Signings, Suggestions & Rumours Discussion

jirskyr said:
Ah Benji's 2025 win rate is 37.5%.

Madge's win rate in 2019 was 35%, in 2021 33% and in his final half-season 2022 was 25%.

So Madge's "success rate" is only superior to Benji if you include Madge's first season (45.83%) and Benji's debut season (25%). But Benji 2025 currently had Madge covered in all years but the first one.

Don't need to spell it out, but I will: we boned Madge because his win rate kept dropping every year. Benji's is currently going up, in fact we already know he can't do worse than last year.

Not so hard to fathom.
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Not you Jirskyr (I swear that sounds like a Xena warrior princess reference) but please... use other terminology in regards to Madge.

We canned Madge because he was not performing. 100% the right decision, as you say and as almost everyone now would agree.

Anyone looking at a Payne Haas, Adam Reynolds Brisbane going "this guy can coach"?
Maybe

But you can't look at the AD and co Tigers thinking Madge was going to do anything different here. We would have still gotten 3 spoons.
 
Roster turnover will be key to the success of the club, obviously.

I think we probably have 22 players on the books at this point for next season-
Backs-

1. Bula
2. Turuva
3. To'a
4. Skelton
5. Luke Lualili'i
6. Luai
7. Latu Fainu
8. Mason
9. Saukuru

Forwards-
10.Terrell May
11. Twal
12. Samuela Fainu
13. Sione Fainu
14. Pole
15. Koroisau
16. Seyfarth
17. Bird
18. Hunt
19. Kit Lualili'i
20. Sukkar
21. Pierce-Paul

22. Sullivan?

So who fills the remaining 6-8 spots?

23. Taylan May
24. Makasini?
25. Doueihi?
26.
27.
28.
29.
30.


How these remaining spots are filled is vital. It'll be interesting to see what the club does. I know we want extra back rowers etc- but we are light on in CONTRACTED backs right now. I expect May to sign. Do they promote Makasini early? I'm starting to think you just play your most talented players regardless- so I'd be ok with him in the mix.

Does Doueihi become an important retain? Staines? Who from outside joins NEXT SEASON to get the squad over the line?
 
Just looking at players that are actually off contract & available, I think that Taylan May is an obvious re-sign for the club.

If Sullivan stays- he's the back-up #7. If the Rabbitohs decide to keep him, the club needs an option at #6/#7 as a back-up. Tom Duffy, Sean O'Sullivan or even Blake Taafe might fit.

I suspect we upgrade Makasini next season. He might start as development & move to Top 30 as the season goes on. So I expect we might look to fill just 29 spots.

That still leaves us short at least 1, maybe 2 outside backs/fullback options. Staines is in-house. As is Mapapalangi & Tu'itupou & both could be upgraded. If the club looks outside, maybe Harley Smith-Shields from the Titans? I quite like the idea of Tyrell Sloan though because he actually adds something we don't have in his pure athletic skills & speed. Doueihi is obviously in-house as well, but I'm concerned about the Isaac Moses thing. Mawene Hiroti is off contract from the Sharks too & if Doueihi moves on, he could be an option.

So with 8 spots available, I think 3 get filled by backs with 1 kept for Makasini to move into.

1. Taylan May
2. Doueihi/Hiroti
3. Staines
4- eventually Makasini

In the forwards, I've suggested Freddie Lussick from the Warriors a few times- he's played #9, #13 & now is playing as a 1st receiving front rower- extremely versatile in a very successful KOE squad.

Mason Teague is buried at Newcastle & is a workhorse #13 that has played well when given the chance. I think he could play a role. Can also fill in at #9 if required.

I expect Tristan Hope probably gets re-signed as well.

Jack Hetherington is off contract. (Insert rolling eyes) However, he is an NRL quality player, great athlete with size, he brings the attitude we lack as a club. He's not a perfect player. I get that. But he adds something we don't have. We are a very passive defensive squad, and not exactly an aggressive attacking squad either. An injection of rage could give the team a boost, particularly when losing the middle.

Another name that I think might be interesting is Mavrik Geyer. Big unit who is young & could add depth & athletic ability to our squad.

