Signings, Suggestions & Rumours Discussion

[Buttface]

Noah Ryan.

What’s everyone laughing about?
He plays with plenty of ark.

 

[The Chad]

Yep, but what are we holding onto? A very weak pack that lacks physicality and gets knocked back in defense and has no agro.

I'm not talking about big signings like Willison and Hunt, I'm talking about experienced, hungry players who enjoy the physicality and have something to prove.

Look at the production of players like Josh Curran, J'maine hopgood, tom eisenhuth, scott Sorensen, max King, mitch Nicholls. None of those are big name players but they provide starch. These sort of players are around.

Rather than a massive 5 year contract at 800k for Stef, let's buy two grizzled props who have actually played physically already on short term contracts at 400k each.

Two decent props instead of one who looks great but plays weak.

Same with Klemmer, big contract but only a below average prop, let's get two plodder props who aren't just content to cruise and still want to prove themselves instead of him.

We're holding onto and paying for hope and potential with no production. And they've got us to last place. Rather than adding 1 or 2 players to a disinterested squad we need to blow it up and replace them with honest workers. Stef and Klemmer aren't that, they've led nothing in changing the attitude of the squad. The problem with our pack isn't talent, it's their lack of competitiveness and sense of entitlement. We need to blow this up, and create a squad of players who compete and want to prove.

Our present squad make-up has big money wrapped up at the top on underperforming players. We need to change to a squad where there is genuine competition. No team would carry the performances of Klemmer and Stef without change, yet we do because our strategy of big name buying leaves us with no depth.

I don't disagree with what you are saying- but those grizzled props are simply not available in the FA market right now.

 

[Spacecub]

The way we're going he won't have to wait long for the seat to vacate.

Unfortunately this place makes the same mistakes over and over doesn't matter who's in charge nothing changes, we settled for a dinosaur and the kindergarten coach, while flanno and Des were available, Unfortunately richo will back a dud and we'll miss out on Arthur, maybe richo is waiting for Barrett to be available

 

[GNR4LIFE]

Unfortunately this place makes the same mistakes over and over doesn't matter who's in charge nothing changes, we settled for a dinosaur and the kindergarten coach, while flanno and Des were available, Unfortunately richo will back a dud and we'll miss out on Arthur, maybe richo is waiting for Barrett to be available

Barrett is available.

 

[bptiger 0]

The only reason we are not fully out in Campbelltown is the corporate dollars dictate we stay an inner city club. Which is why we are treading water as a club.

My opinion only Campbelltown is a hole , has no atmosphere

 

[Tigerbenb]

You can’t tell me, at training , drills, skill sessions, etc - benji and Robbie, Heini, bomber combined 1000 games experience - can’t see it’s a rabble before game day ? You can only use soo many pride in the jersey, Tony Robbin’s speeches… fact is we have lost 9 straight, and now benji threatens to drop players ? Eyes up footy, it appears to me that’s being coached out of them. We are not a Melbourne or Penrith, broncos … or gods sake a dolphin. We have no footy identity on game day.

We have a centre winger defence negative for what 10-15 years ?

That capitulation against the dragons to me , worst loss we have ever had . How benji wasn’t stopping paint off the walls I have no idea.

Cmon - you play the tigers. As an opposition player , what would excite you to be swapping jerseys and coming off our back fence ? - getting paid overs and knowing bogg average at best is accepted.

Benji - your not Wayne bennett, not even Mary macgregor . Be benji .

Injuries play apart - but honestly , on our injured list what players would be walk up starters in any other club ? Maybe stef, paps, api for sure. The rest ? Cmon now .

Galvin wanting to leave , if you are him , can’t tell me you wouldn’t .

Accept the third spoon it’s ours, and most likely next year.

I have no idea how or what our juniors look like or play … are they that good ? Or we being sold a pipe , to keep buying memberships and merch ?

Our cup team, by Christ … it’s dreadful to watch .

38 years as a supporter and member for past 10. Apologies for the rant, keyboard warriors come get it , whatever. Just sick of us being a loser club and a joke. Don’t players feel the same ? Wish they would show it .

 

[Tom Shines]

You can’t tell me, at training , drills, skill sessions, etc - benji and Robbie, Heini, bomber combined 1000 games experience - can’t see it’s a rabble before game day ? You can only use soo many pride in the jersey, Tony Robbin’s speeches… fact is we have lost 9 straight, and now benji threatens to drop players ? Eyes up footy, it appears to me that’s being coached out of them. We are not a Melbourne or Penrith, broncos … or gods sake a dolphin. We have no footy identity on game day.

We have a centre winger defence negative for what 10-15 years ?

That capitulation against the dragons to me , worst loss we have ever had . How benji wasn’t stopping paint off the walls I have no idea.

Cmon - you play the tigers. As an opposition player , what would excite you to be swapping jerseys and coming off our back fence ? - getting paid overs and knowing bogg average at best is accepted.

Benji - your not Wayne bennett, not even Mary macgregor . Be benji .

