Signings, Suggestions & Rumours Discussion

In Dean Ritchie’s story today …

Centre Brent Naden has a contract at Wests Tigers for next year and insists it will be honoured.

There has been speculation Naden, 28, may be offloaded, possibly at Catalans, after this season.

But Naden wants to stay, has no plans to play in Super League and will be front and centre at Concord again in 2025.
Our roster management has been diabolical. At least one year too many and I’m pretty sure it was obvious at the time.
 
They all have potential. I know Laulilii was playing against men last weekend in KOE but his positioning was poor and he fell off plenty of tackles. Will be better for the run but needs to continue improving. Mason held his own off the bench in 1sts - exciting. Really not sure Feledy has what it takes to play consistent first grade. Saukuru isn't overly quick; reminds me of Alamoti at the Panthers. Willett hasn't done anything wrong - solid aerial threat but again doesn't seem to have a whole lot of pace.
It's funny you mention navreen willet I watched a few of his games last year for the taree bulls, he was a standout in a pretty shit team, taree bulls are the WT of group 3, I'm surprised benji hasn't given him a crack, he couldn't be any worse than naden
 
In Dean Ritchie’s story today …

Centre Brent Naden has a contract at Wests Tigers for next year and insists it will be honoured.

There has been speculation Naden, 28, may be offloaded, possibly at Catalans, after this season.

But Naden wants to stay, has no plans to play in Super League and will be front and centre at Concord again in 2025.
So that’s 2 players now we want to offload who have said no. Idk how we’re going to be signing anyone else of significance for 25.
 
Most if these young players we are banking on are currently struggling big time when playing NSW Cup and playing their part in the team getting steamrolled most weeks.
This being the case they are currently a million miles away from being able to hold up their end of the bargain at NRL level.
Realistically because they are struggling when playing NSW Cup, they should be back in Jersey Flegg trying to build a bit of confidence.
 
These news articles are so predictable.

If it's a player WT want to keep, write a story saying they want out to generate more clicks.

If it's a player WT want to move on, write a story saying they have a contract and will be staying to generate more clicks.

Richo knows what he's doing.
And if it's neither they make something else up to fill the space.
 
I think we may only sign one more outside back when you look at the NsW cup back 5. All tennagers
Luke Lulilii ( our brian Too) or nee noffa
Heath Mason - can cover all positions in backline needs to be the 14 for NrL
Feleldey not up to standard
Solomon Saukuru progressing through the grades, big body
And Narven Willet, this kid going to be a star! Not sure if he is on a development deal next year but will do a preseason with the top squad.

And going off richos comments we wont be blocking spots!

Throw in Manasaki and Large if they stay, future is bright in 2026
Oh my god , how many times have we heard this , we have super stars coming throw , over the last 10!years we have not seen many , AT present we need seasoned 1st graders to at least help bring throw maybe 1-3 kids because , been real only 1 in a hundred only make it , and that comes from the panthers play book and they should know
 
Oh my god , how many times have we heard this , we have super stars coming throw , over the last 10!years we have not seen many , AT present we need seasoned 1st graders to at least help bring throw maybe 1-3 kids because , been real only 1 in a hundred only make it , and that comes from the panthers play book and they should know
Sheens said 2 years ago we have the best crop of juniors in the country coming through. I think he might have been full of it.
 
They all have potential. I know Laulilii was playing against men last weekend in KOE but his positioning was poor and he fell off plenty of tackles. Will be better for the run but needs to continue improving. Mason held his own off the bench in 1sts - exciting. Really not sure Feledy has what it takes to play consistent first grade. Saukuru isn't overly quick; reminds me of Alamoti at the Panthers. Willett hasn't done anything wrong - solid aerial threat but again doesn't seem to have a whole lot of pace.

Feledy can hit a gap, is very strong and has the great habit of try scoring. He needs to improve his defence which can be said of most young outside backs. We need genuinely fast specialist wingers who complement strong centres. Lack of genuine pace has been our Achilles heel.
 
