Signings, Suggestions & Rumours Discussion

[Kelce68]

No, no, no, no, no
We want someone who buys in and won’t give up.
Matterson is a pea hearted money grubbing arsehole

No argument.

And it hurt me to say suggest it.

But we are proper short in the back row.

If we lose Samuela and cop even one more injury, we're in deep, deep trouble.

 

[Tony Taco]

Definately some pickups.
Curran/Sorenson would be alright.

Can't see Crichton or Capewell going well here. We do so poorly on last playing contracts, we should avoid them. That said, Crichton may want to follow May. Could be a good easts connection.

Lets cash up and get someone GOOD!

Chrichton on the left edge would be dynamite. I guess it comes down to what they would attract in contract dollars, but Curran and Sorensen would be superb adds also. Defence stats and ruck creativity to the moon.

 

[Nadz4483]

Off contract 2rf’s 2026

John Bateman, Shawn Blore, Thomas Cant, Kurt Capewell, Angus Crichton, Matt Doorey, Beau Fermor, David Fifita, Tyson Frizell, Luke Garner, Charlie Guymer, Corey Harawira-Naera, Harry Hayes, Zac Hosking, Eddie Ieremia-Toeava, Brodie Jones, Oryn Keeley, Viliame Kikau, Mason Kira, Keaon Koloamatangi, Jacob Laban, Shaun Lane, Karl Lawton, Luciano Leilua, Connelly Lemuelu, Zyon Maiu'u, Noah Martin, Ryan Matterson, Marata Niukore, Kai O'Donnell, Joe Roddy, Simi Sasagi, Scott Sorensen, Tony Sukkar, Lewis Symonds, Siosifa Talakai, Kelma Tuilagi, James Walsh, Siua Wong, Josh Curran

Plenty to pick from.... Fair bit of talent there...

 

[bptiger 0]

Off contract 2rf’s 2026

John Bateman, Shawn Blore, Thomas Cant, Kurt Capewell, Angus Crichton, Matt Doorey, Beau Fermor, David Fifita, Tyson Frizell, Luke Garner, Charlie Guymer, Corey Harawira-Naera, Harry Hayes, Zac Hosking, Eddie Ieremia-Toeava, Brodie Jones, Oryn Keeley, Viliame Kikau, Mason Kira, Keaon Koloamatangi, Jacob Laban, Shaun Lane, Karl Lawton, Luciano Leilua, Connelly Lemuelu, Zyon Maiu'u, Noah Martin, Ryan Matterson, Marata Niukore, Kai O'Donnell, Joe Roddy, Simi Sasagi, Scott Sorensen, Tony Sukkar, Lewis Symonds, Siosifa Talakai, Kelma Tuilagi, James Walsh, Siua Wong, Josh Curran

I think we would only have a chance with these ,
Curran
Hoskings
Maybe Sorensen

 

[pawsandclaws1]

The imagine club will be examining players who are not on the list, forced out due to the salary cap etc.

 

[SeanT]

Kolomatangi would be great. Definately need someone also need a lock.

 

[TurnStyle]

More clutch than luai

... Said no one ever

 

[batboy]

Id take him and drown him in a bucket.
Hes a useless lump of shit that boy and hed be a cancer on the playing group.

Yep - Seems to always have an injury preventing him from Training....
Wants to be a male model more than a Footballer - Just in it for the Glory and paycheck.

 

[hank37w]

im not sure why everyone is freaking out about our front row. May, pole, twal, hunt, seyfarth, s fainu, sione faniu are all props or can play it. Our biggest concern has to be back row.
Sam and sione, bird, seyfarth are rerally all we have and that to me is bleak

Sam Fainu has got me worried, I know it has only been one round of the comp so far but what he has shown in that game and the trials is concerning.

So far I have not seen any of the impact or potential that he displayed last season and it doesn't even look like that is him out there with that hair.

Hopefully he fires up real soon.

 

[vlad]

Definately some pickups.
Curran/Sorenson would be alright.

Can't see Crichton or Capewell going well here. We do so poorly on last playing contracts, we should avoid them. That said, Crichton may want to follow May. Could be a good easts connection.

Lets cash up and get someone GOOD!

You want to avoid last playing contracts but think signing a 33yo Sorenson would be alright … 🤔

 

[hank37w]

jeez thats a tough sell but we do need a backrower, dunno if his ego would let him come back but who knows.

Dunno if his work ethic would allow that either.

 

[Spartan117]

I'm going to get slaughtered for this one but... Ryan Matterson worth a look? he's playing reserve grade for Parra this week. I believe he's good mates with Benji too & is still pretty close with Twal.

Ryan Matterson has proven to be self centred and the worst of team mates.

