user118245
Well-known member
Just an observation but suli pole not named in Melbourne Storm’s SG ball run on squad. Idk if he’s too old now but I remember everyone dreaming of him coming here
Signings, Suggestions & Rumours Discussion
- Thread starter MacDougall
- Start date
Tigers_Wests
Well-known member
Too old. Didn't play SG Ball this year either...played Flegg.
BlackWhiteGold
Well-known member
Wouldn't be an off-season if Holman Barnes Group weren't embroiled in controversy. Now Romero banned for 8 years. Soon no one will be left on the board there which may not be a bad thing lol I'll post the story in another thread.
A useless group of imposters incompetents and backstabbing vipers,a shit stain on our club.
Betterdays22
Well-known member
I think I would prefer a free roster spot over both Brown and Bird, but if we are chosing between the two for 2026 it would be Brown.
TheEnz
Well-known member
If we don’t exercise the option in Bula’s contract by Nov 1, he goes on the market. Is Richo confident that no other club will offer him his current salary, leading him to take up the player option at a lower amount or perhaps sign a new extended contract? While I don’t think he’s currently worth $900k, we’re a much better team with him in it, and he hasn’t yet reached his ceiling, which is likely above $900k. I’m glad it’s not my decision to make.
tigahhh
Well-known member
3 year deal at $800k id be comfortable with. Moses is the concern as always
BlackWhiteGold
Well-known member
Me too. I think of it this way. If AD is being transitioned into our #13 for 2026, then Brown provides a good rotation for him and a point-of-difference (leg speed, line speed, aggression & impact). We lack in all of those 4 areas so would be a better fit for us than Bird IMHO.
jrtiger
Well-known member
happy to see the swap eventuate but unsure if Brown even makes the bench. definitely helps us with depth thru the middle but really curious to see what role he plays. is it 6-8 games of grade, is it more than that? time will tell I spose.
No chance he re-signs with us for 800k and you are dead right in saying that is his maximum value.
Like many before him he via Isaac will likely try and pilfer 1 million per season out of us.
tigahhh
Well-known member
if bula does leave they better have a plan for it. our issue has not only been player retention but also having no contingency plan for when they do leave
Easier to retain than replace at a club like ours - and replacing some of equal ability in a spine position is rarely successful. They need to be creative with incentives if that's what it takes to retain Bula. You have to find a way to keep the ones you want to reach a level of success.
You could take up Bula’s option and have him on contract for 2026 and 2027. That would give you another 12 months to monitor the development of not only Bula, but also Logan Brookes, and any other youngsters who may be a suitable replacement. Or a free agent. The time would give you options.
crazycat
Well-known member
Lets do pros vs cons:
Pro:
crosses the line and can be dynamic.
Developing
Team player.
Cons:
Moses player
Bula is good, but not as good as the top Fullbacks. i.e Teddy, Paps, Dylan Edwards, Weeks, etc.
A little expensive.
Keep going with him. Kalyn Ponga, Turbo etc are pretty broken.
We can probably train up another fullback. We have Brett Hodgson on staff. Bula though shows a dynamic and playing style that is greater then 50% of fullbacks. He isn't top, he will command 1m salary to get him to stay and that's how the market is...
I would only squeeze if we could line up a replacement. Scarily I could see Turbo + Brothers as a possibility.
Tucker
Well-known member
The bloke is 28 and described season 2025 as his best yet….all in NSW Cup.
Only played 1 game of first grade.
ABSOLUTELY NOT what we are looking for.
Hard pass.
Maybe he could at the expense of Seyfart or Sukkar
Red88_Tiger
Well-known member
We’ve upgraded our back row stocks. I can see merit in bird brown swap as this year I thought we were 1 bench front rower short
Re Bula I’d expect at a minimum he will be taken up on the 1 year at 900k purely to create time for a replacement or at a minimum can be used as a bargaining chip for whoever signs him for 27 after November 1.
Wouldn’t mind betting that Perth is dangling carrots.
Re Bula I’d expect at a minimum he will be taken up on the 1 year at 900k purely to create time for a replacement or at a minimum can be used as a bargaining chip for whoever signs him for 27 after November 1.
Wouldn’t mind betting that Perth is dangling carrots.
Red88_Tiger
Well-known member
6-8 games this year I think we needed an extra front row bench back up
Fainu Brothers
Well-known member
Brown sauce in to be the impact off the bench. Either pick him or Hunt whoever is playing the best footy. And like someone said he is a smaller front rower he didn’t really break into NRL until he was 21/22.
He can show kit how its done! Get it done richo
He can show kit how its done! Get it done richo
Re Bula
I would say to him and agent here is an upgraded and extended deal OR we just take up the club option and look at this in 12 months. This way his agent would want him taking the new extended deal, so he gets paid.
Richo just needs to make this happen before Nov 1 as I think the dogs will be on the prowl for and maybe his wife
I would say to him and agent here is an upgraded and extended deal OR we just take up the club option and look at this in 12 months. This way his agent would want him taking the new extended deal, so he gets paid.
Richo just needs to make this happen before Nov 1 as I think the dogs will be on the prowl for and maybe his wife
