Signings, Suggestions & Rumours Discussion

[Nonotmeagain]

Why did we agree to terminate it?…we got nothing out of it…dumb…we could’ve been smarter

Well obviously both parties didn't see a future together - that's the way contracts get mutually terminated. If there's no 3rd party involved how do you "get something out of it"?

 

[Roar_Power]

Screw Large. We nailed down the superstar Makasini. He will be an NRL regular for the next 10-15 years.

 

[king_sirro]

I don't know about Top 5, but he's quality, regardless.

Crichton
Olakau'atu
Martin
Eli Katoa
Kikau

Are probably the 5 for me for from this year. But I'm probably forgetting some other quality. I mean, Cam Murray played on an edge on the weekend just gone.

I think Nikora comfortably outplayed all of those except Crichton in 2024.

Nikora has been consistently good for a long time now. He went to another level this year. It will be interesting to see of he can maintain that standard. He is very small and that can catch up with you.

 

[Kelce68]

I think Nikora comfortably outplayed all of those except Crichton in 2024.

Nikora has been consistently good for a long time now. He went to another level this year. It will be interesting to see of he can maintain that standard. He is very small and that can catch up with you.

Comfortably outplayed Martin and Katoa (Dally M second rower of the year) in particular this year?

Fair enough. I don't.

But, I agree, he's high quality, consistent and has a lot of football left in him.

I fork out 750/800 for him every day of the week (I think... haha).

 

[426Tlgerland]

Screw Large. We nailed down the superstar Makasini. He will be an NRL regular for the next 10-15 years.

Spot on , quite obvious he wanted to stay with the deal and plan , there is your keeper

 

[426Tlgerland]

Comfortably outplayed Martin and Katoa (Dally M second rower of the year) in particular this year?

Fair enough. I don't.

But, I agree, he's high quality, consistent and has a lot of football left in him.

I fork out 750/800 for him every day of the week (I think... haha).

Is this Nikora stuff real , is he able to talk , been given the go ahead from sharks or is this another pipe dream , I thought he just signed for 3 years at sharks early this year ,

 

[Kelce68]

Is this Nikora stuff real , is he able to talk , been given the go ahead from sharks or is this another pipe dream , I thought he just signed for 3 years at sharks early this year ,

He's available to talk Nov 1. Off contract '26.

There's no confirmation we're after him, just one of several suggested targets for now.

 

[weststigerman]

Nikora was very strong this year and one of the better second rowers in the comp. Probably the best at hitting a hole.

Madge tried to sign him a few years ago before we got Papali'i. I didn't rate him as much back then but he's been terrific the last couple of years. I'd have no problem offering him 800k.

 

[Roar_Power]

Comfortably outplayed Martin and Katoa (Dally M second rower of the year) in particular this year?

Fair enough. I don't.

But, I agree, he's high quality, consistent and has a lot of football left in him.

I fork out 750/800 for him every day of the week (I think... haha).

Is this Nikora stuff real , is he able to talk , been given the go ahead from sharks or is this another pipe dream , I thought he just signed for 3 years at sharks early this year ,

Can't see Nikora leaving the Shire. As others have speculated, getting Teig Wilton is much more plausible and is related to John Morris.

 

[Kelce68]

Can't see Nikora leaving the Shire. As others have speculated, getting Teig Wilton is much more plausible and is related to John Morris.

Yeh, I think that's the consensus.

Still, the cap can squeeze, money talks and there is a NZ/Maori connection there with our head coach.

 

[king_sirro]

Comfortably outplayed Martin and Katoa (Dally M second rower of the year) in particular this year?

Fair enough. I don't.

But, I agree, he's high quality, consistent and has a lot of football left in him.

I fork out 750/800 for him every day of the week (I think... haha).

Yea I do. Katoa was good no doubt. Martin IMO had way too many errors and penalties in him this year. Stood up in the big games, but week to week I thought it was one of his poorer years. Not saying he was poor, just not as good as he can be.

 

[balmain boy]

Well obviously both parties didn't see a future together - that's the way contracts get mutually terminated. If there's no 3rd party involved how do you "get something out of it"?

Of course there were third parties involved, his agent knew who was interested in large. We could have held off agreeing to the termination until we reached an agreement with the club he was planning to join.
That's what other, more professional clubs do

 

[jrtiger]

Can't see Nikora leaving the Shire. As others have speculated, getting Teig Wilton is much more plausible and is related to John Morris.

I see Cronulla having a similar free agency period to what Parramatta had in late 2021, where they lost Mahoney, Niukore and Papali'i and had to go big to retain Campbell-Gillard, Paulo and Gutherson.

they'll keep a few, but I think they lose some key pieces and will be forced to rebuild. hopefully we can pounce. Mulitalo, Stonestreet, Kaufusi, Hau Taphua and Wilton should be on our list of targets.

