Signings, Suggestions & Rumours Discussion

[weststigerman]

So they can’t give Bud away even paying $300k of his $500-550k wage?

Surprised that no club would take a chance on him at $200-250k a year … this would be the norm for a reserve grade half wouldn’t it ? maybe the three years left on his deal is the real problem, and that he is not viewed as even NRL player depth level ..

Looks like they are going to be stuck with him at least another year …

Excluding some of the medical failures they have signed …This deal might actually be the worst in WT history …

I don't see the logic in paying him $300k to play somewhere else. Yeah he's surplus, but by all reports he's not a toxic influence like Bateman and covers the halves and hooker.

In round 1 we don't have Api so IMO the bench hooker is either Bud or an unfit Latu.

I'd keep him for next year unless a club is paying at least 2/3 of his salary. Create roster spots by moving easier to move players like Doeuihi and toxic guys like Bateman. Maybe someone goes down at another club during the season and they get desperate.

 

[hammertime]

So they can’t give Bud away even paying $300k of his $500-550k wage?

Surprised that no club would take a chance on him at $200-250k a year … this would be the norm for a reserve grade half wouldn’t it ? maybe the three years left on his deal is the real problem, and that he is not viewed as even NRL player depth level ..

Looks like they are going to be stuck with him at least another year …

Excluding some of the medical failures they have signed …This deal might actually be the worst in WT history …

Not sure it tops packer and Jrey. But yeah, it's bad.

I'm too am actually not sure why a club wouldn't take a punt at that price

 

[Jolls]

To me the real champion coaches are the ones who changed the way to play the game and forced other teams to follow. Jack Gibson and Wok Ryan are two who come to mind.

Anyway the bottom line, footballers need good coaches and good coaches need good footballers

I think you can add Bellyache to the list for changing the game through the introduction of wrestling. Apart from that there hasn't been a great deal of transformation in the game from the coaching ranks. The NRL has introduced rules to speed up the game and induce fatigue but there haven't been too many transformative coaches.

So what would it take to unlock the game again?

I have been thinking about this for a while; given league is a pretty simple game what would it take?

Firstly, I think it is difficult for coaches to imagine change because they serve long apprenticeships under established coaches and repeat what they have seen to be successful. They may have a tweak here or there to make incrimental improvements but nothing that is transformational - like the introduction of the nautilus machine and professionalism by Jack Gibson.

The players are the heart of the team, the coach is its mind. So to challenge the norms a coach would need to reimagine how the game is played. To me this requires three things:

• A significant cultural shift. The first requirement, before even looking at tactics is the development a team culture that breeds innovation and resilience. The key is to establish an environment that encourages creativity and adaptability. Structure is essential, it is a key enabler, but it should be nothing more than a framework. What happens within that framework is limited by imagination. Block plays and sweeps are old hat - what is next? Why can't we execute our attack form a different point on the field; eg, expand the Lockwood/Pringle manoeuvre to include two additional support runners on an edge from mid field.
• Tactics beyond tradition. I hinted at it above but we tend to incrementally evolve attacking and and defensive structures to cater for what the oppositon is doing. How do we get beyond tradition and re-think defensive structures or introduce pioneering attacking shapes. This would take a visionary coach that can redefine how teams approach the game. A coach that might emphasise risk-taking, unpredictable offloads, or strategic kicking to exploit space.
• Player Evolution: Under a transformative coach, players can break their perceived limits and roles can blur—imagine a forward with the agility of a back or a half that is the size of an edge.

The right coach at the right time isn’t just a leader; they’re a game-changer. The question isn’t whether a coach can change rugby league; but who will be bold enough to do it next.

Could a 6'4" 5/8 change the way we play on an edge? What if we had another "half" play at 13? What if we broke with tradition and executed attacking plays three wide from within our red zone?

Could Benji and our coachings staff's "lack of experience" be to our advantage?

I trust that Benji and Co don't fall into the trap of trying replicate the Riff/Melbourne. We are going through a significant cultural shift in the club and our coaching staff all came from a team that did not play a traditional style in 2005. Can the youth of our team be harnessed off the back of all this?

The scene is set; our club has the potential to change the way the game is played. I'm looking forward to 2025; what will it hold for us long suffering fans?

