Signings, Suggestions & Rumours Discussion

[Tigers_Wests]

I'm not as excited by Tavana as others. He is small at 184cm and only 85kg, is almost 21. Has some magic moments but at his side needs to play fullback to make it in the nrl and Bula is 23, Mason is a year younger and Brooks/Deninger is 18 and has been preferred at flegg level.

Don't think he makes it.

Would be others I'd have ahead of him for dev contract.

I think Tavana's metres out of yardage is the thing that needs the most work. Would love for him to spend time learning off of Turuva in the pre-season if we do retain him. I think he would benefit more using his footwork and agility to find that bit of space to land on his front (rather than the Skelton use your whole frame style of getting out of our end).

Not concerned about Tavana under the high ball at all. His athletic ability allows him to hold his own and outjump his opposition often. I personally see him as pushing for a wing spot over fullback. I do feel like the club will keep pushing Deininger at fullback (slowly with another year in Flegg at least). I actually hope we forget about Mason as a fullback and play him elsewhere. Luke Laulili'i should be given the chance to cement the fullback spot in Cup for 2026 in my opinion.

 

[coivtny]

Squad depth at best.

Totally. I can live with it if they are in the last 5 of the top 30.

 

[Odessa]

Over the years there have been a ton of good mid range players like Nick Meaney and Jake Averllo come on the market and we have not even had a sniff at them. The ones we seem to target seem to never amount to much

Meaney was all but signed agreed to terms but Clearly pull out to sign Mbye

 

[Betterdays22]

Meaney was all but signed agreed to terms but Clearly pull out to sign Mbye

to be fair Meaney would of been bog average here like he was at the dogs. Melbourne system got the best out of him. Hypothetical but how would of Mbye's career turned out if he went to Melbourne?

 

[supercoach]

to be fair Meaney would of been bog average here like he was at the dogs. Melbourne system got the best out of him. Hypothetical but how would have Mbye's career turned out if he went to Melbourne?

Disagree he was bog average at the dogs. He ran rings around us at Cambo playing for the dogs

 

[Betterdays22]

Disagree he was bog average at the dogs. He ran rings around us at Cambo playing for the dogs

I remember him overall being pretty average. In and out of first grade possibly. Don't think him dominating us at Cambo exactly disproves that. He can join a long, long list of average players we have made to look like superstars

 

[Snidest 0]

Meaney was all but signed agreed to terms but Clearly pull out to sign Mbye

Cleary was a double-agent and only used the club to get his old job back

The bus....

 

[innsaneink]

I put an enquiry through the website and had Skando contact me directly. He went through the different packages and followed up with me to arrange a face to face chat. Just my experience.

Amazing what happens when you do things the correct way eh @TSP

 

[Snidest 0]

Amazing what happens when you do things the correct way eh @TSP

And don't [This word has been automatically removed] about things before trying the first option....

 

[Lestronge]

I'm not as excited by Tavana as others. He is small at 184cm and only 85kg, is almost 21. Has some magic moments but at his side needs to play fullback to make it in the nrl and Bula is 23, Mason is a year younger and Brooks/Deninger is 18 and has been preferred at flegg level.

Don't think he makes it.

Would be others I'd have ahead of him for dev contract.

184cm is small ? On what planet is 6 foot and a half small ?

 

[JB9918]

Finally updated the list, am I missing anyone or anything?

 

[JB9918]

View attachment 25730

Finally updated the list, am I missing anyone or anything?

KPP - 3 years... Will update again 🤦

 

[jirskyr]

$600M of taxpayers money shouldn't be directed towards a professional sport for a team in another sovereign country. Whether it's 1% of the budget or 100% it's still a waste and there'll be nothing to show for it in 10 years - not bridge, not better road, not a port - maybe just a football team. I guess if China builds a base they'll be a long way behind the 750 bases the US has around the world.

Seems like the RE-ELECTED GOVERNMENT disagreees with you.

 

[jirskyr]

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.



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.

News just in the PNG PM asked Sonk to step down as Director to clear the record, and he agreed to do it.

 

[boonboon]

184cm is small ? On what planet is 6 foot and a half small ?

More the 85kg which is small for an nrl winger

 

[Tiger Stripes]

3 different clubs have had a decade to look at Naden..he cant make it.time to move on
Staines worth keeping at the rite $$.Talented and committed
Toa is also talented no doubt.but defence ordinary.May and Makisini will likely replace him next year...but Id like to keep him around

Did everyone notice the speed of the Penrith backline tonight, especially their centres.
Tóa would have been caught almost instantly.
Can't waite for May and Makasini to show some speed and set up their wingers, fullback.

 

[The Chad]

Looking at the contracts- seems the club is in a good position to remove a number of questionable contracts in a year. It's obviously still guess work, but the quality of our Development contracts from 2025 to 2026 seems a dramatic improvement...Will Craig, Alex Lobb....

There are a number of spots still to fill. 1 or 2 good quality players added would be key- KPP is a start- but just as importantly, do not invest into other questionable additions.

Looking at the list, I would say in 2026 the only contracts I would consider labelling 'bad' would be Hunt & Sullivan. The others are either in the last year of their deal, or explainable/good value.

This is a long way from where the club has been in previous years.

Getting a team with guys like Bula, the Fainu's, Luai, Terrell & Taylan May, Makasini, Turuva...that is a pretty impressive collection of talent starting to form.

 

[Tom Shines]

So Makasini only signed to end 27? Thought Is was 28?

 

[pawsandclaws1]

Wapu Sonk stands down from PNG NRL franchise board amid corruption allegations​

MSN

 

[boonboon]

View attachment 25730

Finally updated the list, am I missing anyone or anything?

Your list and Zero tackle have Kit Laulii signed for next year but nrl.com do not and I can't remember seeing him signing for 2026