Signings, Suggestions & Rumours Discussion

[ancient_magpie]

Not just some of the forwards, but a young, tall, fast young winger in Sam Stonestreet who is now 21 with over 12 months NSW Cup experience behind him. He’s contracted to the Sharks until the end of 2025, but he has to be thinking he’s wasting time in NSW Cup when he could potentially become an NRL regular at a club like Wests Tigers.
I think most Wests Tigers fans would agree we need bigger, taller, faster, more powerful and more dynamic outside backs.
Plenty have already mentioned James Schiller should be a prime target, there are quite a few not playing regular NRL who could help improve our side.
Semi Valemai another who is your typical tall, fast and powerful Fijian winger, but stuck playing Qld Cuo, would be a good replacement and likely a good upgrade on Junior Tupou.

Vicious any idea whats happened with Ngutlic he could be the answer on the wing.

 

[Needaname]

Not only that, they also may you hurt in defense. We don’t have any of that. See more of that in other KOE’s clubs. That’s why everyone likes playing the Tigers. It’s almost like a bye.

It’s just come to me in mentioning Oregan Kaufusi as an option.
In 2022 the Eels had a pack that not only featured origin props RCG and Paulo but Kaufusi, Papali and Niakore.
No surprise that made the GF with those enforcers.

 

[Kaito]

I’d go Twal to start at lock to sure up the middle D early. Matamua on bench to sub Twal so we can utilise his link & ball playing in the middle 3rd of the game.

Pole & Sam Fainu to sub Uto & Klem.

Sezer in for Sullivan. Olam in for To’a with Faataape moved to right centre.

Simpkin onto bench.

That’s enough changes in one week.

I like this, lock up the middle. People are saying our
defence is shit aren't being that objective. We've
been sliding well & haven't got torn up out wide. We
Let in a shit house try down the short side because
Papali'i & Sullivan got caught in the ruck b4 & got
lazy, & the Zac Hosking try was a knock on, Klein
didn't bother checking it which was crazy. Dragons
just got mopped 38 - zip to the dolphins, wonder
how they'd be feeling especially after their trials?
All things considered that was an alright 1st hit out

 

[Vicious]

Vicious any idea whats happened with Ngutlic he could be the answer on the wing.

That’s a very good question and I don’t know the answer.
My guess is he was overlooked for Lobb and Alaimalo yesterday.
Unfortunately Alaimalo looked like a fish out of water on the wing, he was shying away from contact under the high ball and wasn’t keen on tackling the big, strong & fast Raiders outside backs such as Schiller.

 

[Needaname]

I like this, lock up the middle. People are saying our
defence is shit aren't being that objective. We've
been sliding well & haven't got torn up out wide. We
Let in a shit house try down the short side because
Papali'i & Sullivan got caught in the ruck b4 & got
lazy, & the Zac Hosking try was a knock on, Klein
didn't bother checking it which was crazy. Dragons
just got mopped 38 - zip to the dolphins, wonder
how they'd be feeling especially after their trials?
All things considered that was an alright 1st hit out

I for one would be happy to see the smug removed from Flanagans face for at least 1 week!

 

[Needaname]

That’s a very good question and I don’t know the answer.
My guess is he was overlooked for Lobb and Alaimalo yesterday.
Unfortunately Alaimalo looked like a fish out of water on the wing, he was shying away from contact under the high ball and wasn’t keen on tackling the big, strong & fast Raiders outside backs such as Schiller.

Yeah waste of a top 30 that 1. Good thing it’s only a year. Any money he returns to club Rugby before the seasons out.

 

[Kaito]

I for one would be happy to see the smug removed from Flanagans face for at least 1 week!

Did you Watch the game? I just got home earlier,
wondering whether they were really that bad?

 

[cktiger]

It did cross my mind that the council might be resorting to emotional blackmail. But Leichhardt Oval is not fit for professional sport and no government of any hue would commit the funding required to bring it up to standard. Its days are numbered.

If Campbelltown hosts all games, the silver lining is that an upgrade is more likely.

Obviously don’t know how many games are played there besides our first grade team 🤣

 

[Needaname]

Did you Watch the game? I just got home earlier,
wondering whether they were really that bad?

