Signings, Suggestions & Rumours Discussion

[The Chad]

Trying to replicate a ball playing lock that is essentially a 3rd Half when you don't have a genuine player to do so could be worse than not having one at all.

A little innovation could work.

The Warriors KOE side ended up playing Freddie Lussick, normally a 9/13 as a front rower. Now, anyone that watched them realised he wasn't playing like Payne Haas.

He was essentially a first receiver & ball player before the line.

That could, realistically, be a role Terrell May can play either as an 8 or 13.

This could allow either Doueihi or Latu to play off the bench to start, but keep 3 front rowers on the field at other times. Twal isn't a ball player, Sione is more a break through the line & look to pass type, Pole & Hunt may not understand what passing actually is, and Bunty literally just came from the squad where Lussick played front row- so he knows the role.

Terrell May isn't a great passer, or a creative passer, but he is willing to pass before the line much in the way Todd Payten used to. Instead of recreating Yeo when you can't- look to maximise what the club does have. If May has the 'permission' to play somewhere between a front rower & distributor, it might make those elongated minutes on the field more useful than just stat lines. Play him 15 minutes as a semi-lock/Todd Payten, then when Latu/Doueihi are on, switch him into a more traditional front rower role.

Stop trying to catch up & copy what other teams do, and do your own thing well instead. Make others catch up & copy us.

 

[Tigerstigerstigers]

Trying to replicate a ball playing lock that is essentially a 3rd Half when you don't have a genuine player to do so could be worse than not having one at all.

A little innovation could work.

The Warriors KOE side ended up playing Freddie Lussick, normally a 9/13 as a front rower. Now, anyone that watched them realised he wasn't playing like Payne Haas.

He was essentially a first receiver & ball player before the line.

That could, realistically, be a role Terrell May can play either as an 8 or 13.

This could allow either Doueihi or Latu to play off the bench to start, but keep 3 front rowers on the field at other times. Twal isn't a ball player, Sione is more a break through the line & look to pass type, Pole & Hunt may not understand what passing actually is, and Bunty literally just came from the squad where Lussick played front row- so he knows the role.

Terrell May isn't a great passer, or a creative passer, but he is willing to pass before the line much in the way Todd Payten used to. Instead of recreating Yeo when you can't- look to maximise what the club does have. If May has the 'permission' to play somewhere between a front rower & distributor, it might make those elongated minutes on the field more useful than just stat lines. Play him 15 minutes as a semi-lock/Todd Payten, then when Latu/Doueihi are on, switch him into a more traditional front rower role.

Stop trying to catch up & copy what other teams do, and do your own thing well instead. Make others catch up & copy us.

He did something similar on occasion last year, including putting his bro in for his first try with us. Also seen him to do in current pacific is Series ,
He looks very awkward but is very effective. Whether he would be if doing it consistently might be the query

 

[Tiger Stripes]

Isnt part of the team composition issues the reality we have to fit Doueihi in somewhere as we have little to no other options for both tqctical and goal kicking?

Madden is a short kicking option AND a goal kicker!
AD at 13 adds has the long kicking game, kicks goals and adds more strike power to confuse the defence, creating space for the halves hopefully?
IMO this would allow game management to rotate the props and backrowers for shorter minutes but at max. output. I do think our bench will be much stronger in 2026.
I know, I'm a dreamer.

 

[innsaneink]

Sheens had Buckets doing it a lot too

 

[Jolls]

Trying to replicate a ball playing lock that is essentially a 3rd Half when you don't have a genuine player to do so could be worse than not having one at all.

A little innovation could work.

The Warriors KOE side ended up playing Freddie Lussick, normally a 9/13 as a front rower. Now, anyone that watched them realised he wasn't playing like Payne Haas.

He was essentially a first receiver & ball player before the line.

That could, realistically, be a role Terrell May can play either as an 8 or 13.

This could allow either Doueihi or Latu to play off the bench to start, but keep 3 front rowers on the field at other times. Twal isn't a ball player, Sione is more a break through the line & look to pass type, Pole & Hunt may not understand what passing actually is, and Bunty literally just came from the squad where Lussick played front row- so he knows the role.

