Signings, Suggestions & Rumours Discussion

[Are you Api Today?]

Who Madge? Madge is the one who moved Brooks to 6, Hastings 7. It wasn't until Madge was Sacked that Sheens moved Hastings to 13.

Hastings is a better 13 than a half, the games he played a lock for us he was sensational.

 

[Juice]

A manly fan on their site that sometimes has info said the rumour of Laifai is rubbish, hopefully he is wrong tho as he will be a monster player in a few years time & possibly 1 of the best props in the game

 

[Flippedy]

Solomon Alaimalo has revealed his departure from the NRL after one season with Wests Tigers.

Yeah that’ll do it 😂

 

[balmain boy]

Players return to training at Concord on Monday next week. It will be the top 30 squad minus those playing internationals & those long-serving players (Klemmer, Api, Olam & Twal) & players in finals (Royce Hunt) whilst I think T&T players join in from then too.

I'm sure WT content guys will be supplying images so will be interesting if we see Bud, Naden & AD for obvious reasons & also whether Jack Bird wants to get straight into it with his new team (or whether he is in the long-serving contingent returning a week or so later).

There will definitely be an announcement in the next week on the comings and goings. Ideally all releases would happen over this time, not overly professional to have someone come in to train for a couple of days before they move on to a new club.

 

[Kaito]

If Mam goes Madge might go for Douehi instead of Hunt. 8 years younger and would cost a lot less.

I dunno bro, Doueihi is still an injury risk, I hear what
you're saying though...if they can get Hunt over its
a possibility. He's really close with family, out of state
move isn't off the table but perhaps what he needs...

 

[Tiger_Yoshi]

There will definitely be an announcement in the next week on the comings and goings. Ideally all releases would happen over this time, not overly professional to have someone come in to train for a couple of days before they move on to a new club.

You are right, but dont hold your breath

 

[Tiger_Yoshi]

When do we need to have our playing squad at 30 ??

Round 1 I would say

 

[BlackWhiteGold]

There will definitely be an announcement in the next week on the comings and goings. Ideally all releases would happen over this time, not overly professional to have someone come in to train for a couple of days before they move on to a new club.

What happened with Blore last pre-season? Was he training with the squad before the trade with Olam?

 

[happy_tiger]

Round 1 I would say

That's what I thought ...just wasn't sure if it was possibly November 1

 

[Tom Shines]

There will definitely be an announcement in the next week on the comings and goings. Ideally all releases would happen over this time, not overly professional to have someone come in to train for a couple of days before they move on to a new club.

It’s not overly professional … but they will probably allow it …

this club moves at a glacier like pace with any decision ..

 

[Nonotmeagain]

It’s not overly professional … but they will probably allow it …

this club moves at a glacier like pace with any decision ..

You would think at 29 October they and the club would know they are moving on.

 

[HowDugWT]

Have seen Jack Bird doing sprint training with Roger Fabri in maroubra over the last few weeks. So doing extras early.

I would really love it if the Jack Bird signing proves to be a good one. I want to be proven wrong

 

[Tom Shines]

You would think at 29 October they and the club would know they are moving on.

yeah … you would think …

but then … i didn’t think we would still be stuffing around with the Independent Board members nearly a year later

 

[Sully]

If we are looking to sign a player or more that have contracts with a rival teams and they have not had permission to talk to us it is better to wait until Nov 1 when the NRL cannot sanction us. Even though every team has discussions with players they cannot officially offer anything until Nov 1 if off contract in 2026 and then the agitation starts.

I am hopeful we have had a few behind the scenes discussion with some forwards and also players we want to keep like Fonua Pole and Sione Fainu and come next Monday we will see who is back at training and maybe we finally hear from the club as to what is happening.

 

[BlackWhiteGold]

You would think at 29 October they and the club would know they are moving on.

Maybe a lot earlier. Having a look back, Bud Sullivan didn't make the Tuesday team list 22 squad since Round 14 v Dragons early June; Brent Naden since Round 17 v Roosters late June & Jordan Miller since Round 19 v Souths mid July.

None of those 3 made our top 22 in that time. I would say Bud & Naden's papers were stamped then & any displeasure with Jordan's attitude, work ethic or whatever may have been since then too.

 

[The Chad]

Just going to put my hand up & say that I think I've been doing Matamua a little dirty & not giving some credit where it is due.

We were all excited to pick up Kobe Hetherington.

Hetherington, at 25, and with 78 games in the NRL produced this last season:
23 appearances
660 Post Contact Metres
7.8 Hit up per game average
3 Offloads
25 tackle breaks
556 tackles @ 94.4% efficiency
69 average running metres per game

Matamua, at 21, and with 14 games in the NRL produced:
7 appearances
91.5 Post contact metres
4.3 hit up per game average
2 offloads
5 tackle breaks
159 tackles @ 97.6% efficiency
42 average running metres per game

He is 4 years younger with a fraction of the experience. If he had played, simple maths, 3 times the games (21 matches) at these averages those numbers start to look somewhat comparable:
274 Post contact metres
15 tackle breaks
477 tackles etc

Not suggesting he is the answer- but it might be very premature to put a pin in him while popping champagne corks at the idea of Hetherington.

If the club can up his involvements, without sacrificing his efficiency in defence, isn't he at least worth considering at #13?

