Signings, Suggestions & Rumours Discussion

[Tito Santana]

One of the best games . My son still talks about it. The Dwyer tackle shook the stands!

Truth be told, the shot hit him high and they should have had a penalty anyway. 2 points in front wins it for them.

 

[innsaneink]

That’s really left field. Would have thought Mahoney was the obvious choice.

Him and Burton were co Captains last year you'd have to think there'd be a bit of narkiness there about this

 

[GNR4LIFE]

I really hope we don’t go down the same road and give the C to Luai. Api is doing just fine.

 

[BAGNF05]

That’s really left field. Would have thought Mahoney was the obvious choice.

Mahoney had his worst season last year by far, I think they probably want him to focus on his own game this year. Crichton doesn’t seem like a leader but who knows what he’s like in the inner sanctum.

 

[Telltails]

We gave the captaincy to Api first year at the club dont see how it is any different for Crichton at the Bulldogs . He is a winner steps up in the big moments and has all the attributes to be a good captain.

 

[crazycat]

That’s really left field. Would have thought Mahoney was the obvious choice.

It is really left field.

Yet Cameron C knows Crichton well. I am surprised he hasn't picked Mahoney or Kikau or Ryan Sutton...
I hope we stop doing this too. Unless you have a DCE or Adam Reynolds transfer into your team you should never be making club captain in your first year.

 

[GNR4LIFE]

It is really left field.

Yet Cameron C knows Crichton well. I am surprised he hasn't picked Mahoney or Kikau or Ryan Sutton...
I hope we stop doing this too. Unless you have a DCE or Adam Reynolds transfer into your team you should never be making club captain in your first year.

I really don’t know why we had to announce that Api was this year’s captain. Bit of a concern moving forward if the Captaincy is a year by year thing. Would cheapen ii immensely.

 

[innsaneink]

We gave the captaincy to Api first year at the club dont see how it is any different for Crichton at the Bulldogs . He is a winner steps up in the big moments and has all the attributes to be a good captain.

Crichton is. Replacing Mahoney and. Burton. Who were only in.the job a year

Api replaced half our team

 

[innsaneink]

I really don’t know why we had to announce that Api was this year’s captain. Bit of a concern moving forward if the Captaincy is a year by year thing. Would cheapen ii immensely.

Bateman as VC is a new appointment I think... I'd say that's why this has been announced

 

[balmain boy]

He looked right at home in that centre spot. I’d have him starting in round 2 if he plays like that.

He's not even playing in the second trial. There's not a chance in hell he's playing first grade early in the season

 

[AdelaideTiger]

He's not even playing on the second trial. There's not a chance in hell he's playing first grade early in the season

I think he's getting a rest this week because he had a few stitches in his head last week. Feel like he could be in the mix, but unlikely to be a first choice centre by round 2.

 

[Todd Packer]

Jesse Sue scored a try for Hull KR this morning.
Not bad for an old fella. He looked like he was in his 40's when he played for us so he must be 52 or 53 now.

 

[Tito Santana]

I think he's getting a rest this week because he had a few stitches in his head last week. Feel like he could be in the mix, but unlikely to be a first choice centre by round 2.

He will play first grade this year no doubt. I already rate him better than Toa

 

[GNR4LIFE]

He's not even playing on the second trial. There's not a chance in hell he's playing first grade early in the season

How about Lobb?

 

[Tiger_Yoshi]

Jesse Sue scored a try for Hull KR this morning.
Not bad for an old fella. He looked like he was in his 40's when he played for us so he must be 52 or 53 now.

I always liked Jessie Sue....was very good for us

 

[BlackWhiteGold]

I wonder if Onitoni Large continues to impress over the next few months in Matts & in training with the NRL squad whether he we offer him a Top 30 contract once he turns 17 this year (17yos can be contracted to Top 30 but cannot play NRL until 18 under the new salary cap rules).

If we see him as a generational talent and given he will have multiple clubs & Rugby after him, this may just be an investment we need to do.

He's super-fast, skillful & will end up a good height & body shape and could play anywhere from 5/8, centre, wing & fullback.

And same with Haemasi Makasini possibly straight to a Dev or T&T contract next season.

We have a roster spot up-out-sleeve with the departure of Nofa and could be more if some of the other rumblings on this forum about Tumeth & Matamua have any truth to them.

