Signings, Suggestions & Rumours Discussion

tigahhh said:
interesting Joey johns sees Latu as a 7 long term , he only saw LG as a 5/8.
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Meh. He, like any of em will say anything for a click. Not saying Latu can’t make a go a 7, I reckon he will. But I’m pretty sure guys on here that give us quality lower grade info like BWG, the Boys, etc, have said he played 6 coming through the grades. I trust them more than the click baiters.
He looks good though doesn’t he, with ball in hand playing straight eyes up football. I think it’s his kicking game that needs work. I’d be getting the best kicking coach asap, and the world’s best hamstring whisperer full time. Like a bodyguard for his hamstrings, just follows him around making sure nothing happens to them. With a portable massage table strapped to his back and Voltaren at the ready. Definitely no sprint racing punters up the local mall. .
 
So as of 2026 we currently have Latu Fainu at 7 to partner Luai at 6, KPP on the right edge and Taylan May at left centre.
While myself and I assume almost every Wests Tigers supporter agrees these changes do make us slightly stronger, are they enough to turn is into a genuine top 8 team ?
I believe it’s not quite enough, we need 1 more quality outside back and 1 more quality forward as well as a quality back up halfback to compete with Heath Mason to be our next in line for our NRL halves if we have injuries or a drop in form.
Even then we need more quality added to our depth as it’s very unlikely the likes of Adam Doueihi and Charlie Staines will hang around as purely depth players.
Do we have enough speed and attacking threat in our backs and do we have enough tackle busting ability in our forwards, the short answer is no, that’s what we need to add if we are being serious about finally cracking the top 8 with Benji in charge.
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, you cannot challenge to win a competition with a team full of hard working grafters with very limited attacking threat.
Latu Fainu looks like he’s a player who can definitely help with this, but he won’t be able to do it consistently without some extra help of 1-2 more quality attacking players.
 
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Vicious said:
So as of 2026 we currently have Latu Fainu at 7 to partner Luai at 6, KPP on the right edge and Taylan May at left centre.
While myself and I assume almost every Wests Tigers supporter agrees these changes do make us slightly stronger, are they enough to turn is into a genuine top 8 team ?
I believe it’s not quite enough, we need 1 more quality outside back and 1 more quality forward as well as a quality back up halfback to compete with Heath Mason to be our next in line for our NRL halves if we have injuries or a drop in form.
Even then we need more quality added to our depth as it’s very unlikely the likes of Adam Doueihi and Charlie Staines will hang around as purely depth players.
Do we have enough speed and attacking threat in our backs and do we have enough tackle busting ability in our forwards, the short answer is no, that’s what we need to add if we are being serious about finally cracking the top 8 with Benji in charge.
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a 13 and another big middle with some legspeed on top of those boys and we're ready to run top 6.
 
jrtiger said:
a 13 and another big middle with some legspeed on top of those boys and we're ready to run top 6.
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A high quality 13 would be a massive help, BUT even good quality 13’s are very scarce at the moment, not many around and none available.
For that reason I think we either have to manufacture one and I’m convinced Sanuela Fainu could be the one, or have Jack Bird play a lot more of a ball playing g first receiver 13 type role, he did that briefly on Friday night and we looked a lot sharper in attack because of it.
 
Blocker1963 said:
Please send Seyfarth to the bench, I know he scored a try, but 2 defensive lapses lead to 2 of the raiders first tries. I know KPP is coming next year, but he needs to get that edge sorted.
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Even Seyfarth’s ardent fans such as myself agree he’s not quite good enough to be a regular starting player, but he certainly adds some value off the bench.
 
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Vicious said:
A high quality 13 would be a massive help, BUT even good quality 13’s are very scarce at the moment, not many around and none available.
For that reason I think we either have to manufacture one and I’m convinced Sanuela Fainu could be the one, or have Jack Bird play a lot more of a ball playing g first receiver 13 type role, he did that briefly on Friday night and we looked a lot sharper in attack because of it.
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this is where a TDS swap might come in handy...

Manly: Caleb Navale
North Queensland: Sam McIntyre
Parramatta: J'Maine Hopgood
 
jrtiger said:
this is where a TDS swap might come in handy...

Manly: Caleb Navale
North Queensland: Sam McIntyre
Parramatta: J'Maine Hopgood
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I'd rather play Naden in the middle than Hopgood.
Anyone throwing up his name is talking about Hopgood from years ago.
Rusted on Parra fans don't even want him there.

