Signings, Suggestions & Rumours Discussion

[weststigers]

Here are my current predictions for the 8 available spots in the top 30 we have + 2 available development spots for 2026. And subsequent depth chart for each position underneath.

Spot 1 (left centre): Taylan May (contingeny – Dane Gagai)
Spot 2 (utility): Bud Sullivan (contingeny – Siliva Havili)
Spot 3 (depth centre, backline utility): Krystian Mapapalangi (consider Brent Naden or Adam Doeuihi)
Spot 4 (depth wing): Izaak Tu’itupou (consider Charlie Staines)
Spot 5 (depth hooker): Tristan Hope
Spot 6 (depth lock): Charlie Murray
Spots 7 & 8 (depth props x 2): Jaxson Rahme, Peter Taateo

Development (locked in): Broederlow (backrow, middle), Haywood (hooker, halves), Taupau-Moors (middle), Godinet (backrow)

Dev spot 1 (backline): Tino Tavana
Dev spot 2 (utility): Josese Lanyon

NOTE: 1 year contracts for Rahme, Taateo, Hope & Murray as Godinet, T-M & Haywood are upgrades to top 30 in '27. I'd also just do 1 year deals for Mapalangi & Tu'itupou with the likes of Tavana, Brookes, Kanaan, Taotua putting themselves in the frame for '27.

DEPTH CHART:

Highlights that Mapapalangi, Tu'itupou, Rahme, Saukuru & Taateo can be paid close to minimum as they would be unlikely to get a call-up with 3 others above them in each respective position. Also highlights the importance of the versatility of Makasini, Luke Laulilii, Mason, Seyfarth & Sukkar as depth players.

Jahream Bula	Turuva	Luke Laulilii	Mason
Jeral Skelton (lhs)	Makasini	Laulilii	Izaac Tu’itupou
Taylan May (lhs)	Haemasi Makasini	Laulilii	Krystian Mapapalangi
Starford To'a (rhs)	Makasini	Laulilii	Mapapalangi
Sunia Turuva (rhs)	Makasini	Laulilii	Tu’itupou
Latu Fainu	Sullivan	Mason	Mapapalangi
Jarome Luai	Sullivan	Mason	Mapapalangi
Alex Twal	Alex Seyfarth	Bird	Murray
Kai Pearce-Paul (rhs)	Tony Sukkar	Bird	Seyfarth / Solo Saukuru
Samuela Fainu (lhs)	Tony Sukkar	Bird	Seyfarth / Saukuru
Terrell May	Si Fainu	Seyfarth	Jaxson Rahme / Peter Taateo
Api Koroisau	Tristan Hope	Sullivan	Murray
Fonua Pole	Si Fainu	Seyfarth	Rahme / Taateo
Jack Bird	Seyfarth	Sukkar	Murray
Royce Hunt	Seyfarth	Kit Laulilii	Rahme / Taateo
Sione Fainu	Seyfarth	Sukkar	Rahme / Taateo
Bud Sullivan	Heath Mason	Charlie Murray	Mapapalangi

Looks like we are still short on depth at 2nd row. Harrison Hasset would be a good pickup. Btw, I doubt Gagai is going to pop on over to play reserves.

If a guy like Gagai would even come over, I'd be more inclined to stick him at centre and replace Skelton for Taylan May. Skelton is alright out of yardage, but there are questions defensively and he's made some errors which have cost us. Good player, don't get me wrong, but Gagai/May is a stronger combination than May/Skelton in my opinion. Either way, Gagai for 1 or 2 years is disruptive to the long term development of the team. I like him, but I'd give it a miss for that reason.

It's gotta be Makasini/May combo going forward provided the kid is genuinely NRL ready.

 

[Tigerscout]

Balmain Boy,

Have you crawled back from under your rock? Were you on holidays or just busy making coffee again! With out Sukkar’s defence Tigers don’t win that game. Any other back rower was letting tries in. The kids is a machine and when they learn how to use him properly by passing the ball his attack will be very different. You can see him attacking the line each time but the half on that side did not utilise that option instead went looking on the other side.