Only the first half. Was going to watch the 2nd half then saw the score.
In the first half they were beaten by a hungry more defensively committed dolphins side. A bit of slick movements by the hammer got them on the front foot.

Not sure about the 2nd half though.

 

[Vicious]

Only the first half. Was going to watch the 2nd half then saw the score.
In the first half they were beaten by a hungry more defensively committed dolphins side. A bit of slick movements by the hammer got them on the front foot.

Not sure about the 2nd half though.

The Dolphins showed a perfect example of how a committed hungry team with a fast backline can disassemble a big physical but slow team.

 

[barra]

The hate for Junior Tupou without any criticism of To'a or Staines borders on ridiculous.

You can have your nose out of joint because he's leaving, but he's so far ahead of the other 2 it isn't funny. Yet it's like that side of the field doesn't matter to those with the agenda against players leaving.

Tupou was far from the biggest problem we had yesterday. Physically, he held up. Shame the same cannot be said of the guys staying.

Well I was there and watched both closely. Jnr didn’t try to make a difference seems to have little awareness. Charlie at least had a real crack.
Toa well he needs to be dropped with Jnr.

 

[Kaito]

Well I was there and watched both closely. Jnr didn’t try to make a difference seems to have little awareness. Charlie at least had a real crack.
Toa well he needs to be dropped with Jnr.

We don't have the depth ma man...Olam on one side
solves a part of the puzzle, Faataape can shift to
the right, he has a good right handed offload, watch
his tape, he's spoken about it before. Anyway, we
should get guys running on the inside/outside of
him, his debut has been a bit glossed over but he
went okay I thought with the little ball he got fed.
Have 2 keep Tupou & Staines 4 now. To'a will be gone
regardless (syndesmosis), can probably lock in that
centre pairing I mentioned, only other option is then
getting rid of 1 of Tupou or Staines 4 Nado but he
won't be back for another week. Don't think Charlie
has been the problem anyway. Papali'i has 2 do more
to organise his edge, more vocal as well. Own that
side — no idea why Benji switched him & Johnny
around neither to be honest come 2 think of it. Can't
mess around with the squad 2 much 2 early, I dunno

 

[barra]

We don't have the depth ma man...Olam on one side
solves a part of the puzzle, Faataape can shift to
the right, he has a good right handed offload, watch
his tape, he's spoken about it before. Anyway, we
should get guys running on the inside/outside of
him, his debut has been a bit glossed over but he
went okay I thought with the little ball he got fed.
Have 2 keep Tupou & Staines 4 now. To'a will be gone
regardless (syndesmosis), can probably lock in that
centre pairing I mentioned, only other option is then
getting rid of 1 of Tupou or Staines 4 Nado but he
won't be back for another week. Don't think Charlie
has been the problem anyway. Papali'i has 2 do more
to organise his edge, more vocal as well. Own that
side — no idea why Benji switched him & Johnny
around neither to be honest come 2 think of it. Can't
mess around with the squad 2 much 2 early, I dunno

Don’t I know it, watched ressies as well. We need Olam and Naden back ASAP.

 

[Wildcat777]

The Dolphins showed a perfect example of how a committed hungry team with a fast backline can disassemble a big physical but slow team.

It’s a shame we have such a non physical and slow team! Just know it won’t end well!

 

[innsaneink]

Pretty average ???
In a team who’s forwards got spanked twice as badly as our NRL team he made numerous tackle breaks, a length of the field individual try and was virtually the only player to trouble the Raiders defence.
Not forgetting he is only 18 years old.
When you say he’s a shrimp he’s the same height as Reece Walsh, has a similar nuggety build, very quick off the mark and if you saw the pre season team photos you would have noticed he has the most ripped and bulked physique of our entire squad, again this is at age 18.
I am reliably told that similarly to how Galvin earned everyone at the clubs respect with his elite fitness levels, Mason has done the same with his elite strength and work ethic.
I am not suggesting we debut him at NRL level in the near future, but as many others have pointed out he looks like he could develop into a Connor Watson type utility player who could be a real strike weapon for us off the bench.

