Signings, Suggestions & Rumours Discussion

[batboy]

Got that family connection
Seems realistic

Can never have enough reserve graders I suppose

 

[Roar_Power]

Just been thinking lately, a player that is young and only getting better. In a position we need. With combinations with players in our team. Has a point to prove and motivation. Not injury-prone. Joseph Suaalii. Can play centre, wing, fullback. Has experience but still quite young. Once he starts to miss RL he will come back. Not sure if he'll want to return to roosters the way they're going. Offer him near a million dollars as a centre. Overs? Perhaps. But we'll need him

Never going to happen - not in a million years....

 

[rugbygoated]

Never going to happen - not in a million years....

Our issue is not recruitment. Benji is attractive to work with. It's the on field which is the issue

 

[Rock Hopper Steve]

Can never have enough reserve graders I suppose

Used them in the centres last night and did jack, sooner Naden and Toa get back the better, I know not much better just have to make do with the best of an ordinary bunch.

 

[Lestronge]

Every touch - Jarome Luai

Watch every touch from Jarome Luai in his debut for the Wests Tigers

www.nrl.com

Just watching these clips it's clear he was underdone and not sure of his role. A lot of last tackle kicks or running on last play dumping it to Galvin. He is on 1.2 million, not Galvin. Idiotic that he thinks playing 2nd fiddle like he did next to Cleary is what's going to work. He didn't really focus on anything last night either. Kicking was evenly shared. Barely took a run. Didn't set up his outside men well. Didn't link up on the right enough. Probably the only good thing was his defence but even then he missed some key tackles at the end of the game. That last panic pass to Galvin at the end of the game showed his lack of game management that Cleary usually saves him in. Galvin had a shocker and to keep going to him is ridiculous. I go back to the raiders game for penrith last year where he threw an intercept where penrith were in front which decided the game. He is not good at staying calm when the game is in the balance. Same as last night, Tigers in front 8-0, then he gives away 7 tackle set and Knights score a set later which changes momentum. He then missed a tackle in the leadup to the 2nd try. He is not clutch. He is no match winner and the only way tigers will win in 2025 is in close games, so he's going to have a nightmare with no Aidan Sezer to kick a field goal. Luai is afraid to be the man despite saying it publicly. For Samoa, it was stephen crichton who sent samoa into the world cup final. For penrith, it was always cleary. He'll just dump everything on Galvin who is way overhyped and out of his depth. In origin last year, luai's assist was the difference maker in the end with it being tryless till then, but it was a something out of nothing play from behind. When in front, luai has no idea how to manage a team unless they are already at least 12 in front. Benji has to restructure the attack, drop galvin to reserves and perhaps play AD in the halves if that is what it takes

Just relax man it’s round 1 wtf …. We lost by 2 points , by IMO the best fullback in the game and the best centre . And because those 2 exist players like Lucas were allowed to showcase thier ability because we focused so heavily on the previously mentioned duo. We came last in 2024.
We lacked our hooker who really shores up the middle with line speed and smarts and if you’d have picked 2 centres to start round 1 everybody fit , neither of those 3 would have been anyone’s pick .
With to , Bula and api coming back im far more confident in the structures.
They also defended really well , and tried to influence the ref with gamesmanship . I think eventually it wore the ref down .
It’s round 1 . There things to work on , biggest thing is getting Galvin to just chill out a bit , but all in all I thought there were real signs of growth , and a lot of easy to fix areas . Like falling off tackles . That’s not a structure issue . That’s the players themselves improving thier performances .

 

[Betterdays22]

Just been thinking lately, a player that is young and only getting better. In a position we need. With combinations with players in our team. Has a point to prove and motivation. Not injury-prone. Joseph Suaalii. Can play centre, wing, fullback. Has experience but still quite young. Once he starts to miss RL he will come back. Not sure if he'll want to return to roosters the way they're going. Offer him near a million dollars as a centre. Overs? Perhaps. But we'll need him

Sorry mate but that is total and utter fantasy

 

[shankspony]

Klemmer withdrawan from NSW Cup this afternoon & former Souths centre/winger Izaac Tuitipou-Thompson late signing for Magpies lines up in centres. He’s arguably better in defence than both our centres last night.

