Signings, Suggestions & Rumours Discussion

[rugbygoated]

a little concerned that Alaimalo is on a top 30 deal if I'm honest. looks to have all the physical tools to succeed but has played second tier union for the last few years and hasn't delivered on what looked to be the start of a very successful career.

I hope the change of scenery and his life experiences up til this point help him settle in and rip into preseason and hopefully come into calculations for NRL selection. best of luck, Solomon.

Don't know much about him. Is he an outside back? We need some

 

[AdelaideTiger]

Imagine he's been signed as a winger and as such I don't mind it.
Big, fast and athletic, if he can get his fitness level right then I think he can do a job.

 

[rugbygoated]

For what it’s worth. My cousin spoke with Luai’s manager at Port Mac touch last week (they are mates). He said Luai hasn’t signed anything but ‘he will be at the tigers from 2025’. No idea how much or how long or anything else

Wok Wright? Yeah I know. Luai and him were in Brisbane this week watching 50 Cent. It's good to have you guys corroborating stories

 

[jrtiger]

Don't know much about him. Is he an outside back? We need some

former Super Rugby rookie of the year. can play anywhere in the OBs but has mainly done his best work on the left wing. last few years has lost his way with some mental health issues and injury but certainly has the physical gifts required to make a splash.

he's closer to Will Warbrick than Triston Reilly in terms of rugby converts, albeit a little older. the preseason challenge will give us a better idea as to where he's at.

 

[TopTiger]

if the big fella can have an injury free run, handle the transition easily and get his mental health in the right place we could have a gem on our hands. only issue is that those highlights were a long time ago and we have no idea what sorta player we have in the building nowadays. trials will go a long way towards evaluating his prospects.

Apparently he is 1.96m and weighs 100kg so he may surprise us all, one way or the other!!

 

[Tiger_Yoshi]

Welcome aboard Solomone Alaimalo

And cya later Nofo…..I hope this guy slots straight in the NRL side just like Warbrick did for the storm

 

[rugbygoated]

former Super Rugby rookie of the year. can play anywhere in the OBs but has mainly done his best work on the left wing. last few years has lost his way with some mental health issues and injury but certainly has the physical gifts required to make a splash.

he's closer to Will Warbrick than Triston Reilly in terms of rugby converts, albeit a little older. the preseason challenge will give us a better idea as to where he's at.

I guess him being mid 20s is a good thing. Not too old to learn the game and adapt but not too young also to be shocked when given a go

 

[jrtiger]

And cya later Nofo…..I hope this guy slots straight in the NRL side just like Warbrick did for the storm

Warbrick took a little while to transition. did a year in Q Cup before becoming a regular fixture for Melbourne. admittedly we don't have the time nor the quality in the roster to afford him a transitioning year, but he might be more of a project than we realise.

 

[Mystery]

Wok Wright? Yeah I know. Luai and him were in Brisbane this week watching 50 Cent. It's good to have you guys corroborating stories

Yeah that’s him

 

[rugbygoated]

Yeah that’s him

He's always in and around the Mid North Coast and Central West. Good fella by all accounts

 

[Spartan117]

Alaimalo signs

Former Super Rugby speedster joins Wests Tigers

Wests Tigers is delighted to announce the signing of New Zealand outside back Solomon Alaimalo who has joined the club’s top-30 roster for the 2024 NRL season.

www.weststigers.com.au

Already a better attitude than Nofo!

 

[Vicious]

Signing Luai from 2924 for 3 years makes more sense when we have 2 of the best emerging left sided players in Fainu and Galvin.
Is there any truth to Luciano Leila returning, or is it just speculation at this stage ?

 

[Spartan117]

Former Super Rugby speedster joins Wests Tigers​

AuthorWests Tigers
TimestampMon 11 Dec 2023, 02:55 PM

​

Wests Tigers is delighted to announce the signing of New Zealand outside back Solomon Alaimalo who has joined the club’s top-30 roster for the 2024 NRL season.

The 27-year-old is making the switch to rugby league after playing several seasons of Super Rugby with the Waikato Chiefs, and more recently with Canterbury in New Zealand’s National Provincial Championship.

Alaimalo arrived in Sydney on Sunday evening and had his first session with his new teammates at Wests Tigers’ Zurich Centre on Monday.

Day one at Wests Tigers: Solomon signs on

The Auckland-born speedster played his junior rugby for Canterbury before making his Super Rugby debut for the Chiefs in 2017, when he was named Rookie of the Year.

