Signings, Suggestions & Rumours Discussion

[Vicious]

So your theory is that players at the positions of need aren’t currently available … so recruit someone else ? I keep telling you we got limited resources…likely around $700- 800k and three spots left … so best to wait until someone does become available like May did last year …we need an impact player in the middle … not more “depth “…. Do you think any of those depth players will move the needle next year ?

No they won’t move the needle, but they are insurance value type of players who could be part of our top 17 and not be any better or worse than a couple of players likely to be part of our best 17.
It’s highly unlikely we will have as few injuries next season as we had this season, so we better be prepared or it could be a disaster.
If we signed Adam Elliott and he somehow managed to stay injury free, he has the skill set to possibly improve us.

 

[Tom Shines]

No they won’t move the needle, but they are insurance value type of players who could be part of our top 17 and not be any better or worse than a couple of players likely to be part of our best 17.
It’s highly unlikely we will have as few injuries next season as we had this season, so we better be prepared or it could be a disaster.

Insurance value for what exactly ? You have already said this squad isn’t making the 8…so what would be the point in more depth if you believe that ?

I would rather use the remaining resources on someone who can be a difference maker…and give the depth opportunities that arise next season to younger players already at the club

 

[innsaneink]

Wernt the phins signing the current backup Penrith half?

Williams from 2027....the intrigue

 

[Vicious]

Insurance value for what exactly ? You have already said this team isn’t making the 8…so what would be the point in more depth if you believe that ?

That’s correct we need a couple of genuine good standard or better players who are automatic selections in our top 17 to allow us to make the top 8, but we have missed the boat, no more of those players available.
Therefore a couple of depth insurance type of players might at least allow us to finish 9th - 12th rather than finishing worse than that if we don’t improve our depth.

 

[Tom Shines]

Therefore a couple of depth insurance type of players might at least allow us to finish 9th - 12th rather than finishing worse than that if we don’t improve our depth.

Will you be happy with that ? I don’t really want to improve one position a year …Richo will be long gone by the time they make the 8,,, it makes no difference to me if they improve position but still miss the 8 …or run 13th again ..

I don’t see depth players doing anything to improve the overall position on the ladder personally ..

 

[Vicious]

Will you be happy with that ? I don’t really want to improve one position a year …Richo will be long gone by the time they make the 8,,,

I don’t see depth players doing anything to improve the overall position on the ladder personally ..

Neither do I, but do you see us making the top 8 with the playing roster we current have for 2026 ?
Yes there are areas where we have good scope for improvement such as the natural improvement you could expect in combinations gelling better and improvement in players, particularly our younger ones, but that’s no different to all other clubs who will also improve and some like Souths surely won’t have as much bad luck with injuries to key players next season.

 

[Tom Shines]

Neither do I, but do you see us making the top 8 with the playing roster we current have for 2926 ?

No ,.. thats why I want a difference maker ..signing depth players won’t help

 

[Vicious]

No ,.. thats why I want a difference maker ..

Welll that’s zero chance of happening for 2026 and its very unlikely there will be a difference making forward available for us in 2027.
Quite a few difference making backs available for 2027 if we want them and make some tough calls to make room for them.

 

[Tom Shines]

Welll that’s zero chance of happening for 2026 and its very unlikely there will be a difference making forward available for us in 2027.

Just like last year at this time right …😂

The current season isn’t even over yet …May didn’t become available until November

 

[upthetigers]

No ,.. thats why I want a difference maker ..signing depth players won’t help

Don't think this is accurate. We were in most games this year. We need a high work rate impact prop with that addition our 1-17 is pretty good, but we need depth so it's next man in whenever there is an injury.

 

[Vicious]

Just like last year at this time right …😂

The current season isn’t even over yet …May didn’t become available until November

We can only hope, but you generally see the cracks appearing a long time before they happen.

 

[Tom Shines]

Don't think this is accurate. We were in most games this year. We need a high work rate impact prop with that addition our 1-17 is pretty good, but we need depth so it's next man in whenever there is an injury.

Maybe it takes that impact player to take them from being “ in” games to winning them

 

[426Tlgerland]

That’s correct we need a couple of genuine good standard or better players who are automatic selections in our top 17 to allow us to make the top 8, but we have missed the boat, no more of those players available.
Therefore a couple of depth insurance type of players might at least allow us to finish 9th - 12th rather than finishing worse than that if we don’t improve our depth.

