Coastie_Tiger
Well-known member
We need both then, looks a bit plodderish though. Admittedly its the first time ive actively watched him play never even heard of him prior to the link.
Signings, Suggestions & Rumours Discussion
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We need both then, looks a bit plodderish though. Admittedly its the first time ive actively watched him play never even heard of him prior to the link.
yeahcaz
Well-known member
So If the other 2 come off, hethrinton is a bonus. Possible that our interest has cooled since his manager went public ?
The Chad
Well-known member
Interesting. Since when did Richo start talking about recruitment to the DT prior to announcing a signing?Daily Telegraph
RICHO REVEALS BIG RED RATIONALE
Wests Tigers boss Shane Richardson has revealed the rationale behind the club’s recruitment drive as he braces for an answer from Canberra and Queensland forward Corey Horsburgh as early as Friday.
Richardson has been working hard to upgrade the club’s roster for next season as he looks to provide coach Benji Marshall and star recruit Jarome Luai with the artillery to take the side up the ladder.
The Tigers are looking to bolster their forwards stocks with Corey Horsburgh. Picture: Mark Nolan/Getty Images
The Tigers have announced the signing of Cronulla forward Royce Hunt and St George Illawarra utility Jack Bird was seen touring Tigers headquarters this week, having been offered a two-year-deal for next season.
Horsburgh has also toured the club and been sold the vision by Marshall and Richardson.
“What we’ve talked about is really targeting three players,” Richardson said.
“We really didn’t go to the marketplace until we lost Stefano (Utoikamanu) because we didn’t know what we really wanted - Stefano made a big difference to how much money we had to spend and the quality of player you will replace them with.
“Once Stefano left, then we sat down and said what do we need and what do we require going forward. We felt we needed a couple of forwards, which we can get for the same price as Stefano.
“If you look at where we sit on the ladder getting out of our red zone, we’re 17th. Some people have been critical of Benji, that we move the ball too early and we make some mistakes.
Shane Richardson . (Photo by Jason McCawley/Getty Images)
“The bottom line is, we were never going to get out of our 10m or 20m (zone) if we didn’t use the ball. We didn’t have the size.
“We really focused on getting that right for next year with (Sunia) Turuva and (Jared) Skelton from the Bulldogs.
“And then what you don’t want to do is you don’t want to block off the opportunities for the young kids. We have some young backs.
“So what we need is somebody who can play multiple positions. Jack Bird fits that because he is able to play multiple positions and he’s good for the side.
“Again we’re not blocking the opportunity for a young guy. So it’s been a plan from the start of the year, not something we just come up with now. We don’t need a lot.
“We got one. So we need two more.”
This feels weird.
Odessa
Well-known member
Does anyone know how to find and post Coreys interview from this year in his sit down chat on Fox it was one of the sit down chats they have after NRL 360 I watched a minute or two of it but had to go and and wanted to watch it he seems like a real character
Betterdays22
Well-known member
To be fair at no stage does he mention Horsburgh. Most of his other statements are things he has already said previously, or obvious.
Him name checking Bird is weird though. Can only think that one is across the line
Interesting choice in terms of forwards. Could we be imitating the Dogs? Leg speed in both defence and attack with footwork at the line and an ability to ball play seem to be the way some teams are heading.
With Stefano leaving, we don’t seem to have a big bopper (Klemmer is a little past it although solid). Both Horsbrugh and Hetherington seem to fit the mould of smaller, quicker hard working forwards. Couple them with Pole and Sione Fainu and we have quite a mobile pack who can play big minutes.
With Stefano leaving, we don’t seem to have a big bopper (Klemmer is a little past it although solid). Both Horsbrugh and Hetherington seem to fit the mould of smaller, quicker hard working forwards. Couple them with Pole and Sione Fainu and we have quite a mobile pack who can play big minutes.
yeahcaz
Well-known member
109 metres and 29 tackles in a game where they got dominated all over the field is not a bad knock at all. He was keen for a carry constantly
The Chad
Well-known member
Also interesting...despite apparently being from the DT...
Google says it's an article from The Australian. No link to an article on the DT. And behind a paywall, so I'm not buying in. But, on the same page is a story about Jamie Soward being let go as Dragons NRLW coach with a photo of Shaun Timmons.
BlackWhiteGold
Well-known member
It’s in the DT Sports Confidential column tonight that Richo’s mate Brent Read co-compiles.
The Chad
Well-known member
Still feels weird. And no Google link to the DT at all, only the Australian.
Not questioning you at all mate- just the whole thing feels odd. Very out of character to name Jack Bird like that before an official announcement.
Kaito
Well-known member
Brent Read is one of the few with Richos direct line,
Chammas has been real quite too the little weasel.
Wests Tigers chief executive Shane Richardson insists the club’s season – and its future – will not be defined by the outcome of the so-called Spoon Bowl on Friday night.
The Tigers sit in 17th spot at the moment but whether they stay there will be determined by the outcome of their game against Parramatta at a sold-out Campbelltown Stadium.
