Signings, Suggestions & Rumours Discussion

[Just me]

Well this is really getting exciting now, I am starting to believe we have enough troops to have some significant improvement in 2025.
I know there was talk about him a while ago but I think a Nelson from Melbourne would be enough to finish off our pack.
I still believe we need maybe another centre but I will say ( and its probably a unpopular opinion) we have one that's ready to go and has the skill set but needs to be man managed .... Naden.... at his best he is more than enough and maybe our coaching staff could get the best out of him.

 

[Kaito]

I think you start Latu as he’s proven a valuable back up in that Manly game last year. Probably switch them a bit based on the opposition and how many minutes Api is playing week to week.

Indeed, exactly It's the beginning of the year let Api
go full tilt to start the 1st quarter of the year at least
that block of games at the beginning are 2 important.
Put TDS into the rotation at some point but you have
2 have Latu at 14 as cover & insurance policy 4 Api

 

[jadtiger]

He needs to seriously improve his discipline and his defense in order to be a starting player. To much jumping out of the line and creating overlaps for the attacking team. His lateral movement is poor and often leaves his half isolated in defense.

Needs a big offseason to improve his lateral movement and decision making in the defensive line.

Completely agree but he is a must for the forward rotation from the bench

 

[Tigerbenb]

I don't like predicting teams that much but

1. Bula
2. Skelton
3. To'a
4. Olam
5. Turuva
6. Galvin
7. Luai
8. May
9. Koroisau
10. Klemmer
11. Bateman
12. S. Fainu
13. Bird

14. L. Fainu
15. Pole
16. Hunt
17. Seyfarth

To’a is rubbish

 

[Red88_Tiger]

To’a is rubbish

One game wonder

 

[Kaito]

Nah, watched him since Newcastle.
Can play, whether he wants to is the
question, same goes for Matamua

 

[tigerbenji]

I don't think the Kobe signing is as dead as we think, especially if the Broncs sign Hunt, Hunt doesn't come cheap.

 

[Kaito]

We need his speed on the right too...

 

[Tiger_claws]

What the hell is happening at our club? The recruitment, retention, even breaching players for not upholding standards. I can’t take much more positivity. I am so used to us missing players and not retaining our good ones. What a great recruitment/retention drive we have had. Hats off to all for slowly patching up the Titanic.

 

[Coastie_Tiger]

What the hell is happening at our club? The recruitment, retention, even breaching players for not upholding standards. I can’t take much more positivity. I am so used to us missing players and not retaining our good ones. What a great recruitment/retention drive we have had. Hats off to all for slowly patching up the Titanic.

It's called management, the previous lot had no idea what it was.

 

[gregjm87]

It destroyed his season, flying to England and back in a week is unreasonable in my opinion.

Tbh It's unreasonable in my opinion as well. My opinion is like everyone elses. These guys get paid well and shouldn't need a week off in the middle of the season when they get 2 months off at the end of it.

But what I don't agree with is that Bateman has been given any special treatment as all the team was given a week off. I think the argument that he is holds even less weight when the coach also decides to go overseas during a bye week (yes I get the travel time and time zone differences).

As an aside I don't think it destroyed his season at all. His performance didn't decline after his trip in my opinion. His performances weren't up to scratch this year, though I think that probably has more to do with clashing with Marshall than anything to do with travelling/preseason length or anything else.

 

[Betterdays22]

The recruits have been great and I am excited, but I remember the same feeling when we recruited Api, Ice and Bateman in a short period of time. I know this is apples and oranges, mainly due to Luai and our young guys, but we are still a squad with some big areas of weakness that are unlikely to be addressed next year (wing, centre, lock, 2nd row, bench prop).Give me competing around the 8 next year, 2026 however...

 

[Modman]

Porter is so much better!!

Im not a fan of Bateman not at all, but come on man Porter. He is what you call a solid KOE forward at best. If Benji can sort this shit out by the time we pay money for Bateman as painful as it is to admit it would be best for the club that we keep hin, If hes willing to put in and i think with Luai driving the standards i expect everyone to be accountable. Lets not compare Porter to Bateman lets be real. I think most would agree Bateman at his best is a much better footballer than Porter. Its Benjis job to get the best out of him. Plus i dont want to pay money for a player to play for manly.

 

[Buttface]

What the hell is happening at our club? The recruitment, retention, even breaching players for not upholding standards. I can’t take much more positivity. I am so used to us missing players and not retaining our good ones. What a great recruitment/retention drive we have had. Hats off to all for slowly patching up the Titanic.

Someone has hijacked our club, and I like it.
Uncle Nick is ringing the police union now to ask how much more does he need to donate to get rid of Richo.

 

[yeahcaz]

Nah, watched him since Newcastle.
Can play, whether he wants to is the
question, same goes for Matamua

He’s absolute dogwater 😂 let’s in 3 times as many tries as he scores and cant stay fit. Should be nowhere near our best 17 if we’re serious

 

[Kaito]

He’s absolute dogwater 😂 let’s in 3 times as many tries as he scores and cant stay fit. Should be nowhere near our best 17 if we’re serious

Injured all of last year, his preferred side. I see the merit

 

[upthetigers]

It wasn't that long ago that we were chasing Horsbra hard we did alot better timing and luck is everything we bloody deserve it

 

[yeahcaz]

Injured all of last year, his preferred side. I see the merit

I don’t. In a poor defensive side he is absolutely horrific. A wrestle session between him and Faatape would go on for days

 

[Bula]

I don’t. In a poor defensive side he is absolutely horrific. A wrestle session between him and Faatape would go on for days

Like Stevie Wonder and Ray Charles playing tennis.

 

[JB9918]

The recruits have been great and I am excited, but I remember the same feeling when we recruited Api, Ice and Bateman in a short period of time. I know this is apples and oranges, mainly due to Luai and our young guys, but we are still a squad with some big areas of weakness that are unlikely to be addressed next year (wing, centre, lock, 2nd row, bench prop).Give me competing around the 8 next year, 2026 however...

Api is fantastic but can't do it on his own.

Ice never really wanted to come & to be honest played his best footy once he had signed elsewhere.

Bateman no comment required.

This is different we have a actual 7, first time in 11 years to guide us around the park.

Wing - I don't think is an issue this year at all.

Centre - Yes hopefully we have someone stand up otherwise it will be Makasini. So problem solved there.

Lock - I think we will be okay. May can play huge minutes. Based on today's BTR, Matamua looking the goods. We will be able to cover with the middles we have on the books & Latu as smoky 14 ball playing middle if the game permits.

2nd Row - Yes, similar to the centre spot hopefully someone stands up. I do find it odd the Bateman talk has stopped. Maybe he pulls his head in... Doubt it. I would say this is our main target for 2026 & I believe Teig Wilton is the obvious choice. Off contract at the Sharks, John Morris's nephew & behind Niokora & Talaki as starting back row.

Bench Prop - Move than covered now.