Signings, Suggestions & Rumours Discussion

Vicious said:
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.
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Yes to all except Condon.
 
The Chad said:
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)
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I think if Richo & Benji are serious which they will be, any of the following players could be moved on or paid out:

Utoikamanu - if he wants more than what we offer him (that'll say it all to Richo on his commitment, as we won't pay overs for a prop)
Naden - contracted for one more season
Klemmer - contracted for one more season (mutual option for 26)
Sullivan - contracted until 27
Staines - contracted for one more season
Tumeth - player option next season

Then I can't see us extending these guys off-contract: Alaimalo, Doueihi, Simpkin, Kepaoa.

I feel we'll make a call later in the season on Sezer & whether to offer Sione Fainu a top 30 or T&T contract based on his form & spots available.

At the moment my opinion is we'll keep Starford T'oa due to his utility value in the outside backs and also John Bateman. I think Bateman has the character that Benji wants in the squad and can get more out of him offensively with better structure & he does bring steel to our edge defensively.

And in terms of recruitment, I highly doubt we'll look at many NSW Cup players for our top 30, moreso experienced players who bring effort, leadership & the right profile for the desired position.

I would bet my bottom dollar we'll be looking at props from the Sharks, an experienced or blockbusting winger, an experienced hooker utility & backrow utility.

Out of the off-contract players remaining, I would look at Jazz Tevaga (lock/hooker utlity), Euan Aitken (backrow/centre utility) , Bailey Simonsen (wing) &/or Jeral Skelton (wing) & would be sussing out the likes of Royce Hunt, Kamakamica & Leo Thompson (those 3 contracted for another season).
 
Tom Shines said:
We will see … Luai got paid overs… WT pay overs or they miss out
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I don't think we paid way over for Laui as he is the teams main player and the key position.
Salary cap increases yearly and it shows how a team goes without a top line half.

I think he will do wonders to us and hold others accountable and judging by his performances without NC he will be fine.
Rather spend it on him then have 3 wakehams in the team.
 
BlackWhiteGold said:
I think if Richo & Benji are serious which they will be, any of the following players could be moved on or paid out:

Utoikamanu - if he wants more than what we offer him (that'll say it all to Richo on his commitment, as we won't pay overs for a prop)
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You guys are delusional if you think you are going to attract players here to play in a pack led by Klemmer & Twal. Stef is a must to keep and will be paid overs.
 
Mistymuzzle said:
Good luck signing "someone decent" to a team with a pack led up front by Klemmer and Twal.
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Yeah mate you are right.

There's not a lot out there right now. A few promising young guys, but no established and performing props available.

I just don't think Stef will stay, that's all. If he gets a decent deal from a heavyweight club, he's gone and it won't be about money.

If that ends up happening, we would need a club to release someone or look at the ESL. Options are pretty thin.

Matty Lees aand Tyler Dupree look alright. Big Herman Ese'ese could be a shout too. All can play both sides of the ball.
 
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IMO in regards to "overs", its not a blanket number value for a player across the board. Different players bring different value to each club. Stefano is important to our success, therefore we offer overs what a club like Penrith would be willing to offer, where Stefano's importance is no where near as much.
 
Mistymuzzle said:
You guys are delusional if you think you are going to attract players here to play in a pack led by Klemmer & Twal. Stef is a must to keep and will be paid overs.
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If they are given a leadership role & opportunity to help take us to the promised land, why not!

They may see the opportunity to mentor the likes of Miller, Pole, Faagutu and work with Api & Luai appealing.
 
BlackWhiteGold said:
I think if Richo & Benji are serious which they will be, any of the following players could be moved on or paid out:

Utoikamanu - if he wants more than what we offer him (that'll say it all to Richo on his commitment, as we won't pay overs for a prop)
Naden - contracted for one more season
Klemmer - contracted for one more season (mutual option for 26)
Sullivan - contracted until 27
Staines - contracted for one more season
Tumeth - player option next season

Then I can't see us extending these guys off-contract: Alaimalo, Doueihi, Simpkin, Kepaoa.

I feel we'll make a call later in the season on Sezer & whether to offer Sione Fainu a top 30 or T&T contract based on his form & spots available.

At the moment my opinion is we'll keep Starford T'oa due to his utility value in the outside backs and also John Bateman. I think Bateman has the character that Benji wants in the squad and can get more out of him offensively with better structure & he does bring steel to our edge defensively.

And in terms of recruitment, I highly doubt we'll look at many NSW Cup players for our top 30, moreso experienced players who bring effort, leadership & the right profile for the desired position.

I would bet my bottom dollar we'll be looking at props from the Sharks, an experienced or blockbusting winger, an experienced hooker utility & backrow utility.

Out of the off-contract players remaining, I would look at Jazz Tevaga (lock/hooker utlity), Euan Aitken (backrow/centre utility) , Bailey Simonsen (wing) &/or Jeral Skelton (wing) & would be sussing out the likes of Royce Hunt, Kamakamica & Leo Thompson (those 3 contracted for another season).
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Wow! I'm glad you are not our recruitment officer.
 
watersider said:
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.
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Totally agree on Garner. Has nothing to improve us, a backward step and very much suspect no one in authority thinks it is a positive move. Pass on Garner.
 
I think Stef will stay. He’s been pretty vocal about being happy at the club. Could be just lip service but I doubt it as he was very honest about how he felt about Parra.

I think we’ll have to offer slightly more than Penrith and others will though.
 
weststigerman said:
I think Stef will stay. He’s been pretty vocal about being happy at the club. Could be just lip service but I doubt it as he was very honest about how he felt about Parra.

I think we’ll have to offer slightly more than Penrith and others will though.
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I think he will stay when no other club offers him what he wants and he has no other options but he will come out and say he is staying because he loves the club.
 
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