Signings, Suggestions & Rumours Discussion

[AdelaideTiger]

Don't love the idea of having NAS and Klemmer on the books, that's a pretty old and slow front row pair.
Pole becomes absolutely crucial if Stef leaves, as there is a yawning gap between the best props in the league and the rest, and most of the best are locked down long term at the moment.
Willison should clearly be another target.

 

[BenjiGoat2005]

is david klemmer out from a hip drop suspension

 

[Rusty]

Looking at NAS stats ( last 5 years) only plays around 60% of games per year pending injury / suspension.

 

[2041]

I happened to come across the following on rugby union social media (it just popped up on my feed, honest). I should say I have no idea who this guy is or what his mail might be, so presented without any endorsement whatsoever. From comments on an article about clubs chasing Onitoni Large:

I’m reasonably close to this situation and this is my mail. He is 100% leaving the Wests Tigers, as is his brother. The new NRL rule is that you can promote a player who is 17 years old to the top 30 but they cannot play until they are 18. Manly did this with Latu Fainu and he is a Tiger now. This means that Large could be in an NRL top 30 this year. He is not in the Tigers 30 and he is not in their development squad (5 extra players) and he played Harold Matt’s this year, not SG ball or Jersey Flegg. His younger brother Ashton who is a hooker is a gun too. The problem is the Tigers already have the best 2 young prospects in the NRL at those positions in Lachlan Galvin and Tallyn Da Silva. They have long term deals and are already IN the NRL every week. The tigers also have an origin player in both positions in their 2025 squad. This part is purely speculative: I think Onitoni really wants to play Rugby Union but that his manager will recommend he does not. His manager manages Angus Crichton (RA super annoyed with him because they thought they had him wrapped) Murray Taulagi (union star joined league) Justin Olam (signed with Tigers and is now annoyed at Tigers) Taniela Paseka (left tigers joined Manly) Tepai Moeroa (multiple time code hooper back in league) Jack Maddocks (left Waratahs & Wallabies to play in France) His only rugby players in Super rugby left are Tom Wright & Hugh Renton. So much can happen in a short time in these situations but if he remains with the same agency, he is not going to union, even though I actually think he wants to play rugby and his path in union is so much clearer than in league.

Obviously the Large stuff isn't new, but where is the Olam pissed off bit coming from? Another one we're playing while injured?

 

[BenjiGoat2005]

where did you find out he was annoyed?

 

[Tucker]

I’ve posted this in the past but no one has ever taken any notice of a thing I’ve said before so not sure you mean me, but if you do it feels weird. Sort of weird like when I was super high on Galvin after preseason and Tucker was certain to tell me I was wrong… Tucker probably still thinks Lachy should be in reserves…

If you want to know something, just ask. No need to have a crack like this.
Yes I was bemused and negative towards the pre season hype for Galvin. It was very commendable that he had put in at training and was doing so well. I saw him play live twice last year for Ball and wasn’t real impressed. He can obviously play, but wasn’t dominant in any way and went quiet for patches, to the point you’d forget he was out there. Fast forward 6/7 months and I’m being told he’ll be the starting 5/8th in first grade for our opening game of the year. Yes I was sceptical. The resultant 20 point loss didn’t help. A couple of good wins, especially his game against the Eels restored hope but the following two and a half months of no wins vindicated my position. Leading into rd 15 we were 2 & 10 with the worst attack in the comp. No 5/8th wants that on their resume. He also wasn’t playing too well…running across field a lot, running in circles and getting caught with the ball, not kicking well and started missing tackles that he was regularly making earlier. I thought he needed a rest….and he did. Then we hear he wants out. Then he gets left out against Titans and we win without him. Gotta say, leading into the Canberra game, I was well and truly off him.

That game he played on the weekend was unlike any other game he has played this year so far. He was relaxed, confident and having fun. Our attack was sharp, focused and lethal and he was driving it. Ethan Strange gave him a bath in round 2 and he returned the favour with interest in round 16. So no, I don’t think he should be in reserves anymore. That doesn’t mean I have given up on Latu. I’m still very eager to see what he can do.

At the end of the day, I don’t live local, haven’t watched these guys come through the junior ranks and at school. I don’t have the slightly sycophantic view of them that some of you have. I just want to win. I care not whether that’s supplied by local juniors or ring ins. Our two best this year are Api and Fainu….mercenaries who left stronger organisations to chase the cash here. They have no emotional ties to this joint but are busting arse. On the weekend, several juniors did as well - led by Lachlan. That was encouraging.

