Signings, Suggestions & Rumours Discussion

[innsaneink]

Back when I used to be involved in the game Parra juniors had a rep of nepotism ruining their systems. That was pre Covid so unsure if things are different nowadays.

Balmain would get a.lot trialling for the jnr reps and not just guys that missed out at parra....plenty of dads didnt want anything to.do with them.
As.the kids got to high school.age wed get a few at Dundas also being on the border...too much politics there

 

[balmain boy]

Unsure if you are talking Charlie Staines or Max Lehmann.. But I think that makes the point.

Charlie Staines > Max Lehmann... That said, I believe Charlie was on 400k. Trading down as I am pretty sure Max Lehmann is worth 150k makes sense. Free up cap for the top 13

Lehmann will be on less than 50k.

 

[crazycat]

I would add that any play what you see type player is better the more time and space they have. Our pack does not provide time and space - especially in the red zone where the defensive pressure is increased.

We lack the ability to take the focus off our single playmaker.

Give them a couple of more headaches to worry about and the defensive intensity has to be disapated across the threats. Madden has the best kicking game out of all of the halves we have. Add a bash and barge threat in Royce/Bunty, an offload to a running lock from May/Bunty, a running ball playing 13, two good kick options and two centre options for a 5th tackle shift and we are now talking about a complex beast to deal with.

We need to put our one dimensional 2025 season behind us and focus on where we need to be. We are getting closer but we are still short in the pack.

I agree but going to argue it a different way:
The games where it was AD + Luai in the halves, we took the focus off Luai.
The games where it was Luai + Galvin/Voldemort in the halves and AD at Center we took the focus off Luai.

While Madden may have the best kicking game, he definately doesn't threaten the line like Luai does. AD + Luai isn't a bad starting halves combo, madden will get a shot and totally up for competition in this area.

 

[Nonotmeagain]

not here, I swear there must be something wrong with our pathways none of our juniors ever want to play for us

He's not really a "junior" as he has been around several clubs - the Tigers are just the last.

 

[Tito Santana]

I don't see it the same mate.

Doueihi, Luai, Taylan, all those negotiations dragged on for quite a while and he got them all done.

I can't think of too many he missed, barring the obvious Galvin situation.

Great comment. And extra points because it was in response to a lame post from Tucker.

 

[Buttface]

https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/s...s/news-story/13e3707e8503c3cec350156f526df3de

Rejected from the club he loved: Rising Wests Tigers star Godinet on verge of proving Eels wrong, realising NRL dreams​

As a young boy, Pheonix Godinet would spend hours watching Eels highlights. But after his dream club rejected him - twice - the rising star is close to realising a promise he made to himself a decade ago.

Fatima Kdouh
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@FatimaKdouh_

7 min read
November 7, 2025 - 5:00AM

Fatima’s last name? Is that the bird thing Doobs and Fainu was flipping at the dogs fans?

 

[user118245]

He has a really mature head on young shoulders...been following his insta for a.while now just so positive and talented

Now the poor kid leaked the jerseys on insta 😭

 

[user118245]

What was it I’m not a member

Nothing good in there?

NRLW retentions

 

[TigerBurnsy]

Now the poor kid leaked the jerseys on insta 😭

The jersey looks gas, but he’s gonna get a blast from richo

 

[rugbygoated]

Out of the blue I was able to chat to Mat Burton today. Great guy. So down to earth. Put the hard word on him when he was going to sign for the tigers…

Not anytime soon haha.

But he did say we had a better year and Luai was good for us and was a tigers fan as a kid.

I was a bit cheeky and said there’s plenty of competition for spots at the doggies so are you aiming for the 6. “He’ll play where ever the team needs him”.

This sounds similar to my conversation with Hugo Savala in Ashfield earlier this year

 

[Tim Sheens]

To me, that article just puts it out there that Pheonix is a Parra fan. Hey Eels, come get me. With Moses as his manager, where do you think he will end up once he hits first grade?

I didn't comprehensively read it, but in my skimming of it he came off as being pleased that WT had seen enough of him at rugby to want him and feeling at home now, whilst not happy that he was overlooked twice by Parramatta.

Relatively few players are at the club that they supported, and not a great deal more will during their careers.

 

[Mighty_Tiger]

To me, that article just puts it out there that Pheonix is a Parra fan. Hey Eels, come get me. With Moses as his manager, where do you think he will end up once he hits first grade?

Out of the large article that was all you got out of it…..

 

[Tucker]

I don't see it the same mate.

Doueihi, Luai, Taylan, all those negotiations dragged on for quite a while and he got them all done.

I can't think of too many he missed, barring the obvious Galvin situation.

With respect to those guys, the world wasn’t very interested in 2 of them and the third was offered such ridiculous overs that no one else had a chance.
His poor record extends to keeping guys with itchy feet. Stef, Lachy, Tallyn the main ones. Bula fits their category more than the ones he has had success signing.

 

[Tucker]

He is a priority imo...along with Makasini
Godinet is gunna be big!

Haven’t we said this about 15 times over the past 20 years? Lol
Gotta love the off-season.

 

[innsaneink]

Haven’t we said this about 15 times over the past 20 years? Lol
Gotta love the off-season.

Maybe others but not me.
Time.will tell.

 

[Tucker]

not here, I swear there must be something wrong with our pathways none of our juniors ever want to play for us

Pathways aren’t the problem, they are unearthing good talent which is translating a decent amount to first grade footy either with us or wi rival clubs.
It is our NRL program that is the problem.

 

[Rock Hopper Steve]

Haven’t we said this about 15 times over the past 20 years? Lol
Gotta love the off-season.

Learnt to not get too excited about these young blokes with potential until they have played a season of first grade.

So many you pin hopes on and just don't go on with it setting yourself up for disappointment.

 

[Tucker]

Maybe others but not me.
Time.will tell.

I’ve certainly said it about guys no longer with us,.and pretty much everyone did when Galvin was the golden boy. It’s an off season staple. Talking up our juniors is basically a sport unto itself on here.

 

[Tucker]

Learnt to not get too excited about these young blokes with potential until they have played a season of first grade.

So many you pin hopes on and just don't go on with it setting yourself up for disappointment.

I know what you mean.
For me these days they are all shit until proven otherwise over multiple seasons.

 

[Rock Hopper Steve]

I know what you mean.
For me these days they are all shit until proven otherwise over multiple seasons.

Lol it's the safest way to approach it, think Makasini's a chance of making it but no opinion on Godinet.
Wait till he hits 1st grade to see what he's got, standing out in the lower grades means Jack shit to me.