Signings, Suggestions & Rumours Discussion

Brad thorn ? It was definitely Darren Smith
Man,

I remember Darren Smith as Vice Captain of the Bulldogs and Terry Lamb's right hand man. Yet he went to the donkeys and I don't remember him at all

Quite a lot of finals teams seem to end up with a good player from 3-4 years ago. I.e. Souths had Loki Taquiri for their run (from memory). ...

Ok just hoping Olam fires up for us this year.
 
When you consider we have Justin Olam, Adam Doueihi, Starford To’a, Jeral Skelton, Sunia Turuva, Brent Naden, Josh Feledy, Solomona Faatape and potentially Heamasi Makasini, Latu Fainu or a potential late signing in Taylan May all competing for starting NRL positions, we have plenty to choose from and surely it creates enough pressure for a few of them play regularly well enough to make the position their own.
That's a lot of players who do - or could - play centre, but in all honesty it doesn't exactly fill me with enthusiasm.

There's probability, but in league 49 average centres and one good one out of 50 equals one good centre (fit, unsuspended Olam)....

I like To'a, and really hope he can stay fit and consistently play as well as I think he is capable. But that's far from a certainty and I feel like I have the same hopes for him every year...

Other than Makasini becoming the next Brad Fittler and being nrl ready this year (don't think he can even play until round 10 can he?), I think they look pretty low on quality in the centres.

Wouldn't surprise me if we see Bird play there a bit.

Olam and Bird would be an awesome centre pairing...7 years ago! 😭
 
No. Thorn won NRL grand finals, Origin series, World Cup’s and Super Rugby titles. Plus Bledisloe and Tri Nations. He did it all. Only player I can think of who played for Qld and Australia in league, and the All Blacks in rugby.
Greatest dual international I’ve ever seen. Nobody has achieved what he has in BOTH codes.

Plus, he played in the forwards in rugby. No one else has done that and that is a lot busier role than in league.
 
Greatest dual international I’ve ever seen. Nobody has achieved what he has in BOTH codes.

Plus, he played in the forwards in rugby. No one else has done that and that is a lot busier role than in league.
Going the other way two parra forwards Ray Price and Dick Thornett! Both didn’t play for the ABs but both transitioned from union to league as forwards. Suppose it was easier in their time as league was much more confrontational then!
 
All signs point that way

- Not taking an upgrade for this year
- Already asking for a release multiple times
- His tamper tantrum
- The old “I’m just focusing on footy” crap

There’s nothing in the pros column to indicate him staying.
We haven't even offered him an upgrade yet you realise. He can't accept, or decline, a contract that hasn't even been discussed or offered
 
This isn’t mail or anything - but I find it highly highly unlikely that Galvin re-signs with us.

The way he has acted throughout the last 12 months screams someone waiting for his contract to end so he can go elsewhere.
I'm frustrated by this topic (not personal attack)

In past years I would be very very worried.

The best young player at a lowly club...

I am content knowing that Richo and Benji are very aware of this retention situation.
 
I'm frustrated by this topic (not personal attack)

In past years I would be very very worried.

The best young player at a lowly club...

I am content knowing that Richo and Benji are very aware of this retention situation.
Completely agree. The right people are in charge who will deal with it the best way that they can. It puts me at ease in a situation that would normally bother me.

Time to focus on the season ahead and getting some wins!
 
Looking around the league most teams top 30 are either forward heavy or backs heavy. Not many teams have a good balance of both. I think this means there will be a fair bit of movement during the season.

Hopefully a quality second rower becomes available from one of those forward heavy teams.
There is a high likelihood that Harrison Hassett could become surplus to requirements at Penrith. The Panthers have apparently swooped on young Broncos second rower Harry Armstrong. This leaves them with a surfeit of second rowers. With Liam Martin, Luke Garner, and Scott Sorenson now joined by Armstrong the Panthers may look at offloading Hassett.

I'm not sure of Hassett's size and height but he is held in high regard. The problem is do we really want to make a play for Penrith's No. 5 second rower. He may end up another Tumeth?

It also means that Kobe Hetherington now looks light years away.
 
There is a high likelihood that Harrison Hassett could become surplus to requirements at Penrith. The Panthers have apparently swooped on young Broncos second rower Harry Armstrong. This leaves them with a surfeit of second rowers. With Liam Martin, Luke Garner, and Scott Sorenson now joined by Armstrong the Panthers may look at offloading Hassett.

I'm not sure of Hassett's size and height but he is held in high regard. The problem is do we really want to make a play for Penrith's No. 5 second rower. He may end up another Tumeth?

It also means that Kobe Hetherington now looks light years away.
There’s a very realistic chance Hetherington starts in the 13 and pushes Carrigan to prop. Especially now Haas is racing the clock to be fit for round 1. So he’s no chance. But some will tell you Madge is just being vindictive lol.
 
There’s a very realistic chance Hetherington starts in the 13 and pushes Carrigan to prop. Especially now Haas is racing the clock to be fit for round 1. So he’s no chance. But some will tell you Madge is just being vindictive lol.
Why not both?
Madge is being vindictive, and it turns out that he made need Kobe now.
Madge is human there will be some element of suk it Tigers.
 
This isn’t mail or anything - but I find it highly highly unlikely that Galvin re-signs with us.

The way he has acted throughout the last 12 months screams someone waiting for his contract to end so he can go elsewhere.
I totally agree.....Issac Moses will strongly suggest Galvin signs with a stronger club.......the narrative from Galvin supports this notion too...If I were Richo I'd be putting a 3 year extension on ther table NOW and if he doesn't sign before Rd1, I'd be prioritising Latu Fainu as the starting 5/8....just my view
 
Why not both?
Madge is being vindictive, and it turns out that he made need Kobe now.
Madge is human there will be some element of suk it Tigers.
I’m not sure if if beats him ignoring Api cos of is vindictiveness. Even though he went on to win the series anyway. .
 
I totally agree.....Issac Moses will strongly suggest Galvin signs with a stronger club.......the narrative from Galvin supports this notion too...If I were Richo I'd be putting a 3 year extension on ther table NOW and if he doesn't sign before Rd1, I'd be prioritising Latu Fainu as the starting 5/8....just my view
The term “stronger club” means very little at this point of time as every club currently has 0 points for the 2025 season.
The onus is on Wests Tigers to show they are or at least in the vicinity of becoming a stronger club themselves from 2025 onwards.
Likewise by Galvin not wanting to negotiate a new extended contract with us just yet, it puts the pressure on himself to back up and exceed what he done in 2024 to prove he is worthy of a big money long term contract.
It’s hard to see him not playing extremely well again in 2025, but we need to see it.
 
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