Signings, Suggestions & Rumours Discussion

FrodoTBaggin said:
I find it quite funny that his only defence for Robbie was that he was Lebanese. We need a new attacking coach ASAP.
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A slightly different topic, but I noticed a big smile and conversation which very much looked like things coming off that they had been working on from Trent Barrett and the Eels coaching box after a ori g a try from a nicely worked different shape last weekend.
 
BlackWhiteGold said:
About 31:00 into this podcast with Chammas & Weidler, the host mentions Mitchell Pearce telling him that the Tigers have poached the best RL schoolboys half from the Roosters in the past 10 years. No mention of names but wonder whether it's a reference to Mikey Nassar @ROZELLE.O.G or Onitoni Large or someone else.

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The Tigers have poached this half from the Roosters ?
 
Telltails said:
Stef issues aside - the St George and Bulldogs showing significant improvement has been a disaster for us in terms of retention and recruitment.
These are the clubs we compete against in the rebuild stakes and both look ahead of us while we stay camped in exactly the same place as we were last season and the one before that.

The faces may be different but it's becoming more difficult to see how we break this cycle. It's beyond frustrating and the player managers are now agitating - anyone think they are not running the game is kidding themselves. Impossible for us to get off the bottom while they negotiate with stronger clubs for their best players and the system allows the strong to monopolize the best talent.
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Personally hope Benji proves me wrong but he's in way out of his depth.
 
twentyforty said:
Sounds like a nightmare.
I think Benji has a 5 year contract, yeh I know it doesn’t mean he’s in that job for another 3 years. Regardless, I think the club will be watching him closely. He has said the “players aren’t learning” which when translated means ‘ he and his coaching team haven’t been successful.’
.
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It doesn't necessarily mean that. Some players are just too dumb to learn. One trick ponies. Naden for example is and always will be an absolute moron, you tell him not to do something stupid but that won't stop his brain explosions. Kepaoa has awful hands.
Some players just don't have the skills to compete at NRL level on a weekly basis and no amount of coaching can get them there. Our recruitment and retention has been atrocious for way too long. While there's never a guarantee we just get it wrong time at time after time
 
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BlackWhiteGold said:
About 31:00 into this podcast with Chammas & Weidler, the host mentions Mitchell Pearce telling him that the Tigers have poached the best RL schoolboys half from the Roosters in the past 10 years. No mention of names but wonder whether it's a reference to Mikey Nassar @ROZELLE.O.G or Onitoni Large or someone else.

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It’s probably Ontoni Large who spent a year or two with the Roosters before we poached him back off the Roosters.

Ontoni has wraps on him consistent with being the best half (5/8) in the last 10 years.
 
Wiz said:
It’s probably Ontoni Large who spent a year or two with the Roosters before we poached him back off the Roosters.

Ontoni has wraps on him consistent with being the best half (5/8) in the last 10 years.
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Yes that was a thought even though we re-secured him a couple of seasons ago.
 
Nobody loves local juniors coming into the top grade as much as I do, I’m a big believer that a successful club needs heart & soul that is best provided by local talent, talent brought to the club at a young age or brought to the club before being an established NRL player elsewhere.
This is also part of the reason why I believe a little bit more grace should be given to home grown players such as Seyfarth etc.
I believe this is also Richo’s theory based on some of his previous interviews.
It is perfect in theory, but when you have been stuck on the bottom for as long as we have, adopting this theory is easier said than done as the player managers, sometimes the player themselves or their families simply want to use the club as a bargaining chip.
Wests Tigers will not climb the ladder if continuing to be used as a bargaining chip and giving in to the demands of home grown or long standing players.
We have to remember for every top quality up and coming player we have, there are plenty of others with similar, sometimes more ability elsewhere.
This is disappointing to say as in a perfect world it would be fantastic to build a dynasty based on what the Panthers have done, but I’m hoping Richo takes the hard stance telling all players they will only be contracted to their true value and will only be selected based on the form they demonstrate on a week to week basis, therefore the club will not give in to player manager demands and if they think they can do better elsewhere, show them the door.
 
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twentyforty said:
We just keep making poor decisions.
If we werent scrooges and try saving money on a cheap coach we could have got someone experienced like Flanagan.
All respect to Benji and his mates but they’re coaching us to another spoon.
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With due respect about Benji and his side kicks,
"YOU CAN'T MAKE A SILK PURSE OUT OF A PIGS EAR".
We need more silk!!!!
 
balmain boy said:
It doesn't necessarily mean that. Some players are just too dumb to learn. Over trick ponies. Naden for example is and always will be an absolute moron, you tell him not to do something stupid but that won't stop his brain explosions. Kepaoa has awful hands.
Some players just don't have the skills to compete at NRL level on a weekly basis and no amount of coaching can get them there. Our recruitment and retention has been atrocious for way too long. While there's never a guarantee we just get it wrong time at time after time
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If you have an NRL player who can’t catch a ball, can’t that be corrected? Check his eyesight, give him drills, improve his weaknesses and identify what he’s good at and utilise those skills.
maybe I’m expecting far too much from professionals.
I do understand what you’re saying about the Neanderthals making the same mistake continually and it’s harder for our coaches to break those habits when they come to Tigers at or nearing their career twilight.
 
