Signings, Suggestions & Rumours Discussion

[BZN]

Assuming the Tigers can move Klemmer & Bateman along with Papali'i, I would expect:

Twal to step into the starting role. Been impressed with Twal's effort, biggest issue is he's just too similar to Klemmer.

Potential additions to the prop rotation: Lots of suggestions of well known players like Hunt etc. I don't think brand recognition is the problem. It's body type & style. We need bigger, bustling forwards to create impact off the bench- essentially what we expect Miller to become. But, it has to be done at a decent cost if salary cap management is Richo's priority. Peter Hola from the Raiders is a big, mobile prop they took from the Cowboys who can't get into their loaded prop rotation. Perfect type of bench player, without the cost. 2022 Raiders KOE player of the year. The other name I'd suggest is a Tigers junior- Thomas Mikaele. Big, bustling runner who is somewhat incomplete as a player. That's ok. It's the 20 minutes of damage in the middle to rest Stef or Twal that counts. Make metres (does that- check the stats) and create second phase play (can pop a pass).

The second row requires surgery. Obviously Sam Fainu is on one side. Probably Seyfarth is in line at this stage. I'd bring back yet another old Tiger in Luke Garner. Big, athletic & fast. Exactly what neither Papali'i or Bateman are. And Jack Williams from the Sharks looks like a player screaming out to get more regular 1st grade.

Want to know what Hola, Mikaele, Garner & Williams have in common?

All off contract. No 'swapsies' required. And not one of them tops $500k a year, I'd suspect.

That allows the club to look at another outside back or two (Euan Aitken is actually growing on me as a centre option & maybe Izaac Thompson from Souths?)

You mix these guys in with what we have, and what we have coming through, and I think it is a better balance.

And lastly- Hola, Mikaele, Garner, Williams, Aitken & Thompson (all off contract) are easily replaceable by the juniors we are developing without holding back guys that are ready to step in (Lualili'i, Fa'agutu, Miller, Sukkar etc, etc)

Being an old fart, I can only scroll down at a fairly slow pace.
But once your chef's hat starts to come into view, I know I am pretty certain of reading a good post.
And this one doesn't disappoint 👍.

 

[weststigers]

Very funny.
Another Shark Tuku Tahupa is another big young beast showing good potential and currently off contract at the end of 2025.
With the high number of quality props on the Sharks roster, surely he’d only be on a minimal wage contract. If we do lose Stef, he’d be a potential like for like replacement.
3 others that many may not agree on, but have the body shape and dynamic we are looking for.
Max Bradbury another Shark who they poached off the Knights. A tall and aggressive young prop who looks to be playing well as a 20y.o prop in NSW Cup and regarded by many as a future rep prop.
Mat Croker who is off contract at the end of this season. He’s another big body, also quite mobile for a big man. He burst onto the NRL scene a few seasons back and looked like a top prospect, but for some reason at age 23 he has been demoted and playing NSW Cup as a 13. He might be one who needs a change of scenery and a new challenge, would be a good pick up at the right price.
Ben Condon another big, tall and mobile young 23y.o forward who has a little bit of NRL experience and regularly dominates at NSW Cuo level. He’s currently playing on an edge, but I recall him running riot as a prop against the Wests Magpies last season, he’s another that might be looking for a change of scenery and a new challenge.
Keep in mind nearly all the best props in the UK are on the wrong side of 30 so not realistic options for us moving forward.

Totally agree

 

[Needaname]

I see Penrith are trying to get salary cap compensation after May has been stood down for the year under the NRL’s rules & could only assume they will want to bring Papalii in for a late push this year… I know it’s not Penriths fault but should they really be allowed compensation? Surely teams should have some responsibility when signing players to account for their character? Yes he isn’t guilty yet & deserves to have his fair chance in court but May has done some questionable things in the past already

Yes, it’s the rule; no fault stand down player is part of the team but can’t play. M

 

[Lebanese_Coach_aspiration]

Targets:
Wing: Skelton, Wilson, Cotric . These are nice to haves but depends if there is room.
Centre: Euan Aitken (#1 target), Averillo, Kayal Iro, Jack wardle.Gabrael. Harry newman We need two from this list.
Halves: Think we invested already.
Prop: Mikaele, Wallace. Kavan Rothwell
2nd Row. Crichton (#2 target) Coen Hess (unrealistic though)
Lock: nathan brown(cheap) Doug Hutchison

 

[Tom Shines]

Richo said WTs will not be paying overs anymore.

We will see … Luai got paid overs… WT pay overs or they miss out

 

[mikey]

Des Hasler had retired from footy all those years ago when the Mighty Wests Magpies were in need of a half.
He promptly un-retired 😀 when asked and played 1 more year.
The bloke I would love to see play for Us for 1 year is Jared Waerea-Hargreaves 💪 💪.

If they get away with that, surely we could get relief for Naden?

 

[Nonotmeagain]

Why do the Raiders have such a monopoly with English players?? It's absurd that nearly all poms that come to the nrl play for them.

i get it's cold and wet down there but still, you'd think the lure of sydney would be more appealing.

Sunburn isn't their thing!

 

[Bellend]

Why not chase Ryan and Toby Couchman from the Dragons they cover second row and Prop
a area we need improvement in. Tristan Sailor from the Bronco to cover wing,centre,fullback.
Jeral Skelton would be a great get if we can land him.

