Signings, Suggestions & Rumours Discussion

[Telltails]

Never sure of how things will pan out but it usually ends up in the "if only" when it comes to players lost from WTs.

 

[LeichhardtTiger]

It's not even that hard.
Paul Vautin tells a story of how Kerry Packer offered to help him when he was on the board of the Northern Eagles.
Packer was offering to pay his players more and Vautin said yeah, but it's hard with the salary cap to which Packer replied "Haven't you heard of cash son?"

Yep and ex Souths, Roosters, Wests, Manly, WestsTigers, Manly again player, who is now in Rugby League Heaven regularly received a sports bag full of cash at the Central Railway Meat Pie emporium called Garlo's during his first stint at Manly.

 

[colinbh]

Lazy defender... fits right in here

Actually, he is a very good defender.

 

[Halbrowne61]

Never sure of how things will pan out but it usually ends up in the "if only" when it comes to players lost from WTs.

That’s coz everyone cherry picks the good ones ! ( except Brooks, Bud. Tupou, Matterson, Bateman, Klemmer and Talau! 🤣🤣🤣🤣 and others)

 

[Flippedy]

He is also managed by Isaac Moses.

Oh God is there anyone that scumbag doesn’t manage? Don’t understand why so many players/coaches align themselves with such an unscrupulous bastard. They know what he is like yet they still sign up with him. Says a lot about their ethics, imo.

 

[tigerballs]

Forget Lachlan Galvin. His replacement absolutely loves Wests Tigers​

By​

May 30, 2025 — 7.30pm

Heath Mason was the standout No. 6 in the Australian Schoolboys Championships final in 2023.

That is a fair wrap when you consider the five-eighth on the losing side that day was none other than Lachie Galvin.

Galvin’s departure to Canterbury this week has paved the way for Mason to wear the No.6 jersey at the Wests Tigers for the first time.

Unlike Galvin, Mason is a Wests Magpies junior who loves the Tigers and wants to stay long term. So does Galvin’s good mate Tallyn Da Silva.

“He’s on until the end of 2026. Heath loves the club and doesn’t want to be anywhere else,” Mason’s agent Matt Desira said. “I’m actually excited to see how he goes in the No. 6 because he plays direct, and loves to dig into the line. I think he can dominate at NRL level.”

While he has played a handful of NRL games at fullback, Mason grew up playing in the halves and has the potential to be a star five-eighth. The parents, family and friends at that schoolboys final a few years back on a sunny afternoon in Redcliffe will attest to that.

Australian Schoolboys coach Tim White said Galvin may have been the best player at that tournament, but Mason was the pick of the five-eighths.

“Heath’s team ended up putting 40 points on Lachie’s side – he was certainly more dominant in that game,” White said. “I ended up picking him in the schoolboys team as a No.14, but he didn’t travel because of an injury.

“He’s very versatile, very instinctive, and he can play a number of positions because he is supremely coordinated – he has an innate ability to pop up anywhere and just play. There’s almost no need to coach Heath. He’s athletic and a natural footballer.”

Mason was a member of the Magpies’ Harold Matthews team that won the 2022 premiership. The side also featured Galvin, who started in the back row, as well as Da Silva and forward Kit Laulilii, with Mason the No.6.

“Heath could do a job for you anywhere on the football field,” said Stephen Isdale, a member of the Magpies’ coaching staff that year.

“He’s a natural runner, an eyes-up footballer, and if he sees an opportunity, he’ll take it or create something for those on his outside. He’s got a great right-foot step and played on the right. The year we won, we had Heath on the right, Lachie on the left, then Tallyn and Kit through the middle – we had threats all over the place.”

Footage of Galvin training at Belmore in Canterbury colours on Friday would have been welcomed by Tigers fans who have watched their team’s season virtually placed on hold since it emerged six weeks ago their young playmaker wanted to continue his career elsewhere.

Mason will try to make the most of his first five-eighth audition when the Tigers play North Queensland on Saturday evening. Latu Fainu is another supremely talented No. 6 option but has struggled with hamstring injuries and now a hand issue.

Mason grew up playing with the Thirlmere-Tahmoor Roosters, in the southern highlands, and is signed until the end of 2026.

When asked on Friday if he was disappointed with Galvin’s departure, Tigers coach Benji Marshall said: “I don’t know if ‘disappointment’ is the word.

“Look, at the same time we like our players we’ve got, we love the squad we’ve got. We’re excited about some of the young players we’ve got coming through and for us, we want to try and make a mark on competition this year.”

The Cowboys are monitoring the Tigers and what happens with Da Silva should Api Koroisau extend his deal, which is expected in the coming months. North Queensland inquired about Koroisau and Da Silva after Reece Robson announced he was joining the Sydney Roosters.

