he's too much of a risk. from what I have seen (video) and heard (reliable sources) he's not the type of player we want to be influencing other players within the team.
it's a hard no from me.
Signings, Suggestions & Rumours Discussion
- Thread starter MacDougall
- Start date
it's a hard no from me.
you are 100% over rating staines and naiden.
851
Well-known member
Throw in To'a as a sweetener
His charges are still pending before the court and he is under an NRL stand-down until resolved....
How hard it that to grasp??
IF - he is not convicted then maybe he would be worth consideration - but that is a big IF and he is not worthy of any consideration until the court case is finalised (mid 2025 at the earliest)...
The Chad
Well-known member
A lot of people won't like reading it- but while the club brings these kids through, some will play sooner than they are possibly expected to until the balance is right.
And because the squad is made up of so many younger players, losing more established guys is still only giving more space to more younger players coming through- or you risk simply losing them.
Luke Lualili'i might not be 100% ready. I doubt he is. Hence the reason I put Staines in instead of him. That said, I HIGHLY doubt the club then goes & signs ANOTHER player to also put in front of Luke. As it stands, Staines, Naden, To'a & Faataape could all play in place of Luke right now (not including my released wingers Lobb & Alaimalo). But I can pretty much bet that Luke is considered a VERY good chance of taking that spot 'long term' (which could be before next season ends).
The Makasini article earlier in the year stated that the club "Expects Makasini to be making his debut as an 18 year old). Yep. That'll be next year. So throw him in the mix. These 2 guys don't get that exposure with the addition of another winger from outside the club. Adam Doueihi has essentially saved the club from having to look outside the squad for another outside back next season.
Losing Utoikamanu could additionally open up space for some of our younger guys like Broederlow, Johannssen & Tofeono to be our next Kit Lualili'i or Jordan Miller next season & get injected as the year goes on, instead of hunting outside the club for another player, on higher money, that cannot replicate what Utoikamanu does anyway.
Fa'agutu, Sukkar, Jordan Miller & Kit Lualili'i will feature in the squad, sooner than later. And the club already has Klemmer, Twal, Pole, Sione Fainu, Sam Fainu and Seyfarth in the established/semi-established starting rotation. Matamua has started to get more game time now. Again- not A LOT of room to add guys- particularly guys that will not improve the team to the level Utoikamanu is at currently. Bateman could stay as well- adding another body to the mix. Then there is Reuben Porter too.
I would not be surprised if only 1 additional player is added in the forwards. Asofa-Solomona has been neighed already. And he won't be as good as Utoikamanu. But he is a significantly different body type to our other forwards & offers something a bit different for the opposition to think about. A couple of the Raiders forwards- Hola & Saulo are big body types as well. Or, the club could look at more your worker-type & put together a hard working bunch of middles that don't necessarily dominate, but nullify (think the Dolphins forwards). In this catagory, Liam Knight probably fits without breaking the bank.
The success of the club won't come from spending half of Utoikamanu's money on Royce Hunt, regardless of how decent a player he is.
It will come from the implementation of our high quality juniors- Galvin, Latu Fainu, Bula, Makasini, Fa'agutu, Miller, Da Silva, the Lualili'i's etc, etc.
I'd be willing to bet that by next season's end, 2-3 of these guys are playing significant minutes & the "we should sign generic bench player from another club" conversations will be forgotten.
And because the squad is made up of so many younger players, losing more established guys is still only giving more space to more younger players coming through- or you risk simply losing them.
Luke Lualili'i might not be 100% ready. I doubt he is. Hence the reason I put Staines in instead of him. That said, I HIGHLY doubt the club then goes & signs ANOTHER player to also put in front of Luke. As it stands, Staines, Naden, To'a & Faataape could all play in place of Luke right now (not including my released wingers Lobb & Alaimalo). But I can pretty much bet that Luke is considered a VERY good chance of taking that spot 'long term' (which could be before next season ends).
The Makasini article earlier in the year stated that the club "Expects Makasini to be making his debut as an 18 year old). Yep. That'll be next year. So throw him in the mix. These 2 guys don't get that exposure with the addition of another winger from outside the club. Adam Doueihi has essentially saved the club from having to look outside the squad for another outside back next season.
Losing Utoikamanu could additionally open up space for some of our younger guys like Broederlow, Johannssen & Tofeono to be our next Kit Lualili'i or Jordan Miller next season & get injected as the year goes on, instead of hunting outside the club for another player, on higher money, that cannot replicate what Utoikamanu does anyway.