McIntyre would be a great Swap for Twal.

There's no decent Hookers around atm, Tallyn has potential
- If we're getting something, It should be a little more substantial than any of these fellas.
 
jrtiger said:
this is where a TDS swap might come in handy...

Manly: Caleb Navale
North Queensland: Sam McIntyre
Parramatta: J'Maine Hopgood
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TDS for Caleb Navale would be win-win. Navale is arguably the best young attacking lock in NSW Cup at only 22yo. He's held up behind Jake T. Also creates more of a Fijian connection at our club but I'd salivate at the prospect of his link play opening up Latu & Romey. Managed by the agency that manages Benji & Mason too.

I'd also love Tyran Wishart for the lock role, I think his game would be ideal for us in this role however I thionk he will be a prime candidate for the Perth Bears.

As @Vicious has mentioned, either Sione or Samuela have elements of their game which would translate to lock.

Samuela, if we could land David Fifita this could be the go but I think Fifita only wants to consider premiership contenders.

Sione, then maybe we target Josh Papali'i or Tyson Frizell for 2 years to rotate with Pole.

Also if TDS does depart, a potential middle/hooker who would be good for 2 years is the off-contact Siliva Havili.
 
BlackWhiteGold said:
TDS for Caleb Navale would be win-win. Navale is arguably the best young attacking lock in NSW Cup at only 22yo. He's held up behind Jake T. Also creates more of a Fijian connection at our club but I'd salivate at the prospect of his link play opening up Latu & Romey. Managed by the agency that manages Benji & Mason too.

I'd also love Tyran Wishart for the lock role, I think his game would be ideal for us in this role however I thionk he will be a prime candidate for the Perth Bears.

As @Vicious has mentioned, either Sione or Samuela have elements of their game which would translate to lock.

Samuela, if we could land David Fifita this could be the go but I think Fifita only wants to consider premiership contenders.

Sione, then maybe we target Josh Papali'i or Tyson Frizell for 2 years to rotate with Pole.

Also if TDS does depart, a potential middle/hooker who would be good for 2 years is the off-contact Siliva Havili.
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while they certainly have some of the attributes I'm not sure I'd look at Sione or Samuela for 13. we need that boulder with high legspeed type. if there's anything that stood out against Canberra it was how slow we do things, starting at the ruck. we need someone with pace to create momentum thru the middle.

agree on Havili for sure. he'd be excellent.
 
Vicious said:
One day Wests Tigers will learn that lightning fast outside backs are handy to have and if they have size and power to go with it they are even handier.
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Yep, though Taylan May, To'a & Makasini are all pretty quick.

We do lack an explosive fast player (May does bring that). Bula is more your Gout Gout fast (gets faster 20m+) but we need more Lachlan Kennedy fast (0-10m). That's why I harp on about Riley Oitmann in the pathways as a must-retain. Deine Mariner would be a good get that's for sure.
 
jrtiger said:
while they certainly have some of the attributes I'm not sure I'd look at Sione or Samuela for 13. we need that boulder with high legspeed type. if there's anything that stood out against Canberra it was how slow we do things, starting at the ruck. we need someone with pace to create momentum thru the middle.

agree on Havili for sure. he'd be excellent.
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Yeah if we could land that type as our #13 and with Latu in the halves, the complexion of our attack changes immeasurably.
 
BlackWhiteGold said:
Yeah if we could land that type as our #13 and with Latu in the halves, the complexion of our attack changes immeasurably.
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I'm biased because he's a mate of mine and he's a Group 6 junior, but we should be trying everything to bring Ray Stone home. with Morgan Knowles headed there next year and guys like Plath, Saifiti and possibly Flegler coming back into that pack, we should be putting a three-year deal under his nose.
 
jrtiger said:
I'm biased because he's a mate of mine and he's a Group 6 junior, but we should be trying everything to bring Ray Stone home. with Morgan Knowles headed there next year and guys like Plath, Saifiti and possibly Flegler coming back into that pack, we should be putting a three-year deal under his nose.
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Good call JR. His effort areas are 2nd to none and just seem to lift the players around him. Yeah with Knowles coming in and obviously a lot of returning injured players next season, the Phins may have excess around the fringes.
 
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