Signings, Suggestions & Rumours Discussion

[balmain boy]

Geez you have some hilariously bad takes aye.

Those physical measures would've been done at the start of the year when he was 17.

Every month that goes by he grows a bit bigger, taller and stronger.

'Once developed he'll be Matt Utai's size'. Oh yeh? Well he's already 7cm taller than Utai....

You're obsessed with physical stature. It is such a simplistic and basic way to view a talent's prospects.

Luke Laulili'i is an excellent outside back prospect.

Your ignorance isn't new.

He is not growing bigger, taller and stronger every month. His height is what it is. He will mostly build his size in the off season, no doubt. It's hard to build significant size during the season when there's a strong focus on the field tactics and skills, but yes he'll get slightly stronger training fulltime.

A 175cm winger is the equal smallest winger in the comp. That is a weakness of his. It doesn't mean he can't develop to mitigate the weakness but it's something additional he needs to work on that others don't. Timmy Cahill wasn't the tallest player but had a great vertical leap and could time his run and jump to perfection to execute against taller and stronger opponents. But without being lightning fast like Faalogo he again has more work to do to be able to compete at NRL level on a regular basis.

This issue is exacerbated by often being centred by other small nuggety types like Olam, Faatape, Feledy etc

Without pace and/or size our backline struggles to compete against other clubs. We see it every week.

 

[weststigers]

Having AD, Olam & Bird all on our books.... what can go wrong? Gheez this club is such a shitshow.

We really lack a 13 and there doesn't seem to be any quality available, nor do we have any juniors that will be ready. If the money is right, I don't think it's a terrible buy. He always has a crack. $400k and it's good business. $500k and over and we are probably overpaying.

 

[WesternSuburbsBoy]

We really lack a 13 and there doesn't seem to be any quality available, nor do we have any juniors that will be ready. If the money is right, I don't think it's a terrible buy. He always has a crack. $400k and it's good business. $500k and over and we are probably overpaying.

Letting go of Papali'i who seems to of found a spot at 13 & signing Jack Bird as his replacement is a horrible bit of business & if this turns out to be true then no wonder why this club will never find it's way of the bottom of the ladder.

 

[king_sirro]

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Multi year deal is utterly absurd.

1 year with club option only.

He looked very good in the halves last week and can definitely play. He would be a decent 13 with his aggression, mobility and skill. Latu coming off the bench interchanging with him give Latu time to develop. Also gives us cover for injuries during the game as Bird can play centre. This of course is after a thorough medical.

 

[Kelce68]

He regularly got pushed back 4-5m a hit up in both NRL and NSW cup.

He may develop into a powerful player, at the moment he's still a kid, we can guess how he'll develop but there's no crystal ball of guarantees.

You are just flat out lying.

Show some actual nuance in your analysis you simpleton.

 

[weststigers]

Letting go of Papali'i who seems to of found a spot at 13 & signing Jack Bird as his replacement is a horrible bit of business & if this turns out to be true then no wonder why this club will never find it's way of the bottom of the ladder.

Honestly I didn't rate Papalii, so not bothered he's gone.

 

[jrtiger]

given his injury history and being at more clubs than Slim Dusty, I really prefer we steer clear of Jack Bird, even if it’s for $250k a year to fill jersey 17 or even supplement first grade.

there’s better on the market, Benj. Tepai Moeroa would come at a fraction of the price.

 

[WestsTigers4VR]

Just had a look back to our previous wooden spoon years and wanted to offer a little in sight to where we have headed as a club over the past 2 an a bit years. The real question I looked for is have we improved and by how much? Cause in all honesty we are still last.

Points Scored
22’: 352 (24 Rds) or 14.7 per game; Came Last
23’: 385 (24 Rds) or 16 per game; Came Last
24’: 403 (22 Rds) or 17.7 per game; Currently 2nd last on total points but 13th on per game average.

Conclusion: Overall Improvement

Possession
22’: 48% Per Game; Came Last
23’: 50% Per Game; Came 6th
24’: 49% Per Game; Currently 15th

Conclusion: Hard to dictate as 1% can change you from 15th to 7th but for sake of the argument: Overall Decline.

Set Completion
22’: 77% Rate; Came 7th
23’: 76% Rate; Came 12th
24’: 80% Rate; Coming 6th

Conclusion: Overall significant improvement currently being equal 4th on completion ladder.

