Signings, Suggestions & Rumours Discussion

[Ron Brodrick's Spirit]

I don't know Merlot, the N.R.L are throwing some crazy ideas around like crazy cap exemptions, living away from home allowances, security provided. I heard it thrown around the N.R.L were thinking about having a compound with a community built for the club to live in, like a resort if they place the team in P.N.G. I still don't see how they will attract players to go there. I seriously think they're up against it trying to convince players to go to the P.N.G. Unless they just field a side of the Qcup and local players.

For a young bloke with no kids the money would be attractive as would the sense of adventure and life experience. I expect the third party deals will be huge to attract talent.

 

[mtd#2]

mtd#2,what are the tax laws for sports people front loading , opposed to working class front loading. .No stress here for an answer , im neither lol, interesting equation that's all

From an ATO perspective all they care about is the income within the financial year... So if a player was on 500k a season and that was paid monthly over 12 months, then theyd just get taxed their marginal tax rate based on the ATO brackets. If they front loaded it and paid them $1mill in the financial year (for the two seasons), the ATO doesn't care because the tax is still being paid..

Tax rates – Australian resident | Australian Taxation Office

Tax rates for Australian residents for income years from 2026 back to 1984.

www.ato.gov.au

The issue that @Canadian Club raised is that by front loading, a player might be subject to more tax than if they were paid as per the original contract.. also that there are minimum wage requirements that must be met.. @Canadian Club I assume the minimum wage requirement is an NRL one via the bargaining agreement?

 

[GCfan]

Pole isnt using footwork since his injury. His last game he improved sp hopefully that confidence is coming back.

Agree. I thought Fonua was fantastic last game especially the first half. Plenty of impact.

 

[gregjm87]

Hey bbtf,

Just to clarify, "front ending" refers to shifting a player's salary forward—essentially paying part of their future contract earlier—to free up cap space in later seasons.

It’s rarely done way I'm outlining below, but to keep it simple, let’s say offloading the players you mentioned above gives us an extra $1.5 million to spend in 2025.

Now imagine the below three players contracts look like this for 2026:

- Turuva: $500k
- Terrell: $600k
- Latu: $400k

Combined, that’s $1.5 million.

In theory, we could pay all three their 2026 salaries upfront in 2025. That would wipe their cost off the books for 2026—leaving us with an extra $1.5 million to use that year. And if we already had $1 million of cap space set aside for 2026, we'd now be working with $2.5 million instead.

Clubs only usually front-load a portion of these contracts—say 50%—rather than the full amount.

So circling back to your comment: you wouldn’t see any benefit this season. The payoff kicks in next season, when the cap space opens up from having front-loaded the deals. We could use the $2.5 to go and get Payne Haas for a year or two!!

This is a great description of what front loading is and how it can benefit a club. There are however restrictions around how contracts can be front loaded. it's been a long while since listening to the explanation so unfortunately I cannot remember the details, sorry.
It also comes with risks. Say we moved 300k of Turuva's 26 salary forward, leaving him on 150k next year. He may then start agitating for a release knowing he can get double that elsewhere for the 26 season. Not suggesting he personally would likely do so. Just using him as an example.

 

[The Chad]

It'd be great to sign Papali'i.

Of course, front row is probably the position we are most top heavy with, so there is that to consider before bringing in a guy to take the place of one of the existing players.

#13 however, is being filled by one of those front row options in Twal. So Frizell makes far more sense.

As for Gagai- he's remained a good player despite his age. Doueihi is no guarantee of staying (he is my preference though), and Makasini is too young to be relied upon. I have no doubt Taylan May will get a shot, but that leaves ANY kind of depth very shallow. Gagai is very good at putting wingers into space. If May played wing for a year, Skelton as the first reserve in the outside backs & Gagai on a 1 year deal- just about fits the timeframe for Makasini to claim a starting spot once Gagai moves on.

2 short term deals, with low risk, to hold spots until younger players on the roster are ready to claim them.

Or, sign guys that are younger to 5 year deals & discuss how we lose young talent because their pathways are blocked in a couple of seasons.

 

[liltiger]

For a young bloke with no kids the money would be attractive as would the sense of adventure and life experience. I expect the third party deals will be huge to attract talent.

They have a whole country to grab business dollars from and the fact the country is league mad, imo they will dominate the 3rd party agreements with astronomical deals to get guys across.

