The Chad
Well-known member
It's an accurate description of what I try to do on a daily. 😛
Signings, Suggestions & Rumours Discussion
- Thread starter MacDougall
- Start date
According to telegraph just now. He has been resigned
swag_tiger
Well-known member
Only a 2 year deal.
He went home mid season in first season . What are you talking about ? Came back a completely different player . Hadn’t looked the same since .
The Chad
Well-known member
2 year deal is good. If he still has the significant defensive flaws in his game at 23-24 years old...you can cut him loose.
jrtiger
Well-known member
delighted Fonua has remained with the club.
while there's work to be done on his defence, he is a critical part of a first grade forward pack at 22 years old. that's something many front rowers can only dream about.
there's so much to like his game moving forward, and the additions of Luai, May, Hunt, Skelton and Turuva are going to help him immeasurably.
while there's work to be done on his defence, he is a critical part of a first grade forward pack at 22 years old. that's something many front rowers can only dream about.
there's so much to like his game moving forward, and the additions of Luai, May, Hunt, Skelton and Turuva are going to help him immeasurably.
cochise
Well-known member
Flew home over the bye in 23.
GNR4LIFE
Well-known member
Essentially 3 years given he has a year to run,
Can the club afford to pay Bateman out?
Heard on SEN that Brandon Smiths management team offering him to other clubs.. a fit BS could solve our lock position + cover as hooker in the game. Don’t care much for his off-field antics, but so passionate on the field. A yes from me. Go Tigers
crazycat
Well-known member
NRL, you have so lost your way.
What on earth happened to "Hey Batey, get on the field now!"
Its a no from me ,we dont need anyone like him around our kids,(50 nrl games or less)
jrtiger
Well-known member
clubs won't touch him until they see how he returns from injury. I can't see him signing with another club until August at earliest.
BlackWhiteGold
Well-known member
The Wests Tigers have landed another significant pre-season blow after convincing impressive forward Fonua Pole to knock back interest from the Melbourne Storm and sign a two-year extension with the club.
Pole emerged as one of the Tigers’ important players last season, becoming a fixture in their pack as he made 23 appearances for the club.
He entered the final year of his deal on November 1 and it is understood the Storm were keen to lure him to Melbourne, where his younger brother Suli is part of the system.
However, Pole has instead opted to stay at the Tigers in a huge vote of confidence for coach Benji Marshall and chief executive Shane Richardson, signing a deal that will tie him to the Tigers until the end 2027.
Pole’s retention continues a resurgent pre-season for Marshall and the club, who added Sydney Roosters forward Terrell May to their ranks as part of a recruitment drive that has netted the likes of Jarome Luai, Royce Hunt and Jack Bird.
BlackWhiteGold
Well-known member
Very professional sounds Ackland. Will certainly instil some qualities from his lawyer background.
“But the principles about being really detail-oriented, focusing on the little things and building good habits; it’s all helped me a lot."
www.weststigers.com.au
“But the principles about being really detail-oriented, focusing on the little things and building good habits; it’s all helped me a lot."
Ackland leaves law behind to join Wests Tigers
Eiden Ackland joins Wests Tigers for the 2025 pre-season on a training contract, with the New Zealand product leaving his role at a law firm behind.
www.weststigers.com.au
BlackWhiteGold
Well-known member
Brent Read: Wests Tigers fans have plenty of reasons to feel optimistic in 2025
The 2025 NRL season will start with plenty of hope at the Wests Tigers thanks to the arrival of some key signings, a soft draw and some new standards, writes BRENT READ.
There was a sighting this week of Jarome Luai in Wests Tigers gear. Turned out it was an ad for Binge, which Luai has been hand-picked to promote along with AFL star Bailey Smith, but it was enough to get the pulses racing for long-suffering Tigers fans.
Just the sight of their $6 million man, lazing on a bed in a dressing gown adorned with the Tigers monogram alongside a stuffed Tiger, raised the anticipation as the countdown begins to Luai’s arrival at the club’s Centre of Excellence.
Luai isn’t due back at training for a few weeks yet, but his impact is already being felt, the four-time premiership winner having played a significant role in convincing estranged Sydney Roosters prop Terrell May to join the club.
Luai was in his ear while they were in England with Samoa, and no doubt continued the lobbying on their return to Australia. He clearly mounted a compelling argument, although you get the feeling the $2 million pay packet played a decisive role as well.
Either way, things are looking up for the Tigers as Luai looks to drag the club off the bottom of the ladder. The Tigers and chief executive Shane Richardson splashed the cash on the four-time premiership winner for not just his talent, but also his leadership and ability to be a magnet for other players.
So far, so good. You can see why Richardson chased Luai so hard, offering him a king’s ransom and the chance to be the main man to convince him to make the switch.
Luai can’t do it on his own, however, and that’s why May was another significant signing.
He will be a powerful presence in the Tigers front row and help lay a platform for Luai and young five-eighth Lachlan Galvin to weave some magic.
The Tigers have had an interesting off-season.
A new standard has been set at Concord, and the challenge now will be to maintain it when the blowtorch is applied - history suggests it inevitably will be.
The club has sacked one of their most promising youngsters in prop Jordan Miller and this masthead revealed the Tigers had handed official warnings to five of their players after they failed to meet the standards expected of them when they returned to pre-season training.
It is understood one of those players - Brandon Tumeth - was later given a reprieve when it emerged that he had started training early.
The others remain in the firing line - at least two will front the board - and there has been little sympathy from outside quarters.
If anything, there has been praise for the way the club has drawn a line in the sand.
The Tigers have been lauded for showing a strong hand after years of accepting mediocrity - Mat Rogers was the latest ex-player to savage the players concerned, claiming the club should get rid of them.
