Rock Hopper Steve
Well-known member
What is better positivity or negativity.
Looking on the brighter side or head down moping muttering oh dear oh my.
Signings, Suggestions & Rumours Discussion
- Thread starter MacDougall
- Start date
Looking on the brighter side or head down moping muttering oh dear oh my.
GNR4LIFE
Well-known member
Don’t you hate Luai? Weird that you would be bemoaning him being on Origin duty.
tigahhh
Well-known member
is there zero chance of romey backing up from origin to play our games ? we need him but I’m happy he’s playing soo
Given Raiders game is 2 days after Perth and he will be our pre origin v Roosters and after Origin 3 we play in NZ on the Saturday which he might make but will be tough. Lots of pressure on Latu and Mason
Canadian Club
Well-known member
I think Benji will leave it up to Jerome to decide.
Going off what Jarome has been saying all year about being 100% committed, I think he will want to back up.
Kelce68
Well-known member
Hard to say as most of his work has been at fb and wing.
But he's plenty young enough to work on it, that's if it were to even be a deficiency.
I'd back him to make a pretty good fist of it if given the opportunity.
Grew up in Orange! I'm claiming him! Orange is just down the road, so I'm saying "Canowindra local is the next Wests Tigers big thing!" 👌The ‘special’ talent who snubbed rugby to pledge future to Benji and the Tigers
By
June 13, 2025 — 7.30pm
Senior Wests Tigers officials are quick to point out that there are only five more weeks before Heamasi Makasini turns 18 and is eligible to play in the NRL.
To put the excitement surrounding Makasini – who was the only 17-year-old picked in the under-19s NSW Origin team this week – into perspective, the Tigers have not ruled out pitching him into the centres in first grade this year, and have already quickly to sign him until the end of 2028 season.
A goal-kicking left centre who is still attending Newington College, Makasini said he was more than comfortable committing to a long-term league deal – and ignoring advances from rugby – because “the Tigers are where my home is”.
“I had interest last year from Japan with the Panasonic Wild Knights, they tried to get me over and asked me to tour their facility, while I also met with the Waratahs,” Makasini said on Friday. “But the Tigers are home. I’m a local junior, I can see something brewing at the club, and I want to be a part of it.”
Makasini grew up in Orange before moving to Camden when he was 11, where he began his rugby league career with Campbelltown City Kangaroos in 2018. He had barely played the 13-man code until then because his family loved union – including his father, Moses, who played Test football for Tonga and professionally in France.
Makasini represented the Australian under-18s rugby side last year, while also somehow being crowned league’s Harold Matthews league player of the year.
Tigers CEO Shane Richardson has long been a fan of Makasini, and rated him the equal of any junior he has come across.
“Heamasi is as talented a kid as I’ve seen in my 30 years of working in rugby league, and I don’t say that lightly,” Richardson said.
“He’s special. He’s a major part of what we’re doing moving forward. Benji has a huge rap on him. He’s not only a magnificent athlete, but he’s a really humble kid from a great family.
“We’ve signed him until the end of 2028. You have to see him with the ball in his hand to appreciate what I’m saying. There’s no downside to him at all.”
Heamasi Makasini scores for Australia’s U18 rugby side against the New Zealand Barbarians last year.CREDIT: GETTY IMAGES FOR RUGBY AUSTRALIA
Richardson confirmed there was nothing stopping 108kg Makasini making his NRL debut before the season was over.
The Tigers this week signed Taylan May on a train-and-trial deal for the remainder of 2025, with the former Panther to need at least a month of training before returning to football, which is likely to be via reserve grade, said Richardson.
The club last week signed English back-rower Kai Pearce-Paul, while it has already been well documented they have made inquiries about Brisbane’s Adam Reynolds.
He was atrocious last night . He made brooks look level headed . I think that’s the sign it’s passing you bye . When you have to push and try so hard to get zero results / even go backwards .
I also thought turbo looks busted , he looks like a shell of himself . Is he injured again ? He , like lattrell has this gravity around him that attracts attention , but I’m not sure if it’s justified anymore , rather a legacy of a time that’s passed by. Even when guys were making half breaks down the edges he couldn’t keep up . A real shame IMO. If his hammys hold up he would have been the best player to ever play the game IMO. He was that influential to. The sea eagles , but couldn’t stay on the field long enough for it amount to anything like trophies and individual awards . Anyways Father Time remains undefeated ..
GNR4LIFE
Well-known member
We play 48 hours after game 2. It’s not impossible. Will just depend how banged up he is. There’s also the 5 hour flight home from Perth. Penrith play in NZ next Saturday. So I’d say almost 0% chance their guys back up.
He'd have to stick to Coke Zero during the post match celebrations
Buttface
Well-known member
I’m sure the people that make decisions around our roster have not forgotten Bud’s current and future contract status.
Roar_Power
Well-known member
You can certainly crap on. FMD.
Tito Santana
Well-known member
He’s Tucker for sure.
crazycat
Well-known member
That's not why I want him though.
Reynolds knows what he is doing at NR7. Same with DCE. Both can help train someone like Latu coming through the grades. 2 years with an understanding that you may be wearing a number > 13. Sign them up.
BTW I don't think DCE is falling in performance. This is Siebold's coaching finally catching up with him. .. That said, ofcourse DCE will slow down and it's a reasonable risk if you take either playmaker without a backup.
I had a lady tell me she was from CanoWINDra. I went along with her because she gave me a massive discount on the washing machine I was buying
Tony Taco
Well-known member
Six weeks is enough for them to crash and burn.
As far as Benji goes I disagree, hes showing signs of becoming a solid Coach.
Have you ever Coached RL? Its not easy... imagine doing it at the NRL level.
What’s re you doing bro … that guy is the biggest troll on here … nothing he says is legit ..
TigerSkins05
Well-known member
here's one to think about .. Heamasi Makasini turns 18 in 5 weeks time .. which means he's eligible to play in the NRL age wise legally .. 🙂 He is a great powerful running centre .. so what does Benji do .. bring him in on the wing or straight into the centres .. ??
GNR4LIFE
Well-known member
Not rush him.
88
Well-known member
He’s never played a game of KOE so can’t see him being near NRL anytime soon.
Staff online
-
Suzie-QAdministrator