Signings, Suggestions & Rumours Discussion

[Mighty_Tiger]

I worry that bringing in a good assistant won't really help. I've been 2nd string coach before, and while you do your best to put things in place and help, you are constantly doing that within the constraints of the head coach. You really don't achieve too much if you see things differently to the coach, your just working within his systems and ideas.

Yeah understand that. Reality is Benji won’t be moved on and our coaching structure right now is terrible. We must bring in some experience / development focused coaches especially given the focus on our kids as our future.

Brown/Griffin/Gardiner/Holbrook I don’t see they would come and undermine or be viewed that way by Benji but whoever joined would need to be given a clear role & be entrusted to deliver.

 

[Tiger_Yoshi]

I worry that bringing in a good assistant won't really help. I've been 2nd string coach before, and while you do your best to put things in place and help, you are constantly doing that within the constraints of the head coach. You really don't achieve too much if you see things differently to the coach, you’re just working within his systems and ideas.

You gotta be an Alpha male to be an assistant

 

[boonboon]

Just heard a rumour connecting Daniel Saifiti to WT for next year.

If we loose Step then it makes a lot of sense. Good quality prop and has the Fijian connection to Api and we will have lots of money. Has been rumoured to Dragons but has dragged on for a long time with no signing.

Big prop, runs hard, tackles hard and Knights did make him Captain a couple of years ago.

Would be a good replacement given whats avilable

 

[Vicious]

The Bulldogs defence in 2023 was just as bad as Wests Tigers defence in 2024
Bulldogs with the same coach but a lot of new players are now currently the 2nd best defensive team in the NRL in 2024.

 

[TigerGene]

Suggestions?

Corey Horsbrough? Could be an option.
I'm looking at how we can improve our back, losing Paps, and likely Bateman and potentially Stef.

The market is bare and we like the waiting game to see what becomes available... so I'm wondering what else people think would be worth chasing.

 

[TigerGene]

Suggestions?

Corey Horsbrough? Could be an option.
I'm looking at how we can improve our back, losing Paps, and likely Bateman and potentially Stef.

The market is bare and we like the waiting game to see what becomes available... so I'm wondering what else people think would be worth chasing.

Yes, from me, Demps!!!
Two rangers in the pack….could work!!!
LOL

 

[weststigers]

If we loose Step then it makes a lot of sense. Good quality prop and has the Fijian connection to Api and we will have lots of money. Has been rumoured to Dragons but has dragged on for a long time with no signing.

Big prop, runs hard, tackles hard and Knights did make him Captain a couple of years ago.

Would be a good replacement given whats avilable

Ah yes...the Fijian connection. Is that better than the Samoan connection or Lebanese connection? Seyfarth and Galvin have the Australian connection.

The romanticised view of having some connection that increases your abilities if you are from the same nation is ridiculous. What if they don't like each other?

This connection is in full view at each world cup. It doesn't change anything.

Let's just look for players that move the dial regardless of their background and stop worrying about some mystical connection to get our squad playing right.

 

[bptiger 0]

A lot of his new "identity" he's created is around being a Bulldogs player.

Jeral is off contract ( mention @jrtiger , who's been name dropping him for a while now ).

Definitely worth asking about 1 of em.

Jeral is 3rd in line for a wing spot , think this is a easy get if we really wanted him , they will be looking for cap space soon

 

[Tom Shines]

People bemoaning losing Papali'i and 3 months back this board couldn't get rid of him fast enough.

He didn't ask for a contract extension either. He asked for clarity on his future which the Tigers

A quick perusal of the Paps thread tells us a different story …lots of people “bemoaning “ the decision to let him go at the time …myself included ..probably others agreed with the decision..like most things here people had opinions about agreeing and disagreeing with the clubs call,

The club told him they didn’t want to extend him … that decision is fair enough at the time …could have had the opportunity to change their mind though later based on his form had they kept him

 

[Telltails]

The Bulldogs defence in 2023 was just as bad as Wests Tigers defence in 2024
Bulldogs with the same coach but a lot of new players are now currently the 2nd best defensive team in the NRL in 2024.

Their smart recruitment has a had a major impact on their improvement this year and on the back of that the coach has got excellent results. It goes hand in hand.

 

[weststigers]

A quick perusal of the Paps thread tells us a different story …lots of people “bemoaning “ the decision to let him go at the time …myself included ..

The club told him they didn’t want an extend him … that decision is fair enough at the time …could have had the opportunity to change their mind though later based on his form had they kept him

Sadly Paps never wanted to be here. We found a club willing to take him at full freight and we released him. Fair enough I think.

For some perspective, I think if more was available on the market, nobody would care.

