OFFICIAL Bunty Afoa - Welcome to the JUNGLE!

[Tiger Tarl]

If our starting props are May and Pole, then I'd have Bunty replace Pole at the 20-minute mark, and Hunt replace May for 10 mins either side of half. That leaves Twal and Sione to play lock (as I think Doueihi will be starting 7 with Latu at 14) until Lindsay Smith arrives in 2027...

 

[TYGA]

Our recruitment the last two years has been targeted and well done overall. Bunty is a hard nosed no nonsense prop. Some depth in the front row which was much needed.May, Pole, Twal, Bunty, Sione Fainu, Hunt is plenty in the middle. If Benji can get the best out of Bunty and Royce they would be ideal off the bench.

 

[Leica_Tiger]

I think this is a solid signing that won’t block any youngsters and more importantly strengthens us in the middle where we need it, not spectacular but tough - just like our old packs.
Good on Benji and Richo for not spunking our cap on the biggest names on the market, it’s also refreshing to read some of the comments on here which are optimistic for our future.
Bring on ‘26

 

[Winston Churchill]

Great signing!!

May must be creaming his pants to have a bit of help in the middle next year.

Daylight between Bunty and Twal/Sukkar/Seyfarth/Bird, hopefully only ever see these 2nd graders to cover inevitable injuries. We are at 29 for the 2026 squad. Would love for just 1 more solid forward 1st grade quality signing to make sure thats the case.

If Pole can pull the stick out of his ass next year, Forward pack looks top 8.

8. May
9. Ap
10. Pole
11. Sammy Fainu
12. KPP
13. Latu/Doohey

6. Jerry
7. Latu/Doohey

14. Dud/Madden/Hope
15. Kit/Hunt/Geyer/Twal/Seyfarth/Sukkar (new signing?/Nathan Brown?)
16. S Fainu
17. Bunty

If Hunt can keep motivated and continue the fitness journey he is on, id love to see a 16. Hunt 17. Bunty. Imagine a twin rotation of the smash bros punching though👌🤛 10mins before half time each game. Tear the opposition apart.

While it lasted, I did enjoy the 2014 bench of the smash brothers Gavat/Marty/Sue/Ava. 2026 Hunt/Bunty/Sione would be even better.

 

[Merlot]

does that mean Brown won't be signed. yeh ya

 

[Rock Hopper Steve]

Great signing!!

May must be creaming his pants to have a bit of help in the middle next year.

Daylight between Bunty and Twal/Sukkar/Seyfarth/Bird, hopefully only ever see these 2nd graders to cover inevitable injuries. We are at 29 for the 2026 squad. Would love for just 1 more solid forward 1st grade quality signing to make sure thats the case.

If Pole can pull the stick out of his ass next year, Forward pack looks top 8.

8. May
9. Ap
10. Pole
11. Sammy Fainu
12. KPP
13. Latu/Doohey

6. Jerry
7. Latu/Doohey

14. Dud/Madden/Hope
15. Kit/Hunt/Geyer/Twal/Seyfarth/Sukkar (new signing?/Nathan Brown?)
16. S Fainu
17. Bunty

If Hunt can keep motivated and continue the fitness journey he is on, id love to see a 16. Hunt 17. Bunty. Imagine a twin rotation of the smash bros punching though👌🤛 10mins before half time each game. Tear the opposition apart.

While it lasted, I did enjoy the 2014 bench of the smash brothers Gavat/Marty/Sue/Ava. 2026 Hunt/Bunty/Sione would be even better.

Pretty sure bud took a paycut to stay at south's Winston so it leaves 28 spots.

What do you think of the proposed swap of Brown for Bird, myself think it's better than keeping Bird.

 

[Demps]

does that mean Brown won't be signed. yeh ya

Brown to take Birds spot, if it does happen.

 

[Merlot]

Brown to take Birds spot, if it does happen.

in the 30 not on field , i don't see a value in a trade

 

[rihannafan1]

He's fine. Makes sense if we also picked up Brown. These are fringe NRL guys who know what it takes to be a professional and make our pack bigger. Gees our KOE team will be alright.

 

[Rock Hopper Steve]

in the 30 not on field , i don't see a value in a trade

You can't be serious Bird offers less than nothing.