Terrell May isn't a great passer, or a creative passer, but he is willing to pass before the line much in the way Todd Payten used to. Instead of recreating Yeo when you can't- look to maximise what the club does have. If May has the 'permission' to play somewhere between a front rower & distributor, it might make those elongated minutes on the field more useful than just stat lines. Play him 15 minutes as a semi-lock/Todd Payten, then when Latu/Doueihi are on, switch him into a more traditional front rower role.

Stop trying to catch up & copy what other teams do, and do your own thing well instead. Make others catch up & copy us.

I get where you are coming from - but I think it is as clear as the nose on your face that we need to create a bit more space for Latu/Luai for them to be more effective.

I'm not particularly fussed how we go about making it happen but it is a clear deficiency that needs to be addressed. IF we don't buy one we have to either manufature one or finish 12 again with Twal stinking it up as 13 for a nother 12 months.

 

[The Chad]

I think Twal 'stinking it up' is unfair. Twal played a very good Alex Twal type season. He's just not a passing option. He's more your Lindsay Smith type of player.

I think the only real options are May playing as that first receiver, and in effect, pushing Luai, Doueihi or Latu wider & creating space, or having Doueihi/Latu fill the role.

I think the answer is probably somewhere between both. I think, instead of trying to find a Yeo, we should consider May more like Payten, who offered a different look.

Once the game softens up a little, Latu & Doueihi probably need to spend more time on the field at the same time than they did last year to supply more attacking options. I actually prefer Latu playing closer to the middle & Doueihi playing wider. But they could literally interchange as required.

 

[BlackWhiteGold]

I get where you are coming from - but I think it is as clear as the nose on your face that we need to create a bit more space for Latu/Luai for them to be more effective.

I'm not particularly fussed how we go about making it happen but it is a clear deficiency that needs to be addressed. IF we don't buy one we have to either manufature one or finish 12 again with Twal stinking it up as 13 for a nother 12 months.

Must have a good passing game to both sides, fast & direct spirals to create the width for Luai & Latu (not just shoveling it out like a Twal). Dylan Walker does this extremely well from what I have seen at the Eels.

 

[BlackWhiteGold]

Max Lehmann info. NSW Cup contract according to zerotackle.

So if we believe this source, not all the players back this week are full pre-season train and trialists, some are just NSW Cup contracts given a few weeks of NRL training. This makes sense for the likes of Lehmann, Luke Jack, Elijah Mataale & Iverson Matai.

Wests Tigers strengthen depth in outside backs with new signing

He scored six tries in eight NSW Cup matches in 2025.

www.zerotackle.com

 

[Tiger Stripes]

OK, I get your argument and for the most part agree with your assessment of AD's skill set. His kicking game certainly isn't at half standard, but it is servicable and he can be a good runner of the footy. He also has expereince in the centres and at 5/8.

I'm happy to disagree on the assessment of AD - it is all about opinion.

What it appears that we do agree on is the need for a ball playing 13 as opposed to Twal plodding up the middle stifling our attack. Your suggestion is to convert Sione from FRF to lock. Sure it could be done - but in my opinion he lacks the ball playing and running game requured for the postion and converting him over weakens our pack significantly

Not too many ball playig locks have come from inside the pack. Wade Graham, Cam McGuiness and Yeo are probably the best examples of ball playing locks - one from the centres, one from 5/8 and one from the spine - the common denominator with all of them is that the running and ball playing ability required for 13 was already in their DNA. Sione just doesn't have that pedigree.

13 is a significant weakness at the moment. I trust that Benji is working on a solution.

Some people want to play Terrell May at lock.
Can't see it ever happening. Too slow. IMO.
Shorter minutes in the middle would be his forte for max impact.

 

[Tiger Stripes]

May would make a great 13. Doubt it is in the plan though.

Which May?

 

[Jolls]

Must have a good passing game to both sides, fast & direct spirals to create the width for Luai & Latu (not just shoveling it out like a Twal). Dylan Walker does this extremely well from what I have seen at the Eels.

I don't think May or Sione F have the passing skills to be the ball player that we need, although May could make a fist of 13 - just a different tyoe of 13. I don't think he is the right style of 13 for us though.
My preference would be for us to recruit a FG proven ball playing 13. I'm told that they aren't falling from trees at the moment though.

