Signings, Suggestions & Rumours Discussion

[Tiger Stripes]

Sone very good points you raise.
That along with the fascination to play injured players who only let us down while playing injured is mind boggling.

When ever a player is playing below their par, they are playing injured?
Maybe? Possible? Or maybe that is still better than their replacements?
We have had a weak KOE side for a long time with no NRL quality back-ups.
Surely if we had some decent back-ups they would get a run.
As a few have suggested Skelton is playing injured then replace him with Izaac Tu'itupou.
If Bula still injured, move Turuva back to the wing where he doesn't have to pass the ball and promote Lobb to fullback
If Tóa is playing with one stuffed arm, replace him with Makasini. See how he goes.
We need to start planning for next year and not persist with below par efforts for whatever reason.
Line speed for the forwards is their most urgent requirement. Not a lot of options there, maybe Taatao.

 

[BlackWhiteGold]

Even Naden on a bad day is better than what To’a has dished up over the past 5-6 weeks.
If they are insistent about not playing Naden then surely Mapapalangi or Luke Laulilli should be the next centre up,
As for Skelton playing injured, why drop Staines after one bad game and 4 very good games if that is the case ?

Mapapalangi would be next man up after 2 weeks sitting on the pine as 18th man. He's served his dues. The club needs to get Toa's issues sorted plus Benji needs to see if KMapz is up to it. The way To'a is playing, KMapz would be an upgrade anyway.

 

[gregjm87]

Fair enough and I believe you are a very good analyst so I’ll take your word for it.
So if we were to retain only one of Twal, Seyfarth or Bird, would you keep Seyfarth ahead of the other 2 ?
I only ask as I think it’s nearing the stage where we might need to make this type of decision and I think I would prioritise Seyfarth ahead of the other 2.
I don’t think we would have much trouble offloading Twal at his full 400k value if that’s a decision we were looking to make.

Would take Seyfarth over the other 2 though currently we don't have enough forwards to think about releasing any. None of them are good and all are arguably part of the problem but also all are capable first grade quality forwards, something we are sorely missing. If we could upgrade 2 and keep one however then I'd be keeping Seyfarth.

 

[tigahhh]

Mapapalangi would be next man up after 2 weeks sitting on the pine as 18th man. He's served his dues. The club needs to get Toa's issues sorted plus Benji needs to see if KMapz is up to it. The way To'a is playing, KMapz would be an upgrade anyway.

my thoughts too wouldn’t be shocked if star is dropped for maps this week or next
only thing maybe keeping him in is probably bula being back and his combination with Tito

 

[Tom Shines]

my thoughts too wouldn’t be shocked if star is dropped for maps this week or next
only thing maybe keeping him in is probably bula being back and his combination with Tito

It’s a tough ask playing against the Dogs first up … both their centres are on fire …

 

[tigahhh]

It’s a tough ask playing against the Dogs first up … both their centres are on fire …

yeah , tricky one for benji to navigate

 

[Vicious]

We show them tapes of the Bulldogs game over and over until they replicate that on the field

I like that 👍

 

[BlackWhiteGold]

It’s a tough ask playing against the Dogs first up … both their centres are on fire …

Good point, I wonder then whether Benji would put Doueihi at right centre to mark Xerri. Taylan v Critta will be a great battle.

And if Benji actually tries to exploit a weakness, we should bomb away to Tuala's side all game. And Benji tells AD & Turuva, simple instruction, chase, communicate, contest, compete!

 

[Vicious]

Would take Seyfarth over the other 2 though currently we don't have enough forwards to think about releasing any. None of them are good and all are arguably part of the problem but also all are capable first grade quality forwards, something we are sorely missing. If we could upgrade 2 and keep one however then I'd be keeping Seyfarth.

I think it’s the general consensus that most of us supporters agree on, we should only be playing 2 or 3 of Sione Fainu, Fonua Pole, Alex Seyfarth, Alex Twal and Jack Bird in our top 17 and replacing them with genuine NRL quality players to help strengthen our forward pack.
The extra competition would surely make these players lift also.

