Signings, Suggestions & Rumours Discussion

[Vicious]

There were relative nobodies, not in demand, and while Tumeth played for NSW in junior ages he was always an undersized player that was going to take another 3-4 years to develop.

Makasini, you have to pay decent coin to re-sign someone like him. Sukkar? Him even getting NRL money is outrageous. Paying him (or Saukuru, Tumeth) anything but minimum wage would be such an extreme display of incompetence even muppets like Pascoe would have seen it coming and stopped it.

It can be near certain that Saukuru, Tumeth, Sukkar and Kit Laulilli would all be on the bare minimum contracts
While none of these young players have showed much to contribute to our NRL team at this stage and I do agree they should all be on Development Contracts, they are also not the ones hurting our Salary Cap, they have all come through our junior development systems and it will not hurt us to give them all another season to see how they develop.
The ones that are hurting us are the ones on big money that we have no interest in playing in our NRL team such as Bateman, Sullivan and Naden.
I’ve previously made my stance known on Sullivan and Naden and I think it’s very wrong how they have been treated, but it’s now gone too far and surely they must be starting to think it’s better for their careers to head elsewhere, rather than stay at a club that doesn’t want them.

 

[upthetigers]

From that top 30, let's offload Bateman and buy out Tumeth's contract, giving 3 free spots. Then sign May and Hetherington, and re-sign Sione Fainu. That would be a competitive squad if you ask me.

1. Bula
2. Skelton
3. Olam
4. Turuva
5. Laulilii
6. Galvin
7. Luai
8. Klemmer
9. Api
10. May
11. Bird
12. Sam Fainu
13. Kobe Hetherington
14. Latu Fainu
15. Hunt
16. Twal
17. Pole
18. Sione Fainu

That side would win more games than this year without a doubt.

Surely you accidently ommited Seyfarth? His 2024 was much better then Twal.

 

[upthetigers]

A bench of Hunt, Seyfarth. Pole and Sione fmd

 

[Glenji95]

There were relative nobodies, not in demand, and while Tumeth played for NSW in junior ages he was always an undersized player that was going to take another 3-4 years to develop.

Makasini, you have to pay decent coin to re-sign someone like him. Sukkar? Him even getting NRL money is outrageous. Paying him (or Saukuru, Tumeth) anything but minimum wage would be such an extreme display of incompetence even muppets like Pascoe would have seen it coming and stopped it.

Yeah but we had plenty of incompetence under Pascoe and Lee, how many times did you call for their heads when they were around? I imagine it was a lot and I don’t blame you for it, but we had a lot more stuff ups with them around which was all of these deals besides Makasini would’ve happened for the future.

The fact that none of them have been let go tells me that either these players are making more money then we think they are, or there are a bunch of clauses in their contracts we don’t know about that get triggered if they should be let go early. Otherwise why would keep them? And that’s to be blamed on Pascoe, Lee and Sheens as all of their deals were done when they were around.

 

[2041]

Tigers membership called to renew my membership which i did. I did ask the girl if there were any player announcements soon, she said there is a couple coming up, keep a look out for your members first email 📧. I hope she is right!

I hate to burst your bubble but if knowledge of forthcoming signings has got as far down the chain as the guys who work in the membership team they would have leaked by now.

 

[Vicious]

If it was offered, who would be in favour of an immediate players swap? Papenhuyzen and Asofa-Solomona for Bula and Pole ?

 

[Glenji95]

If it was offered, who would be in favour of an immediate players swap? Papenhuyzen and Asofa-Solomona for Bula and Pole ?

They won’t offer them up.

 

[Kelce68]

Welcome to The Jungle

The 2025 pre-season is officially under way with November 1 marking the start of the NRL contract period.

www.weststigers.com.au

Seems like 29 contracted players with no Miller, Faagatu or Sione Fainu.

Sione is yet to be officially resigned.

Without inclusion of Fa’agutu on this, I'd say that's a pretty strong clue he might've been the first moved on.

I hope not. I've got huge wraps on him.

Hope I'm wrong.

 

[Kelce68]

A lot of the deals like Sukkar and Tumeth were done before Richo came in, all done by Sheens and Pascoe. Good chance they aren’t as cheap as we think.

They'll still be cheap.

As bad as Sheens and Pascoe were at writing club-positive contracts.

 

[Glenji95]

They'll still be cheap.

As bad as Sheens and Pascoe were at writing club-positive contracts.

I don’t expect them on big big coin, but I wouldn’t be surprised if they have clauses or something along those lines in case they were tried to be let go early. Otherwise I don’t see why the club retained them.

 

[Kelce68]

So does Wayne Bennett, but he’s also a master at transforming players with off field issues into good humans and quality players.
We should be taking the Wayne Bennett approach.

Also not.

Te Whare was a perfect chance for Bennett to show his wares in that department in the past 2 seasons. Ditto for Milford.

It's often about finding the right attitude inbuilt in the player, not necessarily 'turning them around'.

That's on the player themselves.

 

[Glenji95]

Sione is yet to be officially resigned.

Without inclusion of Fa’agutu on this, I'd say that's a pretty strong clue he might've been the first moved on.

I hope not. I've got huge wraps on him.

Hope I'm wrong.

He is most likely gone but Sione will most likely be re-signed now that we have a spot available.

 

[GNR4LIFE]

If it was offered, who would be in favour of an immediate players swap? Papenhuyzen and Asofa-Solomona for Bula and Pole ?

Why would you even waste time writing this?

 

[Kelce68]

I don’t expect them on big big coin, but I wouldn’t be surprised if they have clauses or something along those lines in case they were tried to be let go early. Otherwise I don’t see why the club retained them.

Potential.

That, and a club history of lamenting letting go of gun juniors.

They massively overcorrected and here we are.

A year or two more and we (hopefully) won't need to talk about these types of silly contracts too much anymore.

 

[Kelce68]

He is most likely gone but Sione will most likely be re-signed now that we have a spot available.

He will.

I'd bet your house on it.

Not mine though, I like my house.

 

[Glenji95]

Potential.

That, and a club history of lamenting letting go of gun juniors.

They massively overcorrected and here we are.

A year or two more and we (hopefully) won't need to talk about these types of silly contracts too much anymore.

I feel Richo won’t screw us around in terms of player retention/recruitment but it was no secret all these poor deals were done by the old admin and the new one is dealing with the punishment for it.

 

[innsaneink]

Welcome to The Jungle

The 2025 pre-season is officially under way with November 1 marking the start of the NRL contract period.

www.weststigers.com.au

Seems like 29 contracted players with no Miller, Faagatu or Sione Fainu.

I get a feeling this is the lot for our signings.... Promoting from lower grades to fill any vacancies.
Expect little.. Avoid disappointment... Anything else is a bonus. (maybe)

 

[Tiger_Yoshi]

Guilt complex.... Or paranoia
These blokes have no conscience so can't be feelings of guilt

I heard he broke curfew, going to 7/11 to buy a phone charger… nothing wrong with that just ask JAC

 

[Tiger_Yoshi]

I hate to burst your bubble but if knowledge of forthcoming signings has got as far down the chain as the guys who work in the membership team they would have leaked by now.

 

[Vicious]

Why would you even waste time writing this?

Because I believe Melbourne would be keen for it to happen.
Paps is not happy with their offer and will not extend with them for what they have offered and they would likely be more than happy to swap a young up and coming Pole for an ageing Asofa-Solomona.
Of course we would ideally want to keep Bula and Pole long term, but we need instant success and it’s more likely to happen with players already at the top of the tree, not ones still climbing.