I think that adding Mason Teague, Freddie Lussick, Jack Hetherington & re-signing Hope would balance our forwards a little better. If Hope can be a KOE/development addition, then Mavrik Geyer could really fill out the back row options along with Sam Fainu, KPP, Sukkar, Seyfarth.


Again- these are just players that are off contract.
 
The Chad said:
Roster turnover will be key to the success of the club, obviously.

I think we probably have 22 players on the books at this point for next season-
Backs-

1. Bula
2. Turuva
3. To'a
4. Skelton
5. Luke Lualili'i
6. Luai
7. Latu Fainu
8. Mason
9. Saukuru

Forwards-
10.Terrell May
11. Twal
12. Samuela Fainu
13. Sione Fainu
14. Pole
15. Koroisau
16. Seyfarth
17. Bird
18. Hunt
19. Kit Lualili'i
20. Sukkar
21. Pierce-Paul

22. Sullivan?

So who fills the remaining 6-8 spots?

23. Taylan May
24. Makasini?
25. Doueihi?
26.
27.
28.
29.
30.


How these remaining spots are filled is vital. It'll be interesting to see what the club does. I know we want extra back rowers etc- but we are light on in CONTRACTED backs right now. I expect May to sign. Do they promote Makasini early? I'm starting to think you just play your most talented players regardless- so I'd be ok with him in the mix.

Does Doueihi become an important retain? Staines? Who from outside joins NEXT SEASON to get the squad over the line?
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well i know the 1st player im resigning to put on that list on a 2 year deal is charlie staines
AD now i wouldnt go anywhere near but we will need a new backup half thats not now owned by moses

also benji doesnt seem to like kit so thats a wasted spot
 
weststigers said:
Mate she's putting the season into context for all those saying we have not improved. You don't have to battle every point someone makes. It's a fair summation and I, as you know, agree we are doing better. You think the club is a joke and you're entitled to your opinion. We hear it every day though. Let some of us get some joy out of the season.
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All I said is let’s complete the season before we make such claims.
 
The Chad said:
Just looking at players that are actually off contract & available, I think that Taylan May is an obvious re-sign for the club.

If Sullivan stays- he's the back-up #7. If the Rabbitohs decide to keep him, the club needs an option at #6/#7 as a back-up. Tom Duffy, Sean O'Sullivan or even Blake Taafe might fit.

I suspect we upgrade Makasini next season. He might start as development & move to Top 30 as the season goes on. So I expect we might look to fill just 29 spots.

That still leaves us short at least 1, maybe 2 outside backs/fullback options. Staines is in-house. As is Mapapalangi & Tu'itupou & both could be upgraded. If the club looks outside, maybe Harley Smith-Shields from the Titans? I quite like the idea of Tyrell Sloan though because he actually adds something we don't have in his pure athletic skills & speed. Doueihi is obviously in-house as well, but I'm concerned about the Isaac Moses thing. Mawene Hiroti is off contract from the Sharks too & if Doueihi moves on, he could be an option.

So with 8 spots available, I think 3 get filled by backs with 1 kept for Makasini to move into.

1. Taylan May
2. Doueihi/Hiroti
3. Staines
4- eventually Makasini

In the forwards, I've suggested Freddie Lussick from the Warriors a few times- he's played #9, #13 & now is playing as a 1st receiving front rower- extremely versatile in a very successful KOE squad.

Mason Teague is buried at Newcastle & is a workhorse #13 that has played well when given the chance. I think he could play a role. Can also fill in at #9 if required.

I expect Tristan Hope probably gets re-signed as well.

Jack Hetherington is off contract. (Insert rolling eyes) However, he is an NRL quality player, great athlete with size, he brings the attitude we lack as a club. He's not a perfect player. I get that. But he adds something we don't have. We are a very passive defensive squad, and not exactly an aggressive attacking squad either. An injection of rage could give the team a boost, particularly when losing the middle.

Another name that I think might be interesting is Mavrik Geyer. Big unit who is young & could add depth & athletic ability to our squad.

I think that adding Mason Teague, Freddie Lussick, Jack Hetherington & re-signing Hope would balance our forwards a little better. If Hope can be a KOE/development addition, then Mavrik Geyer could really fill out the back row options along with Sam Fainu, KPP, Sukkar, Seyfarth.


