Signings, Suggestions & Rumours Discussion

[BlackWhiteGold]

Deserves more than a year. You’d think two years should be standard.

Only that his manager said he was on board for next season in SMH yesterday.

 

[BlackWhiteGold]

Brandon Tumeth to Souths by June 30

Playing Ron Massey Cup right now for Ryde Eastwood.

 

[Rock Hopper Steve]

Is he in our top 30?

I think there is a requirement of having a minimum amount of players contracted by June 30 so if he is, it means he's making way for someone (plus we have other spots to fill)

Yes he's top 30 and with the transfer rumour would bring us down to 26, this must mean there are a few external signings coming in there's not much from internal we could promote besides maybe Mason.

Please Richo announce some signings during the week and put us out of our misery.

 

[Demps]

Our off contract players;

Adam Douihei - 1 or 2 year deal, I'd be pushing down the depth chart as a reliable backup option.
Solomona Fataape - NSW cup contract
Josh Feledy - released
Justin Matamua - released
Brent Naden - released
Charlie Staines - I'd like to keep as a back up option, fill in when needed.
Brandon Tumeth - released

Promoted from within:
Heath Mason - Genuine 6 and id like to see him developed further.
Krystian Mapapalangi - lots of utility value, can pay anywhere 1 to 6, type of player we need on the books. A better centre option than Naden, Feledy, etc.
Heamasi Makasini - he's into the top 30 next year.

Development Players:
Currently for 2026, we have some young guns on the list.
Christian Taupau-Moors ( FRF )
Jared Haywood ( Hooker )
Phoenix Godinet ( 2RF )
Lachlan Broederlow ( FRF / 2RF )

External Recruits:

This is always the hard part as not only do we need to strengthen our top 17, we also need to strengthen our depth. We need 18 - 30 players we can actually use, not Tumeths, Matamuas, etc. Taking up the spots.

Super league options;
Kaide Ellis - no nonsense prop playing for Wigan.
Aaron Pene, prop, played for Warriors and Storm, currently playing in the UK for Leigh.
Alec Tutavake - Prop who came through the Dragons, Currently playing for Leigh. Similar player to Isaia Papalii, good back up prop who'd push for a starting role
Tyrone May - currently playing half-back for Hull KR, good back up option for us, can play lock, backrow and centre.

Few off contract players at other clubs worth a look;

Villiami Fifita - prop, Dragons
Sione Finau, winger, Dragons
Harrison Hassett, backrow, Penrith
Haze Dunster, winger, eels
Wiremu Grieg, prop, Eels
Kai Pearce-Paul, backrow, Knights
Tom Ale, prop, NZ
Lazarus Vaalepu, prop, Melbourne
Ativalu Lisati, backrow, Melb
Tony Francis, centre, Gold coast

And there's some Q Cup and NSW cup players we could look at, to strengthen our cup team... we seem to be bringing in some East Tigers players, like Hope, Fataape and Murray.

 

[Darty the winger]

Brandon Tumeth to Souths by June 30

Where did you hear this information?
Or is this another rubbish story??
I question why Souths would sign this guy ?
NSW cup ? As they have a full top 30 squad

 

[Darty the winger]

Our off contract players;

Adam Douihei - 1 or 2 year deal, I'd be pushing down the depth chart as a reliable backup option.
Solomona Fataape - NSW cup contract
Josh Feledy - released
Justin Matamua - released
Brent Naden - released
Charlie Staines - I'd like to keep as a back up option, fill in when needed.
Brandon Tumeth - released

Promoted from within:
Heath Mason - Genuine 6 and id like to see him developed further.
Krystian Mapapalangi - lots of utility value, can pay anywhere 1 to 6, type of player we need on the books. A better centre option than Naden, Feledy, etc.
Heamasi Makasini - he's into the top 30 next year.

