Signings, Suggestions & Rumours Discussion

[Mighty_Tiger]

2-5 won’t be our problem in 2024.
We have plenty of strike power and enough depth to keep whoever is starting well and truly on their toes.
Plenty of other positions worry me for 2024, but not 2-5.

Other positions worry me as well.

Doesn’t change that most of our backs are b/c grade & untested rookies. We won’t win a comp or play finals with our current backline.

 

[Mistymuzzle]

I could name 30 odd , it doesn’t matter where they come from , as long as they can do a job for us, he could be that utility that we need across OUR poor backline

Im in....name 30....even 25 players that dominated ESL and then owned NRL....

This should be interesting.

 

[Mighty_Tiger]

I’m not saying “we are ok”..but we haven’t even given these guys a chance yet… let’s at least see how they go first before replacing them already … I assume someone thinks they have some potential upside .. otherwise they shouldn’t be signing them in the first place..

And the mooted replacements aren’t established first graders either

We need to be realistic with expectations.

When people are saying we are ok in the backs is strange especially after back to back spoons (which many of these have been apart of) and then referencing players who haven’t played an NRL game (1 hasn’t played league for years) whilst referencing another who couldn’t crack the Dragons squad last year despite the injury run they had.

Like let’s be real here….

I’m all for giving the kids a crack but take the pressure off them - for anyone right now to say our backs are fine isn’t right on how things are currently.

Morris & Benji have alot of work ahead of them to get the best out of these kids to become an attacking & defensive NRL quality players some are thinking they are.

 

[Mighty_Tiger]

I could name 30 odd , it doesn’t matter where they come from , as long as they can do a job for us, he could be that utility that we need across OUR poor backline

You will need to go back a very long timeframe to get 30 let alone 20 who have dominated in the backs from ESL.

 

[Needaname]

well Luke Laulili'i is the development candidate. he will absolutely be in contention for a first grade spot next year, but we lose both Nofoaluma and Tupou, and for that reason I feel it would be wise to bring in first grade-ready talent for 2025.

wing is actually one of the positions we don't have a stack of pathways talent in, similar to the back row.

Laulili'i is one, but outside him and Willett, who to my knowledge has never played wing, that's really it. we're flush with fullbacks, centres, halves and middles thru the pathways, but not so much on an edge or the wing, hence why I feel going to market is probably the right thing to do.

Karnib would be nipping at Laulili’i’s heals I’d imagine

 

[jrtiger]

Karnib would be nipping at Laulili’i’s heals I’d imagine

Karnib's more a fullback/centre than he is a winger. super talent tho. he will turn heads during this upcoming HM season. there was always whispers that Sheens saw our long term spine as Karnib, Large, Isdale and TDS, but how true that is I'm not exactly sure.

 

[weststigerman]

with Nofoaluma now gone and Tupou leaving end of year we will definitely need to go to market for a winger for 2025 and beyond. Luke Laulili'i comes into the squad next year, but someone low-risk, high upside fits the bill on a 2 year deal

I really like Laullili as a player but he's very short and not great under the high ball. Tupou is significantly better at catching bombs and we all saw his struggles last year.

Maybe his future is in the centres.

 

[king_sirro]

And that's based on your opinion from what you've seen which is fine lol. But from what I've seen from watching both these players at the lock position, is that Faagutu is the better ball player

I hope your right mate, because if he is we will have one hell of a player.

 

[jrtiger]

I really like Laullili as a player but he's very short and not great under the high ball. Tupou is significantly better at catching bombs and we all saw his struggles last year.

Maybe his future is in the centres.

definitely see where you're coming from in regards to his weakness under the high ball. the key is practice, and by being exposed to the first grade boys putting bombs up for him over the preseason he should improve further.

 

[balmain boy]

Im not advocating for French, but that's a ridiculous comparison. How can you compare total tries scored in the NRL when one isn't even playing lol. Tries per game maybe, not total. Seriously

Incorrect.
What's ridiculous is trying to compare stats across different competitions. You can only compare like things, so tries scored in the NRL is the only stat that matters.

The original post tried to suggest both players had scored the same number of tries, which is incredibly deceiving.

Sure a tries per game in the NRL would even be a better stat, if someone can be bothered to do the maths.

 

[Vicious]

Other positions worry me as well.