The loser of the clash will finish with the wooden spoon.
Richardson wants to win but insists that a third successive last-placed finish won’t be the end of the world, given the progress the club has made this season under coach Benji Marshall, who has blooded some of the game’s most promising young players.
“Of course there’s been progress,” Richardson said.
“There’s another 20-year-old in the side on Friday night in Tony Sukkar. We have debuted 12 kids this year – more than anyone else.
“I don’t say that to deflect; I’m just saying there are some obstacles we have had to overcome and we knew at the start of the year we would have to overcome them.
“So we’ve come to the end of the season, we stuck together as a group and we’ve come on in leaps and bounds.”
That hasn’t always been reflected in the scoreboard, but Richardson believes the green shoots will begin to bear fruit as early as next year.
“I am looking forward to it,” he said. “Actually, it’s very reminiscent of the way we finished with Penrith the year before we won it (in 2003).
“We sort of had a pretty average season, and then we came on with a big rush at the end. I think we ended up smashing Manly by 50 in the last round. I’m not saying we are going to do that, but it’s a big game which allows us to keep the momentum going.”
The entire club and their loyal supporters would get a lift by avoiding the dreaded wooden spoon. The club has languished at the foot of the ladder in recent seasons but this year in particular there has been a groundswell of support behind Marshall and his team.
“Really, it’s about the fact that we’ve developed the sort of glue to keep this team together and get to the end of the season and still have some credibility,” Richardson said.
“It’s a good step if we can beat Parramatta because they are local rivals. There’s no doubt it’s an important game; we have a sellout crowd and it would be great for the club.
“The world doesn’t end if we don’t win it but we would certainly love to win it.
“We haven’t had a sellout at Campbelltown since 2005, when we won the premiership.”
“We’re miles ahead of our budget on gates. We have sold out corporately virtually for every game. We can’t sell any more than we have sold.
“We want to win and we’ll be going out there to win it. If we could win it in front of all those people, there’s no doubt that would be great momentum
weststigerman
Well-known member
Very unusual and very different from Benji’s “I won’t discuss recruitment”.
Jack Bird sounds definite and Horsburgh likely. Would prefer Hetherington but as Richo said it will only be 2 of those.
upthetigers
Well-known member
Call me crazy but I wouldn't be against bringing Marty back to the club for 1 year since we are light in forwards. His experience will help out the young guys like Pole and Samuela immensely.
The Chad
Well-known member
Am I getting confused? Is that a separate article from the DT as well?
I agree about Brent Read- but Richo has pretty much been at pains to tell everyone that he won't be announcing to the media before members, etc.
Tom Shines
Well-known member
So Richo can go public, but not the manager ?
This article seems odd based on what has been discussed all year
Tom Shines
Well-known member
Richo talking some scuttlebutt
Kaito
Well-known member
Haha. Yes they're separate articles, the article that
@BlackWhiteGold mentioned has already been posted
on here. I posted article from the Australian (Ready).
Yes. He must be confident they've signed already...
Jedi_Tiger
Well-known member
if you.dont give reporters something they go and make it up... not a bad move by Richo
Jedi_Tiger
Well-known member
Corey H and Hetherington would be good gets
The Chad
Well-known member
It feels very inconsistent to everything Richo has been saying, and only recently.
As was pointed out- there's actually NO reference from Richo in regard to Horsburgh, only Bird.
In the end- I'm happy with both Bird & Horsburgh. I think Horsburgh is what our pack lacks, and I think he solidifies our middle. I can't see Bird playing in the forwards (much) but I think he really does improve our wide defence, one of our biggest issues. I had mentioned Isiaih Tass a few times, Bird basically is that kind of player. And if this means Doueihi & Faataape do not get walk up starts- that can only be a positive for the club. The more quality the club has, vying for starting positions, the better.
I guess the big question now is- what becomes of Bateman? If we don't move him on, I'd assume our forward purchases (1st grade signings) might be done. Bateman, Horsburgh, Seyfarth, Hunt, Klemmer...the club is starting to accumulate guys that play with an attitude & don't get bullied as much.
As was pointed out- there's actually NO reference from Richo in regard to Horsburgh, only Bird.
In the end- I'm happy with both Bird & Horsburgh. I think Horsburgh is what our pack lacks, and I think he solidifies our middle. I can't see Bird playing in the forwards (much) but I think he really does improve our wide defence, one of our biggest issues. I had mentioned Isiaih Tass a few times, Bird basically is that kind of player. And if this means Doueihi & Faataape do not get walk up starts- that can only be a positive for the club. The more quality the club has, vying for starting positions, the better.
I guess the big question now is- what becomes of Bateman? If we don't move him on, I'd assume our forward purchases (1st grade signings) might be done. Bateman, Horsburgh, Seyfarth, Hunt, Klemmer...the club is starting to accumulate guys that play with an attitude & don't get bullied as much.