Walsh isn't big but he's very very special
It's settlling for 2nd best for me... Or 3rd or 4th

I know we're up against a rock and a hard place... We need established capable first graders but we can only attract kids... Being the best of that motley crue yesterday mean's little.
Is much more than just recruiting a few plsyets is gunna solve our problems... The rot is throughout the grades. I don't know what's wrong or how to deal with it but this club has been an embarrassment for a long time... It depresses me, I want so bad for us too be succesful and I hate being negative but I see no future at all for this joint
Main would probably kill it elsewhere but long odds here

 

[Vicious]

Walsh isn't big but he's very very special
It's settlling for 2nd best for me... Or 3rd or 4th

I know we're up against a rock and a hard place... We need established capable first graders but we can only attract kids... Being the best of that motley crue yesterday mean's little.
Is much more than just recruiting a few plsyets is gunna solve our problems... The rot is throughout the grades. I don't know what's wrong or how to deal with it but this club has been an embarrassment for a long time... It depresses me, I want so bad for us too be succesful and I hate being negative but I see no future at all for this joint
Main would probably kill it elsewhere but long odds here

I believe we could overhaul our playing roster very quickly with available players who could really help transform us into a highly competitive team if we took a ruthless approach to pushing out under performing players.
But stupid long term over priced contracts to players such as Sullivan, Klemmer, Bateman, Naden, To’a and Olam, along with top 30 upgrades to some young players who are not quite ready have made it very difficult.

 

[WesternSuburbsBoy]

Walsh isn't big but he's very very special
It's settlling for 2nd best for me... Or 3rd or 4th

I know we're up against a rock and a hard place... We need established capable first graders but we can only attract kids... Being the best of that motley crue yesterday mean's little.
Is much more than just recruiting a few plsyets is gunna solve our problems... The rot is throughout the grades. I don't know what's wrong or how to deal with it but this club has been an embarrassment for a long time... It depresses me, I want so bad for us too be succesful and I hate being negative but I see no future at all for this joint
Main would probably kill it elsewhere but long odds here

Look mate I hear you & I was exactly like you last year where I had no hope for the future of this club under Pascoes leadership & was constantly death-riding the club. But now we’ve got Shane Richardson who looks set to be appointed as our permanent CEO, a guy who has transformed clubs in the past & turned them into successful organisations on & off the field & a guy who knows what a team needs to be successful. What we’re seeing now is a result of the poor leadership that the club was under for some time & nobody can implement rapid changes in 3 months. I know it’s hard especially to stick with the team after Saturdays game but there will be good times ahead man we have all the things we need to be successful & now we finally have the guy to take us there.

 

[innsaneink]

I believe we could overhaul our playing roster very quickly with available players who could really help transform us into a highly competitive team if we took a ruthless approach to pushing out under performing players.
But stupid long term over priced contracts to players such as Sullivan, Klemmer, Bateman, Naden, To’a and Olam, along with top 30 upgrades to some young players who are not quite ready have made it very difficult.

Hard to argue with that bro.... I still think we have deep seated problems to deal with.

I could handle getting beat with a good squad that showed a bit of attitude once in a while... That came out ready to play not looking like they're scared... That played a hslf decent brand of footy that asked questions of the opposition half of the time... It's been said over and over and over but what do we do at training 8 news a day 5 days a week... We are boring and as bland as sugarless vanilla... Ugly& annoying to watch.
😑I find most of the other teams better to watch 😣

 

[innsaneink]

Look mate I hear you & I was exactly like you last year where I had no hope for the future of this club under Pascoes leadership & was constantly death-riding the club. But now we’ve got Shane Richardson who looks set to be appointed as our permanent CEO, a guy who has transformed clubs in the past & turned them into successful organisations on & off the field & a guy who knows what a team needs to be successful. What we’re seeing now is a result of the poor leadership that the club was under for some time & nobody can implement rapid changes in 3 months time. I know it’s hard especially to stick with the team after Saturdays game but there will be good times ahead man we have all the things we need to be successful & now we finally have the guy to take us there.

Yeah good post... I avoided this place most of yesterday I was in no mood... I still needed to get it off my chest today ... And you're right hopefully there is some hope with Richo

 

[batboy]

So did Galvin. Gave away two penalties, a knock on and a pass thrown over the side line.

I'd be shocked if Galvin didn't have 3 times the involvements as Tupou....
Don't know I've seen a player as disengaged in the game as Tupou, he looks like he'd rather be anywhere else...