The Chad
Well-known member
I'd be amazed if Bird isn't a constant in 1st grade next season.
Signings, Suggestions & Rumours Discussion
- Thread starter MacDougall
- Start date
The Chad
Well-known member
If Bateman gets moved on, the conversation changes. Bird probably fits that wide second row position a la Euan Aitken.
That would PROBABLY be the best thing to happen for Doueihi, in my opinion, as Bird is probably a good defender to cover for Doueihi's failings (agility over Seyfarth).
But if Bateman stays, I don't see how Bird isn't playing as a defensive centre & removing the revolving doorway of our wide defence.
BlackWhiteGold
Well-known member
I think the Dragons interest would be Bateman as a lock as I think @jrtiger mentioned Flanagan said on the James Graham podcast he'd like a lock who provides that unpredictability in attack.
BAGNF05
Well-known member
That one feels like a Pascoe signing, although probably on a lot less coin.
Tom Shines
Well-known member
so whats your opinion on how Bird actually performed in 2024 in the centers ? I see his previous team was more than happy to move him on early whilst still under contract next season…and given he won a grand final with the current coach there ..I think that should be considered a warning sign that he might be out of gas …
I don’t think Bird is going to be anything special regardless of where he is playing in this team… and I would consider him not within our best 13… at this stage I would be predicting his spot to be on the bench where he can provide cover for a backs injury but spend most of his playing minutes covering backrowers…
BAGNF05
Well-known member
If he gets himself fit his versatility off the bench is probably his best asset in my opinion. His best was many years ago now.
Jolls
Well-known member
AD would be better suited to playing wing; however, his inability to make astute defensive decisions will still be a liability. His best postion is on someone elses roster so we can use his top 30 spot.
Correct...
No need to jump into bed with the first girl that appears re: Bateman for Ravalawa trade.
But they went in on a Hall of Fame QB who's renowned for losing in the post season, is renowned to be an egotistical maniac who's difficult to coach and work with. They also sacked the coach and GM on the say so of said QB who should have retired and retained his legacy
They should try and Draft Shadeur Sanders, Travis Hunter and bring Deion Sanders in to coach
I like the idea of Pole and Hunt doing damage from the bench.
I think our biggest concern is [and has always been] who's playing 13.
I got May and Klem starting.
Need a genuine lock option, not just a third prop.
Need another Elijah Taylor.
The Chad
Well-known member
Fair enough. Hard to argue against it.
The Chad
Well-known member
Well, there you go. Shows how much weight you can put in my opinion.
Weird- I always thought I remembered Corey Allen being the fullback.
I see Bird starting right Second row and Turuva starting right centre
Isn't that what Skelton is
BlackWhiteGold
Well-known member
https://www.smh.com.au/sport/nrl/jo...-lifts-lid-on-tiger-town-20241128-p5ku5u.html
John Bateman, breach notices and Terrell May: Benji lifts lid on Tiger Town
By Dan Walsh
November 28, 2024 — 3.57pm
Never a dull day in Tiger Town, even the good ones.
On Thursday the Tigers pulled out all the stops, their entire playing squad, staff marshalling proceedings wearing headsets and a slew of 2005 premiership-winners to announce the biggest sponsorship in club history.
A multi-million-dollar front-of-jersey deal with Pepper Money came with a song and dance at the Tigers’ Centre of Excellence, and an extensive media turnout for coach Benji Marshall and CEO Shane Richardson holding court.
Even with a club staffer attempting to steer questioning back toward the sponsorship deal at one point, talk of John Bateman’s impending exit, Terrell May’s looming arrival and training standards at the club were the real order of the day.
At times Marshall was terse, at others expansive, while Richardson was bullishly positive throughout.
The John Bateman saga
By the fourth question regarding Bateman’s future – or lack thereof – at the Tigers, Marshall was down to one-word answers.
“Yes,” he hopes the rolling drama around the English veteran is sorted as soon as possible, though he is “unsure” if that means Bateman returns to the club in 2025.
