Signings, Suggestions & Rumours Discussion

[Needaname]

It's a fair comment.

People need to remember, these kids are not training full time or at least haven't been training full time for very long and have not played against men.

Only very few can handle the physical jump.

For those of us that played, it's a little bit like when you first realised that your body can't do what your brain told it to do. The difference being the young kid can still grow physically and ease into it. Their strength against other kids their age that don't train full time doesn't translate to the men's game until they physically develop.

TDS especially needs a year or two. I think people forget he is still 18. He's done well so far, but you can see he struggles physically after sustained defence.

I love some comments on here about these young guys "packing on muscle" in a pre-season to be ready for NRL. If it only took 3 or 4 months to put on 10kg of pure muscle, we'd all be jacked. Plenty of gym rats on here can verify. It's not that easy.

Absolutely. And this has been a problem for a long time at our club. Because the guys in front of the kids have been next to rubbish.
Realistically we have genuine leaders and position holders in our team in prop (Klemmer, Stef), second row, ( Papali’i and Bateman) in the backline in Olam and to a lesser extent Naden. (Though despite a breakout season for Penrith years back he hasn’t reclaimed that form or status. And finally in the halves in Sezer this year and Luai next year (and who knows maybe both will be a partnership next year.)

Anyway it means that we don’t have to rush a young half, hooker, prop, backrower or edge player.

Despite me shitting on our lack of depth below. It does fill me with confidence that we have the cap balanced a bit better at the top end of the squad.

 

[Vicious]

900k for Leilua…😂😂😂😂
That is disgraceful overpayment by St George.
😆😆😆 Jesus wept…

Shane Flanagan has made his intentions quite clear as he has by far the biggest team in the NRL and will obviously try to over power and bash opposing teams, starting with us on Saturday night.
Besides Hunt, Flanagan and Liddle who I wouldn’t call midgets, the rest of the team are basically all over 100kgs. If the rumour of moving Lomax to fullback eventuates and Tuipolutu comes in on the wing, it will mean their whole 1-5 will be over 100kgs along with their entire forward pack aside from Liddle.
Who knows whether or not it will work, but every team they play will know they have been in a hard physical contest, particularly over the first 40mins.

 

[Needaname]

Shane Flanagan has made his intentions quite clear as he has by far the biggest team in the NRL and will obviously try to over power and bash opposing teams, starting with us on Saturday night.
Besides Hunt, Flanagan and Liddle who I wouldn’t call midgets, the rest of the team are basically all over 100kgs. If the rumour of moving Lomax to fullback eventuates it will mean their whole 1-5 will be over 100kgs along with their entire forward pack aside from Liddle.
Who knows whether or not it will work, but every team they play will know they have been in a hard physical contest, particularly over the first 40mins.

It’s a fair point.
Looking across the warriors side last year it was of a similar formation.

You could be on the money re Lomax, Sloan although a talent just doesn’t seem to have it at this stage to hold the fullback position.
Tuipolotu 102kg will take his place on the flank.

 

[JB9918]

Thought it would be strange if it was now a) not to even give him a chance given his underage representative record and b) given he went on the camp last week to NZ.

Interested to see where he ends up. If true leaves 28 on the books. 2 in line for upgrades. Doubt we Jag any midseason transfers but you never know. Maybe Duncan from South's earlier than expected.

 

[bptiger 0]

On the minimum wage I assume they are both earning and considering how light on we are for depth on the back row, I don’t know why we would not be giving both Matamua and Tumeth a chance to see how they progress in 2024.
Both are local juniors who played for a dominant NSW u/19’s team in 2022 so there is obviously talent within them. Also not forgetting it takes many young forwards in particular a couple of years playing senior rugby league to really toughen up, mature and become the ts better best version of themselves.

I haven’t seen much of either , but if benji thinks there both not going to make it then it’s better they go know so we can pick up someone else . Tumeth looks very light , didn’t impress me when he played state of origin last year . Matamua has had a few games but has not looked like a 1st grader in the making

 

[Vicious]

I haven’t seen much of either , but if benji thinks there both not going to make it then it’s better they go know so we can pick up someone else . Tumeth looks very light , didn’t impress me when he played state of origin last year . Matamua has had a few games but has not looked like a 1st grader in the making

I have no idea whether they are staying or going, it’s all based on a post from Mistymuzzle.
The point I made previously is both are still very young for NRL level forwards despite turning 21 at some stage in 2024.
Therefore as it does for many others, it could have taken them the past season or two to really toughen up, mature and get used to the week to week grind of senior professional rugby league. It would be great to see how they both go in the first half of season 2024 before allowing them to head elsewhere.
Very similar situation with our even younger players, but I am of the belief it’s a much easier transition for backs and dummy halves to make the transition at a younger age as they are not constantly in the bash & barge like the forwards are.
We have already seen a massive improvement from Sione Fainu from last season to this season and I believe he turns 22 in 2024.

 

[FrodoTBaggin]

Interested to see where he ends up. If true leaves 28 on the books. 2 in line for upgrades. Doubt we Jag any midseason transfers but you never know. Maybe Duncan from South's earlier than expected.

If we end up moving on Tumeth / Matamua and having 2 spots left I would expect us to fill one of those with an outside back from within early (Lobb / Faataape / L. Lualilii). They will know there is an opportunity and hopefully one will take it, my money would be on Lobb as his height brings a different dimension to our team and he is also a goalkicker if Api goes down.

Then we would probably hold the 29th spot as a just in case to see if anything pops up, someone always becomes available and I could already see Lomax being one before they spent big money on Luciano. There was already some noise that Flanagan doesn't think Lomax is worth what he is on so if they end up wanting to move someone to free up some cap space then I would guess it is him.