Elliot and Jack H from Newcastle would be in the price range no problem , I would think both at $ 250/300 each leaving $:200 for another , we need players in position both these guys are what we need position wise

 

[PabloX]

Albert Hoppa has been released from the Raiders. He's better than most of the outside backs we have in KOE. Is he worth a shot with his injury history?

 

[GNR4LIFE]

Absolutely.., I see Parra have to pay him $600k next year …: I wouldn’t be looking at all to help them out with that …. Matterson will be Russel Packer Mark 2 next year … collecting a pay check to play NSW Cup …

Don’t think any club will show any interest in him. Think he’s been damaged goods ever since he took a suspension over a fine. Out for himself.

 

[Demps]

Albert Hoppa has been released from the Raiders. He's better than most of the outside backs we have in KOE. Is he worth a shot with his injury history?

Would take him...

 

[clontarfkid]

So your theory is that players at the positions of need aren’t currently available … so recruit someone else ? I keep saying we got limited resources…likely around $700- 800k and three spots left … so best to wait until someone does become available like May did last year …we need an impact player in the middle … not more “depth “…. Do you think any of those depth players will move the needle next year ?

Clearly, we need more from him.
Our middles become less effective as the game wears on as they are being asked to shoulder far too much load.
We can’t have a bloke sitting on his arse for 3/4 of the game. This isn’t a pussy sport like NFL where bludgers are celebrated.
We have to get rid of this guy and get some proper big minute footballers in to replace him.

..or play him longer minutesLose just a little bit of weight..improve a lot of his fitness
Were not getting bang for our buck atm

 

[clontarfkid]

Elliot and Jack H from Newcastle would be in the price range no problem , I would think both at $ 250/300 each leaving $:200 for another , we need players in position both these guys are what we need position wise

Elliot turns 31 next month...been good,but has fallen away over recent years.
Hetherington turns 30 next year and hasnt really cut it as a 1stgrader at any of the 4 clubs hes been with already,and incurs a t of penalties
Buy one decent middle and improve Kit to become one

 

[Betterdays22]

Elliot turns 31 next month...been good,but has fallen away over recent years.
Hetherington turns 30 next year and hasnt really cut it as a 1stgrader at any of the 4 clubs hes been with already,and incurs a t of penalties
Buy one decent middle and improve Kit to become one

So much next year is going to hinge on Benji getting Pole and Hunt to play close to their ceilings (they were both way off this year), getting slightly more out of Sione Fainu and developing Kit into a quality prop who can play 30-40 minutes 10 games per year and not let anyone down.

 

[2041]

No ,.. thats why I want a difference maker ..signing depth players won’t help

This is a fundamental misunderstanding of how successful NRL rosters are built. It's not basketball - very rarely does adding one guy make a huge difference. It's much more about having at least 25 players who can come in and be first grade standard. That's what Melbourne have, and it's why they're winning finals games without $3m of cap money including their star half on the field. They didn't sign Shawn Blore to be a "difference maker", they signed him to do a job.

The Tigers' best players are fine and the roster is the youngest in the comp - natural improvement from experience should make a significant difference. The problem we have is that as soon as anyone gets injured or loses form there's nothing to come in and replace them. Brent Naden played eight games this year, Charlie Murray played five, Tony Sukkar 15, Jack Bird 17, Charlie Staines 7, Heath Mason 7 - and we didn't have major injury concerns. With the greatest respect to players who I'm sure are doing their best, those guys don't get a game at the Storm unless they have about 20 injuries. They're next in line at the Tigers.

When people talk about "depth" they don't mean signing another Jack Bird. They mean signing Shawn Blore so that when Sam Fainu gets injured we don't have to play Jack Bird.

The club has been highly active at moving on players they don't need anymore and I'm sure it will continue to do so, but the reality is the bulk of that work has now been done. Yes, I'm sure they'd be delighted if someone came and took Royce Hunt off the books with no freight or Jack Bird walked away from the last year of his contract. But it is what it is, and there aren't many clubs with no bad deals on the books. On that front, actually I don't think we're in too bad a position.

On that basis, it sounds like we have a small amount of cap room for 2026 and limited likelihood of increasing it. If that's true, I'd rather the money was spent on three legitimate first grade depth players so Heath Mason and Tony Sukkar never get picked again than one "difference maker" who isn't currently available so would inevitably end up being a Hail Mary desperation heave like Asofa-Solomona.