Signings, Suggestions & Rumours Discussion

[supercoach]

The Simpkin possible release is interesting, because the only thing we gain is a roster spot for the remainder of the season and roughly half a years salary. He was never on our books for next year so there is no long term gain.

So is there a swap or another player from another club in the mix or are we just giving the kid a break. I actually think he is not far off being a serviceable NRL player, not an elite, but your meat and potato style player. I guess TDS is the no9 next in line and we have a club full of meat and potato standard players. Fingers crossed we have a player like Skelton lined up

 

[Tiger_Yoshi]

Nofo has quit Salford and he is on his way back to the NRL...had a falling out with the club apparently...Poor bugger, clearly has issues he needs to sort out away from the field.

 

[Tom Shines]

If a straight release won't work, I wonder whether we could loan him to a SL club for 2 years. We'd have to subsidise some of his contract (maybe $200k per year) and then guarantee him a spot back with us for his 4th year.

Frees up a roster spot for 2 years, hopefully he returns a more furnished player, gives us time to see how Gavin & Fainu go. Just spitballing.

A “straight release “ isn’t an option as they would need to pay out the rest of his contract…

I don’t know if your idea is permitted or not ..can’t recall it happening before ..a player ” lent out “ and then returning during the same contract from the ESL…I doubt it happens in this instance to be honest …it helps the Wests Tigers out … I don’t think it does much for him at his young age ..I think he would be better advised playing out the deal here on good money and seeing what happens

 

[tigermate]

He has three more years guaranteed at the Tigers on $500-$600k … Everyone is different but I would play that out here and then go over there at age 26 … I doubt playing NSW Cup would ”kill” his career over there …they sign reserve graders from here all the time …

Of course he will also be able to work on his game here in the meantime and will no doubt get the odd first grade opportunity here given injuries and suspensions…

True

But playing in front of 500 people each week is pretty disheartening

Depends on if he thinks he’s better than that

You’re right tho players get picked up all the time from NSW

If he kills it in a few games maybe another Aussie team offers him a gig

That’s probably what he’ll do

 

[rugbygoated]

Interesting to see Souths offering Royce Hunt big money. I said a week ago we should go after him. Experienced, not too old, international player, wants to be a starting player (and is capable), and his best is ahead of him

 

[Tom Shines]

Interesting to see Souths offering Royce Hunt big money. I said a week ago we should go after him. Experienced, not too old, international player, wants to be a starting player (and is capable), and his best is ahead of him

How much are they offering him?

 

[jadtiger]

Nofo has quit Salford and he is on his way back to the NRL...had a falling out with the club apparently...Poor bugger, clearly has issues he needs to sort out away from the field.

I doubt if Lee supposedly pandering to him while he was here has helped him in the slightest.

 

[Tiger Stripes]

You can have all the interest from the clubs you like but if the player doesn't want to go to England he sits here picking up $400K + for playing KOE Cup.

He is 22yrs. When his contract expires with WT he will be 26yrs. and wanting a retirement contract.
Hard to see him get one from our Reggies. Best he get more experience and up his value long term IMO. The big picture!

 

[jrtiger]

Interesting to see Souths offering Royce Hunt big money. I said a week ago we should go after him. Experienced, not too old, international player, wants to be a starting player (and is capable), and his best is ahead of him

I would love him, but we will struggle to compete with Wayne in terms of securing his signature.

 

[Stevec]

The only one playing well is Blore. Liddle is pretty decent. The others are poor to average and the beneficiaries of being around good coaching and superstars.

The weekends games Luciano has a great game as did Tuilagi for Parra .Madden has big shoes to fill while replacing Reynolds but handled it ok .Brooks and Talau have played well for Manly and are fitter . Surprise Puaga the surprise is he holds down a center spot with the Roosters and couldn't even make our Bench .Daine Laurie is understudy to Dylan Edwards which makes it very hard to get a game .
On the other hand our recruits Klemmer , Papalii and Bateman and Staines are hardly setting the world on fire but as you say coming to the Tigers means you have poorer coaching and are not surrounded by superstars

 

[BlackWhiteGold]

Interesting to see Souths offering Royce Hunt big money. I said a week ago we should go after him. Experienced, not too old, international player, wants to be a starting player (and is capable), and his best is ahead of him

Yep I said the same thing. A good impact middle with strong defence, ideal for us. Hopefully it's another Turuva situation, all quiet then boom!

 

[magpies forever]

Yep I said the same thing. A good impact middle with strong defence, ideal for us. Hopefully it's another Turuva situation, all quiet then boom!

Lord knows but according to some on here there is a boom coming soon. Dunno, but if it's true I hope it's a good improvement on a very dull, uninspiring backline fullback included.

 

[Stevec]

We seem to accept we have a lousy roster and feel Step 1 is clear out the remaining deadwood before the big new recruitment drive
Based on past performance we seem to accept that Richo knows what he's doing and this
trip to Europe will achieve positive results
I really hope all works out and this trip isn't merely a "fact finding mission " as Polling used to call their annual trips

 

[Tom Shines]

He is 22yrs. When his contract expires with WT he will be 26yrs. and wanting a retirement contract.
Hard to see him get one from our Reggies. Best he get more experience and up his value long term IMO. The big picture!

He can go ESL at 26… why burn that bridge now when he has guaranteed money here ?

 

[balmain boy]

Interesting to see Souths offering Royce Hunt big money. I said a week ago we should go after him. Experienced, not too old, international player, wants to be a starting player (and is capable), and his best is ahead of him

He'd be a decent pickup for a couple of years but he'll be 30 next year so wouldn't offer him more than a 2 year deal for now, with an option for a third based on matches played.

 

[Tom Shines]

He'd be a decent pickup for a couple of years but he'll be 30 next year so wouldn't offer him more than a 2 year deal for now, with an option for a third based on matches played.

He is 28 now ..turns 30 at the end of next season …

I wouldn’t sign him personally …although he would be in our 17 each week … just hoping for better …

 

[Tiger Stripes]

He can go ESL at 26… why burn that bridge now when he has guaranteed money here ?

Assuming he will not lose any $$$$$.
We subsidise whatever the difference and free up a top 30 spot.

 

[Telltails]

This year Tommy Talau is the Wests Tigers in a nutshell…. Didnt look like a first grader when he was here ( like Toa, Naden, Staines )…. He has moved to Manly and is now playing well… it must be more than playing with good players …he has a better attitude and has no doubt benefited from superior coaching .,

The expectations on our young players is regularly off, especially when transitioning them into FG from a bottom 4 position. They make a few errors get thrown into positions to fill gaps, and people right them off before their time.
Tommy always played with passion but had some errors in his game - like most young players - and because of our win loss ratio the errors overrode any of the good things he did.
Not surprised at all that he is going well it was always there and he certainly had no trouble in getting another stronger club to pick him up.
Like Madden and I expect Simpkin will do much the same.

 

[TSP]

Moving onto the garage, Benji wheels out one of the many project cars he has been working on since the season started:

 

[Vicious]

Assuming he will not lose any $$$$$.
We subsidise whatever the difference and free up a top 30 spot.

Obviously the true value of Sullivan at this point of time is around 300k, maybe 350-400k at very best, so some genius from within our organisation has offered him ridiculous overs and because of that he becomes a liability due to salary cap reasons.
However even when Luai arrives we will be in desperate need of a quality genuine number 7 to either partner Luai in the halves or be a quality backup.
So my question is if we do offload Sullivan, who are we bringing in to replace him ?
I would hope it’s Toby Sexton as he is a genuine controlling number 7 with a good kicking game, something we do not currently have.