Signings, Suggestions & Rumours Discussion

[Tiger Stripes]

If Bateman wanted to show everyone that he was willing to let bygones be bygones he would turn up earlier for training just like most of our new signings. Instead he fights tooth and nail NOT to be here.

He won’t be in the Tigers 17 next year.

When he does turn up he will have to do the time trial and tummy fat roll test, right?
Failure to comply, the show cause letter and meet the board.
Could be another Jordon Miller experience?

 

[gregjm87]

Whatever dude , he got suspended for a shoulder charge close to the line to prevent a try . I didn’t say just 10 in the bin .
Achtuwlllllllyyyy …….

yeah he did. On Sivo.

 

[boonboon]

When he does turn up he will have to do the time trial and tummy fat roll test, right?
Failure to comply, the show cause letter and meet the board.
Could be another Jordon Miller experience?

Bateman has always been incredibly fit - he has always been known for being the best last 20 mins backrower because of his fitness so that's no chance of working

 

[Tiger Stripes]

will be Laulili’i.

Or after July, Makasini for experience, before moving to centre if needed?

 

[tigerballs]

Tiny May wants to play with Terrell once he's cleared ( ? ). 100% wants in. Richo is the only obstacle, doesn't think he'll fit in. Big call coming....

 

[tigerballs]

1. Bula
2, Skelton
3. May
4. Makasini
5. Turuva
6. Galvin / Fainu
7. Luai
8. Klemmer
9. Api
10. Pole
11. Fainu
12. Johannssen
13. May
14. Bird
15. Hunt
16. Seyfarth
17. Sukkar
18. Fainu
19. Porter
20. Mason

Top 4. Mix up the front row to suit, Hunt to start, Pole to bench etc. The backline we've always wished for!

 

[cochise]

Tiny May wants to play with Terrell once he's cleared ( ? ). 100% wants in. Richo is the only obstacle, doesn't think he'll fit in. Big call coming....

I haven't heard him be called tiny in years lol.

 

[Tiger Stripes]

1. J. Bula
2. J. Skelton
3. J. Olam
4. S. Turuva
5. L. Laulili

6. L. Galvin
7. J. Luai

8. D. Klemmer
9. Koroisau
10. T. May
11. S. Fainu
12. A. Seyfarth
13. J. Bird


14. TDS
15. F. Pole
16. S. Fainu
17. R. Hunt

I think that is the best we can field in round 1, not a bad line up IMO. Short a good back rower. Seyfarth can do the job in the interim

I agree, not a bad side on paper.
Pre season training may change things but good for December!
Anyone one else kick goals when Api is off?

 

[ancient_magpie]

1. Bula
2, Skelton
3. May
4. Makasini
5. Turuva
6. Galvin / Fainu
7. Luai
8. Klemmer
9. Api
10. Pole
11. Fainu
12. Johannssen
13. May
14. Bird
15. Hunt
16. Seyfarth
17. Sukkar
18. Fainu
19. Porter
20. Mason

Top 4. Mix up the front row to suit, Hunt to start, Pole to bench etc. The backline we've always wished for!

Finally somebody other than me who doesn't think Sukkar is crape.

 

[The Chad]

You and @The Chad are both mistaken. Doueihi has only been binned twice with the Tigers. Once for a professional foul in 2020 and then for his tackle this year.
There is no footage anywhere of Doueihi making some great chase on Turbo. I'm pretty sure it is his tackle on Moga that @The Chad somehow remembers as Turbo.
In fairness to Doueihi it was a great chase on Moga.
Here's the link

Doueihi has a try saver

Adam Doueihi puts on the burners to chase down Tautau Moga and save a try

www.nrl.com

No, it was definitely Tommy T.

From memory, Tommy was not long back from one of his injuries.

If I'm playing with a straight bat, it felt to me like Tommy might have been slowed by the injury.

 

[pawsandclaws1]

Plus Walker and Smith out for much of 25, they will have some struggles next year, but think there is still a lot of quality there.
Dare say even with all those outs they will still have more internationals and SOO players in starting 13 than the tigers will...

Good post. Joey Manu is their biggest loss and the NRL's biggest loss. He has been a very good player for a long time. It is sad he will be wasted in rugby.

 

[Red88_Tiger]

Good post. Joey Manu is their biggest loss and the NRL's biggest loss. He has been a very good player for a long time. It is sad he will be wasted in rugby.

But think of the good news story when the chooks bring him back and get a leg up from nrl for bringing a rugby star cross codes

 

[BAGNF05]

Even then Barrett and Burton had enough pace to get on the outside of defenders

Galvin should be down with Bird at sprint training with Fabri

He burned young Talagi to set up a try last year. He looks slower than he is because he’s so tall and rangy. Still growing and he’ll look like an adult soon enough.

 

[1itiger]

Tiny May wants to play with Terrell once he's cleared ( ? ). 100% wants in. Richo is the only obstacle, doesn't think he'll fit in. Big call coming....

That's a fairly large obstacle...pun intended.

 

[BAGNF05]

If we are purely talking about slow or fast, it’s certain Doueihi beats Olam by 5-10metres over 50metres and would beat even further over100metres.
Yes Olam hits hard defending when the opposing player is on front of him, his lateral defence is no better than Doueihi’s.

