Signings, Suggestions & Rumours Discussion

Vicious said:
Tom you know the players you have mentioned DO NOT provide appropriate depth if we want to win more games than we lose.
We need to add a genuine halfback as a back up option at the very least,
Are you not worried we already have the worst kicking game in the NRL and that may not improve by adding Latu to our halves as good as the other areas of his game are.
We bought Luai to take care of our kicking game and apart the occasional good one, his kicking game has been poor, so we cannot rely on him alone based on what has been shown so far.
Also considering we are one of the few teams who has a fullback that rarely if ever kicks the ball.
Let’s hope Latu can either show us or add a quality kicking game by 2026.
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Api is a kicker as well…

As I tried to explain to you before …you run a salary cap by position …you can’t just keep buying halves depth because the other ones aren’t working out … they are spending $1.7 m on Luai and Latu … and then $500-550k on Bud and probably $200k on Mase …

Unless you are moving on Bud for close to full freight …you are stuck with him another year at least …

Paying 4 halves is max …I still think it’s likely to retain AD next season too who can fill in the halves if required

I’d love to have someone better for sure …just trying to explain why it doesn’t make much sense to do so at the moment…

Wayne Bennett makes do with Bud …we could to in a pinch
 
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BlackWhiteGold said:
A starting half in the best team in Super League atm who is only 28/29, brings experience & flexibility, is known & fits in with our core leadership group Jarome & Api, yes. Plus he wants to come back to Australia and we'd be his #1 priority because of his brothers. Not many players choose us as their #1 destination.
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Carries less weight when they are players who haven’t played NRL for 5 years.
 
Tom Shines said:
Api is a kicker as well…

As I tried to explain to you before …you run a salary cap by position …you can’t just keep buying halves depth because the other ones aren’t working out … they are spending $1.7 m on Luai and Latu … and then $500-550k on Bud and probably $200k on Mase …

Unless you are moving on Bud for close to full freight …you are stuck with him another year at least …

Paying 4 halves is max …I still think it’s likely to retain AD next season too who can fill in the halves if required

I’d love to have someone better for sure …just trying to explain why it doesn’t make much sense to do so at the moment
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So if we tip in 200-300k for another club to buy out Bud’s contract and we pay Tyrone May somewhere between 200-300k we would at worst be 100k out of pocket in our salary cap.
To ensure we have a more natural playmaker and leader with a kicking game on our books, surely that’s a good option ?
 
Vicious said:
Tom you know the players you have mentioned DO NOT provide appropriate depth if we want to win more games than we lose.
We need to add a genuine halfback as a back up option at the very least,
Are you not worried we already have the worst kicking game in the NRL and that may not improve by adding Latu to our halves as good as the other areas of his game are.
We bought Luai to take care of our kicking game and apart the occasional good one, his kicking game has been poor, so we cannot rely on him alone based on what has been shown so far.
Also considering we are one of the few teams who has a fullback that rarely ever kicks the ball.
Let’s hope Latu can either show us or add a quality kicking game by 2026 as we will not be making the top 8 if our kicking game remains as poor as it has been,
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the Jonah Glover rumours came and went, but the club's clearly identified the need for a genuine 7 given we made enquiries. I wonder whether he'll come across.
 
Nonotmeagain said:
That might free up another spot as Luai could activate his release option if he's not 7.
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Im sure WT would not just do that without discussion with the players, similar to Api / TDS situation with succession planning. Discuss with players and make decisions- but in the end result club has to come first once decision made. If players want to kick stones they can leave.
 
Vicious said:
So if we tip in 200-300k for another club to buy out Bud’s contract and we pay Tyrone May somewhere between 200-300k we would at worst we would be 100k out of pocket in our salary cap.
To ensure we have a more natural playmaker and leader with a kicking game on our books, surely that’s a good option ?
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I’m not that keen on May…but if it was someone else you could probably make it work on those numbers …

What is May getting paid in Super League ? He might not come that cheap …does he want to be the fourth half pretty much stuck in NSW Cup?
 
@Tom Shines & @GNR4LIFE - I actually get not 'wanting' Tyrone May. It's not like signing Ivan Cleary over.

What I will say is that he has been one of the top players in the ESL, he's on record as saying he wants to return to the NRL (big hint when added to the constant brothers-in-arms May talk), he's from the club coached by Willie Peters who was only linked to Richo not a fortnight ago in some media circles for his past connections, he doesn't ONLY play half, he has filled in at centre & in the backrow as well- giving the club flexibility that a straight out half won't give.

I'm starting to really believe the old 'where there is smoke' saying of late. There's a number of reasons for it to be on the cards.

There's absolutely a push to promote the 'family club' thing, a definite push to add culture (roll your eyes at the May family culture, but he is from that Panthers system) & the trips to & from the UK by Richo had to have had some purpose.

I think the stars align here & Tyrone May is almost...likely.
 
The Chad said:
@Tom Shines & @GNR4LIFE - I actually get not 'wanting' Tyrone May. It's not like signing Ivan Cleary over.

What I will say is that he has been one of the top players in the ESL, he's on record as saying he wants to return to the NRL (big hint when added to the constant brothers-in-arms May talk), he's from the club coached by Willie Peters who was only linked to Richo not a fortnight ago in some media circles for his past connections, he doesn't ONLY play half, he has filled in at centre & in the backrow as well- giving the club flexibility that a straight out half won't give.

