Season 2025 Expectations, Predictions & Key Positions.

[WesternSuburbsBoy]

He can’t be replaced. He will most likely be the premier prop in the game and have a GF ring this time next year.
What should be concerning for us is the number of players who’ve made their debut at Tigers and are now playing in finals with other teams. An arbitrary point but you could count Stefano in that group, also Garner, Eisenhuth, Brooks..

Not sure why Tigers fans are always obsessed with the narrative of our former players making finals with other teams. Ask yourself this... how many of our players have actually gone on to be key players for their teams making finals? Teddy, Moses, Maybe Brooks although when Turbo was out the WT Brooks came back. And now ask yourself how many players have gone on to be another cog in the wheel? Your Garners, Blore, Eisenhuth etc etc. I think the second question far outweighs the first question tbh.

 

[cktiger]

guy plays 12 mins. and if he plays 25 he is a liability after 12 mins.

People are blind and seeing only what they want.

If you think having a 12 minute player on the bench is ok then fine.

He's an overweight, slow, no lateral movement, poor fitness, happy to be given a 3 yr retirement deal, good for 4 destructive carries, defensive liability....

him along with olam and bird are going to be players we wished we never signed.

Cronulla didn't seem to mind ... and made the semis.
Where did we end up again?

 

[AmericanHistoryX]

All those cogs you mentioned are playing a grand final this week!!!!

 

[innsaneink]

Not sure why Tigers fans are always obsessed with the narrative of our former players making finals with other teams. Ask yourself this... how many of our players have actually gone on to be key players for their teams making finals? Teddy, Moses, Maybe Brooks although when Turbo was out the WT Brooks came back. And now ask yourself how many players have gone on to be another cog in the wheel? Your Garners, Blore, Eisenhuth etc etc. I think the second question far outweighs the first question tbh.

Back. Rowers are rarely key player7s 6s and 1s are
.i.dont see the point

 

[rugbygoated]

Hunt isn’t a win over Stef. I don’t even view him as a Stef replacement we need another prop.
Naden isn’t dumped yet
Ipap if it’s Hethrington is a backward step
We then have the Bateman flip flop

Skelton, Turuva and Luai are wins.

Stefano is incredibly overrated. If he stayed he would just be the same lazy error-prone player costing us games like this year. He will go ballistic at storm no doubt, but that's more to do with the storm being a great system than stefano being a 'great' player. Getting picked in origin actually made his ego too big

 

[batboy]

Stefano is incredibly overrated. If he stayed he would just be the same lazy error-prone player costing us games like this year. He will go ballistic at storm no doubt, but that's more to do with the storm being a great system than stefano being a 'great' player. Getting picked in origin actually made his ego too big

What's that got to do with what he said?
Hunts not a better player than Stefano.
Be interesting to see how effective Hunt is when we start playing him 50 minutes a game (About 3 x What he's playing currently)

 

[tigermate]

Cronulla didn't seem to mind ... and made the semis.
Where did we end up again?

Didn’t give him a 3 yr deal either

I could live with a 2yr deal so worse case you pay him out end of next year for the second year… but 3 yrs is a joke.

No one wanted him for 2 yrs so we give him 3.

It will cost us.

 

[tigermate]

What's that got to do with what he said?
Hunts not a better player than Stefano.
Be interesting to see how effective Hunt is when we start playing him 50 minutes a game (About 3 x What he's playing currently)

lol he can’t even run after 10 mins.

I watched him closely last four games.

Bloke walks around after taking a hit up.

Absolutely gassed.

Just got no idea what the hell we got him for.

I would prefer smaller forwards with effort like the dogs if we couldn’t find a like replacement for steff

 

[Tucker]

lol he can’t even run after 10 mins.

I watched him closely last four games.

Bloke walks around after taking a hit up.

Absolutely gassed.

Just got no idea what the hell we got him for.

I would prefer smaller forwards with effort like the dogs if we couldn’t find a like replacement for steff

I would be surprised if Hunt didnt spend time in Reserve grade next year.
Hes got very little self drive about him. Walks far too much
@innsaneink called him lazy...looks to be true to me as well.
Wrecking ball for 10 minutes doesnt help much and is he even a wrecking ball against decent defences?

 

[mtd#2]

guy plays 12 mins. and if he plays 25 he is a liability after 12 mins.

People are blind and seeing only what they want.

If you think having a 12 minute player on the bench is ok then fine.

He's an overweight, slow, no lateral movement, poor fitness, happy to be given a 3 yr retirement deal, good for 4 destructive carries, defensive liability....

him along with olam and bird are going to be players we wished we never signed.

I don't think olam deserves to be in the same category as hunt.

 

[tigermate]

I don't think olam deserves to be in the same category as hunt.

Point is he’s injury prone, his deficiency was foreshadowed by melbourne and doctors and still we gave him 3 yrs.

Just like hunt - everyone can see he get gassed after 10 mins, yet everyone including our club overlook it and think they can change him - and we gave him 3 years

I predict olam will be medically retired at some point next year or be a complete dud bc no lateral movement in defense and loss of pace after his surgery

And that everyone on this forum including the club will want to medically retire or move hunt on after 1 year (if he makes it that long in first grade)

 

[mtd#2]

Seriously how does Hunt make it through NRL training 4-5 days a week?

 

[mtd#2]

I'm starting to see how this squad could work for 2025, pending Hunt gets fitter and we sign Hetherington.

