Signings, Suggestions & Rumours Discussion

Needaname said:
Playing kids in these, but one consistent thing is he has become a tackle busting winger. Is that his spot or would he move to the centres. Reminds me of Murray Talagi.
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Murray isn't in his league, respectfully. He's bigger
and faster. Playing GPS XV as a starting winger at
16 is a monumental feat in itself. I know as tigers
fans we're a bit cynical when it comes to these things
but it's a genuine assessment & not emotionally driven
 
Kaito said:
Murray isn't in his league, respectfully. He's bigger
and faster. Playing GPS XV as a starting winger at
16 is a monumental feat in itself. I know as tigers
fans we're a bit cynical when it comes to these things
but it's a genuine assessment & not emotionally driven
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Whoa, pump the breaks.

Talagi has played origin and Kangaroos.

Let’s get Makasini to FG level as a first step.
 
Vicious said:
Only if he’s willing to put in the hard work, be very disciplined, lose around 10kgs and start next season on the best physical condition he’s ever been in.
Our problem is the general mindset is players think or know they they can get away with taking shortcuts at Wests Tigers, where they know they cannot get away with it at high profile clubs or clubs with coaches with big reputations.
Latrell looks to be in the best shape he’s been in for a long, long time. Funny how that happens when he knows Wayne Bennett is back in charge.
Benji does not yet have that same aura to get players fully focused and fully committed.
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Hmm, I think romey is going to have a big influence on these young poly lads coming through. He will set a standard, benji just has to keep up.
 
gregjm87 said:
Cant speak for Vicious but The last 3 years is why I'm pessimistic. It wasn't so long ago that we made the "really good signings" of Api and Papali'i and we were told things were on the up.
I also think that outside of Luai we haven't made any really good signings. I think the rest are certainly an upgrade on what we've got in their respective positions but none are better than average at their position when compared to the rest of the competition. Additionally we still haven't replaced what we've lost.
I'd like to be positive and want to believe good times are ahead. If we can retain a lot of the quality youngsters long term I even believe that in time they will come good. I just can't see that being any time soon.
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A hooker and an Edge arent going to help a side that had poor halves, props, and outside backs. On top of that the club had been in shambles with the Board and constant sacking of coaches. Winning does start from the head office and the club prior were not professional at all. I am more then happy with the signings we have gotten so far. Jeral Skelton, Jarome Luai, Turuva, Jack Bird, Royce Hunt. Not only have these players come from clubs who have experienced a winning culture aswell as extensive coaching only good things are going to come from here. These are not signings we would have years before where we would sign players like Russell Packer. Jarome Luai has played in the last 5 grand finals won 4 and will be spilling all the winning secrets. Come November 1st rumours will start to spark up again and potential signings. Patience.
 
Tigerbenb said:
Hmm, I think romey is going to have a big influence on these young poly lads coming through. He will set a standard, benji just has to keep up.
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He'll have an influence on the whole club. His attitude is what will lift players and the ability to be a leader speaks volumes of what he'll provide for this club. The whole club will be effected by his transition he's proved critics wrong everytime they said he couldn't do something. Bloke played an outstanding season playing half of his games in number 7 completely writing off his critics. Forgetting the linkup with Api and luai who both previously played in the same grand final winning team. Provided that we have done the best with the off-contracted players this season we've done well enough for the future when we do start to pull in the big forwards. Especially the juniors coming through. Heamasi will be a genuine contender for a starting centre position.
 
balmain boy said:
Well we did give Bula a deal in that ballpark for some bizarre reason. He was good, but not THAT good last year. Galvin has shown more than Bula in their respective first seasons. 4 year extension, 700, 750, 800, 850k. When bonuses get added he'll be earning even more.
Compare that to the measly money he's on now. He won't sign a super long deal just yet as we may be worth well over a million in a few years so 4 years will probably be the max he signs.
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Don't start me on Bula's contract. Why they upgraded and extended when they did, I have no idea.
 
weststigersfinals2025 said:
A hooker and an Edge arent going to help a side that had poor halves, props, and outside backs. On top of that the club had been in shambles with the Board and constant sacking of coaches. Winning does start from the head office and the club prior were not professional at all. I am more then happy with the signings we have gotten so far. Jeral Skelton, Jarome Luai, Turuva, Jack Bird, Royce Hunt. Not only have these players come from clubs who have experienced a winning culture aswell as extensive coaching only good things are going to come from here. These are not signings we would have years before where we would sign players like Russell Packer. Jarome Luai has played in the last 5 grand finals won 4 and will be spilling all the winning secrets. Come November 1st rumours will start to spark up again and potential signings. Patience.
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At the time it wasn't just a hooker and an edge. It was also former international Klemmer after being named his clubs player's player the previous year, England rep Bateman as well as premiership winning winger Staines. The chat then was just as it is now about How this influx of representative players whom all had finals experience was going to rejuvenate the roster.

