Signings, Suggestions & Rumours Discussion
- Thread starter MacDougall
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TigerNeddyK
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Ha ha ha .. May can actually make a one on one tackle , and can offload , he is a much much superior player to Stefano
BlackWhiteGold
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NRL 2025: David Klemmer, Christian Welch face uncertain future over secret contract clauses | Sunday Sesh
Former Origin representatives David Klemmer and Christian Welch face an uncertain future in the NRL, as Sunday Sesh reveals the secret contract clauses that could decide their fates.Brent Read and Michael Carayannis
They are the two clauses worth more than $1 million that could determine the future of two former State of Origin stars.
David Klemmer and Christian Welch played against each other in the final game of the 2019 Origin series and now look to be fighting for their futures at the Wests Tigers and Melbourne respectively thanks to clauses in their current contracts that may determine whether they have a deal for 2026.
Sunday Sesh understands that Klemmer needs to play as many as 14 games in 2025 to be guaranteed another year on his deal. Welch needs to play at least 18 games to enact a clause in his deal for 2026.
The alternative is to win a State of Origin recall, which would also secure him another season. Regardless, the pair know what they need to do to guarantee themselves a contract in 2026 and extend their careers by another season.
Klemmer turns 31 later this year and is coming off a season where he made 20 appearances in first grade. He was generally a fixture in the Tigers when he was fit and available and there is every chance he hits his mark provided he maintains his form next season.
With Stefano Utoikamanu’s exit, the Tigers will need Klemmer to stand up, although they are also one of three Sydney clubs in the market for Sydney Roosters prop Terrell May.
Sunday Sesh understands that Tigers recruit Jarome Luai has been working hard to convince May to join the club, the pair having recently toured England with the Samoan side.
Welch also made 20 appearances for the Storm, the majority off the interchange bench.
He turns 31 in July and faces added competition in the form of Utoikamanu, who is due to start training with the Storm soon as he targets a starting spot in the opening round.
The Maroons prop has been a loyal servant for the Storm but there were whispers last year that the club would not stand in his way had he secured a longer deal elsewhere.
Welch stayed and his future, along with that of Klemmer, will be one of the stories to keep an eye on in 2025.
GNR4LIFE
Well-known member
Klemmer will be named every week and activate the clause if he wants to, cos we have no else in the engine room.
TigerNeddyK
Well-known member
Big Games are won and lost in the middle
Tom Shines
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Klemmer will play 14 games easily barring injury …
Betterdays22
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Klemmer probably our best defensive forward . At this stage he plays every game next year
GNR4LIFE
Well-known member
Paps going to the Dogs would be the best news we have had since signing Luai. I can’t see anyone else coming from the clouds and signing him.
Not so sure about Klem. I know people are all worried but if we have Hunt, Pole, Twal and sign May plus Sione Fainu staying which we can all assume he will then that's 5 props and Klem might not be needed when all are fit given we prob have 4 in our squad each week from that 6. If he earns his place above them then he deserves another year.
Tom Shines
Well-known member
Isn’t Paps off contract end of 2025 ?
Hopefully Paps to Dogs and Hunt to Broncs will give us both Hetherington and May. Then we ship Sullivan to ESL and Bateman to Manly
Tigerstigerstigers
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We sign May and amazing the difference he makes in terms of depth and competition
user118245
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Regarding Klemmer, just cause he can sign doesn’t mean he can/should. One year deal at 32 or try and push for a 2/3 year deal. Per year also matters but just cause the option is there doesn’t mean it’s concrete
rugbygoated
Well-known member
Bulldogs having a spine of Papenhuyzen, Burton, Mahoney and Ben Hunt is very possible and could be a premiership winning spine in the next 2 years. They're on the up. Patience pays off, but so days buying lol
BAGNF05
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Have the young forwards we sacked left officially?
crazycat
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wait, WHAT
3 years.
1 - 550k
2 - 650k
3 - 700k
4 - Club Option
Performance Bonus for SOO selection and top 8.
Why on earth do we want to snooker ourselves? If anything we should front load any deal if we can.
Strongly prefer 2 years with a 3rd club option. Stuff this 4 year business unless that's the only way we get the player
(I suspect players want to sign up for 4-5 years because if they get a serious career injury they can fall back on insurance and say "I had a 4 year contract and would be earning XXX,XXX).
May clearly has something that Easts wanted to ditch. ? Did he disagree with Robbo as the skuttlebut suggests? Is he playing in a high performance way, but a way that doesn't win games? ...
OR perhaps Trent Robinson can't actually pick a side. I mean his big pics have been Suallii, which is a nobrainer. Loosing JWH, etc may just be the start of the end of a top 4 side?
3 years.
1 - 550k
2 - 650k
3 - 700k
4 - Club Option
Performance Bonus for SOO selection and top 8.
Why on earth do we want to snooker ourselves? If anything we should front load any deal if we can.
Strongly prefer 2 years with a 3rd club option. Stuff this 4 year business unless that's the only way we get the player
(I suspect players want to sign up for 4-5 years because if they get a serious career injury they can fall back on insurance and say "I had a 4 year contract and would be earning XXX,XXX).
May clearly has something that Easts wanted to ditch. ? Did he disagree with Robbo as the skuttlebut suggests? Is he playing in a high performance way, but a way that doesn't win games? ...
OR perhaps Trent Robinson can't actually pick a side. I mean his big pics have been Suallii, which is a nobrainer. Loosing JWH, etc may just be the start of the end of a top 4 side?
Canadian Club
Well-known member
Newcastle were paying part of his salary the first two seasons which is why the first two years are less.
Papenhuyzen is excellent if fit - which is a massive "if" at this stage.
Burton is ok but hardly a game changing creative force.
Mahoney is a tackling machine with almost no attacking spark.
Hunt might have a year left as a better than average NRL half, but his form in 2024 suggests he also might not.
If you'd rather have that than Bula, Galvin, Luai and Koroisau (with Da Silva and Latu Fainu in reserve) for 2025 and 2026 you need your head examined. You'd take Papenhuysen, obviously, but it would be a gamble. I wouldn't swap any of the others and in fact I'm not absolutely sure I wouldn't take our third half over their best.
The Chad
Well-known member
I think the Dogs are dangerously close to regressing.
No guarantee Hunt signs there over the Roosters, Burton is just not the player he was advertised to be & Paps...he's as good to miss as many games as play.
They might have shown some decent progress, but I don't necessarily see the quality coming through the grades to take them the next step.
No guarantee Hunt signs there over the Roosters, Burton is just not the player he was advertised to be & Paps...he's as good to miss as many games as play.
They might have shown some decent progress, but I don't necessarily see the quality coming through the grades to take them the next step.