AD and Bird both have the required skills. Bird is on his last legs though so is probably best as depth in Reggies.

 

[Rock Hopper Steve]

May would make a great 13. Doubt it is in the plan though.

Maybe not but the way he played at prop over the long minutes on the paddock is that really what the team needs from an impact point of view.

In a perfect world if Royce and Bunty are up for it with another 10 minutes of input on the park I would have both in the pack if Terrell was good enough for 13.

Who starts the game in prop positions to be determined by who puts their hand up over the summer, lot more depth there than last season now.

 

[Demps]

Max Lehmann info. NSW Cup contract according to zerotackle.

So if we believe this source, not all the players back this week are full pre-season train and trialists, some are just NSW Cup contracts given a few weeks of NRL training. This makes sense for the likes of Lehmann, Luke Jack, Elijah Mataale & Iverson Matai.

Wests Tigers strengthen depth in outside backs with new signing

He scored six tries in eight NSW Cup matches in 2025.

www.zerotackle.com

Wondering about KMapz an Izaac T

 

[Odessa]

I don't think May or Sione F have the passing skills to be the ball player that we need, although May could make a fist of 13 - just a different tyoe of 13. I don't think he is the right style of 13 for us though.
My preference would be for us to recruit a FG proven ball playing 13. I'm told that they aren't falling from trees at the moment though.

AD and Bird both have the required skills. Bird is on his last legs though so is probably best as depth in Reggies.

Tommy Talau will make a good ball playing 13 at the Rooster's

 

[Rock Hopper Steve]

Adam Elliot injury free would be perfect , cheap , all heart 13. Can hit hard in defence , runs hard , plays 101% I would take him and fix the issue , 1 year with 1 year option

I don't mind Elliot either as long as that pink fleshy thing has been removed from the top of his head.

 

[TheEnz]

Must have a good passing game to both sides, fast & direct spirals to create the width for Luai & Latu (not just shoveling it out like a Twal). Dylan Walker does this extremely well from what I have seen at the Eels.

We missed the boat on that one, Dylan Walker would have been a perfect pickup for us before he went to the Eels. They have been a different side since he showed up, and you notice the tempo change in attack when he is on the field. He is unsigned for 2027 so I wonder if perhaps Richo can't do a sweetheart deal and get him a year early.

 

[BlackWhiteGold]

I don't think May or Sione F have the passing skills to be the ball player that we need, although May could make a fist of 13 - just a different tyoe of 13. I don't think he is the right style of 13 for us though.
My preference would be for us to recruit a FG proven ball playing 13. I'm told that they aren't falling from trees at the moment though.

AD and Bird both have the required skills. Bird is on his last legs though so is probably best as depth in Reggies.

IMO if we can bring in Adam Elliott on a 1 year (with option) type deal, he'd be ideal to rotate off the bench with Doeuihi as 13. He has some speed for a middle, high energy, good defensively and can link quite well. Elliott can also cover backrow if required. We have a good lock coming through in Siotame Havea Jr who is currently training with the squad who I reckon Benji sees as a long-term solution post-2027/8.

 

[BlackWhiteGold]

We missed the boat on that one, Dylan Walker would have been a perfect pickup for us before he went to the Eels. They have been a different side since he showed up, and you notice the tempo change in attack when he is on the field. He is unsigned for 2027 so I wonder if perhaps Richo can't do a sweetheart deal and get him a year early.

He's one of Api's best mates too.

 

[BlackWhiteGold]

Wondering about KMapz an Izaac T

Hopefully we find out our full T&Ts over the next week as more players return. Hoping we have retained at least one of them.

 

[Jolls]

Maybe not but the way he played at prop over the long minutes on the paddock is that really what the team needs from an impact point of view.

In a perfect world if Royce and Bunty are up for it with another 10 minutes of input on the park I would have both in the pack if Terrell was good enough for 13.

Who starts the game in prop positions to be determined by who puts their hand up over the summer, lot more depth there than last season now.

May could definitely play 13, but he isn't the ball playing type that I think fills the deficiency we have. He is the hard working non stop guy, so a capable 13 probably - what we need, probaby not.

I agree that we definitely have more depth inthe pack and a bit of competition won't hurt anyone.