Signings, Suggestions & Rumours Discussion

[The Chad]

No. Neither has TDS.

You're right. His camp have been very professional about this. Tartak & the Tigers work well together.

Harry Grant, from memory, never put the Storm in a position to choose between starting Grant or Smith. It was always Smith #1 & Grant waiting his turn.

Da Silva, through his manager, is putting the Tigers in a position to choose.

That's the difference.

For mine, it would be a non-issue if Da Silva was taking time off Api due to performance.

I don't think anyone can claim Da Silva is doing more with his time than Api does with his.

If players were not allowed to negotiate a year & a half out from the end of their contract- we probably don't have an issue.

 

[tigahhh]

Remember in all of this discussion ...

1 Api's preference is to stay.
2 Tallyn's preference is to stay.
3 If we extend Api & Tallyn does like another club's offer, Richo WILL want something favourable in return to release him for 2026 (not just KPP for the rest of this season).
4 We do not have an adequate backup hooker for 2026 if Api goes down injured - IMO Hope is not NRL standard & Haywood won't be ready until 2027/28.

the third one, why can’t we just be like every other club and accept he’s leaving and let him see out his contract. why have all this drama .

 

[GNR4LIFE]

3 If we extend Api & Tallyn does like another club's offer, Richo WILL want something favourable in return to release him for 2026 (not just KPP for the rest of this season).

Idk about you, but I’m getting a little sick and tired of this spiel. It’s said over and over at this club, regardless of who’s in charge. We wanted something favourable years ago when we released Cleary. Matterson, Aloiai, Stef, Ice, Bateman, Klemmer. It’s a never ending cycle. I’m sure there are others I have forgotten. I think supporters have been conditioned to think this is the norm and that’s sad.

 

[tigahhh]

Idk about you, but I’m getting a little sick and tired of this spiel. It’s said over and over at this club, regardless of who’s in charge. We wanted something favourable years ago when we released Cleary. Matterson, Aloiai, Stef, Ice, Bateman, Klemmer. It’s a never ending cycle. I’m sure there are others I have forgotten. I think supporters have been conditioned to think this is the norm and that’s sad.

I’d argue less noise would do a whole lot better for an already unsettled squad bc of the LG situation , than any other player we get in a swap

 

[Dennisspicer1]

Just a dumb decision that reflects where we are as a club.

Why is it a dumb decision,
You would let TDS tell Benji what to do, most others would say the player should do as he is told
By the coach.

 

[Tucker]

You're right. His camp have been very professional about this. Tartak & the Tigers work well together.

Harry Grant, from memory, never put the Storm in a position to choose between starting Grant or Smith. It was always Smith #1 & Grant waiting his turn.

Da Silva, through his manager, is putting the Tigers in a position to choose.

That's the difference.

For mine, it would be a non-issue if Da Silva was taking time off Api due to performance.

I don't think anyone can claim Da Silva is doing more with his time than Api does with his.

If players were not allowed to negotiate a year & a half out from the end of their contract- we probably don't have an issue.

He is putting them in a position to choose between them as the starting hooker for a season kicking off in 21 or so months time.
The choice is between a 22 year old who will be entering his 5th year of first grade, has a dozen plus years in front of him and has completed a 4 year apprenticeship under a great mentor, and the mentor himself who will be 35 and likely on a steep trajectory downhill by then.

 

[Nonotmeagain]

It’s not really surprising. Benji adores Api. And he’s prepared to sacrifice a 20 year old who could be anything, just to get an extra year out of him. Insane.

"20 year old who could be anything" - that's the point "could be", there has to come a time when we get players who "are now".

 

[teddy23]

Allowing TDS to walk for Api who will be 34 by the start of the 2027 season just doesn’t make any sense whatsoever.

We have a kid that can be our next 9 for the next 10-15 years yet we choose Api who gives us max 1-2 years left after his current deal.

I’m a big advocate for Richo and Benji - but the handling of Galvin and TDS has been terrible and will haunt the club for a while.

Not getting any players in return for Galvin and letting him walk practically for free, then this.

Hooping we have a plan…..

 

[Nonotmeagain]

I don’t see it as trying to dictate. I think he’s within his right to explore his options. The bigger question is why is the club prioritising a guy north of 30 over a 20 year old? No other club would.

