Signings, Suggestions & Rumours Discussion

[Tiger_claws]

Forget Large.. he's signed with Manly for 3 years.
However with some new strong signings coming in 25 it will hopefully help gel the team together get them working as a cohesive unit, which should produce the results we are after. Having 4 or 5 top players who have the skill and talent to read the players will help bring out the best of some of our young guns. And.... then, entice players like Galvin to stay.

Best 17 and full squad
1. Jahream Bula
2. Charlie Staines
3. Adam Doueihi
4. Justin Olam
5. Sunia Turuva
6. Lachlan Galvin
7. Jarome Luai
8. Royce Hunt
9. Apisai Koroisau
10. David Klemmer
11. John Bateman
12. Samuela Fainu
13. Fonua Pole

Interchange
14. Latu Fainu
15. Alex Seyfarth
16. Alex Twal
17. Jack Bird

Rest of squad
18. Jayden Sullivan
19. Tallyn Da Silva
20. Josh Feledy
21. Chris Faagutu
22. Brent Naden
23. Solomone Saukuru
24. Tony Sukkar
25. Luke Laulilii
26. Starford To'a
27. Jordan Miller
28. Jeral Skelton
29. Kit Laulilii
30. Justin Matamua

Brandon Tumeth has an option in his contracts and are not in the list of contracted players for 2025.

Skelton is starting. Staines couldn’t run through wet tissue paper. He is all effort but gets dominated and getting dominated on tackle 1 or 2 kills your sets. Can’t have a terrible defender at 13. Pole’s contact is poor and lacks the ability to finish off tackles when 3rd man in. Impact forward off the bench for Pole. If everyone is healthy AD shouldn’t be in the 17.

 

[FrodoTBaggin]

Skelton is starting. Staines couldn’t run through wet tissue paper. He is all effort but gets dominated and getting dominated on tackle 1 or 2 kills your sets. Can’t have a terrible defender at 13. Pole’s contact is poor and lacks the ability to finish off tackles when 3rd man in. Impact forward off the bench for Pole. If everyone is healthy AD shouldn’t be in the 17.

I'd imagine the back 5 actually includes both Skelton & Staines.

1. Bula
2. Skelton
3. Olam
4. Turuva
5. Staines
6. Galvin
7. Luai
8. Hunt / Pole
9. Api
10. Klemmer / Twal
11. Bateman (Or replacement if we sell him)
12. S. Fainu
13. Seyfarth

14. Da Silva
15. Hunt / Pole
16. Klemmer / Twal
17. Bird

 

[BAGNF05]

I'd imagine the back 5 actually includes both Skelton & Staines.

1. Bula
2. Skelton
3. Olam
4. Turuva
5. Staines
6. Galvin
7. Luai
8. Hunt / Pole
9. Api
10. Klemmer / Twal
11. Bateman (Or replacement if we sell him)
12. S. Fainu
13. Seyfarth

14. Da Silva
15. Hunt / Pole
16. Klemmer / Twal
17. Bird

1. Bula
2. Skelton
3. Olam
4. Turuva
5. Luke L
6. Galvin
7. Luai
8. Pole
9. Api
10. Twal
11. Bateman (Or replacement if we sell him)
12. S. Fainu
13. Seyfarth

14. Bird
15. Hunt
16. Klemmer
17. L. Fainu

Still need up upgrade forwards but that’s the current best 17 IMO

 

[FrodoTBaggin]

1. Bula
2. Skelton
3. Olam
4. Turuva
5. Luke L
6. Galvin
7. Luai
8. Pole
9. Api
10. Twal
11. Bateman (Or replacement if we sell him)
12. S. Fainu
13. Seyfarth

14. Bird
15. Hunt
16. Klemmer
17. L. Fainu

Still need up upgrade forwards but that’s the current best 17 IMO

Yeah I might agree with Luke on the wing actually.

Definitely need an upgrade on forwards next, particularly our 13 & 11 I think. Should be room in the team for only one of Twal / Seyfarth but that's just the way it falls atm.

I don't think Latu & Bird are needed on the bench together. Api needs a spell almost every game and Tallyn is the one we looked best with when Api wasn't there.

Bird can cover centre & halves + lock / Second row. Latu can cover halves + lock, doesn't make much sense to have cover for the same spots.

 

[user118245]

1. Bula
2. Skelton
3. Olam
4. Turuva
5. Staines
6. Galvin
7. Luai
8. Hunt
9. Api
10. Twal
11. Bateman (Or replacement if we sell him)
12. S. Fainu
13. Seyfarth (probably Kobe if we sign him)

14. Bird
15. Pole
16. Klemmer
17. Sione (he’s staying trust me) (seyfarth if we sign Kobe)

 

[user118245]

Yeah I might agree with Luke on the wing actually.

Definitely need an upgrade on forwards next, particularly our 13 & 11 I think. Should be room in the team for only one of Twal / Seyfarth but that's just the way it falls atm.

I don't think Latu & Bird are needed on the bench together. Api needs a spell almost every game and Tallyn is the one we looked best with when Api wasn't there.