 

[Tcat]

It has to be fitness, it can't be anything else, how can you not know that it is just something that you have to do.

Fitness and a strong mental attitude. 2 things we don't appear to have

 

[Tom Shines]

Good point, I wonder then whether Benji would put Doueihi at right centre to mark Xerri. Taylan v Critta will be a great battle.

And if Benji actually tries to exploit a weakness, we should bomb away to Tuala's side all game. And Benji tells AD & Turuva, simple instruction, chase, communicate, contest, compete!

Yeah ..not a bad idea …

Bit worried about this game now … WT boys are going to have to be strong mentally this week … they need to find that resolve they had in the Sharks game …

 

[tigahhh]

Good point, I wonder then whether Benji would put Doueihi at right centre to mark Xerri. Taylan v Critta will be a great battle.

And if Benji actually tries to exploit a weakness, we should bomb away to Tuala's side all game. And Benji tells AD & Turuva, simple instruction, chase, communicate, contest, compete!

bulla will be back to contest 🔥🔥🔥

 

[Vicious]

Back on topic have a look at Mawene Hiroti’s stats from the past couple of weeks playing NSW Cup for the Jets, he looks to be in career best form with a couple of very impressive games at centre for the Sharks earlier in the season.
I’d be looking at him very closely as a versatile outside back/fullback who would add real competition for an NRL position.
Kicks goals too.

 

[Needaname]

I agree , he hasn’t been missed watching his defence in that dragons game
Also is a IM client so bye

I think we definitely would have explained to him coming into this season that we would not play him the requisite number of games to activate that clause in his contract.

I think the club did the right thing by Klemmer and themselves by doing that, giving him the opportunity to go elsewhere on a multi year contract rather than risk having nothing or a very low contract somewhere else after the completion of this season.

He signed till the end of this year though. No multiple year even sacrificed the next year option with us.
Hopefully the Dragons reward his efforts with a couple of year extension.

 

[Tim Sheens]

This x100. Imo it's obvious To'a, Skelton, Fainu and Pole are playing injured or being hampered by recovering injuries. I never understood shifting 5 players around to fill 2 holes when you could just go and replace like for like from reserve grade, if we never use them what's the point of having a reserve grade squad. Some of the guys won't be up for it so a bad game or 2 is expected, but imo it's infinitely better than constantly fielding injured or hampered players who as we've seen regress in form because they're struggling and just cannot perform. By bringing guys up so the injured players can recover, we expose our reserve grade squad to NRL level football, get the guys exposure to it, letting it bleed to the lower grades and it shows the other reserve grade players there is a path to first grade if they put in.

2 changes for fullback is okay, because it is a prime position, but also shifting Skelton to the other side of the field as part of it, which in turn breaks up an edge combination that worked effectively the week prior, is bewildering.

Then there is To'a, who may as well be wearing a sling in contributing so little.

 

[Muffstar]

We show them tapes of the Bulldogs game over and over until they replicate that on the field

And the Raiders games, they play hard and fast.

 

[supercoach]

NRL in 2025 is a game based on speed flair and power. Look at the Phins and Raiders, they back themselves from anywhere on the field but they also build a platform through fast and energetic forwards. We simply can’t play this style of football because we don’t have a roster capable of. So Benji has them playing a very basic game plan with the hope they will stay in the contest and than fluke a bomb or get a repeat set. Sadly unless we get close to 70% of possession it’s doomed to failure.

 

[rozelle_rudy]

jock madden is just reserve grade depth , they’ll be more active in the player market but there just isn’t much out there atm
would expect off season signings

The disappointing way Latu Fainu is playing, Jock might be preferred.

 

[Ermo]

Someone said 4 spots remaining for next season?

Bunty Afoa
Harrison Hassett
Raymond Faitala Mariner
Freddie Lussick

There are players I prefer, but this covers a lot of holes.

Had to check the calendar to make sure it wasn’t April 1

 

[Tom Shines]

The disappointing way Latu Fainu is playing, Jock might be preferred.

His $1.2m partner isn’t playing much better either ? I’ve never seen any half play well behind a pack that can’t at least match the oppositions physicality if not get on top …