Signings, Suggestions & Rumours Discussion

[Tom Shines]

I agree if we lose Stef it’s vitally important that we sign Royce Hunt.
I’m of the thinking if we lose Stef, we sign both Royce Hunt and Oregon Kaufusi.

I have read nothing outside this forum to suggest Royce Hunt is coming to WT…although you are pushing it ad nauseam. …

Search him on X…. Souffs, Dogs and other fans want to sign him.. Sharks fans want to keep him and he is still signed there next season right ?

It seems like a pipe dream to me ..

 

[Vicious]

I think Sezer will go dogs, where it all started. He might be the difference for them and might lead them to a premiership.

He is definitely first grade standard and he will have a good thing going with Burton for the next 2 years if they sign him.

As for us, despite the fact he is a gun, what do we do with him?

Latu, Galvin, Luai, Sullivan, Doueihi all very capable halves. Unfortunately it might be in all our interests for him to go.

I reckon he would be happy to stay and play as our regular 14.

 

[pawsandclaws1]

It is getting pretty late in the season for clubs to find what $800,000 pa for Utoikamanu. Usually a buy of that amount would need forward planning including perhaps the early release of a player to accommodate him.

 

[Vicious]

I have read nothing outside this forum to suggest Royce Hunt is coming to WT…although you are pushing it ad nauseam. …

Search him on X…. Souffs, Dogs and other fans want to sign him.. Sharks fans want to keep him and he is still signed there next season right ?

It seems like a pipe dream to me ..

The Sharks have already given him permission to head elsewhere as of next season.
Every club would want him, but he is now at the back end of his career, he has never been a huge money earner, so I am sure he would want to go to the highest bidder.

 

[Tom Shines]

The Sharks have already given him permission to head elsewhere as of next season.
Every club would want him, but he is now at the back end of his career, he has never been a huge money earner, so I am sure he would want to go to the highest bidder.

They have given him permission to talk to other clubs ,,. This doesn’t mean he is definitely going ..although it’s a strong possibility… and as you said every club would then want him

If there was something to even suggest he was even on the radar of the WT I could buy into it .. but nothing … we don’t even know if they are interested in him

 

[WestsTigers4VR]

I reckon if we end this year in and around the tenth spot then I believe Stef will resign. After losing 9 straight games it’s hard for all of us to see where success was gonna come from. I think he needed this little refresher and reminder of our potential and like I said we are still a chance climb the ladder and even make it to into the eight. Now extremely unlikely but even just above 12 or even 14 would show massive improvements.

 

[BlackWhiteGold]

They have given him permission to talk to other clubs ,,. This doesn’t mean he is definitely going ..although it’s a strong possibility… and as you said every club would then want him

If there was something to even suggest he was even on the radar of the WT I could buy into it .. but nothing … we don’t even know if they are interested in him

Remember there will be nothing coming out of the Tigers before a signing so the Rabbits rumours doesn't mean he's sewn up there.

Sharks will need to offload one of their props with AFB incoming.

If Uto goes, it would be remiss of Richo/Benji not to suss him out. Unless we have a bigger fish already lined up!

 

[BlackWhiteGold]

Less than 7 days before 30 June & we have 3 roster spots to fill either with external recruits or simple promotion from Dev/T&T on bottom salary i.e. Reuben Porter, Luke & Kit Laulilii, Faataape.

Also hopefully we hear today from the club who was awarded all of our Pathways awards at yesterday's presentation. I did see on Insta that Taupau-Moors won an award for WM Harold Matts.

 

[weststigerman]

The Sharks have already given him permission to head elsewhere as of next season.
Every club would want him, but he is now at the back end of his career, he has never been a huge money earner, so I am sure he would want to go to the highest bidder.

Why does everyone want him? He averages just over 50 metres per game. Sione Fainu has done more in his 4 games of first grade.

Not sure why there is so much hype around him. Haven't seen this much hype since Franklin Pele was off contract.

 

[BlackWhiteGold]

Hunt has already been given permission to sign elsewhere and Kaufusi has an option for 2025 in his favour, so nothing Sharks can do about him leaving if he signs elsewhere.
Another interesting player with an option in his favour for 2025 is Joe Chan from the Storm. He plays very physical, but not getting regular game time, so he also might be wanting to head elsewhere.

I'd say Sharks will finalise what's happening with Kaufusi before officially releasing Hunt. If Kaufusi does leave, can't see them releasing Hunt.

 

[Tom Shines]

Why does everyone want him? He averages just over 50 metres per game. Sione Fainu has done more in his 4 games of first grade.

Not sure why there is so much hype around him. Haven't seen this much hype since Franklin Pele was off contract.

Hunt plays low minutes … he is a luxury piece for a top team IMO … I doubt the club is even interested

 

[BlackWhiteGold]

Why does everyone want him? He averages just over 50 metres per game. Sione Fainu has done more in his 4 games of first grade.

Not sure why there is so much hype around him. Haven't seen this much hype since Franklin Pele was off contract.

Impact, experience, post contact metres, offloading ability, good defence, good attitude ... say no more

 

[BlackWhiteGold]

Hunt plays low minutes … he is a luxury piece for a top team IMO … I doubt the club is even interested

We have Klemmer, Twal, Seyfarth, Sione Fainu who can all play big minutes in the middle. Pole is building his endurance. Sukkar who will likely end up in the middle also can play long.

So a 30-minute middle is just as valuable for us.

 

[Tom Shines]

We have Klemmer, Twal, Seyfarth, Sione Fainu who can all play big minutes in the middle. Pole is building his endurance. Sukkar who will likely end up in the middle also can play long.

So a 30-minute middle is just as valuable for us.

And you want to pay him top $$$ for that ?

 

[weststigerman]

Impact, experience, post contact metres, offloading ability, good defence, good attitude ... say no more

He's had 1 offload all year?

 

[Wiz]

It is getting pretty late in the season for clubs to find what $800,000 pa for Utoikamanu. Usually a buy of that amount would need forward planning including perhaps the early release of a player to accommodate him.

Some of those other clubs won’t need to find $800k. “$550k” for a chance to win a premiership and get some life lessons will suffice….

 

[hsvjones]

I want to hear that we have extended Pole asap as he is a player we must retain.

 

[BlackWhiteGold]

And you want to pay him top $$$ for that ?

Not top dollar but we should definitely investigate what it would take to outbid the Rabbits.

Probably see him as a $500-$550k middle.

 

[Milky]

I reckon he would be happy to stay and play as our regular 14.

Does he add much at 14? He is a game manager

I think I would rather TDS or Mason there. Although, I would like to see Mason have a run at FB

1. Mason
2. Bula/Lauilili
3. Doueihi
4. Olam
5. Turuva

Guaranteed they won’t be fit at all time so they’ll all get a run. Eventually Olam will drop out due to his age/retirement.

 

[Mighty_Tiger]

Don’t get the love for Hunt unless it’s a bench interchange style to provide experience.
He is a 20-30min max prop today.
If we bank on him as our starter we are in trouble we need to be looking at other options