Signings, Suggestions & Rumours Discussion

Clearly and Maguire both have coached at this club and would have implemented the standards that they believe necessary for success. I still believe the quality and attitude of individual players sets the standards on and off the field. Great players do the extras to be great and putting in the extras is an attitude. Until you get a squad where that is general consensus a coach is always going struggle.
One thing I will say about Cleary for everything negative I think about him after what he did to us, iv never seen us defend like we did after our first preseason with him. Those first 8 weeks or so of the comp that year we were a fortress in D.
 
Our training has been a 'long' way off - Forever!!
It's as obvious a bunker Blunder to anyone who actually watches a full game.

Basically every player that debuted here, and then left has mentioned how much fitter the new team was and how much more intense the Training.
Aaron Woods left here the prop of the year, Playing for State and Country - Got to the battling Dogs and was shown up to be soft in the Gym - has spoken on it more than once.... His words were
"I didn't know any different" (Or words to that effect)....

Joel Caine talks about how it was here in the early days
- They were just happy to have a contract. Often laments about what he might have done if he'd applied himself better - It's engrained in the joint - Decades old.

Remember the last CEO mentioned our training is in line with the Metrics put out by the NRL....
Who wants to be me that the Top 4 Clubs training well exceeds those metrics - On a permanent basis?

There's been stories over the years of the likes of Bellamy and Bennett (back in the day) Leading the road runs with the team - Never heard anything remotely like that here.
- Only that our coach (a 40yr old former half) is chopping us up at training!!

That's a problem in itself, How hard and fast are the opposed sessions when the bloke leading them (And chopping up) is the 40 year old coach?
They're practising playing 2 hand touch for giggles is my bet.

Luai may be the difference....
I'm hoping he doesn't get here and fall into Benji Ball Bro Culture though...
He wont… that’s not who he is
 
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Amazing news! One we couldn't afford to lose after labelling ourselves as a development club. Excited to see what he can do for us in the coming years!
If we'd lost him, our label would be a development club for other teams. On that thought, the Storm are looking a bit weary in crucial positions with Munster not the player he was and Papenhuyzen having lost a couple of yards of pace.
 
Who is the better player? Makasini or Large?
Everyone has a take, here's mine:

Large is more naturally athletic. He moves effortlessly, think a silkier version of Hamiso, without quite the top-end speed (yet). He's a runner first, but has great vision as a playmaker also. He's also more versatile, could play anywhere from five-eighth to centre to fb.

Except he sees himself as a half, is incomplete in that department and we're just about as flush as you can get with halves for the next two years at least.

Personally, I reckon Makasini is the better specialist. He's a centre who can play wing, or, a wing who can play centre depending on the side (or code). A giant of a lad with decent top-end speed and crazy strength. It'll be interesting to see how his skillset translates into adult footy as often, powerful juniors get a bit of a wakeup call early in their careers against full-grown men. I think the likes of Penisini and Best can attest to that.

Personally, I think we retained the better prospect for us, given our current, and future squad strengths and weaknesses. Had there been no Luai, Galvin and or Latu, Large would've likely been the non-negotiable.
 
Today is a big day for the club. Obviously getting a solid first grade side is top priority to Richo and the team, but to have one of the top youngsters in the system as well as the country buy into the club is massive. This will have a huge ripple effect in the club's pathways which I can only assume as being positive. Getting 3 wooden spoons is not a selling point by any means but this true showcase of character and is extremely important and is something the tigers will need in the next couple of years. Makasini will be a pioneer for the future young guns coming through to stick with it and get amongst the crocodile roll.

Makasini is a top player and will prove that he is in the coming years. Don't be surprised if he gets a debut next year. Makasini solves a lot of the tigers problems from the past few years.
1. He is a back: Wests tigers haven't had a great winger or centre since Taniela and this changes this dramatically. Whether he plays on the wing or in the centres either way the tigers have been back depleted for years.

2. Goal kickers: This kid topped the point scoring in the Harold Matthews competition and struck them well too.

3. A junior who has committed: Time and time again we see Wests tigers youngsters leave in search of a better future. This kid has said I want to be a part of the crocodile roll and he has bought into that. I love him already

The regular fan might not get to watch him for maybe a couple of years but when he makes his debut tune in. Makasini changes games, his ball playing and running is excellent. His highlights from Newington are something else and he is simply a cut above the rest.
Whether you have been going for the tigers for a year or your whole life you should be extremely excited by this signing. It is a monumental day in the club's history. I truly believe in Heamasi Makasini to be the next best thing...
 
I think you are wrong. What is happening during the week is dictating our results on the weekend.

This has been fostered through years of playing together in the pathways. They grew up together. They created a gang like mentality of us v you in every sense. If you remember the 2020 season, the whole RL world hated them for the way they carried on.

This is true, but is not a quick fix. You also do need skill levels and game management levels to increase along with footy IQ.
It sounds to me like you are angling towards “we are not far off”.
That’s bullshit and wet stinky stuff at that.
I strongly agree. Penrith's success lies with their juniors.

I assume Penrith's junior academy operates similarly to Melbourne's coaching staff in developing players, and it's undeniable that Bellamy has been extremely successful in elevating lesser known players to some solid NRL players. Melbourne's coaching systems are so robust that they feature NRL development coaches for each affiliated team. A recruitment team oversees talent identification and scouting, supported by a Training and Logistics Manager. They also have a Director of Performance, along with separate coaches for Strength and Conditioning, all working cohesively with each Head and NRL Development Coach.

I've already touched on John Donahue. Aside from Fitzgibbon, who is renowned for his defensive coaching, specialised wrestling coaches with MMA backgrounds are a trend seen across the top clubs in the NRL. Penrith has incorporated these coaches, significantly impacting their defensive capabilities. Their former wrestling coach is now credited with the Bulldogs' turnaround in defense (he was also at the Rabbitohs in 2014) and the Warriors even had a UFC fighter as their wrestling coach last year.
These coaches provide several benefits. They teach advanced techniques that neutralise attacking plays and limit opposing player movement, creating a significant tactical advantage. Their methods enhance defensive coordination, delay fatigue and preserve energy, allowing players to maintain peak performance throughout matches. The training also builds resilience, stamina and strength through intense drills, enabling players to execute plays more effectively and recover faster during critical moments of the game. There's a wealth of information available online regarding these advantages.

Ultimately, the integration of these roles not only ensures that players are physically prepared but also reinforces the effectiveness of the coaching systems, leading to better strategic execution and on field success
 

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