Signings, Suggestions & Rumours Discussion

[BAGNF05]

Mate you obviously did not understand the criticism that was levelled at him which was made especially clear by your unrelenting defence of him as a player.

Some criticism is completely fair, too quiet, can’t manage a game etc.

Many many just said he couldn’t play. That’s wrong.

 

[Tucker]

Short memory mate?
Most here claimed he was below NRL level.

Sometimes he was. He definitely required dropping at certain points along his journey.
However the majority of the criticism was that he was a better player than what we were getting out of him. Did people, myself included call for his head many times? you bet. Thats the nature of fandom when your best players dont perform....and he rarely did.
His supporters think his detractors are surprised he has done so well at Manly...nope, its more frustration that they have used him properly.

 

[Tucker]

That's getting forgotten.

PNG are the most difficult in the first 20.

It then becomes a game of park footy.

Yes, the team were losing when he came on.

 

[Tito Santana]

Yes, the team were losing when he came on.

Are we bashing Brooks? Ooh I’m so excited.

Ahem. STILL - the worst player I’ve ever seen in my life.

How he has made a lucrative career warrants the question of who is looking after him. As I’ve said before, I believe he has Freemason links.

Horrendous player.

 

[bptiger 0]

Hey , BROOKS has left the building, how about leave the bloke alone he is not our problem any more .

 

[balmain boy]

Wow, goes to show how far we have fallen as a destination club. A bit shocked given Leo and Benji are both New Zealanders. Thought that may have been a pulling card for us.

We've never been a destination club. Ever.

In fact it's unlikley there are more than 30-40 players out there across the entire country prepared to go for the crocodile roll. "Come to the worst club in the country, get flogged on and off the pitch and work your ass off so hopefully we can finish above last place next year". Most players will simply say no....If they're half decent then there's other clubs they'll go to instead. If they're desperate then maybe we'd have a chance to get them.

 

[Needaname]

Are we signing Brooks?

 

[Tiger Stripes]

Blows my mind how we cannot offload some of these non-top 30 players.
Maybe we hire Gus for 2 weeks to assist

I do think though Richo would have things going on and just waiting it out.

IMO, 1. The NRL forwards we want are just not interested in coming here for money offered ie............... Not Overs? We would have to be their last resort if offered similar money elsewhere.
2. We haven't top 30 spots available at the moment. Hopefully good news coming?
3. A lot of horse trading to be done because a) of our spoon position and b) our coaching question marks? So it takes a lot of time, sales talk and convincing to get them across to the Tigers.
I think Richo realises only to well we need some hard nosed forwards as a priority. Fingers crossed.

 

[upthetigers]

Shane Flanagan and the Dragons are reportedly interested in Tigers gun Adam Doueihi’s services, with veteran playmaker Ben Hunt’s future up in the air.

Red V powerbrokers reportedly granted Hunt permission to talk to rival clubs, effective immediately for the 2026 season.

However, the SMH is reporting it’s looming likely the 34-year-old has played his last game for the Dragons, despite conversations beginning regarding a contract extension earlier this year.


Doueihi, 26, has reportedly been discussed as a potential target, with the Lebanese international a free agent from November 1.

Should the Tigers be willing to release him from the final year of his contract, Flanagan would reportedly be interested in recruiting him for the 2025 season.


Kangaroos gear up for Tonga clash | 02:44
The versatile star, who can play five-eighth and in the centres, is reportedly earning around $350,000 next year, signing a one-year extension in June.

He’s been plagued by injuries across his 94-game career, with an ACL rupture his most recent long-term sideline stint.

Doueihi looms unlikely to win a spot in the halves under Benji Marshall, with Jarome Luai, Lachlan Galvin, Jayden Sullivan and Latu Fainu all contracted in 2025.

Meanwhile, for Hunt the Dragons’ move marks a significant U-turn from the club, who previously declined their marquee man’s requests to be released from his contract.

An internal end-of-season review reportedly informed Hunt that his performances weren’t up to standard, and should the club get something in return, they’d reportedly be willing to allow him to depart before the 2025 season.

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Cleary's idea for World Club challenge | 00:38
RABBITOHS AND KNIGHTS SWAP OFF

The Rabbitohs and Knights’ potential player swap between Lachlan Ilias and Jackson Hastings have reportedly been called off after talks between the clubs.

Ilias reportedly made contact with incoming coach Wayne Bennett, who gave him positive news regarding his future at the South Sydney club, according to The Daily Telegraph.

The master coach reportedly informed him there’s still a place for him with the Rabbitohs if he is willing to see out his current contract, which expires at the end of the 2025 season.

Bennett, meanwhile, has previously worked with Hastings in the Great Britain side in 2019, but he reportedly had no desire to move Ilias on.

The 24-year-old endured a tumultuous 2024 season, suffering a nasty leg injury in reserve grade after being dropped by the NRL side.

Hastings reportedly had one year left on a contract worth around $800,000, having also been dumped by coach Adam O’Brien.

Release Doueihi which frees up a spot for Sione.

 

[Needaname]

IMO, 1. The NRL forwards we want are just not interested in coming here for money offered ie............... Not Overs? We would have to be their last resort if offered similar money elsewhere.
2. We haven't top 30 spots available at the moment. Hopefully good news coming?
3. A lot of horse trading to be done because a) of our spoon position and b) our coaching question marks? So it takes a lot of time, sales talk and convincing to get them across to the Tigers.
I think Richo realises only to well we need some hard nosed forwards as a priority. Fingers crossed.