It seems that Benjis instructions were always go down the middle on 7&9 with our forwards and back rowers need to defend all day which is what that Sukkar kid did and did it well. 39 tackles not bad. A few errors with off side which I am sure he will work on this week. Did well for first time in NRL with full 80min

If you read any of this shit about you Sukkar don’t listen hold your head up and maybe to please Balmain Boy the latte maker be a hog and start running the ball don’t worry about what your coach tells you to do or what game plan and instructions he gives you because latte man know best.

Couldn't have said it better myself mate. I like the kid, he shows toughness and grit and I can see his confidence coming out more and more every single week.

Balmain boy is talking like benji consulted him on the game plan before kickoff, get back under your rock mate, that’s enough from you.

Tiger in boots you’re a tough critic mate, 39 tackles in his first 80 minute game, sprung on him 15 mins before kick off? Thats more than not bad! That’s remarkable at the least, talk about always being ready! I don’t see anyone else doing the job he’s done with the cards he’s been dealt.

I’ll say it now and I’ll say it again, without sukkar on edge defence we lose that game in a confronting fashion.

 

[Jolls]

Here are my current predictions for the 8 available spots in the top 30 we have + 2 available development spots for 2026. And subsequent depth chart for each position underneath.

Spot 1 (left centre): Taylan May (contingeny – Dane Gagai)
Spot 2 (utility): Bud Sullivan (contingeny – Siliva Havili)
Spot 3 (depth centre, backline utility): Krystian Mapapalangi (consider Brent Naden or Adam Doeuihi)
Spot 4 (depth wing): Izaak Tu’itupou (consider Charlie Staines)
Spot 5 (depth hooker): Tristan Hope
Spot 6 (depth lock): Charlie Murray
Spots 7 & 8 (depth props x 2): Jaxson Rahme, Peter Taateo

Development (locked in): Broederlow (backrow, middle), Haywood (hooker, halves), Taupau-Moors (middle), Godinet (backrow)

Dev spot 1 (backline): Tino Tavana
Dev spot 2 (utility): Josese Lanyon

NOTE: 1 year contracts for Rahme, Taateo, Hope & Murray as Godinet, T-M & Haywood are upgrades to top 30 in '27. I'd also just do 1 year deals for Mapalangi & Tu'itupou with the likes of Tavana, Brookes, Kanaan, Taotua putting themselves in the frame for '27.

DEPTH CHART:

Highlights that Mapapalangi, Tu'itupou, Rahme, Saukuru & Taateo can be paid close to minimum as they would be unlikely to get a call-up with 3 others above them in each respective position. Also highlights the importance of the versatility of Makasini, Luke Laulilii, Mason, Seyfarth & Sukkar as depth players.

Jahream Bula	Turuva	Luke Laulilii	Mason
Jeral Skelton (lhs)	Makasini	Laulilii	Izaac Tu’itupou
Taylan May (lhs)	Haemasi Makasini	Laulilii	Krystian Mapapalangi
Starford To'a (rhs)	Makasini	Laulilii	Mapapalangi
Sunia Turuva (rhs)	Makasini	Laulilii	Tu’itupou
Latu Fainu	Sullivan	Mason	Mapapalangi
Jarome Luai	Sullivan	Mason	Mapapalangi
Alex Twal	Alex Seyfarth	Bird	Murray
Kai Pearce-Paul (rhs)	Tony Sukkar	Bird	Seyfarth / Solo Saukuru
Samuela Fainu (lhs)	Tony Sukkar	Bird	Seyfarth / Saukuru
Terrell May	Si Fainu	Seyfarth	Jaxson Rahme / Peter Taateo
Api Koroisau	Tristan Hope	Sullivan	Murray
Fonua Pole	Si Fainu	Seyfarth	Rahme / Taateo
Jack Bird	Seyfarth	Sukkar	Murray
Royce Hunt	Seyfarth	Kit Laulilii	Rahme / Taateo
Sione Fainu	Seyfarth	Sukkar	Rahme / Taateo
Bud Sullivan	Heath Mason	Charlie Murray	Mapapalangi

Nice Work - well done thanks

 

[weststigers]

Becuase, in my opinion, AD won't get us into a premiership window. He is a mid-table centre at best - we need some real strike.