Missed Tackles (The lower on ladder the better)
22’: 844 Missed Tackles or 35 per game; Came 4th.
23’: 792 Missed Tackles or 33 per game; came 14th
24’: 844 Missed Tackles or 30 per game currently; coming 1st.

Conclusion: Optics say a clear decline in defensive standards. Though will say Bulldogs are coming second on the ladder and would say they have been one of the best defensive teams, also note in 2022 Penrith came 3rd even though they were one of the better defensive teams.

Errors (Lower on ladder the better)
22’: 250 errors or 10.4 per game; Came Last
23’: 274 errors or 11.4 per game; Came 6th
24’: 225 errors or 9 per game; Currently 10th

Conclusion: Overall improvement.

Penalties Conceded
22’: 139 conceded or 5.8 per game; Came 9th
23’: 133 conceded or 5.5 per game; Came 12th
24’: 135 conceded or 8 per game; Currently 2nd.

Conclusion: Clear decline in discipline, has been the story of our season.

Overall I’d say it’s been one step forward and another back. I will say we are a MUCH better team than previous years but still have a lot of work to do. Thoughts?

 

[liltiger]

If Jack Bird is who Benji thinks will come in to help our younger players, that'll do me, I hope he's bringing a new coach with him as well. Wasn't he in the Sharks squad that won the comp under Flannaghan. Now he wants to offload him. Yeah No.

 

[pawsandclaws1]

given his injury history and being at more clubs than Slim Dusty, I really prefer we steer clear of Jack Bird, even if it’s for $250k a year to fill jersey 17 or even supplement first grade.

there’s better on the market, Benj. Tepai Moeroa would come at a fraction of the price.

I'd like to believe Marshall is being courteous by meeting as I read earlier Bird had reached out to WTs. t may be a polite and respectful way of saying no.

 

[The Chad]

So if Bird is correct, what is it he offers?

Talented & experienced for sure. Injury prone, yes. He is a pretty good defensive centre. I'm not sold on him in the forwards, although he can play there.

This could be the opportunity to push Doueihi into KOE, or the wing. It upgrades our wider defence. If he plays inside Skelton, that's a pretty imposing side to run at.

I'm not going to be upset if it doesn't happen, but I think he can be an upgrade. I wouldn't put him in the forwards though. I was thinking Isiaih Tass, but Bird is just as good. Turns our weakness in 2024 into something of a radically upgraded unit with Turuva, Bird & Skelton in the mix.

 

[pawsandclaws1]

So if Bird is correct, what is it he offers?

Talented & experienced for sure. Injury prone, yes. He is a pretty good defensive centre. I'm not sold on him in the forwards, although he can play there.

This could be the opportunity to push Doueihi into KOE, or the wing. It upgrades our wider defence. If he plays inside Skelton, that's a pretty imposing side to run at.

I'm not going to be upset if it doesn't happen, but I think he can be an upgrade. I wouldn't put him in the forwards though. I was thinking Isiaih Tass, but Bird is just as good. Turns our weakness in 2024 into something of a radically upgraded unit with Turuva, Bird & Skelton in the mix.

Bird was a forward in his junior days in the Illawarra. That Flanagan who had coached him previously is prepared to let him go should be enough for WTs to say no.

 

[Tito Santana]

So if Bird is correct, what is it he offers?

Talented & experienced for sure. Injury prone, yes. He is a pretty good defensive centre. I'm not sold on him in the forwards, although he can play there.

This could be the opportunity to push Doueihi into KOE, or the wing. It upgrades our wider defence. If he plays inside Skelton, that's a pretty imposing side to run at.

I'm not going to be upset if it doesn't happen, but I think he can be an upgrade. I wouldn't put him in the forwards though. I was thinking Isiaih Tass, but Bird is just as good. Turns our weakness in 2024 into something of a radically upgraded unit with Turuva, Bird & Skelton in the mix.

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Jack Bird.

 

[The Chad]

Bird was a forward in his junior days in the Illawarra. That Flanagan who had coached him previously is prepared to let him go should be enough for WTs to say no.

I don't think he's a forward now though. And he's played all season at centre mostly with a game at 5/8.

I see him similar to Euan Aitken at the moment. But instead of playing second row, he's in the centres. Tigers were supposed to be interested in Aitken at one point, weren't they?