Development Players:
Currently for 2026, we have some young guns on the list.
Christian Taupau-Moors ( FRF )
Jared Haywood ( Hooker )
Phoenix Godinet ( 2RF )
Lachlan Broederlow ( FRF / 2RF )

External Recruits:

This is always the hard part as not only do we need to strengthen our top 17, we also need to strengthen our depth. We need 18 - 30 players we can actually use, not Tumeths, Matamuas, etc. Taking up the spots.

Super league options;
Kaide Ellis - no nonsense prop playing for Wigan.
Aaron Pene, prop, played for Warriors and Storm, currently playing in the UK for Leigh.
Alec Tutavake - Prop who came through the Dragons, Currently playing for Leigh. Similar player to Isaia Papalii, good back up prop who'd push for a starting role
Tyrone May - currently playing half-back for Hull KR, good back up option for us, can play lock, backrow and centre.

Few off contract players at other clubs worth a look;

Villiami Fifita - prop, Dragons
Sione Finau, winger, Dragons
Harrison Hassett, backrow, Penrith
Haze Dunster, winger, eels
Wiremu Grieg, prop, Eels
Kai Pearce-Paul, backrow, Knights
Tom Ale, prop, NZ
Lazarus Vaalepu, prop, Melbourne
Ativalu Lisati, backrow, Melb
Tony Francis, centre, Gold coast

And there's some Q Cup and NSW cup players we could look at, to strengthen our cup team... we seem to be bringing in some East Tigers players, like Hope, Fataape and Murray.

Good research
I think Francis is a winger at best

 

[Demps]

Good research
I think Francis is a winger at best

Fair, fair.

We need some cup options and whatnot
Like Staines to be re-signed.

See our cup team looking something like;

1. Connor Votano * new recruit
2. Luke Lualilii
3. Krystian Mapapalangi
4. Heamasi Makasini
5. Charlie Staines
6. Heath Mason

Or some variation

 

[Bellend]

Demps

is this a rumor re Connor Votano

 

[Demps]

Demps

is this a rumor re Connor Votano

Rumour, yeah

was dropped a few days ago and then it was reported Melb were looking at him.

So id say, unlikely.

HOWEVER
We need a backup fullback and Heath has proved he's a 6 not a 1 so we need to continue searching

Tex Hoy, Bevan French & David Armstrong are options in the UK

 

[Tom Shines]

Can someone tell me how hard it is to sign a few forwards til end of year? No matter how shit they are, they can’t be worse than having a winger in your backrow

This is getting absolutely ridiculous. Give a junior a go over a 30 year old winger playing backrow.

No offence, our club has been and continues to be poorly operated.

I’ll stick by them because I have to, but we aren’t anywhere near being a strong team.

Luckily Naden is only 29…

But yes …your point is a mystery to me

 

[Tom Shines]

Brandon Tumeth to Souths by June 30

I doubt it..unless the Tigers have just paid him out and released him

 

[Demps]

I doubt it..unless the Tigers have just paid him out and released him

Think he meant....

Joining Tim Johannasenn at Souths*

* Souths [KOE Cup team]

 

[Tom Shines]

HOWEVER
We need a backup fullback and Heath has proved he's a 6 not a 1 so we need to continue searching

Staines is the backup fullback

 

[Tom Shines]

Think he meant....

Joining Tim Johannasenn at Souths*

* Souths [KOE Cup team]

are they really going to pay him any money ?

 

[boonboon]

Staines is the backup fullback

Laulii is the backup fullback.

 

[Demps]

Staines is the backup fullback

Hmm...

 

[Tom Shines]

Laulii is the backup fullback.

Staines back up

 

[Demps]

are they really going to pay him any money ?

Personally think he'd be better off finding a career and playing some part time park footy.

 

[Demps]

Staines back up

Both wingers.

We need a fullback for cup and i think if we're in need and Bula misses a game, Turuva trumps both for the #1 jersey.

However it'd be nice to have a genuine backup

 

[Tom Shines]

Personally think he'd be better off finding a career and playing some part time park footy.

If he can’t make our NSW Cup team…I can’t see anyone else wanting him … they should just pay him the $60k left on his contract and let him find a new gig somewhere else the rest of this season…