Signings, Suggestions & Rumours Discussion

vlad said:
John Bateman has decided against advancing talks with the Rabbitohs – with a Queensland club emerging as a potential home for the English international.
South Sydney had been considering signing Bateman on the basis of his elite-level experience, hard-nosed mentality and likelihood that the Wests Tigers would contribute to a large portion of his salary.

However, it’s understood Bateman advised the Rabbitohs over the past 48-hours that he wouldn’t be pursuing any opportunity with the club.

Instead, it’s the Cowboys that have emerged as a possible destination for Bateman.

The 31-year-old would add a required toughness to their forward pack, while also proving a valuable mentor to the club’s talented batch of younger forwards including Heilum Luki, Reuben Cotter, Jeremiah Nanai and Griffin Neame.

It’s believed initial discussions have been held between Bateman and the Cowboys.





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Better load up on the 50+ sun screen Joneh
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Interesting! Todd Payten is managed by Isaac Moses, so potentially this is Bateman going to where Moses can pull more strings.
 
vlad said:
John Bateman has decided against advancing talks with the Rabbitohs – with a Queensland club emerging as a potential home for the English international.
South Sydney had been considering signing Bateman on the basis of his elite-level experience, hard-nosed mentality and likelihood that the Wests Tigers would contribute to a large portion of his salary.

However, it’s understood Bateman advised the Rabbitohs over the past 48-hours that he wouldn’t be pursuing any opportunity with the club.

Instead, it’s the Cowboys that have emerged as a possible destination for Bateman.

The 31-year-old would add a required toughness to their forward pack, while also proving a valuable mentor to the club’s talented batch of younger forwards including Heilum Luki, Reuben Cotter, Jeremiah Nanai and Griffin Neame.

It’s believed initial discussions have been held between Bateman and the Cowboys.





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Better load up on the 50+ sun screen Joneh
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A Pom in Townsville will end well.
 
jrtiger said:
if Tallyn is at 14 in grade next year, then I can see Sullivan on the bench for Cup with Doueihi and Fainu in the halves. not entirely inspiring.
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I still have some confidence albeit more like hope that another club will take Doueihi or Naden off our hands before the start of the season on a 2 year deal. We have an over-supply of outside backs & halves compared to forwards and I reckon Richo will be pedaling hard behind the scenes to offload one of our surplus backs. Maybe Doueihi or Naden to Souths & I still think Manly could be a player for Bateman if Cows falls through (Mestrov didn't completely rule it out in an interview I heard last week).
 
jrtiger said:
we need his cash mate. we can't pay a backup half over $500k for three successive years. that's salary cap suicide.
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Of course we need the cash mate …and the top 30 spot,,,, but it’s just not going to happen automatically unfortunately….he has said he isn’t moving on …also I don’t see any other NRL club wanting him on their books for three years even at $250k … Im saying that the only real option is the ESL but given his young age he could play out his deal here and still only be 26 at the end and go over there ..he has plenty of time on his side unfortunately…
 
Tucker said:
Im not referring to their bodies per say, although that can be a concern.
I agree with what you said and think people need to remember that these kids - genetically freakish as they may be - have not been tested properly. They have mostly played against other kids, likely the biggest fish in the pond, and not really been pushed.
When we throw them in first grade, we throw them to the wolves. Those wolves are as freakish as they are, except they are battlehardened men, experienced in the rigours of the game, a lot faster, stronger and fitter then what they are used to and have recieved all manner of training that the kids have not.
Add that to them not being used to the discipline possessed by a professional, whilst still navigating school, relationships, new experiences as they come of age such as increased responsibilities, family, money and freedom... and now fame....its a difficult melting pot.
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Agree with all that . It’s going to be interesting how Galvin goes this year .
The big thing will be IMO , he will struggle with adapting to being second fiddle 70% off the time . I think that’s where his natural regression will happen . Learning when to chime in and out .
Because I think , unlike say Luke brooks , Galvins game will be hard to completely game plan for .
It’s constant energy , constant pressure , short balls etc . Eventually he will get his wins here and there . Say like Luke brooks , a lot of what he does is telegraphed and if he doesn’t have options can be predicted .
 
Tito Santana said:
100%.

League is the redemption game - not that I agree with it.

Michael Jennings - ultimate POS.
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Much like the nfl , they know where their players are coming from , even if in the USA the guys first go to uni .
Unfortunately the best kids who tap into that aggression on field , are pretty bad at turning the tap off , off it.
 
jrtiger said:
if Tallyn is at 14 in grade next year, then I can see Sullivan on the bench for Cup with Doueihi and Fainu in the halves. not entirely inspiring.
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Just guesswork on my part but I don't think Doueihi will play in the halves in reggies, all else being equal. If he's going to be any use to the first grade team at any stage this season it's probably at centre, in which case the club will want him to get as many reps in there as possible. If he's needed in the halves in first grade, first of all: God help us. But second, he does at least have plenty of game time there under his belt so it's not as if he'll benefit much from reserve grade time to acclimatise.