Marshall told the Cowboys both players were off limits, but that will change should Koroisau extend, and Da Silva be given permission to leave a year early.

The home team welcome the return of Origin players Reuben Cotter, Tom Dearden, Jeremiah Nanai and Robson.

Can't wait to watch him. I think he'll be sensational.

 

[Batmans Parents]

Actually, he is a very good defender.

Yep but we have fools on here who don’t know their arse from their elbow when it comes to identifying good players.

Anyone who has watched KPP play knows he would be a huge improvement on the embarrassment that is Seyfarth.

 

[TSP]

Can't wait to watch him. I think he'll be sensational.

Yeah, im hoping he rips in.

He might be a bit dusty at the start as he adjusts to the skirmish in big time footy.

I think you could train for months in the role, but you need games and all that comes with it at the elite level.

He obviously has a much stronger personal and professional relationship with JL than bratfink did and im curious to see how that manifests itself.

 

[user118245]

Was a gagai rumour floating around here I believe, wouldn’t mind him after last nights efforts

 

[pawsandclaws1]

Was a gagai rumour floating around here I believe, wouldn’t mind him after last nights efforts

Apparently he played his 200th first grade game for the Knights. Congraluations on a fine career. Gagai and Frizell offer good experience for the Knights. There was a post yesterday advising Gagai had re-signed for another year.

KPP love ya work, Alex Seyfarth love ya work😁

 

[user118245]

Say coming in for 2026 we get:
- KPP
- Taylan May
- Gagai
- Votano (Fullback for cup, develop heath as a 6)
- Kobe H and/or Bullemore

Retain:
- Douehi

We just need some forwards to step up or come in

 

[Tom Shines]

I didn’t see the game last night … Gagai has jumped the shark though hasn’t he? 34 years old

 

[pawsandclaws1]

Say coming in for 2026 we get:
- KPP
- Taylan May
- Gagai
- Votano (Fullback for cup, develop heath as a 6)
- Kobe H and/or Bullemore

Retain:
- Douehi

We just need some forwards to step up or come in

There was a post or two yesterday suggesting if we aren't interested in Taylan May, there is a good reason for it, perhaps another backline signing? We'll just have to wait to hear from Richardson.

 

[user118245]

There was a post or two yesterday suggesting if we aren't interested in Taylan May, there is a good reason for it, perhaps another backline signing? We'll just have to wait to hear from Richardson.

Wish their was a feed where you could see the real rumours and mods would tag them into a spot easy to access, forums been going crazy recently

 

[Vicious]

KPP would be a great addition to our team at the right price, but I can’t help but think us showing interest or signing Dom Young would have assisted us in also signing KPP.
I wholeheartedly agree with The Chad in thinking an edge back row combination of KPP and David Fifita would make us a much more formidable line up and it would allow Sam Fainu to come off the bench and play as a middle or on an edge when required.
KPP and Fifita can both also easily fill in at centre when required which would give the team plenty of flexibility.

 

[gregjm87]

The controversial call outs seem to be more about not square at marker or standing too far back at marker. And no, it would not be a sin bin, it's a penalty or 6 again. We do often say just tackle him and cop the penalty, however the reality on the field is a large percent of tries are scored when teams get piggy backed up field with penalties or set restarts. As a player you hesitate ( especially late in the tackle count) when called out and you are cooked, you would expect cover defence to make the tackle and when they dont, you look like a complete fool.

Just need some communication from the cover defence. If you hear "I've got him" (or something similar) you pull out. If you don't you tackle.

 

[Flippedy]

There allegedly is a $2m payout for AOB according to Knights' supporters.

Oh wow really? Painted themselves into a corner there. They’ve already spent millions on Brown, so they might have to keep O’Brien now no matter how bad it gets. Not good management, like us Newcastle have been guilty of that over the years.

 

[Jolls]

Yeah that’s my point.
Might be a great topic for a deep dive if @Jolls is keen?

LEt me look into it - been snowed under with work recently. I have to finish off the last one and get started on the next. Probably Tuesday next week before I get to anything at the moment.

 

[user118245]

Apparently Joey Manu was spotted at Roosters HQ yesterday, hopefully we’re in the mix as well

 

[Tim Sheens]

200k is almost minimum wage. Players on 200k are usually number 28-29 on the roster.

Staines and Naden are both on double that.

People really are out of touch with salaries and rises from the cap increase.

You are probably right on Staines and Naden as that is basically the average cap payment. Still, $200k is currently more than 50% above the base salary of $130k that rises $5k a year through 2027, so WT need some 3 roster spots on the barevminimum just to compensate the difference above average for say Luai alone.

I expect that there are at least a few players at WT and all other clubs on that minimum just to balance rosters.