Bird can cover centre & halves + lock / Second row. Latu can cover halves + lock, doesn't make much sense to have cover for the same spots.

Yep an 11 is a big for us imo, think Tim’s development over offseason could fix that issue tho. He just needs a preseason and some faith in him imo, we’re only seeing a really raw version of him atm

 

[jrtiger]

still a lot of incomings and outgoings to come I feel before we know how our side will take shape.

Hetherington and Montoya on the cards, plus a clear need for another middle forward and a backrower. we’ll be in a good spot if we manage to do that, providing we can clear a few spots via player sales.

 

[BAGNF05]

Yeah I might agree with Luke on the wing actually.

Definitely need an upgrade on forwards next, particularly our 13 & 11 I think. Should be room in the team for only one of Twal / Seyfarth but that's just the way it falls atm.

I don't think Latu & Bird are needed on the bench together. Api needs a spell almost every game and Tallyn is the one we looked best with when Api wasn't there.

Bird can cover centre & halves + lock / Second row. Latu can cover halves + lock, doesn't make much sense to have cover for the same spots.

You make some good points.

I’d have Latu Fainu training as back up rake/ halves this off-season.

TDS a year as Magpies hooker to develop as the eventual successor to Api.

 

[tiger_one]

I can't wait to see the clean out of the KOA team and see what we have after that.
And the balance of our NRL side when everything settles.
And the coaching staff is finalised.
And the sponsor is known.
And the preseason is over.

 

[Tiger_Yoshi]

I can't wait to see the clean out of the KOA team and see what we have after that.
And the balance of our NRL side when everything settles.
And the coaching staff is finalised.
And the sponsor is known.
And the preseason is over.

And we are favourites for the spoon again

 

[BAGNF05]

And we are favourites for the spoon again

I doubt this.

 

[user118245]

You make some good points.

I’d have Latu Fainu training as back up rake/ halves this off-season.

TDS a year as Magpies hooker to develop as the eventual successor to Api.

Yes we need to let guys develop in cup rather that a 14 every week that gets sporadic out of position minutes

 

[The Chad]

If the Tigers are going to be successful, coming from such a low starting point, Benji is going to need to identify the best 20 players in his squad that give him a chance of winning & then find a way to play them as often as possible. I only say this because I would think in our best 20, there are a few double-ups on positions. In no particular order-
1. Bula- Fullback
2. Luai- Half/5-8
3. Galvin - Half/5-8
4. Pole - Prop
5. Koroisau - Hooker
6. Sam Fainu - 2nd Row
7. Turuva - Wing/Centre
8. Skelton - Wing/Centre
9. Bird - Centre/5-8/Lock/2nd Row
10. Royce Hunt - Prop
11. Olam - Centre
12. Klemmer - Prop
13. Twal - Prop
14. Bateman - 2nd Row
15. Seyfarth - Prop/2nd Row
16. Da Silva - Hooker
17. Doueihi - Centre/Fullback
18. Sione Fainu (assuming he re-signs) - Prop
19. Charlie Staines - Wing/Fullback
20. Latu Fainu - Half/5-8

Looking at that- the plan with Bird dictates a lot of what I think makes up Benji's 'best' squad- that is, the squad that puts our best players on the field. I've been heavily against Bird at #13, but at this point, we simply lack a #13 in the squad. If Bird plays lock, that puts Adam Doueihi or Charlie Staines on the field.

I would suggest neither Doueihi or Staines are more likely to win games for Benji than Da Silva & Latu Fainu.

But I also don't think you can carry both Latu & Da Silva on the bench.

Which goes back to a suggestion I've made a few times- I think Latu Fainu should be considered at centre to get him on the field. Before you howl that he's a 5/8...I know. So was Fittler, Laurie Daley & more recently Matt Burton & Blaze Talagi. Yet...they all played centre to get them on the field early. Would you rather Charlie Staines on the wing outside Turuva? Or Turuva on the wing outside Latu Fainu?

Obviously the more additions to the squad, the more this can change. But right now, I think Benji's 'best' team could look like:

1. Bula
2. Turuva
3. Latu Fainu
4. Olam
5. Skelton
6. Galvin
7. Luai
13. Bird
12. Bateman
11. Sam Fainu
10. Klemmer
9. Koroisau
8. Pole

14. Da Silva
15. Hunt
16. Twal
17. Seyfarth

 

[The Chad]

An argument would have to be made for Sione Fainu to be that squad too. If Bateman doesn't come back, Seyfarth to the 2nd row & Fainu to the bench could work. Or Fainu could replace Twal.

To be fair, there's even an argument to be made of Fainu to replace Utoikamanu & keep Pole on the bench.

What the club does regarding it's middle players, and Jack Bird/Bateman, is actually really interesting. Some players we think are good are going to miss out if we add more starters.

 

[BAGNF05]

An argument would have to be made for Sione Fainu to be that squad too. If Bateman doesn't come back, Seyfarth to the 2nd row & Fainu to the bench could work. Or Fainu could replace Twal.

