Signings, Suggestions & Rumours Discussion

[Tiger_Yoshi]

Benji going is a bad look

He could’ve stayed and actually reviewed tape or come in when no one is around to try and work out a new plan around our attack

When you’re losing …. players look at the “boss” to get inspiration and follow their lead.

If he doesn’t understand this then it’s bc he grew up with perhaps a different, privileged mind set than other players bc he was a unique one off talent who - yes hard to work really hard - but he never had to work hard to get his talent - he had it like no one else.

People say “generally” talented players make bad coaches and vice versa bc they didn’t have to work as hard as the toilers for their success. Yes Billy slater is killing it but he grew up with the storm system. Benji grew up with sheens saying “score 32 if they score 30… and play what you see don’t worry about building pressure”.

Benji is not Wayne or Craig - he hasn’t learnt the respect as a coach. His reputation as a great has given him a slight grace period with younger players who looked up to him but after 8,9,12 losses in a row we everyone starts to lose faith.

. If he doesnt get results quick and it looks like not only Steff but juniors like galvin and others don’t sign extensions bc they ( them, their managers or family) want to be in successful clubs… I think he’ll be shown the door or at least another senior assistant will be brought in

API not making origin despite people saying it’s a good thing is absolutely horrendous for us

Shows other players at our club they get penalized in our club bc of our results

He was a certainty before 8 losses on the trot

Benjis “eyes up football” is so bad. He or Robbie never created a consistent winning team for us when they were players - always good or bad… not like Billy slater at the storm or fitzy at roosters.

Steff not signing an extension already means he will 99% go… unless we offer him so much more than someone else. Who can blame him tho?

Most likely 3 wooden spoons in a row!!! That’s so so bad.

Agree with alot in this post.

1. Api missing out of SOO. If he were in a winning team, 100% he'd be there. He knows it and so do the players in the WT and anyone thinking of joining the WT..

2. Stefano is gone....he is seeing our club ON THE FIELD has not progressed and we are heading for a 3rd spoon in a row, a team he has been a part of. He is hitting his prime, he has seen how happy Brooks and Talau are and playing well in a team that has good players around them...Stef wants to play finals....he can't see it in the Tigers so he wants out no matter what we throw at him....Don't be surprised if the likes of Galvin are convinced by their Managers to do the same. Yes, 2024 was never going to be a finals year for the team, but to be odds on for a 3rd spoon was always going to spell disaster for the club....Don't kid ourselves this is a huge setback for the club, and the options and answeres are getting fewer and fewer each year.

 

[Telltails]

I there is one position that you can stand out in despite the teams position on the ladder it is at prop.

 

[innsaneink]

I’ve never seen so many changing emotions around a player. One minute he’s a vital cog in the engine, the next he’s a pillow, the next he’s back to being imperative to our future. I can’t keep up.

Probably different people with those different opinions

 

[weststigerman]

Loved Jesse

Me too. Just had too many concussions.

 

[Robbie's Love Child]

I’ve never seen so many changing emotions around a player. One minute he’s a vital cog in the engine, the next he’s a pillow, the next he’s back to being imperative to our future. I can’t keep up.

Not disagreeing, some here thought he was a messiah from the get go. I never got the hype, he has never consistently delivered and is a softcock in a position that demands aggression. If the club pays him more than $750,00 they are living in dreamland.

 

[Todd Packer]

Thanks for the intel TP. What about that Wigan prop Tyler Dupree? It seems not much in positions of our need in SL atm - backrow, middle, outside backs.

Dupree's a plodder who's playing at his 8th club in 7 seasons. There's similar quality in our awesome KOE team.
I love watching Super League but I really think the pickings are very slim over there at the moment.
There's 3 quality teams and huge gulf to the rest at the moment. the standard of play really seems to have dropped and there were more people in my loungeroom than at the Wigan game on the weekend.

 

[lathami]

There are very few people who would know what's going on there. Buzz is most definitely not one of them...

Where there’s smoke there’s fire. He’s not the only one saying it, Reed was alluding to it in his recent article. Didn’t he also flat with papali?

 

[Kaito]

Thanks for that.

Do you think he has given Rugby Union away in favour of League permanently or do you think he is just testing the water to see if he can make the transition successfully?

When I saw the mention of a player by the name of Edmed I thought it must have been another younger son or relative.

I think he would make a decent organizing halfback
if he made the switch, Hank. He played for balmain
in the juniors too. Tough like his old man that's 4
sure. Waratahs are anchored bottom of the table
too which sucks, he could make the switch like mark
Nawaqanitawase, who knows. Tough kid I rate him

 

[Nonotmeagain]

I think he would make a decent organizing halfback
if he made the switch, Hank. He played for balmain
in the juniors too. Tough like his old man that's 4
sure. Waratahs are anchored bottom of the table
too which sucks, he could make the switch like mark
Nawaqanitawase, who knows. Tough kid I rate him

From a SMH report in March 24
Tane Edmed is off-contract at the end of this season. Despite not ruling out a switch to league in the future, the 23-year-old wants to stay in rugby.

“Not right now. I’m pretty content in rugby at the moment,” Edmed said. “I want to see this game do really well and at the moment, I’m all-in with union

 

[Tiger Stripes]

Buzz alert- he just said on 360 that stefano is not happy at the club. He wants to win a premiership and will most likely move on!
Doesn’t look promising

No surprises there, the bickering has gone on for way too long for someone who loves the club, wants to be captain and lead us into the promised land.

 

[Tiger Stripes]

Buzz also just verbalized api’s origin snub as a punishment for being at a struggling club.