One club did - Melbourne

 

[Demps]

Don't think it's panic stations yet....
If TDS plays like an absolute Muppet tonight, then perhaps the writing is on the wall.

This is common practice when negotiating.

 

[Tucker]

"20 year old who could be anything" - that's the point "could be", there has to come a time when we get players who "are now".

Do you mean right now?
TDS can handle first grade right now. In a year and a half's time and after 2 more pre seasons, he'll be even better. The same can not be said for Api IMO.

 

[Chunk]

While I can understand TDS being frustrated that he’s stuck behind Api, him throwing a fit doesn’t portray him in a good light. Talented as he is he basically doesn’t want to earn his spot and would rather throw a tantrum then work hard for it. These Campbelltown kids are stuck up and some need a reality check.

We're not the Roosters though, we are the Wests Tigers.

And for some reason we are not normally in a position of strength.

 

[Chunk]

Did Harry Grant demand to play ahead of Cam Smith?

Again, we are not Melbourne, we are the mighty Wests Tigers

 

[Tcat]

Allowing TDS to walk for Api who will be 34 by the start of the 2027 season just doesn’t make any sense whatsoever.

We have a kid that can be our next 9 for the next 10-15 years yet we choose Api who gives us max 1-2 years left after his current deal.

I’m a big advocate for Richo and Benji - but the handling of Galvin and TDS has been terrible and will haunt the club for a while.

Not getting any players in return for Galvin and letting him walk practically for free, then this.

Hooping we have a plan…..

The handling of TDS remains to be seen. I dont think the club had any choice when it came to how it handled Galvin tho. He is chasing a premiership faster then what we can offer him and was going regardless. I do hope that WTs can work out a way of keeping Api and TDS

 

[The Chad]

He is putting them in a position to choose between them as the starting hooker for a season kicking off in 21 or so months time.
The choice is between a 22 year old who will be entering his 5th year of first grade, has a dozen plus years in front of him and has completed a 4 year apprenticeship under a great mentor, and the mentor himself who will be 35 and likely on a steep trajectory downhill by then.

Don't disagree.

But, at this stage- can you tell me TDS is a better starting option than Api?

These are those no-win situations. Each choice is wrong. The only right one is both stay.

However, if the TDS camp puts the 'him or me' argument forward, the club must choose.

I suggested a few days back a contract to TDS with mutual options written into each year beyond 2027 on the chance Api plays on, giving him the chance to negotiate out & move if the starting spot just isn't happening. Still think that is the way to go. Give Api an extra year. If TDS can't arrest playing time off Api by then, he can move on. Also gives the club another 2-3 years to bring Haywood along.

 

[GNR4LIFE]

"20 year old who could be anything" - that's the point "could be", there has to come a time when we get players who "are now".

But we’re not talking about Api now. We’re talking about him in 2 years. Think of it like this. Sure, TDS is an unknown. He may not develop into much of a first grader. But say we take that punt and lose, what’s the club lost? An extra year of Api. As opposed to TDS leaving and being a star all to get that extra year. You tell me which ceiling is higher.

 

[Nonotmeagain]

Wow - potentially losing a hooker is being treated as the end of the world -it's not.

 

[Tucker]

Don't disagree.

But, at this stage- can you tell me TDS is a better starting option than Api?

These are those no-win situations. Each choice is wrong. The only right one is both stay.

However, if the TDS camp puts the 'him or me' argument forward, the club must choose.

I suggested a few days back a contract to TDS with mutual options written into each year beyond 2027 on the chance Api plays on, giving him the chance to negotiate out & move if the starting spot just isn't happening. Still think that is the way to go. Give Api an extra year. If TDS can't arrest playing time off Api by then, he can move on. Also gives the club another 2-3 years to bring Haywood along.

No, and it doesnt matter. The next contract extension is for season 2027 onwards.
By then he will be and 100% definitely will be by 2028, and thats what they need to weigh up.

 

[tigahhh]

just for one week can we be out of the media with contract bs

 

[Bellend]

Why is it a dumb decision,
You would let TDS tell Benji what to do, most others would say the player should do as he is told
By the coach.

It is Dumb because it is played out in the media do you see the Roosters, Storm, Panthers having this same drama??

This club does not learn. As stated in previous threads these kids where made promises from past people in Charge that is coming back to bite us.