Signings, Suggestions & Rumours Discussion

lathami said:
Oh heaven forbid anyone on the signings forum mention anything about our weekness areas in the team like centre!?! How dare we speak about players available and if we should sign them or not, what were we thinking????
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I’m with Tom on this. We have plenty of reserve grade centres. We need an outside back who is feared and able to break a game open. You won’t find him in reserve grade team lists.
 
Tom Shines said:
Not sure what I find more annoying… those still riding the Zlomax to the Tigers train … or the Adam Dhouehi urgers … a couple of people here still manage to do both ..

Only thing worse are the NSW Cup Team list scrollers looking for our next depth outside back …
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Well, when a player is signed, sealed and delivered to another club, it’s pretty pointless discussing the merits in signing him. The deal was done before he even secured his release. Anyone who thinks it was even a race is mistaken.
 
TSP said:
It’s an utter joke and a kick in the guts for the dragon faithful.

I’m happy to sign Shyster on a discount and let Benji try to work his magic.

As he’s been doing with a lot of our retained players. I don’t see any of them playing as badly as they did last year and before that. Not quite the consistency we need, but somethings snapped. Don’t ask me how he’s done it but I hope he continues with it.
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Benji has enough on his plate without baby sitting this mental liability.
 
BAGNF05 said:
I’m with Tom on this. We have plenty of reserve grade centres. We need an outside back who is feared and able to break a game open. You won’t find him in reserve grade team lists.
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Some people always pushing for fringe first grade outside backs that have played a handful of games or who are projects for one reason or another …with Tupou leaving they have an obvious need at the position … but the replacement has to be an established first grade player who we know can get across the line … bit of size and pace wouldn’t hurt either
 
Tom Shines said:
Some people always pushing for fringe first grade outside backs that have played a handful of games or who are projects for one reason or another …with Tupou leaving they have an obvious need at the position … but the replacement has to be an established first grade player who we know can get across the line … bit of size and pace wouldn’t hurt either
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You do realise there is a Salary Cap meaning no club can afford to recruit only top end players.
Do you realise that when a club needs at least a handful of recruits to improve their playing roster to become a genuine top 8 team and there is very minimal top end talent off contract for the following season, the only other places to start looking is NSW Cup/Qld Cup/Super League etc ?
Also taking into consideration Super League generally has ex NRL talent that are either not quite good enough to be NRL regulars or are in the final stages of their rugby league careers, of course there is the odd exception.
Common sense tells us when good quality players cannot break into their NRL squad, there is some chance of them looking at a change of clubs even when under contract.
Common sense tells us this is why looking at the best emerging talent from NSW Cup and Qld Cup is quite often the best way of recruiting.
The examples are endless, but as recently as this round Bronson Xerri who has regularly appeared on the highlights for the Bulldogs NSW Cup team this season, carried that form into his NRL debut for the Bulldogs.
Xavier Willison who was regularly starring at Qld Cup level carried that form over to NRL for the Broncos last night.
It is not rocket science, players that regularly star at the level below are almost always ready to star at NRL level when given the opportunity.
Based on the above statements, I am not sure why we are not doing all we can to sign Zac Lomax if the Eels deal is not already done.
 
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Vicious said:
You do realise there is a Salary Cap meaning no club can afford to recruit only top end players.
Do you realise that when a club needs at least a handful of recruits to improve their playing roster to become a genuine top 8 team and there is very minimal top end talent off contract for the following season, the only other places to start looking is NSW Cup/Qld Cup/Super League etc ?
Also taking into consideration Super League generally has ex NRL talent that are either not quite good enough to be NRL regulars or are in the final stages of their rugby league careers, of course there is the odd exception.
Common sense tells us when good quality players cannot break into their NRL squad, there is some chance of them looking at a change of clubs even when under contract.
Common sense tells us this is why looking at the best emerging talent from NSW Cup and Qld Cup is quite often the best way of recruiting.
The examples are endless, but as recently as this round Bronson Xerri who has regularly appeared on the highlights for the Bulldogs NSW Cup team this season, carried that form into his NRL debut for the Bulldogs.
Xavier Willison who was regularly starring at Qld Cup level carried that form over to NRL for the Broncos last night.
It is not rocket science, players that regularly star at the level below are almost always ready to star at NRL level when given the opportunity.
Based on the above statements, I am not sure why we are not doing all we can to sign Zac Lomax if the Eels deal is not already done.
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They got 1 Top 30 spot left mate this year …