Injuries play apart - but honestly , on our injured list what players would be walk up starters in any other club ? Maybe stef, paps, api for sure. The rest ? Cmon now .

Galvin wanting to leave , if you are him , can’t tell me you wouldn’t .

Accept the third spoon it’s ours, and most likely next year.

I have no idea how or what our juniors look like or play … are they that good ? Or we being sold a pipe , to keep buying memberships and merch ?

Our cup team, by Christ … it’s dreadful to watch .

38 years as a supporter and member for past 10. Apologies for the rant, keyboard warriors come get it , whatever. Just sick of us being a loser club and a joke. Don’t players feel the same ? Wish they would show it .

Good post ..agree with pretty much everything …

How many years now have we seen them with poor center/ wings that concede 3 tries for everyone they score ..?

I would love to see what they actually do at training ,,, lot of players seem so bereft of even the most basic fundamental skills

 

[TSP]

My son is 17 and in a situation where he is building towards a career in sport, not league. He is in a spot where we could see him on TV in a couple of years or he could walk away from the game all together, could go either way. He has made it very clear to me that he does all the talking to the senior people at the club he is at and I'm to stay away. While we are seeing evidence of parent influence, he refuses to do the same. Not that I could influence, and not that I'd want to, but he is old enough to know it's not how he wants it done.

All good things to the lad and we’ll done to you guys for fostering his potential.

I’ve met a few sporting parents, it’s not easy.

When I was 17, I was busy throwing hospital passes to my fly half!

I think he needs your wisdom tbh. His understanding of the world not quite where it will be.

 

[88]

In terms of recruitment, is their any value in targeting a manager (a reasonable one reputation wise) and trying to get 2-3 players from their stable all at once? I know there is a danger of becoming beholden to a manager, but if it’s one we only have a few current players with, it might help get some quicker turnover of players that the squad needs.

And I’m talking about robust NRL players (not necessarily stars) for this to be viable. I was sceptical of what Bulldogs did last year turning over their squad with lots of utilities and mid range, but it seems all these players are motivated and capable and attitude is one of the biggest things that needs to change with us and could have one of the quickest impacts on performance.

Just tossing up an idea.

 

[Buttface]

Apart from having had horrendous management who've bought the wrong players on overs & created nothing but managerial chaos for years now, Wests Tigers biggest problem is that they don't have a Penrith Park, a "Brooky" or Newcastle Stadium type "fortress". Instead they are nomads, shifting between Leichhardt, Campbelltown & of late Com Bank.

The club MUST, if it wants to ever become an NRL heavyweight, is to find (or have built) a permanent home ground "fortress" with a capacity for at least 25,000 & as many corporate boxes they can squeeze in, somewhere in the ever fast growing South West in either the Macarthur or Liverpool LGA region.

For all the nostalgia that Leichhardt holds for many of us fans, NOT wholly committing to the SW of Sydney, to it's already huge ever growing population & the "gold" that is our growing Rugby League nursery (that is about to surpass that of the Panthers in a few years) is just stubborn stupidity, plain & simple.

If the club can take the plunge & move lock stock & barrel to the South West results WILL come. Results in an improved sense of identity, results in a better club culture, results in local juniors being loyal & striving to play 1st grade for the club, results in recruitment of (real) marquee players, results in increasing corporate revenue & eventually results in getting bigger crowds to games and most importantly for us fans.... results ON THE FIELD.

What I'd personally like to see?
I'd like to see the Tigers partner up with the Bulldogs & other stake holders (Say Macarthur FC, W.S.Wanderers FC etc) in a consortium to build a 25-30,000 seat stadium near Glenfield or Casula & a new Centre of excellence built next to Campbelltown Stadium, (sell the one at Concord to the ARU) though of course I believe the club MUST play one big home game, say against the Bunnies, annually at Leichhardt in acknowledgement of the heritage of Balmain & it's contribution to the club.

TIme to pull off the bandaid, be brave & make some big, big changes. Repeating the same things they've tried over & over again is just pure craziness & will just doom the club to be perpetual "cellar dwellers" & a barely solvent basket case.

The CoE should have been built out that way to start with and not hedge our bets plonking one in the middle of every where we’ve ever played a game. The last admin was not up to it, pea hearts with no foresight. We need to own an area.

 

[Buttface]

There's no way on earth we'd get another Cof E built anywhere... And we don't own.anything of Concord to sell it.

I agree it's an issue one home ground but there's more pressing ones currently

We’ve only had this one for five mins and we already know its in the wrong location, (what what some of us had been saying),
We should have taken the opportunity to build a home. Instead we built a million dollar extension off the back of our gypsie caravan and wonder why the horse can’t move.
Anyway, we are where we are and we need to win games more than anything else right now.

 

[Tom Shines]

The CoE should have been built out that way to start with and not hedge our bets plonking one in the middle of every where we’ve ever played a game. The last admin was not up to it, pea hearts with no foresight. We need to own an area.

you are probably right …. But it’s a bit like complaining about them not making Flanagan the coach 2 years ago … too late and not going to change anything now …

need to work with what they have.. ..which includes C of E at Concord ..it will be based there at least the next 30:years ..

