Signings, Suggestions & Rumours Discussion

[Betterdays22]

Doubt they have the cash for him, we have the cash and the connection with api, luai, terrell, turuva, taylan if he ends up coming. That’s why we’d be favourites

you might be right...

Can't see the Roosters letting him go any time soon, especially after losing May and JWH

 

[cone]

you might be right...

Can't see the Roosters letting him go any time soon, especially after losing May and JWH

Nowadays if a player wants out they can do it. All he has to do is say it’s for personal reasons, mental health etc, never know but yeah it’d be crazy if we manage to grab another rooster gun

 

[Canadian Club]

Dislocated Kneecap, not knee itself, very different injury

Yeah sorry, that's what I meant. Still very lucky, most of the time a dislocated knee cap will result in ligament damage in some form.

 

[Camel2281]

Trying to find a timeline of this but I can't see where he was signed to Melbourne before the swap?

This is all I can find: https://www.smh.com.au/sport/nrl/sh...my-but-wants-to-stay-put-20230824-p5dz9p.html

He'd already signed for 2025 as Fulton told him he wasn't going to be resigned which was a part of the Benji/Fulton issues as Benji liked Blore. He was already gone so the swap was just making the most of a bad situation and have him leave a year earlier for at least some sort of compensation . Unfortunately Olam hasn't worked out

 

[rihannafan1]

He'd already signed for 2025 as Fulton told him he wasn't going to be resigned which was a part of the Benji/Fulton issues as Benji liked Blore. He was already gone so the swap was just making the most of a bad situation and have him leave a year earlier for at least some sort of compensation . Unfortunately Olam hasn't worked out

Thanks. As usual, Storm don't really lose players they think have a future with them. They knew Olam was crook.

 

[Betterdays22]

He'd already signed for 2025 as Fulton told him he wasn't going to be resigned which was a part of the Benji/Fulton issues as Benji liked Blore. He was already gone so the swap was just making the most of a bad situation and have him leave a year earlier for at least some sort of compensation . Unfortunately Olam hasn't worked out

Fair enough, still stands that the Olam signing was a poor one no matter which way you look at it.

 

[Wiz]

He'd already signed for 2025 as Fulton told him he wasn't going to be resigned which was a part of the Benji/Fulton issues as Benji liked Blore. He was already gone so the swap was just making the most of a bad situation and have him leave a year earlier for at least some sort of compensation . Unfortunately Olam hasn't worked out

Fulton was clearing the decks for Schuster.

 

[Rock Hopper Steve]

Fulton was clearing the decks for Schuster.

It's a blessing we got rid of that pecker neck was here 5 minutes and thought he owned the joint.

 

[Tiger Stripes]

Wests Tigers centre Justin Olam is on the verge of a medical retirement as he struggles to overcome a knee injury that required surgery in the offseason.

The Papua New Guinean international is striving to get himself on the training field and the Wests Tigers are set to discuss his future with his management later this week.

There are fears the 31-year-old’s time in the NRL could be over as a result of the injury that has severely restricted his workload.

Olam wants to continue playing but is unable to get himself in a position to train with the team. A medical retirement would see him paid out the remainder of his near $600,000-a-season contract which expires at the end of 2026.

It would also mean the Wests Tigers will have his wage wiped from the salary cap, however the club is no guarantee to be granted a medical retirement exemption.

In order to qualify for the medical retirement, the club will have to successfully argue that his career has been cut short due to a one-off injury and not as the result of a chronic issue. The Wests Tigers declined to comment when contacted on Monday.

Olam has long had knee issues dating back to his time at the Melbourne Storm and has been hampered by it during his time at the Tigers.

The knee that required surgery this offseason was the opposite knee that primarily hampered him during his time at the Storm. The Tigers believe he suffered an injury in round 18 against his old club at Leichhardt that has been the major contributor to his current dire predicament.

Olam has been a strong contributor for the joint-venture club when he has been on the field, but was restricted to just 13 of the club’s 24 games in his first season at the Tigers in 2024.

There is the option of undergoing further medical procedures to try and improve his situation, but it may impact on his way of life after rugby league.

Olam was still holding out hope of being able to play for the new NRL team in Papua New Guinea in 2028 to represent his home nation in the NRL but it appears highly unlikely that his body will allow him to play this year, let alone in three years’ time.

The veteran centre’s plight is compounded by the dislocated kneecap suffered by Brent Naden in the Tigers’ 30-18 trial win over Parramatta at Leichhardt Oval that is expected to sideline him for at least the first two months of the season.

Please explain.
If medically retired and is paid out [2 years = $1.2 mil.] who pays? the NRL?