Large & Makasini may just be our #1 priorities (outside of retaining Stefano) given there doesn't seem a lot of value-adds for us off-contract at other clubs if the intel that Turuva & Finefeuiaki are likely to stay at current clubs.

 

[jrtiger]

I wonder if Onitoni Large continues to impress over the next few months in Matts & in training with the NRL squad whether he we offer him a Top 30 contract once he turns 17 this year (17yos can be contracted to Top 30 but cannot play NRL until 18 under the new salary cap rules).

If we see him as a generational talent and given he will have multiple clubs & Rugby after him, this may just be an investment we need to do.

He's super-fast, skillful & will end up a good height & body shape and could play anywhere from 5/8, centre, wing & fullback.

And same with Haemasi Makasini possibly straight to a Dev or T&T contract next season.

We have a roster spot up-out-sleeve with the departure of Nofa and could be more if some of the other rumblings on this forum about Tumeth & Matamua have any truth to them.

Large & Makasini may just be our #1 priorities (outside of retaining Stefano) given there doesn't seem a lot of value-adds for us off-contract at other clubs if the intel that Turuva & Finefeuiaki are likely to stay at current clubs.

it's probably a waste of a spot to give him one this year when he's ineligible until 2025, but I do think the club will leave a spot open for him next year for him to move into once he's of age. we do have him locked up, it's just how long for and at what price that is the question. you would think that Richo and Marshall would be trying to lock him down for as long as possible.

as for Makasini I've heard the club is trying to lock him down but he has a lot of interest from both codes, namely half a dozen NRL clubs. hopefully we can sign him up long term as well but Richo is going to have his work cut out for him.

 

[AceofSpades]

I wonder if Onitoni Large continues to impress over the next few months in Matts & in training with the NRL squad whether he we offer him a Top 30 contract once he turns 17 this year (17yos can be contracted to Top 30 but cannot play NRL until 18 under the new salary cap rules).

If we see him as a generational talent and given he will have multiple clubs & Rugby after him, this may just be an investment we need to do.

He's super-fast, skillful & will end up a good height & body shape and could play anywhere from 5/8, centre, wing & fullback.

And same with Haemasi Makasini possibly straight to a Dev or T&T contract next season.

We have a roster spot up-out-sleeve with the departure of Nofa and could be more if some of the other rumblings on this forum about Tumeth & Matamua have any truth to them.

Large & Makasini may just be our #1 priorities (outside of retaining Stefano) given there doesn't seem a lot of value-adds for us off-contract at other clubs if the intel that Turuva & Finefeuiaki are likely to stay at current clubs.

Do we need to elevate every kid that we as fans deem as Once in a generation talent or do we just sign them and let them progress naturally without putting on any added pressure? This kid maybe doing all these amazing things in a lower age group but will it translate to battle hardened men?

 

[Kelce68]

Reality is superstars don’t come along all that often. When you have the Roosters and Storm winning comps and Clive Churchill medals with our former players (in the spine), it’s an issue.

When you have the Roosters and Storm winning comps and Clive Churchill medals with our former players (in the spine), it’s an issue

What?

We have 1 former player that has won a CC medal, Papenhuyzen in 2020 with Melbourne, so, rather than throwing plurals onto your argument for exaggeration, how about we're accurate.

Paps, mind you, we chose to not spend overs to retain because we'd prioritised Tedesco, who then chose to walk out on the club to take the easy option. This also happened in 2017; seven years ago.

So, as per my original point, this is not a pattern, it is not unique to the Wests Tigers and the last, impactful examples of it happening were 7 years ago.

I'll reiterate, to paint this inevitability of other teams just regularly picking the eyes out of our best and brightest as almost a fait accompli, is weak, overstated and not based in reality.

It also serves no purpose as a fan, I fail to see how projecting sentiments like 'only a matter of time until x team swoops in and pinches them' does anything for anyone.

 

[BlackWhiteGold]

Do we need to elevate every kid that we as fans deem as Once in a generation talent or do we just sign them and let them progress naturally without putting on any added pressure? This kid maybe doing all these amazing things in a lower age group but will it translate to battle hardened men?

Guess that's the million dollar question. Does Benji & team see Onitoni as a generational talent that we need to secure soon & perhaps see him debut as an 18yo?

Yes I've read also that we've got him on a contract for a few years but I wonder how secure these lower-tier contracts are especially if Rugby comes in throwing some big money at him??? That's why I speculate about whether he could potentially be in the mix for Top 30 as a 17yo.