2026 squad - still not good enough

twentyforty said:
We have around half of our top 30 who wouldn’t get a start at any other club. But it’s worth considering that Penrith have 5 of our rejects and still winning games?
Makes me wonder if our coaching is simply not good enough?
Our star recruit we wanted to turn into a halfback has been a failure considering his cap share. Why? It’s not totally his fault, he seems to be doing what he’s told.
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Need to compare this to a few other rosters.

No doubt our systems arent at a par with Penriths and Ivan has a few more runs on the board than benji
 
innsaneink said:
Need to compare this to a few other rosters.

No doubt our systems arent at a par with Penriths and Ivan has a few more runs on the board than benji
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I have said this many times , luai is not a 1/2 back , he is a runner , he creates his own space , he needs a 1/2 back who can direct the team around the park , and the one piece of the puzzle we are missing is a ball playing lock , that’s what Penrith have , and that we need , NOW
 
BirchgroveTigers said:
Hello,

So after thinking about how you can structure a salary cap, I figured it was worth looking at our 2026 squad to see how it matches up (based the "how many players ideal" on the calculation in this thread: https://weststigersforum.com/threads/managing-the-salary-cap.36713/#post-2168078).

Long story short - as things stand - our 2026 squad is definetly an improvement on this year, but still too "bottom heavy". Have assumed Jayden Sullivan is moving on, and we are resigning Taylan May. The rest of the names I've taken from the NRL website. The ratings is based on how they rate compared to other players in their respective position. Room for debate on that front I appreciate.

4 players left by this calculation - ideally all four would be average NRL players or above, but that's probably a tall order.

View attachment 26515
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Your table literally spells out what I have been thinking.
We need top shelf players aka elite players.

I feel there is a difference between above average and good.

Api was elite in 2024, probably only above average now. Were keeping him no arguments.
Luai is probably our only 'elite' player and even then he is a little debateable about how Elite he is ( Luai can be a gun and has been a total gun in the past, he can also cruise games*).

Bula is in the 'good' category. Very above average for NRL standard. Perhaps only average for Fullbacks.


Agreed, though were bottom heavy. Compared to 2024 though we have increased our top level players...

Which is why I say:
NO MORE DEPTH!

Save your cap. Buy players that are at the good/elite level or if cap spots are present, min wagers.
It seems far easier to turn a below average player to average, then to turn a good player to elite.

*is this him cruising games OR when the opposition mark someone they can't do their stuff? We see Reece Walsh go silent, yet during the grand final it seems Reynolds and Hunt were marked, maybe allowing Reece to run riot.
 
bptiger 0 said:
I have said this many times , luai is not a 1/2 back , he is a runner , he creates his own space , he needs a 1/2 back who can direct the team around the park , and the one piece of the puzzle we are missing is a ball playing lock , that’s what Penrith have , and that we need , NOW
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And a couple of middles who look after the 7. Give him some time.
 
TheEnz said:
I think the odds are firming that Spencer will gracefully depart from the roosters in the offseason. seems to be the odd one out in that team.
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He would be a good pickup and a known combination with Terrell May


Ofcourse were dreaming. Had we expressed and gotten interest in a swap before the DCE signing, then with cap pressure this could have happened.

Ill also note the Roosters could recover from the loss of two Elite centers with two replacements, an elite winger in Mark Nawa and an elite Center in Robert Toia... How they find these guys?
 
crazycat said:
He would be a good pickup and a known combination with Terrell May


Ofcourse were dreaming. Had we expressed and gotten interest in a swap before the DCE signing, then with cap pressure this could have happened.

Ill also note the Roosters could recover from the loss of two Elite centers with two replacements, an elite winger in Mark Nawa and an elite Center in Robert Toia... How they find these guys?
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In aisle 10 at Kemeny's Liquor Store on Bondi Road? Sorry, someone spiked my cornflakes! 🍷 🎄🎄🎄🤪
 
crazycat said:
Your table literally spells out what I have been thinking.
We need top shelf players aka elite players.

I feel there is a difference between above average and good.

Api was elite in 2024, probably only above average now. Were keeping him no arguments.
Luai is probably our only 'elite' player and even then he is a little debateable about how Elite he is ( Luai can be a gun and has been a total gun in the past, he can also cruise games*).

Bula is in the 'good' category. Very above average for NRL standard. Perhaps only average for Fullbacks.


