Signings, Suggestions & Rumours Discussion

[hank37w]

Glad we did not buy him for 800K a season. (re Bradman Best).

I wouldn't say he is a dud or Noffaesque. But I could see 200k effort being put in for a lot of games.

That would mean he is a quarter back.

 

[Camel2281]

He's a 19 year old kid.

Who can't tackle

 

[Leck]

We wouldn’t be offering it. He is already on a contract for 3 more years so we would be taking it over. If he does come it has to be for 3 years.

Contracts can be negotiated. 2 years feels right, but the question is - who’s being released?

 

[Kelce68]

Who can't tackle

Based on 1 NRL game at the age of 18 in which he tackled at 75% efficiency?

 

[watersider]

On signing Staines, how did Peter Peters know about it? Was it common knowledge within league circles or is he getting word from someone in the club and leaking it on radio? The obvious suspect then is Fulton. Has Peters ever had any inside knowledge or interest in us before he arrived?

And then you look at the criticisms Peters offers of Benji and that all sounds like inside knowledge as well. And not just inside knowledge but also obviously pissed off about how it is going.

So if someone is leaking to Peters, and that person is obviously unhappy about the club, how can we possibly keep that person at the club?

Peters' opinion is dribble, the only thing interesting is that he had knowledge of the signing and the person talking to him has an axe to grind. If it's Fulton, he should go.

For me it's not a Benji v Fulton issue. Who knows if Benji is on the right path and fair enough to have disagreements and to raise issues within the club, but as soon as you go having a sook to the media or start leaking you can't be considered competent or professional.

 

[851]

Contracts can be negotiated. 2 years feels right, but the question is - who’s being released?

No one has to be released, we only have 29 players after releasing 2 yesterday, and you can be assured it will be a 3 year deal

 

[Needaname]

So much noise around our attempts to sign Luai. Just feels like the same old routine and surely it's a bit of amateur hour again that all this information gets fed to the media when there's been no signature.

And then cue the 'basketcase' and 'tigers rejected again' when we don't get them.

Sorry to be negative, I just wish the club actually learnt how to handle negotiations to avoid this.

To be fair to the club. Officially there hasn’t been any mention of it; no Leigh saying we are interested. The only comment was from Benji saying we are keeping our recruitment and retention plans in house.
It’s mostly speculation garnered by the sheer likelihood that the Tigers A have the money available and B have a need for the player.
The spotting of Luai and or Marshall at each others home hasn’t been confirmed on speculated on.
Whilst I’d love that the first time it is mentioned is when he accepts an offer but the media love the Tigers. Even Arron woods was saying there is too much noise surrounding the Tigers but he is just as guilty as all the other media knobs that just want to talk about it.
On another note. If all the talk was about the Bulldogs and Luai joining them you can be guaranteed that it would be a done deal there.
The club we have to look out for is the Sharks that and Penrith.

 

[Camel2281]

Based on 1 NRL game at the age of 18 in which he tackled at 75% efficiency?

I watched him in the U19 Origin game too and he was really poor. He's an arm grabber. His defence is as bad as Douehi.

 

[Camel2281]

On signing Staines, how did Peter Peters know about it? Was it common knowledge within league circles or is he getting word from someone in the club and leaking it on radio? The obvious suspect then is Fulton. Has Peters ever had any inside knowledge or interest in us before he arrived?

And then you look at the criticisms Peters offers of Benji and that all sounds like inside knowledge as well. And not just inside knowledge but also obviously pissed off about how it is going.

So if someone is leaking to Peters, and that person is obviously unhappy about the club, how can we possibly keep that person at the club?

Peters' opinion is dribble, the only thing interesting is that he had knowledge of the signing and the person talking to him has an axe to grind. If it's Fulton, he should go.

For me it's not a Benji v Fulton issue. Who knows if Benji is on the right path and fair enough to have disagreements and to raise issues within the club, but as soon as you go having a sook to the media or start leaking you can't be considered competent or professional.

Not saying you're wrong but people were saying that Staines was already training with us last week so I think it was common knowledge that he was staying

 

[Halbrowne61]

I see Luai playing 7 like he did for Samoa when he led them to the WC final

“What you smokin Willis !! “

 

[Camel2281]

“What you smokin Willis !! “

Did you watch last year's World cup?

 

[pawsandclaws1]

I watched him in the U19 Origin game too and he was really poor. He's an arm grabber. His defence is as bad as Douehi.

How many times have we seen Best beaten on the outside especially in the lead up to opposition tries?

 

[Halbrowne61]

Did you watch last year's World cup?