Saukuru on the wing, according to the stats the heaviest player in the club, would love to hear how he goes if anyone's watching, already has a try by the looks of it.

 

[Rock Hopper Steve]

Had an idea for a signing from the nostalgia thread, maybe this guy with his footwork could make more line breaks, thoughts.

 

[rihannafan1]

Reedy just said on MMM that the Klemmer to Dragons will most likely be announced early this week and be available next weekend.
He also said Olam had his physical with the NRL doctor on Friday to judge whether he’s worthy of medical retirement.
Both should be announced soon.

I assume a Blake Lawrie type replaces Klemmer and if Olam is retired, his replacement would be May.

 

[weststigers]

Had an idea for a signing from the nostalgia thread, maybe this guy with his footwork could make more line breaks, thoughts.

Brings a different energy. I like it

 

[weststigerman]

NRL side run down after leading at half time.

Flegg side lose after leading 22-0 at half time

NSW Cup currently getting smashed after it was 6-4 at half time.

Very concerning trend there.

 

[colinbh]

Every touch - Jarome Luai

Watch every touch from Jarome Luai in his debut for the Wests Tigers

www.nrl.com

Just watching these clips it's clear he was underdone and not sure of his role. A lot of last tackle kicks or running on last play dumping it to Galvin. He is on 1.2 million, not Galvin. Idiotic that he thinks playing 2nd fiddle like he did next to Cleary is what's going to work. He didn't really focus on anything last night either. Kicking was evenly shared. Barely took a run. Didn't set up his outside men well. Didn't link up on the right enough. Probably the only good thing was his defence but even then he missed some key tackles at the end of the game. That last panic pass to Galvin at the end of the game showed his lack of game management that Cleary usually saves him in. Galvin had a shocker and to keep going to him is ridiculous. I go back to the raiders game for penrith last year where he threw an intercept where penrith were in front which decided the game. He is not good at staying calm when the game is in the balance. Same as last night, Tigers in front 8-0, then he gives away 7 tackle set and Knights score a set later which changes momentum. He then missed a tackle in the leadup to the 2nd try. He is not clutch. He is no match winner and the only way tigers will win in 2025 is in close games, so he's going to have a nightmare with no Aidan Sezer to kick a field goal. Luai is afraid to be the man despite saying it publicly. For Samoa, it was stephen crichton who sent samoa into the world cup final. For penrith, it was always cleary. He'll just dump everything on Galvin who is way overhyped and out of his depth. In origin last year, luai's assist was the difference maker in the end with it being tryless till then, but it was a something out of nothing play from behind. When in front, luai has no idea how to manage a team unless they are already at least 12 in front. Benji has to restructure the attack, drop galvin to reserves and perhaps play AD in the halves if that is what it takes

I'm glad you enjoyed the game.

 

[gregjm87]

50 missed tackles ain’t ideal but when we only concede 10 who cares


Only giving up 10 should be enough to win a game

If we only conceded 10 then, yeah. I think it was more a case of Knights only managed to score 10. We conceded another half dozen scoring opportunities they failed to take. Thus we should care about the 50 missed.

 

[Lestronge]

If we only conceded 10 then, yeah. I think it was more a case of Knights only managed to score 10. We conceded another half dozen scoring opportunities they failed to take. Thus we should care about the 50 missed.

Man, it’s just as true either way . We created a number of half breaks through the middle of the field only to not capitalise on the collapsed defence .
The knights ran the Gauntlet close to the line with cynical tactics and the ref didn’t call 1 6 again when attacking thier red zone .
I don’t see many refs having the same interpretation moving forward .
I called it mid game . They were lying all over the ruck on tackles 4 and 5 , creating slow play the balls and dropping thier wingers back early .
Due to the slow ruck speed and shooting markers , we couldn’t play on the ad line , and could only meh kick after meh kick .
Although our end of set decision making was also abysmal . Luai needs to take control and Galvin need to shut up and stop over calling all game .
This will fix itself with api at 9 . I noticed hope would prefer luai to Galvin , but TDS and Galvin thought it was u19s . And there’s simply not big enough and there’s not enough space for them to play like that .

