Signings, Suggestions & Rumours Discussion

[Tom Shines]

7th June
The sunday before the public holiday

3rd of June

https://twitter.com/x/status/2062312596779503752

 

[Vicious]

I'd be lying if I said we knew for certain if or when it was lodged, but so would anybody. @kade7 mentioned the Tuesday after the public holiday, I'd say he has been pretty spot on so far from what I've seen.

Brent Read reported that the deal was signed on the 4th. If it was AND the deal was lodged with the NRL on the same day, then the 10 day cooling off period is over as of today.

Timing of media announcements also matter. Announcing Averillo after the result is a net positive either way for the club. After a loss, we are still at a 50% W/L record, the fans get good news, and the team knows they'll have another capable first grader on the way.

After a win, we are closer to a 60% W/L record and enter an 8 round stretch where we only play teams we have already beaten this year, the Dragons twice, and a bye. An announcement here could be even more beneficial.

Knights
Dragons
Warriors
Bulldogs
Raiders
Eels
Bye
Dragons

Without having at least one genuine line break threat in our back row and only very minimal line break threat in our centres due to Taylan May’s injury, we will still struggle to win many of those games no matter how good our draw looks.

 

[FrodoTBaggin]

Without having at least one genuine line break threat in our back row and only very minimal line break threat in our centres due to Taylan May’s injury, we will still struggle to win many of those games no matter how good our draw looks.

Samuela is back for Bulldogs.

 

[FrodoTBaggin]

3rd of June

https://twitter.com/x/status/2062312596779503752

Signing of the contract, and lodging the contract with the NRL are done seperately.

Think DCE last year. He put pen to paper at the start of 2025; however, the deal was only lodged with the NRL at the start of November, about 7 - 8 months later.

Same with fox when he was at Melbourne looking to get out, he technically signed with us but we could not officially lodge anything with the NRL.

 

[Tom Shines]

Signing of the contract, and lodging the contract with the NRL are done seperately.

Think DCE last year. He put pen to paper at the start of 2025; however, the deal was only lodged with the NRL at the start of November, about 7 - 8 months later.

Same with fox when he was at Melbourne looking to get out, he technically signed with us but we could not officially lodge anything with the NRL.

Each circumstance will be different … Im not sure what would delay the lodgement for Averillo …

Who knows … they might have already done it on the 4th !

 

[Tom Shines]

Doing my best to give us an estimated salary cap position for 2027.

Based on my estimates and factoring in Averillo coming in & contract re-structure for Samuela, we will have 7 roster spots available with only $150-$200k to spend on each (so depth pieces only).

What is clear on these estimates ... to recruit a Shawn Blore or player of similar ilk on $400k+, we will need to offload at least 1 player with Hunt & To'a arguably the most likely.

My estimates are in the Roster Breakdown thread.

Good summation …/ probably not too far from the truth …

I think they have gone all this year with only 27-28 signed … probably done out of necessity to save a few bob…

I would suggest we might have two $300-$400k on the horizon + Averillo and the rest as strictly minimum unless more money is freed up … even that looks tight

 

[Vicious]

Samuela is back for Bulldogs.

That will be a big help

 

[kade7]

club is not letting the media control our narrative it will be announced, jake wants to be back in sydney to be closer to family

 

[BlackWhiteGold]

Good summation …/ probably not too far from the truth …

I think they have gone all this year with only 27-28 signed … probably done out of necessity to save a few bob…

I would suggest we might have two $300-$400k on the horizon + Averillo and the rest as strictly minimum unless more money is freed up … even that looks tight

Yeah I think you're right or very close to.

I reckon we'll see Averillo & Blore come in for '27 with Royce moving on to ESL.

Benji seems big on developing from within so tipping the likes of Sukkar, Saukuru, Mason, Murray & Bunty will be given every chance of a top 30 next season based on their performances for the rest of the season, all on close to minimum.

We don't know whether Godinet & Taupau-Moors are top 30 or dev next year either (has not been disclosed anywhere that I have seen, just that they are contracted).

 

[happy_tiger]

Yeah I think you're right or very close to.

I reckon we'll see Averillo & Blore come in for '27 with Royce moving on to ESL.

Benji seems big on developing from within so tipping the likes of Sukkar, Saukuru, Mason, Murray & Bunty will be given every chance of a top 30 next season based on their performances for the rest of the season, all on close to minimum.

We don't know whether Godinet & Taupau-Moors are top 30 or dev next year either (has not been disclosed anywhere that I have seen, just that they are contracted).

