Signings, Suggestions & Rumours Discussion

Not to put a downer on anything but Terrell was quite disappointing as the Samoan pack leader vs England. He'll need to lift a lot more if he's going to influence our other props in Royce Hunt, Klemmer, Twal and Pole
 
Demps said:
1. Jahream Bula.
2. Jeral Skelton.
3. Sunia Turuva.
4. Justin Olam.
5. Luke Lualilii.
6. Lachlan Galvin.
7. Jerome Luai.
8. Terrell May
9. Apisai Koroisau [C]
10. David Klemmer
11. Samuela Fainu
12. Jack Bird.
13. Alex Seyfarth.

14. Tallyn Da Silva
15. Royce Hunt
16. Fonua Pole
17. Alex Twal

Sione, Latu and Timmy Johannsen all thereabouts. Bateman also if he's sticking around.

That's a solid line up nonetheless.
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Finally an offseason team list I don’t hate.

What no Doobie?
 
Tucker said:
Oh yeah, no doubt.
This offseason does have a feeling of off season 2022 about it though. Everyone got their hopes up about the signings coming then and were crushed.
Its a good start. Hope theres a couple more pressies in Santa Richardson's sack...
Lets hope the coaching staff have improved somehow as well.
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Coaching staffs magically improve as the roster does.
 
So happy May is now official. Heard his price is closer to $600k a year but the media will try their best to push that up to $2M over 3 years for sensationalism. Also, not registered yet so may be others on the move or we have not yet parted ways with Miller officially yet. But our recruitment has been great:

Stefano > Terrell May (WIN)
Jerome Luai > Aiden Sezer (BIG WIN)
Jeral Skelton > Junior Tupou (ON PAR)
Royce Hunt > Papali’I (LOSS but different positions)

The only negative/net loss in recruitment is Papali’i with no direct replacement yet. If Bird plays lock then I'd chalk that up for a LOSS too but they are very different players. PLUS we got Sunia Turuva as well without losing anyone in that position so that's got to be a WIN.

I would still have Bateman in 2nd Row if we can't punt him (his deal was renegotiated so costs us $600k per year now not $750k), and possibly Twal at lock just as a tackle machine to secure the middle unless we find an out-and-out lock. But I'd still be recruiting for both those positions over the next 6 months unless a young bloke can stand up. Centre we will have Makasini (and possibly Taylan May) later in the season so just need a strong stopgap till then.

All in all, a definite net positive in recruitment for 2025. And we still have time to make that even stronger before a ball is kicked. Go TIGERS!
 
Tiger Tarl said:
So happy May is now official. Heard his price is closer to $600k a year but the media will try their best to push that up to $2M over 3 years for sensationalism. Also, not registered yet so may be others on the move or we have not yet parted ways with Miller officially yet. But our recruitment has been great:

Stefano > Terrell May (WIN)
Jerome Luai > Aiden Sezer (BIG WIN)
Jeral Skelton > Junior Tupou (ON PAR)
Royce Hunt > Papali’I (LOSS but different positions)

The only negative/net loss in recruitment is Papali’i with no direct replacement yet. If Bird plays lock then I'd chalk that up for a LOSS too but they are very different players. PLUS we got Sunia Turuva as well without losing anyone in that position so that's got to be a WIN.

I would still have Bateman in 2nd Row if we can't punt him (his deal was renegotiated so costs us $600k per year now not $750k), and possibly Twal at lock just as a tackle machine to secure the middle unless we find an out-and-out lock. But I'd still be recruiting for both those positions over the next 6 months unless a young bloke can stand up. Centre we will have Makasini (and possibly Taylan May) later in the season so just need a strong stopgap till then.

All in all, a definite net positive in recruitment for 2025. And we still have time to make that even stronger before a ball is kicked. Go TIGERS!
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I think the best way to look at 2025 is to also consider natural improvement of the current group.

In the spine Bula, Galvin, Latu, TDS should all be improved by the extra experience gained. And the addition of Luai.

Api will play better with more star power around him. Bateman too if he’s here.

By adding May & Hunt we should now have enough go forward, behind guys like Skelton and Turuva who carry the ball more strongly than who they’ll replace.

What have we lost?

Stef- good player but played poorly in 2024 with his contract distraction probably to blame.

Paps- was injured most of 2024.

I think we could seriously push out of the bottom four with this roster and if we have luck with injuries, top eight is not impossible. If it’s another really poor year, I think coaching has to come under question.
 
