Signings, Suggestions & Rumours Discussion

[Magpie_Magic]

Sorry off thread a little
But who is this

View attachment 8983

Looks like Merlo. Came to us in 1980 from Penrith a sparky frim Maltese background.

Had a good year but sent off twice and suspended. Along with Goodwin who also got suspended twice and Dallas at least once probably cost us premiership.

Anyway, for a laugh Wests won RL new faces in 80 with a rendition of You can't stop the Magpies, the Village people song,

Merlo I believe was the guy with leather jacket on far left in that clip around 5 min mark.

Rabs and Bernard King hosted show.

 

[balmain boy]

I think the Centre from New Zealand will be part of the Wests tigers centre pairing.

Not a chance he'll play centre in the next 6 months. He's a union player, needs to understand league plays in attack and defence. He'll definitely start at wing, keep it simple and if/when he starts killing it may get considered for centre eventually. He's played wing and fullback, let's not make it too complicated for him

 

[Buttface]

It's a disgraceful description of someone who has done more than he, you or me would ever achieve. The fact you like it shows exactly what your about.

Flippers? That’s disgraceful? So is his attempt at league.
I have read plenty worse on here than Flippers. 🤪🤯🤪

 

[Buttface]

Not pick him in the centres ! He seemed to be going better in the pigs imo.

Better in reserves.

 

[balmain boy]

It's a disgraceful description of someone who has done more than he, you or me would ever achieve. The fact you like it shows exactly what your about.

Get off your high horse

He wouldn't have played more than 15 first grade games with club other than us.

He's not a first grader.

 

[GNR4LIFE]

Expecting Luai to be in the captain candidate as well.

Once Api is gone, definitely.

 

[balmain boy]

The AJ bashing does get tiring. Yes he sucks. But the club overall has sucked for the las few years. Players like him are bound to be regular first graders. What are you going to do?

Not re-sign him. Play him in reserves and tell him he's free to leave. That's what other clubs would have done.

 

[GNR4LIFE]

Not re-sign him. Play him in reserves and tell him he's free to leave. That's what other clubs would have done.

And replace him with someone just as bad. If its not him, it’s someone else.

 

[balmain boy]

And replace him with someone just as bad. If its not him, it’s someone else.

Someone else may be better, worse, or just as good. He will always be the same. He hasn't improved since he got here. We should have had half a dozen players recruited to replace him by now, instead he started the season in our top squad.
Hopefully the rot is over, standards and expectations are raised and we make decisions to improve the club and not just maintain our wooden spoon status quo

 

[Magpie_Magic]

Yeah it was very direct from Richo wasn’t it.
Expecting Luai to be in the captain candidate as well.

Mentions Twal as a must have squad player also which was interesting

Yes,

But thinking touch wood Api looks like his got 3 years at least.

Might be better to keep a guy like Luai simmering just below an understated Api as leader.

It allows him to be a little more brash, take a few more risks.

Our team needs a showman...


They are tough to watch lately.

 

[Tigerwould]

Yes,

But thinking touch wood Api looks like his got 3 years at least.

Might be better to keep a guy like Luai simmering just below an understated Api as leader.

It allows him to be a little more brash, take a few more risks.

Our team needs a showman...


They are tough to watch lately.

Totaly agree. We deserve better than what we have had to watch and support lately. The effort was there but just not the ability to execute

 

[Roar_Power]

You'd have to think by Richo's comments in that podcast that Jerome is 100% coming.

Makes for an optimistic lead into the New Year! Halves sorted for 2025 - X factor everywhere. Benji now needs to focus on strengthening this average backline. IMO, 2025 backline in the making:

1 Bula
2 Staines
3 Olam
4 Galvin
5 ?

Too many question marks over our wingers. Noffa on the nose, Lobb not proven at NRL level, Solomon transitioning from union. Staines should lock down one wing....

 

[Stevec]

I'm still concerned about our 2024 backline ? As I see it we've got a great no 1
That's 1. Bula
Our positions 2-5 im really concerned. Is Junior Tupou going / staying for 2024 ?
Is Nofo going to be cut / paid out ? Or rehabilitated with fitness and attitude and still in our side ?
I think Toa is potentially a very good center but needs similar quality left and right of him
I think Naden does rash things and will spend a lot of the season off the field . He just doesn't seem to be a winner .
I think Staines has done very little to prove he's a quality 1st grader .He's a big maybe ?
Some are picking AJ at center ? To those in saying check the video ! Watch a few replays he just stands there a watches like a statue
All in all where is this great newbackline ? Can't see it !
Halves - to save reading 50 posts and still not knowing
Weve got Sullivan / Seezer / Latu for 2024 . Correct ? Is that it ?
Luai - Has he signed ? Is it announced ? Will it fall through ?
Summary weve got a good pack and a good fullback and maybe a good halves pairing but the rest sounds like last year or maybe even worse
Someone tell me what's going on !!!