If we keep him he should be a utility player as backup so we can't rely on his goal kicking except in Cup.

It's been said a zillion times before, but he is a perfect body and skill set for lock. If he works on his fitness, defence and adds a bit of size, he could be exceptional there and a great backup half. That would be pretty valuable to a club.

As a first choice starting centre, he's mid.

His value to us has been his utility over the years. We have just had poor depth at centre for a long time. By comparison, To'a is a true centre. He draws defenders and gets his winger away and can also burn his man and take advantage of the space if the winger stays out on his man. I don't see Doueihi doing centre things.

 

[Tom Shines]

Well Jahream is not yet elite status...we might want to flick him then. On a philosophical level, I have been thinking this over since contracts started becoming worth toilet paper and what benefit does a club have by signing a 4 or 5+ year deal? If the player is going great, their manager can just agitate and get them out anyway. If they are going like a busted, you have to pay freight to get rid of them if you even can which throws your cap outta whack.

It's not like a club can do a good deal anymore. A bit like the Roosters or Storm, if they want to stay, they'll stay for a price the club can afford, otherwise they're unhappy and they want to leave for a pay rise. Faced with that scenario, what's the difference in the

We’ll soon get to see what it’s like when your highest paid player and team leader gets to openly approach the market every year…

In regards to players leaving …perhaps if the club hadn’t been such a push over in the past , then the player managers wouldn’t be putting it on them so much …. KPP is still playing in Newcastle … if that’s one of our players signing elsewhere than he gets released for sure ..

In relation to Bula …pick up the option now …give yourself another year to watch his form and see if it warrants a further deal and at what terms …. Having him sign elsewhere this off season and likely force his way out of the club with his manager’s playbook isn’t something i particularly feel like going through when they are preparing for a new season..

 

[watersider]

I like the use of Bula and Tito as a bit of a tandem in the FB role going forward. Mini did it a bit later in his career with RTS.

Yeah, get Tito running the 4th tackle options and Bula chasing the bombs.

 

[BlackWhiteGold]

Looks like we are still short on depth at 2nd row. Harrison Hasset would be a good pickup. Btw, I doubt Gagai is going to pop on over to play reserves.

If a guy like Gagai would even come over, I'd be more inclined to stick him at centre and replace Skelton for Taylan May. Skelton is alright out of yardage, but there are questions defensively and he's made some errors which have cost us. Good player, don't get me wrong, but Gagai/May is a stronger combination than May/Skelton in my opinion. Either way, Gagai for 1 or 2 years is disruptive to the long term development of the team. I like him, but I'd give it a miss for that reason.

It's gotta be Makasini/May combo going forward provided the kid is genuinely NRL ready.

I'm referring to Dane Gagai only as a contingency plan if Taylan May doesn't work out this season, thus Gagai straight into starting left centre.

Yes ideally Makasini takes over from Skelton. I'm just basing it off Skelton's best form atm allowing Big Mak to develop by forcing his way into the team through performance.

I also have Hunt on the bench as the Royce Hunt at close to his best. If his desire or fitness is no longer there, he could be shuffled out and we aim for Josh Papali'i for 1-2 seasons or a Bunty Afoa type.

 

[weststigers]

We’ll soon get to see what it’s like when your highest paid player and team leader gets to openly approach the market every year…

In regards to players leaving …perhaps if the club hadn’t been such a push over in the past , then the player managers wouldn’t be putting it on them so much …. KPP is still playing in Newcastle … if that’s one of our players signing elsewhere than he gets released for sure ..

In relation to Bula …pick up the option now …give yourself another year to watch his form and see if it warrants a further deal and at what terms …. Having him sign elsewhere this off season and likely force his way out of the club with his manager’s playbook isn’t something i particularly feel like going through when they are preparing for a new season..

Apologies, but who is saying to allow Bula to go to market this off season? Where did this narrative come from?

