Signings, Suggestions & Rumours Discussion

[Buttface]

Def

Definitely needs a 2 year contract in front of him.

No more than two years and eels chipping in 200. Or they can find another sucker.

 

[watersider]

I hate to jump on the misery bandwagon here, but it's stating the obvious to suggest that our recent coaches have struggled to get the best out of players. And that those players have gone onto decent form elsewhere. In the past, few of our discards went on to great success after leaving us but since the start of the Pascoe reign and certainly into the Marshall era, we're seeing quality play elsewhere from players who couldn't produce for us or were not given the opportunity. We also see the reverse as promising or established players from other clubs do nothing when they come to us. Along with this we have senior players looking to leave, even for less money elsewhere.

It's not all doom and gloom (though it feels that way when all we do is lose) but Bula, Galvin, Pole, Porter, S Fainu, Sione Fainu, Seyfarth have all emerged or improved under current coaching, but it's hard no to doubt what is happening at the club when noting a player like Kepaoa's stats in lower grades and Talau's performances for Manly.

Certainly signing new players and cleaning out as much as possible is important, but our fundamental issue is addressing how we prepare and motivate our players so they can perform to their potential. We seem a long way off that.

 

[GNR4LIFE]

No more than two years and eels chipping in 200. Or they can find another sucker.

They’ve said they won’t. Considering he’s only signed for 25, they probably feel they don’t need to. And they are probably right.

 

[Buttface]

They’ve said they won’t. Considering he’s only signed for 25, they probably feel they don’t need to. And they are probably right.

Fair call, sorry I thought they had him for 2 more. Ok stil, same offer for the first year and $550 for the following.
He’s getting lazier as he gets older.

 

[Suzie-Q]

A large number of posts have been deleted. Please stick to the topic.

 

[Ecto-1]

A large number of posts have been deleted. Please stick to the topic.

Please keep this up

 

[Tcat]

Geezus it's like Lord of The Flies on here. You know things are really bad when the fans start turning on each other.
AJ looks like he might get a go this week in Penrith side after some good performances just to add to the joy surrounding this fan base.

Who's up for a WTs fan fight night?

Choose a fellow former and throw down.

 

[Suzie-Q]

Please keep this up

We do try. But we have lives, jobs, families. If you see a post that is not OK, hit the report button so we can deal with it before it destroys the thread.

 

[Tucker]

I hate to jump on the misery bandwagon here, but it's stating the obvious to suggest that our recent coaches have struggled to get the best out of players. And that those players have gone onto decent form elsewhere. In the past, few of our discards went on to great success after leaving us but since the start of the Pascoe reign and certainly into the Marshall era, we're seeing quality play elsewhere from players who couldn't produce for us or were not given the opportunity. We also see the reverse as promising or established players from other clubs do nothing when they come to us. Along with this we have senior players looking to leave, even for less money elsewhere.

It's not all doom and gloom (though it feels that way when all we do is lose) but Bula, Galvin, Pole, Porter, S Fainu, Sione Fainu, Seyfarth have all emerged or improved under current coaching, but it's hard no to doubt what is happening at the club when noting a player like Kepaoa's stats in lower grades and Talau's performances for Manly.

Certainly signing new players and cleaning out as much as possible is important, but our fundamental issue is addressing how we prepare and motivate our players so they can perform to their potential. We seem a long way off that.

This place will be fun in October if AJ goes on to win a GF lol....

 

[851]

Both players made repeated mistakes that well paid fairly experienced players simply cannot make in first grade. You think experienced coaches such as Stuart and Flanagan would put up with those errors?? No chance. They made their bed.

There are quite a few others who also make repeated mistakes but still play every week

 

[851]

If he played centre instead of Douhei we probably
win that game yesterday. There was zero connection
in defence outside of Samuela but I'm not the coach

Centre is his spot for sure, him and Staines had that one good game together at centre and wing, and haven't played together since

 

[Kaito]

Centre is his spot for sure, him and Staines had that one good game together at centre and wing, and haven't played together since

Yeah 851. What's more is they already had the combo
at Penrith too, I would have liked to see the
club do more to cultivate it but what can you do mate

 

[Roar_Power]

I hate to jump on the misery bandwagon here, but it's stating the obvious to suggest that our recent coaches have struggled to get the best out of players. And that those players have gone onto decent form elsewhere. In the past, few of our discards went on to great success after leaving us but since the start of the Pascoe reign and certainly into the Marshall era, we're seeing quality play elsewhere from players who couldn't produce for us or were not given the opportunity. We also see the reverse as promising or established players from other clubs do nothing when they come to us. Along with this we have senior players looking to leave, even for less money elsewhere.

It's not all doom and gloom (though it feels that way when all we do is lose) but Bula, Galvin, Pole, Porter, S Fainu, Sione Fainu, Seyfarth have all emerged or improved under current coaching, but it's hard no to doubt what is happening at the club when noting a player like Kepaoa's stats in lower grades and Talau's performances for Manly.