 

[Tom Shines]

I don't see the logic in paying him $300k to play somewhere else. Yeah he's surplus, but by all reports he's not a toxic influence like Bateman and covers the halves and hooker.

In round 1 we don't have Api so IMO the bench hooker is either Bud or an unfit Latu.

I'd keep him for next year unless a club is paying at least 2/3 of his salary. Create roster spots by moving easier to move players like Doeuihi and toxic guys like Bateman. Maybe someone goes down at another club during the season and they get desperate.

normally I would agree with you … but they are obviously desperate for the roster space it seems ….

anyway ..looks like they are likely stuck with him, so let’s hope he can contribute in some way in 2025

 

[Tom Shines]

so we are supposed to believe hunt is playing at a big discount for the broncos on his dragons contract and NRL is accepting it ?
Lol

he is probably getting paid a third party deal as well… that’s not out of the ordinary…particularly for the broncos right ?

 

[magpies forever]

normally I would agree with you … but they are obviously desperate for the roster space it seems ….

anyway ..looks like they are likely stuck with him, so let’s hope he can contribute in some way in 2025

If it comes to a heavy subsidy to get a long contract player gone (Bateman / Sullivan), I'd rather take the hit with Bateman and retain Sullivan for at least the coming 25 season. Bateman has done his dash here whereas Sullivan is just surplus.

 

[Tom Shines]

Not sure it tops packer and Jrey. But yeah, it's bad.

I'm too am actually not sure why a club wouldn't take a punt at that price

It’s debatable that he is even behind those two at the moment …. Packer was an international and still ended up playing 33 NRL games for the club before he turned it up the last 2 years and preferred to be paid to show up for training whilst concentrating on studying for his law degree .. Reynolds was worse than Packer… but can point to injury as an excuse …but he might be worse agreed when all is said and done with Bud ..

Bud is in the prime of his career and injury free but the entire League is just happy for him to sit in reserve grade …

 

[Jedi_Tiger]

if we can convince Galvin to commit post 2026 we could see potentially

13. Galvin - ball play
6. Latu Fainu
7. Luai

we can have L Fainu and Luai either side and wider

 

[Jedi_Tiger]

It’s debatable that he is even behind those two at the moment …. Packer was an international and still ended up playing 33 NRL games for the club before he turned it up the last 2 years and preferred to be paid to show up for training whilst concentrating on studying for his law degree .. Reynolds was worse than Packer… but can point to injury as an excuse …but he might be worse agreed when all is said and done with Bud ..

Bud is in the prime of his career and injury free but the entire League is just happy for him to sit in reserve grade …

I don't think Bud is much worse than Ilias tbh not much between them both are pretty ordinary, Ilias will likely struggle at St Merge

 

[Tom Shines]

I don't think Bud is much worse than Ilias tbh not much between them both are pretty ordinary, Ilias will likely struggle at St Merge

maybe … How much are they paying Ilias though? Bet it’s more than $250k a year …probably double that

 

[hammertime]

It’s debatable that he is even behind those two at the moment …. Packer was an international and still ended up playing 33 NRL games for the club before he turned it up the last 2 years and preferred to be paid to show up for training whilst concentrating on studying for his law degree .. Reynolds was worse than Packer… but can point to injury as an excuse …but he might be worse agreed when all is said and done with Bud ..

Bud is in the prime of his career and injury free but the entire League is just happy for him to sit in reserve grade …

Fair call. I was looking at the impact on our cap. I think both were a much heavier burden than Sullivan is. Plus, we've had a few first grade games out of him.

The difference being i think we can still make s competitive side with Sullivan on the books. Those two really hurt us.

 

[Tom Shines]

if we can convince Galvin to commit post 2026 we could see potentially

13. Galvin - ball play
6. Latu Fainu
7. Luai

we can have L Fainu and Luai either side and wider

What would you say if Galvin wants to remain at 6 and puts this as a condition of him staying ?

 

[innsaneink]

Yeah..... Right.

Well, he's 1 of 3 Coaches that's coached in the NRL for the last 10-12 years
- And not been sacked.

Additionally,
He's also 1 of 3 Coaches in the game that in that same period, That's won the comp 3 times.

Not near the top 3 you say, Plenty would disagree with you.