 

[Demps]

Where is the Nikora talk coming from?
Because Foxleague randomly suggested we should target him?

Madge chased him and he turned us down.
Re-signed with Sharks.

He seems like the perfect Tigers player in the aspect he's a backrower that can also play centre. We love those types.

Is there any more to this than just a suggestion?
He's an upgrade on Bateman and would be great for us, just not sure it's realistic.

 

[weststigerman]

Where is the Nikora talk coming from?
Because Foxleague randomly suggested we should target him?

Madge chased him and he turned us down.
Re-signed with Sharks.

He seems like the perfect Tigers player in the aspect he's a backrower that can also play centre. We love those types.

Is there any more to this than just a suggestion?
He's an upgrade on Bateman and would be great for us, just not sure it's realistic.

Probably is unrealistic, but so was Luai so who knows.

 

[jrtiger]

Where is the Nikora talk coming from?
Because Foxleague randomly suggested we should target him?

Madge chased him and he turned us down.
Re-signed with Sharks.

He seems like the perfect Tigers player in the aspect he's a backrower that can also play centre. We love those types.

Is there any more to this than just a suggestion?
He's an upgrade on Bateman and would be great for us, just not sure it's realistic.

I don't think it's a viable option tbh. I'll be very surprised if we pursue him.

 

[Nonotmeagain]

Of course there were third parties involved, his agent knew who was interested in large. We could have held off agreeing to the termination until we reached an agreement with the club he was planning to join.
That's what other, more professional clubs do

And he could have stayed until we got sick of the situation and let him go anyway. His agent is unlikely to offer any information that would likely hinder his client's ability to sign at another club.

 

[The Chad]

I would imagine targets for 2026- that the Tigers are going to hunt 1 or 2 pretty big fish. We are a cashed up club, and Richo has made overtures about his war chest.

So could we make a play at Nikora? Absolutely.

I find it really difficult to look 2 seasons away at what we 'need'. We have so many young players coming through- what we need today might be incomprehensible come January 2026.

Given the players coming through- I could see a world where 2nd Row & Centre are priorities. I would normally say middles, but with Sione Fainu, Pole, Johannssen, Miller, Tofaeono, Aho, Fa'agutu, Lualili'i & Matamua in their development stage, it's conceivable that at least 1 or 2 become regular 1st team players in 12-18 months. So then the need diminishes dramatically.

Given the direction the club wants to take, I'd be very surprised if Nov 1 the Tigers aren't looking at Willison & Corey Jensen from the Broncos, Tallis Duncan at Souths, Harrison Hassett from Penrith, Stonestreet from the Sharks, Adam Pompey from the Warriors & of course, Jack Hetherington from the Knights.

Obviously we are long odds to sign all of these guys. But coming away with 1 or 2 would strengthen the squad & not necessarily block the future of some of the kids the club hold in high regard.

 

[balmain boy]

And he could have stayed until we got sick of the situation and let him go anyway. His agent is unlikely to offer any information that would likely hinder his client's ability to sign at another club.

He was the one that wanted out, we wanted him to extend. Therefore we had the leverage, not him.
We'll consider letting you out of your contract early, let us know which club you're looking to join and we'll reach out to them and see if we can negotiate a deal.

 

[Betterdays22]

I would imagine targets for 2026- that the Tigers are going to hunt 1 or 2 pretty big fish. We are a cashed up club, and Richo has made overtures about his war chest.

So could we make a play at Nikora? Absolutely.

I find it really difficult to look 2 seasons away at what we 'need'. We have so many young players coming through- what we need today might be incomprehensible come January 2026.

Given the players coming through- I could see a world where 2nd Row & Centre are priorities. I would normally say middles, but with Sione Fainu, Pole, Johannssen, Miller, Tofaeono, Aho, Fa'agutu, Lualili'i & Matamua in their development stage, it's conceivable that at least 1 or 2 become regular 1st team players in 12-18 months. So then the need diminishes dramatically.

Given the direction the club wants to take, I'd be very surprised if Nov 1 the Tigers aren't looking at Willison & Corey Jensen from the Broncos, Tallis Duncan at Souths, Harrison Hassett from Penrith, Stonestreet from the Sharks, Adam Pompey from the Warriors & of course, Jack Hetherington from the Knights.

Obviously we are long odds to sign all of these guys. But coming away with 1 or 2 would strengthen the squad & not necessarily block the future of some of the kids the club hold in high regard.

2nd row recruit is the absolute non-negotiable imo when you look at who is coming through and who is currently there.