Signings, Suggestions & Rumours Discussion

[Lestronge]

You want a lollipop mate? Canterbury have their shit together this season. WT has come last 3 seasons in a row. The club deserves any criticism that come its way from any scribe or joe blow on the street for that matter.

And good on the club for breaching Latu. It's stating that it doesn't matter who you are, there's a line in the sand and you must live above it. The kid is on half million. That needs to be held to account, especially when they're trying to move on another player in his position on the same coin.

And Latu's fitness, whether it be injury, body shape, or conditioning, seems to be atrocious for a young fella. He's obviously powerful through the hips like his older brothers, but if he'll be playing as a half or small middle he'll need to be in tip top shape, and going off 2024 that wasn't the case. Let's not forget that the two (most likely) fittest guys in the joint in 2025 are going to be his direct halves competition at the club in Galvin and Luai. He needs to step up here. Your spine make the important decisions and they'll make sh!t ones if they're gassed, or not even on the field due to injury. The club need him to be up and running in 2025, not simply managing minutes week-to-week.

It’s literally why a kid who has way more talent than Galvin IMO , is being talked about being moved to lock. .
It’s not because he looks like he’d be good in the engine room . It’s because he looks like he is struggling for fitness in a key position .
I mean gone are the days when you can carry a tui lolohea in the halves.
That went as soon as “vlandys ball “ came in during Covid .
The body shapes are changing to pure athletes , and moving away from talented nuggets with a penchant for a sneaky Bondi burger .

 

[Tom Shines]

I’m

No one has ever won a premiership with that being the case . Your best players have to be in the spine . It’s why teams try and shoe-horn like Inglis to 6 etc. you need them with thier hands on the ball as much as possible .
So take that for what you will ..

who is saying the Dogs are going to win a premiership? not me Bud

 

[GNR4LIFE]

Next media “rumours” no doubt will be Latu is unhappy and other teams are about to swoop,,,and take his brothers with him …

You can’t keep them all

 

[yeahcaz]

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.

Burton not the player he was advertised? All for opinions but that’s flat out wrong, if he had rep duties like Dearden he’d have been 6 of the year easily. Great defender, got better at goalkicking and has legit X factor

 

[supercoach]

If they retain Galvin …it won’t come down to money alone …

I wouldn’t mind seeing what Latu can do …still only 20 years old

You would not even entertain the thought of letting Latu walk till Galvin’s contract is sorted one way or the other.

 

[yeahcaz]

Danny Weedler:

Pappy days for Dogs?
The Bulldogs would have been the best home for Terrell May, but the club has informed his agent they won’t be making a play for him. Instead, they have been putting the finishing touches on a two-year extension for one of the best buys of 2024, Bronson Xerri.

The chat around Ryan Papenhuyzen has gone quiet and it appears it is now a race in two between the Storm and Bulldogs when his deal with Melbourne expires at the end of next season. The easy and safe option for Papenhuyzen is to stay put – even on a short-term deal. The issue for Melbourne since signing Stefano Utoikamanu is their inability to pay Papenhuyzen what he is on now.

So 2 advertised teams pull out of for May ? Never been more confident we now won’t get him 😂 Parra from the clouds to wrap him up

 

[SeanT]

Unless they are top tier 4 years should not be for any player.

I’m more concerned about mixed messages within

That is so tigers

Some coaches saying don’t worry

Others being hard

We need consistency in messaging or players will lose respect if the whole coaching department in no time

3 wooden spoons in a row and some are saying don't worry about it. Those internal workers should be sacked.

No accountability and another spoon would be on the way.

 

[Tito Santana]

If they retain Galvin …it won’t come down to money alone …

I wouldn’t mind seeing what Latu can do …still only 20 years old

Of course. But if he carries on about wanting to go because he thinks he’s untouchable let him walk.

 

[Telltails]

Latu got plenty of time to get his fitness up to scratch. I like the standards being set. As if he wouldn't be dragged over the coals at any club if his fitness wasn't up to standard - and let's face it he has history of not being able to stay on the field. It If he wants to reach his potential fitness is key at every club.

 

[426Tlgerland]

So 2 advertised teams pull out of for May ? Never been more confident we now won’t get him 😂 Parra from the clouds to wrap him up

I feel we are still in with a big chance
Luai and API will be in his ear , Benji will chase him with Luai assist .
Only thing that stops us if Parra or other club come in with a bid that Richo says is to big , Parra should have coin but how much ?
We should still have Stephs coin so we should be good to go

 

[balmain boy]

Hopefully a wake up call for Latu. Playing the past year (and prior to that) with dodgy hamstrings, the club would want him as fit as possible to try and minimise the injury risk.

How hard would we have wanted him to be pushing himself without experts around to guide his efforts? He's been very injury prone, don't want him to go too hard and over exert himself, but also don't want him to leave him self underdone either.
Apparently he was a bit slower in the time trial than they had hoped. Hardly end of the world stuff.

As he gets his body right hopefully he gets his training systems right too

 

[Year_of_the_Tiger]

Anyone with real mail on May? Let’s make it happen!

 

[weststigerman]

The bigger question on May is why is everyone pulling out of signing him? May is too good of a player to no suitors.

 

[Tom Shines]

Anyone with real mail on May? Let’s make it happen!

lot of people here reckon it’s already over the line .., we know the board is usually right about these matters

 

[balmain boy]

The bigger question on May is why is everyone pulling out of signing him? May is too good of a player to no suitors.

Probably because they've been told he's heading elsewhere...?

 

[BlackWhiteGold]

The bigger question on May is why is everyone pulling out of signing him? May is too good of a player to no suitors.

Fair chance those clubs have been advised he is signing elsewhere. Then those clubs get on front foot to save face.

 

[rugbygoated]

the Dogs two best players are not Spine Players …Kikau and Crichton … I’d take either of those

And now latu fainu is one of the 5 players who was lazy at training and not up to standard. You still want him over Burton? Lol. Burton is proven and a match winner

 

[mikey]

The bigger question on May is why is everyone pulling out of signing him? May is too good of a player to no suitors.

Maybe he has said no and they are saving face?

 

[Tom Shines]

And now latu fainu is one of the 5 players who was lazy at training and not up to standard. You still want him over Burton? Lol. Burton is proven and a match winner

I never said I wanted Latu over him …😂

 

[weststigerman]

Fair chance those clubs have been advised he is signing elsewhere. Then those clubs get on front foot to save face.

That’s one possibility, but I think that’s unlikely unless he signs somewhere in the next week. Player agents would only tell them that at the last possible moment to extract every cent out of the deal.