Signings, Suggestions & Rumours Discussion

[Buttface]

Moving bird yes , hunt no , we are still needing a big middle who can play longer , get hunt fit , I feel he was injured this season as he started off great

We can’t afford to lose another prop at the moment, and need a 10 & 13 asap.
If Hunt is on the bench and used in the role he was intended for, he could be that player again, and a set and forget pick in the team. We had some injuries and got away from that mid season. I hope we get him as fit as possible so he can last the season and only ever picked on the bench. If a run on prop gets injured then bring one up and leave Royce on the bench. Get him fit with a bowling ball mentality, pick as 15 every week, and give him the same basic game plan every week.

 

[Tom Shines]

Our unwanted guys are players who should be playing KOE... their unwanted guys are nrl players..
I'm sure if we go back two years the dogs were in the same boat

Yeah they were …but they still managed to move their KOE level guys on anyway, unwanted or not …but my concern now is about the next two years for the Tigers …the team needs to be improved like the Dogs are doing with theirs

 

[batboy]

I'm led to beleive that part of us taking on bird is that the dragons are paying a large chunk of his contract.
And you need to remember that hunt was going to retire so getting 300k a year vs no income was appealing - definitely nowhere near 600k..
Maybe someone closer to the situation can chime in and let us know

Bird had one year left, To think the Dragons are paying anything for him next year is Deluded.
Royce Hunt was going to retire, I don't need to remember that - or that I though he would be a bust here (Which he has been)
To think he's going to turn out again for a touch over a minimum wage,
When he could get more than that working in the mines and playing park Footy without the stress of NRL is fanciful.

He also said he was thinking he'd see his contract out and then retire, that doesn't mean he would
- or that no one else would offer him half decent money.
I saw 600 written more than once, I choose not to believe it.

Happy to see the source of your info?
Very easy to find more than one reference of Birds contract being around 400k.

Even if your numbers WERE correct,
It's still far too much money to be paying Blokes to play Ressies and hold tackling bags.
and a waste of spots on the roster for NRL Players.

 

[clontarfkid]

Ryan Matterson on his way back to Parra , when he was with us I thought of memory he was very good and money was an issue not his ability , I would see if Parra want to move him on and pay a bit to do so , he is a good lock option and always runs hard and tackles hard , if cheap after Parra tip in I would look at it , leaves AD at 7 and Latu when fit at 14 or reserve grade to learn more as he progresses

Marches to the beat of his own drum.That suspension he opted for vs a fine a cple of years ago made a huge statement about him putting self before team
No thnks

 

[InBenjiWeTrust]

If Burton is genuinely on the out at the Dogs and they are entertaining it, I would hope we are trying our best to get him as an 80 minute lock

Having him there would be the ultimate advantage

I am surprised the Dogs haven’t explored that to allow Galvin to play 5/8 and Sexton 1/2

In saying that, his preferred position might be 5/8

Perhaps Api/Luai might be able to sway him

"N'interrompez jamais un ennemi qui est en train de faire une erreur". tm Napoleon Bonaparte

 

[Lestronge]

Lighten up LES! I am just having a bit of fun at your expense. All good and stay stronge.

??

 

[davey_farrell]

Why is it soon as any club signs a player, they are immediately over the cap?

Moving bird yes , hunt no , we are still needing a big middle who can play longer , get hunt fit , I feel he was injured this season as he started off great

Agree!! Need a bit of mongrel in the middle

 

[tigahhh]

bula is now working with addo carr’s sprint coach Roger Fabri 🙌

 

[Tigerstigerstigers]

If we aren’t signing a front rower or two, we desperately need Kit Luuali to step up and have a massive off-season , so we can lift his motor to first grade standard particularly in defence . He clearly has the ability.

 

[Demps]

bula is now working with addo carr’s sprint coach Roger Fabri 🙌

Best in the biz

 

[426Tlgerland]

Would love to know who we may be in talks with from the lower grade sides for our reserve / first grade back up
I hope it’s that crazy bloke from Newcastle Hetherington , he is aggressive in running and defence , I think Benji and the boys would sort him out to get the best from him and he be cheaper than. Most and would be looking to push his way onto the bench , comes on for May 10 before half time , give May a break , then comes back on last 10 again for the prop or back rower who is lagging / tiring out

 

[Tiger Stripes]

Best in the biz

Need To'a to get there as well!

 

[cqtiger]

If we aren’t signing a front rower or two, we desperately need Kit Luuali to step up and have a massive off-season , so we can lift his motor to first grade standard particularly in defence . He clearly has the ability.

I believe he is training with a top trainer to get better fitness/cardio for next year.

 

[BlackWhiteGold]

I believe he is training with a top trainer to get better fitness/cardio for next year.

Yeah he & Luke are training with Michael Fualalo who conditions a lot of NRL boys in the off-season.

 

[Flippedy]

No he isnt at all. As a 20 year old islander his voice is above and beyond most. I see him talking and ordering constantly out there

Yeah he definitely talks more than Brooks ever did. Brooks was Marcel Marceau!

 

[upthetigers]

And the Elephant in the room for me is his Voice - he is Brooks-like when it comes to being the guy who can call the plays - too quiet!

That's my concern too, and that comes down to personality it can't really be coached or maybe I am wrong about that?

 

[Tim Sheens]

Moving bird yes , hunt no , we are still needing a big middle who can play longer , get hunt fit , I feel he was injured this season as he started off great

Noticed that he was wearing chest padding in one dressing room shot and looked to be in the sternum region, which are supposedly very painful and take time to heal, but can be played with little risk of worsening it.

 

[TheEnz]

Watched some clips of Hunt and I also think Kit was involved doing some specialised training in the off season...looked like speed and lateral movement...all I can say is Geez hunt has some toe for a big lad...there is something there. I also think Kit could be a spencer Leniu type, can get to top speed in only a few steps and has zero self-preservation in contact.

 

[innsaneink]

Im loving hearing all these reports of a few of our blokes back early and working on speed and fitness...great stuff

 

[mtd#2]

Bird had one year left, To think the Dragons are paying anything for him next year is Deluded.

I dont recall saying that the dragons were paying any of his 2026 wage. I said that they paid a portion of his contract - you're assuming that the tigers just gave him the same amount in 2026 as they did in 2025.

Royce Hunt was going to retire, I don't need to remember that - or that I though he would be a bust here (Which he has been)
To think he's going to turn out again for a touch over a minimum wage
When he could get more than that working in the mines and playing park Footy without the stress of NRL is fanciful.

He also said he was thinking he'd see his contract out and then retire, that doesn't mean he would
- or that no one else would offer him half decent money.
I saw 600 written more than once, I choose not to believe it.

So what's your position on this?
On one hand, you've floated a figure of 600k.

On the other hand, you think Royce isn't motivated to play for "just above minimum wage".

So what is it? Is he on 600k or 150k?

Make up your mind.

And on what planet does anyone earn 150k playing park footy? Or prefer fly in fly out leaving their family behind to make 150k in the mines? You say it like working in the mines is easy.. Royce plays Max 30 mins a a game for 23 rounds of a season and gets to see his family straight after. Lay off the cones bruv.

Happy to see the source of your info?
Very easy to find more than one reference of Birds contract being around 400k.

Even if your numbers WERE correct,
It's still far too much money to be paying Blokes to play Ressies and hold tackling bags.
and a waste of spots on the roster for NRL Players.

If you can cite me 2x reliable sources that suggest we are paying them a combined 900k, I'll take the time to share my sources.