Signings, Suggestions & Rumours Discussion

[Vicious]

With Makasini most likely playing NRL next year.. either Toa or Skelton will be outside backs depth next year.

True, but at this stage if we get two injuries to our outside backs we don’t really have anyone as a genuine NRL quality replacement.
Two injuries can happen.

 

[weststigers]

Talau would be a fine depth signing for us …we are talking about a guy on about $200k filling a depth position in the squad who will probably be playing 5-6 NRL games …

I always thought he was unfairly criticised. Particularly because he was still quite young while with us. He offers way more than his price tag and as a depth signing, covers wing and centre providing more value than a straight winger/centre.

If we put it in tye context of replacing say, Staines as depth, he is good value.

 

[Vicious]

I think generalising is dangerous. Klemmer was a much better player when he was younger. Taumololo, David Fifita, Aaron Woods, James Tamou...all these players were much better when they were younger.

I do think you find your own narrative sometimes without consideration for how it can be dismantled fairly easily.

Taumalolo and David Fifita have never been elite fit athletes.
Woods and Tamou were fearless when they were younger, but become passive once they were established and well paid.

 

[Vicious]

I always thought he was unfairly criticised. Particularly because he was still quite young while with us. He offers way more than his price tag and as a depth signing, covers wing and centre providing more value than a straight winger/centre.

If we put it in tye context of replacing say, Staines as depth, he is good value.

How slow do you want our team to be ?

 

[Demps]

I always thought he was unfairly criticised. Particularly because he was still quite young while with us. He offers way more than his price tag and as a depth signing, covers wing and centre providing more value than a straight winger/centre.

If we put it in tye context of replacing say, Staines as depth, he is good value.

He has looked better at Manly.
He definitely had some shockers during his time with us, however that was a pretty dark period.

Wonder where he'll end up tbh.
That price tag is quite fair for a back up of his ability and he'd definitely be a handy player for the magpies.

 

[hammertime]

We need some experienced depth in the backs for next year into our top 30. Currently our backline backups are

Mason -20
Luke L- 19
Makasini -18

None of whom have yet shown they can compete at nrl level.

Be it resigning Naden and Tuitupo or some outside depth with experience we need 2 more outside backs - personally wouldn't mind Tommy Talau and Talakai

Saukuru too. I think backs are ok young, and all three of these guys have talent. We still have Bird and Doueihi, who can also move to the centre if injuries dictate. We also don't want to block pathways for Makasini and Luke L - they should be first in.

Our problem is in the forwards. With only 1 or 2 out, we're getting the likes of Murray and Sukkar on the bench. If we can get a marque in the middle, we suddenly look like threats.

 

[Mighty_Tiger]

Gone cold on NAS, absolute liability. Gets sin binned, suspended and gives away penalties

NAS is the perfect example of how the game has evolved but yet the player hasn’t - in that you need more all rounder style forwards rather than the NFL impact specialist type forwards. If you get an impact forward they also need to have other attributes outside of just running over a player every time. Seen it with other impact style props not just NAS this season.

NAS isn’t lazy, he trains very well, can hit hard and dominate in a run easily. Issue is that everything else in his game which years ago were manageable but as the speed of the game gets faster and he has gotten slower they are being found out more. People think he is getting lazy but that actually isn’t the issue, the issue is he is struggling to keep up with the pace of the game.

If we flirted with the idea of NAS with us would he add something of course but is he the right directional fit for us - no.

 

[Buttface]

done 🔒

He’s not leaving his brother, and I bet they are hoping to get the other one here.

 

[Telltails]

The only thing I will say in NAS defence his shoulders are at alot players head level. It is ridiculous to think that in a fast contact game that heads are not going to come into contact with his shoulder whether he tries to evade that or not he will always be held accountable.
His size that is a plus in attack is a liability in defence

 

[BlackWhiteGold]

You are 💯 correct in saying we desperately need some experienced depth in our outside backs.
I have long been a fan of Brent Naden, I don’t think he ever reached near the heights of what he was capable of, but I’m now seeing signs of him slowing down and I think the timing is right for us to offload him.
Similar with Tui’tupou, he added some real value to our NSW Cup team this season, but he will be 29y.o next season, I think it’s time to give some younger players with bigger potential an opportunity in our NSW Cup team.
I’m not all that keen on Tommy Talau retuning. He has undoubted talent and very good physicality, but he’s just slow for an outside back and we are already slow in the outside backs, we desperately need to find outside backs with more speed.
Talakai would be a great signing, I see him more as an impact power running forward which is also something we need, but his versatility to also cover the backs is just an added bonus. If we offload Jack Bird and replace him with Talakai as our regular number 15, it would be a very good upgrade.
A few others have mentioned Corey Allan and although he’s not overly fast either, he would be my strong preference as a versatile, experienced outside back to add depth and quality to our squad.
Unfortunately I think he will head to the UK as he’s too good to be playing NSW Cup for large parts of the season.
If we cannot add someone like Corey Allan I would be locking up and developing our own Max Taotua.

I personally think Naden or Tui'tupou may land the contract, but have also highlighted Corey Allan or perhaps one from left field Albert Hopoate who is keen to return to Sydney. Looks like Schoupp may have done his ACL last night, feel for the bloke off-contract. Talakai would be a good get especially if Jack Bird departs as that centre/backrower utility.

