Signings, Suggestions & Rumours Discussion

[BlackWhiteGold]

GAH, no.

Just no. Can we just stop with this stuff.

Hey lets go and find a player with weaknesses and issues in their game and bring them to the tigers.
Who on earth is watching us going "hey lets get a weak defender who is playing in EPL and sign them here?"...

Bevan French is a Moneyball kinda pick, "hey come play in Australia for a min value contract."

Pat Richards worked, because he was quality and a larger player who could tackle. Bevan French is a NRL hasbeen.


No signings till we see our current team play together for 3 months. lets see where our weaknesses are and what Marshall can coach out. I think we still need a solid back, but lets see what we have.

I agree about no external signings until we see our current team play together for 3 months.

It'll be a big 3 months for To'a, Naden, Lobb, Casey, Alaimalo, Faatape and even Doeuihi to see if they have a future in the WT outside backs. Even Feledy & Saukuru will want to show they can dominate in Flegg.

Behind-the-scenes hopefully Richo /Betsey/Benji are working hard to ensure Stefano commits long-term and we are all set up to secure both Onitoni Large & Haemasi Makasini on deals that see them progress to a Development contract next season. Both have what we lack in a combo - speed, size & football ability. And I think if they develop as we hope, one or both could be long-term centres.

And I'd be in discussions with player managers still atm re. the likes of Josh Addo-Carr & Dane Gagai (one season only) to add experience & quality to our OBs for next season, even Izaac Thompson (size & speed) as depth.

Two Sharks players (John Morris links) to monitor are Oregon Kaufusi (they have too many 1st team middles for '25, depending on future of Stefano) & Jack Williams (as backrow/lock depth for us, quality bench player, 10 times better than AJ Kepaoa). Xavier Willison (Broncos) is another I'd be in regular dialogue with his manager about.

 

[Vicious]

I agree about no external signings until we see our current team play together for 3 months.

It'll be a big 3 months for To'a, Naden, Lobb, Casey, Alaimalo, Faatape and even Doeuihi to see if they have a future in the WT outside backs. Even Feledy & Saukuru will want to show they can dominate in Flegg.

Behind-the-scenes hopefully Richo /Betsey/Benji are working hard to ensure Stefano commits long-term and we are all set up to secure both Onitoni Large & Haemasi Makasini on deals that see them progress to a Development contract next season. Both have what we lack in a combo - speed, size & football ability. And I think if they develop as we hope, one or both could be long-term centres.

And I'd be in discussions with player managers still atm re. the likes of Josh Addo-Carr & Dane Gagai (one season only) to add experience & quality to our OBs for next season, even Izaac Thompson (size & speed) as depth.

Two Sharks players (John Morris links) to monitor are Oregon Kaufusi (they have too many 1st team middles for '25, depending on future of Stefano) & Jack Williams (as backrow/lock depth for us, quality bench player, 10 times better than AJ Kepaoa). Xavier Willison (Broncos) is another I'd be in regular dialogue with his manager about.

I agree with your comments, but take into consideration Jack Williams is a middle forward with good leg speed. I agree he would be a good recruit for us, but he would not be a direct replacement for Kepaoa who plays on an edge,
It is vitally important to have edge back rowers who are fast enough and agile enough to play as a centre when injuries occur throughout a game, hence where the value in Kepaoa comes into play.
We need to recruit at least one player who is big, strong and fast enough to play as an edge back rower or a centre.
Nobody really springs to mind, although one to keep an eye on is Aaron Schoup currently with the Titans. He doesn’t look like he’ll be a regular part of their top 17 and has played all his NRL as a centre, but I recall he played 2 games of Qld Cup as an edge back rower last season and was MOM in one of them.
Xavier Willison is potentially elite and could be one of the best middle forwards in the game before too long. He’d be a great addition, but I don’t see anyone getting him away from the Broncos to be honest,
The Sharks look to be overloaded with good quality middles from 2025, so Oregon Kaufusi should be up for grabs.

 

[Todd Packer]

Nathan Brown surprised me today.
I thought he'd be a dud signing.
I guess it's whether he can repeat that effort week after week.

 

[Vicious]

Nathan Brown surprised me today.
I thought he'd be a dud signing.
I guess it's whether he can repeat that effort week after week.

He’s one of only a few players who can genuinely play at speed and still have the ability to play out the back as a 13 and rough enough defensively in the middle.
We could have signed him for a very minimal contract and chose not to.
That was a another big recruitment mistake on our behalf.

