Signings, Suggestions & Rumours Discussion

[Rock Hopper Steve]

We need an NRL quality second rower. Not a NSW Cup prop who isn’t even on a top 30 deal or played a single game at second row.

If we want to be a serious team, we need to take a serious approach to the team we put out each week.

Agree but where do we find that player not under the Christmas tree not much out there at the moment maybe for 2026 until then one of our players will have to adapt unless luckily one comes onto the market.

 

[bptiger 0]

We do. But we also need to build smartly. We've now got some cap implications and upgrades to consider if we want to make a run for it in 2026, 27. We need to use the space now to free later. If that's clearing the cap hit from Sullivan or batemans exit or upgrading Galvin.

I think richo and benji will take that approach and give some guys a chance to grab that spot this year. If they dont rise, then wait for the tree to shake.

We can’t wait till 2026 , we don’t go close to the 8 next year Galvin will be gone and maybe others

 

[tigerbenji]

Hunt is on just above 400k.

Spot on that's the amount.

 

[jrtiger]

I’m sure he knows what’s best. Who are you to doubt him?

why would I doubt him? every team he's been affiliated with has gone from the shithouse to the penthouse.

is that clause still keeping you up at night?

 

[hammertime]

We can’t wait till 2026 , we don’t go close to the 8 next year Galvin will be gone and maybe others

Maybe we can extend lachy earlier as richo mentioned.

I dont want us to just make the 8 year on year. We need to go deep into finals. For that, we need a strong balance sheet cap wise.

The situation we have is that we have people who can do a job there, just not elite. I think seyfarth, tumeth and Sukkar can do it this year.

Bird can switch too.

... or maybe, like May, we may just wait to take advantage of another clubs situation.

 

[GNR4LIFE]

why would I doubt him? every team he's been affiliated with has gone from the shithouse to the penthouse.

So why would speculate that he might be doing things to get players offside?

is that clause still keeping you up at night?

Nope

 

[jrtiger]

So why would speculate that he might be doing things to get players offside?

I said that if he were to go back on his word of ensuring Sione gets a top 30 spot when one became available that it would potentially annoy the other two and their manager. is that not a fair comment?

 

[batboy]

"International back rower". Dear god the semantic lengths people will go to to make it sound like Bateman is anything other than dead weight on a roster are hilarious.

It's not semantics Mr Postcode - It's fact....

Here's one more for you - Seyfarth, Sukkar and Tumeth combined don't equal whatever it is you judge we were getting from Bateman.
As I also said (Conveniently overlooked) I don't disagree with the intent - I do disagree with our depth at Back Row, The fact we have 2 spots spoken for that we don't have room for atm - And another dismissal we might not get away with yet.

Not to mention there's no-one on the market that replaces him.

 

[Rock Hopper Steve]

Maybe we can extend lachy earlier as richo mentioned.

I dont want us to just make the 8 year on year. We need to go deep into finals. For that, we need a strong balance sheet cap wise.

The situation we have is that we have people who can do a job there, just not elite. I think seyfarth, tumeth and Sukkar can do it this year.

Bird can switch too.

... or maybe, like May, we may just wait to take advantage of another clubs situation

Think Sukkar out of mentioned has more potential moving forward young and tall

 

[batboy]

If people don't want Sukkar I think we could turn Pole into a rampaging backrower he's big and strong enough.I know its been tried before minimally but I think it could work and we have enough middles.
.

Or - See it's already an obvious weakness, and we could stop letting the ones that we have under contract go, until we have suitable replacements / squad depth.
(Kinda like how all the other clubs do)

 

[GNR4LIFE]

At this rate, Bird might have start on an edge with Seyfarth or Pole at lock.

 

[2041]

It's not semantics Mr Postcode - It's fact....

Here's one more for you - Seyfarth, Sukkar and Tumeth combined don't equal whatever it is you judge we were getting from Bateman.
As I also said (Conveniently overlooked) I don't disagree with the intent - I do disagree with our depth at Back Row, The fact we have 2 spots spoken for that we don't have room for atm - And another dismissal we might not get away with yet.

Not to mention there's no-one on the market that replaces him.