The idea of clearing out a roster is to improve it, and that will be based on who you sign.

For 2025 the only players available will be other clubs cast offs.

It is also likely that the clubs taking the players we are trying to offload can smell our desperation, offer unders and leave us paying some of the freight.

We then end up paying a marquee players wage towards 5 blokes playing at other clubs, who we have replaced with kids or players of a similar talent level.

Our roster management is terrible. 4 year signings for a constantly revolving 12 months plan.

Other than handing Luai 1.2m a season, can someone show me what Richo has done since he got here? We have amateur/trainee support staff, no stadium policy and another spoon & people think he is the club savior.
 
Harvey said:
The idea of clearing out a roster is to improve it, and that will be based on who you sign.

For 2025 the only players available will be other clubs cast offs.

It is also likely that the clubs taking the players we are trying to offload can smell our desperation, offer unders and leave us paying some of the freight.

We then end up paying a marquee players wage towards 5 blokes playing at other clubs, who we have replaced with kids or players of a similar talent level.

Our roster management is terrible. 4 year signings for a constantly revolving 12 months plan.

Other than handing Luai 1.2m a season, can someone show me what Richo has done since he got here? We have amateur/trainee support staff, no stadium policy and another spoon & people think he is the club savior.
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Do you think a CEO can undo 10 years worth of mismanagement in just a couple of months?
 
Tiger Stripes said:
With due respect about Benji and his side kicks,
"YOU CAN'T MAKE A SILK PURSE OUT OF A PIGS EAR".
We need more silk!!!!
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Is that really what we’re trying to do though?
I thought the idea was to have 30 professional NRL players working tirelessly for each other? Becoming a “team” and moving as one, like a Japanese tour group.
 
Harvey said:
The idea of clearing out a roster is to improve it, and that will be based on who you sign.

For 2025 the only players available will be other clubs cast offs.

It is also likely that the clubs taking the players we are trying to offload can smell our desperation, offer unders and leave us paying some of the freight.

We then end up paying a marquee players wage towards 5 blokes playing at other clubs, who we have replaced with kids or players of a similar talent level.

Our roster management is terrible. 4 year signings for a constantly revolving 12 months plan.

Other than handing Luai 1.2m a season, can someone show me what Richo has done since he got here? We have amateur/trainee support staff, no stadium policy and another spoon & people think he is the club savior.
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Signed Luai.
Signed Turuva.
Got rid of Nofoaluma.
Cleared up the leaks that have plagued the club forever.
Is in negotiations with Utoikamanu.
Removed a contentious and destabilising appointment in Fulton.
Released Papali'i, opening a roster spot, $750k and an underperforming starter.
Has released a vision for the MacArthur region.
Hired Mielekamp as GM Community, Foundation and Affiliates to increase community engagement.
Has started overhauling a broken roster within 3 months of the season beginning.
Is finalising the stadium policy, which is due for release in the next month.

Just a couple of things.

....in 5 months.
 
Vicious said:
Nobody loves local juniors coming into the top grade as much as I do, I’m a big believer that a successful club needs heart & soul that is best provided by local talent, talent brought to the club at a young age or brought to the club before being an established NRL player elsewhere.
This is also part of the reason why I believe a little bit more grace should be given to home grown players such as Seyfarth etc.
I believe this is also Richo’s theory based on some of his previous interviews.
It is perfect in theory, but when you have been stuck on the bottom for as long as we have, adopting this theory is easier said than done as the player managers, sometimes the player themselves or their families simply want to use the club as a bargaining chip.
Wests Tigers will not climb the ladder if continuing to be used as a bargaining chip and giving in to the demands of home grown or long standing players.
We have to remember for every top quality up and coming player we have, there are plenty of others with similar, sometimes more ability elsewhere.
This is disappointing to say as in a perfect world it would be fantastic to build a dynasty based on what the Panthers have done, but I’m hoping Richo takes the hard stance telling all players they will only be contracted to their true value and will only be selected based on the form they demonstrate on a week to week basis, therefore the club will not give in to player manager demands and if they think they can do better elsewhere, show them the door.
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It is the right way to go to build that sense of community & players progressing with their mates.

But we do need to complement them with leaders & the right types to build desire, effort, at times aggression & smarts throughout the squad.

Api, Bateman, Luai & Turuva fit the bill. We just need to get rid of the pea-hearts & soft co**s and recruit a few that show in their interview a real desire to play for the WTs & change our club fortunes.
 
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