 

[rex2ce]

Please explain.
If medically retired and is paid out [2 years = $1.2 mil.] who pays? the NRL?

Insurance company

 

[Vicious]

So if Klemmer departs as expected and Olam is medically retired as looking likely, would we be stronger and would we be happy with Francis Molo and potentially Taylan May as their replacements ?
Yes I know we really need another back rower, but there is nobody available and nobody decent that looks like becoming available anytime soon, so you cannot buy something that is not for sale.
And yes I’d much prefer Spencer Leniu instead of Francis Molo, but I don’t think there is any chance an already struggling Roosters let go of another high quality prop.

 

[cone]

Please explain.
If medically retired and is paid out [2 years = $1.2 mil.] who pays? the NRL?

He’s paid by the club but it doesn’t go against our cap

 

[Tiger Stripes]

Centre depth now critical with Olam gone for foreseeable future. Toa and AD look to be 1st choice with Faatape first drop. Taylan May will obviously come into frame but who else out there?

Everyone assuming Taylan May will be found not guilty? Wishful thinking maybe?
Did WT get Bryden's Lawyers advice on a "not guilty" verdict is a no brainer. So keep a top 30 spot for him?
Do we give his partner a brown paper bag to withdraw the charge? Negotiable?
Not sure how this is going end.

 

[Oldman]

That's a real shame for Naden and the team. He was actually looking the best he has been since arriving at Concord

Sorry
But that wouldn’t have been to hard. (Looking the best)
from what he delivered since arriving.

 

[innsaneink]

People acting like a jilted ex lover, trying to convince themselves that Stef's new flame isn't that hot. He is on to bigger and better things, probably a premiership this year, like it or not.

His game will go to new levels at Melbourne, doesn't change the fact he was a flop here.

Rather than death ride the guy, people would be better off trying to reflect on why we couldn't get the best out of Stef but Melbourne will. Was it down to Stef? The club? Or a bit of both?

Yeah... The bias is very evident

 

[jrtiger]

with the Olam news I'd be looking into Zac Laybutt and Viliami Vailea. with those two off contract, plus Purdue looking like a very good centre, the Cowboys can't keep them all happy. they're probably the best options of a very dry market.

you can't simply assume Taylan May will get off scot free, or that he'll be a natural fit for WT because his brother's here.

 

[Rock Hopper Steve]

So if Klemmer departs as expected and Olam is medically retired as looking likely, would we be stronger and would we be happy with Francis Molo and potentially Taylan May as their replacements ?
Yes I know we really need another back rower, but there is nobody available and nobody decent that looks like becoming available anytime soon, so you cannot buy something that is not for sale.
And yes I’d much prefer Spencer Leniu instead of Francis Molo, but I don’t think there is any chance an already struggling Roosters let go of another high quality prop.

Unfortunately, there not dumb enough to swap Klem for Leniu, on the 2RF front V after having a look at Kai Pearce Paul have my doubts as a target now looks like another one of those tall thin dudes.

 

[cone]

So if Klemmer departs as expected and Olam is medically retired as looking likely, would we be stronger and would we be happy with Francis Molo and potentially Taylan May as their replacements ?
Yes I know we really need another back rower, but there is nobody available and nobody decent that looks like becoming available anytime soon, so you cannot buy something that is not for sale.
And yes I’d much prefer Spencer Leniu instead of Francis Molo, but I don’t think there is any chance an already struggling Roosters let go of another high quality prop.

Molo would probably be cheap, not against it but would want to know for sure that Leniu isn’t happening first

 

[jrtiger]

So if Klemmer departs as expected and Olam is medically retired as looking likely, would we be stronger and would we be happy with Francis Molo and potentially Taylan May as their replacements ?
Yes I know we really need another back rower, but there is nobody available and nobody decent that looks like becoming available anytime soon, so you cannot buy something that is not for sale.
And yes I’d much prefer Spencer Leniu instead of Francis Molo, but I don’t think there is any chance an already struggling Roosters let go of another high quality prop.

if Klemmer moves on and Olam is retired then we have three spots to spare. I think one needs to be a lock, another a backrower and finally a centre. Molo is on $550k for another three years at 30 years old. we can do better.

 

[AdelaideTiger]

Everyone assuming Taylan May will be found not guilty? Wishful thinking maybe?
Did WT get Bryden's Lawyers advice on a "not guilty" verdict is a no brainer. So keep a top 30 spot for him?
Do we give his partner a brown paper bag to withdraw the charge? Negotiable?
Not sure how this is going end.

Sorry should have qualified that IF not guilty, which seems like it could be 50/50 at best. Definitely wishful thinking.