 

[BlackWhiteGold]

I agree with your comments, but take into consideration Jack Williams is a middle forward with good leg speed. I agree he would be a good recruit for us, but he would not be a direct replacement for Kepaoa who plays on an edge,
It is vitally important to have edge back rowers who are fast enough and agile enough to play as a centre when injuries occur throughout a game, hence where the value in Kepaoa comes into play.
We need to recruit at least one player who is big, strong and fast enough to play as an edge back rower or a centre.
Nobody really springs to mind, although one to keep an eye on is Aaron Schoup currently with the Titans. He doesn’t look like he’ll be a regular part of their top 17 and has played all his NRL as a centre, but I recall he played 2 games of Qld Cup as an edge back rower last season and was MOM in one of them.
Xavier Willison is potentially elite and could be one of the best middle forwards in the game before too long. He’d be a great addition, but I don’t see anyone getting him away from the Broncos to be honest,
The Sharks look to be overloaded with good quality middles from 2025, so Oregon Kaufusi should be up for grabs.

I've seen Williams play some good matches in the backrow.

I do get your comment about having a bench backrower who can also play centre. Not sure on Schoupp as I've always had a query on his defence. Others that fit this bill is the one-and-only Luke Garner (why not!) or perhaps Connelly Lemuelu (although he's contracted for another year).

 

[innsaneink]

He’s one of only a few players who can genuinely play at speed and still have the ability to play out the back as a 13 and rough enough defensively in the middle.
We could have signed him for a very minimal contract and chose not to.
That was a another big recruitment mistake on our behalf.

It takes two to tango... Maybe he didn't wanna come back to us... Maybe Narrabeen or Collary is more appealing than Breakfast point or Rhodes
Maybe preferred Seibold over Marshall

 

[Vicious]

It takes two to tango... Maybe he didn't wanna come back to us... Maybe Narrabeen or Collary is more appealing than Breakfast point or Rhodes
Maybe preferred Seibold over Marshall

You could be right, but the strong rumour was he approached Wests Tigers wanting to finish off his career where it started.

 

[Buttface]

Nathan Brown surprised me today.
I thought he'd be a dud signing.
I guess it's whether he can repeat that effort week after week.

How many errors and penalties did he give away?

 

[Mighty_Tiger]

He’s one of only a few players who can genuinely play at speed and still have the ability to play out the back as a 13 and rough enough defensively in the middle.
We could have signed him for a very minimal contract and chose not to.
That was a another big recruitment mistake on our behalf.

Lets be real & not get carried away it’s the best 50mins of game time for him in 2-3yrs. Prior to that he wasn’t wanted by the Eels or Roosters on a minimum contract.

Far from a big recruitment mistake as it stands.

I like Brown and wouldn’t have been upset in him coming but he hasn’t been a starting 13 & well we kept Seyfarth instead.

 

[Vicious]

Lets be real & not get carried away it’s the best 50mins of game time for him in 2-3yrs. Prior to that he wasn’t wanted by the Eels or Roosters on a minimum contract.

Far from a big recruitment mistake as it stands.

I like Brown and wouldn’t have been upset in him coming but he hasn’t been a starting 13 & well we kept Seyfarth instead.

Each to their own opinion, but having a player on a near minimum wage who can play the modern day 13 role effectively and open up the play for our halves would have been a huge plus for our attack.
Seyfarth is as close as we have, but passing the ball doesn’t look too natural for him as hard as he tries.
Matamua is the other hope, but he will need to show he’s willing to play with a lot more intent and aggression.
The bottom line is if we continue to play a 13 who has no idea how to engage the opposing defence and play out the back, then our attack will continue to be poor.

 

[Mighty_Tiger]

Each to their own opinion, but having a player on a near minimum wage who can play the modern day 13 role effectively and open up the play for our halves would have been a huge plus for our attack.
Seyfarth is as close as we have, but passing the ball doesn’t look too natural for him as hard as he tries.
Matamua is the other hope, but he will need to show he’s willing to play with a lot more intent and aggression.
The bottom line is if we continue to play a 13 who has no idea how to engage the opposing defence and play out the back, then our attack will continue to be poor.

I didn’t disagree with you on above but I just don’t think he was a big recruiting mistake for us.

Also don’t buy into the he would come on next to nothing unless he was guaranteed a starting spot & not to play reggies regardless of form.

 

[Dr_Ice]

One dimensional seems par for the course for a pack coming off a wooden spoon. Idk how much to expect from Ice until Luai gets here and he has a half that can put him into a hole. Plus, it will be a contract year, so expect a big year from Pap in 25.

That is assuming Ice does not sign elsewhere between Nov 1, 2024 and the start of the 2025 season. 2025 won’t be a contract year then.

 

[Tiger Stripes]

I reckon that's the cost of us picking up Fainu... Reilly seemed almost greater then Feledy and I would have been happy keeping him...

We were almost building to be Eagle Tigers (and the Eagles, Tigerbirds)... A lot of crossover with Manly, which all made sense prior to us signing Luai.

Our problem though is not our recruitment, it's our traning and staff. Players are coming here and NOT improving. I don't care who we have to bring in to the coaching staff, we need:
A tackling coach
Phys conditioning coach
Running coach (partial).

Were way under trained and it shows.