That's not to mention the fact that the club will be keen for Sullivan to be playing somewhere in the hope that he can do enough to convince someone he's worth a look. I don't suppose he can play fullback?
 
jrtiger said:
we need his cash mate. we can't pay a backup half over $500k for three successive years. that's salary cap suicide.
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In theory, I'm not sure $500k is wildly out of line for your first backup half. Average salary on the cap in 2025 is $380k, and I'd argue third-choice half is a more important position than positions 12-18 on the roster. You've got to assume you'll be missing one of your halves for, what, 5-10 games across the season what with injuries, suspensions and origin - that's a pretty important role.

Some teams will have a young kid coming through who doens't cost them much, but that's going to be a high volatility option. The best option is probably a legit utility - a Connor Watson type - who won't let the side down in the halves but can be at least a good bench player when the first choice pair is available. Those players are easily worth $500k, but if you can't find one it's still worth having some money invested in someone who can make a decent fist in the halves.

The problem for the Tigers is that Sullivan is a bad fit on almost every level. We already have a really good third choice option in Latu Fainu, plus we have a promising backup hooker who can fill in while the first choice hooker plays in the halves if required. Sullivan is also strictly a 5/8 so doesn't help much if the player he's covering is the organising half (as might be required during Origin). Add to that him not having any utility value elsewhere - at fullback, centre or hooker, say - and we have the situation of paying $500k (and using a roster spot) for someone who will probably only get on the field in dire emergency. That really is salary cap suicide.
 
Interesting that Chammas on his podcast eluded to how he found out about Luai’s player options. He said it wasn’t Lee or Pascoe.

He mentioned each NRL club is given a spreadsheet of every clubs players, how long they are signed for and who their agent is.

He said he was given that document by someone (could be from any club) and noticed the Player Options for Luai as the glaring discrepancy from what’s on the NRL website (where players contract lengths are published).
 
weststigerman said:
I can't see Bateman going to the Cowboys. I believe he's only digging his heels in with us because he wants to stay an NRL player in NSW.

Surprised he knocked back Souths.
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Don't be surprised this is all Moses propaganda to increase the desperation within the Tigers with Manly waiting in the wings. Mestrov/Moses trying to get Richo to chip in as much as possible is plausible!
 
Tom Shines said:
yes he is assured that money … I don’t think he is an NRL level player ….my point is that he can go through the motions here… get every cent of his deal and still only be 26 at the end
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That's $2.6mil at age 26yrs. Not a bad start in life.
Time to plan a career after football. Get a real lifetime job.
 
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2041 said:
Just guesswork on my part but I don't think Doueihi will play in the halves in reggies, all else being equal. If he's going to be any use to the first grade team at any stage this season it's probably at centre, in which case the club will want him to get as many reps in there as possible. If he's needed in the halves in first grade, first of all: God help us. But second, he does at least have plenty of game time there under his belt so it's not as if he'll benefit much from reserve grade time to acclimatise.

That's not to mention the fact that the club will be keen for Sullivan to be playing somewhere in the hope that he can do enough to convince someone he's worth a look. I don't suppose he can play fullback?
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not opposed to Doueihi moving to the backs given as you say it's where he's the best chance of playing grade.

1. Mason
2. Staines
3. To'a
4. Doueihi
5. Naden
6. Sullivan
7. Fainu

means that Feledy, Craig and Saukuru start in Flegg and Lobb and Faataape miss out completely. Naden will have to make way when Makasini comes into Cup as well. they're probably the three that we need to shop therefore.
 
2041 said:
In theory, I'm not sure $500k is wildly out of line for your first backup half. Average salary on the cap in 2025 is $380k, and I'd argue third-choice half is a more important position than positions 12-18 on the roster. You've got to assume you'll be missing one of your halves for, what, 5-10 games across the season what with injuries, suspensions and origin - that's a pretty important role.

Some teams will have a young kid coming through who doens't cost them much, but that's going to be a high volatility option. The best option is probably a legit utility - a Connor Watson type - who won't let the side down in the halves but can be at least a good bench player when the first choice pair is available. Those players are easily worth $500k, but if you can't find one it's still worth having some money invested in someone who can make a decent fist in the halves.

The problem for the Tigers is that Sullivan is a bad fit on almost every level. We already have a really good third choice option in Latu Fainu, plus we have a promising backup hooker who can fill in while the first choice hooker plays in the halves if required. Sullivan is also strictly a 5/8 so doesn't help much if the player he's covering is the organising half (as might be required during Origin). Add to that him not having any utility value elsewhere - at fullback, centre or hooker, say - and we have the situation of paying $500k (and using a roster spot) for someone who will probably only get on the field in dire emergency. That really is salary cap suicide.
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nailed it. terrible signing. thanks Scott.
 
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