Secondly, if they don't want to stay, let them go. Fk this agitation and speculation for months on end to destabilise us every season. Bula and Jarome can go if they don't want to stay or if they want to nickel and dime the club. If we are being totally objective, Jarome is not the difference maker he was signed to be anyway. I think he has some strengths around his halfback defence in the line and some intangible strengths in his positive influence around the club, but performance wise, he's been pretty average. Locking him into a contract he doesn't want to be in doesn't ensure he stays as we've seen in the past. It always becomes untenable. Am I happy to keep him. Sure, but if he wants to leave, then see ya. Same with Bula.

Your method can work if we are sitting pretty in the top 8...we have at least some leverage as a successful club, but when you're losing, there is naturally more discontent. Admittedly, it's a catch 22 that is difficult to navigate, but we seem to have a good core group that wants to stay and I'm happy to build on that. It's a better culture to have people who want to stay than a bunch of players who have come over for the money. That's why I'm glad the club has stopped believing they need to pay overs. It just produces a shitty culture of guys here for the wrong reasons. Not to mention the cap pressure it puts us under.

Our fans seem to think we can hoard players infinitely without losing any. If we lose Jarome, we suddenly have 1.2 million to buy a half...you think we could get something decent? With that sort of money, you can be in with a shot at Katoa. I'd be pretty happy with that trade. That money buys a top 4 NRL half. If we lose Jahream, we have 900k. Do you think we could replace him with that sort of cap spend? Turuva did great at fullback...we'd just need to pickup a winger...900k is plenty for a winger and to upgrade Turuva. There's always a way out.

To be clear. I don't want any of this to happen at all, but I am confident the club can deal with it if it does. We are not the wood ducks that some think we are.

 

[Jolls]

It's been said a zillion times before, but he is a perfect body and skill set for lock. If he works on his fitness, defence and adds a bit of size, he could be exceptional there and a great backup half. That would be pretty valuable to a club.

As a first choice starting centre, he's mid.

His value to us has been his utility over the years. We have just had poor depth at centre for a long time. By comparison, To'a is a true centre. He draws defenders and gets his winger away and can also burn his man and take advantage of the space if the winger stays out on his man. I don't see Doueihi doing centre things.

I doubt AD has the heart to play in the middle, but if he can transform he has an opportunity. We need to replace Twal as the starting 13 and we need depth there as well. He has the height os he could be a kick chase weapon - trouble is that he doesn't do it now - will he change?

 

[weststigers]

I doubt AD has the heart to play in the middle, but if he can transform he has an opportunity. We need to replace Twal as the starting 13 and we need depth there as well. He has the height os he could be a kick chase weapon - trouble is that he doesn't do it now - will he change?

Nah no way...I at 27, I reckon it's beyond him + he sees himself as a half. No chance he even attempts to evolve into a 13.

 

[Vicious]

I doubt AD has the heart to play in the middle, but if he can transform he has an opportunity. We need to replace Twal as the starting 13 and we need depth there as well. He has the height os he could be a kick chase weapon - trouble is that he doesn't do it now - will he change?

I don’t mind AD as a player, the way he’s come back from all his ACL injuries has to be admired, his defence is not as bad as some make it out to be and his goal kicking is very valuable.
I think his attack when playing in the centres has been a little underwhelming this season, but his line bust when hitting the ball at speed against the Sea Eagles is what we need from him on a much more regular basis.
He has the physique, strength and talent to play 13, I don’t think he has the toughness for that position unfortunately.

 

[BlackWhiteGold]

We’ll soon get to see what it’s like when your highest paid player and team leader gets to openly approach the market every year…

In regards to players leaving …perhaps if the club hadn’t been such a push over in the past , then the player managers wouldn’t be putting it on them so much …. KPP is still playing in Newcastle … if that’s one of our players signing elsewhere than he gets released for sure ..

In relation to Bula …pick up the option now …give yourself another year to watch his form and see if it warrants a further deal and at what terms …. Having him sign elsewhere this off season and likely force his way out of the club with his manager’s playbook isn’t something i particularly feel like going through when they are preparing for a new season..

I wonder whether the delay in extending Api & Starford and even the Luai situation is partly dependent on how much we can frontload their contracts in '27 (even the rest of this season & next season).

