Signings, Suggestions & Rumours Discussion

[bptiger 0]

Nothing wrong about Fainu except for the fact he is inexperienced.I can see him holding down a backrow spot for years

Are u talking about samual , I didn’t put him in the mix , as he’s already signed for the next 2-3 years . And yes he is a gun

 

[pacey]

If the bulldogs get Stefano they’re going to a GF in 25.

Phil Gould on air will be like he wants the Tigers to be good again but at the same time he will try secretly steal our players 😂

 

[pacey]

He is rubbish and overrated. If he goes to storm, I can see him excelling. I'm praying bulldogs pay him big money

I feel the dogs pitch will be less money, but he has a chance to join a project, win and leave a legacy with more money potentially down the line

 

[twentyforty]

He is rubbish and overrated. If he goes to storm, I can see him excelling. I'm praying bulldogs pay him big money

They won’t need to. Dogs have what he’s looking for, staying in Sydney & winning culture. His next 2 seasons are crucial in his development, being a 24yo middle with size speed and strength.

 

[Blocker1963]

Stefano is a good player and if he leaves he leaves, but name one game he got the better of his opposition.

 

[Tom Shines]

I feel the dogs pitch will be less money, but he has a chance to join a project, win and leave a legacy with more money potentially down the line

so they stealing our pitch … along with the player ?

 

[Tom Shines]

Stefano is a good player and if he leaves he leaves, but name one game he got the better of his opposition.

Canberra game

 

[DrewPeacock]

I remember that name Misty Hyman, makes me giggle every time. I know it’s childish.
I once met a bloke named Chris Peacock.
Say it faster.

Thats my brother

 

[426Tlgerland]

Madge.

🤬

 

[twentyforty]

Stefano is a good player and if he leaves he leaves, but name one game he got the better of his opposition.

Roosters JWH

 

[TillLindemann]

Word of advice for all forumers....ignore anything TillLendenm says. Every post is a troll post

The club made me this way. I was a good person once.

 

[hank37w]

But his name is Tui

Just a minor technicality, we could always have it changed. 🤣

 

[Buttface]

Thats my brother

😁 Classic

 

[pacey]

so they stealing our pitch … along with the player ?

yes but they are a year or two ahead of us

 

[Tiger Stripes]

Benji and Richo better have some forwards in mind because it’s looking very very likely that come 2025 all of Stefano, Papalili and Bateman will be leaving.

Luai’s talent is too good to waste and if we don’t give him the right pack to succeed we’re gonna have another decade of humiliation.

Seems like Stefano has lost faith in the direction of the club and I can’t blame him - but at the very least we better be making some moves otherwise Galvin will be out just as quick come November 1st next year.

I haven’t lost faith in Benji and Richo to get this done…. I still think those two are going to be the duo to lead us out of this mess.

Moses and the Israelites repeated.

 

[Buttface]

Thats my brother

Lucky I didn’t diss him.
He was a good bloke, we were young and got on it a few times.

 

[Buttface]

Moses and the Israelites repeated.

Yep, he’s sure been repeating on me.
I need some Quick-ease.

 

[Tiger Stripes]

I am fearing the same. I am going to be devastated if he signs with us. We are not in the position to have $0.8m of our cap invested in Stef for five years.

It is a pure gamble.

I would be hesitant if it was for 4 years.
His head is all over the ----place except on the field.

 

[The Chad]

Focusing solely on the Tigers middle forwards as the area requiring the most radical upgrade:

I've used the Dolphins & Roosters as the types of forward packs that we should try to emulate in order to rebalance our squad. I'm going to remove the Roosters & instead use Canterbury for the following post, simply because they are coming from a similar spot as we are currently.

MIDDLES:
Dolphins- Jarrod Wallace, Jesse Bromwich, Josh Kerr, Mark Nicholls, Tavita Pangai Jnr, Thomas Flegler, Tom Gilbert, Ray Stone, Max Plath

Bulldogs- Chris Patolo, Josh Curran, Kurt Mann, Max King, Liam Knight, Ryan Sutton, Sam Hughes, Zane Tetevano, Paosa Faamusili

Tigers- Stefano Utoikamanu, Fonua Pole, Sione Fainu, David Klemmer, Alex Twal, Alex Seyfarth, Justin Matamua, Jordan Miller, Rueben Porter

I would suggest that, player for player, our middles match up talent-wise with both clubs. Where I think there IS a difference, however, is in who plays off the bench for impact & who are the go-to guys.

If FIT- the Dolphins starters are Bromwich, Flegler & Gilbert. None of these guys are particularly spectacular at run metres, but all are committed defenders with very high tackle completions. With Flegler & Gilbert OUT, Ray Stone has come in & he is also a committed defender. Kerr & Nicholls play their role, particularly off the bench. These 2 are better runners of the ball, more guys that are known for their hit-ups. Pangai Jnr is only a recent add, and he's another impact runner (playing as a starter due to injuries). Plath & Wallace are ALSO committed defenders with very little real impact as runners.


The Bulldogs start Hughes, Max King & Curren/Mann. Again- none of these guys are overly dominant runners of the ball, but all are hard workers with excellent defensive numbers. Patolo, Morrin & Curren/Mann are generally off the bench- again, none offering particularly damaging attack, but significant defensive abilities.

The Tigers start Utoikamanu, Pole & Klemmer most often. Twal, Seyfarth, Sione Fainu & Matamua have all contributed extensively through the season. Now, Pole is a good runner of the ball, but his defence is scratchy. Utoikamanu & Klemmer are decent defenders, but Utoikamanu is definitely known for his attacking ability. Sione Fainu rivals Pole in defence. Twal & Seyfarth are better defensive players than attacking players & Matamua is a straight oddity- very little metres run but has good defensive stats.

What I'm getting at- these other 2 clubs have targetted defensive middles- all 3 - over impact forwards. Even the Roosters start Leniu off the bench.

Of the Tigers starting middles, the only one I feel confident with defensively is Klemmer. Pole is essentially Leniu, and may have greater impact playing off the bench (Sione Fainu as well). Twal & Seyfarth, while lesser talents, fit the style of the other clubs better. I'm not saying those 2 are the answer. In fact, those 2 should be our Potolo/Wallace/Liam Martin types- the guys you bring in for injuries.

But I am saying that a stronger defensive presence in the other 2 middles spots, would be how I target our forward upgrades. Losing Utoikamanu might open up the chance to bring in at least 1 more defensive cog. Maybe someone like Fa'agutu or Kit Lualili'i is a good fit at #13 if they can play that Ray Stone style game.

For mine, the Tigers need to tighten up the defenders in the middle. Pole off the bench, Sione Fainu off the bench, Twal or Seyfarth off the bench- that offers you the impact. But we need to stifle the opposition more.

 

[Demps]

Good post. I think Luai is the type of player who will attract other players to our club because they want to play with him and naturally he is a team player.

He's best friends with Jnr Paulo...

I know our recruitment of senior forwards to provide experience hasn't worked out in the past.

Perhaps this could be different ?
Parramatta need to shed some players.
If we ask, we may receive.

2 year deal for Paulo if we lose Stef ?