Yep

 

[Leck]

No one has to be released, we only have 29 players after releasing 2 yesterday, and you can be assured it will be a 3 year deal

It would be silly to offer him 3 years,… actually if we sign Olam it will be a mistake.

 

[GNR4LIFE]

It would be silly to offer him 3 years,… actually if we sign Olam it will be a mistake.

I think it will be as good a signing as BJ Leilua. Olam is cooked.

 

[weststigers]

We wouldn’t be offering it. He is already on a contract for 3 more years so we would be taking it over. If he does come it has to be for 3 years.

Not quite right. He could be released from his Melbourne contract and sign a new 2 year deal with us.

 

[GNR4LIFE]

Not quite right. He could be released from his Melbourne contract and sign a new 2 year deal with us.

Then he’s losing a year’s salary. Would be a dumb move on his part.

 

[weststigers]

Then he’s losing a year’s salary. Would be a dumb move on his part.

It really wasn't the point. I'm just refuting that you "must" take on the full contract. Maybe being stuck in reserves for 3 years is motivation enough to forego the extra year? That's up to Olam, but my point stands.

The reality is all contracts require a release to move to another club. You don't "take over" the existing contract.

 

[GNR4LIFE]

It really wasn't the point. I'm just refuting that you "must" take on the full contract. Maybe being stuck in reserves for 3 years is motivation enough to forego the extra year? That's up to Olam, but my point stands.

The reality is all contracts require a release to move to another club. You don't "take over" the existing contract.

No, because Wests would no doubt be expecting the Storm to cover some of the freight.

 

[Tiger_Fanatic3]

The Wests Tigers are poised to launch a club-defining bid for Penrith premiership-winner Jarome Luai which is expected to soar north of $4 million.

The major development has emerged amid increasing suggestions from the NRL that Luai has told his closest teammates that he is leaning towards leaving the Panthers at the end of 2024.

Wests Tigers coach Benji Marshall has taken a personal interest in the chase for Luai and it is understood he has the support of the club’s board to go all-in for the Panthers star.

However, it is anticipated that Marshall will face stiff competition from the Bulldogs, who have a long list of connections to Luai through head coach Cameron Ciraldo, marquee-signing Stephen Crichton, backrower Viliame Kikau, NSW Origin talent Matt Burton and fresh recruit Jaemon Salmon.

Yet it is the Tigers that have got the edge after Marshall held a recent meeting with the three-time premiership-winner at his home in the inner-west of Sydney.

At the heart of the negotiations is Marshall’s preparedness to offer Luai the opportunity to be the chief playmaker, regardless of whether he plays in the six or seven jersey.

It is a position that many within the game believe Luai has craved, having spent his first grade career in the shadow of champion Panthers halfback Nathan Cleary.

Money is also a factor. It is understood the Wests Tigers are prepared to offer a deal worth close to $1.1 million per-season for Luai, who turns 27 in January.

Marshall will need full board approval to table the offer given the enormity of the contract. However, it is understood that is a mere formality.

An offer in excess of $1 million would blow Penrith out of the water - the Panthers have already indicated to Luai that they can only offer him a maximum of $850,000 per season.

The Tigers have signed veteran half Aidan Sezer for 2024 only, but have invested heavily in recruiting Dragons half Jayden Sullivan and also former Manly rising star Latu Fainu.

The Wests Tigers also have high hopes for teenager Lachlan Galvin, who was a star at this year’s Australian Schoolboys carnival.

Luai, who has played seven matches for NSW and 11 appearances for Samoa, is also seen as a mentor to the likes of Sullivan, Faini and Galvin.

The Wests Tigers are also leaning on their connection to Luai through former Penrith teammates Api Koroisau, Brent Naden and Charlie Staines.

Luai was intending to return to Penrith on Wednesday to step-up his rehabilitation from recent shoulder surgery.

He is racing the clock to be fit for the three-time premiers pre-season fixtures and opening round clash against Melbourne at AAMI Park.

Luai is one of the few playmakers on the open market at the end of 2024, giving him the whiphand in talks with interested clubs.

North Queensland’s Tom Dearden is also up for grabs and it is believed the Bulldogs also hold an interest in the Maroons star, although it would take something special to convince him to leave the Cowboys.

Roosters five-eighth Luke Keary has also entered the final year of his contract, although he is expected to sign an extension for at least one season to stay at Bondi Junction.

Obvs Luai has been a very big part of the Panthers success over the last few years, they can afford to let him go. 1.1 million a season is definitely paying big overs for him, Tigers are desperate and they don’t have a lot of options around. Training under Benji might be exactly what Luai needs to take his game to the next level as well… time will tell.