I'm glad he was left out.
Another super tough game to get his body bashed again is not good for the Tigers or his own longevity.

 

[batboy]

I think he would make a decent organizing halfback
if he made the switch, Hank. He played for balmain
in the juniors too. Tough like his old man that's 4
sure. Waratahs are anchored bottom of the table
too which sucks, he could make the switch like mark
Nawaqanitawase, who knows. Tough kid I rate him

Wanted to stay at the club,
But they wanted him to move to Hooker and he wanted to stay in the Halves.
Union were about, Made him an offer and he bounced...

 

[Kaito]

Wanted to stay at the club,
But they wanted him to move to Hooker and he wanted to stay in the Halves.
Union were about, Made him an offer and he bounced...

Makes sense BB...his best asset is probably defence
that's why balmain saw him as a hooker. Waratahs
were playing trials at Leicchardt when he signed
too. Lack of decent NRL halves may see him cross over
again, I don't see a path to a wallabies jersey 4 him

 

[Todd Packer]

I'm glad he was left out.
Another super tough game to get his body bashed again is not good for the Tigers or his own longevity.

Agree.
His body's barely holding up. The last thing he needs is a meaningless exhibition match being coached by a bloke with a history of making players play injured to protect his own backside.

 

[colinbh]

Agree with alot in this post.

1. Api missing out of SOO. If he were in a winning team, 100% he'd be there. He knows it and so do the players in the WT and anyone thinking of joining the WT..

2. Stefano is gone....he is seeing our club ON THE FIELD has not progressed and we are heading for a 3rd spoon in a row, a team he has been a part of. He is hitting his prime, he has seen how happy Brooks and Talau are and playing well in a team that has good players around them...Stef wants to play finals....he can't see it in the Tigers so he wants out no matter what we throw at him....Don't be surprised if the likes of Galvin are convinced by their Managers to do the same. Yes, 2024 was never going to be a finals year for the team, but to be odds on for a 3rd spoon was always going to spell disaster for the club....Don't kid ourselves this is a huge setback for the club, and the options and answeres are getting fewer and fewer each year.

What a great post. As soon as I finish this I'm off to slit my wrists. Life is just not worth living.

 

[weststigers]

I thought that almost immediately when I heard the teams announced...but then realised just as quickly it will probably make no difference to us whatsoever.

Origin is another facet of the game that shows me just how much
I have lost interest and passion for NRL and Origin....I used to get so pumped back in the day when Eastlakes was calling & Gus was doing his preambles.
Tommy albeit briefly, Price Kenny, King Wally, Artie, Close slapping Grothe on the tryline and MG & the King listening intently to David Manson .Still watch pretty much every game but maybe ive just matured

You're right ink. Something is missing and I can't work out if it's that I was a kid and i looked up to my heroes on TV or if the game and tradition has been commercialised and sanitised to the point of it not being the battle it once was.

I'd like to know what those that dont recognise the era you mention and grew up on the modern game think about origin now.

 

[weststigers]

Nope.

Glad were not selected for Origin at all.
Now lets win a few games guys.

Api particularly looks gassed...he needs time off.

 

[weststigers]

Agree with alot in this post.

1. Api missing out of SOO. If he were in a winning team, 100% he'd be there. He knows it and so do the players in the WT and anyone thinking of joining the WT..

2. Stefano is gone....he is seeing our club ON THE FIELD has not progressed and we are heading for a 3rd spoon in a row, a team he has been a part of. He is hitting his prime, he has seen how happy Brooks and Talau are and playing well in a team that has good players around them...Stef wants to play finals....he can't see it in the Tigers so he wants out no matter what we throw at him....Don't be surprised if the likes of Galvin are convinced by their Managers to do the same. Yes, 2024 was never going to be a finals year for the team, but to be odds on for a 3rd spoon was always going to spell disaster for the club....Don't kid ourselves this is a huge setback for the club, and the options and answeres are getting fewer and fewer each year.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but Stefano is on a deal worth around 350 a season?

I think Richo is trying to rearrange the deck chairs as we speak to offer a competitive deal, but there has to be a point where we withdraw if his expectations are too high.

What worries me most is who we could replace him with if he does decide to leave. We are already a prop short. Losing Stefano means we need to find 2 quality props to fill the void.

Stef is a good player...still young and still learning, but I do think his next contract will see him perform to a higher level with extra experience and age under his belt. What's his value?

 

[Flippedy]

I didn’t say it wasn’t normal or a planned thing. I said it’s not a good look when we’ve just lost 8 in a row.

It brings more negative attention to the club who we don’t need while we’re trying to recruit players.

Maybe a trip to the country or even interstate, but an overseas trip is a big deal and something that could probably wait until the end of the season, imo. Let’s face it he wouldn’t have to wait too long as our season’s end is not that far away.

 

[BlackWhiteGold]

Dupree's a plodder who's playing at his 8th club in 7 seasons. There's similar quality in our awesome KOE team.
I love watching Super League but I really think the pickings are very slim over there at the moment.
There's 3 quality teams and huge gulf to the rest at the moment. the standard of play really seems to have dropped and there were more people in my loungeroom than at the Wigan game on the weekend.

Really sounds like there is not much in SL for us unless we sign Tim Lafai or Nene Macdonald for 1-2 seasons max for experience & depth. I read that both are doing well for Salford this season.

The only others from highlights aren't really in positions we need - Bevan French, Jai Field & Jack Welsby. French only as a 5/8/fullback, Field fullback only & Welsby would only come to NRL for fullback/5-8 and I's day he'd go to Wolff anyway.