 

[GNR4LIFE]

Mitch Moses 6 weeks sore foot

I think it’s soreness from a plate he has in it.

 

[batboy]

NRL side run down after leading at half time.

Flegg side lose after leading 22-0 at half time

NSW Cup currently getting smashed after it was 6-4 at half time.

Very concerning trend there.

Seems all very wests tigers to me

 

[Rock Hopper Steve]

I think it’s soreness from a plate he has in it.

Knew a bloke from my soccer days had the same problem, never played again he was 32.

 

[GNR4LIFE]

New a bloke from my soccer days had the same problem, never played again he was 32.

Idk how you put a timeframe on that sort of injury. I’m not a doctor, but if it’s sore now, how it would it be any less sore in 6 weeks?

 

[Rock Hopper Steve]

Idk how you put a timeframe on that sort of injury. I’m not a doctor, but if it’s sore now, how it would it be any less sore in 6 weeks?

Makes you think that the bone hasn't knitted properly and there is movement if this is the problem very bad.

 

[BlackWhiteGold]

https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/s...t/news-story/c19da1cd1ab3e08f6f49d7a42a533da5

NRL market watch: David Klemmer Dragons move tipped as Wests Tigers eye Justin Olam war chest​

David Klemmer has moved closer to a Wests Tigers exit as the NRL decides whether to hand the club a salary cap boost over Justin Olam’s potential medical retirement.

Brent Read, David Riccio and Michael Carayannis

2 min read
March 8, 2025 - 4:04PM
https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/s...ory/c19da1cd1ab3e08f6f49d7a42a533da5#comments

David Klemmer has pulled out of playing reserve grade for Western Suburbs, seemingly the last straw in his chequered career at the Wests Tigers.

The former Test prop’s move to St George Illawarra appears a fait accompli after the 31-year-old withdrew from Western Suburbs’ NSW Cup clash with Newcastle on Saturday.

Klemmer has spent the past 12 months at the Wests Tigers with his future the subject of uncertainty, the latest factor being an option to extend for another year if he plays at least 14 games in 2025.

However, after being overlooked by Wests Tigers head coach Benji Marshall ahead of the team’s 10-8 loss to Newcastle on Friday night, Klemmer is set to part ways with the club and join Shane Flanagan’s Dragons, as soon as this week.

Klemmer’s exit from the Wests Tigers comes as the club also works through the likely medical retirement of centre Justin Olam.

Olam has undergone testing with the NRL as he edges towards a medical retirement that could leave his embattled former club with an unexpected war chest to spend on strengthening their squad this season.

This masthead can reveal that Olam visited with medicos from the NRL on Friday over the knee injury that has brought a premature end to his career. While it is understood Olam has made the decision to retire, the question remains whether the NRL will deem his latest setback a career-ending injury.

A medical retirement would allow the Tigers to remove Olam from their salary cap for this season, even though he would be paid the remainder of his deal.

If the NRL rules in the Tigers’ favour, it could mean they have an additional $400,000 to spend this year to strengthen their side as well as a further $600,000 next season — Olam was on contract until the end of 2026.

Olam’s issues are purely medical as he struggles with a knee injury that has made it impossible for him to continue his career.

Olam struggled with a knee injury throughout 2024 but it is understood the injury that has forced his retirement is on the other knee.

He and the Tigers are expected to argue that it is a fresh problem rather than a lingering issue. The Tigers started with Adam Doueihi and Solomona Faataape in the centres on Friday night against Newcastle but Starford To’a is expected to return next week and come straight back into the side at the expense of the latter.

Faataape missed five tackles against the Knights and was given conniptions by NSW centre Bradman Best, who was a constant threat for Newcastle.

If the Tigers are successful in having Olam’s money removed from the salary cap, they are expected to immediately zero in on an outside back to add to their depth and quality in that area.