 

[MountainMan]

Good post ..agree with pretty much everything …

How many years now have we seen them with poor center/ wings that concede 3 tries for everyone they score ..?

I would love to see what they actually do at training ,,, lot of players seem so bereft of even the most basic fundamental skills

Injuries and suspensions have meant that we rarely field the same backline two weeks running. This doesn't help. Also some of the defensive issues out wide start with not "winning the collision" in the middle of the field. If we do try and slow the ruck down we get penalised or have a 6 again awarded against us. Ball control and possession percentage are also factors.

We do have a good player signed for next year in Turuva. Not a lot of other options on the market from what I can see.

 

[Buttface]

My son is 17 and in a situation where he is building towards a career in sport, not league. He is in a spot where we could see him on TV in a couple of years or he could walk away from the game all together, could go either way. He has made it very clear to me that he does all the talking to the senior people at the club he is at and I'm to stay away. While we are seeing evidence of parent influence, he refuses to do the same. Not that I could influence, and not that I'd want to, but he is old enough to know it's not how he wants it done.

Sounds like you raise a determined, confident young man who can already see it’s his future. Good on him. Probably feels a bit harsh to you to, but that was the whole point, raising a person who can make their own life decisions. 👍
Let us know if he hits the big time I’ll be in his corner cheering safely from my tv.
Hopefully he’s the next Don.

 

[Tom Shines]

Injuries and suspensions have meant that we rarely field the same backline two weeks running. This doesn't help. Also some of the defensive issues out wide start with not "winning the collision" in the middle of the field. If we do try and slow the ruck down we get penalised or have a 6 again awarded against us. Ball control and possession percentage are also factors.

We do have a good player signed for next year in Turuva. Not a lot of other options on the market from what I can see.

It’s a little easy to me to blame injuries for our problems …yes they certainly don’t help.. but they do expose the lack of depth in the squad as a whole … which has been brought about through a strategy of having an over reliance on juniors in the Top 30 who are not first grade ready …. Besides ..they have won 10 of their last 65 games …so they lose even with their best players available …

They need another winger and Center in addition to Turuva … I don’t see a lot of solutions who are at the club now … they will probably be forced into continuing with Olam given this lack of depth …. But he was one of the worst players on the field last start ..which is saying a lot ..

Yeah ..it’s easier said than done to find other guys .. I don’t know what options are available…I have mentioned trying to get a guy like Brad Parker here who is seemingly stuck in reserve grade at Manly… its interesting to me though that a player like Tommy Talau is keeping him in reserve grade and he is playing pretty good football now when he was beyond terrible his years playing here …

At the end of the day ..it’s up to Richo to find the players to improve the team …Im sure he is being paid amongst the top CEO’s…so he has gotta start showing why …

 

[Buttface]

you are probably right …. But it’s a bit like complaining about them not making Flanagan the coach 2 years ago … too late and not going to change anything now …

need to work with what they have.. ..which includes C of E at Concord ..it will be based there at least the next 30:years ..

Yeah agree it’s too late now, and it’s not like there’s an old one in one of the many other homes we had so we need to make do with it now, but the long term plan should always be in place and that should be a permanent home. For now we need to win games more than anything else.

 

[king_sirro]

Sounds like you raise a determined, confident young man who can already see it’s his future. Good on him. Probably feels a bit harsh to you to, but that was the whole point, raising a person who can make their own life decisions. 👍
Let us know if he hits the big time I’ll be in his corner cheering safely from my tv.
Hopefully he’s the next Don.

Thanks mate. He is quiet as a mouse but always been comfortable in his own skin and willing to do what he wants.
Luckily I'm happy being a fan in the crowd and staying away from it all.

 

[hank37w]

When u sit down and work out what’s wrong with our team I think it boils down to our body shapes are all wrong . We just don’t have the bulk in the forwards , and they just can’t create for our backs , did anyone watch the sharks game , when HUNT came on with his bulk they killed them , we don’t have that . In fact over the last few years we have either let players leave while under contract or told them there not wanted . Some of the bigger players we have let go
Luchie
Materson
Alioa
Joe
Blore
All of them are bigger bodies than what we got

Problem is that we would sign George Rose.

 

[king_sirro]

All good things to the lad and we’ll done to you guys for fostering his potential.

I’ve met a few sporting parents, it’s not easy.

When I was 17, I was busy throwing hospital passes to my fly half!

I think he needs your wisdom tbh. His understanding of the world not quite where it will be.

Don't get me wrong, I have a huge influence behind the scenes. I just can't involve myself with anyone at the club. He hears how people talk about those that get opportunities through their dads and he doesn't want that stuff said about me.

 

[hank37w]

Totally agree. Our forwards get three in a tackle and then after what seems an eternity the opposition get the ball away. Very soft defence.

I agree but quite often a very late held call as well.