Agreed, though were bottom heavy. Compared to 2024 though we have increased our top level players...

Which is why I say:
NO MORE DEPTH!

Save your cap. Buy players that are at the good/elite level or if cap spots are present, min wagers.
It seems far easier to turn a below average player to average, then to turn a good player to elite.

*is this him cruising games OR when the opposition mark someone they can't do their stuff? We see Reece Walsh go silent, yet during the grand final it seems Reynolds and Hunt were marked, maybe allowing Reece to run riot.
Click to expand...
This is probably a terrible idea, but Luai came to the tigers to run the show. If as expected he goes back to being a 5/8, he should give 200k/year back to the club so we can afford an elite player. Yes, Luai has helped changed the culture at the club, but he's not the only player to have done this.
 
upthetigers said:
This is probably a terrible idea, but Luai came to the tigers to run the show. If as expected he goes back to being a 5/8, he should give 200k/year back to the club so we can afford an elite player. Yes, Luai has helped changed the culture at the club, but he's not the only player to have done this.
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Have to agree mate his pay packet is usually saved for the elite, good luck prising it back though, stuck with the inflated contract for as long as he stays you would think.
 
upthetigers said:
This is probably a terrible idea, but Luai came to the tigers to run the show. If as expected he goes back to being a 5/8, he should give 200k/year back to the club so we can afford an elite player. Yes, Luai has helped changed the culture at the club, but he's not the only player to have done this.
Click to expand...
Luai is a great player, and I love him in the team, Panthers made a very good offer to try keeping him at $850k for 2 years. We had no choice but to offer him the halfback loading, the lead domino loading and the long term contract. He turns 29 mid January, and the decisions are his.
 
upthetigers said:
This is probably a terrible idea, but Luai came to the tigers to run the show. If as expected he goes back to being a 5/8, he should give 200k/year back to the club so we can afford an elite player. Yes, Luai has helped changed the culture at the club, but he's not the only player to have done this.
Click to expand...
100% All the talk was abt he was going to step out of Clearys shadow and run his own team and demanded the dollars for it. Im a fan of Luai and most people will call it negativity but he did not play any where near as i expected espiecially on last plays. No doubt hes been a major difference off field and culture but we are again talking abt having a player to lead us around a year later after spending over 1.2mil on that very thing. He needs to improve regardless whos playing half and i think this year settled at 6 he will have a better season, well im hoping even though i do believe its a lot of money for a number 6 that does very little leading the team around like a Moses.
 
weststigers said:
You're the stats chick that sits in the box ey? 🤣

Seriously though, you're right. Averages 85m a game over about 40 minutes. Not bad, but price tag rules it out...if he plays 80 and maintains those stats then yeah.
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would making a bloody exciting 40min. You guys make valid points although i think he would biuld a good foundation with the current players we have . Lifelong mates with a few of our guys, Could work but depends on $$$. Maybe have a firesale. I have a few in mind.
 
BirchgroveTigers said:
Hello,

So after thinking about how you can structure a salary cap, I figured it was worth looking at our 2026 squad to see how it matches up (based the "how many players ideal" on the calculation in this thread: https://weststigersforum.com/threads/managing-the-salary-cap.36713/#post-2168078).

Long story short - as things stand - our 2026 squad is definetly an improvement on this year, but still too "bottom heavy". Have assumed Jayden Sullivan is moving on, and we are resigning Taylan May. The rest of the names I've taken from the NRL website. The ratings is based on how they rate compared to other players in their respective position. Room for debate on that front I appreciate.

4 players left by this calculation - ideally all four would be average NRL players or above, but that's probably a tall order.

View attachment 26515
Click to expand...
Wow Good post. Its in black and white what our problem is, throw in the rubbish behind the scenes. 2026 worries me . I find it interesting how so many on here a quick to say no when a quality player comes available cause he doesnt fit in. We need quality simple, not continuos back up
 
Modman said:
Wow Good post. Its in black and white what our problem is, throw in the rubbish behind the scenes. 2026 worries me . I find it interesting how so many on here a quick to say no when a quality player comes available cause he doesnt fit in. We need quality simple, not continuos back up
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If I was in charge I would move heaven and earth to get a ball playing lock , and sign Bevan French, the bloke covers every spot in the backline .
Locks that are available, Curran , Elliot
 
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