I think we may only sign one more outside back when you look at the NsW cup back 5. All tennagers
Luke Lulilii ( our brian Too) or nee noffa
Heath Mason - can cover all positions in backline needs to be the 14 for NrL
Feleldey not up to standard
Solomon Saukuru progressing through the grades, big body
And Narven Willet, this kid going to be a star! Not sure if he is on a development deal next year but will do a preseason with the top squad.

And going off richos comments we wont be blocking spots!

Throw in Manasaki and Large if they stay, future is bright in 2026
They are all good with plenty of potential.

We just crave that outside back who can rise in grade and just own their opposition with x-factor, speed, skill & power. None of the top bunch have done that yet except glimpses from Mason.

Makasini & Large (if he plays centre or fullback) are the two that could!
 
I don’t believe we have the best juniors in the country coming through but I don’t think we are far off to be fair. As for the notion the kids arent performing well in cup, I’d assume that’d be a given. 99% of the players in NSW cup are eligible for Jersey Flegg so there is no older figure in the cup team to help out. A lot of these players have jumped from Matts to Cup or Ball to Cup so they have been fast tracked towards first grade and the few we have seen have held their own.

I mean look at our bench last game, I believe it had a total of 4 first grade games experience. Also good to note that the only difference between first grade and Cup is the speed not the physicality.
The only juniors I can really see being 100% first graders are Tallyn Da Silva, Jordan Miller, Navren Willet, Heath Mason. You’d find a common theme with these blokes is most of them have already tasted first grade (besides Nav). Wasn’t too long ago that we were locked in a bidding war with AFL for Willet before he signed with us.

As for the younger juniors I’d say that this current crop of U/17s are just as, if not more talented than the old crop. The likes of Ali Karnib, Heamasi Makasini, Alex Isdale, Onitoni Large, Ashton Large and Jhevon Lele. I haven’t watched Matts in a while but I haven’t seen a better crop of juniors coming through before. Again even more so than the undefeated Matts side. I know Onitoni Large has been in the news but I promise it is no understatement to call him one of the best 16/17 yr olds we have seen. He and Makasini would be the number one on my lists of retaining and it would seem Richo has the same idea.

I understand you’ve heard this all before but there is no hyperbole in what I’ve just said I can promise you that. Please let this be the future🙏🏻🤣
 
I think we've definitely overdone the switch to bringing through juniors and offered top 30 spots to player that don't warrant it.

IMO there are only a few juniors we simply cannot lose and should be happy to burn top 30 spots on:
Galvin, Makasini, Da Silva, Large brothers

The others: Feledy, Faagatu, Laulilli brothers, Miller, Mason, Karnib, Isdale etc. are players we'd like to keep but aren't worth promoting before they are ready.
 
Seems O. larges management might not be happy

So Zerotackle has rehashed the DT article from a few days back.
He has a contract with us, so no club nor his manager should be discussing anything at this point. His path is not blocked in any way, shape or form. All those Rugby highlights are of him at inside centre. There is no doubt he has blinding speed and his early first grade career should be in the outside backs, where we are clearly lacking. Having said that, he has had his injury issues this year and needs to get his body ready to play against men before worrying about his path to the NRL being blocked.
 
Seems O. larges management might not be happy

Meh he was contacted by Buzz and gave a couple of lines to feed the troll.

I highly doubt Sheens promises the Large boys we won't sign any halves or hookers over the next 5 years to make sure that whenever you're ready there's a spot free in first grade. Like seriously, it's beyond stupid
 
In Dean Ritchie’s story today …

Centre Brent Naden has a contract at Wests Tigers for next year and insists it will be honoured.

There has been speculation Naden, 28, may be offloaded, possibly at Catalans, after this season.

But Naden wants to stay, has no plans to play in Super League and will be front and centre at Concord again in 2025.
He has to be dumped to reserve grade for the rest of the season.

Promote Lobb or someone ahead of him, make him feel the humiliation of reserve grade and let him seep in it.

He'll get paid his full contract either way, he might as well just leave and play first team elsewhere.
 

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