Signings, Suggestions & Rumours Discussion

[BBTF]

A few tidbits from the agent side of things (supposedly):

Wests Tigers apparently have $1M earmarked for a big name recruit for 2026 rather than journeymen types. Going for Adam Reynolds was evidence for this as well as front-loading contracts and removing players this year. No one signed yet as it is sensitive with contracting but they have been taking some big swings, all above board but depends on a few things such as coaching merry-go rounds in other clubs. Tigers have recognised they need at least one more elite leader at the club and are making moves.

As for Bula, Tigers and his manager to renegotiate an extension or rather a new contract that could be good for all parties involved. Reading between the lines, if Tigers take up their option of $900k, Isaac Moses doesn't get commission so he is open to negotiating a lesser value but more years so he gets his cut and Bula doesn't want to play anywhere else. Maybe business beats out bad blood here. I guess we'll see.

A few other non-tigers stuff like Cam Smith to coach Titans next year and also Weekes getting a big upgrade. Oh and apparently he knows someone who saw footage of the Benji/Doueihi fight and it was literally a big tackle and not even any push and shove. Chinese whispers got to a journo who made it into something it wasn't.

Only worth paying someone $1 mill if they are worth it. At this time of year, the only player worth that money is already contracted and would be maybe seeking release. So, there is a good chance that we can't sign a million dollar player. How was this not identified and used earlier would be my question? There is no point figuring out in July you can sign a $1 mill player for next year.

I would rather use that money carefully for next year (eg short upgrades) and have it available for 2027, then rush in and pay overs for someone on a long contract like Packer, Sullivan, Mbye, Reynolds, BJ, Klemmer, Bateman, where it becomes really challenging to get rid of them or we end up paying money for them to play elsewhere

 

[king_sirro]

No the captain should have made the adjustments to the game plan (kicking behind the outside backs or kicking long early in the sets) mid game.
They should also have a structure for early shifts that don't involve positional changes to be called upon when the captain deems appropriate.

Not disagreeing with that, but didn't he say he should have made the move of Doueihi moving into the middle, or did i read that wrong?

 

[king_sirro]

No, not that he should have made the positional switch - don't get me wrong that is the coaches perogative. If the game plan is not working then the captain needs to have the ability to identify why the plan can't be executed and adjust.

This weekend - the Warriors line speed and up and in defence had us turning the ball back into their pack and doing a lot of one out running. Api or Luai could have made the decision to:

• Execute the same game plan one off the ruck to provide time and space to execute the plan,
• Kicked over the top/through the line to slow the line speed and then go back to the game plan,
• Kick, or attempt to kick, a couple of 40/20s to get outside backs in two minds to enable us to execute the game plan.
• Execute the flat 4 approach deeper to provide time and space.

Either Api or Luai should have had the nouse to execute any or several of those actions without having their hand held by Benji. Benji has given them the intent - they are big boys getting paid big dollars - time to earn it.

Modern footy is a simple game, and for most players they just need to execute their part and do the 1%ers that make a difference, but someone out there has to have enough smarts to adapt when required.

Oh ok,im with you mate. My bad

 

[Needaname]

you are spot on, the key to any 40/20 or early tackle set is to find the grass and have a great chase. If the 40/20 comes off it is a bonus, if it doesn't and they are starting their sets deep that as great outcome as well. If we are gassed and under fatigue from momentum we can also kick for touch to slow the game down a little and start from a set line. That can be dangerous if they get a scrum base move right, but at times it is worth the risk.

The bit that is important is not so much the kick - be it short or long - it is the threat of the defence being caught out if we get it right.

A couple of dabs in behind the line mid field (which Luai and Latu are both good at) holds the line back a little and provides room and also brings the fullback up a little that give you more opportunies to kick to to the seagulls and have them statting the sets deep.

When we are under pressure we don't try in get inside the head of our opposition and make them adjust their play to enable ours. That is where we really struggle. We can score a few points - but how many more could we score if the had that extra time and space?

I think you said it in your opening point. It’s all about the chase, an adjustment like that has to be completely broadcasted to the team so they are on the same page. I agree our halves are not thinking on their feet that way its hard thing to do on the back foot and I personally don’t have the confidence in their kicking ability to get something like that done when on the back foot. It’s a bit robotic but the bomb is the play in 25 it’s all about contestable possession and a bomb gives a chasing team more time to set for defence or to attack a kick. The long kick is rarely used these days.
Your suggestion of a chip in behind the line is great in theory as well but once again, unless we completely bambozle the fullback and kick on to the opposite side on the open grass it’s giving up possession cheaply and giving the opposition momentum into their next set.

 

[innsaneink]

AOB knights coach getting the sack

He had a clause last year....top 12 finish guaranteed an extra 2 years which they now have to pay out

And i thought we were a basket case

 

[Jolls]

I think you said it in your opening point. It’s all about the chase, an adjustment like that has to be completely broadcasted to the team so they are on the same page. I agree our halves are not thinking on their feet that way its hard thing to do on the back foot and I personally don’t have the confidence in their kicking ability to get something like that done when on the back foot. It’s a bit robotic but the bomb is the play in 25 it’s all about contestable possession and a bomb gives a chasing team more time to set for defence or to attack a kick. The long kick is rarely used these days.
Your suggestion of a chip in behind the line is great in theory as well but once again, unless we completely bambozle the fullback and kick on to the opposite side on the open grass it’s giving up possession cheaply and giving the opposition momentum into their next set.