We could argue all day about whether 2025 John Bateman is a first grade standard player. But we don't have to: we both know, or at least we should know, that he had no intention of playing for the Tigers again and the head coach had no intention of picking him even if he did.

Saying "but we don't have anyone else" is meaningless because, to all intents and purposes, we didn't have Bateman either. He was present on our roster in the same way that the exercise bike used to be present in my spare room: it was physically there but it would have been foolish for me to make any assumptions about using it, because it was pretty clear from several years' experience that that wasn't going to happen.

 

[BlackWhiteGold]

He would really be a bonus for us and not expensive, great suggestion

Don't mind this at the right price as he can play backrow at a pinch. Maybe a 2-for-1 if Millie comes to our NRLW team as well.

 

[The Chad]

When do we resurface the Harrison Hassett rumour?

I actually think he makes perfect sense, given the lost contract value of paying half of Bateman's contract.

Sam Fainu, Seyfarth, Hassett, Porter, Sukkar, Tumeth. Maybe Bird as well.

You'll laugh, but that would be the time I'd add Liam Knight on a T&T for depth as well.

 

[clontarfkid]

We could argue all day about whether 2025 John Bateman is a first grade standard player. But we don't have to: we both know, or at least we should know, that he had no intention of playing for the Tigers again and the head coach had no intention of picking him even if he did.

Saying "but we don't have anyone else" is meaningless because, to all intents and purposes, we didn't have Bateman either. He was present on our roster in the same way that the exercise bike used to be present in my spare room: it was physically there but it would have been foolish for me to make any assumptions about using it, because it was pretty clear from several years' experience that that wasn't going to happen.

Bateman was indeed 1st grade standard in 2024... but nothing like the 2019 2nd rower of the year..nor his present international status.
Bog standard nrl player in 24..no more no less
Hes not the player he was 5 years ago,and thats what happens when yr giving away 15 kgs to yr opposite number over a decade or so..it wears u down
and his admirable emotional commitment resulted in him being high maintenance and adverse to crticism.Probably not handled well by Benji,which is a learning experience
But...we dont have a proven edge replacement,and whilst were clearly committed to Sione(who remains unproven),Im not sure were better off.
Im disappointed we couldnt resolve this impasse more constructively...but dealing with I Moses is never a walk in the park
At least its over

 

[Tiger Stripes]

I'd prefer we chase another backrower too, but the club can't afford to upset the Fainus by bringing in someone else in on top of Sione again. naturally therefore the next available place in the 30 goes to him.

wouldn't surprise me if it's Saukuru that's on the block. copped a breach notice early in preseason and is still struggling for fitness. his dad's also left the club.

Agree; Saukuru would be on very thin ice!
Followed by Feledy, Tumeth and Doueihi. Just can't see them improving or enough for NRL level.
The others on thin ice will depend on how they travel in the pre-season, their wages and playing positions they are training for.
Can they convince Benji they are up to it?
Benji's & Richo's job to sort that out.

 

[Tito Santana]

please. held hostage.

Richardson promised Tartak and Sione that the latter would be given a spot in the top 30 as soon as one became available. if you walk that back then you're going to struggle to regain trust.

What’s the difference if he’s train and trial or top 30? Is it budgetary ceiling or something? Just for Tito to understand better.

 

[Tito Santana]

Come on ur blaming Bateman for everything that went wrong at the club , I guess he also was the cause the nsw team got thrashed nearly every week , be real , yes he was poor in attack but his defence was good now we got to fill that gap with kids who can’t tackle , YES a thorn is gone but really we are worse if in defence

Mmmm…. Yes Bateman got Tito’s 2024 Luke Brooks Award for worst cost benefit ratio.

Brooks undoubtedly took it out annually from 2013 to 2024.

 

[Tito Santana]

When do we resurface the Harrison Hassett rumour?

I actually think he makes perfect sense, given the lost contract value of paying half of Bateman's contract.

Sam Fainu, Seyfarth, Hassett, Porter, Sukkar, Tumeth. Maybe Bird as well.

You'll laugh, but that would be the time I'd add Liam Knight on a T&T for depth as well.

Nup to Knight - Even if he brings Danika.

I like Porter as a solid no frills second rower.

 

[Tom Shines]

When do we resurface the Harrison Hassett rumour?

Maybe in 2026 when he has shown something