Signings, Suggestions & Rumours Discussion

[Wagga_Tiger]

2 weeks ago Averillo played fullback in QLD Cup, and last week he was moved from there to accommodate Fuller. If he’s better than a top 12 fullback that doesn’t happen.

I don’t disagree with him being about the 12th best fullback but are any of the 11 fullbacks you have above him coming to the club next year? If not, then how does he lose his spot?

Because Fuller cant play anywhere else, Averillo can.

 

[Droppy05]

I would hazard a guess with Javon likely being brought through he will likely play on the left and Sam will get plenty of ball through him.

I still think we need another high quality second rower though. We only had either or both our second rowers 58% of the time this season and it was patently obvious when they weren't there. Unless we can find a good young second rower being held back from first grade somewhere I would like to see us sign something like a Young or Martin although having three second rowers taking up $2-2.5m between them probably isn't ideal.

It's ideal if you get either of those 2.

 

[Vicious]

I’ve seen him there and he’s still slightly behind Bula.

Given the club haven’t got his surgery done early enough. Bula will likely miss the start of the season so Averillo may be forced to play there.

Problem being we have no half decent right centre back up

 

[Vicious]

Agree with you re Javon, he is much more deceptive with ball in hand and he can also slow down and speed up more than Luai can. Luai is a bit more of a jack in the box type player, he can disrupt a defensive line with his running style, if you watch the games at Penrith he would often do this and then Kikau would run a line or he would pass it back to Cleary who would then take advantage. Cleary would throw it out to Luai if they were struggling to break down the defense. Our team is not set up to use Luai in this way, we needed him to be dominant and not just the go to for some chaos in an otherwise structured attack.

Very good analysis

 

[hank37w]

And why is he still playing ? Because the alternative is an unreliable Heath Mason , who is basically Watson lite, at least for the next couple of years , or Attard who whilst dynamic is extremely small , and quite honestly not ready . Turuva and Tavana ? Well that’s like -2-4 points . Ie. at fullback you know that they will be responsible for at least 1 try against

You are right in saying that Bula is still our best option at fullback, even carrying his current injury, but our season is shot and he should be going to have surgery so that hopefully he may have some sort of a chance of getting in a reasonably pre-season.

Also agree that the alternative options will be responsible for some tries against, but Bula, as our last line of defence has been atrocious and it's not as if we are likely to win a game in our last 3 rounds even if Bula plays.

What is really annoying me is some of the suggestions that Bula wants to play in the World Cup for Fiji and if he does that instead of going for surgery and that then impacts his pre-season with the Wests Tigers then that will do me.

These players and the RLPA have got to understand who is paying them and where their first allegiance should lie.

I can understand the desire to play for their chosen country and that should only happen if they are fully fit and that playing will not negatively affect or aggravate current injuries that may then affect the service they can provide for their club side.

 

[Lestronge]

You are right in saying that Bula is still our best option at fullback, even carrying his current injury, but our season is shot and he should be going to have surgery so that hopefully he may have some sort of a chance of getting in a reasonably pre-season.

Also agree that the alternative options will be responsible for some tries against, but Bula, as our last line of defence has been atrocious and it's not as if we are likely to win a game in our last 3 rounds even if Bula plays.

What is really annoying me is some of the suggestions that Bula wants to play in the World Cup for Fiji and if he does that instead of going for surgery and that then impacts his pre-season with the Wests Tigers then that will do me.

These players and the RLPA have got to understand who is paying them and where their first allegiance should lie.

I can understand the desire to play for their chosen country and that should only happen if they are fully fit and that playing will not negatively affect or aggravate current injuries that may then affect the service they can provide for their club side.

Yep , I agree . I’m just stating the logic . All our guys should have early surgery to best give the chance to hit the ground running . But I do get it . Benji needs to win footy games

 

[Chunk]

I think we need some genuine speed and height out wide, our wingers seem slow compared to other teams. And Turuva is getting smashed every time he takes the ball back lately. We need to be able to score form 50m out and you need speed. How quick is Maka?

