Signings, Suggestions & Rumours Discussion

Mighty_Tiger said:
Look I don’t like how he left the club and think he is a lazy player with a heap of potential - that aside. He isn’t a lower wage adhoc squad depth player, he is a mid tier forward value wise - $225k is below what he should earn.

Imagine he would be more a 350k-450k in todays market player roster wise. He is coming off a low season & dui charge.

For him to be released I assume a financial agreement was made with the cowboys also so this year he would have coverage to sign lower but next year he would be in the mid tier forward price range.

Can only think the $900k talk is over 2yrs or something. Zero chance he gets anything close to that. He isn’t a premier game breaking forward.
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Nah,

1. Buttface you are kidding at 225k.
Look L Luc could ask for 400-550k just because of the forward shortage a lot of teams are having.
If someone like Souths, Cronulla or even Warriors had the money... he would be a nice pickup. A forward who has reasonable output that can score tries.

St George or maybe Easts who are missing gaps, may offer more*.

I have no idea why the Cowboys offered him such big money initially, they are clearly trying to rectify their mistake and hang onto their juniors now.

A front rower who has some ball skills and can score tries is worth something. But were not talking a player at Anthony Watmough's level.

*Easts 100% under the table.
 
FrodoTBaggin said:
If you are talking about players off contract in 2025 then the 2 I have heard that we have at least made attempts for are Finefeuiaki and Turuva
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Given our lack of yardage, fast wingers & blockbusting backrowers, these 2 MUST be top of our external recruitment priority list. Very much doubt they will leave their current clubs but we have to have a crack!
 
Given we are losing Tupou, Alaimalo is on a 1 yr deal and we let Nofa go it's wingers where we need to either see youngsters come through or recruit for next yr. I prefer youngsters coming through as you normally don't want to spend much on wingers
 
boonboon said:
Given we are losing Tupou, Alaimalo is on a 1 yr deal and we let Nofa go it's wingers where we need to either see youngsters come through or recruit for next yr. I prefer youngsters coming through as you normally don't want to spend much on wingers
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3 wingers we should be keeping an eye on;
1. Semi Valemai who is a typical big, strong & fast Fijian who at age 24 is really starting to nature as an NRL player. NQ Cowboys surely wouldn’t be able to pay him too much to stay, he’d look great in Wests Tigers colours.
2. Tony Francis a young up and coming 21y.o powerhouse winger who starred at Q Cup level last season and looked great starting for Gold Coast in their trial on the weekend. He is contracted to Gold Coast for the next couple of seasons, but there does not look to be any room for him to play NRL for them when they are full strength. He could be a like for like replacement for Junior Tupou but has more upside if we could get him out of his contract with the Titans.
3. Latia Moicedreke is another Fijian flyer who stands at almost 2 metres tall and is only just starting to fill into his big frame and make strong charges out of his teams danger zone like good wingers do. That coupled with his great aerial threat and try scoring ability would make him a great acquisition. He’s currently with the Knights, but don’t think he will get much NRL opportunity with them due the their strong depth in the outside backs.

If we are looking to bolster our back row stocks with someone who could be exceptional we should be having a close look at young 19y.o Noah Martin who was a standout for the Raiders in their trial. He’s another that will find it very hard to get in the Raiders top 17 due to their strong depth in the back row, but is a big, strong, tall and aggressive back rower who also looks to hit hard and make an impact when defending, he would be a great recruit for 2025.
 
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FrodoTBaggin said:
If you are talking about players off contract in 2025 then the 2 I have heard that we have at least made attempts for are Finefeuiaki and Turuva
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Wonder from where.... jokes aside both players have unfortunately rejected our approach and will most likely remain at their respective clubs. Finefeuiaki has more competitive deals from both Dragons/Dolphins but Turuva has made it clear he doesn't want to leave and will most likely stay on unders.

However, I heard something very juicy over the weekend that the club is discussing plotting a deal come November 1st for Souths young gun Tallis Duncan.

Apparently Shane Richardson brought him to the Rabbits, Benji was at the club during Tallis's first season and John Morris was his assistant last season. All 3 are big fans.

Tallis is off contract at the end of next year but is expected to be heavily pursued by Rugby too. The perception around the league is this kid will be the next Cameron Murray. Can't say I disagree he looks the goods. Interesting times ahead.
 
teddy23 said:
Wonder from where.... jokes aside both players have unfortunately rejected our approach and will most likely remain at their respective clubs. Finefeuiaki has more competitive deals from both Dragons/Dolphins but Turuva has made it clear he doesn't want to leave and will most likely stay on unders.

However, I heard something very juicy over the weekend that the club is discussing plotting a deal come November 1st for Souths young gun Tallis Duncan.

Apparently Shane Richardson brought him to the Rabbits, Benji was at the club during Tallis's first season and John Morris was his assistant last season. All 3 are big fans.