IMO our recruitment-----talent identification has been very pour in the past.
I think it has turned around in the last couple of tears, but that means we have to wait for them to grow, train hard and toughen up.
I think Melbourne are very good at this with no nursery to dip into.
IMO Bellamy sets out to his talent scouts/recruitment team what he wants in his players ie. speed, height, size etc. GO SEEK. Them interviews them to assess if their attitude fits the club culture before progressing further. A blueprint I hope we are adopting. Just need unbiased, independent talent scouts, recruiters who don't promote their relative's. [I hope Benji has a wish list to pass on to his recruitment team]. I'm a dreamer!

 

[Vicious]

IMO our recruitment-----talent identification has been very pour in the past.
I think it has turned around in the last couple of tears, but that means we have to wait for them to grow, train hard and toughen up.
I think Melbourne are very good at this with no nursery to dip into.
IMO Bellamy sets out to his talent scouts/recruitment team what he wants in his players ie. speed, height, size etc. GO SEEK. Them interviews them to assess if their attitude fits the club culture before progressing further. A blueprint I hope we are adopting. Just need unbiased, independent talent scouts, recruiters who don't promote their relative's. [I hope Benji has a wish list to pass on to his recruitment team]. I'm a dreamer!

There is no doubt Latu Fainu based on what he’s shown so far in his young career, has the potential to be a superstar of the game.
Obviously there is a lot of water the pass under the bridge before it is confirmed whether or not he reaches that potential and/or how quickly it happens.
Lachie Galvin has already shown us a glimpse of what he’s capable of and the sky is the limit for him also.
BUT much like Brooks and Moses when they were with us, they need a capable side around them to allow them to flourish.

 

[innsaneink]

I wanted us to go after Brown, I just remembered

Everyone said "No"

 

[clontarfkid]

There is no doubt Latu Fainu based on what he’s shown so far in his young career, has the potential to be a superstar of the game.
Obviously there is a lot of water the pass under the bridge before it is confirmed whether or not he reaches that potential and/or how quickly it happens.
Lachie Galvin has already shown us a glimpse of what he’s capable of and the sky is the limit for him also.
BUT much like Brooks and Moses when they were with us, they need a capable side around them to allow them to flourish.

Think it's gonna be exactly like BROOKS AND moses..2 19 yo s running the team without experience won't work.
Fortunately Luai changes that next year..but one will be surplus in the halves

 

[BirchgroveTigers]

Think it's gonna be exactly like BROOKS AND moses..2 19 yo s running the team without experience won't work.
Fortunately Luai changes that next year..but one will be surplus in the halves

Based on the trial, seems Galvin capable of slotting into centre, backrow or half so there's a world in which we see either Fainu or Galvin as starting 6. Galvin can in effect be that backrow/centre cover on the bench we've seen covered by the likes of Chee Kam and Kepoa more recently. I thnk Fainu also played a bit of dummy half for Tonga last year against England so I feel there's room for all of them for the next year or two. Come 2026 potentially one wants to leave but you'd think we'd be able to get the best of the two in that scenario.

 

[crazycat]

IMO our recruitment-----talent identification has been very pour in the past.
I think it has turned around in the last couple of tears, but that means we have to wait for them to grow, train hard and toughen up.
I think Melbourne are very good at this with no nursery to dip into.
IMO Bellamy sets out to his talent scouts/recruitment team what he wants in his players ie. speed, height, size etc. GO SEEK. Them interviews them to assess if their attitude fits the club culture before progressing further. A blueprint I hope we are adopting. Just need unbiased, independent talent scouts, recruiters who don't promote their relative's. [I hope Benji has a wish list to pass on to his recruitment team]. I'm a dreamer!

This is the wrong thinking...
Sure Bellamy scouts them down, but it is the other half which we are doing wrong.

First 3 weeks at Melbourne, they send the 'new recruit' to a construction site. Usually to work the Gravel for a cement mixer. It's a HORRIBLE job.

Clint Newton arrives at Melbourne to see a winger and a center step into a cage to have a serious boxing fight.

It's not Recruitment that were doing poorly, now. It's the training and the hardening of players.

 

[crazycat]

Based on the trial, seems Galvin capable of slotting into centre, backrow or half so there's a world in which we see either Fainu or Galvin as starting 6. Galvin can in effect be that backrow/centre cover on the bench we've seen covered by the likes of Chee Kam and Kepoa more recently. I thnk Fainu also played a bit of dummy half for Tonga last year against England so I feel there's room for all of them for the next year or two. Come 2026 potentially one wants to leave but you'd think we'd be able to get the best of the two in that scenario.

Look Galvin can slot in at Center.

No we should not be putting him in the backrow. Yes a Toyota Echo can get you from Sydney to Perth, no it will not be a good experience.

 

[hank37w]

Yeah I thought he had something that we could have worked with.
Did we let him go in preference if Toa and Naden? Feledy?

Personally, I think Toa and Naden still are a chance to show something but from what I have seen from Feledy, I just don't see him making it in the top grade.