Signings, Suggestions & Rumours Discussion

GNR4LIFE said:
Players that are 18-30 see a lot of game time.
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Last year.
Despite some serious injuries throughout the season.
Outside of the trial matches we used 31 players
24 of those were Top 30 by seasons end.
The non top 30 and dev players played a combined total of 19 games between them.
18-25 see a lot of game time though the back 26-30 and Dev players not so much.
 
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Tucker said:
It’s not just a cautionary tale, it’s outright embarrassing what the club has done to this kid’s development.
His ridiculous and unearned rise through the ranks last year may cost him his career.
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I feel the same.
With the season collapsing the club was searching for a feel good story to drive home their pathways position.
With Fonua Pole doing so well (though recruited outside of our system and a tad older) the club wanted to push the local junior narrative and I feel used Matuma as a bit of an incentive to our younger talented brigade.
 
Red88_Tiger said:
It also could of been a last ditch effort to give him a chance though
before pulling the plug
There could be a raft of other reasons that we don’t know about
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I think they got overexcited when setting up the pathways and blew their load too early.
They continue to do so with TDS and now Galvin.
Killing it in the juniors means squat when it come to professionals. Making Australian Schoolboys is a reward for the work done in the juniors. It has no bearing on being a pro.
The club proudly boasted that our pathways were working as Matamua went from Matts to first grade in 2 and a 1/2 years or so. He clearly wasnt ready despite what Sheens and Pascoe were saying publically.
He is contracted here till the end of 25 and we are already talking about moving him on?
 
Needaname said:
I feel the same.
With the season collapsing the club was searching for a feel good story to drive home their pathways position.
With Fonua Pole doing so well (though recruited outside of our system and a tad older) the club wanted to push the local junior narrative and I feel used Matuma as a bit of an incentive to our younger talented brigade.
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100% and this is not just opinion, they outright said so on many occasions
southwestvoice.com.au

Matamua’s star rises higher after being elevated to top 30 squad

Wests Tigers contract extension to 2025
southwestvoice.com.au southwestvoice.com.au
 
GNR4LIFE said:
Another highly touted junior about to fall by the wayside. It’s why you cannot put any stock into what players do in the junior grades.
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You’re missing the point.
And it seems with Marshall in charge he is already setting in place plans in motion to temper the expectation of development on our young talent with TDS back to SG ball this week.
Whilst it was exciting to see him get a chance last year. With Api extending to end of 26 there is no need to rush his development.
The one that does need absolute consideration is Simpkins. Off contract this year.
By seasons end.
Benji needs to either.
Resign Simpkin.
Recruit a back up hooker
Or Bring TDS up to speed where he can physically play the game.
 
Tucker said:
I think they got overexcited when setting up the pathways and blew their load too early.
They continue to do so with TDS and now Galvin.
Killing it in the juniors means squat when it come to professionals. Making Australian Schoolboys is a reward for the work done in the juniors. It has no bearing on being a pro.
The club proudly boasted that our pathways were working as Matamua went from Matts to first grade in 2 and a 1/2 years or so. He clearly wasnt ready despite what Sheens and Pascoe were saying publically.
He is contracted here till the end of 25 and we are already talking about moving him on?
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I understand your point but don’t totally agree
Whenever a new coach takes over at any club there’s always a different view of players leading to many being moved on or jumping ship of their own accord
I dare say sheens may still be a fan
 
Red88_Tiger said:
I understand your point but don’t totally agree
Whenever a new coach takes over at any club there’s always a different view of players leading to many being moved on or jumping ship of their own accord
I dare say sheens may still be a fan
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Ok.
He went from playing 5/8 in every one of his junior rep games to being ushered in as a lock / prop off the bench in NSW cup / NRL.
Didn’t need to debut that year, especially when he hadn’t spent any time transitioned as a forward.
Same with Katoga.
That backfired didn’t it; he pushed for a release to get more first grade game time but yet was happy to play the same position at the dogs.
In a way, displaying an over desire to debut kids before their time. Affects their mentality and physicality but all so their expectation of where they see themselves positioned in the game.

A round 1 trial is fair enough then back to the grades for you but pushing for a debut before their time is problematic.

My thoughts on Galvin. Depends how he trials this week but I’d say he isn’t being talked about at all if we didn’t have Doueihi out with a knee injury.
 
On the minimum wage I assume they are both earning and considering how light on we are for depth on the back row, I don’t know why we would not be giving both Matamua and Tumeth a chance to see how they progress in 2024.
Both are local juniors who played for a dominant NSW u/19’s team in 2022 so there is obviously talent within them. Also not forgetting it takes many young forwards in particular a couple of years playing senior rugby league to really toughen up, mature and become the best version of themselves.
 
"The Herald reports the deal is worth an estimated $3.7 million across three seasons, putting him among the club's highest-paid players."

Is there another Luciano Leilua? It can't be the one that walked on us and underperformed at the Cowboys
 
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Todd Packer said:
The Herald reports the deal is worth an estimated $3.7 million across three seasons, putting him among the club's highest-paid players.

Is there another Luciano Leilua? It can't be the one that walked on us and underperformed at the Cowboys
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I've seen Foxsports quote 2.7 and 2.3 in the same article. As usual, taken with the tiniest grain of salt.
 
Todd Packer said:
The Herald reports the deal is worth an estimated $3.7 million across three seasons, putting him among the club's highest-paid players.

Is there another Luciano Leilua? It can't be the one that walked on us and underperformed at the Cowboys
Click to expand...
Woooo. Fark me Luciano is going to be the highest paid player in the game on 1.233 mill a season.
 
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