The 31-year-old has two years to run on a lucrative deal worth around $700,000 per season, and has been exploring options elsewhere with the Tigers’ blessing.
Marshall dismissed regular and widespread reports – including by this masthead – that he and Bateman had fallen out over a perception the coach was implementing double standards among his players. The Rugby League Players Association also intervened recently to determine the exact date Bateman is due to return to Tigers training in the new year, if at all.
“I’ve had honest discussions and in-house discussions around where John’s future is,” Marshall said.
“Those discussions will remain private but the things that have been reported are not true.”
Asked if Bateman actually wants to play for the Tigers, Richardson added: “That’s up to John Bateman, at the end of the day.
“I can’t answer for John Bateman. I’d like to but I can’t. John knows that he’s got a contract in place, his manager’s made it clear he’s got a contract in place.
“We honour every contract at the club, so if John wants to be here for the next two years, then he’ll be here for the next two years. That’s a decision between him and his manager.”
The training standards
Marshall, his players and coaching staff all trooped into Thursday’s sponsorship announcement fresh from the training paddock, assistant coach John Morris wearing his boots throughout the event.
From skipper Api Koroisau, to young gun Lachie Galvin and new recruits Jack Bird and Royce Hunt, Tigers players are reporting that this is the toughest pre-season they’ve ever known.
The summer slog began with youngsters Latu Fainu, Solomona Faataape and Solomone Saukuru being served breach notice because they failed to meet weight and skinfold criteria, as well as outlined time trials for a 1.6-kilometre run.
Fellow youngsters Heath Mason and Brandon Tumeth also failed to meet their time trial expectations, but were only served warnings.
The club’s response put the players on notice, with newly signed prop Royce Hunt returning to training three weeks early to ensure he hits the standards expected of him.
Marshall declined to go in depth on the matter, but said he is impressed with the response of his players to his new, tougher regime, where they are not allowed to complain about heat and a ‘one-in, all-in’ policy rules.
“We’ve made really clear the standards of where we’re going and to see the players buy into that, off the back of three wooden spoons as a club, we need to be better,” he said.
“The players have really attacked it, I’m really happy with where we’re at, the fitness levels at training and the buy-in from the players.”
Terrell May: the misunderstood marquee signing
Amongst the off-season drama, the Tigers were struck by a recruitment rainbow.
Rising Samoan prop Terrell May inked a three-year, $2.1 million deal two weeks ago after being surprisingly put on the open market by the Roosters.
Conjecture around May’s off-field fit at the Roosters followed, with elements of a candid interview with this masthead cited as cause for concern about his commitment to a full-time NRL career.
May’s concession that “Sometimes I just get, ‘I don’t want to be there and don’t want to play’,” was said to have raised eyebrows.
But Marshall himself has raised a similar perspective as a player and made no apologies for prioritising his young family as a coach, and weighed up May as a signing accordingly.
“I like his aggression and the way he carries the footy. He creates a lot of second phase [play] with offloads,” Marshall said of May.
“He’s a big body. He commands a lot of respect from the defensive line. And on top of that, after meeting him … I think what he said was misinterpreted.
“He’s actually a guy that has normal feelings like everyone else. He says ‘sometimes, it’s hard’. Which I admire him for. But when I sat down with him, he was fully committed to getting us out of where we are and wanted to be a part of it.”
John Bateman, breach notices and Terrell May: Benji lifts lid on Tiger Town
By Dan Walsh
November 28, 2024 — 3.57pm
Never a dull day in Tiger Town, even the good ones.
On Thursday the Tigers pulled out all the stops, their entire playing squad, staff marshalling proceedings wearing headsets and a slew of 2005 premiership-winners to announce the biggest sponsorship in club history.
A multi-million-dollar front-of-jersey deal with Pepper Money came with a song and dance at the Tigers’ Centre of Excellence, and an extensive media turnout for coach Benji Marshall and CEO Shane Richardson holding court.