I know Richo was quoted as saying that he saw the bunnies as a bigger challenge but i personally believe this is his biggest challenge to date.
Souths yes were the laughing stock as a team for half a decade but they were always desirable club to the public. The pride of the league as they have always been affectionately known as.
Whereas I don’t see the same love for us. Mindful that even our own fans can’t embrace the whole club.

 

[rihannafan1]

I know Richo was quoted as saying that he saw the bunnies as a bigger challenge but i personally believe this is his biggest challenge to date.
Souths yes were the laughing stock as a team for half a decade but they were always desirable club to the public. The pride of the league as they have always been affectionately known as.
Whereas I don’t see the same love for us. Mindful that even our own fans can’t embrace the whole club.

I'd disagree about Souths being desirable to the public. In the 90s and early 00s they really weren't. No crowds, were kicked out of the comp, and were a laughing stock. You did not see anybody in a Souths jersey. The toffs might turn up for a game a year, maybe, and that'd be it.

 

[Demps]

Foxleague reporting Bulldogs are favourites to sign Leo Thompson

 

[Needaname]

I'd disagree about Souths being desirable to the public. In the 90s and early 00s they really weren't. No crowds, were kicked out of the comp, and were a laughing stock. You did not see anybody in a Souths jersey. The toffs might turn up for a game a year, maybe, and that'd be it.

Hmm fair enough, did the perception change that much or was it a bit dormant. I have no doubt there is plenty of closet support for the tigers but it’s the public support we need. We probably just have to ride out 2025 hoping for some improvement that springboards a Nov1 26 recruitment campaign and a better 26 season.

 

[BAGNF05]

Are we bashing Brooks? Ooh I’m so excited.

Ahem. STILL - the worst player I’ve ever seen in my life.

How he has made a lucrative career warrants the question of who is looking after him. As I’ve said before, I believe he has Freemason links.

Horrendous player.

Thanks for backing my point Tito.

 

[BAGNF05]

I know Richo was quoted as saying that he saw the bunnies as a bigger challenge but i personally believe this is his biggest challenge to date.
Souths yes were the laughing stock as a team for half a decade but they were always desirable club to the public. The pride of the league as they have always been affectionately known as.
Whereas I don’t see the same love for us. Mindful that even our own fans can’t embrace the whole club.

The damage done to our brand mainly amongst players is the worst part. You see players like Munster laugh when our club is mentioned to him as a destination. Api was cracking jokes about us before arriving. That is not a challenge Richo would have seen before.

The Luai signing gives me hope that could change at some point.

It probably equates to a 25-30% subsidy we’re forced to pay when signing talent.

 

[jrtiger]

The damage done to our brand mainly amongst players is the worst part. You see players like Munster laugh when our club is mentioned to him as a destination. Api was cracking jokes about us before arriving. That is not a challenge Richo would have seen before.

The Luai signing gives me hope that could change at some point.

it took Richardson years to land a marquee at Souths. he got there in 2004, and Asotasi was the first one thru the door three years later. Inglis didn't arrive until 2010.

Richo likens Luai to our Greg Inglis. he tied up that deal a week into the job. there's adequate financial backing, an elite facility and strong pathways to draw upon. he had none of that at Souths when he started.

what I will say though despite all that is the upcoming free agency window is the most important in the club's history. I hear Richo's on leave this week to prepare himself for what is to come.

if we sign the four players this squad needs, I think we'll be set up for sustained success. fail, and well, you know what comes after.

 

[WestsEffTheRest]

Apparently we are in talks with a PNG Hunter player and another from the FIJI rep side. In regards to Leo Thompson, we were in talks with his manager, but Leo himself turned us down immediately, he never even came to view our Training Centre .. :-(

What a load of waffle. He's currently with the NZ squad & isn't free to talk to other clubs until November 1 so no club can approach his manager until then.

 

[BAGNF05]

it took Richardson years to land a marquee at Souths. he got there in 2004, and Asotasi was the first one thru the door three years later. Inglis didn't arrive until 2010.

Richo likens Luai to our Greg Inglis. he tied up that deal a week into the job. there's adequate financial backing, an elite facility and strong pathways to draw upon. he had none of that at Souths when he started.

what I will say though despite all that is the upcoming free agency window is the most important in the club's history. I hear Richo's on leave this week to prepare himself for what is to come.

if we sign the four players this squad needs, I think we'll be set up for sustained success. fail, and well, you know what comes after.

Definitely similarities. I think there’s always been goodwill around the bunnies. There seems to be game wide perception that we are ultimately a failing club.

 

[jrtiger]

Definitely similarities. I think there’s always been goodwill around the bunnies. There seems to be game wide perception that we are ultimately a failing club.

the only way to change that perception is to win games. I'm confident the signings we've made will begin to turn the tide.

 

[Needaname]

The damage done to our brand mainly amongst players is the worst part. You see players like Munster laugh when our club is mentioned to him as a destination. Api was cracking jokes about us before arriving. That is not a challenge Richo would have seen before.

The Luai signing gives me hope that could change at some point.

It probably equates to a 25-30% subsidy we’re forced to pay when signing talent.

We are 100% on the same page!