 

[Fish88]

Horsburgh apparently free to negotiate. I’d take him as prop / middle forward. 26 years old, came back from injury and can’t get a look in Canberra’s pack which is stacked.

Was playing origin not too long ago. I know he can be a hot head but you at least know you’re going to get effort on effort

 

[weststigers]

Jeral is 3rd in line for a wing spot , think this is a easy get if we really wanted him , they will be looking for cap space soon

We need another winger and you'd hope we are considering a guy like him. He's been quite impressive.

 

[weststigers]

Horsburgh apparently free to negotiate. I’d take him as prop / middle forward. 26 years old, came back from injury and can’t get a look in Canberra’s pack which is stacked.

Was playing origin not too long ago. I know he can be a hot head but you at least know you’re going to get effort on effort

He is kak...overrated by commentators that like his red hair and his low emotional restraint.

 

[Vicious]

The Bulldogs have recruited very smartly to obtain players such as Josh Curran who was unwanted and released by the Warriors, but has long shown good potential and mentioned by many posters on here that he would have been an ideal recruit for Wests Tigers.
I don’t think his contract value would be above 250k but moving forward he will be worth much more.
Jacob Preston was signed as a virtual unknown from the Roosters NSW Cup team. He was stuck behind many quality back rowers at the Roosters, but scored plenty of tries and made plenty of line breaks while playing NSW Cup, which showed he had plenty of ability,
Jacob Kiraz was unwanted by the Bulldogs and went to the Knights in search of opportunity, before returning back to the Bulldogs. When playing NSW Cup for the Knights he was regularly in the NSW Cup Team of the Week regularly making over 150m making plenty of tackle breaks and scoring plenty of tries, so the writing was on the wall he was an NRL star in waiting.
Brunson Xerri was a powerllh built, fast & athletic young star at the Sharks before his ban for steroid use. It was highly likely he had not lost his talent and would return to the game better than ever with more age and maturity.
Toby Sexton was another young star at the Titans who also starred as a schoolboy alongside Tom Dearden. Even while in and out of the Titans NRL team he always showed glimpses of his talent with a very good kicking game and game management skills. Another who quite a few posters on here called for the Wests Tigers to sign when we were in desperate need of a controlling halfback.
Kurt Mann was mainly playing off the bench at the Knights, but was showing he was one of the rare players who could play 13 as a genuine link man, but also big enoug, fast enough and tough enough to run the ball well when required and also tackle with venom,
Connor Tracey could not get a regular NRL spot with the Sharks, but was regularly starring at NSW Cup level and whenever he got a rare NRL start. He’s another that many posters on her were wanting Wests Tigers to sign.
To think all of these players who are proving to be high quality NRL players and an integral part of the Bulldogs success are all unlikely to be contracted to any more than a maximum of 250k per season.
However with the Bulldogs talking up their chances of signing Stefano, you would hope Richo is the phone to all the managers of the players listed above making them well aware their contract values are way below their true value and a club like Wests Tigers could happily pay them a lot more.

 

[bptiger 0]

Sadly Paps never wanted to be here. We found a club willing to take him at full freight and we released him. Fair enough I think.

For some perspective, I think if more was available on the market, nobody would care.

Ur 100% right , but how does this go down with GALVIN who wants away as well , and any other player who might want out .
Then we let Bateman walk , this is a terrible precedent that the club is letting happen

 

[bptiger 0]

He is kak...overrated by commentators that like his red hair and his low emotional restraint.

No I think he could be just what we need a fireball to lead the way , we need mongrel in our pack , he has it in spades

 

[bptiger 0]

I don't need to rewatch that game. I've watched more of Luke than just his handful of first grade games. He is not Hamiso-quick, but he has plenty of pace to play wherever in the backline he will end up fitting.

I suggest you use more than a 3 game sample size to form opinions of 18 year olds that you know nothing about.

What he will get faster if I hit fast forward on my foxtel .

 

[bptiger 0]

Yes, from me, Demps!!!
Two rangers in the pack….could work!!!
LOL

Yes for me , we need mongrel and he has it on spades

 

[weststigers]

Ur 100% right , but how does this go down with GALVIN who wants away as well , and any other player who might want out .
Then we let Bateman walk , this is a terrible precedent that the club is letting happen

I dont think Galvin or Bateman have publicly said anything about wanting to leave.

Paps had a full year of being publicly non-committal about his new contract.

We were shopping Bateman around anyway, so not surprised he's gone.

We put our foot down with Galvin, but ultimately, once they have fulfilled their obligations, they are free to leave. It's not like we are making a good case for him to stick around. Results will give players more confidence to stay.