tigahhh
Well-known member
easily the best young emerging forward pack in the comp
Signings, Suggestions & Rumours Discussion
- Thread starter MacDougall
- Start date
Likewise tigahhh, what recruitment would you like to see to make is a top 8 team in 2026!
TIGERS
Well-known member
Yea we absolutely are. It's a really unbalanced side. I sometimes wonder how Bula would go as a Centre.
Adam Douehi is a handful for nobody and he really does get bashed up a lot in games.
dont under rate the backs ,its a well oiled machine where bits n pieces work well together in that structure. A flash in a pan could win it , Wests basically play every team above them to take out the cup
A lot to unpack but of the top of my head...
We need to sign at least 2 forwards, probably one edge moving Fainu to the middle and a genuine lock. Every single physical attribute of Samuela I believe would be better utilised as a middle.
I'm not confident at all that May will be the guy at centre either so I'd be looking for another centre who's key attribute is speed.
Now given the options are limited I think you need to be less rigid with positioning. E.g. The quick left centre defends at centre but attacks outside of Skelton to make use of their respective skill sets as ball runners.
Go all in on Latu at 7. He is genuine first receiver and he should be dictating where he gets the ball. Luai is a fantastic Robin but he ain't Batman.
Need to teach our middles how to play off Luai. You know he is going to jink back inside, everytime the ball goes left 2 middles and Bula should be pushing through as an inside runner. Whilst on Bula he should be playing primarily outside Latu on right side shifts and keep alive inside Luai on left side shifts.
Reduce May's minutes. His hit ups are ineffective when getting through so much work.
Start Api on the bench. He is the best hooker in the game picking apart tired middles. Don't make him to that when fatigued himself.
Teach our middles defensive structures around the ruck. Our edges get beaten by more skillful players, but only after I middle breaks down.
Probably some other shit that hasn't immediately sprung to mind.
user118245
Well-known member
TDS wants $50k less than Izzy Katoa’s salary from 2026-2028… 😬
I agree with everything you said 👍
Let’s hope Richo/Benji are of the same opinion,
Starting Api off the bench is interesting, but it makes sense and Ivan Cleary felt the same way in API’s last season at the Panthers.
I really like TDS and ideally would like to keep him, but to make it most effective in having Api start off the bench, we would ideally need a tough, aggressive defender as our 9 to start games, not necessarily a smaller attack minded 9.
Someone who is no frills, but tough, experienced and can get the job done defensively is Danny Levi and he’s off contract as far as I’m aware.
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god bless him
tigahhh
Well-known member
what you said 💯
i think that’s benji’s and richo’s end goal with this squad , just gonna take some time
Please not Votano, he might fulfill his potential in a couple of years time, but at the moment he’s yet another young player who used his size to advantage against his own age groups, but is struggling with the transition playing against the bigger, stronger, tougher, open age men.
As for specific recruits.
i think Fatialofa is the only one available without trying to find an early release.
Raiders and Dolphins are stacked with options available Nov 1 that you might be able to find an early release. Oryn Keeley is a NSW kid who will be a very good player. Lemuelu and Hosking are experienced options that can do a job.
Clayton Faulolo is more a winger than a centre but offers the speed I'm chasing and has a great attitude to his footy. Strong enough to do a job defensively at centre on most opponents but will need a strong communicator inside him (Luai).
Lock is the hardest position to fill.
I did have a big wrap on Taniela Otukolo when he was at Warriors. Haven't watched him since he got punted and picked up by Dogs. The talent is there but.
Would need to do some genuine scouting. I can't see any genuine options just doing a quick scan through team lists but would look for physically big enough to hold his ground in defence. Leg speed to get over the ad line off quick PTB. Able to pass both ways. Demonstrated ability to pass before the line.
Probably look for either a converted hooker/half or a tough as nails fullback that probably won't make it and spend the summer running forwards at him.
Any thoughts on Lachlan Illias as a potential hooker/13 and back up halve or would you be more inclined to look at a tougher, aggressive defender such as Danny Levi as someone to potentially share the 9 role with Api ?
Someone mentioned Chris Randall and he would be even better, but not off contract for 2026.
I know Simi Sasagi is contracted to the Raiders for 2026, unlikely he would be keen to leave and unlikely the Raiders would grant him an early release if he was keen to head elsewhere, BUT you would have to think he’s currently on a very minimal contract and on current form he’s worth a lot more.
As they say sometimes money talks and he’s realistically the Raiders 4th choice edge when they have all players available.
I don’t mind your Clayton Faialalo shout as a potential low cost recruit who could add some sheer speed and attacking x-factor we are lacking,
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I’d forgotten about Brown. It’s crazy suspending players for accidentally running into a ref. Shit happens when you’re running fast to save a try. it’s not like they plan it. Refs are too precious.
That ref needs to learn to get out of the way lol.
No to Levi.
Not really. As a back up they are fine. Im not against either in that sense. If our best 17 isn't good enough to win games however tbh I couldn't give a shit what quality our back up is. It's just a matter of how bad the season will go rather than genuinely improving the team.
Johnnycash
Active member
I saw tamale at Le montage last Sunday with his manager soooooooo
As you have stated, the ideal scenario is Api not starting games to allow him to avoid the early bash and barge and keep him fresh to try and get the best out of his attacking quality for a longer period.
Even if he just sits out the first 20mins and comes on and plays the next 60mins, it should still be more advantageous than him playing the full 80mins every week and looking extremely fatigued at certain stages of the game.
And of course we all know Benji probably won’t see it this way, he clearly sees Api as an 80min per game hooker and it’s unlikely anything will change his mind, but as a hypothetical who are possibilities to start games at 9 if Benji was to run with that plan and assuming TDS heads elsewhere?
So I'd want someone who can do the job as either a lock or smaller middle. I don't think either of those guys can, nor anyone I've seen in our squad (Mapapalangi is probably closest physically and skillset but need to expose him to the middle now).
Otukolo was one I mentioned. Someone recently mentioned Freddy Lussick. Haven't looked at contracts but Gordan Chan Kum Tong, Puru, Donaghue.
His footy has absolutely fallen off a cliff recently but Mason Teague was one I massively rated as a junior who would be suited.
Jake Elliott needs an off season in the gym but he could be moulded into the role. There's bound to be some QCup options but haven't watched any for a couple years.
Edit I don't want to pick a player for just a 20minute role. There is to many variables in a game to limit your options with a guy who will only provide value for your team for 20 minutes.
Tiger_Yoshi
Well-known member
Hodgo should be coaching him…