Hear me out ... in Richo's interview on 360 he mentioned we had the cap space to bring in KPP for the rest of this season. So we have $$$ we probably have to allocate to some existing top 30 players now to be cap compliant.

And in the forecasts for 2027/28 & beyond, we have to factor in $$$ upgrades for the likes of Latu, Samuela, Terrell, Jahream particularly.

So if we have the cap space, it makes sense to frontload our key players now ... Jarome, Api as priority and potentially Starford as he's off-contract Nov-1 for '27.

So in conclusion, maybe Richo is close to knowing how much cap we have left for '26 (with TDS leaving or if any other big $$$ signings are being targeted) to then be able to pay Api, Luai & Starford a lot more next year.

As a player, it would be beneficial to be front-loaded wouldn't it! They can put that money into, for example, an investment property which would reap dividends long-term. So let's say, Jarome is front-loaded an additional $300k next season, that's an additional $300k he could put to an investment property and over time will get a greater return (minus the tax hit).

 

[liltiger]

For one year yes … I’m thinking longer term …

Also Moses supposedly doesn’t earn his 6 percent for 2027…so expect him to be scheming to get out from under

I'd imagine the Tigers will tell Isaac and Bula to sign an extension now. If we signed him up for a further 3 years for example pretty sure Moses would get paid for 27 onward as it's a new deal. If we activate it for one year Moses gets nothing and all we will hear about is Bulas contract next year, but knowing Moses will get nothing if we activate our option now, the club should talk a new deal and extension now, as Moses is already looking for interest elsewhere. We have power in this situation. If Moses refuses to discuss an extension now knowing he won't getsee a cent from Bulas final year on his current deal, writings on the wall he's going to try to get Bula out of the joint.

 

[Tom Shines]

I'd imagine the Tigers will tell Isaac and Bula to sign an extension now. If we signed him up for a further 3 years for example pretty sure Moses would get paid for 27 onward as it's a new deal. If we activate it for one year Moses gets nothing and all we will hear about is Bulas contract next year, but knowing Moses will get nothing if we activate our option now, the club should talk a new deal and extension now, as Moses is already looking for interest elsewhere. We have power in this situation. If Moses refuses to discuss an extension now knowing he won't getsee a cent from Bulas final year on his current deal, writings on the wall he's going to try to get Bula out of the joint.

What are you going to pay him now to extend him for 27-29?

I hope Moses is going to actually talk to them this time

 

[liltiger]

Because, in my opinion, AD won't get us into a premiership window. He is a mid-table centre at best - we need some real strike.

If we keep him he should be a utility player as backup so we can't rely on his goal kicking except in Cup.

His goal kicking alone has to justify a permanent spot in the team every week. To do that he needs to be hitting the 85 - 90% mark. He doesn't so imo he should just be a depth player.

 

[liltiger]

What are you going to pay him now to extend him for 27-29?

No idea, that's for the club to work out, he isn't worth 900k now. This is what might cause some issues because if his on 900k on our option his dropkick manager is going to be asking 1.1 - 1.2 million a year. He's not an elite fullback. I'm torn cause I want Bula to stay but if Moses asks crazy money, I'd let him go and if I couldn't sign another specialist fullback, I'd send Tito in to do the job. Again it comes down to how much the club thinks he's worth. He's not signing a new deal for less than the 900k.

 

[Vicious]

I wonder whether the delay in extending Api & Starford and even the Luai situation is partly dependent on how much we can frontload their contracts in '27 (even the rest of this season & next season).

Hear me out ... in Richo's interview on 360 he mentioned we had the cap space to bring in KPP for the rest of this season. So we have $$$ we probably have to allocate to some existing top 30 players now to be cap compliant.

And in the forecasts for 2027/28 & beyond, we have to factor in $$$ upgrades for the likes of Latu, Samuela, Terrell, Jahream particularly.

So if we have the cap space, it makes sense to frontload our key players now ... Jarome, Api as priority and potentially Starford as he's off-contract Nov-1 for '27.

So in conclusion, maybe Richo is close to knowing how much cap we have left for '26 (with TDS leaving or if any other big $$$ signings are being targeted) to then be able to pay Api, Luai & Starford a lot more next year.