The improvement in the club for 2025 HAS to come from within. With Matamua, Fa'agutu & Kit Lualili'i all developing in that #13 role, it would really be ideal for one of the three to assume the role.

Additionally, I'm sure he has stepped in at dummy half at times too, giving a little more flexibility on what we do with the bench.

 

[Kaito]

Just going to put my hand up & say that I think I've been doing Matamua a little dirty & not giving some credit where it is due.

We were all excited to pick up Kobe Hetherington.

Hetherington, at 25, and with 78 games in the NRL produced this last season:
23 appearances
660 Post Contact Metres
7.8 Hit up per game average
3 Offloads
25 tackle breaks
556 tackles @ 94.4% efficiency
69 average running metres per game

Matamua, at 21, and with 14 games in the NRL produced:
7 appearances
91.5 Post contact metres
4.3 hit up per game average
2 offloads
5 tackle breaks
159 tackles @ 97.6% efficiency
42 average running metres per game

He is 4 years younger with a fraction of the experience. If he had played, simple maths, 3 times the games (21 matches) at these averages those numbers start to look somewhat comparable:
274 Post contact metres
15 tackle breaks
477 tackles etc

Not suggesting he is the answer- but it might be very premature to put a pin in him while popping champagne corks at the idea of Hetherington.

If the club can up his involvements, without sacrificing his efficiency in defence, isn't he at least worth considering at #13?

The improvement in the club for 2025 HAS to come from within. With Matamua, Fa'agutu & Kit Lualili'i all developing in that #13 role, it would really be ideal for one of the three to assume the role.

Additionally, I'm sure he has stepped in at dummy half at times too, giving a little more flexibility on what we do with the bench.

Thanks 4 that Chadwick, now or never 4 Matamua

 

[Vicious]

Just going to put my hand up & say that I think I've been doing Matamua a little dirty & not giving some credit where it is due.

We were all excited to pick up Kobe Hetherington.

Hetherington, at 25, and with 78 games in the NRL produced this last season:
23 appearances
660 Post Contact Metres
7.8 Hit up per game average
3 Offloads
25 tackle breaks
556 tackles @ 94.4% efficiency
69 average running metres per game

Matamua, at 21, and with 14 games in the NRL produced:
7 appearances
91.5 Post contact metres
4.3 hit up per game average
2 offloads
5 tackle breaks
159 tackles @ 97.6% efficiency
42 average running metres per game

He is 4 years younger with a fraction of the experience. If he had played, simple maths, 3 times the games (21 matches) at these averages those numbers start to look somewhat comparable:
274 Post contact metres
15 tackle breaks
477 tackles etc

Not suggesting he is the answer- but it might be very premature to put a pin in him while popping champagne corks at the idea of Hetherington.

If the club can up his involvements, without sacrificing his efficiency in defence, isn't he at least worth considering at #13?

The improvement in the club for 2025 HAS to come from within. With Matamua, Fa'agutu & Kit Lualili'i all developing in that #13 role, it would really be ideal for one of the three to assume the role.

Additionally, I'm sure he has stepped in at dummy half at times too, giving a little more flexibility on what we do with the bench.

Matamua has some good aspects of his game, but seems to lack aggression and doesn’t reallly play with high energy which could be fitness related.
Whether or not he can fix those aspects of his game he is lacking remains to be seen, but when we are talking about recruitment and retention we look to be lacking a few players that have already proven they can standout at NRL level, not just make up the numbers.

 

[king_sirro]

Just going to put my hand up & say that I think I've been doing Matamua a little dirty & not giving some credit where it is due.

We were all excited to pick up Kobe Hetherington.

Hetherington, at 25, and with 78 games in the NRL produced this last season:
23 appearances
660 Post Contact Metres
7.8 Hit up per game average
3 Offloads
25 tackle breaks
556 tackles @ 94.4% efficiency
69 average running metres per game

Matamua, at 21, and with 14 games in the NRL produced:
7 appearances
91.5 Post contact metres
4.3 hit up per game average
2 offloads
5 tackle breaks
159 tackles @ 97.6% efficiency
42 average running metres per game

He is 4 years younger with a fraction of the experience. If he had played, simple maths, 3 times the games (21 matches) at these averages those numbers start to look somewhat comparable:
274 Post contact metres
15 tackle breaks
477 tackles etc

Not suggesting he is the answer- but it might be very premature to put a pin in him while popping champagne corks at the idea of Hetherington.

If the club can up his involvements, without sacrificing his efficiency in defence, isn't he at least worth considering at #13?

The improvement in the club for 2025 HAS to come from within. With Matamua, Fa'agutu & Kit Lualili'i all developing in that #13 role, it would really be ideal for one of the three to assume the role.

Additionally, I'm sure he has stepped in at dummy half at times too, giving a little more flexibility on what we do with the bench.

What is the comparable minutes played rather than games? I'd say it would be fairly similar but it's important.

Post contact metres they are worlds apart.

 

[Fish88]

Matamua much like a lot of our forwards are not fit enough and not hungry enough in defence. Hetherington is fit and makes the extra efforts that don’t often get noticed e.g line speed, marker work.

Bloke in a Bar mentioned Cory Jensen from the Broncs quite a bit. Not sure if there is any substance to it but he’s another that would be good for us. We need these attitude players to lift the standards.