Signings, Suggestions & Rumours Discussion

[batboy]

Few guys have gone from Q cup champions to first grade.

Tyson Gamble, Toby Rudolf, Nicholas Hynes even.

QCup used to crap all over NSW Cup....
Been the other way for a while now,
The Blokes that can't make it in NSW Cup, Head up to the QCup to get a gig with a job tied in
and make a few bucks while they can.

Not many blokes who are 23-24 come from Q Cup and even make a dint in First Grade...
Spoke to a mate at Easts about this new kid, Good with the ball he says - Cabbage in defence they say...

Can't be any worse than the Ressies centres we've been trotting out for what feels like a decade now
Surely?

 

[AmericanHistoryX]

Hopefully not with the new board.

I don’t think even we would be stupid enough to pay extra on his contract when his only other option is to play reserve grade.

In the past. Maybe. With the new board. Hopefully they are on song.

 

[hank37w]

Storm is apparently subsidizing $200k annually for the first two seasons. I guess he is averaging out the 3 year contract based on that.

Maybe I read it wrong, but I took it that he was saying that he was not ever on a highly paid contract and that Storm had him on $425k for the next 3 years all along and he was never at $600k as has been commonly reported on this forum.

My thoughts have been all along that if we were paying only $350-$400k a year it is not all that much of a risk for 2 years but the 3rd year is probably not that desirable unless it is a club option.

 

[Kaito]

Maybe I read it wrong, but I took it that he was saying that he was not ever on a highly paid contract and that Storm had him on $425k for the next 3 years all along and he was never at $600k as has been commonly reported on this forum.

My thoughts have been all along that if we were paying only $350-$400k a year it is not all that much of a risk for 2 years but the 3rd year is probably not that desirable unless it is a club option.

$600k was a fictitious figure floated around
when there was talk he would come to Sydney,
$600k was what journos said would take 4 him
to move down here. Pretty sure the tele figure
is the right one, $475k for 3 years. If we could
get storm to chip for a year or 2 than even better

 

[Mighty_Tiger]

I don’t think even we would be stupid enough to pay extra on his contract when his only other option is to play reserve grade.

With Richo onboard agree. Seems strange ask for any NRL team to agree on.

 

[Vicious]

$600k was a fictitious figure floated around
when there was talk he would come to Sydney,
$600k was what journos said would take 4 him
to move down here. Pretty sure the tele figure
is the right one, $475k for 3 years. If we could
get storm to chip for a year or 2 than even better

If we get Justin Olam at anywhere near his best, figures in the 400’s per season are a bargain.
Has he still got somewhere near his best to offer, that’s the million dollar question.

 

[hank37w]

$600k was a fictitious figure floated around
when there was talk he would come to Sydney,
$600k was what journos said would take 4 him
to move down here. Pretty sure the tele figure
is the right one, $475k for 3 years. If we could
get storm to chip for a year or 2 than even better

Hard to work out the fact from the fiction and I know the RLPA, player managers and there are others that would disagree, but I wish player contracts were transparent so that each club's cap situation was known or at least able to be scrutinized more closely.

 

[Kaito]

Hard to work out the fact from the fiction and I know the RLPA, player managers and there are others that would disagree, but I wish player contracts were transparent so that each club's cap situation was known or at least able to be scrutinized more closely.

Agree. Sneaky bastards. Practically every other
league in the world publishes transfer fees and
contract amounts. NFL even have a live salary
cap counter you could check. It's bullshit, 3rd
party deals are being gamed 2, NRL aren't serious

 

[jadtiger]

Agree. Sneaky bastards. Practically every other
league in the world publishes transfer fees and
contract amounts. NFL even have a live salary
cap counter you could check. It's bullshit, 3rd
party deals are being gamed 2, NRL aren't serious

The NRL can't afford to be open about it as it would make themselves look as inept as many already think they are

 

[Tiger-ferret]

It was that great though you’d have to think there’s more to come, especially if he’s getting better service from his halves
I’d persist and if it doesn’t reappear perhaps he makes his way out to the wing

I’m not saying get rid of him. Depending on his contract amount (I have no idea about his cap $$) he’s good depth.

We need better. IMO olam is an immediate step up.

 

[batboy]

Exactly. He had 1 great game.

Against a team that were Putrid....
I think the Cows made him look better than he is - He hasn't got close to that since.

On the flip side, He does that against arguably one of the better centres in the game,
Then gets toasted by nufties in teams not much better than ours...

 

[WesternSuburbsBoy]

Exactly. He had 1 great game.

I think it's a bit unfair to say that. The period from the ANZAC day Manly game to the to the Titans game he was really good & along with Bula was in our top 2 backs every week. Like Bateman who people on here criticise a lot he was a victim to Sheenius coaching where he was moved out of position & played 5/8 for a game or two which completely destroyed his confidence... he just wasn't the same since. Also didn’t help the guy was practically playing alongside a new half every week.

 

[Magpie_Magic]

Agree. Sneaky bastards. Practically every other
league in the world publishes transfer fees and
contract amounts. NFL even have a live salary
cap counter you could check. It's bullshit, 3rd
party deals are being gamed 2, NRL aren't serious

Trouble is initially the cap was designed to level out playing talent across the clubs and especially under the Fox takeover to make for unpredictable ladder positioning as a sop to us following the upheaval in order to re enhance engagement.

Now though there are so many loopholes probably designed to encourage an edge against rival codes especially RU because sport in this country is aiming to capture an increasing market share in what is a shrinking market due to demographic changes , especially in the RL and Union space.

Hence the latitude when ensnaring RU recruits.