To be fair, there's even an argument to be made of Fainu to replace Utoikamanu & keep Pole on the bench.

What the club does regarding it's middle players, and Jack Bird/Bateman, is actually really interesting. Some players we think are good are going to miss out if we add more starters.

I just hope they realise that juggling the forwards we have isn’t the solution. There still needs to be a couple of additions to the group.

 

[hank37w]

Skelton is starting. Staines couldn’t run through wet tissue paper. He is all effort but gets dominated and getting dominated on tackle 1 or 2 kills your sets. Can’t have a terrible defender at 13. Pole’s contact is poor and lacks the ability to finish off tackles when 3rd man in. Impact forward off the bench for Pole. If everyone is healthy AD shouldn’t be in the 17.

Gee if Staines is still here for one of his landmark games, what hope has he got of running through one of our banners? 🤣 🤣 🤣

 

[user118245]

If the Tigers are going to be successful, coming from such a low starting point, Benji is going to need to identify the best 20 players in his squad that give him a chance of winning & then find a way to play them as often as possible. I only say this because I would think in our best 20, there are a few double-ups on positions. In no particular order-
1. Bula- Fullback
2. Luai- Half/5-8
3. Galvin - Half/5-8
4. Pole - Prop
5. Koroisau - Hooker
6. Sam Fainu - 2nd Row
7. Turuva - Wing/Centre
8. Skelton - Wing/Centre
9. Bird - Centre/5-8/Lock/2nd Row
10. Royce Hunt - Prop
11. Olam - Centre
12. Klemmer - Prop
13. Twal - Prop
14. Bateman - 2nd Row
15. Seyfarth - Prop/2nd Row
16. Da Silva - Hooker
17. Doueihi - Centre/Fullback
18. Sione Fainu (assuming he re-signs) - Prop
19. Charlie Staines - Wing/Fullback
20. Latu Fainu - Half/5-8

Looking at that- the plan with Bird dictates a lot of what I think makes up Benji's 'best' squad- that is, the squad that puts our best players on the field. I've been heavily against Bird at #13, but at this point, we simply lack a #13 in the squad. If Bird plays lock, that puts Adam Doueihi or Charlie Staines on the field.

I would suggest neither Doueihi or Staines are more likely to win games for Benji than Da Silva & Latu Fainu.

But I also don't think you can carry both Latu & Da Silva on the bench.

Which goes back to a suggestion I've made a few times- I think Latu Fainu should be considered at centre to get him on the field. Before you howl that he's a 5/8...I know. So was Fittler, Laurie Daley & more recently Matt Burton & Blaze Talagi. Yet...they all played centre to get them on the field early. Would you rather Charlie Staines on the wing outside Turuva? Or Turuva on the wing outside Latu Fainu?

Obviously the more additions to the squad, the more this can change. But right now, I think Benji's 'best' team could look like:

1. Bula
2. Turuva
3. Latu Fainu
4. Olam
5. Skelton
6. Galvin
7. Luai
13. Bird
12. Bateman
11. Sam Fainu
10. Klemmer
9. Koroisau
8. Pole

14. Da Silva
15. Hunt
16. Twal
17. Seyfarth

You don’t think da Silva should be getting consistent cup minutes? Being the heir to api, think it’s a possibility to give him 2 weeks in cup, one week as NRL 14 just so he can still play footy, involve him in the process of working out a plan tho. Of course this plan is barring any injuries requiring him to step into nrl 9 or 14 or into the cup 9

 

[The Chad]

I just hope they realise that juggling the forwards we have isn’t the solution. There still needs to be a couple of additions to the group.

Yes & no. The impact of increased metres from the back cannot be overlooked. Starting our tackle 3/4 beyond our own 30 or 40m mark will improve our overall effectiveness. The biggest thing we need the forwards to do is become more physical in the middle & stop other teams running at will.

 

[The Chad]

You don’t think da Silva should be getting consistent cup minutes? Being the heir to api, think it’s a possibility to give him 2 weeks in cup, one week as NRL 14 just so he can still play footy, involve him in the process of working out a plan tho. Of course this plan is barring any injuries requiring him to step into nrl 9 or 14 or into the cup 9

Honestly? If Benji wants to succeed- he needs to play his best players. Da Silva is one of those. In a perfect world- yes, Da Silva had this year as his KOE minutes. Didn't work out that way. He has impact every time he's on the field & I don't think Benji can afford to NOT utalise that next season.

 

[Year_of_the_Tiger]

Just thinking out loud with a bounty rum in hand, it’s past 12 here fyi. Hunt will be impact for max 30 mins. TDS, I tend to agree with those who say he has impact and needs to be used in FG. Bird - how will he be used, all rounder, 13, cover IDK? Him and TDS on the bench with Hunt riding the pine doesn’t inspire confidence. If we had RCG, another decent minute prop and some hard tackling machines in the middle it would be great to have that flexibility. I just think we are already undersized and soft. Add Latu as well. I actually don’t mind the Latu centre idea. Going to be interesting!