Signings, Suggestions & Rumours Discussion
- Thread starter MacDougall
- Start date
This kid is about the only one I've heard of over there, Played plenty of Reps and played well....
Rodwell stars in dominant City Under 16s win
City halfback Toby Rodwell turned in a dominant performance after helping guide his team to an impressive 36-12 win over Country at 4 Pines Park in Brookvale today.
www.nswrl.com.au
liltiger
Well-known member
Personally hope Benji proves me wrong but he's in way out of his depth.
balmain boy
Well-known member
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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balmain boy
Well-known member
There is no need for a 'lebanese touch'. Farah is not a coach. Benji needs experienced coaches around him. Farrah, heighno etc can be water boys and trainers
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.
BlackWhiteGold
Well-known member
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.
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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Tiger Stripes
Well-known member
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!!!!
twentyforty
Well-known member
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.
Harvey
Well-known member
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.
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.
WesternSuburbsBoy
Well-known member
Do you think a CEO can undo 10 years worth of mismanagement in just a couple of months?
twentyforty
Well-known member
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.
Kelce68
Well-known member
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.
BlackWhiteGold
Well-known member
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.
The Chad
Well-known member
This is how you build culture in a club too. Support of the guys that go through our junior development- they play together, play for each other, learn each others game & needs. It builds bonds. I don't think the young guys coming through at Penrith have been particularly more 'skilled' than anyone else in the NRL. But they play as a unit & for each other.
The club (Tigers) have spent too long buying from other clubs- nearly the majority of our top squad has been developed by other clubs. We are essentially a team of mercenaries.
However, Twal, Seyfarth, Utoikamanu, Pole, Galvin...and then the generation of young guys coming through...
There is always player turnover. And I know Twal, Utoikamanu, the Fainu brothers are all other clubs juniors- but you bring them in early enough, they come through our development to a degree. I don't think anybody would consider Twal a Parramatta trained player, despite being one of their juniors.
It's through having a core group that are developed together that you build a club culture. 2005 was a freak year in some regard- but built largely around this mindset.
If galvin agitates for a release we’re screwed
Also the fact that we haven’t extended him beyond the next two years is concerning
I assume we would try to - and the fact he hasn’t means he will test the market November 1 next year.
We all need to pray that luai catapults us to the top 8 next year or we’re screwed
Also the fact that we haven’t extended him beyond the next two years is concerning
I assume we would try to - and the fact he hasn’t means he will test the market November 1 next year.
We all need to pray that luai catapults us to the top 8 next year or we’re screwed
I think it's way more than Benji. People tried to pin it on the last coach too. The perception of this club as being not much more than a feeder for those who think they can do better elsewhere will impact on any coach trying to effect change. Retention becoming a bigger problem than recruitment ATM.
The Chad
Well-known member
The club WILL lose some of the young 'stars' coming through.
There is a significant amount of young depth in our junior ranks in the halves. I'm not convinced Galvin is the top of that pile- just the first through the door.
Just out of curiosity, who do you rate better?