Even with a club staffer attempting to steer questioning back toward the sponsorship deal at one point, talk of John Bateman’s impending exit, Terrell May’s looming arrival and training standards at the club were the real order of the day.
At times Marshall was terse, at others expansive, while Richardson was bullishly positive throughout.
The John Bateman saga
By the fourth question regarding Bateman’s future – or lack thereof – at the Tigers, Marshall was down to one-word answers.
“Yes,” he hopes the rolling drama around the English veteran is sorted as soon as possible, though he is “unsure” if that means Bateman returns to the club in 2025.
The 31-year-old has two years to run on a lucrative deal worth around $700,000 per season, and has been exploring options elsewhere with the Tigers’ blessing.
Marshall dismissed regular and widespread reports – including by this masthead – that he and Bateman had fallen out over a perception the coach was implementing double standards among his players. The Rugby League Players Association also intervened recently to determine the exact date Bateman is due to return to Tigers training in the new year, if at all.
“I’ve had honest discussions and in-house discussions around where John’s future is,” Marshall said.
“Those discussions will remain private but the things that have been reported are not true.”
Asked if Bateman actually wants to play for the Tigers, Richardson added: “That’s up to John Bateman, at the end of the day.
“I can’t answer for John Bateman. I’d like to but I can’t. John knows that he’s got a contract in place, his manager’s made it clear he’s got a contract in place.
“We honour every contract at the club, so if John wants to be here for the next two years, then he’ll be here for the next two years. That’s a decision between him and his manager.”
The training standards
Marshall, his players and coaching staff all trooped into Thursday’s sponsorship announcement fresh from the training paddock, assistant coach John Morris wearing his boots throughout the event.
From skipper Api Koroisau, to young gun Lachie Galvin and new recruits Jack Bird and Royce Hunt, Tigers players are reporting that this is the toughest pre-season they’ve ever known.
The summer slog began with youngsters Latu Fainu, Solomona Faataape and Solomone Saukuru being served breach notice because they failed to meet weight and skinfold criteria, as well as outlined time trials for a 1.6-kilometre run.
Fellow youngsters Heath Mason and Brandon Tumeth also failed to meet their time trial expectations, but were only served warnings.
The club’s response put the players on notice, with newly signed prop Royce Hunt returning to training three weeks early to ensure he hits the standards expected of him.
Marshall declined to go in depth on the matter, but said he is impressed with the response of his players to his new, tougher regime, where they are not allowed to complain about heat and a ‘one-in, all-in’ policy rules.
“We’ve made really clear the standards of where we’re going and to see the players buy into that, off the back of three wooden spoons as a club, we need to be better,” he said.
“The players have really attacked it, I’m really happy with where we’re at, the fitness levels at training and the buy-in from the players.”
Terrell May: the misunderstood marquee signing
Amongst the off-season drama, the Tigers were struck by a recruitment rainbow.
Rising Samoan prop Terrell May inked a three-year, $2.1 million deal two weeks ago after being surprisingly put on the open market by the Roosters.
Conjecture around May’s off-field fit at the Roosters followed, with elements of a candid interview with this masthead cited as cause for concern about his commitment to a full-time NRL career.
May’s concession that “Sometimes I just get, ‘I don’t want to be there and don’t want to play’,” was said to have raised eyebrows.
But Marshall himself has raised a similar perspective as a player and made no apologies for prioritising his young family as a coach, and weighed up May as a signing accordingly.
“I like his aggression and the way he carries the footy. He creates a lot of second phase [play] with offloads,” Marshall said of May.
“He’s a big body. He commands a lot of respect from the defensive line. And on top of that, after meeting him … I think what he said was misinterpreted.
“He’s actually a guy that has normal feelings like everyone else. He says ‘sometimes, it’s hard’. Which I admire him for. But when I sat down with him, he was fully committed to getting us out of where we are and wanted to be a part of it.”
Tiger_Yoshi
Well-known member
nothing new there
BAGNF05
Well-known member
The newspapers should have to pay us sponsorship for the amount of useless stories they write on us.
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