Signings, Suggestions & Rumours Discussion

Tiger_Yoshi said:
Sione has played KOE with Wests, we know what quality players they have had in their squad!...surround him with better players and we saw him step up...Its hard to fly like an Eagle when you are working with Turkeys!
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A big transition in Sione’s body shape from last season to this season.
Last season he was regularly gassed after 5mins, he now looks much fitter and stronger and his work ethic has increased significantly.
 
weststigerman said:
Our back row depth sucks but we need to find some decent outside backs and figure out how to get them the ball before looking at the back row IMO.

If a quality 13 became available I would change my tune but half the NRL teams don’t even have one.
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Tallis Duncan would start as our 13 right now, but we’d have to get him to skip training and go on a week long bender to be any chance of getting him out of his Souths contract early.
 
Vicious said:
If Angus Crichton plays anywhere from 80-100% of his ability then he no doubt starts for us.
The Roosters are stacked for back row options and are clearly not interested in him moving forward. Wests Tigers don’t have that same luxury.
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While we have low depth, Ice was second rower of the year at Parra and Bateman has been a top second rower for years.

The question should be asked why these guys can't perform at WT? We could sign the Australian second rowers and they'd lose 50% of their ability when they get here.

This is true for a number of positions and it's been a problem for many years.
 
king_sirro said:
He is unrecognisable compared to last year.
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it's crazy. he'll debut this year the way he's going.

a lot of our boys look like they've cut a fair bit of weight. I'd anticipate they might stack a little bit on between now and R2 now that the bulk of the preseason running is over, but Moussa has definitely done a great job.

there's a lot of people who thought we looked underdone last week, but I actually think it's the opposite. the boys looked like they'd been flogged all week given we've got more time than everyone else before our first game.
 
I think any further signings for next season will be more about function than name recognition.

Luai will be a huge addition. I could see someone like Tass being a target to upgrade the outside backs, or missing him Reimis Smith, Meaney or Alamoti to beef up the centre ranks.

Winger has to be on the list. Cotric would be interesting. Turuvu will be of interest too. Tigers will need to add 1 if nobody from the current ranks grabs the spot for themselves.

Then either a lock or second rower that can defend. Stimson, Max King...or maybe the return of Luke Garner.

Given the volume of young players coming through, I can't see the club adding more than 3 more players from outside for next season.
 
Vicious said:
If Angus Crichton plays anywhere from 80-100% of his ability then he no doubt starts for us.
The Roosters are stacked for back row options and are clearly not interested in him moving forward. Wests Tigers don’t have that same luxury.
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The issue is he hasn’t since his incident played close to that. With the time and support the Roosters have given him & given how far away he is still I think for a club like ours it would be a terrible investment.

The challenge is we need to stop looking at project players to bring in because all our rookies/young kids are projects.

We have cap space (we had a contract with AFB on the table plus Nofa contract off next season).

We need players who are ready to deliver day 1 when they join us.
 
Vicious said:
A big transition in Sione’s body shape from last season to this season.
Last season he was regularly gassed after 5mins, he now looks much fitter and stronger and his work ethic has increased significantly.
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Credit to coaching staff but also to the Brother impact. Sione through juniors had alot of going for him hopefully he is happy now & we will get to see the best out of him.
 
The Chad said:
I think any further signings for next season will be more about function than name recognition.

Luai will be a huge addition. I could see someone like Tass being a target to upgrade the outside backs, or missing him Reimis Smith, Meaney or Alamoti to beef up the centre ranks.

Winger has to be on the list. Cotric would be interesting. Turuvu will be of interest too. Tigers will need to add 1 if nobody from the current ranks grabs the spot for themselves.

Then either a lock or second rower that can defend. Stimson, Max King...or maybe the return of Luke Garner.

Given the volume of young players coming through, I can't see the club adding more than 3 more players from outside for next season.
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Wanted Turuva before he hit NRL, he is exactly what we need on 1 wing & can cover fullback / center also. He has always been a meter eater & not shy from high work rate/involvement.
 
Tiger_Yoshi said:
I’m sick of buying players where their current team donot want
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This is a very strange view to take when this has been more or less the Tigers' only source of good players over the past decade or so. Taupau, Austin, Elijah Taylor, Chee-Kam, Twal, Momirovski, Corey Thompson, Matterson, Doueihi, Leilua (the half decent one), Blore, Laurie, Ofahengaue, Maumalo, Klemmer... ok, they're not all superstars but basically we're coming up with one or two decent first grade players off the discard pile every year. And most of them would be dirt cheap, at least to start with.
 
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weststigerman said:
While we have low depth, Ice was second rower of the year at Parra and Bateman has been a top second rower for years.

The question should be asked why these guys can't perform at WT? We could sign the Australian second rowers and they'd lose 50% of their ability when they get here.

This is true for a number of positions and it's been a problem for many years.
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With Papali'i, I assume it's because he's fundamentally a hole runner who looked amazing playing in a side that was designed to put him into those holes and much less good in one that couldn't spot a hole at a putting green. Call it the Moses to Brooks effect.

With Bateman, it's because he's a small back row forward whose peak passed several years ago and who never should have been signed at all let alone given a four-year deal.

Edge back rowers and outside backs are always going to look worse in teams that lack reliable good go-forward or a creative spine. We've lacked at least one of those, and often both, for years.
 
Mighty_Tiger said:
Wanted Turuva before he hit NRL, he is exactly what we need on 1 wing & can cover fullback / center also. He has always been a meter eater & not shy from high work rate/involvement.
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Yeah he'll come here - he'll have two premiership rings at the end of this year and will no doubt see coming to a bottom 4 team as his best option to further his career. It's like no brainer.
 
The Chad said:
I think any further signings for next season will be more about function than name recognition.

Luai will be a huge addition. I could see someone like Tass being a target to upgrade the outside backs, or missing him Reimis Smith, Meaney or Alamoti to beef up the centre ranks.

Winger has to be on the list. Cotric would be interesting. Turuvu will be of interest too. Tigers will need to add 1 if nobody from the current ranks grabs the spot for themselves.

Then either a lock or second rower that can defend. Stimson, Max King...or maybe the return of Luke Garner.

Given the volume of young players coming through, I can't see the club adding more than 3 more players from outside for next season.
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I agree with your comment about function rather than profile since we're going all-in on being a development club & only recruiting externally for 'need' especially where we lack depth in experience.

For the outside backs, I think definitely the wing will be high priority and I reckon they'll want speed, finishing ability, aerial threat & metre-eater. Turuva would fit the bill perfectly but I think it was @teddy23 said he was likely to stay at Penrith. Just not sure on Cotric any more.

Yes to a back-up experienced second rower who can defend like your suggestions.

Depending what the plans are with Bateman & Papalii longer term, Jaydn Su'a would be great if one was to depart or move into another position.

Big season for Staines, Naden & To'a too ... if they fail to live up to Benji's plans, could easily be allowed to depart if an Addo-Carr or Lomax was to become available on a subsidised deal.
 
Vicious said:
If Angus Crichton plays anywhere from 80-100% of his ability then he no doubt starts for us.
The Roosters are stacked for back row options and are clearly not interested in him moving forward. Wests Tigers don’t have that same luxury.
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IMHO,
- Crichton would be walk in at the lock.
- History: Our FIRST 2nd rowers (IP, JB) played at THEIR BEST at a similar level as Crichton.
 
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