Wests Tigers head coach Benji Marshall says Alaimalo, who is almost two metres tall, will add a lot to the squad.

“We’re very excited to have Solomon join the club,” said Marshall.

He is a very explosive athlete with great speed, power, and agility.
Benji Marshall

“He will also add leadership and experience to our group, and he is a man of great character.”
Alaimalo says he loves what he’s seen on day one at his new club.

It’s been a really nice welcome from everyone here at Wests Tigers from the moment I touched down last night.
Solomon Alaimalo

“This place [the Zurich Centre] is amazing and I can’t wait to settle in and get stuck into pre-season training.

“There are a lot of guys in the squad who are from back home, including Benji, so that probably will make it even easier for me to adjust to my new home here at Wests Tigers.”

Solomon will return to New Zealand to be with his family for Christmas before relocating to Sydney with his partner and two dogs early in the New Year.

 

[Eternal Tiger]

At what point did we increase our offer by $300,000?
Especially since reading the further comments you made re the Phins. Sounds like we are in a market by ourselves. Why are we increasing our offer?

We're not in a market by ourselves...we're competing with Penrith

 

[Roar_Power]

Signing Luai from 2924 for 3 years makes more sense when we have 2 of the best emerging left sided players in Fainu and Galvin.
Is there any truth to Luciano Leila returning, or is it just speculation at this stage ?

Luai would be over 900 years old. His best footy would be behind him for sure lol

 

[Fingers83]

Luai would be over 900 years old. His best footy would be behind him for sure lol

Literally just spat my water all over my screen haha

 

[jrtiger]

Luai would be over 900 years old. His best footy would be behind him for sure lol

we need experience...

 

[Kaito]

former Super Rugby rookie of the year. can play anywhere in the OBs but has mainly done his best work on the left wing. last few years has lost his way with some mental health issues and injury but certainly has the physical gifts required to make a splash.

he's closer to Will Warbrick than Triston Reilly in terms of rugby converts, albeit a little older. the preseason challenge will give us a better idea as to where he's at.

Junior I have no doubt he would have been
a mainstay in super rugby had he not taken
a year off with mental health issues. He's
the real deal, pure athlete could be anything

 

[The-moP]

Former Super Rugby speedster joins Wests Tigers​

AuthorWests Tigers
TimestampMon 11 Dec 2023, 02:55 PM

​

Wests Tigers is delighted to announce the signing of New Zealand outside back Solomon Alaimalo who has joined the club’s top-30 roster for the 2024 NRL season.

The 27-year-old is making the switch to rugby league after playing several seasons of Super Rugby with the Waikato Chiefs, and more recently with Canterbury in New Zealand’s National Provincial Championship.

Alaimalo arrived in Sydney on Sunday evening and had his first session with his new teammates at Wests Tigers’ Zurich Centre on Monday.

Day one at Wests Tigers: Solomon signs on

The Auckland-born speedster played his junior rugby for Canterbury before making his Super Rugby debut for the Chiefs in 2017, when he was named Rookie of the Year.

Wests Tigers head coach Benji Marshall says Alaimalo, who is almost two metres tall, will add a lot to the squad.

“We’re very excited to have Solomon join the club,” said Marshall.

“He will also add leadership and experience to our group, and he is a man of great character.”
Alaimalo says he loves what he’s seen on day one at his new club.

“This place [the Zurich Centre] is amazing and I can’t wait to settle in and get stuck into pre-season training.

“There are a lot of guys in the squad who are from back home, including Benji, so that probably will make it even easier for me to adjust to my new home here at Wests Tigers.”

Solomon will return to New Zealand to be with his family for Christmas before relocating to Sydney with his partner and two dogs early in the New Year.

I can tell you this kid is a "JET" .. he's got size, a freakish step and speed .. !!! Goodbye Nofa ..

 

[balmain boy]

I can tell you this kid is a "JET" .. he's got size, a freakish step and speed .. !!! Goodbye Nofa ..

Then how come he's been playing 2nd division rugby in NZ for the past 2 years?

I understand he took time out to deal with stuff, but if he's so talented why didn't one of the bigger rugby clubs take a gamble on him over this time?

Ultimately Tuiaki went from club rugby, to NSW Cup prop to NRL winger in about 12 months. But yeah the likes of Warbrick, Radarara and Sivo all took at least a year in NSW Cup to acclimatise.

Would have preferred to give him a development contract. That's what they're for - gambles on players who may or may not make it. Were there that many other clubs after him that we had to offer top 30?