 

[Rusty]

The Storm offered Sofa Solomon to us as a swap for Stef earlier this year.
So that's why it could be a goer.

Id be looking at Howarth instead. One gooden for another.

 

[2041]

where did you find out he was annoyed?

I didn't, I'm reproducing someone else's comments. It's the first I've heard of it and I'm wondering if there's anything to it. As I said, I don't know anything about the source of that post.

 

[bptiger 0]

There is every chance we our losing 3 of our starting forwards at the end of this year , yet there seems like no players are incoming, YES I know there is no leaks about signings players but gee there’s a lot of players out there been moved to other teams , I would just want to see something happening for us . Richo went to England to scout players yet nothing has come out , don’t understand if we have signed a player over there we would not release that info

 

[Canadian Club]

Id be looking at Howard instead. One gooden for another.

John?

Don’t think he’d offer much personally.

 

[weststigerman]

Large can't negotiate with other clubs until about 2026, so I think Richo will give him the Galvin treatment.

 

[hank37w]

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

That's the beauty of not having leaks, but if you want to hear something ask the drunken old buzzard, I'm sure he'd make up something.

 

[hank37w]

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….

Watch his manager blow up if that happens and he loses out on his cut of the money, suddenly there are compelling reasons why he should sign with Wests Tigers and create a legacy by being part of turning the club around. 🤣 🤣 🤣

 

[tiger05premier]

Watch his manager blow up if that happens and he loses out on his cut of the money, suddenly there are compelling reasons why he should sign with Wests Tigers and create a legacy by being part of turning the club around. 🤣 🤣 🤣

Let's hope this is outcome

 

[Tiger Stripes]

Mason on the bench hooker fullback half and centre everything is covered

Sezer for next year.
Mason further down the track maybe.

 

[ROZELLE.O.G]

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.

I know my son has told me that Mikey Nasser is in the Roosters academy and has been training with Cronk and Mitchell Pearce. My son told me that Pearce was surprised how big Mikeys boot is. I know in the Harold Matts season for the tigers he had 17 restarts of his kick offs. The roosters have been using him in first grade oppose sessions the last two months to mimick key players like Reece Walsh, Burton, Ponga. I saw him play a couple of weeks ago for school footy, the kid is scary quick, he was also with Bronson Harrison in the warm ups which I am hoping is a good sign for us.

 

[hank37w]

Have seen Willison playing this year, he is not close to how he was playing last year, I would give him big miss.

But that is just second year syndrome, next year will be third year and he will be fine. 🤣 🤣 🤣

For what it's worth I don't think he is coming but wouldn't mind him if he did.

 

[tiger05premier]

Watch his manager blow up if that happens and he loses out on his cut of the money, suddenly there are compelling reasons why he should sign with Wests Tigers and create a legacy by being part of turning the club around. 🤣 🤣 🤣

I would also think in this scenario that someone like politis would make up the managers lost money on the side if it meant signing Ute

 

[BlackWhiteGold]

I know my son has told me that Mikey Nasser is in the Roosters academy and has been training with Cronk and Mitchell Pearce. My son told me that Pearce was surprised how big Mikeys boot is. I know in the Harold Matts season for the tigers he had 17 restarts of his kick offs. The roosters have been using him in first grade oppose sessions the last two months to mimick key players like Reece Walsh, Burton, Ponga. I saw him play a couple of weeks ago for school footy, the kid is scary quick, he was also with Bronson Harrison in the warm ups which I am hoping is a good sign for us.

I've only ever seen highlights of Mikey and his speed & kicking ability is extraordinary. Certainly from the limited reels I've seen of him & Onitoni Large, I think Nassar has the greater scope for NRL. Fingers crossed for Bronson! Whoever is responsible at the club for not securing him long-term 12 or so months ago should be hauled over the coals (maybe they have already departed).

 

[WestsTigers4VR]

don’t know where this mail is the Onitoni Large is leaving. He is contracted 5 years with the club starting lasting year I believe. If recent actions are anything to go by I’d say he is gonna stay here unless we get something out of it. Also the notion just because he isn’t apart of the top 30 is ridiculous. One: we are not in the same position two years ago where we had no choice and needed to fast track our juniors 2: He has been training with the top 30 squad during NRL preseason so the club clearly rates him enough already. Not to mention he was 16 yrs old when he took part of the top 30s pre season so the club thinks he’ll be ready sooner rather then later.