Again- these are just players that are off contract.
Click to expand...
Hetherington is Seyfarth before Seyfarth came along.

Pathetic.
 
weststigers said:
Picture for one moment that you're a CEO that gets minimal financial support from HBG. What does one do? Piss and moan about it? Or go out and turn a profit and make the club self sufficient to get the resources it needs to win those premierships.

I don't think the owners have given the CEO much choice here.

When I hear our only talent scout is Shannon Gallant on a part-time basis, it's obvious HBG put nowhere near the amount we need into the football department. Imagine where else we are lacking if that is allowed to occur in the premier football code in the country.

I see a guy who has inherited a mess. Nothing was done well at our club. Absolutely nothing. He is trying to fix it all, yet people expect overnight results. The timeframe people are willing to wait doesn't match the job that needs to be done to get us back on track.
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I agree that he is between a rock and a hard place - and I'm certainly not one expecting miracles with what we have to play with (in and off the park). My expectation for this season was around 12 - so climbing the first rung of the laddder to eventual success.

The issue for me is that HBG have a consitiution that guides how it should be operating. The clubs side of the business is running well and trning a profit - so that is after all expenses are taken into account - so mainetneance repairs etc. Without trolling back through the books they have clearly been subsidising a poorly run Wests Tiger for a number of years. Richo is stabilising the ship and I definitely get that - it needs to be done, but not with the aim of turning a profit as that is not how the club is set up to function.

I also get that the Chooks haven't gone cap in hand for $ for a number of years and it would be great if we could be in a position to have invested in the club to meet our requirements and make a profit - but we aren't there yet. Maybe Richo is simply making a point that the basket case management side of the house is turning around and that $1M plus more from HBG will be invested into development going forward - but it isn't the message he delivered. If that is the case it is yet another failing in the comms department from the club to the fanbase.
 
Imagine if just half of that 9 million dollar profit was injected into Wests Tigers.

You may not have to spend the most of all the clubs on football operations to be successful, but you won't get there if you spend one of the lowest amounts.
I feel it's kind of like the chicken and the egg. The Wests Tigers will have far more chance of being self sustaining and turning over much larger profit if they are successful in their core role i.e winning football games. To get to that point they need significant financial input to begin with. The question is, how much do HBG want to own a SUCCESSFUL NRL team? That success is going to require more than a million dollars a year to get going. Over to you HBG.
 
The Chad said:
Roster turnover will be key to the success of the club, obviously.

I think we probably have 22 players on the books at this point for next season-
Backs-

1. Bula
2. Turuva
3. To'a
4. Skelton
5. Luke Lualili'i
6. Luai
7. Latu Fainu
8. Mason
9. Saukuru

Forwards-
10.Terrell May
11. Twal
12. Samuela Fainu
13. Sione Fainu
14. Pole
15. Koroisau
16. Seyfarth
17. Bird
18. Hunt
19. Kit Lualili'i
20. Sukkar
21. Pierce-Paul

22. Sullivan?

So who fills the remaining 6-8 spots?

23. Taylan May
24. Makasini?
25. Doueihi?
26.
27.
28.
29.
30.


How these remaining spots are filled is vital. It'll be interesting to see what the club does. I know we want extra back rowers etc- but we are light on in CONTRACTED backs right now. I expect May to sign. Do they promote Makasini early? I'm starting to think you just play your most talented players regardless- so I'd be ok with him in the mix.

Does Doueihi become an important retain? Staines? Who from outside joins NEXT SEASON to get the squad over the line?
Click to expand...


Re-Sign/Upgrade May and Makasini and we are okay for backs. You can always play your NSW KOE Cup Players if needed like Izaac Tuitoutupu etc. I think wingers are easy to chuck someone in for a week or two when needed, compared to prop/2nd row, so I still think that is the priority. In the list of current players in the forwards, we have some bodies there but are any of them really up to it? Seyfarth, Sukkar, Kit (TBC), Bird .... None of them are better than fringe at best. Kit probably has the highest ceiling but seems a fair bt off.
 
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