Doesn’t change that most of our backs are b/c grade & untested rookies. We won’t win a comp or play finals with our current backline.

I wouldn’t say our 2-5 in 2005 was anything special, but we won a comp based on quality players around them and they just had to do their job,

 

[Vicious]

I hope you’re right mate, because if he is we will have one hell of a player.

From what I’ve seen Faagatu has more upside to his game, but a question mark on his fitness levels and how willing he is to get himself in peak physical condition.

 

[teddy23]

I actually think between Lobb, Staines, Alaimalo and Naden, we have a little more cover than it might appear.

There’s a difference between cover and quality cover. If we’re being truthful with ourselves 3 of those 4 names aren’t quality NRL wingers.

. Lobb is a junior who hasn’t played a game of NRL.

. Alaimalo is a rugby union player who hasn’t played a game of NRL.

. Naden has talent but if we’re being realistic what he has shown lately is he’s a journeyman and couldn’t crack into a wooden spoon side. Haven’t given up on him however. I also consider him more a centre.

Staines I’ll give you.

Nofa leaving and the pending departure of Tupou we definitely need at least one more winger. Was told Fox is still quietly being shopped around. I wouldn’t be against it tbh. Taylan May another option.

 

[Tigers_Wests]

From what I’ve seen Faagatu has more upside to his game, but a question mark on his fitness levels and how willing he is to get himself in peak physical condition.

When I saw him play live last season, he was all effort on the field. Charging down kicks, chasing, getting back quickly to take a hit up....doing all the 1% things on the field. Seems like he would have the right attitude and fit in with the culture Benji is trying to achieve.

Now hopefully build that fitness as you said and do it for longer periods at a higher level.

Hopefully Fa'agutu starts the year off the bench in Cup, works his way into the Cup starting team and then plays a few NRL games before the end of the season.

 

[king_sirro]

Incorrect.
What's ridiculous is trying to compare stats across different competitions. You can only compare like things, so tries scored in the NRL is the only stat that matters.

The original post tried to suggest both players had scored the same number of tries, which is incredibly deceiving.

Sure a tries per game in the NRL would even be a better stat, if someone can be bothered to do the maths.

Not incorrect at all. Comparing 106 tries in 192 games to 35 tries in 47 games the incorrect part. I don't expect you to understand that though

 

[hammertime]

There’s a difference between cover and quality cover. If we’re being truthful with ourselves 3 of those 4 names aren’t quality NRL wingers.

. Lobb is a junior who hasn’t played a game of NRL.

. Alaimalo is a rugby union player who hasn’t played a game of NRL.

. Naden has talent but if we’re being realistic what he has shown lately is he’s a journeyman and couldn’t crack into a wooden spoon side. Haven’t given up on him however. I also consider him more a centre.

Staines I’ll give you.

Nofa leaving and the pending departure of Tupou we definitely need at least one more winger. Was told Fox is still quietly being shopped around. I wouldn’t be against it tbh. Taylan May another option.

If we could get the Fox back, that would be great.

I don't like what transpired earlier, but we can blame that on prior management.

 

[teddy23]

If we could get the Fox back, that would be great.

I don't like what transpired earlier, but we can blame that on prior management.

Reuniting both Olam and Fox would be massive for us. They’d give us the combination of speed and strength covered on one whole side. They both won competitions together and are representative players. Then you have the winning combination of Api/Luai as well to pair with them.

I think we’d be silly not to explore it.

No one looked good at the dogs last year I don’t think fox is finished he still has lots of value.

 

[Coastie_Tiger]

Reuniting both Olam and Fox would be massive for us. They’d give us the combination of speed and strength covered on one whole side. They both won competitions together and are representative players. Then you have the winning combination of Api/Luai as well to pair with them.

I think we’d be silly not to explore it.

No one looked good at the dogs last year I don’t think fox is finished he still has lots of value.

Wouldn't be against picking up the fox, but he's on a bit at the dogs. Swapping one terrible contract for another isnt what we should be about now.
If he comes subsidized thats another question of how much and for how long.

 

[Vicious]

We have to realise it’s the NRL, not some over 30’s competition.
It’s predominantly a young man’s game, having too many players on the wrong side of 30 will not work.

 

[Fainu Brothers]

I think some of Naden’s best games for the club have been on the wing.

The union convert could be our Will Walbrick.

Lobb is going to be a first grader