Signings, Suggestions & Rumours Discussion

Is this one of the best recruitment drives (If not the best) by the Tigers in our history. When was the last time we signed this many top grade proven players?

The likes of Skelton, Turuva, May, Luai, Hunt and Bird has me excited.
Skelton is not proven, Bird is a bit of a risk. He’s the type of signing we have been making for years. Turuva is good, but I’m reserving judgement on him until he isn’t on the end of the backline of the best team in modern history. May could be anything, and Luai is Luai. Overall, it’s pretty good, but without Luai, it’s definitely not remarkable.
 
Is this one of the best recruitment drives (If not the best) by the Tigers in our history. When was the last time we signed this many top grade proven players?

The likes of Skelton, Turuva, May, Luai, Hunt and Bird has me excited.
Very different was past signings. May and Luai are in their prime (at around 25-26 yrs old). Perfect for a club with so many promising juniors.
 
Skelton is not proven, Bird is a bit of a risk. He’s the type of signing we have been making for years. Turuva is good, but I’m reserving judgement on him until he isn’t on the end of the backline of the best team in modern history. May could be anything, and Luai is Luai. Overall, it’s pretty good, but without Luai, it’s definitely not remarkable.
It’s not remarkable… but it’s going to be an improvement ..

I’ll take that after the past 3 years … although more signings would be required to get them into the Top 8 … maybe 2026
 
Anyone worried about Hunt signing now?

I was at the start and now think we may of rushed for him.

Cant see why a prop with 12 mins in him is going to be worth it.

He looks huuuuuge in the pics.

Hope I’m wrong.

And yes - they’ll try and play him more minutes but if anyone watched him last year - he literally would take 1 hit up … yes 1… and then be super gassed.

And if Cronulla kicked down field he would be gassed by the time he chased the ball.

I watched him closely.

Him , along with AD Olam and Skelton - I think will be our biggest disappointments next year. Unfortunately.

I called it with sullivan before we signed him. And Bateman at 4 yrs. I have a feeling Hunt will play a bit of reserve grade unless he loses some weight and can get MUCH fitter.

In positive news - we are 1 middle, 1 second row, and 1 center away from being a top 8-4 side. And by 1 I mean classy.
 
Top drawer signing very happy with that, on par with Stef but Stef dogged it last year.

Honestly i hope we find a spot for Sione, two fold keep the brothers together and i thought he earned an extension with his efforts last season.
The Melbourne system is the Best.

Stef will improve.

The challenge for the Wests Tigers is to create a system where players become they're best.

Starts with Fitness.
 
Anyone worried about Hunt signing now?

I was at the start and now think we may of rushed for him.

Cant see why a prop with 12 mins in him is going to be worth it.

He looks huuuuuge in the pics.

Hope I’m wrong.

And yes - they’ll try and play him more minutes but if anyone watched him last year - he literally would take 1 hit up … yes 1… and then be super gassed.

And if Cronulla kicked down field he would be gassed by the time he chased the ball.

I watched him closely.

Him , along with AD Olam and Skelton - I think will be our biggest disappointments next year. Unfortunately.

I called it with sullivan before we signed him. And Bateman at 4 yrs. I have a feeling Hunt will play a bit of reserve grade unless he loses some weight and can get MUCH fitter.

In positive news - we are 1 middle, 1 second row, and 1 center away from being a top 8-4 side. And by 1 I mean classy.
Hunt won't be playing reggies. I think Benji's expectation would be 35-40 minutes a game for him - some brute force when opposition forward packs start tiring. No club picks up a player for a 12 minute stint.
 
Hunt won't be playing reggies. I think Benji's expectation would be 35-40 minutes a game for him - some brute force when opposition forward packs start tiring. No club picks up a player for a 12 minute stint.
I know that’s the plan obviously… I just can’t see it based on watching him play last year.

As I said - one hit up and he is gassed. One kick chase and he is gassed.

There is no way he can play 35-40 mins without being a huge liability. And I just can’t see him getting super fitter somehow then what he would’ve been at sharks under fitzy.

We r asking someone who hasn’t done it to double his output with that huge frame.

Hope im wrong but hope usually is wrong.
 
Anyone worried about Hunt signing now?

I was at the start and now think we may of rushed for him.

Cant see why a prop with 12 mins in him is going to be worth it.

He looks huuuuuge in the pics.

Hope I’m wrong.