Also, a Xavier Willison quality player would be awesome, we need to someone of this level. Top 13 are okay but we need another high quality forward, I'd pay a million for a high quality proven player with a number of years left in him (Not asking for much)

Back row is okay, if Fainu comes along at the right price?

And hope our current spine can come together. Andrews, Latu, AD, Api, Haywood and Bula

So for me, a winger/centre, a central forward and a good bench player, someone like Mann.

And of course, some quality coaching to help Benji

 

[liltiger]

He'd be my last option for lock. His key ability is his offload, but not an offload in traffic where the receiver has to then create something but offload to someone on the run in the space that the edge provides. I think he does have skills to be a handy lock but it would be reducing his best asset, an asset that almost no-one else in the competition possesses.

Yeah great point.

 

[upthetigers]

Easily one of the lowest humans to have had an NRL career

He's completely unhinged still thinks he's a teenager, surprising his sons seem like decent humans

 

[jadtiger]

He's completely unhinged still thinks he's a teenager, surprising his sons seem like decent humans

That's because he had a lot of luck with the woman he married and she has been a good influence on the kids.

 

[Tim Sheens]

He'd be my last option for lock. His key ability is his offload, but not an offload in traffic where the receiver has to then create something but offload to someone on the run in the space that the edge provides. I think he does have skills to be a handy lock but it would be reducing his best asset, an asset that almost no-one else in the competition possesses.

His ability to stiffen the right edge as a whole defensively is an even better attribute for mine. KPP has been a huge loss there since his injury.

 

[Dr_Ice]

He's completely unhinged still thinks he's a teenager, surprising his sons seem like decent humans

Most of them

 

[mactiger]

Will penisini is of contract strong ball runner can play center and Wing would be a good back up player don't think he would break the bank either

 

[weststigers]

I’ve seen him there and he’s still slightly behind Bula.

Given the club haven’t got his surgery done early enough. Bula will likely miss the start of the season so Averillo may be forced to play there.

Surgery is up to the player.

 

[fainty]

Bula is clearly injured and struggling with it. He is our fullback and once fit he will be killing it, also with some potential strike in the centres with May and Averillo it gives him options and also an extra threat to his running game. If this time next year he is playing like this then I’ll put my hand up and also admit he isn’t what we thought.
I would let Douehi go, I feel he doesn’t want to be here. Replace him with volkman, you would get him cheaper. I would also look at Sloan if he wants out of his super league contract for next year, frizzel, and another back rower/middle.
I think we need to go for Moses Leota. He’s not until 2028. Him and May to start, pole off the bench with hunt. Twal still in the back row. KPP and samuela in the back row.

 

[balmain boy]

He can hit a hole. That’s about it.

So he's already better than almost every player we have, and have ever had?

 

[LeichhardtTiger]

I agree.
Liam Martin has been an outstanding player and who could blame him from now trying to cash in and get a big money deal before he retires, but I agree that there are signs of wear and tear from all the years of ripping in and playing above his weight catching up with him.
This time next season I’d say Jacob Preston, Tallis Duncan, Hudson Young and the young Roosters player Salesi Foketi will all be better quality players than the ageing Liam Martin.

If Liam Martin were a Track cyclist he would be banned from competing for the simple reason that his shoulder padding makes his right side so aerodynamic as to cause an unfair advantage around the circuit. But he's not. However, he does have a right shoulder issue and he is now an old man. (I made up the aerodynamic bit, but it did disqualify an Aussie Girl recently at the Melbourne Comm Games in Glasgow when she stuffed her Winnie Blue pack into her shoulder space).

 

[balmain boy]

Yep but limited footage I've seen of javon he cant tackle

Considering we don't have a defensive coach this isn't a surprise.

There's not a single player in our roster so can tackle