 

[The Chad]

Bird was a forward in his junior days in the Illawarra. That Flanagan who had coached him previously is prepared to let him go should be enough for WTs to say no.

Letting Bird go could simply be an effort to balance the cap. The Dragons are linked to numerous players- I expect a few changes to that roster- not all will be performance based. Bird hasn't been bad this season, in a team playing above themselves.

I've never been a huge fan of Bird- but if he solidifies a side in defence, and can pass to his winger, without costing us games- that's a step forward.

 

[pawsandclaws1]

Letting Bird go could simply be an effort to balance the cap. The Dragons are linked to numerous players- I expect a few changes to that roster- not all will be performance based. Bird hasn't been bad this season, in a team playing above themselves.

I've never been a huge fan of Bird- but if he solidifies a side in defence, and can pass to his winger, without costing us games- that's a step forward.

Bird has been a reasonably good player but at 30 and being let go we don't need to solve another club's issue.

 

[hsvjones]

Just had a look back to our previous wooden spoon years and wanted to offer a little in sight to where we have headed as a club over the past 2 an a bit years. The real question I looked for is have we improved and by how much? Cause in all honesty we are still last.

Points Scored
22’: 352 (24 Rds) or 14.7 per game; Came Last
23’: 385 (24 Rds) or 16 per game; Came Last
24’: 403 (22 Rds) or 17.7 per game; Currently 2nd last on total points but 13th on per game average.

Conclusion: Overall Improvement

Possession
22’: 48% Per Game; Came Last
23’: 50% Per Game; Came 6th
24’: 49% Per Game; Currently 15th

Conclusion: Hard to dictate as 1% can change you from 15th to 7th but for sake of the argument: Overall Decline.

Set Completion
22’: 77% Rate; Came 7th
23’: 76% Rate; Came 12th
24’: 80% Rate; Coming 6th

Conclusion: Overall significant improvement currently being equal 4th on completion ladder.

Missed Tackles (The lower on ladder the better)
22’: 844 Missed Tackles or 35 per game; Came 4th.
23’: 792 Missed Tackles or 33 per game; came 14th
24’: 844 Missed Tackles or 30 per game currently; coming 1st.

Conclusion: Optics say a clear decline in defensive standards. Though will say Bulldogs are coming second on the ladder and would say they have been one of the best defensive teams, also note in 2022 Penrith came 3rd even though they were one of the better defensive teams.

Errors (Lower on ladder the better)
22’: 250 errors or 10.4 per game; Came Last
23’: 274 errors or 11.4 per game; Came 6th
24’: 225 errors or 9 per game; Currently 10th

Conclusion: Overall improvement.

Penalties Conceded
22’: 139 conceded or 5.8 per game; Came 9th
23’: 133 conceded or 5.5 per game; Came 12th
24’: 135 conceded or 8 per game; Currently 2nd.

Conclusion: Clear decline in discipline, has been the story of our season.

Overall I’d say it’s been one step forward and another back. I will say we are a MUCH better team than previous years but still have a lot of work to do. Thoughts?

Looking at these stats really proves to me we need to have a few more hard nose experienced guys to help Api, Laui etc..
We will have the skill there but lower the discipline and we get more ball and start building confidence

Nice work

 

[The Chad]

Bird has been a reasonably good player but at 30 and being let go we don't need to solve another club's issue.

2 year deal on not outrageous money though- not the worst thing that could happen. The club is clearly looking to add experience to the mix. Bird has played in both successful & struggling clubs & to the highest pinnacles. Not too many guys in the squad offer that.

Plus- you never hear that Bird doesn't train hard or put in. Attitude over ability for mine, is the most important type of addition this off season. We have plenty of talented players in the squad.

 

[pawsandclaws1]

2 year deal on not outrageous money though- not the worst thing that could happen. The club is clearly looking to add experience to the mix. Bird has played in both successful & struggling clubs & to the highest pinnacles. Not too many guys in the squad offer that.

Plus- you never hear that Bird doesn't train hard or put in. Attitude over ability for mine, is the most important type of addition this off season. We have plenty of talented players in the squad.

Richardson will be in the best position to determine if the club is interested. I hope we are not because I believe there will be better players on the market as they are forced out of their clubs.

 

[Spartan117]

Jack Bird is good,

But Not the player we need to take us forward.