 

[Merlot]

You can't be serious Bird offers less than nothing.

muzuk thread ,OMC - how bizzare

 

[Rock Hopper Steve]

muzuk thread ,OMC - how bizzare

Are you having a beer, please rephrase to understand lol.

 

[Winston Churchill]

Pretty sure bud took a paycut to stay at south's Winston so it leaves 28 spots.

What do you think of the proposed swap of Brown for Bird, myself think it's better than keeping Bird.

You are correct my old mate. I missed that news. Even better to have 2 spots open. I was going off the Zero tackle website for our contracted players that still lists Bud as signed for 2026 to the Tigers. Oddly the same website has the article announcing him staying at Souths.

Sullivan makes surprise contract call after Rabbitohs loan

The 23-year-old spent 2025 on loan at South Sydney from the Tigers.

www.zerotackle.com

I thought it was a mistake to let Brown go. I enjoyed his thuggish NYC days. Something a very soft Tigers squad could have used over the next decade. Brown is well and truly beyond his peak, the same is said for Bird. However I think Brown offers much better value for the same coin (or less) than Bird, Brown used as a no nonsenses, brain dead prop to take a few hit hard ups a game and take out a player here and there when needed. Add some much needed steal to the team. Id take 32 year old prop Brown over 30 year old fits nowhere Bird.

 

[Merlot]

Are you having a beer, please rephrase to understand lol.

i don't see any value in a trade

 

[Joelcainenumber1fan]

Great signing!!

May must be creaming his pants to have a bit of help in the middle next year.

Daylight between Bunty and Twal/Sukkar/Seyfarth/Bird, hopefully only ever see these 2nd graders to cover inevitable injuries. We are at 29 for the 2026 squad. Would love for just 1 more solid forward 1st grade quality signing to make sure thats the case.

If Pole can pull the stick out of his ass next year, Forward pack looks top 8.

8. May
9. Ap
10. Pole
11. Sammy Fainu
12. KPP
13. Latu/Doohey

6. Jerry
7. Latu/Doohey

14. Dud/Madden/Hope
15. Kit/Hunt/Geyer/Twal/Seyfarth/Sukkar (new signing?/Nathan Brown?)
16. S Fainu
17. Bunty

If Hunt can keep motivated and continue the fitness journey he is on, id love to see a 16. Hunt 17. Bunty. Imagine a twin rotation of the smash bros punching though👌🤛 10mins before half time each game. Tear the opposition apart.

While it lasted, I did enjoy the 2014 bench of the smash brothers Gavat/Marty/Sue/Ava. 2026 Hunt/Bunty/Sione would be even better.

one of my fave seasons thats bench tore teams apart
we really need to get it back

 

[Merlot]

You are correct my old mate. I missed that news. Even better to have 2 spots open. I was going off the Zero tackle website for our contracted players that still lists Bud as signed for 2026 to the Tigers. Oddly the same website has the article announcing him staying at Souths.

Sullivan makes surprise contract call after Rabbitohs loan

The 23-year-old spent 2025 on loan at South Sydney from the Tigers.

www.zerotackle.com

I thought it was a mistake to let Brown go. I enjoyed his thuggish NYC days. Something a very soft Tigers squad could have used over the next decade. Brown is well and truly beyond his peak, the same is said for Bird. However I think Brown offers much better value for the same coin (or less) than Bird, Brown used as a no nonsenses, brain dead prop to take a few hit hard ups a game and take out a player here and there when needed. Add some much needed steal to the team. Id take 32 year old prop Brown over 30 year old fits nowhere Bird.

Brown gave up on us, just as his simpering mates did

 

[TonyTiger]

I’ll take him…👍

Hope something else shakes out in the middle …

Great signing - he runs hard with passion and can flick sweat the eyes of the opposition with his huge sweaty, frizzy mop!
Much better than the tool Jazz Tevaga that Manly extracted from the Warriors previously,

 

[balmain boy]

There's nothing not to like about this signing

 

[orange&black]

Great to welcome Bunty. Definitely adds to our squad.
Now we need to do the Brown for Bird trade and that will help our go forward even more.

 

[Vicious]

There's nothing not to like about this signing

Good signing, but you couldn’t have both Bunty and Royce defending in the middle at the same time.
I’d say it will now be a competition between Bunty and Royce for the number 17 jersey and the other playing NSW Cup unless one of them is required to start in NRL with the other off the bench.