 

[king_sirro]

I think it's a bit unfair to say that. The period from the ANZAC day Manly game to the to the Titans game he was really good & along with Bula was in our top 2 backs every week. Like Bateman who people on here criticise a lot he was a victim to Sheenius coaching where he was moved out of position & played 5/8 for a game or two which completely destroyed his confidence... he just wasn't the same since. Also didn’t help the guy was practically playing alongside a new half every week.

I agree with your post and totally disagree with those who can't see the upside in Toa.

So many on here throw out "he had one good game" which simply isn't true. He has had many good Centre games and has had many more good moments where you see what he "could" bring on a regular basis if he snaps out of his laziness. His Cowboys game was so unbelievably good that when he just has a normal decent game for a centre it's considered below average.

Considering how badly we have lacked genuine tackle busters and players with the ability to make a break out of nothing, I'm baffled at how many can't see what this guy could bring.

He frustrated me enormously the back end of the year, but im not that closed minded that i forget just how easily he beats his man one on one. He needs to be worked with in a few areas, mainly keeping his head in the game and his effort, but if he sorts that out we have a genuine game breaker.

 

[old_man_tiger]

I agree with your post and totally disagree with those who can't see the upside in Toa.

So many on here throw out "he had one good game" which simply isn't true. He has had many good Centre games and has had many more good moments where you see what he "could" bring on a regular basis if he snaps out of his laziness. His Cowboys game was so unbelievably good that when he just has a normal decent game for a centre it's considered below average.

Considering how badly we have lacked genuine tackle busters and players with the ability to make a break out of nothing, I'm baffled at how many can't see what this guy could bring.

He frustrated me enormously the back end of the year, but im not that closed minded that i forget just how easily he beats his man one on one. He needs to be worked with in a few areas, mainly keeping his head in the game and his effort, but if he sorts that out we have a genuine game breaker.

One of the keys for me in the first 6 weeks. If he shows some consistency we have part of the backline we can lock in, but can't waste all year to end up at maybe. I think he has it in him, and hopefully they all see there is a bit more to play for and this helps switch a few heads on more regularly.

 

[swag_tiger]

Wests Tigers sign boom young centre

Mon 8 Jan 2024, 04:37 PM

Wests Tigers is delighted to confirm the signing of former Brisbane Tigers centre Solomona Faataape ahead of the 2024 season.

The 23-year-old has joined the club on a one-year Development contract following a premiership-winning season with Brisbane Tigers in Queensland’s second-tier competition, the Hostplus Cup.


Faataape was voted the Tigers’ players’ player last season after scoring 16 tries from 21 games to go with 10 try assists. He also averaged 157 run metres per game, posting 94 tackle-breaks and 14 line-breaks.

Wests Tigers head coach Benji Marshall is confident the Easts Tigers junior will make the most of this opportunity.

“We’re thrilled to welcome Solomona and his family to the club and I’m excited for him,” said Marshall.

“I look forward to seeing him work extremely hard over the next phase of pre-season.”


Faataape joined the squad on Monday for its first training session of the new year.

“It’s an awesome setup we have here, and I’ve really enjoyed my first day at my new club,” he said.

“All the boys and coaching staff been so welcoming and have made me feel right at home.

 

[Kaito]

Trouble is initially the cap was designed to level out playing talent across the clubs and especially under the Fox takeover to make for unpredictable ladder positioning as a sop to us following the upheaval in order to re enhance engagement.

Now though there are so many loopholes probably designed to encourage an edge against rival codes especially RU because sport in this country is aiming to capture an increasing market share in what is a shrinking market due to demographic changes , especially in the RL and Union space.

Hence the latitude when ensnaring RU recruits.

I totally get it MM.. just think it's a shit go 4
fans who have to speculate how much caps
left, especially given theres no trade window
& you could sign players a year out, It just
adds to the conjuncture. League journos
would be out of a job if the NRL were
transparent with salaries (once contracts
had been signed off on and approved).
Just a big joke, don't get me started on 3rd
parties either. Everyone is left in the dark

 

[tigerballs]

I agree with your post and totally disagree with those who can't see the upside in Toa.

So many on here throw out "he had one good game" which simply isn't true. He has had many good Centre games and has had many more good moments where you see what he "could" bring on a regular basis if he snaps out of his laziness. His Cowboys game was so unbelievably good that when he just has a normal decent game for a centre it's considered below average.

Considering how badly we have lacked genuine tackle busters and players with the ability to make a break out of nothing, I'm baffled at how many can't see what this guy could bring.

He frustrated me enormously the back end of the year, but im not that closed minded that i forget just how easily he beats his man one on one. He needs to be worked with in a few areas, mainly keeping his head in the game and his effort, but if he sorts that out we have a genuine game breaker.

He was good despite having no quality or consistency from the halves. People in here even accuse Paps of taking it easy. Wasn't he second rower of the year the previous season? What are they supposed to do with poor to no service from inside. Let's see what happens when the halves step up.

 

[TigerNeddyK]

QCup used to crap all over NSW Cup....
Been the other way for a while now,
The Blokes that can't make it in NSW Cup, Head up to the QCup to get a gig with a job tied in
and make a few bucks while they can.

Not many blokes who are 23-24 come from Q Cup and even make a dint in First Grade...
Spoke to a mate at Easts about this new kid, Good with the ball he says - Cabbage in defence they say...

Can't be any worse than the Ressies centres we've been trotting out for what feels like a decade now
Surely?

I have never seen Kepoa make a successful tackle, especially one on one, ever.. he just misses them outright and then stands back and watches the line break unfold. It’s the lamest , most inept, disinterested defensive centre I have ever seen

 

[Curly_Tiger]

Given Tupou is leaving I’d think it makes sense exploring what the Dolphins might be open to giving up to get him now
They have a ridiculously strong set of outside backs
Isaako, Farnworth, Averillo, Niu, Aitken, Hammer, TeWhare
Even Niu or Aitken might be improvements for us