is a good line-up of young players coming through within a year to 3 years in the club. What looks like a catastrophic miss because we didn't retain a player could be due to the Galvin's, Laulili'i types coming up as well.

Get what you’re saying but quality wingers with size and speed are few/far between.

We have spent abit to develop him and should stick with him pending cash bids he gets.

 

[Needaname]

Bradman Best is set to ink a new deal at Newcastle worth around $2m on a mega contract extension

It is understood that the Knights have discussed a three-year upgrade that will keep Best there until the end of 2026 worth an estimated $700,000 a season. This means he will be earning less per season than the Tigers have offered him.

Maybe so, but he also is contracted for next year.
Without a release he would only get paid what he is currently contracted on at the knights then his new deal in 25.
By staying at the Knights now his deal is likely to include an upgrade for this season so that his seasonal cost on the cap is lower for the next two seasons from 25.

 

[weststigerman]

Who?

Olam

 

[Garrry]

Trell is a grub

Poor Trell, everyone else is wrong or to blame, but not Trell

 

[Holman Barnes #1 Fan]

yeah .. Nofo is the worst deal I have seen since Russell Packer

Nofo would be worth the coin he is on if he played like he did in 2020. But he doesn't. He phones it in looking to get his body through the contract without getting injured. Same as Issac Luke did at The Warriors. Only showed up when there was a contract on the line.

 

[The-moP]

justin Olam 3 year deal ...signed and delivered .. !!

sorry .. i may have jumped the gun here .. my apologies .. my bad

I saw something this afternoon about Olam and a 3 year deal with us .. posted here quickly then went to copy the article and it was gone .. it was from the Mole .. but it aint there now .. lets see what happens for the next few days .. 48 hours ;-)

 

[clontarfkid]

I think alot of the sideways stuff was due to the lack of structure from the inside backs.

Defensively, he has been better lately.

Can't remember when at Melbourne was he outside Olam?

Fainu and Sullivan will duke it out for the spot next to Luai (if he comes) with one winning the spot and the other either on the bench or in Cup.

Galvin’s a toughie because his future is absolutely out of the halves but he could very easily kick up a stink given who his manager is. Mason I see as a 14 in the mould of Connor Watson, but he too could crack the shits if he wants to play in the halves more permanently.

If Laui does come, it will be for 25,and Sullivan and Fainu have a whole season to establish themselves as the other halve .Doubt we need both on $500k pa going forward
Im hoping Sezer mite surprise and be our best halve in 24...will make things interesting
Cant factor Douhi in for 25 for anything other than centre..if at all
But one thing for sure..if Luai comes..he'll be first pick and the rest will sort themselves out

 

[Leck]

Why?

Look, Sure 6 months ago I would have taken Moylan. But now we have signed Sullivan, Latu and Sezer. We still have AD on the books.

Moylan would he 6 figures and likely begin with at least 5.
If we did not go Sezer, then maybe Moylan fits. I still don't see it.
It's just too late to fit him into our plans. We also needed a Halfback and that's our whole problem.

We are not strategic about who we sign and when. I expect Moylan to go for unders to St George.

Getting Charlie back on the field is a great thing.

 

[jirskyr]

I'm personally not a huge fan of Bradman Best. He played great during that Origin but I've been underwhelmed at club level.

Certainly he's still very young and he's physically imposing, but I just feel like I see too many opposition centres run past him on a semi-regular basis, at this stage in his career.

 

[hsvjones]

I'm personally not a huge fan of Bradman Best. He played great during that Origin but I've been underwhelmed at club level.

Certainly he's still very young and he's physically imposing, but I just feel like I see too many opposition centres run past him on a semi-regular basis, at this stage in his career.

Plus the Knights were shopping him just 12 months ago.. Rocks and Diamonds IMO

 

[crazycat]

I'm personally not a huge fan of Bradman Best. He played great during that Origin but I've been underwhelmed at club level.

Certainly he's still very young and he's physically imposing, but I just feel like I see too many opposition centres run past him on a semi-regular basis, at this stage in his career.

Man, I was going to reply but now can only think Xena and Gabriel (assuming that is the Jirskyr reference. I HATED that character).

We seem to make a mistake of picking players on their top performances, not how low their bottom performances are.

Ofcourse I would like Bradman best here. Yet his market value is over inflated due to a great performance at Origin + Newcastle playing finals.

The ideal is to pick players like Best when their form is down and will improve...

 

[balmain boy]

Plus the Knights were shopping him just 12 months ago.. Rocks and Diamonds IMO

Remember the Sharks and Talakai, comes from nowhere with his power game, somehow gets to origin, signs a big money deal only to then go back to being bog average.
I rate best higher then talakai, but there's a decent chance he goes on to just be one of those highly paid former origin players.

 

[balmain boy]

Can't see Tupou going to the Storm. He'd have half a dozen players in front of him. Warbrick, Coates, Meaney, Smith, Pap, Faalogo... Possible even Tonumaipea

 

[Magpie_Magic]

Remember the Sharks and Talakai, comes from nowhere with his power game, somehow gets to origin, signs a big money deal only to them go back to being big average.
I rate best higher then talakai, but there's a decent chance he goes on to just be one of those highly paid former origin players.

Alot of these types of backs lately.

The club should try to cut Burton loose with a promise he'll be left centre.

He surely couldn't be happy there.

 

[jirskyr]

Man, I was going to reply but now can only think Xena and Gabriel (assuming that is the Jirskyr reference. I HATED that character).

I never watched Xena, so not that

 

[GNR4LIFE]

That would be the most random reference for a username of all time