Fa'agutu, Sukkar, Jordan Miller & Kit Lualili'i will feature in the squad, sooner than later. And the club already has Klemmer, Twal, Pole, Sione Fainu, Sam Fainu and Seyfarth in the established/semi-established starting rotation. Matamua has started to get more game time now. Again- not A LOT of room to add guys- particularly guys that will not improve the team to the level Utoikamanu is at currently. Bateman could stay as well- adding another body to the mix. Then there is Reuben Porter too.
I would not be surprised if only 1 additional player is added in the forwards. Asofa-Solomona has been neighed already. And he won't be as good as Utoikamanu. But he is a significantly different body type to our other forwards & offers something a bit different for the opposition to think about. A couple of the Raiders forwards- Hola & Saulo are big body types as well. Or, the club could look at more your worker-type & put together a hard working bunch of middles that don't necessarily dominate, but nullify (think the Dolphins forwards). In this catagory, Liam Knight probably fits without breaking the bank.
The success of the club won't come from spending half of Utoikamanu's money on Royce Hunt, regardless of how decent a player he is.
It will come from the implementation of our high quality juniors- Galvin, Latu Fainu, Bula, Makasini, Fa'agutu, Miller, Da Silva, the Lualili'i's etc, etc.
I'd be willing to bet that by next season's end, 2-3 of these guys are playing significant minutes & the "we should sign generic bench player from another club" conversations will be forgotten.
Read between the lines, he will not get convicted.
Is it too hard for you to comprehend that it’s an extremely difficult task for a team such as Wests Tigers to attract high class NRL talent without paying massive overs ?
These types of players with some past issues are the only ones we are a realistic chance of getting at a decent price.
The Chad
Well-known member
The club won't be signing players to block their progress though. These guys are the future of the club- it might be too early, but they'll be given the opportunity to succeed or fail.
The Chad
Well-known member
Maybe not. But then Seyfarth plays there. Or Sukkar. Or Lualili'i. Or Fa'agutu. Or even Sione Fainu.
To put all our better forwards on the field might take some juggling. Or even to think outside the box & use players a little differently.
The Chad
Well-known member
Ruben Cotter disagrees.
weststigerman
Well-known member
You can still sign players to short term contracts like we did with Sezer. Outside backs around 29/30 looking for their last contract.
The Chad
Well-known member
like Naden, Klemmer- both of contract after next season. We already have those guys.
But yes- to a degree, I agree.
I'm warming to Liam Knight the more I think about it. 1-2 year deal & that's it.
Kaito
Well-known member
Exclusive news from 'sports confidential' hehe.
I think club knows who's hot & who's not. Some of
our top 30 signings (and incentives) have been
preposterous under the old regime. Everyone you
mentioned is the new crop coming up. They all played
together, we might lose a few but keep the core
Just like his brother didn't get convicted!! Oh - that's right...
Now you have your fortune-teller hat on again reading the tea leaves to determine future court decisions!!!!
He is NOT a class person - and his issues are CURRENT and ongoing- not in the PAST!!
Kaito
Well-known member
That newington game was 2 weeks ago. Bum journos
weststigers
Well-known member
If fantasy land is an option I am taking Stephen Crichton
The Chad
Well-known member
Funny- I'd take Joey Manu if I could. But Critter isn't a bad plan B..
crazycat
Well-known member
I was one of the few screaming at us for signing Sezer, he turned out better then expected.
A poorer Halfback rather then a good 5/8 trying to play halfback and failing
Our backline has just let us down game after game. Very few are bankable backs. Olam seems to be the only one who can actually bring some fear into the opposition. I love him for it but wish he could bring that every game.
The trick is "upgrading" Bennett said "you can loose any player, as long as you are improving".... We need a backline that won't concede soft tries and can cross when the opportunities come. Sezer, Api are giving them opportunities and the guys just ain't taking them.
Really worried about our front row. We have had the best forward pack for the last 5-6 years and were getting Spoons. Would hate to see Luai come here and us just get smashed up front like 2022/2021.
hank37w
Well-known member
Shame Papali'i is not available. 🤣Case in point - Our KOE depth squad hasn't even named one of the 2nd Row spots yet!
We should be moving heaven & earth to keep Onitoni Large, Heanasi Mskasini, Christian Taupau-Moors and Phoenix Godinet.
Behind the older Lachie Galvin, Talyn Da Silva and Heath Mason, these are the diamonds in our haystack.
Well if that’s there charter, we will lose stepho , Galvin and many other kids , because u cannot keep kids from wanting to win and if u don’t have seasoned 1st graders to show them the way , it will never work. I would rather keep 1-2 kids than try to keep 5-6 kids
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