 

[BlackWhiteGold]

I have no idea whether they are staying or going, it’s all based on a post from Mistymuzzle.
The point I made previously is both are still very young for NRL level forwards despite turning 21 at some stage in 2024.
Therefore as it does for many others, it could take them the past season or two to really toughen up, mature and get used to the week to week grind of senior professional rugby league. It would be great to see how they both go in the first half of season 2024 before allowing them to head elsewhere.
Very similar situation with our even younger players, but I am of the belief it’s a much easier transition for backs and dummy halves to make the transition at a younger age as they are not constantly in the bash & barge like the forwards are.
We have already seen a massive improvement from Sione Fainu from last season to this season and I believe he turns 22 in 2024.

Could not pick out Tumeth or Matamua in today's training gallery on the website although I didn't look with a microscope.

 

[KingRobbie]

Could not pick out Tumeth or Matamua in today's training gallery on the website although I didn't look with a microscope.

They're both there in the background of a few pics.

 

[Tiger Stripes]

Why do we even bother with Balmain as one of our local rep teams? Not one player has been retained with talent from that side recently.
had we kept locals Conti and Nasser maybe so but otherwise what is the point?

Wasn't Sukkar a Balmain boy?

 

[Tucker]

Shane Flanagan has made his intentions quite clear as he has by far the biggest team in the NRL and will obviously try to over power and bash opposing teams, starting with us on Saturday night.
Besides Hunt, Flanagan and Liddle who I wouldn’t call midgets, the rest of the team are basically all over 100kgs. If the rumour of moving Lomax to fullback eventuates and Tuipolutu comes in on the wing, it will mean their whole 1-5 will be over 100kgs along with their entire forward pack aside from Liddle.
Who knows whether or not it will work, but every team they play will know they have been in a hard physical contest, particularly over the first 40mins.

The days of massive sides has passed.
Mobile teams will run them out of puff.

 

[Coastie_Tiger]

Tumeth is leaving the club

Good I don't see any value in him for us, didn't understand the last contract upgrade including the player option. But considering the previous management im not surprised.

 

[Needaname]

Wasn't Sukkar a Balmain boy?

I think you’re right. Seems his got the jump over Tumeth. Has a much more ideal frame for the modern game.

 

[Needaname]

The days of massive sides has passed.
Mobile teams will run them out of puff.

Interesting observation.
I’ve noted previously that Penrith has a front row pair that weigh less then 110kg each.

 

[bptiger 0]

I have no idea whether they are staying or going, it’s all based on a post from Mistymuzzle.
The point I made previously is both are still very young for NRL level forwards despite turning 21 at some stage in 2024.
Therefore as it does for many others, it could have taken them the past season or two to really toughen up, mature and get used to the week to week grind of senior professional rugby league. It would be great to see how they both go in the first half of season 2024 before allowing them to head elsewhere.
Very similar situation with our even younger players, but I am of the belief it’s a much easier transition for backs and dummy halves to make the transition at a younger age as they are not constantly in the bash & barge like the forwards are.
We have already seen a massive improvement from Sione Fainu from last season to this season and I believe he turns 22 in 2024.e making

Maybe this has something to do with us chasing the Souths lock , move our two on and pick up a 1st grade player in the making , just my thoughts

 

[balmain boy]

Why do we even bother with Balmain as one of our local rep teams? Not one player has been retained with talent from that side recently.
had we kept locals Conti and Nasser maybe so but otherwise what is the point?

Need to speak to Bronson about what's doing with Balmain and WT.

The lack of quality in the squads in recent years is all too obvious. No recruits are sent there. Also a few claims Balmain aren't even selecting the best players available to them, favouring the sons of mates and executives over more talented kids etc.

Looking at their performances thus far it's hard to see what value the WT are currently getting out of BT, when we should be utilising the fact we've got a second team of junior reps available to us.

I'll be watching our junior rep and flegg games on saturday with keen interest

 

[king_sirro]

The days of massive sides has passed.
Mobile teams will run them out of puff.

The way sports science is today I don't think small teams will dominate. When you have guys the size of Payne Haas capable of playing 80, I believe sides will gradually get bigger and not lose any mobility or fitness to the smaller forwards. Players like Bateman will find it hard to compete. We are already seeing how battered Cam Murray gets.

 

[Vicious]

The way sports science is today I don't think small teams will dominate. When you have guys the size of Payne Haas capable of playing 80, I believe sides will gradually get bigger and not lose any mobility or fitness to the smaller forwards. Players like Bateman will find it hard to compete. We are already seeing how battered Cam Murray gets.

It’s no good being big, but have limited mobility.
If you look at the St George-Illawarra squad including Luciano Leilua, they are all big and have good to decent mobility to go with it.
Hoping we beat them home on the ladder, but I don’t think they will be easy to beat with Shane Flanagan in control.

 

[hank37w]

The days of massive sides has passed.
Mobile teams will run them out of puff.

What are your thoughts, are we are fit enough to outlast them?

Fitness has always seemed to be an issue for us.

 

[Jolls]

What are your thoughts, are we are fit enough to outlast them?

Fitness has always seemed to be an issue for us.

It will all depend on what gameplan we come with. Smashing it up the middle will play into their hands. This week we will need to see the ball moving a little wider and moving the big men about. Api will be able to keep the A and B defender interested and if the start to drift could do a lot af damage with Sullivan and Bulla up the middle. This is a game where Sullivan could come into his own.

On the flip side of the coin though it is unlimited interchange so the big boys can go hard and rotate regularly. I don't think that is how Flannagan will approach it though - he will want to get some minutes into his starters.

Staines and Tupou need to be in this game, unlike last week, otherwise it will be a tough day out.