 

[Mighty_Tiger]

It'd be great to sign Papali'i.

Of course, front row is probably the position we are most top heavy with, so there is that to consider before bringing in a guy to take the place of one of the existing players.

#13 however, is being filled by one of those front row options in Twal. So Frizell makes far more sense.

As for Gagai- he's remained a good player despite his age. Doueihi is no guarantee of staying (he is my preference though), and Makasini is too young to be relied upon. I have no doubt Taylan May will get a shot, but that leaves ANY kind of depth very shallow. Gagai is very good at putting wingers into space. If May played wing for a year, Skelton as the first reserve in the outside backs & Gagai on a 1 year deal- just about fits the timeframe for Makasini to claim a starting spot once Gagai moves on.

2 short term deals, with low risk, to hold spots until younger players on the roster are ready to claim them.

Or, sign guys that are younger to 5 year deals & discuss how we lose young talent because their pathways are blocked in a couple of seasons.

He would be a no brainer.
An instant walk in to our top 17.
He would make our side better
We are a quality prop short squad wise and for 1yr solves a problem for 26.

Richo & Benji has punted any player they didn’t want so roster balance would be managed if it was a concern.

 

[Tom Shines]

It'd be great to sign Papali'i.

Of course, front row is probably the position we are most top heavy with, so there is that to consider before bringing in a guy to take the place of one of the existing players.

It’s more than a numbers game my friend … we lack impact props … Paps would be the version of Hunt they wanted that actually has impact and could easily play twice the minutes …

As for Gagai- he's remained a good player despite his age. Doueihi is no guarantee of staying (he is my preference though), and Makasini is too young to be relied upon. I have no doubt Taylan May will get a shot, but that leaves ANY kind of depth very shallow. Gagai is very good at putting wingers into space. If May played wing for a year, Skelton as the first reserve in the outside backs & Gagai on a 1 year deal- just about fits the timeframe for Makasini to claim a starting spot once Gagai moves on.

Gagai is still actually a good player … but with limited resources still available at th club … I think they have other options already here ahead of him ..Star, May as starters … I can’t see him coming here to play behind those two ..AD could back up another year on the cheap apparently before he heads to Perth in 27 ..is Makasini a possibility to come good next year ? As you said … not a guarantee but maybe

 

[Snidest 0]

Highly likely if they continue their current trajectory and if we want to keep them long term.
As for Latu, the rest of this season will obviously make things a lot clearer on how high his ceiling may be, but his game last Sunday was the best individual performance by a Wests Tigers player so far in 2025, was it not ?
Api has probably produced a 9 or 10 out of 10 game once or twice this season also, but no better than what Latu produced against the Roosters.

One supposed 9 out of 10 game in a blue moon is not a genuine gauge of a players value!

A consistent 7.5-8/10 player in a key position is far more valuable - just look at Dylan Edwards!

 

[Vicious]

One supposed 9 out of 10 game in a blue moon is not a genuine gauge of a players value!

A consistent 7.5-8/10 player in a key position is far more valuable - just look at Dylan Edwards!

Well Latu has now played 2 games of NRL starting in the halves and one of them was a genuine 9 out of 10 game.
I agree we need to see it again, hopefully tomorrow, but so far he’s at 50% of producing a top quality game in the halves, so the early signs are very good.

 

[Snidest 0]

Well Latu has now played 2 games of NRL starting in the halves and one of them was a genuine 9 out of 10 game.
I agree we need to see it again, hopefully tomorrow, but so far he’s at 50% of producing a top quality game in the halves, so the early signs are very good.

The first game was a 6/10 at best - so based on your 9/10 rating he averages 7.5/10 in two starting games (which is not a viable sample size)!

Please remind me of Galvin's 9/10 games??

 

[Vicious]

The first game was a 6/10 at best - so based on your 9/10 rating he averages 7.5/10 in two starting games (which is not a viable sample size)!

Please remind me of Galvin's 9/10 games??

I don’t even want to think about Galvin anymore, I just want us to beat him when we play against the Bulldogs.
From memory he probably produced one, maybe two 9 out 10 games in his time with us.
Anyway what are you saying, you obviously rate Latu as a very good halves prospect, but I’m assuming you don’t think we are yet near the stage of even thinking about upgrading or extending his contract ?