Tallis is off contract at the end of next year but is expected to be heavily pursued by Rugby too. The perception around the league is this kid will be the next Cameron Murray. Can't say I disagree he looks the goods. Interesting times ahead.
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This I like a lot.
Tallis Duncan will be the best number 13 in the NRL within 18 months, mark my words.
I hope we move heaven & earth to make him our permanent number 13.
 
boonboon said:
Given we are losing Tupou, Alaimalo is on a 1 yr deal and we let Nofa go it's wingers where we need to either see youngsters come through or recruit for next yr. I prefer youngsters coming through as you normally don't want to spend much on wingers
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Staines? Lobb? Willet? Laulii’i?
We don’t need to buy wingers. We can develop our own.
 
Tucker said:
Staines? Lobb? Willet? Laulii’i?
We don’t need to buy wingers. We can develop our own.
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None of those except maybe Laulilli possess the powerhouse hit ups out of our own danger zone which every good team requires.
Two I mentioned in Semi Valemai and Tony Francis both possess powerful hit ups out of their teams danger zone, we need someone like that in my opinion.
 
Vicious said:
None of those except maybe Laulilli possess the powerhouse hit ups out of our own danger zone which every good team requires.
Two I mentioned in Semi Valemai and Tony Francis both possess powerful hit ups out of their teams danger zone, we need someone like that in my opinion.
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There are more pressing areas to fix up for mine.
Our prop rotation isn’t good enough…the drop off in intensity is very noticeable.
We have no strike centres, although I’m hopeful Olam helps this.
Our backrow depth is shallow.
Our top 17 can do a job. There is a huge gap to the next 13 behind them.
 
Tucker said:
There are more pressing areas to fix up for mine.
Our prop rotation isn’t good enough…the drop off in intensity is very noticeable.
We have no strike centres, although I’m hopeful Olam helps this.
Our backrow depth is shallow.
Our top 17 can do a job. There is a huge gap to the next 13 behind them.
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I agree and anticipate the onus will be on all our players to show their worth to us throughout the 2024 season.
If we happen to finish in the bottom 4 I’m anticipating a lot of current players will be shown the door, contracted to us or not.
teddy23 just mentioned Tallis Duncan could be on our radar. If that information is correct I think he could be the type of signing to help catapult us into genuine title contenders. Anyone who doubts that, watch the intent, attitude and class he plays with for the Rabbitohs this season. He will be an elite rep player before too long and will not have the opportunity to play in his favoured number 13 jersey for Souths anytime soon with Cameron Murray blocking his path.
 
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Vicious said:
None of those except maybe Laulilli possess the powerhouse hit ups out of our own danger zone which every good team requires.
Two I mentioned in Semi Valemai and Tony Francis both possess powerful hit ups out of their teams danger zone, we need someone like that in my opinion.
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Good options @Vicious & many hoping Jimmy Ngutlik can return to form from his ACL this season in NSW Cup and start to realise the potential he showed at the World Cup for PNG 16 months ago.
 
I'm really excited for Navren Willett after the first trial. Usually with younger players they are quite hesitant to take that hit up for a kick return or even quite dominated in the physicality side of it. I though for a 19 yr old he held his own fantastically. A season in SG Ball then Jersey Flegg for this year and next year to NSW Cup would do him wonders. Hope we get to see him again in the second trial. What are your thoughts on him?
 
GNR4LIFE said:
And if Richo wasn’t here, he still wouldn’t have a contract.

FYI, not saying there was anythimg untoward about his signing, but his manager took advantage of a personal connection, and if it wasn’t for that, where would he be?
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It's called networking... It's why the good capable and succesful know everyone and each other... Even. If it's just to talk over the phone or even email

It ain't what you know it's who you know
 
WestsTigers4VR said:
I'm really excited for Navren Willett after the first trial. Usually with younger players they are quite hesitant to take that hit up for a kick return or even quite dominated in the physicality side of it. I though for a 19 yr old he held his own fantastically. A season in SG Ball then Jersey Flegg for this year and next year to NSW Cup would do him wonders. Hope we get to see him again in the second trial. What are your thoughts on him?
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I think nearly all Wests Tigers fans agree big Nav was impressive with his attitude and intent.
He looks likely to progress through the grades very quickly, definitely Flegg and highly likely some NSW Cup this season and who knows how quickly he can progress from there.
 
innsaneink said:
It's called networking... It's why the good capable and succesful know everyone and each other... Even. If it's just to talk over the phone or even email

It ain't what you know it's who you know
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Every NRL club had plenty of time and opportunity to sign Faatape if they wanted to.
None of them did and Wests Tigers have given him an opportunity. Based on his first game for us, he looks to be a very promising player.
 
Vicious said:
Every NRL club had plenty of time and opportunity to sign Faatape if they wanted to.
None of them did and Wests Tigers have given him an opportunity. Based on his first game for us, he looks to be a very promising player.
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He was well and truly on Brisbane's radar but better opportunities here probably won the day.
 
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