Tiger Tarl said:
So happy May is now official. Heard his price is closer to $600k a year but the media will try their best to push that up to $2M over 3 years for sensationalism. Also, not registered yet so may be others on the move or we have not yet parted ways with Miller officially yet. But our recruitment has been great:

Stefano > Terrell May (WIN)
Jerome Luai > Aiden Sezer (BIG WIN)
Jeral Skelton > Junior Tupou (ON PAR)
Royce Hunt > Papali’I (LOSS but different positions)

The only negative/net loss in recruitment is Papali’i with no direct replacement yet. If Bird plays lock then I'd chalk that up for a LOSS too but they are very different players. PLUS we got Sunia Turuva as well without losing anyone in that position so that's got to be a WIN.

I would still have Bateman in 2nd Row if we can't punt him (his deal was renegotiated so costs us $600k per year now not $750k), and possibly Twal at lock just as a tackle machine to secure the middle unless we find an out-and-out lock. But I'd still be recruiting for both those positions over the next 6 months unless a young bloke can stand up. Centre we will have Makasini (and possibly Taylan May) later in the season so just need a strong stopgap till then.

All in all, a definite net positive in recruitment for 2025. And we still have time to make that even stronger before a ball is kicked. Go TIGERS!
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Honestly it's even better than those four..

Luai is an Improvement on Sezer
Turuva is an improvement on Tupou
Skelton is an improvement on Alaimalo
Hunt is an Improvement on Miller
May is on par with Stefano
Tumeth for Faagutu.. who cares neither are getting gametime

If Bateman leaves then Bird is likely an improvement, albeit as a utility instead of a second rower.

That would leave us with 1 spot to try and plug the hole Papali'i leaves. If we manage it successfully then we have potentially seen an improvement with every recruit.
 
Bateman will have a lot more freedom to play his natural game .. let the big boppers blast their way through and Bateman running his niggling darts around the big guys looking for holes. Sam Fainu should be better this season as we’ll have some bigger props helping him. Hoping Klemmer lifts now that he doesn’t have to do it all. Api will be more effective as well running behind May, Hunt and Pole. Our halves look way better than last season .. here’s hoping Olam is better after an injury riddled last season. Hope Luai can find his outside backs like Skelton and Turuva .. and Bula needs to improve on last season .. like someone said earlier .. I like the look of the side this off season more than this time last season .. !!
 
FrodoTBaggin said:
Honestly it's even better than those four..

Luai is an Improvement on Sezer
Turuva is an improvement on Tupou
Skelton is an improvement on Alaimalo
Hunt is an Improvement on Miller
May is on par with Stefano
Tumeth for Faagutu.. who cares neither are getting gametime

If Bateman leaves then Bird is likely an improvement, albeit as a utility instead of a second rower.

That would leave us with 1 spot to try and plug the hole Papali'i leaves. If we manage it successfully then we have potentially seen an improvement with every recruit.
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I know Ice was good once we moved him to lock , but seriously he was atrocious on the edge for us. I actually think bird will be an improvement at 13 as he’s played a fair chunk of his career at 6 , and has creativity for days, and has improved his carry as he’s aged . The issue is how many games are you getting out of him . But a top form Bird , and top form Ice , I don’t think is that much removed . I think I’ve had suffered a lot since Vlandys ball has come in .
 
Lestronge said:
I know Ice was good once we moved him to lock , but seriously he was atrocious on the edge for us. I actually think bird will be an improvement at 13 as he’s played a fair chunk of his career at 6 , and has creativity for days, and has improved his carry as he’s aged . The issue is how many games are you getting out of him . But a top form Bird , and top form Ice , I don’t think is that much removed . I think I’ve had suffered a lot since Vlandys ball has come in .
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I don't think Bird will play 13.. not as a starter anyway. That's why I don't have him as a replacement for him

I think our pack will be this for now:

8. May
9. Api
10. Klemmer
11. Bateman ??
12. Samuela
13. Seyfarth

Bench:
14. Da Silva
15. Pole
16. Hunt
17. Bird

Then if we lose Bateman I think we will recruit either a Lock or Second Rower. Seyfarth will start in the position we don't recruit.. e.g. if we sign Hetherington then Seyfarth would start at second row.

Bird at 17 gives us adequate cover for every position but hooker. This is where Da Silva comes in at 14 for me. If no injuries then Bird comes on at lock and gives Seyfarth a break.
 
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