Signings, Suggestions & Rumours Discussion

[HowDugWT]

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?

We hear "once in a generation talent" and think of all the talent we have lost. Retention has been poor from the tigers in past years and now I believe the tigers are overdoing it. Conti is an excellent young star but I believe they are already overdoing it. But still we don't want another Tedesco/Moses etc disaster.

 

[AceofSpades]

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.

Well if he's contracted with us for a few years I wouldn't do anything about it until it's his last year where he'll be able to start talking to other clubs and codes. I just don't see the point in elevating someone just to retain them cos then we're just wasting a spot that could be used for a more valuable player now to upgrade depth or mid season signed player.

 

[jrtiger]

We hear "once in a generation talent" and think of all the talent we have lost. Retention has been poor from the tigers in past years and now I believe the tigers are overdoing it. Conti is an excellent young star but I believe they are already overdoing it. But still we don't want another Tedesco/Moses etc disaster.

Conti is looking sensational at Canterbury at the moment from what I've seen. that one is going to hurt.

 

[Mighty_Tiger]

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.

Wouldn’t be a waste of a spot if it means we retain him over multi years & firmly believe in his talent.

 

[crazycat]

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

Api replaced half our team

Api is the only player worthy of the title. Everyone 2022 and many 2023 were crusing.

Bateman, Klemmer did put in, but there is another level there to both of them. Papalii, Stefano... Can do a lot better.

man I can't even think about our backs from 2023 without having shudders.

 

[HowDugWT]

Conti is looking sensational at Canterbury at the moment from what I've seen. that one is going to hurt.

Galvin, Fainu, Large brothers are all rated higher then Conti..... in my opinion

 

[jrtiger]

Galvin, Fainu, Large brothers are all rated higher then Conti..... in my opinion

mate I'm in the exact same boat as you.

they all have higher ceilings than him, but Conti is the most genuine 7 out of all of them. Latu will definitely become a halfback as time goes on and he is far superior to Conti from a talent standpoint, but it still stings seeing a local junior rip it up for another club, irrespective of what grade.

 

[LeichhardtTiger]

mate I'm in the exact same boat as you.

they all have higher ceilings than him, but Conti is the most genuine 7 out of all of them. Latu will definitely become a halfback as time goes on and he is far superior to Conti from a talent standpoint, but it still stings seeing a local junior rip it up for another club, irrespective of what grade.

You might be right JR but Conti has been playing 6 for Dogs Ball. They lost easily to Roosters in Rd 1 (Chooks put 30 on them in 2nd half). Had a 2-point win in Rd 2 vs Knights (much improved 2nd half) and a draw in Rd 3 against Penriff who blew the game (Pen 70% completion vs Dogs 55%. Pen 61% Possession vs Dogs 39%) Conti did score the try & kicked the goal to level the score at the death. Penrith missed 4 conversion attempts.

Mitchell Woods is the Dogs 7 and is their Captain so it might be a while before his natural 7 potential is realised.

 

[Tito Santana]

Large looks good. Once in a generation talent.

Future immortal as well.

Tito.

 

[BlackWhiteGold]

mate I'm in the exact same boat as you.

they all have higher ceilings than him, but Conti is the most genuine 7 out of all of them. Latu will definitely become a halfback as time goes on and he is far superior to Conti from a talent standpoint, but it still stings seeing a local junior rip it up for another club, irrespective of what grade.

And maybe it's because we have Alex Isdale, 2 years younger than Conti, & Ashton Large (hooker, could potentially be a half) coming through as well.

 

[BAGNF05]

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.

Bahaha sound a touch salty.

Teddy hasn’t looked back with two premierships in his back pocket.

The list of first grade talent who left WT to join top four clubs in the last decade is long, and represents a pattern.

Teddy (the Kangaroos captain) easily could have won a Clive Churchill medal too but they gave it to Wighton out of sympathy.

Thankfully competent management is now in place and this will be a priority for them.

 

[weststigers]

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

I hope the team can understand him

 

[balmain boy]

How about Lobb?

He'll start the season in cup and depending how both he and tupou go it will determine where he plays from there

 

[balmain boy]

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.

He's under contract, who knows possibly a development contract already included for him. And that's all he needs while he's still so young.

I don't know if it would even be possible to have him on a top 30 contract while he's 17. He still has school, and would therefore miss all training sessions. If he drops out of school it may be possible, but i highly doubt he'd be in that much of a rush given he's on a scholarship at one of the most prestigious schools in the country.

 

[Tito Santana]

Tito reckons we shouldn’t be bothering with the following players and remove them immediately and let other kids have a crack as the following are lame:

- Toa
- Staines
- Kepaoa
- Tumeth
- Feledy
- Tupou

Sukkar intrigues me for some reason.

 

[Roar_Power]

Tito reckons we shouldn’t be bothering with the following players and remove them immediately and let other kids have a crack as the following are lame:

- Toa
- Staines
- Kepaoa
- Tumeth
- Feledy
- Tupou

Sukkar intrigues me for some reason.

I agree but don't mind Staines as a depth winger/ fullback.

 

[jrtiger]

You might be right JR but Conti has been playing 6 for Dogs Ball. They lost easily to Roosters in Rd 1 (Chooks put 30 on them in 2nd half). Had a 2-point win in Rd 2 vs Knights (much improved 2nd half) and a draw in Rd 3 against Penriff who blew the game (Pen 70% completion vs Dogs 55%. Pen 61% Possession vs Dogs 39%) Conti did score the try & kicked the goal to level the score at the death. Penrith missed 4 conversion attempts.

Mitchell Woods is the Dogs 7 and is their Captain so it might be a while before his natural 7 potential is realised.

that's a fair way to look at it, LT. for me personally just in his movements and his work either scoring or creating tries I think he looks very good. Woods is obviously the great white hope for the Dogs at 7, and rightly so, but I do think Conti will be a first grader.

 

[jrtiger]

And maybe it's because we have Alex Isdale, 2 years younger than Conti, & Ashton Large (hooker, could potentially be a half) coming through as well.

Isdale has been excellent to start this year's HM season. had some really nice moments with the ball in hand. I was concerned about him last year, but this year he has alleviated a number of those concerns, namely with his ballplaying.

he's an interesting one is Alex. has a lot of great strengths but there are things to work on. he's a player I watch with great interest every time I see him, mainly because I have no idea where his ceiling is.

 

[rugbygoated]

Interesting to see Woodsy tip us for the spoon this season again. I can't see it happening. With a fresh style and new presence at the club, I think it will motivate the boys to play harder. I think the double spoons were a stale culture of not changing things and having toxic figures having too much power. I still think we finish bottom 3 tbh but I've got Raiders finishing last. Fogarty will be the most under pressure player in 2024, given Rapana, Whitehead and Papali'i are retiring joining Croker, and other than Tapine, the rest of the team are very inexperienced

 

[rugbygoated]

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

Don't like the pressure it gives. Tom Dearden and Harry Grant too given captaincies I disagree with. Critta is a good leader but this might take away from his game. Api is a great captain and should remain so until he retires. After that, I imagine one of the senior boys by that stage (Luai, Utoikamanu, Bula) could become captain