I love listening to him talk football...could do it for hours.
A bit like Sheens 15 years and more ago... Very very interesting and I always take something away from his comments.
Good coaches have the luxury of being able to choose good teams

 

[tigermate]

I don't think Bud is much worse than Ilias tbh not much between them both are pretty ordinary, Ilias will likely struggle at St Merge

bud cant tackle - and has a bad attitude and has a worse kicking game.

bud a better runner and more spark.

But bud is not a 7. he's a poor mans luke brooks #6 -- lazy and no backbone.

 

[batboy]

I love listening to him talk football...could do it for hours.
A bit like Sheens 15 years and more ago... Very very interesting and I always take something away from his comments.
Good coaches have the luxury of being able to choose good teams

Exactly....
Complaining about the good cattle cracks me up.....

Imagine the best Players wanting to play for the best Coaches.....
Crazy!!

 

[BlackWhiteGold]

I don't think Bud is much worse than Ilias tbh not much between them both are pretty ordinary, Ilias will likely struggle at St Merge

I can see a 2025 where Bateman goes to Dragons to play lock & Bud joins the Rabbitohs as backup half to Dodd, both heavily subsidised by the Tigers at least 50/50.

 

[pawsandclaws1]

I’m aware who they are and their reasoning for wanting to sponsor a team to raise their profile so others do as well (without having to Google them).
Simply would prefer an established company showing they believe in our brand being an extension of their own success.

Pepper Money sponsored the PAC Performance Mazda 6 rotary drag car which I believe puts out over 2000hp. They were also involved with customers interested in a PAC Performance RX3 as per below. This superb example was initially for sale at around $200k.

 

[Tucker]

Roosters and the playing Group were so Impressed with Robbo in 2010
- They got him back from France a couple years later for the top job.
Won the comp in his first year....

Robbo has been a head coach for 14 years. His record is as follows:
2011 - ESL - Prelim Final
2012 - ESL - Prelim Final
2013 - NRL Premier
2014 - NRL - Prelim Final
2015 - NRL - Prelim Final
2016 - NRL - 2nd Last
2017 - NRL - Prelim Final
2018 - NRL Premier
2019 - NRL Premier
2020 - NRL - Semi Final
2021 - NRL - Semi Final
2022 - NRL - Qualifying Final
2023 - NRL - Semi Final
2024 - NRL - Prelim Final

• 3 x Premierships Seasons,
• 6 x Seasons where he fell 1 game short of the GF
• Played finals 13/14 seasons

Its so stupid for people to question his ability to coach.

 

[batboy]

Robbo has been a head coach for 14 years. His record is as follows:
2011 - ESL - Prelim Final
2012 - ESL - Prelim Final
2013 - NRL Premier
2014 - NRL - Prelim Final
2015 - NRL - Prelim Final
2016 - NRL - 2nd Last
2017 - NRL - Prelim Final
2018 - NRL Premier
2019 - NRL Premier
2020 - NRL - Semi Final
2021 - NRL - Semi Final
2022 - NRL - Qualifying Final
2023 - NRL - Semi Final
2024 - NRL - Prelim Final

• 3 x Premierships Seasons,
• 6 x Seasons where he fell 1 game short of the GF
• Played finals 13/14 seasons

Its so stupid for people to question his ability to coach.

Like I said, If he were the WT's coach - He'd be walking on water....
And we'd have played Finals.

 

[Vicious]

Robbo has been a head coach for 14 years. His record is as follows:
2011 - ESL - Prelim Final
2012 - ESL - Prelim Final
2013 - NRL Premier
2014 - NRL - Prelim Final
2015 - NRL - Prelim Final
2016 - NRL - 2nd Last
2017 - NRL - Prelim Final
2018 - NRL Premier
2019 - NRL Premier
2020 - NRL - Semi Final
2021 - NRL - Semi Final
2022 - NRL - Qualifying Final
2023 - NRL - Semi Final
2024 - NRL - Prelim Final

• 3 x Premierships Seasons,
• 6 x Seasons where he fell 1 game short of the GF
• Played finals 13/14 seasons

Its so stupid for people to question his ability to coach.

Tucker I’m quite confident you would have got the same results with the playing rosters he’s had to work with.
Let’s see how he goes in 2025 with a well below average playing roster, if he makes the top 8 he’s a genius.