Its not that I'm unhappy with any of the signings thus far. Aside I said they are all an upgrade on what we have. No need to recite Luai's resume. I pointed him out as the 1 signing who truly is "REALLY good". I'm just far from convinced that it will be enough to see us make any great improvements. Not unless a few younger forwards really lift next season. I'm hopeful but I'm not confident.
 
gregjm87 said:
Cant speak for Vicious but The last 3 years is why I'm pessimistic. It wasn't so long ago that we made the "really good signings" of Api and Papali'i and we were told things were on the up.
I also think that outside of Luai we haven't made any really good signings. I think the rest are certainly an upgrade on what we've got in their respective positions but none are better than average at their position when compared to the rest of the competition. Additionally we still haven't replaced what we've lost.
I'd like to be positive and want to believe good times are ahead. If we can retain a lot of the quality youngsters long term I even believe that in time they will come good. I just can't see that being any time soon.
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I believe the issue was not things that Api and Papa could help with. The team is inherently young and we lack depth in our backs which can be fixed with the signings of Skelton and Turuva and the chance that Doueihi can stay healthy playing centres. The issue was always in the club culture which could be seen in a majority of our forward pack, with Papali'i looking uninterested along with Stef, plus players like Klemmer who had fallen off majorly from when he was on Knights only a season prior. While they may not instantly fix up the team into a top 8 finish, Luai and Turuva certainly will help with the club's culture - nothing will happen in one offseason.

The thing which is most promising about this team would be the younger players such as Galvin, the Fainu brothers, Pole and now Makasini who can come in for Olam when his time is up, or even sooner. This is going to provide depth, culture and chemistry which is some of the things this team has been lacking for a long time. Obviously we arent going to come in and be contenders, however when you look at teams like the Bulldogs, they made a couple big name signings but loads of solid signings over the course of a few years in order to improve their team heavily. While we won't be contending immediately, the future definitely seems brighter than it has in recent seasons and there is really no reason to be pessimistic.
 
gregjm87 said:
At the time it wasn't just a hooker and an edge. It was also former international Klemmer after being named his clubs player's player the previous year, England rep Bateman as well as premiership winning winger Staines. The chat then was just as it is now about How this influx of representative players whom all had finals experience was going to rejuvenate the roster.

Its not that I'm unhappy with any of the signings thus far. Aside I said they are all an upgrade on what we have. No need to recite Luai's resume. I pointed him out as the 1 signing who truly is "REALLY good". I'm just far from convinced that it will be enough to see us make any great improvements. Not unless a few younger forwards really lift next season. I'm hopeful but I'm not confident.
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The best example you should look back on is the bulldogs. They signed Kikau, Mahoney, Addo-Carr and Burton which could arguably be worse than the Tiger's signings you listed however after the Crichton signing they immediately improved. This is proof that big name signings arent going to immediately change a teams entire identity. The rest of the team was still poor at the time with the halves being a horrible fit to the team, but with the rejuvenation of both the teams halves and backs with the development of young players, this offseason was marginally different to the time we had made those signings.
 
gregjm87 said:
At the time it wasn't just a hooker and an edge. It was also former international Klemmer after being named his clubs player's player the previous year, England rep Bateman as well as premiership winning winger Staines. The chat then was just as it is now about How this influx of representative players whom all had finals experience was going to rejuvenate the roster.

Its not that I'm unhappy with any of the signings thus far. Aside I said they are all an upgrade on what we have. No need to recite Luai's resume. I pointed him out as the 1 signing who truly is "REALLY good". I'm just far from convinced that it will be enough to see us make any great improvements. Not unless a few younger forwards really lift next season. I'm hopeful but I'm not confident.
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Aside from the players we've already signed, who's off contract that is a "REALLY good" player? Theres limited numbers for players who are and were off contract players this season. Tigers have done well with what was on offer. Sure we missed out on Horsburgh but when your club has had back to back to back spoons there isnt much of a appeal. Props to Richo whos brought in a star player Luai and made some actual decent signings.
 
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