Exactly, this isn't something you pull out of your bum on the fly. It needs to be rehearsed and in the back pocket as a contingency. I would be ahppy to turn over posession on the fourth every now and then if it meant we had the pace to execute our game plan. It is all risk and reward. I get your point though and it is something to be very wary of. If you overexecute it you are shooting yourself in the foot as badly as not executing it at all.

 

[pawsandclaws1]

I'm sure you've read it that AOB's position at the Knights will end in 25. SMH have an article on it.

 

[Needaname]

Exactly, this isn't something you pull out of your bum on the fly. It needs to be rehearsed and in the back pocket as a contingency. I would be ahppy to turn over posession on the fourth every now and then if it meant we had the pace to execute our game plan. It is all risk and reward. I get your point though and it is something to be very wary of. If you overexecute it you are shooting yourself in the foot as badly as not executing it at all.

I hope it’s something we address in the offseason.

 

[tigahhh]

He had a clause last year....top 12 finish guaranteed an extra 2 years which they now have to pay out

And i thought we were a basket case

he’s laughing all the way to the bank
plus he’s an Isaac Moses pawn so he’ll get an assistant job at manly or dragons

 

[hank37w]

You’re not understanding the context of the article.
It is a ranking within a club not a ranking per position. Bula is outside our captains the next highest earner in my opinion maybe at other clubs he wouldn’t be.

My bad. 🤣

 

[bbobb]

Douehi is perfect in that role in attack, unlikely he will be able to defend well in the middle for 80mins, how do we solve that problem ?

He defended at centre yesterday

 

[king_sirro]

He defended at centre yesterday

He definitely defended in the middle for a period

 

[tiger_one]

A few tidbits from the agent side of things (supposedly):

Wests Tigers apparently have $1M earmarked for a big name recruit for 2026 rather than journeymen types. Going for Adam Reynolds was evidence for this as well as front-loading contracts and removing players this year. No one signed yet as it is sensitive with contracting but they have been taking some big swings, all above board but depends on a few things such as coaching merry-go rounds in other clubs. Tigers have recognised they need at least one more elite leader at the club and are making moves.

As for Bula, Tigers and his manager to renegotiate an extension or rather a new contract that could be good for all parties involved. Reading between the lines, if Tigers take up their option of $900k, Isaac Moses doesn't get commission so he is open to negotiating a lesser value but more years so he gets his cut and Bula doesn't want to play anywhere else. Maybe business beats out bad blood here. I guess we'll see.

A few other non-tigers stuff like Cam Smith to coach Titans next year and also Weekes getting a big upgrade. Oh and apparently he knows someone who saw footage of the Benji/Doueihi fight and it was literally a big tackle and not even any push and shove. Chinese whispers got to a journo who made it into something it wasn't.

Thanks champion @Tiger Tarl - your goss is always appreciated. 😎

 

[TSP]

In the meantime, we boned Madge despite him having a better success rate than Benji.

Hard to fathom.

 

[jadtiger]

In the meantime, we boned Madge despite him having a better success rate than Benji.

Hard to fathom.

That was more to do with Sheens wanting to be the coach again at any cost imho once again his ego was out of control to the detriment of our club

 

[Tom Shines]

In the meantime, we boned Madge despite him having a better success rate than Benji.

Hard to fathom.

Souths boned Madge three years after he broke a 40 yr premiership drought …

Now that is hard to fathom ..: if Benji wins a premiership here then he will coach here another 20 years

 

[TigerBurnsy]

he’s laughing all the way to the bank
plus he’s an Isaac Moses pawn so he’ll get an assistant job at manly or dragons

Or he will take them to court for bullying or unfair dismissal

 

[TSP]

That was more to do with Sheens wanting to be the coach again at any cost imho once again his ego was out of control to the detriment of our club

Yes, thats probably fair.

 

[TSP]

Souths boned Madge three years after he broke a 40 yr premiership drought …

Now that is hard to fathom ..: if Benji wins a premiership here then he will coach here another 20 years

All good but let’s stay composed, there’s no actual danger of Benji winning a premiership here.

He’s yet to win one out every three games he coaches for!

He’s just keeps banging his head up against the wall in a determined effort to prove that the job is beyond him.

If he’s such an inspiring and talented coach, they’d be interest in his services elsewhere.

I was thinking if we are so devoted to the mate, to save us the daunting and embarrassing process of running a professional operation, we could send feelers out to Toddy.



He’s full matey qualified too.

And as a bonus….wins almost twice as many games as Benji.

 

[Modman]

It's a worry

So what you would of kept Da Silva and let api go would you. Da Silva is massively over rated has nothing on api despite he's performance.