I don’t know how many next year .. supposedly 4 at present but not sure how many junior players they are already committed to elevating to the top 30 …

So space is tight to say the least ,,,

They have such a lack of depth of NRL players as we see this week,,,.2 or 3 guys out and they have to reach for noted failure AJK to bring back into the side…. The current starting outside backs besides Olam are extremely weak…and would all be paid under $300k a year

Moral of the story … with the limited space available they need to bring in one established first grade player this year …and probably three more for next year … they can’t keep experimenting on fringe first grade players from the NSW Cup .. and ex Rugby Union players still finding their way and giving these guys Top 30 deals … other teams might be able to do this …But the Wests Tigers have elected to walk a different path and pursue a junior youth strategy instead which has seemingly produced limited results so far

I have never been a fan of Zac Lomax… but he would have been an upgrade in this team… as I said earlier …I don’t understand why he has walked away from $400k over the next two years and there must be more to the story,,,
 
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Tom Shines said:
Some people always pushing for fringe first grade outside backs that have played a handful of games or who are projects for one reason or another …with Tupou leaving they have an obvious need at the position … but the replacement has to be an established first grade player who we know can get across the line … bit of size and pace wouldn’t hurt either
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The difference between us (2024 model) and finals teams is they have superstar backs who can generate tries, it’s that simple.
 
BAGNF05 said:
The difference between us and finals teams is they have superstar backs who can generate tries, it’s that simple.
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Yes …I have been saying this for years about the WT backs … and not just scoring tries but conceding them as well through bad defensive reads and not being able to cover attacking kicks and continually dropping bombs gifting tries and repeat sets.… Defense seems a little improved out wide this year but still early days …
 
Tom Shines said:
Yes …I have been saying this for years about the WT backs … and not just scoring tries but conceding them as well through bad defensive reads and not being able to cover attacking kicks and continually dropping bombs gifting tries and repeat sets.… Defense seems a little improved out wide this year but still early days …
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I credit our stronger edge forwards mainly on the defensive improvement. Plus Olam intimidates. Our backs other than Olam don’t bust enough tackles, nor do they contest and win in the air. They also drop too many kicks. It’s a clear weakness.

Bula is obviously the other exception.

For further evidence, look how the gnome has slotted into a firing Manly backline.
 
BAGNF05 said:
I credit our stronger edge forwards mainly on the defensive improvement. Plus Olam intimidates. Our backs other than Olam don’t bust enough tackles, nor do they contest and win in the air. They also drop too many kicks. It’s a clear weakness.

Bula is obviously the other exception.

For further evidence, look how the gnome has slotted into a firing Manly backline.
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📸 Watch this video on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/share/r/7kZeCLma7tKGzZnu/?mibextid=UalRPS

Here’s a parra player shitting himself at the thought of olam flying at him

It makes a difference
 
Tom Shines said:
Some people always pushing for fringe first grade outside backs that have played a handful of games or who are projects for one reason or another …with Tupou leaving they have an obvious need at the position … but the replacement has to be an established first grade player who we know can get across the line … bit of size and pace wouldn’t hurt either
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Agreed Shinesy. I’ve been saying the same thing for years. Stop looking for the diamond in the rough. I want established players. Of course, we want to develop juniors but unless their in your system and deemed ready, we need genuine of the genuine variety.
 
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