And yes - they’ll try and play him more minutes but if anyone watched him last year - he literally would take 1 hit up … yes 1… and then be super gassed.

And if Cronulla kicked down field he would be gassed by the time he chased the ball.

I watched him closely.

Him , along with AD Olam and Skelton - I think will be our biggest disappointments next year. Unfortunately.

I called it with sullivan before we signed him. And Bateman at 4 yrs. I have a feeling Hunt will play a bit of reserve grade unless he loses some weight and can get MUCH fitter.

In positive news - we are 1 middle, 1 second row, and 1 center away from being a top 8-4 side. And by 1 I mean classy.

hunt needs to play more minutes here … but you have to give him a chance first to see if he can … he never had to at the Sharks …

May plays big minutes at least
 
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I know that’s the plan obviously… I just can’t see it based on watching him play last year.

As I said - one hit up and he is gassed. One kick chase and he is gassed.

There is no way he can play 35-40 mins without being a huge liability. And I just can’t see him getting super fitter somehow then what he would’ve been at sharks under fitzy.

We r asking someone who hasn’t done it to double his output with that huge frame.

Hope im wrong but hope usually is wrong.

start at 20 minutes and see how he goes
 
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Skelton is not proven, Bird is a bit of a risk. He’s the type of signing we have been making for years. Turuva is good, but I’m reserving judgement on him until he isn’t on the end of the backline of the best team in modern history. May could be anything, and Luai is Luai. Overall, it’s pretty good, but without Luai, it’s definitely not remarkable.
I think that’s right.

Top teams invariably have a number of stars.

Having said that, with Luai, Galvin, Api and Bula we have a unique, dynamic spine, boasting both experience and youth. At the least, we will be exciting and very watchable.

Pole and Fainu are poised to fully break-out and we seem to have the backline pieces to finish off moves.

We still carry Klemmer, Seyfarth and Twal, who do not inspire. Maybe next year they will be replaced.

All in all it is an excellent start to an overhaul, best offseason in many years.

Well done Benji and Richo. You’ve made us an attractive prospect, which is no mean feat.
 
start at 20 minutes and see how he goes
I know.

All im saying is im super worried about him as a signing.

Like giving Jayden a 4 yr deal to be a 7 when he clearly wasn’t one. (Running 6 all day like brooks)

We have Hunt a 3 yr deal - and we expect him to double up.

Again - I hope everyone proves me wrong. I just think there’s a 75% chance he turns out to be a 12 min player without being a big defensive liability
 
I know that’s the plan obviously… I just can’t see it based on watching him play last year.

As I said - one hit up and he is gassed. One kick chase and he is gassed.

There is no way he can play 35-40 mins without being a huge liability. And I just can’t see him getting super fitter somehow then what he would’ve been at sharks under fitzy.

We r asking someone who hasn’t done it to double his output with that huge frame.

Hope im wrong but hope usually is wrong.
If u watched the sharks games , u would understand why he only played short minutes, the sharks have a lot of forward power to choose from , they used him when the opposition was tired , for 10 minutes or so , his job was to bust the line nothing else , I am sure he will be well ring hard on his fitness to play 20 minutes a half
 
A mate of mine is a Sharks fan. He was disappointed to see Hunt leave. He was saying they would be in the wrestle for the first 20mins. Then they’d bring on Hunt and more than often he’d swing the game the Sharks way. They had a good enough side to mostly go on with the job from there and win.

The last 10 minutes of the first half is the worst period in the game for the Tigers … has been for years actually … but was particularly an issue last season …. I would be holding out to the 30 minute mark and bringing on Hunt ..
 
I know that’s the plan obviously… I just can’t see it based on watching him play last year.

As I said - one hit up and he is gassed. One kick chase and he is gassed.

There is no way he can play 35-40 mins without being a huge liability. And I just can’t see him getting super fitter somehow then what he would’ve been at sharks under fitzy.

We r asking someone who hasn’t done it to double his output with that huge frame.

Hope im wrong but hope usually is wrong.

I’ve been critical of Hunt but mainly if he was viewed a Stefano replacement because he just couldn’t be with how he plays - his minutes & fatigue are real things.

With May onboard he isn’t that now so I will be backing off. Hope we don’t see any comments coming out of the camp about him turning into a 40-60min prop.

We can use Hunt as bench impact role which is his strength. He doesn’t need to change body shape/fitness levels/style for us - let Hunt be him and be the battering ram.
 

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