As a player, it would be beneficial to be front-loaded wouldn't it! They can put that money into, for example, an investment property which would reap dividends long-term. So let's say, Jarome is front-loaded an additional $300k next season, that's an additional $300k he could put to an investment property and over time will get a greater return (minus the tax hit).

I was one who regularly defended Starford’s ability when many others doubted him and it has been good to see him show his class on a much more regular basis this season, but to be honest I couldn’t give him an upgraded contract with us.
Yes he’s our most dangerous attacking outside back and one of our only outside backs capable of making regular tackle busts, offloads etc, but for me he’s far too injury prone and I just never see him out in for a full 80mins.
Obviously we have Taylan May and Heamasi Makasini emerging as centres and I like the idea of Luke Laulilli emerging as a centre, but we can’t be certain any of them will be 💯 NRL ready this season, the 2 youngsters might not even be ready for a large portion of next season.
So we probably do need To’a at least for next season based on this scenario, however if he wants an upgrade to above 400k I think that’s starting to push the limits when there are some very good centres currently off contract for 2027.
Ideally someone like Herbie Farnworth could really revolutionise our edge attack and defence, but we would have to pay 1 million, possibly more to get him seriously thinking about joining us, therefore his Dolphins team mate Jake Averillo would be one of be looking at and I have heard whispers he’s looking at a return to Sydney come 2027.
When you speak of our lack of goal kicking options, I recall Averillo being a fairly handy goal kicker also.

 

[Jolls]

I'd imagine the Tigers will tell Isaac and Bula to sign an extension now. If we signed him up for a further 3 years for example pretty sure Moses would get paid for 27 onward as it's a new deal. If we activate it for one year Moses gets nothing and all we will hear about is Bulas contract next year, but knowing Moses will get nothing if we activate our option now, the club should talk a new deal and extension now, as Moses is already looking for interest elsewhere. We have power in this situation. If Moses refuses to discuss an extension now knowing he won't getsee a cent from Bulas final year on his current deal, writings on the wall he's going to try to get Bula out of the joint.

I'm sure there is a deal to be done - it could even be as simple as us activating the option and then negotiating the outer years. The one thing that is consistent across premiership winng teams over the last two decades is a settled spine.

We have the halves combination - provided Latu remains fit, we have the fuillback and hooker in place. We are short a strike centre and a couple of move the needle forwards (including a lock) but apart from that we are building in the right way.

If Bula and Moses want to play silly bugger in the middle of the rebuild it is time to let Bula go and sign a Top 4 fullback for the next four years so the spine is settled. Api should be the first to hand over and his potential replacement has been earmarked - but that is few years away yet to we have time to identify a marquee hooker if that plan fizzles.

 

[Vicious]

No idea, that's for the club to work out, he isn't worth 900k now. This is what might cause some issues because if his on 900k on our option his dropkick manager is going to be asking 1.1 - 1.2 million a year. He's not an elite fullback. I'm torn cause I want Bula to stay but if Moses asks crazy money, I'd let him go and if I couldn't sign another specialist fullback, I'd send Tito in to do the job. Again it comes down to how much the club thinks he's worth. He's not signing a new deal for less than the 900k.

I agree with you that his drop kick manager will highly likely be trying to scandal us into paying 1 million plus to retain Bula, if that happens and he’s asking for similar money to the likes of Reece Walsh, Paps, Dylan Edwards, Hammer, etc we would be stark raving mad to pay it,

 

[Tom Shines]

No idea, that's for the club to work out, he isn't worth 900k now. This is what might cause some issues because if his on 900k on our option his dropkick manager is going to be asking 1.1 - 1.2 million a year. He's not an elite fullback. I'm torn cause I want Bula to stay but if Moses asks crazy money, I'd let him go and if I couldn't sign another specialist fullback, I'd send Tito in to do the job. Again it comes down to how much the club thinks he's worth. He's not signing a new deal for less than the 900k.

He won’t take much south of $900m per year …if I was his manager I would be advising against it …possibly $850k if they are lucky

I keep telling you folks that there is about to be a big leap in the salary cap when the TV deal is announced later this year