 

[Champ1]

Is that you Lee???

We had a right to make a counter-offer but were outbid by the Dolphins!

Nothing shonky like Taupau - Matterson - Aloiai etc who all broke their contracts to move to greener pastures!

You sound like a bunny boiling jilted ex!!

How about we just treat him on merit while contracted to the Tigers like any decent professional organisation would???

There are more important things than money my friend. It appears you don’t grasp that winning is a culture not bank account. Professional organisations understand the importance of all team members being committed to the organisation & believe in structures. Topou clearly does not . There is an old saying, “You can make the willing able, but you can’t make the able willing.”
Topou is a Dolphin now.

 

[GNR4LIFE]

There are more important things than money my friend. It appears you don’t grasp that winning is a culture not bank account. Professional organisations understand the importance of all team members being committed to the organisation & believe in structures. Topou clearly does not . There is an old saying, “You can make the willing able, but you can’t make the able willing.”
Topou is a Dolphin now.

Some are motivated differently. Ben Teo, SBW and even Matterson to call out a current player are/were paid mercenaries and didn’t really hide the fact. We don’t really know Junior’s motivations yet. Could be money, could be the appeal of South East Qld, who knows. If he starts moving from club to club though, we might get an idea of what motivates him. That’s if he‘s even good enough. He hasn’t convinced me yet.

 

[tigerballs]

Some are motivated differently. Ben Teo, SBW and even Matterson to call out a current player are/were paid mercenaries and didn’t really hide the fact. We don’t really know Junior’s motivations yet. Could be money, could be the appeal of South East Qld, who knows. If he starts moving from club to club though, we might get an idea of what motivates him. That’s if he‘s even good enough. He hasn’t convinced me yet.

Blokes getting a hefty pay rise, getting coached by the greatest, moving to Qld.... wish it would happen to me...

 

[Halbrowne61]

I'm still concerned about our 2024 backline ? As I see it we've got a great no 1
That's 1. Bula
Our positions 2-5 im really concerned. Is Junior Tupou going / staying for 2024 ?
Is Nofo going to be cut / paid out ? Or rehabilitated with fitness and attitude and still in our side ?
I think Toa is potentially a very good center but needs similar quality left and right of him
I think Naden does rash things and will spend a lot of the season off the field . He just doesn't seem to be a winner .
I think Staines has done very little to prove he's a quality 1st grader .He's a big maybe ?
Some are picking AJ at center ? To those in saying check the video ! Watch a few replays he just stands there a watches like a statue
All in all where is this great newbackline ? Can't see it !
Halves - to save reading 50 posts and still not knowing
Weve got Sullivan / Seezer / Latu for 2024 . Correct ? Is that it ?
Luai - Has he signed ? Is it announced ? Will it fall through ?
Summary weve got a good pack and a good fullback and maybe a good halves pairing but the rest sounds like last year or maybe even worse
Someone tell me what's going on !!!

Good post .

 

[Harvey]

think a C+ is a crock of shit personally. I feel that only Penrith and North Queensland are better than us.

we have a better pack than the Broncos (since the departures of Flegler and Capewell), Melbourne (backrowers are shocking), Newcastle, Canberra & Redcliffe (Dad's army), Manly, the Dogs & the Dragons (shithouse).

we're on par with NZ, Souths, Parra, Gold Coast and the Chooks, and we likely edge Cronulla given Brailey couldn't hold a candle to Api. our pack was not the issue last year.

Depends if you are judging by reputation or performance. Our pack start last year on fire, but by the end of the year they looked average at best.

The big name/big money backrowers in particular clocked off

 

[Harvey]

Our centres are garbage. Very surprised that no-one is mentioning Feledy. Should be getting to the point where he is playing 1st grade, but we botched his development by not letting him play most of last year in KOE cup despite our lack of talent there

 

[liltiger]

INTERVIEW: Shane Richardson

Podcast Episode · Betoota Talks · 24/12/2023 · 46m

podcasts.apple.com

Sounds like a done deal. Well worth the whole listen. If not fast forward to about the 33 minute mark.

I had a listen thinking perhaps you were just reading too much into it. I was 100 percent wrong sounded like he was already a Tiger and Richardson wants him as out captain. Wonder what the hold up is on the announcement of his signing is.