 

[TigerTone]

Are you people for real? Wanting to sign Papalii?
And then what , when he's not up to speed ,
you will all be saying he is a shit signing and so-on.
Our club needs to sign players who are next up nrl players.
Those in teams who are stacked with players in positions we need and who are
ready to make the next step to first grade and make something out of it.
Players that have played NRL and had a taste of it and are hungry to get in there
and play first grade and stay there.

Please no more pensioners to this club.
We've had our fair share of them.

 

[Vicious]

I don’t even want to think about Galvin anymore, I just want us to beat him when we play against the Bulldogs.
From memory he probably produced one, maybe two 9 out 10 games in his time with us.
Anyway what are you saying, you obviously rate Latu as a very good halves prospect, but I’m assuming you don’t think we are yet near the stage of even thinking about upgrading or extending his contract ?

Actually before you respond, thinking about it a bit more, Galvin had some good games for us in 2024, but none as impressive as what Latu was for us against Manly last week.
So you are probably right in saying Galvin produced no 9 or 10 out of games for us.

 

[Snidest 0]

I don’t even want to think about Galvin anymore, I just want us to beat him when we play against the Bulldogs.
From memory he probably produced one, maybe two 9 out 10 games in his time with us.
Anyway what are you saying, you obviously rate Latu as a very good halves prospect, but I’m assuming you don’t think we are yet near the stage of even thinking about upgrading or extending his contract ?

Galvin produced nothing that resembles a 9/10 game!!

Latu is not seeking an upgrade - why would we prematurely consider it?

And when his contract is up for renewal - any upgrade will not be funded by short-changing the fullback position (who is also not seeking an upgrade and is contracted through to 2027 with a club or player option)...

You do realise that if the club does not take up Bula's 900K option for 2027 - he can still stay for 800K or go elsewhere?

Regardless of your 9/10 rating nonsense - Bula will not be short of suitors who will pay in excess of $800K in 2027 - so unless he has a career ending injury - the option has already been factored into our 2027 cap and you can "EXPECT" it will be triggered by the club!

No further discussion required!

 

[Tom Shines]

Are you people for real? Wanting to sign Papalii?
And then what , when he's not up to the speed ,
you will all be saying he is a shit signing and so-on.
Our club needs to sign players who are next up nrl players.
Those in teams who are stacked with players in positions we need and who are
ready to make the next step to first grade and make something out of it.
Players that have played NRL and had a taste of it and are hungry to get in there
and play first grade and stay there.

Please no more pensioners to this club.
We've had our fair share of them.

He is a current Origin player … he will do for a year ..

Who do you want to sign instead ? These “ next up” guys?

 

[Needaname]

I guess there is a chance that Papali’i might end up with a further year at the capital.

 

[Tom Shines]

I guess there is a chance that Papali’i might end up with a further year at the capital.

I’m thought Ricky has farewelled him already from the end of the year? Had a change of heart ?

 

[Vicious]

Galvin produced nothing that resembles a 9/10 game!!

Latu is not seeking an upgrade - why would we prematurely consider it?

And when his contract is up for renewal - any upgrade will not be funded by short-changing the fullback position (who is also not seeking an upgrade and is contracted through to 2027 with a club or player option)...

You do realise that if the club does not take up Bula's 900K option for 2027 - he can still stay for 800K or go elsewhere?

Regardless of your 9/10 rating nonsense - Bula will not be short of suitors who will pay in excess of $800K in 2027 - so unless he has a career ending injury - the option has already been factored into our 2027 cap and you can "EXPECT" it will be triggered by the club!

No further discussion required!

So what would you be doing, asking him to take up the clubs option at 800k or assuming he asks us to pay him the 900k would you just agree to that ?
With the way the contract is supposedly set out, I don’t think there is any chance he will accept 800k do you ?
Also would you offer and pay 1 million per season for Herbie Farnworth to sign with us ?
To be honest I don’t even think 1 million per season would land him when when the cost of living is so much cheaper in Qld or Perth.

 

[Needaname]

I’m thought Ricky has farewelled him already from the end of the year? Had a change of heart ?

Papali’is words are when you are keen to play on but your club can’t offer you a new contract what else can you do? Psaulo heading north, if they can fit him in I’m sure they will. It could have been made more public then it needed to be just to drum up some 3rd party interest. Just wouldn’t be surprised, I don’t see Canberra letting him finish his legacy at another club.