Only watched Taupau Moors for the first time last night in Under 19 SOO but based on that he is miles from being even remotely near NRL level

 

[Tom Shines]

Yeah I think you're right or very close to.

I reckon we'll see Averillo & Blore come in for '27 with Royce moving on to ESL.

Benji seems big on developing from within so tipping the likes of Sukkar, Saukuru, Mason, Murray & Bunty will be given every chance of a top 30 next season based on their performances for the rest of the season, all on close to minimum.

We don't know whether Godinet & Taupau-Moors are top 30 or dev next year either (has not been disclosed anywhere that I have seen, just that they are contracted).

Yes any of those first few could be on the cards … would also suggest they might try to get by with Lanyon as the back up 9 if he can continue to show some good play the rest of this season ..,probably would need to promote him to the squad..,whilst i would prefer someone better … they are going to have to cut corners somewhere it seems

 

[jadtiger]

Only watched Taupau Moors for the first time last night in Under 19 SOO but based on that he is miles from being even remotely at NRL level

Agree the level seemed well above his ability,however he is young enough to improve with the right coaching.He seemed to lack any motor and appeared sluggish and hopefully that is something the club is working on.

 

[Tiger_claws]

Samuela is back for Bulldogs.

A chance to be back for Warriors. If no hiccups. Currently is ahead of schedule.

 

[Wiz]

Signing of the contract, and lodging the contract with the NRL are done seperately.

Think DCE last year. He put pen to paper at the start of 2025; however, the deal was only lodged with the NRL at the start of November, about 7 - 8 months later.

Same with fox when he was at Melbourne looking to get out, he technically signed with us but we could not officially lodge anything with the NRL.

Clubs do this to lock players in before they move others on, which frees up cap space first, then they lodge the new contract second.

 

[Fish88]

Howarth and Chan both apprantly not to be re-signed by Storm. Depending on coin, either could be useful. Howarth hasn't progressed so well this year but I think Chan provides something, he's quick for a backrower and can cover centre when injuries hit.

* Disclaimer: be careful with Storm castaways *

 

[innsaneink]

3rd of June

https://twitter.com/x/status/2062312596779503752

Fair enuff....first i saw was the sunday

Im sure itll.be done and dont think a day or two either way will make a difference

 

[BlackWhiteGold]

Yes any of those first few could be on the cards … would also suggest they might try to get by with Lanyon as the back up 9 if he can continue to show some good play the rest of this season ..,probably would need to promote him to the squad..,whilst i would prefer someone better … they are going to have to cut corners somewhere it seems

If Josese Lanyon continues to do well at NRL level for the rest of the season, I reckon we'll upgrade him from T&T in '27 to Development which means he can still play from Round 1. This will be same as Tavana's contract.

 

[BlackWhiteGold]

Agree the level seemed well above his ability,however he is young enough to improve with the right coaching.He seemed to lack any motor and appeared sluggish and hopefully that is something the club is working on.

Taupau-Moors is like that old traditional lumbering front rower - big, strong, can ball play, decent motor but lumbering (slower leg speed) type. Hope the club is patient with him.

 

[Vicious]

Howarth and Chan both apprantly not to be re-signed by Storm. Depending on coin, either could be useful. Howarth hasn't progressed so well this year but I think Chan provides something, he's quick for a backrower and can cover centre when injuries hit.

* Disclaimer: be careful with Storm castaways *

Joe Chan at the right price would be a good recruit as he has proven ability to make line breaks or at least threaten to make line breaks with his better than average ability to hit a gap at speed.
He gets found out defensively at times, but he would not be a starting player when we are full strength and could provide good impact off the bench, particularly if we are chasing points.
The negative is he is managed by Isaac Moses and we would not want to pay anymore than 250k for him, where I think he could get a fair bit more than that in the UK Super League.
Jack Howarth is a good young player who surely has not lost all the ability he displayed in 2025 and is only 23y.o this year. He has had his defensive struggles and would be looking for a starting position and starting position money somewhere which we cannot guarantee if we have Taylan May and Jake Averillo as our starting centres.

 

[Vicious]

Taupau-Moors is like that old traditional lumbering front rower - big, strong, can ball play, decent motor but lumbering (slower leg speed) type. Hope the club is patient with him.

I would say Wests Tigers are heavily invested in him as it appears we have let a few others go over the past few years in favour of him.
He is a frustrating player who seems to be slow and lack impact at times, but those who watch him regularly see the occasional games where he rips and tears and can be very physically dominant.
I think Wests Tigers ideally want to keep him on our books for a few more seasons to see how he develops, we just need to hope he does not get ahead of himself in the contract and contract money he is after.