1. Bula
2. Skelton (kick return metres)
3. Bird (best position is centre and solid defence)
4. Olam
5. Turuva (kick return metres)
6. Galvin
7. Luai
8. Hunt (impact, assuming he can put in 15).
9. Korisau
10. Pole (impact and minutes).
11. Bateman (15-20 straight runs a game)
12. Samuela Fainu (15-20 straight runs a game)
13. Hetherington (focus on defensive work).

14. Latu Fainu (replace hetherington but come on to chime in the attack)
15. Klemmer (replace Hunt in rotation)
16. Seyfarth (replace Bateman)
17. Sione Fainu (replace Pole in rotation)

I think the prop rotations, pending fitness, mean we always have a prop who can dig in minutes wise.

A case could be made to Switch Bateman, Seyfarth and Hetherington around in some shape or form. But I'd prefer we give Bateman a chance to have a real hot crack.

I think Twal could improve this season and will keep the guys honest.

One injury though and we are screwed. We don't have the depth in the forwards at all. We could turn Douhei into a backrower but I doubt that'd happen.

Thoughts?

 

[Tom Shines]

I'm starting to see how this squad could work for 2
8. Hunt (impact, assuming he can put in 15).
9. Korisau
10. Pole (impact and minutes).
11. Bateman (15-20 straight runs a game)
12. Samuela Fainu (15-20 straight runs a game)
13. Hetherington (focus on defensive work).

I would suggest this pack is not better than our best pack this season,. ( and one of them has not yet even signed here yet)

 

[mtd#2]

I would suggest this pack is not better than our best pack this season,. ( and one of them has not yet even signed here yet).

Who was our best pack this season?

Papa on a good day is a huge loss, we were stupid to let him go.
Hetherington covers the workhorse element we lose from Papa.. Samuela plays the tole of our attacking backrower. Bateman just has to do a job, and if he hit the ball up straight and not throw stupid passes - that's all we need from him.

Stef had minimal impact for us when he hit the ball up.
Hunt has proved he can give us that impact (the issue is if he can do 2x 15-17 min spells).

 

[Tom Shines]

Who was our best pack this season?

Papa on a good day is a huge loss, we were stupid to let him go.
Hetherington covers the workhorse element we lose from Papa.. Samuela plays the tole of our attacking backrower. Bateman just has to do a job, and if he hit the ball up straight and not throw stupid passes - that's all we need from him.

Stef had minimal impact for us when he hit the ball up.
Hunt has proved he can give us that impact (the issue is if he can do 2x 15-17 min spells).

Pretty much what you have listed here with Hunt and Kobe H for Ice and Stef …

So one of the additions is better and one worse ? Id call that even …wouldn’t you ?

But I also hear Hetherington might not be coming… Apparently Madge wants him to stay

 

[TSP]

I'm starting to see how this squad could work for 2025, pending Hunt gets fitter and we sign Hetherington.

1. Bula
2. Skelton (kick return metres)
3. Bird (best position is centre and solid defence)
4. Olam
5. Turuva (kick return metres)
6. Galvin
7. Luai
8. Hunt (impact, assuming he can put in 15).
9. Korisau
10. Pole (impact and minutes).
11. Bateman (15-20 straight runs a game)
12. Samuela Fainu (15-20 straight runs a game)
13. Hetherington (focus on defensive work).

14. Latu Fainu (replace hetherington but come on to chime in the attack)
15. Klemmer (replace Hunt in rotation)
16. Seyfarth (replace Bateman)
17. Sione Fainu (replace Pole in rotation)

I think the prop rotations, pending fitness, mean we always have a prop who can dig in minutes wise.

A case could be made to Switch Bateman, Seyfarth and Hetherington around in some shape or form. But I'd prefer we give Bateman a chance to have a real hot crack.

I think Twal could improve this season and will keep the guys honest.

One injury though and we are screwed. We don't have the depth in the forwards at all. We could turn Douhei into a backrower but I doubt that'd happen.

Thoughts?

Yeah it’s not bad.

Paps wanted out I think.

 

[Magpie_Magic]

I'm starting to see how this squad could work for 2025, pending Hunt gets fitter and we sign Hetherington.

1. Bula
2. Skelton (kick return metres)
3. Bird (best position is centre and solid defence)
4. Olam
5. Turuva (kick return metres)
6. Galvin
7. Luai
8. Hunt (impact, assuming he can put in 15).
9. Korisau
10. Pole (impact and minutes).
11. Bateman (15-20 straight runs a game)
12. Samuela Fainu (15-20 straight runs a game)
13. Hetherington (focus on defensive work).

14. Latu Fainu (replace hetherington but come on to chime in the attack)
15. Klemmer (replace Hunt in rotation)
16. Seyfarth (replace Bateman)
17. Sione Fainu (replace Pole in rotation)

I think the prop rotations, pending fitness, mean we always have a prop who can dig in minutes wise.

A case could be made to Switch Bateman, Seyfarth and Hetherington around in some shape or form. But I'd prefer we give Bateman a chance to have a real hot crack.

I think Twal could improve this season and will keep the guys honest.

One injury though and we are screwed. We don't have the depth in the forwards at all. We could turn Douhei into a backrower but I doubt that'd happen.

Thoughts?

On 4 remain from starting 13 in spoon bowl game.

Massive potential.

Needs depth, but we can dream finals.

Includes 5 guys who've played in Grand Finals.

 

[tigerballs]

Seriously how does Hunt make it through NRL training 4-5 days a week?

Burgers

 

[tigerballs]

lol he can’t even run after 10 mins.

I watched him closely last four games.

Bloke walks around after taking a hit up.

Absolutely gassed.

Just got no idea what the hell we got him for.

I would prefer smaller forwards with effort like the dogs if we couldn’t find a like replacement for steff

Will be getting called Mike Hunt after round 3