Signings, Suggestions & Rumours Discussion

clontarfkid said:
Core problem..but not gonna happen/13th seen as a pass mark by many..its still a fail
Need to beef up our forward pack so that guys like Pole and Seaforth are on the bench
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They are already likely on the bench when we full strength,
13. Twal
12. KPP
11. Sam Fainu
10. Sione Fainu
9. Korisau
8. May

14. Doueihi or Latu Fainu
15. Seyfarth
16. Pole
17. Hunt

It really doesn’t look too bad of a forward pack when we are full strength, but I do agree 2 good solid forward recruits are needed to beef up our depth just in case our spare and emerging forwards such as Geyer, Sukkar, Laulilli, Roberts, Godinet, Saukuru and Taupau-Moors do not show they are ready to be strong contributors at NRL level.
 
- Backline in solid (1-5). Don’t think there is much value in chasing anymore outside backs unless they are younger development.
- Douiehi moves to 13 but plays as an additional half.
- Latu is getting better but he does still drift in and out of games especially at the back end and he does seem a bit injury prone.
- I think I would go hard at a small forward who can play dummy half and who is a very solid defender. A Brandon Smith/Cam McGuiness type player. I know we have Charlie Murray but I believe the player should be hooker who has transitioned into a forward (not the other way round) as the DH role is so specialised.
- I would also go after an impact middle who can punch out 30-40 minutes a game. This should ease the burden on Terrel who should be a 60 minute player.

Not sure who is out there but having those two inclusions would be great for the balance of the squad and closer to a top 8 position.
 
pawsandclaws1 said:
When Bula was missing, we lacked the x factor and ball playing he brings from fullback. Turuva played really well but lacks the ball playing and extra zip of Bula. So while it is accurate to call our backs solid, we need to find one or two backs with x factor.
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Correct, every team needs an elite fullback with x-factor.
No question Bula has a certain element of that in his game, but does he have enough of it to elevate our current squad into the top 8 ?
Once his contract is upgraded and extended he will become clearly our 2nd highest paid player behind Luai, therefore the expectation will be on those two to regularly provide the x/factor and match winning plays.
Maybe 2026 is the year they both step up and do this on a more regular basis, hopefully for the sake of all Wests Tigers fans they do.
Both are very good players, no question about that, my question and I’m not alone in saying that as a marquee player package, are they good to win us enough games to get into the 8 or better.?
 
Vicious said:
What tells you he would not be an elite fullback or centre ?
He is a supreme athlete with the size, explosive speed, athleticism and skill to trouble any opposition, I’m sorry to say but Bula can only dream of being in that class of player.
We have certainly become accustomed to being satisfied with mediocrity as Wests Tigers fans.
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I actually think Bula is a similar class of player. His speed, athleticism and size would all be quite similar. My criticism of Bula and why I agree he is not a million dollars player and not yet worth what we would be paying him is he hasn't got any other strings to his bow that other fullbacks have. He is no good at organising a defensive line, he is not a play maker, not a huge metre eater, not a kicking option.
He is an exceptional athlete and great in the air. I've little doubt he would look fantastic on the wing at a top team. He is not (yet) a top fullback that should be getting big dollars. But he is our best option and hopefully will become a very good fullback and a popular player, so I think we need to pay him the 900k or close to it.
 
1
gregjm87 said:
I actually think Bula is a similar class of player. His speed, athleticism and size would all be quite similar. My criticism of Bula and why I agree he is not a million dollars player and not yet worth what we would be paying him is he hasn't got any other strings to his bow that other fullbacks have. He is no good at organising a defensive line, he is not a play maker, not a huge metre eater, not a kicking option.
He is an exceptional athlete and great in the air. I've little doubt he would look fantastic on the wing at a top team. He is not (yet) a top fullback that should be getting big dollars. But he is our best option and hopefully will become a very good fullback and a popular player, so I think we need to pay him the 900k or close to it.
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💯
You are smart enough to know our current playing roster is simply not good enough to win a premiership and we are banking on our emerging players to make the necessary improvements to make us genuine top 8 contenders in 2026.
We should get further improvement from all 3 Fainu brothers and Pole, likely improvement from Luai, Bua and both May brothers.
Sukkar should be a much more confident and better player after getting plenty of NRL experience this season and both Laulilli brothers will be another year, older, stronger and better..
it’s unknown how quickly and how much improvement we get in 2026 from Makasini and we are hoping the likes of Roberts, Godinet, Taupau-Moors, Hayward, Andrew’s etc improve quickly to become genuine NRL contenders.
When you bank on youth and a couple of them become top class NRL players it is the perfect scenario, so I clearly understand the direction the club is heading and it’s not without hope of being a successful plan, but it’s also thwart with danger as if we fail to make the top 8 in 2026 or 2027 it realistically becomes yet another rebuild including the coach.
 
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SwervinMervin said:
No club has bought a premiership since the 70’s when Manly silvertails raided Western Suburbs and Roosters raided Souths. Most premiership clubs identify talent early and develop them into a winning squad. Buying a Monte Burns all star team hasn’t worked in the NRL era.
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You must have been swervin in 18-19
merv?
Roosters did exactly that.

You don’t need to buy a whole team, just the right 2-3 players…
 
batboy said:
You must have been swervin in 18-19
merv?
Roosters did exactly that.

You don’t need to buy a whole team, just the right 2-3 players…
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Roosters buy both top end players and the best juniors from other clubs to call their own when they reach grade. Most clubs chase the best juniors but seem to have a better home grown ratio.
Bulldogs seem to be going down the rooster roster management road to get accelerated success.
 
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