Certainly signing new players and cleaning out as much as possible is important, but our fundamental issue is addressing how we prepare and motivate our players so they can perform to their potential. We seem a long way off that.

We need a decent coaching staff (not a boys club) and to spend the entire pre-season on defence (with someone who can coach it). We are way off, allowing 6-7 tries per game.

 

[jrtiger]

It's a tough call hey.

Faagutu has the tools & gf at the club too but a dick of a manager.

Feledy has dominated junior reps & attack has been ok in Cup but his defence is nowhere near up-to-scratch and hasn't showed many signs of improving in Cup this season.

Saukuru had an injury-interrupted pre-season & has shown good signs in Cup before his most recent injury. Has the physical attributes to be a very good centre or even moreso backrower in future.

it is mate. Faagutu has a higher ceiling than Sukkar, but because Sukkar is further along the development path they might have to make a tough call because of a silly contracted handed out by previous management.

throw in Johannssen and Sione Fainu jumping him in the queue and I feel as if it’s pretty clear what direction the club is going in.

Feledy makes sense because as you say he’s defensively atrocious and has a number of players of a higher calibre coming for his place in the squad in a couple years.

Saukuru has plenty of upside, but given he’s an injury prone utility and shown he’s not up to standard defensively even at Cup level, I think the club will also be showing him the door.

tough calls to make around a few young kids with promise but I can see Richardson making them.

 

[yott21]

No more than two years and eels chipping in 200. Or they can find another sucker.

Yeah eels to chip in something, solid experienced nrl standard middle we need him or similar

 

[Tucker]

There are quite a few others who also make repeated mistakes but still play every week

100%.
Our fullback is number 7 in the comp for most errors.
Our halfback is number 4 in the comp for most penalties.
Our hooker is number 1 in the comp for most missed tackles.
Our 5/8th is as green as shit and running the second worst attack in the comp.
Our props are lowly rated as meter eaters and defenders.
Our backrowers are all outside the top 70 defenders in the comp.
Our centres and wingers arent in the top 50 try scorers, nor the top 75 kick returners in the comp.

Lots to work on yet most stay in the top grade for...reasons

 

[The Chad]

Watching Porter & a few others over the weeks, I'm going to stick to my theory that we need an injection of physically strong players in the squad.

Put it this way- in defence we constantly see the opposition falling forward or through the defensive line.

In attack, we watch our players dropped, turned around or pushed back at the defensive line. That isn't our guys turning around on purpose- I'm talking about 2 men in the tackle, turning our forwards around through strength. It happens way too often.

In the backs, and in the forwards. You cannot build momentum if you cannot win the ruck. We don't put people on the ground often enough without committing 3/4 defenders in a tackle.

 

[Vicious]

it is mate. Faagutu has a higher ceiling than Sukkar, but because Sukkar is further along the development path they might have to make a tough call because of a silly contracted handed out by previous management.

throw in Johannssen and Sione Fainu jumping him in the queue and I feel as if it’s pretty clear what direction the club is going in.

Feledy makes sense because as you say he’s defensively atrocious and has a number of players of a higher calibre coming for his place in the squad in a couple years.

Saukuru has plenty of upside, but given he’s an injury prone utility and shown he’s not up to standard defensively even at Cup level, I think the club will also be showing him the door.

tough calls to make around a few young kids with promise but I can see Richardson making them.

What about Kit ?
I know he’s considered a young leader, but has anyone seen him play one better than average game so far this season ?
As BlackWhiteGold alluded to, there is every chance that some of the young top 30 contracted players for 2025 that he listed will develop a bit slower than others and could end up being valuable NRL players a couple of years down the track, but Wests Tigers as a club has obviously panicked and promoted way too many of these up and comers iinto our top 30 before they are ready and before they had earned it.
If they were in Development Deals it would have allowed us to sign more genuine depth for our NRL team and would be less pressure on these young players to perform at a high standard before they are ready.

 

[The Chad]

Another observation- our kick chase & our kickers.

The Knights kick returners were able to run a good 20m at times over the weekend because one of two things, or both, is happening-

We either are the most lethargic kick chase team in the NRL, or..

Our kickers do not hang the ball high enough to give guys time to apply decent chase.

The absolute opposite happened in return- with Knights players within a metre of Tigers ball catchers on nearly every kick.

It's little things like this that start your set of 6 positively or negatively. And we are negative more often than not, and they are positive more often than not.

 

[Tucker]

Put it this way- in defence we constantly see the opposition falling forward or through the defensive line.

Yep, thats why we cop so many hipdrops as well.

In attack, we watch our players dropped, turned around or pushed back at the defensive line. That isn't our guys turning around on purpose- I'm talking about 2 men in the tackle, turning our forwards around through strength. It happens way too often.

Agreed, its a clear weakness.