 

[watersider]

People keep mentioning Garner. He is a terrible defender, very weak, always pushed back. Even at Penrith he gets exposed. He runs a decent line, but that's all he wants to do, gets smashed on the hard hit-ups. Crazy we talk of him, he's exactly the sort of player we don't need. For all the criticism of papalii and Bateman, they are worlds better than garner in these areas and we had no defensive strength on his side when he played for us and lost any control of ruck speed whenever they ran at him.

Signing Garner is a terrible idea. Our forward recruits MUST be physical and dominant tacklers. Don't worry about anything else.

 

[Nonotmeagain]

Maybe they just see something in a player and take a chance, unlike us we don’t seem to want to take a chance , if Richo can’t find at least 3-4 players over there then he really not there to recruit anyone

Do we know he's there to recruit players ?

 

[boonboon]

Why not chase Ryan and Toby Couchman from the Dragons they cover second row and Prop
a area we need improvement in. Tristan Sailor from the Bronco to cover wing,centre,fullback.
Jeral Skelton would be a great get if we can land him.

I play cricket with their uncle- lives at five dock just down the road from Concord - great family and the boys are really hard working from all reports - would be good signings

 

[Nonotmeagain]

Stef & Klem don't compliment one another as starting
front rowers at all. People familiar with American
sports understand the term 'stat padding'.. Richo
will do well if he comes back from the UK with a job
lined up for Klem up north. He's served us well but
we don't need him. Not in our plans moving forward

He can have all the jobs he likes lined up but if Klemmer doesn't want to go then there's no point.

 

[Nonotmeagain]

in order to bring in players you first have to shop the current players around. Shane Richardson is in England doing just that.

If you don't have the players agreement to go then there's no point. They get their contract money no matter what grade they play and most have lives here that no amount of money will make them leave to go to another country for - especially those at 30+ with families.

 

[weststigerman]

Richo said WTs will not be paying overs anymore.

When did he say that?

 

[Demps]

Mikaele extends with NQ until 2027

 

[crazycat]

Targets:
Wing: Skelton, Wilson, Cotric . These are nice to haves but depends if there is room.
Centre: Euan Aitken (#1 target), Averillo, Kayal Iro, Jack wardle.Gabrael. Harry newman We need two from this list.
Halves: Think we invested already.
Prop: Mikaele, Wallace. Kavan Rothwell
2nd Row. Crichton (#2 target) Coen Hess (unrealistic though)
Lock: nathan brown(cheap) Doug Hutchison

No, not Cotric now. Yes we should have hired him ages ago... Not now, no wingers over 28.

Centers, I agree but we need 1x not 2x from that list. We have Olam who is an excellent left Center.

I think second row and Lock is where our focus needs to be. The shame of our current squad is that our forward pack is actually decent.
Nathan Brown is a No, unless 1 year deal.
I doubt Coen Hess would come here unless the coach changes. But I would be tempted to open the account to bring him here. With Bateman gone we would have the money. He isn't exactly what we need in the second row.

 

[tigerbenji]

Assuming the Tigers can move Klemmer & Bateman along with Papali'i, I would expect:

Twal to step into the starting role. Been impressed with Twal's effort, biggest issue is he's just too similar to Klemmer.

Potential additions to the prop rotation: Lots of suggestions of well known players like Hunt etc. I don't think brand recognition is the problem. It's body type & style. We need bigger, bustling forwards to create impact off the bench- essentially what we expect Miller to become. But, it has to be done at a decent cost if salary cap management is Richo's priority. Peter Hola from the Raiders is a big, mobile prop they took from the Cowboys who can't get into their loaded prop rotation. Perfect type of bench player, without the cost. 2022 Raiders KOE player of the year. The other name I'd suggest is a Tigers junior- Thomas Mikaele. Big, bustling runner who is somewhat incomplete as a player. That's ok. It's the 20 minutes of damage in the middle to rest Stef or Twal that counts. Make metres (does that- check the stats) and create second phase play (can pop a pass).

The second row requires surgery. Obviously Sam Fainu is on one side. Probably Seyfarth is in line at this stage. I'd bring back yet another old Tiger in Luke Garner. Big, athletic & fast. Exactly what neither Papali'i or Bateman are. And Jack Williams from the Sharks looks like a player screaming out to get more regular 1st grade.

Want to know what Hola, Mikaele, Garner & Williams have in common?

All off contract. No 'swapsies' required. And not one of them tops $500k a year, I'd suspect.

That allows the club to look at another outside back or two (Euan Aitken is actually growing on me as a centre option & maybe Izaac Thompson from Souths?)

You mix these guys in with what we have, and what we have coming through, and I think it is a better balance.

And lastly- Hola, Mikaele, Garner, Williams, Aitken & Thompson (all off contract) are easily replaceable by the juniors we are developing without holding back guys that are ready to step in (Lualili'i, Fa'agutu, Miller, Sukkar etc, etc)

Lot of thought in those comments mate.

 

[liltiger]

Yeah I think they should be allowed compensation.

Think of it this way. Say a player is stood down, then found not guilty. Ultimately, the NRL have made that team play a man down while still paying his salary based on an allegation alone. It's not fair.

Like it or not, we live in a society that is innocent until proven guilty.

I can understand the stand down based on not having the game in the papers every time the player steps onto the field, but a club should not be made to pay full whack on a player if he is not allowed on the field despite being free to walk the streets.

Sorry I disagree it should only be allowed when it affects the Tigers. Cause hypocrisy is how I roll

 

[bptiger 0]

Do we know he's there to recruit players ?

Yes it’s been reported by the media and the club

 

[Tom Shines]

Do we know he's there to recruit players ?

He better be …