Signings, Suggestions & Rumours Discussion

[Needaname]

If the club isn't looking at Bird to play centre but still want to add another outside back, Isiaih Tass is still a great target I believe, and the underrated option would be Hayze Perham for next year.

I still believe the club might take a shot at a big name centre for 2026 (Cobbo)- but for next season, one more into the club mix...

As for forward depth signings- Liam Knight, Joe Stimson & Peter Hola would add solid lower grade depth that could step in if required. The strength of the KOE squad will be the young players- but I think it's important that at least 2 experienced players get added, just to help the kids not get overrun by men every week.

Liam Knight is heading back to the bunnies. Stimson is a good shout for depth and experience.

 

[Needaname]

I have a feeling we will sign Isaiah Tass.
My concern is he seemed to play well as a left sided centre, but struggled in the right.
With Olam as our left centre, we ideally need someone on the right.
Perham is a good attacking player, but a terrible defender, we already have plenty of shocking defenders of our own without recruiting any more of them.
The likes of Mat Croker, Liam Lnight and Peter Hols are all very good back up middle forward options, but Knight has already signed with Souths and if we hopefully re-sign Sione Fainu that would fill our middle forward back up quota with the likes of Tim Johanssen, Jordan Miller, Chris Faagatu, Justin Matamua and Kit Laulilli.
I believe Jack Hetherington is contracted to the Knights until the end of 2025 and is not on their list of players they are looking to potentially offload.

Where has Tass been this season? A plethora of injured in the Souths backline and hasn’t got one call up.

 

[Vicious]

You realise we have 30 spots in our squad.

All our players don’t need to be young. It’s important to combine all our young players with some veteran leaders who have some experience and wisdom around the squad to get peak value.

The way Frizell trains and commits to this game I can easily see him playing at a high standard at age 33 and 34 providing value. Their isn’t a better veteran leader who’d be the perfect role model than Tyson Frizell.

I watch Frizell pretty closely he’s an absolute unit and always makes the effort plays. He hasn’t slowed down with age, he has a crack every time he goes on the field and sometimes that’s all you really want in a player.

Fantastic if he comes as a fringe player applying pressure for NRL positions, but I think we will be struggling if he’s a regular starting player for us in 2025.
I don’t think he’d be interested in moving back to Sydney to be a fringe player.

 

[LeichhardtTiger]

Where has Tass been this season? A plethora of injured in the Souths backline and hasn’t got one call up.

Not sure ... could be wrong- but it is the end of season Awards time - I give you the Award for "Plethora" - I can't recall anyone on here using that word. Certainly not a plethora of times. Cheers!🏆🏆🏆

 

[mtd#2]

There are also rumours his family are not happy with his agent and are wanting to dump him.

I hope so!

 

[mtd#2]

Take out the key words. The deal has stalled, yet to accept ... hint hint Bird is not interested.

He approached us

 

[crazycat]

I think the times (and approach) are changing.
No team has become a force by picking up other teams rejects on supplemented contracts.
It’s what we have done for the past 10 years trying to fit these cheap unwanted players into our side.
We need to get the players that we want, not are bullied into signing.

A note on picking up players on inflated contracts.
The clubs interested in moving them on, always end up improving without them regardless of how much they chip in. Reason being, they are a step in front after having another club help them out with their cap issues.
Think about that for a second.
If no club helped Penrith, Melbourne, Roosters, Sharks deal with their inflated cap and roster. How would they fare?
They might actually be forced to move of someone they would regret letting go.

Agreed.
The exception is Melbourne, were not Bellamy who can take a reject and make them a superstar. Also Bennett can take some rough players and bring them up to standard, i.e. Mark Nicholl.

This comment just stands out "It’s what we have done for the past 10 years trying to fit these cheap unwanted players into our side." Spot on

I think that's why Api, too stands out in our team. Api is a Top Shelf player. Someone who just ooses class and talent.

When SBW and Cronk went to Easts, they said they lifted the training and attitude there. We need to be signing players that lift us.

How?

like you said. Stop buying Cheap. I would rather us pay 100-200k overs for say Bradman Best or Daniel Tupou. Solid starters who would always take the field. Yes you pay too much, but you get who you want and you get your position/gap sorted.

 

[Tom Shines]

I fail to see how a 34 year old Frizell would be a better option than someone currently off contract such as Jack Williams ?
Williams is ideally a better 13 than he is on an edge, but even if he plays on an edge he’s

Lucky he will only be 33 then next year ..so it better only be a 1 yr signing

 

[Needaname]

Worth considering, but I would be looking for this years version of Sam Fainu beforehand. We had an experienced backrower in Bateman, I’m sure he offered just as much as other experienced back rowers off the field. I get he wasn’t the ideal player on the field, just a point on Frizell, knights signed him feeling he would be leader material, word is he isn’t vocal player. Not sure how that extends to the training paddock.

