Signings, Suggestions & Rumours Discussion

[426Tlgerland]

Sadly

Not a Rumour or signing suggestion in sight here in this thread.....

Yep plenty other stuff in hear to replace the non event of actual signings , we either can’t sign anyone of worth or club just won’t give its fans a little hope ( More signings to come ) problem is Richo said weeks and weeks ago there were players coming but still nothing

 

[BlackWhiteGold]

Sadly

Not a Rumour or signing suggestion in sight here in this thread.....

And no extension announcements since Sukkar & Mason for 1 year. Not even any pathways announcements recently.

 

[Nonotmeagain]

Just been over in Vanuatu. The Chinese influence over there is very apparent. Very sad.

Can't be any worse than the French or American.

 

[tigahhh]

And no extension announcements since Sukkar & Mason for 1 year. Not even any pathways announcements recently.

bizarre stuff considering there’s a lot of decisions to be made regarding extensions and we’ve heard nothing

 

[BlackWhiteGold]

bizarre stuff considering there’s a lot of decisions to be made regarding extensions and we’ve heard nothing

And just as we type, Tristan Hope signs for 1 season into top 30 & Charlie Murray moves into Development squad for 2026.

 

[tigahhh]

And just as we type, Tristan Hope signs for 1 season into top 30 & Charlie Murray moves into Development squad for 2026.

😐

 

[BlackWhiteGold]

?

Club has just announced

 

[BlackWhiteGold]

So with these signings, we now have 24 players contracted in our top 30 for next season (including Bud Sullivan) & 5 players out of a max 6 in the development squad.

 

[JB9918]

Both smart options. I like the 1 year & not wasting a top 30 on Murray.

 

[das tigers]

So lost another top 30 spot for an external signing.

 

[jirskyr]

Don't get too excited over the PNG side the Australian taxpayers are funding ( why I have no freaking idea) - it won't last long.

Man who won $600m from Albanese government for PNG rugby league embroiled in corruption scandal​

Did you read it though?

It's not related to the NRL bid, it's related to his personal business dealings. Wapu Sonk was involved in the NRL bid, but separately to he runs PNG's largest petrol company and it is alleged he used that position to personally profit and/or do deals with Chinese companies.

The evidence, which relates to his business dealings not the NRL bid, includes confidential documents and corporate records and links Sonk’s company to suspect dealings with a massive Chinese government firm and a plot to funnel contracts to a company Sonk owns in Australia.

Unfortunately, and this is something the NRL and Aussie Govt already knows it has to deal with long-term, corruption is rife in PNG and you are going to have to deal with people who may have shady background.

 

[tigahhh]

So with these signings, we now have 24 players contracted in our top 30 for next season (including Bud Sullivan) & 5 players out of a max 6 in the development squad.

that last dev I’m praying is for tavana. they aren’t announcing the ones we want to know - starford, api, is staines staying ?
hurry up richo man

 

[jirskyr]

I’m not clicking on that rubbish as I am sceptical giant mastheads have brain cells.
But, Good. It’s a ridiculous, unsustainable decision. To allow a team into the pinnacle competition that requires so much assistance is detrimental to long term success.
And how/why are the Oz tax payers paying for this nonsense? Are we paying for the warriors too? No doubt Melb are cheating some tax $ somehow but at least they’re Ozy.
Oh that’s right it was an Albo Gov decision, so he could hide a $600m dollar bribe to the latest local PNG politician in power, not to take a $599m bribe from China.
I like the way they did it with the Dolphins, current strong second tier club promoted in to the big league with a little help, local political bribes only, (keeps the $ in the land of Oz).

What if it works though, what if from the NRL's perspective they can tap the League-mad PNG market for youth talent and eventually business?

And for the government, as you said, it's an investment in support of our region, as well as soft power influence. You mock competition with China but that's a real thing, does anyone want the Chinese building sub bases or other such stations off our coast line?

It has to be put into perspective. It's $600M over 10 years, i.e. $60M per year. Our annual Pacific Development budget is $1.5B so the league-specific investment is just 4% of that budget.

By some comparisons - in 2024-25 the govt gave Timor $100M to upgrade their airport and Fiji were given $72M to upgrade their bridges and resurface roads. In fact the most recent budget gave PNG $620M for maintenance of their ports, which is the entire decade outlay for rugby league.

Also by way of comparison, the WA Govt alone has committed $10M a year for 7 years to support the Perth Bears, plus $200M to upgrade HBF Stadium where the Bears will play.

 

[tigahhh]

also maps ? isaaz ? what is doing

 

[JB9918]

So lost another top 30 spot for an external signing.

For 1 year for a position we need depth in... Don't think 5 or 6 players are gonna fall out the tree & all come to us.

 

[HowDugWT]

Love the hope resigning, Im fine with Murray on development hopefully brings that average age of the dev contracts down.
RESIGN TINO TAVANA!!!

 

[JB9918]

also maps ? isaaz ? what is doing

I would go maps top 30, is versatile.

Issaz will depend on Staines & Naden as well.

We need a lock, Doueihi maybe but another back & front rower.

 

[tigahhh]

I would go maps top 30, is versatile.

Issaz will depend on Staines & Naden as well.

We need a lock, Doueihi maybe but another back & front rower.

yea it’s just more questions than answers at this point with all the extensions and upgrades

 

[426Tlgerland]

Wow just got the news Hope and Murray I’m ok with , both good back up , but wow NO.
Appi , Staines , AD , signing on , API our captain should have been done before TDS departed , Jesus it would blow up if API decided to go else where , Richo needs to pull his finger out and get API done plus 3 min from outside our club, Hope was enough into the 30 , I would also dump one of our current asssitant coaches m who ever is the attack coach and replace him

 

[pawsandclaws1]

What if it works though, what if from the NRL's perspective they can tap the League-mad PNG market for youth talent and eventually business?

And for the government, as you said, it's an investment in support of our region, as well as soft power influence. You mock competition with China but that's a real thing, does anyone want the Chinese building sub bases or other such stations off our coast line?

It has to be put into perspective. It's $600M over 10 years, i.e. $60M per year. Our annual Pacific Development budget is $1.5B so the league-specific investment is just 4% of that budget.

By some comparisons - in 2024-25 the govt gave Timor $100M to upgrade their airport and Fiji were given $72M to upgrade their bridges and resurface roads. In fact the most recent budget gave PNG $620M for maintenance of their ports, which is the entire decade outlay for rugby league.

Also by way of comparison, the WA Govt alone has committed $10M a year for 7 years to support the Perth Bears, plus $200M to upgrade HBF Stadium where the Bears will play.

I include the $600m in our defence budget.