 

[tigahhh]

there’s only 2 spots left now right ? you’d think they’d use that for middles

 

[Vicious]

I personally think Naden or Tui'tupou may land the contract, but have also highlighted Corey Allan or perhaps one from left field Albert Hopoate who is keen to return to Sydney. Looks like Schoupp may have done his ACL last night, feel for the bloke off-contract. Talakai would be a good get especially if Jack Bird departs as that centre/backrower utility.

Albert Hopoate would be a good get, but you wonder if the anymosity between his father and Richo would prevent any chance of him landing here ?

 

[crazycat]

You are 💯 correct in saying we desperately need some experienced depth in our outside backs.
I have long been a fan of Brent Naden, I don’t think he ever reached near the heights of what he was capable of, but I’m now seeing signs of him slowing down and I think the timing is right for us to offload him.
Similar with Tui’tupou, he added some real value to our NSW Cup team this season, but he will be 29y.o next season, I think it’s time to give some younger players with bigger potential an opportunity in our NSW Cup team.
I’m not all that keen on Tommy Talau retuning. He has undoubted talent and very good physicality, but he’s just slow for an outside back and we are already slow in the outside backs, we desperately need to find outside backs with more speed.
Talakai would be a great signing, I see him more as an impact power running forward which is also something we need, but his versatility to also cover the backs is just an added bonus. If we offload Jack Bird and replace him with Talakai as our regular number 15, it would be a very good upgrade.
A few others have mentioned Corey Allan and although he’s not overly fast either, he would be my strong preference as a versatile, experienced outside back to add depth and quality to our squad.
Unfortunately I think he will head to the UK as he’s too good to be playing NSW Cup for large parts of the season.
If we cannot add someone like Corey Allan I would be locking up and developing our own Max Taotua.

I like how to make the hard decisions.
I like Naden too. I love the fact that he came from a dirt poor env and made it in the NRL. Yea, we need to make harder choices and offload him.

The difference with 2025 has been the outside backs..

You have:
Turuva, Toa, Bula, May (Tyrone)/AD and Skelton
Compared with 2024
Staines, Toa, Bula, Naden?/AD and Tupou...

Take May out of it, and the try scoring ability is comparable... a little better in 2025.
The Defense though is a total improvement. Naden sucks as a center, but goes better on the wing.
Toa improved out of site and suddenly our back line can hold... not perfect and I doubt were even in the top 50% of NRL backlines. Were at a competitive standard now.

I like the idea of Siosifa Talakai. Someone who can play in the forwards but cover the backs for injury. If I have to be critical of Marshall for something, it's having a bench of backs. I personally like Seyfarth, but playing him for 80 minutes is asking for mistakes. Having a Gavin Cooper style back that can cover center is exactly what we need. It's also why if we have to keep a fringe-grader. Jack Bird is able to fill so many roles, he is good utility value.

Overall though, having first grade backs like Turuva has made such a difference to the side. Such an incredible difference. If we start hiring backs I don't want us to hire juniors and have them learn in the first grade side. Nor NRL hasbeens. Lets pay up, forget about back-depth and get really really solid backs that can defend. People that always take the field in any team. Cash and pony up.

 

[JB9918]

there’s only 2 spots left now right ? you’d think they’d use that for middles

I'll do an update soon based on May for 3 yrs & Bud gone.

Would make 3 spots given we know Andrews is development for next year

 

[tigahhh]

I'll do an update soon based on May for 3 yrs & Bud gone.

Would make 3 spots given we know Andrews is development for next year

thanks JB.

 

[crazycat]

The fitter more dedicated athletes sometimes do not really toughen up and become the best version of themselves until they reach their mid twenties and these types of players often have much better longevity because of it.

True, it's why we have to get the fitness and training right.

Too hard a training and we burn people. That was Madge, lots of effort but not training in the right techniques and improving what needed to be improved (Tacking? I mean cmon Madge).

Too soft aka Sheens. Players drop and slacken in performance.

 

[BlackWhiteGold]

Albert Hopoate would be a good get, but you wonder if the anymosity between his father and Richo would prevent any chance of him landing here ?

Yep that's the thing plus a new player in the market called R360.

 

[weststigers]

Albert Hopoate would be a good get, but you wonder if the anymosity between his father and Richo would prevent any chance of him landing here ?

It's so interesting that you bang on about speed, then suggest Albert Hopoate.

I'm sure a 6 paragraph response will follow about how you subjectively believe he is one of the most underrated and fastest players in the NRL.

 

[weststigers]

How slow do you want our team to be ?

Our team is not slow. You overstate this to the extreme.

Most of our backline players are sufficiently quick in their position.

If you're looking for Hamiso or Addo-Carr quick, then there are only a handful of those players in the NRL as they are rare.

 

[Vicious]

It's so interesting that you bang on about speed, then suggest Albert Hopoate.

I'm sure a 6 paragraph response will follow about how you subjectively believe he is one of the most underrated and fastest players in the NRL.

You are right Albert Hopoate is not fast, so he wouldn’t fix that deficiency within our team, but his physicality is high level, much the same as Taylan May only a bigger body.