Not a fit for the Wests Tigers

 

[Kelce68]

Sam Fainu has got me worried, I know it has only been one round of the comp so far but what he has shown in that game and the trials is concerning.

So far I have not seen any of the impact or potential that he displayed last season and it doesn't even look like that is him out there with that hair.

Hopefully he fires up real soon.

Didn't get much good ball. He'll be fine. Still such a baby.

It's up to his halves to bring him into the game a bit more.

 

[hodgo]

Sam Fainu has got me worried, I know it has only been one round of the comp so far but what he has shown in that game and the trials is concerning.

So far I have not seen any of the impact or potential that he displayed last season and it doesn't even look like that is him out there with that hair.

Hopefully he fires up real soon.

i agree but im hoping its just that he hasnt got good ball. I thought we tried to play through the middle too much (if that is a thing) and the ball we gave the edges was pretty ordinary. With api straightening the play up and hopefully a bit of depth i am hopeful both he and big red get some ok ball.

 

[hank37w]

That might explain why he was training at Concord in the off season, trying to sneak in the back door lol.

Fortunately, they slammed the door in his face and then locked it. 🤣

 

[426Tlgerland]

Sam Fainu has got me worried, I know it has only been one round of the comp so far but what he has shown in that game and the trials is concerning.

So far I have not seen any of the impact or potential that he displayed last season and it doesn't even look like that is him out there with that hair.

Hopefully he fires up real soon.

Not much ball and looked a bit under weight from last year need 3 or 4 kg added to his size , he will come good once he gets the combo going with Luai or Galvin , my concern is Seyfarth he also looks 5 kg down on last season , I thought Alex was good 2 nd half last year but was not great round one , again maybe add some kg and get combos going , must say the team looked like they had not done any combo work or attacking plays in the off season , I would bring in Billy slater as he was the mastermind of storm moves , he come up with a lot of plays

 

[Jolls]

i agree but im hoping its just that he hasnt got good ball. I thought we tried to play through the middle too much (if that is a thing) and the ball we gave the edges was pretty ordinary. With api straightening the play up and hopefully a bit of depth i am hopeful both he and big red get some ok ball.

I saw it a bit that way as well. With Api providing time and space for the halves and middles I expect that to translate into straighter play for our halves. If we can also get some urgency into our PTB the defence will be more compressed and have less line speed - this should mean Galvin is less sideways on his side of the field and Luai will have space to set up his edge/centre. So much in the modern game revolves around ruck control (or lack of it).

We are chosing to play a flat attack, but that shouldn't mean Sam and the Baby Giraffe have no depth. There are only two choices for them; they run a spaces not faces, or Luai/Galvin shift a player so they can go through where they were. Everything else for them is variations on those themes; ie cutting back against the grain , running a X or Y line etc.

 

[Needaname]

With a contract clause that stated Klemmer would activate a contract extension of up around 800k for season 2026 if he played 12 or more games for Wests Tigers in 2025, nobody could argue that was an outrageous contract and the club had no option other than to advise Klemmer we would not be playing him for anymore than 12 games in 2025 as we were not happy with the contract clause for 2026.
Klemmer obviously would not have been happy about it, but it was better for us to be honest and give him a chance to move on which he has now done.
As myself and Rock Hopper Steve have previously stated, the concern is now our lack of depth in the forwards if we get any injuries.
I don’t believe we have any middle forwards or edge forwards outside of our top 17 that you could currently call NRL ready and have proven it with regular strong performances for our NSW Cup team.
Therefore common sense should be telling us it is not possible to go a full season without a few injuries to our forwards and therefore plans should already be in place to sign at least 1, but preferably 2 players from outside the club who can provide adequate cover to our NRL forwards and that’s in addition to the hopeful signing of Taylan May.
Keep a watch on Jayden Tanner and Charlie Murray both playing for our Wests Magpies NSW Cup team this week as they are both potentially players who could help our NRL team in the back half of 2025 once they are NRL eligible if they play to their potential.

Where do you get those numbers?
For starters the report was 14 games.
Was he really on 800,000 next year if the option kicks in?

 

[Tony Taco]

I had someone argue with me that he gives 100% every game, will chase every kick and dive on every loose ball… that’s all well and good but pointless if you have the impact of a wet tissue. At som

You want to avoid last playing contracts but think signing a 33yo Sorenson would be alright … 🤔

Is he 33 already? Id take a 31 year old Sorensen after 58 missed tackles last week.... Still a couple of good years left and strong defender, which is one glaring weakness in our current squad.
Prob wont break the bank either.

 

[hank37w]

He gave up on us when the hard yards needed to be made, but didnt mind taking the contract money. Must have learnt from Anasta.
Hard pass.

Would rather let down his team mates and sit out games rather than pay a fine so he could play and put in for his team.

Low life piece of scum.