Signings, Suggestions & Rumours Discussion

Buttface said:
He’d be great at it, but so would you and I Merlot.

Easiest team on the planet to coach.

You have the best players from the best comp, playing a game that started in their country, that only handful of others play, and you are, and have almost always been, streets ahead of every other country, (except for this one time at band camp and they had Benji playing flute).
If you can’t coach the Oz NRL team and win games you must be asleep. Oh wait Mal has proven that wrong to.
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my statement was made more in hope than anger , its Freddies if he wants it.The largest farce for a coach in reps is the NSWRL expecting Bellamy to flush out his secrets in SOO,against his players in a QLD side in its glory days.
 
weststigerman said:
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.
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Yeah but what about from 2027 and beyond?
 
Merlot said:
my statement was made more in hope than anger , its Freddies if he wants it.The largest farce for a coach in reps is the NSWRL expecting Bellamy to flush out his secrets in SOO,against his players in a QLD side in its glory days.
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I think Fred’s homage to the grass style of coaching only lasts until the novelty wears off. Then he looses the room.
 
Tom Shines said:
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
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He's still in the top 5 but no I don't think he's top dog.

It's a balance. TDS on the bench would be good for Tallyn's development, but not sure it's going to improve us. Mason probably covers more positions but hooker is not one of them.

I think we'd benefit from rotating them in the side which seems to be happening. If Taylan gets himself up to speed, Doueihi may lose his spot and become another 14 option.
 
Tom Shines said:
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
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Having a think about the hookers in the game at the moment and I actually think it's a weakness in the NRL. As far as week in week out NRL goes Api is genuinely in the argument as the best IMO. Harry Grant has been ordinary since taking over the captaincy, while Robson, Egan are good, I wouldn't have either of them ahead of Api in my team week to week. There aren't any elite hookers atm
 
Chunk said:
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.
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I don't think it should be a choice between the two.... We should setting up the contracts so it works for both parties . We can phase TDS in and Api out and both parties can get what they need.
 
Vicious said:
Cobbo is a big body with plenty of class and if we are being honest he’s a much better centre than anyone we currently have even being 10kgs overweight, aside from maybe Taylan May if he gets back to his best.
I couldn’t play him as a fullback, I think centre is his best position and he defended well there last season, not sure where the opinion that he is not a good defensive centre comes from ?
As MT has stated I think the big issue is the doubt our club could get the best out of him and I don’t think we would get much change out of 800k if he was to consider signing with us.
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Unfortunately Cobbo has struggled at times being away from his family,
Moving to Sydney wouldn’t be good for the young fella.
For his own good I think he stays up in QLD with one of their clubs.
 
Oldman said:
Unfortunately Cobbo has struggled at times being away from his family,
Moving to Sydney wouldn’t be good for the young fella.
For his own good I think he stays up in QLD with one of their clubs.
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As I’ve said, I think we would need to pay a minimum of 800k per season to land him and that’s far too much for the risk that he might not be comfortable living in Sydney and we might not be able to get him playing anywhere near his best.
For the record I reckon he will sign with Souths to play left centre with Jack Wighton moving to 5/8 and Cody Walker moving to halfback.
Or maybe to the Dolphins and they release Jake Averillo to sign with us to fit him in ?
 
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Vicious said:
As I’ve said, I think we would need to pay a minimum of 800k per season to land him and that’s far too much for the risk that he might not be comfortable living in Sydney and we might be able to get him playing anywhere near his best.
For the record I reckon he will sign with Souths to play left centre with Jack Wighton moving to 5/8 and Cody Walker moving to halfback.
Or maybe to the Dolphins and they release Jake Averillo to sign with us to fit him in ?
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How much are we gunna pay for Fifita … currently on a $900k -1m ?
 
Tom Shines said:
How much are we gunna pay for Fifita … currently on a $1m plus?
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800k.
If Des remains as the Titans coach their player/coach relationship is untenable and they will likely contribute 200k to get rid of him as they will need to headhunt players such as DCE and Reed Mahoney to add some leadership and direction.
 
WTGuru_ said:
1. Bula
2. Turuva
3. Toa
4. May
5. Skelton
6. Fainu/Mason
7. Luai
8. May
9. Api
10. Pole
11. Fainu
12. KPP
13. Douehi
14. Da Silva/Fainu/Mason
15. Twal
16. Sione Fainu
17. Kit Laulili/Bird


Douehi at 13 could potentially be a game changer, dosent have to play 80 minutes aswell got plenty of options with that bench.
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Omg what is it with people thinking Doueihi could play lock ? If you honestly think that you are really not a tigers fan and want to see the team improve and play finals football.
He is not a lock please stop the stupidity!!
 
Darty the winger said:
Omg what is it with people thinking Doueihi could play lock ? If you honestly think that you are really not a tigers fan and want to see the team improve and play finals football.
He is not a lock please stop the stupidity!!
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I can’t think of any position that suits him anymore?
Maybe he can be Perth Bears flagship signing, I can think of quite a few others we could send over with him.
I believe Royce Hunt has some connection with WA, but it would be nice if we could offload him for 2026 and not have to wait until 2027.
 
Tiger Stripes said:
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.
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You Forgot Sukkar under the second rowers A great prospect
 
Vicious said:
I can’t think of any position that suits him anymore?
Maybe he can be Perth Bears flagship signing, I can think of quite a few others we could send over with him.
I believe Royce Hunt has some connection with WA, but it would be nice if we could offload him for 2026 and not have to wait until 2027.
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I think people who are having a sook because , people are debating the best way to utilise AD, because he’s you know , 190cm plus and built like a brick shithouse , and is a good bloke , those people need to STFU and get over yourself .
No one is saying as of Mid June 2025 AD profiles as a lock forward in the nrl . What they’re saying is , if he’s not a centre then there’s really on 2 positions for him , lock or edge forward .
The debate is not even about AD as a wests tigers player . It’s about AD as a footballer , because contrary to what some of the absolute toxic fans out there who think all football players are video game characters , some of us actually care about these guys who wear our jersey. For me ESPECIALLY the ones who bleed black gold and white .
For me if AD wants to and can increase his desire for dirty work , as well as work on his carry into and through contact Zac there’s absolutely no reason with his body shape that he couldn’t make a good fist of it . Not in nrl though . Not yet at least.
 
Tiger Stripes said:
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.
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We need another genuine first grade prop, second rower and lock. Prop and second row are the priority.

These are as much guys that can come off the bench or challenge for spots.

Backs are set.
 
2026 squad as it stands
FB - Bula / Luke L
W- Turuva
C - Toa
C - Makasini / May possibly
W- Skelton
FE - Laui/ Mason
HB - Latu / Sullivan
L- Twal /
SR- Fainu / Seyfarth
SR - KPP / Sukkar
P- May/ Hunt
H- Api / DeSilva
P- Pole/ Fainu

R1- Prop TBC
R2- Prop TBC
R3 - Bird
R4- Saukuru

So we need a couple of outside backs probably May plus 2 others win 1 spot left vacant, we need 2-3 middles depending on where you play Twal. We could also make Latu a lock coming on after 20 minutes and sign another half especially if Reynolds signs.

Personally I'd keep Staines and Douehi (or replace with Mpapalangi) as backline dept with May and keep Kit as one of the depth props and sign a lock or a half depending on what the plan is with Latu.
 
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