If only it was that easy. The Tigers would no doubt like to clean out some of the deadwood that has been weighing them down. That isn’t always possible given contracts are in place.
So standards are being set and the message has reverberated around Concord - shape up or ship out.
They still have some hurdles to clear with the playing squad, the future of English forward John Bateman among them, but things are looking up.
The draw has come to their aid as well. The Tigers have been handed one of the softest draws in the NRL in 2025.
They play Luai’s former side Penrith twice but the Panthers aside, they have a great start to the season and if they can build some early momentum, perhaps the tide will finally turn for a club that has been marooned outside the finals for as long as many can remember.
Wouldn’t that be something? The Tigers have been a sleeping giant for so long. Too long. The sepia-tone memories of 2005 are beginning to fade, so long has it been between drinks. People like this columnist have drunk the kool-aid before but even the great Phil Gould, legendary rugby league soothsayer, can see something is building at the Tigers.
Gould this week suggested they have a top eight roster, only fuelling the expectation at the club and among their fans. The sense is that coach Benji Marshall is slowly being given the ammunition to make some inroads in the NRL.
The 2025 season will start with plenty of hope. Luai, a soft draw and some new standards. Sounds like a golden opportunity.
BlackWhiteGold
Well-known member
Tumeth given a reprieve from his warning due to turning up to training early. (Read/DT).
upthetigers
Well-known member
No player comes to the club to collect a pension at the tigers anymore, you have a role and a strong desire to win. Api/Luai will set the standards put a$1k on making the 8 in 2025. It's taken time but when it finally clicks it will click in a big way!!
GNR4LIFE
Well-known member
Expectations seem to be rising and rising in the greater RL community. This on the back of Gus claiming we have a top 8 roster. There really is no excuse for Benji. He has to be a dead man walking if results don’t come.
Brent Read: Wests Tigers fans have plenty of reasons to feel optimistic in 2025
The 2025 NRL season will start with plenty of hope at the Wests Tigers thanks to the arrival of some key signings, a soft draw and some new standards, writes BRENT READ.
There was a sighting this week of Jarome Luai in Wests Tigers gear. Turned out it was an ad for Binge, which Luai has been hand-picked to promote along with AFL star Bailey Smith, but it was enough to get the pulses racing for long-suffering Tigers fans.
Just the sight of their $6 million man, lazing on a bed in a dressing gown adorned with the Tigers monogram alongside a stuffed Tiger, raised the anticipation as the countdown begins to Luai’s arrival at the club’s Centre of Excellence.
Luai isn’t due back at training for a few weeks yet, but his impact is already being felt, the four-time premiership winner having played a significant role in convincing estranged Sydney Roosters prop Terrell May to join the club.
Luai was in his ear while they were in England with Samoa, and no doubt continued the lobbying on their return to Australia. He clearly mounted a compelling argument, although you get the feeling the $2 million pay packet played a decisive role as well.
Either way, things are looking up for the Tigers as Luai looks to drag the club off the bottom of the ladder. The Tigers and chief executive Shane Richardson splashed the cash on the four-time premiership winner for not just his talent, but also his leadership and ability to be a magnet for other players.
So far, so good. You can see why Richardson chased Luai so hard, offering him a king’s ransom and the chance to be the main man to convince him to make the switch.
Luai can’t do it on his own, however, and that’s why May was another significant signing.
He will be a powerful presence in the Tigers front row and help lay a platform for Luai and young five-eighth Lachlan Galvin to weave some magic.
The Tigers have had an interesting off-season.
A new standard has been set at Concord, and the challenge now will be to maintain it when the blowtorch is applied - history suggests it inevitably will be.
The club has sacked one of their most promising youngsters in prop Jordan Miller and this masthead revealed the Tigers had handed official warnings to five of their players after they failed to meet the standards expected of them when they returned to pre-season training.
It is understood one of those players - Brandon Tumeth - was later given a reprieve when it emerged that he had started training early.
The others remain in the firing line - at least two will front the board - and there has been little sympathy from outside quarters.
If anything, there has been praise for the way the club has drawn a line in the sand.
The Tigers have been lauded for showing a strong hand after years of accepting mediocrity - Mat Rogers was the latest ex-player to savage the players concerned, claiming the club should get rid of them.
If only it was that easy. The Tigers would no doubt like to clean out some of the deadwood that has been weighing them down. That isn’t always possible given contracts are in place.
So standards are being set and the message has reverberated around Concord - shape up or ship out.
They still have some hurdles to clear with the playing squad, the future of English forward John Bateman among them, but things are looking up.
The draw has come to their aid as well. The Tigers have been handed one of the softest draws in the NRL in 2025.
They play Luai’s former side Penrith twice but the Panthers aside, they have a great start to the season and if they can build some early momentum, perhaps the tide will finally turn for a club that has been marooned outside the finals for as long as many can remember.
Wouldn’t that be something? The Tigers have been a sleeping giant for so long. Too long. The sepia-tone memories of 2005 are beginning to fade, so long has it been between drinks. People like this columnist have drunk the kool-aid before but even the great Phil Gould, legendary rugby league soothsayer, can see something is building at the Tigers.
Gould this week suggested they have a top eight roster, only fuelling the expectation at the club and among their fans. The sense is that coach Benji Marshall is slowly being given the ammunition to make some inroads in the NRL.
The 2025 season will start with plenty of hope. Luai, a soft draw and some new standards. Sounds like a golden opportunity.
weststigerman
Well-known member
Great news about Pole, many clubs would have been after him especially after Leo Thompson decides where he's going.
Seyfarth is the only other player we have off contract that I would re-sign.
Seyfarth is the only other player we have off contract that I would re-sign.