I'm starting to really believe the old 'where there is smoke' saying of late. There's a number of reasons for it to be on the cards.

There's absolutely a push to promote the 'family club' thing, a definite push to add culture (roll your eyes at the May family culture, but he is from that Panthers system) & the trips to & from the UK by Richo had to have had some purpose.

I think the stars align here & Tyrone May is almost...likely.
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Promoting the fact we are a family club might be good for PR, but it isn’t going to win games. Not only Tyrone May, but also the Fainu brother that’s still in jail. It’s not a recipe for on field success.
 
The Chad said:
@Tom Shines & @GNR4LIFE - I actually get not 'wanting' Tyrone May. It's not like signing Ivan Cleary over.

What I will say is that he has been one of the top players in the ESL, he's on record as saying he wants to return to the NRL (big hint when added to the constant brothers-in-arms May talk), he's from the club coached by Willie Peters who was only linked to Richo not a fortnight ago in some media circles for his past connections, he doesn't ONLY play half, he has filled in at centre & in the backrow as well- giving the club flexibility that a straight out half won't give.

I'm starting to really believe the old 'where there is smoke' saying of late. There's a number of reasons for it to be on the cards.

There's absolutely a push to promote the 'family club' thing, a definite push to add culture (roll your eyes at the May family culture, but he is from that Panthers system) & the trips to & from the UK by Richo had to have had some purpose.

I think the stars align here & Tyrone May is almost...likely.
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The sentiment of the brothers thing shouldn’t really come into the equation from the clubs perspective…

As we sit here now …I want them to see how Luai and Latu look in the halves …. That’s my preferred pairing and one I hope is there for years to come … would also prefer a bigger 13 ..

If they move on from Bud then a spot has opened up in he squad so let’s see then what happens
 
GNR4LIFE said:
He’s almost 23, and yet to be sighted in first grade at a club like the Dragons whose halves are pretty mediocre. Gives me Alex Lobb vibes.
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16 try involvements in 12 games tells me your Lobb suspicions might be a little off. if anything he's done a solid apprenticeship and has been a victim of his circumstance, in which the first grade coach has a close relationship with a certain underperforming half. I've heard the player in question is like a son to him.
 
Tom Shines said:
making enquiries is one thing ….making offers is another…
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given he's a development player at St George I'm not sure the club will announce anything of note unless it's in a big Squad Update news item or at the start of Preseason.

Taateo's been at the club a fortnight now and we still don't have any confirmation on what kind of contract he's on. they have form in this department.
 
The value of the family links etc can be debated, but it's still, clearly, a thing.

I don't mind it, if it's in the clubs favour. And to be fair, of the brothers available, the Fainu's, May's & Lualili'i's are all, at least, talented enough to be considered in the 1st grade conversation.

As for the depth argument- Bud Sullivan is actually pretty decent depth at half. Mason & Doueihi can fill in as well. If the club can add another halves capable option that can also play other positions- I see that as a win.
 
jrtiger said:
given he's a development player at St George I'm not sure the club will announce anything of note unless it's in a big Squad Update news item or at the start of Preseason.

Taateo's been at the club a fortnight now and we still don't have any confirmation on what kind of contract he's on. they have form in this department.
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Just saying that the Club should be making enquiries on depth players all the time… they need to be in the market and know what players might be interested in moving to the club ,,.. it doesn’t necessarily mean that the club wants them to make an offer to join the club ..
 
Tom Shines said:
Just saying that the Club should be making enquiries on depth players all the time… they need to be in the market and know what players might be interested in moving to the club ,,.. it doesn’t necessarily means that the club wants them to make an offer to join the club ..
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respectfully, why would you make an enquiry for a player you don't want at your club? there's clearly interest...
 
Tom Shines said:
The sentiment of the brothers thing shouldn’t really come into the equation from the clubs perspective…

As we sit here now …I want them to see how Luai and Latu look in the halves …. That’s my preferred pairing and one I hope is there for years to come … would also prefer a bigger 13 ..

If they move on from Bud then a spot has opened up in he squad so let’s see then what happens
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Further to this. Whether it’s warranted it or not, the May’s probably aren’t the family to build the family culture around. Their name is pretty much mud around the NRL. Look at poor Tyrell. One of the best props in the game this year, up there in the Dally M’s, and Daley would sooner pick Matt Groat than give May 5 minutes of his time. And he’s supposed to be the good brother. It’s just weird that if you want to establish that sort of culture, this is the family you use to do it.
 
I think AD can move into lock in 2-3 years . I think he needs to be an edge forward first . And that’s where I’d be saying to him to start moving his game towards . His improvements in defence , and his desire for work , as well as he can still do that ad-lib stuff / offer a 4th choice kicker, means he definitely has value .
He needs to work with a plyometrics trainer/ sprints coach to help him with his explosion off the mark and into and through contact . But that seems like he’s still having confidence issues / still coming to terms with how big and massive he is .
He’s an absolute unit , but especially in attack , seems to have forgotten it .
We need more out of the left edge centre in attack . At least 4-5 times on Sunday , and 3-4 times in most games , there’s been half chances presented to him/ 1 on 1 opportunities with his centre , and he hasn’t been able to do anything .
 
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