Signings, Suggestions & Rumours Discussion

[fainty]

Who is our NSW cup captain?

 

[Tiger Stripes]

He needs polish but Bellamy would give him a typical makeover to become a good NRL prop. Kit Lauli'i struggled tackling the bigger forwards. Rahme played well and I hope he continues to improve.

IMO our prop rotation is developing very nicely.
Terryl May, Pole, Sione Fainu, Taateo and Hunt. All have impact. And some younger hopefuls.
2nd rowers---Sam Fainu, KPP, Seyfarth, Twal, Charlie Murray. Another quality 2RF would be good.
Lock----Tyrone sounds a good prospect. Bird and Twal stopgap? A genuine lock needed.

 

[Yossarian]

Who is our NSW cup captain?

Tristan Hope?

 

[Rock Hopper Steve]

Royce would be the one to drop out I'd say.

I'm not saying I necessarily want Hetherington, but I do think the writing might be on the wall. wouldn't mind someone to fill out jersey 17 that can play across the pack as well, but hypothetically...

8. May
9. Koroisau
10. Pole
11. Sa. Fainu
12. Pearce-Paul
13. Hetherington*

14. Mason / Da Silva
15. Si. Fainu
16. Twal
17. Seyfarth / Sukkar / ?

With the handful of games Sukkar has played there is real potential on show.

Another off season under his belt and he will be hard to leave out of the lineup.

 

[Tiger Stripes]

What’s the fascination with Hassett ?
If you take a look at his stats when playing NSW Cup, he rarely makes more than 60-70m, rarely breaks a tackle and his post contact metres are very minimal.
If we are signing him on a base contract as depth cover than sure he’d be ok, but if we are looking at someone who can make a positive difference to our NRL team, he won’t help much at this stage.

Totally agree. Galvin like fascination? I don't get it either. Lets move on, there are better players out there that could fill the lock/2RF gap IMO.

 

[BlackWhiteGold]

Great points. But you're comparing clubs with stable football departments and development programs for a long time, with Wests Tigers.

This is still a reactionary club, rather than a proactive one. And as we've touched on, the club is not yet set up properly to develop players to the best of their ability. There is still a way to go to remove this stigma of the club.

Yes and that's why agents don't have complete faith in having their prospects develop at our club. It's small steps to regain this faith and only results will dictate that.

Anyway if we lose TDS in '27, we have Jared Haywood & 28yo Manase Fainu as options wink wink

 

[batboy]

He said it so himself!.

Said he followed his brother there - Just for 1 year.
Hardly makes him a Leichhardt 'Junior'

 

[Vicious]

Second most missed tackles in the league so far this season - all positions…

Penrith knew he wasn’t an 80 minute player 4 years ago

Benji still doesn’t know 🤷‍♂️

 

[Tom Shines]

Yes and that's why agents don't have complete faith in having their prospects develop at our club. It's small steps to regain this faith and only results will dictate that.

Anyway if we lose TDS in '27, we have Jared Haywood & 28yo Manase Fainu as options wink wink

would make more sense to me to see what TDS has when he is fully developed … what if he turns out to be the best of the bunch ? If he isn’t than let him go the next time, and hello Haywood …

 

[weststigerman]

Second most missed tackles in the league so far this season - all positions…

Penrith knew he wasn’t an 80 minute player 4 years ago

I think one of the podcasters made the point Api's tired defence is still better than Tallyn's defence for 30 minutes in his first grade stints.

Both times TDS played more then 25 minutes he missed 6 tackles. Tristan Hope not any better.

Using the game against the Storm as an example - Api played 50 minutes and missed 3 tackles (29 made) while TDS played 30 minutes and missed 6 tackles (18 made)

We don't have a defensively strong hooker at the club and while it's better to have Api not play 80 minutes, our defence doesn't improve when he's off.

 

[Tcat]

Chammas said on his podcast that TDS's agent has been asking for 600k from clubs to sign him, which is a ridiculous amount for him at the moment. The only team that would be willing to offer him that sort of money is the new Perth team.

Gus will sign him for $300k on the books and top him up with dodgy cash.

 

[Roar_Power]

IMO our prop rotation is developing very nicely.
Terryl May, Pole, Sione Fainu, Taateo and Hunt. All have impact. And some younger hopefuls.
2nd rowers---Sam Fainu, KPP, Seyfarth, Twal, Charlie Murray. Another quality 2RF would be good.
Lock----Tyrone sounds a good prospect. Bird and Twal stopgap? A genuine lock needed.