Harry Hayes is the guy we want.
(This years Sam Fainu).
Not on any contract for the Bulldogs next year.
Played between Centre and Backrow through the last two years of Jersey Flegg. Had a bit of a back and forth stint with the dogs playing for his local club entrance tigers before returning to the Bulldogs again.
Problem though, he has an emotional connection to the Dogs as his Grandfather used to play for them back when they were the Berries.

 

[Tigers_Wests]

Harry Hayes is the guy we want.
(This years Sam Fainu).
Not on any contract for the Bulldogs next year.
Played between Centre and Backrow through the last two years of Jersey Flegg. Had a bit of a back and forth stint with the dogs playing for his local club entrance tigers before returning to the Bulldogs again.
Problem though, he has an emotional connection to the Dogs as his Grandfather used to play for them back when they were the Berries.

Weidler reported a few weeks back that he has signed a new 2 year deal with Dogs.

 

[Year_of_the_Tiger]

Sorry guys, I lost 30 mins reading this thread this morning - assisting my ADHD at the same time. Who are the latest rumoured singings? I’m here almost daily so not weeks ago please. Friz ✅ Kobe ✅ anyone else actually being discussed by the journo crowd?

 

[Year_of_the_Tiger]

Lucky he will only be 33 then next year ..so it better only be a 1 yr signing

He’ll play past 34 and as a forward. Is a champion and has good work ethic. Probably saved himself from 2 million beers and drugs because he wants to compete. Just a pure athlete and bugger all bad media. I’d have him 2 years in a heartbeat. He has bashed our team every time we play against him for as long as I can remember and yes he’s old but we need some balance. He’s a leader and still tough as nails without being a wanker

 

[weststigerman]

If Frizell was an option he'd be only coming here to get a longer contract than his existing one which appears to be another year, so we'd be signing him for 2 years minimum.

Top player, but very risky at 33.

 

[2041]

I think the times (and approach) are changing.
No team has become a force by picking up other teams rejects on supplemented contracts.
It’s what we have done for the past 10 years trying to fit these cheap unwanted players into our side.
We need to get the players that we want, not are bullied into signing.

Picking up useful players that aren't wanted by their current clubs is something all good teams do. Luke Garner won the grand final with Penrith last year, for one that's close to home, and they were also happy to pick up Papali'i. Melbourne have a list as long as your arm of players other clubs discarded who have turned into good contributors. It's probably obviously not the only thing teams should do to build a roster, but finding value in unwanted players is absolutely a worthwhile thing to do.

A note on picking up players on inflated contracts.
The clubs interested in moving them on, always end up improving without them regardless of how much they chip in. Reason being, they are a step in front after having another club help them out with their cap issues.
Think about that for a second.
If no club helped Penrith, Melbourne, Roosters, Sharks deal with their inflated cap and roster. How would they fare?
They might actually be forced to move of someone they would regret letting go.

You don't think Penrith have moved on any players they would have preferred to keep? Koroisau, Kikau, Leniu, Crichton, Luai, Fisher-Harris and Turuva were just on the discard pile?

Fundamentally, it comes down to being a better judge of players than other clubs - there's no magic formula to what sort of players you should or shouldn't pick up, other than wanting to use less cap room on them than they contribute to your performance. A player who's worth $500k is a bad signing on $800k, but if the club giving him $800k will wear half the contract suddenly he's a good signing.

 

[2041]

like you said. Stop buying Cheap. I would rather us pay 100-200k overs for say Bradman Best or Daniel Tupou. Solid starters who would always take the field. Yes you pay too much, but you get who you want and you get your position/gap sorted.

You can't just name players who aren't available and say we ought to sign them.

 

[king_sirro]

It’s what I’m hearing.

Frizell is a serious chance of being at the club by next year.

I personally like it - has the experience and is a leader, you can never question his effort he’s the perfect role model you’d want who’ll lead by action. He’d go really good next to Luai with that mindset.

He still is playing great football and won’t be on an overpaid or long deal as well.

His wifes family are in the area. That would be a big incentive with a young family

 

[GNR4LIFE]

You can't just name players who aren't available and say we ought to sign them.

If you stopped doing that, this thread would be cut down to 100 pages.

 

[Tom Shines]

He’ll play past 34 and as a forward. Is a champion and has good work ethic. Probably saved himself from 2 million beers and drugs because he wants to compete. Just a pure athlete and bugger all bad media. I’d have him 2 years in a heartbeat. He has bashed our team every time we play against him for as long as I can remember and yes he’s old but we need some balance. He’s a leader and still tough as nails without being a wanker

sign him for 1 yr only and let his form in 2025 dictate whether he gets a second

 

[Tom Shines]

You can't just name players who aren't available and say we ought to sign them.

he is one Crazy cat

 

[teddy23]

His wifes family are in the area. That would be a big incentive with a young family

Frizell would prefer to remain in Newcastle however I think he understands in order to play consistent football these next 2-3 years he’d probably have to go elsewhere with Lucas and Pearce-Paul’s rise.

Newcastle have made both him and Dane Gagai available due to salary cap restrictions as well.

Gagai looking likely to go to the Roosters.