Which is pretty insignificant really because most runs on an NRL field are about 5m before contact. Olam is the guy a defender doesn’t want to see 5m in front of him
with the pill.

 

[BAGNF05]

Benji is taking a modern approach to working and life which has helped him recruit players in this generation. He is acknowledging the multiple roles in modern life and the importance of balancing those roles. I don't think it's a hot take.

At the end of the day, what Benji believes about family or puts out in the press is really just noise and will have little to no bearing on actual results, for better or worse.

Those two paragraphs are quite contradictory. I agree more with the first one.

 

[innsaneink]

1. Bula
2, Skelton
3. May
4. Makasini
5. Turuva
6. Galvin / Fainu
7. Luai
8. Klemmer
9. Api
10. Pole
11. Fainu
12. Johannssen
13. May
14. Bird
15. Hunt
16. Seyfarth
17. Sukkar
18. Fainu
19. Porter
20. Mason

Top 4. Mix up the front row to suit, Hunt to start, Pole to bench etc. The backline we've always wished for!

Top 4 🤣
Off season really does give some amnesia
Twal will be in there somewhere and unless we totally overhaul the defense it will be bottom 4

 

[jrtiger]

Tiny May wants to play with Terrell once he's cleared ( ? ). 100% wants in. Richo is the only obstacle, doesn't think he'll fit in. Big call coming....

you mean fit from a cultural perspective? or a cap perspective.

 

[Tucker]

Benji is taking a modern approach to working and life which has helped him recruit players in this generation. He is acknowledging the multiple roles in modern life and the importance of balancing those roles. I don't think it's a hot take.

I think it is a hot take currently because the fashion this philosophy has been implemented in the club’s preparation has resulted in back to back spoons.
The philosophy isn’t incorrect, but you have to conduct it properly. Let’s hope the club has evolved. If we embrace the same positions we have in 23 & 24, then Luai and co will make the same impact that Api and co did when they arrived.

 

[Jolls]

So, the big question: is 2025 a year of redemption or rebuilding?

Looking ahead to the 2025 season, there’s a mixture of outright joy, cautious optimism and lingering questions on the forum surrounding the performance of our beloved Wests Tigers. After a decade of mediocracy followed by three spoons the time is ripe for this club to prove it can rise from adversity. However, is 2025 the year of redemption or are we still rebuilding?

Key Areas:

1. Leadership & Coaching Stability:
   Probably the biggest question mark in 2025. Benji has been in and around two of our spoon efforts despite only being the head coach last year. I won’t go into detail here given I put forward an analysis of his performance last week. Suffice to say, I think he has demonstrated that he understands what is required and is heading in the right direction. 2025 presents an opportunity for us to settle under Benji. Consistency at the helm could mean that we can focus on long-term goals instead of having to address another major coaching reshuffle in the short-term. I believe that Benji’s performance, along with that of his coaching staff, will determine the outcome of our 2025 season.
2. Young Guns Ready to Fire:
   The development of our junior talent is now clearly the foundation of Wests Tigers and is the cornerstone of a prosperous future. Failure to invest in this area appropriately will adversely affect our future. Players like Galvin and Latu F. have shown glimpses of brilliance. If they can make the leap in 2025, in support of the big recruits, we could have the spark we need for 2025 to be our year of redemption.
3. Recruitment and Retention:
   The club’s 2025 recruitment drive is probably the best in the NRL, with Luai, May, Hunt, Taruva and Bird adding much-needed depth and experience in key areas. The retention of Pole, Sam F. and Sione F. (in time) are also great moves by the club. One of the unheralded elements of the rebuild plan has been the depth added to our KOE team. On paper our KOE side is much better, this should allow our juniors to develop over time in the lower grades instead of rushing their development like we did in 2024.
4. The Spine Question:
   Big call from Richo on having the best spine in the NRL. I think that call was a bit early, but we have a right to be confident in our spine going forward. Bula and Galvin certainly need to step up to another level. Bula in particular needs to address his involvement, particularly in and around the ruck. Api, Luai, Galvin and Bula have the potential to click, but can they deliver week in and week out?
5. Culture Reset:
   Family first has created considerable debate on the forum. Like it or loathe it, this part of the culture building process that Richo and Benji have instituted. Based on the types of players we have recruited it would be difficult to say that it isn’t working. Could it be less in your face? Potentially; but I can’t see at this point how it is hurting our development given the very strong performance message that Benji has sent with the fat five. You can also see that off-field, the club has been making strides to reconnect with the fanbase. Particularly in the south west. A strong start to the season would do wonders for morale—not just in the sheds, but in the stands.

Predictions and Expectations

I sit in the cautious optimism camp. I still have a couple of nagging doubts around our depth, particularly our second-row stocks. There is still some water to go under bridge before the 2025 season kicks off so Richo and Benji may still address this.

For me it’s unrealistic to expect a return to the glory days of 2005. Personally, I think 2024 was about establishing the foundation and 2025 will be the year we finally see the building blocks come together. I think 2025 will be our turning point, a finals appearance might still be a stretch based on our depth but an injury free run could have us getting there. Realistically, a consistent season with mid-table (9th-12th) finish would signal progress and indicate that the foundations are set for a tilt at the title in 2026.

What are your thoughts? Is 2025 our turning point, or is it yet another year of rebuilding? 🐯💪