I would hope Bird can move on next year; maybe get a couple of years in SL. Charlie Murray is a stretch here too. Wouldn't get a run in any other NRL side.

 

[Tom Shines]

I think one of the podcasters made the point Api's tired defence is still better than Tallyn's defence for 30 minutes in his first grade stints.

Both times TDS played more then 25 minutes he missed 6 tackles. Tristan Hope not any better.

Using the game against the Storm as an example - Api played 50 minutes and missed 3 tackles (29 made) while TDS played 30 minutes and missed 6 tackles (18 made)

We don't have a defensively strong hooker at the club and while it's better to have Api not play 80 minutes, our defence doesn't improve when he's off.

My comment was made in relation to another comment that Api was the best hooker in the comp.. do you agree with that statement ?

I have always said that Api is the better player still … Although as you have said … they both have some defensive deficiencies

I agree with you that Api ( and TDS) would benefit from less minutes and playing TDS off the bench for a 25-30 min stint …

TDS is only 20 years old and will likely improve his defence over time

 

[rihannafan1]

How did this get legs? He played a few games. He played 99% of his junior footy with Rovers and Kenso in the Souths comp, and represented Souths in junior reps. He's a Rabbitoh through and through.

My bad. I think Vossy and Brandy were talking about yesterday, said it came from Woodsy. I should have known 🤣

 

[Ecto-1]

Moses out for Origin. Jerome in.

 

[Needaname]

Said he followed his brother there - Just for 1 year.
Hardly makes him a Leichhardt 'Junior'

No no, Leichhardt juniors is the team he played for, maybe that’s where people are getting confused.

 

[rusted-on]

A two year deal for this guy will rival the Adam Blair signing in terms of stupidity and cost us a talented young player. Reynolds is busted.

Reynolds has played in every game this year

 

[Vicious]

Ding Ding Ding!!! The key number is 2027!

Koroisau will be 34 at the beginning of 2027 pre season. Father time waits for no man. Right now, he is still as crafty as ever, but when the drop off comes, it will be significant. Particularly in the position he plays, his size, and how the club are using him as an 80-minute speed bump. He's being beaten up with middles targeting him in the middle of the field. The drop off with Damien Cook has already been significant IMO.

If the club offers him an extension, for mine they have to be yearly. That gives the club some control. Da Silva is the multi-year contract. If Koroisau wants more security, Perth and PNG will give it to him.

Da Silva won't be short of offers. Cowboys are in the mix. Dragons are also a great landing spot for him with Cook in his final years. And he will be a great decade long #9 for the club that has him. His performances in reserve grade the last 3 games have been excellent. He's clearly a level above. His body is maturing, and he's continuing to improve.

If the club signs Koroisau, and loses Da Silva, well it tells me it's still stuck in short-termism to get results now rather than looking ahead 4 years which how every club should be looking at their roster. Haywood is still a massive unknown. A good long-term #9 is integral. They touch the ball the most in a game, they direct the play, they make the most tackles in a game. It's no surprise that Melbourne and Roosters dominated rugby league for 10-15 years with good stable #9s in Smith and Friend, now Grant for Melbourne.

Even if we re-sign Korisau for 2027 and beyond, what do we expect to pay him ?
Surely a 34/35 year old small sized number 9 who defends well above his weight, but still misses his fair share of tackles and gets rag dolled quite regularly could not be paid anymore than 400k ?

 

[mtd#2]

If we could see the future then we would both know what the best outcome is … unfortunately the decision for 2027 will need to be made shortly .. TDS might be ready by then …Api’s might have lost a step by then… we don’t know

Yeah I just don't think TDS is looking like he's going to be ready based on what Ive seen
That's why we need them both for 2027 so we utilise them both for that year and move API on in 2028

 

[Chunk]

Yeah I just don't think TDS is looking like he's going to be ready based on what Ive seen
That's why we need them both for 2027 so we utilise them both for that year and move API on in 2028

Really? I see him coming along well and if it’s a choice between the two for 2027 then youth. TDS should be our number one hooker and everyone paid accordingly.

Not just for 2027 but beyond.

It’s an investment in the future and a very important one.