Signings, Suggestions & Rumours Discussion

Vicious said:
5 or 6 additional quality recruits could change us from a team Wests Tigers fans hope will win on the weekend, into a team we are highly confident will win on most weekends.
Fullback looks to be covered with Bula and back up options Staines, Mason or Laulilli.
Staines is earning his right to be a lock on one wing and think we need to recruit for the other wing position, To’a can’t be discounted if he is going to be left out if the centres.
Maybe recruiting Turuva would create competition between he and To’a to see who plays centre and who plays wing.
Regardless I think we need to recruit a big bodied wing option, Skelton or Valemai both great options.
Olam locks down left centre when fit to play. Natural left enters in Faatape, Feledy and Makasini all provide great cover for Olam, but for Salary Cap reasons we can probably only afford to keep one or two of them.
Being a natural left centre I really don’t see Faatape as a long term right centre option, therefore recruiting someone such as Schiller or Lomax is the preferred option.
Halves obviously covered with Luai’s arrival.
Unless we see big improvement I think we need to offload Naden and most likely Sullivan.
If we did offload Sullivan we would require a very strong back up halve, maybe a player like Bailey Hayward from the Bulldogs or Adam Cook from the Raiders.
Hooker is covered, although you really do need 3 good quality hookers in the squad, so may need to replace Simpkin if he departs.
We are pretty strong for props providing we retain Stefano, however one extra dynamic ball runner would certainly help. Trey Mooney would be a great addition.
I really don’t see any long term value in Bateman, I’d be offloading him and signing with Angus Crichton or Jayden Su’a.
Even then we need at least one good quality back up edge forward and have an option of moving Papali’i to 13. For low cost options I really like the look of Billy Burns currently at the Sharks and Matt Doorey at the Eels.
Lastly I would consider Josh Schuster as a 13 option ONLY if we could get him for 400k or less. Reason being I really don’t think our young 13 hopefuls are capable of stepping up to NRL level as soon as we may have liked. A big watch on how Matamua goes this week as he’s now had the last season of grounding in NSW Cup, he could be much more ready for NRL now..
Click to expand...
Great summation @Vicious

5 or 6 may be stretching it given the way Richo has been speaking in podcasts. I get the feel that we may recruit about 3 externals with our focus being developing our own.

The 3 externals being in positions where we do lack depth, so based on your summary and what we know, an outside back, back up edge forward and either a utility hooker or another solid middle.

I strongly doubt we'll offload Bateman given he is VC and part of our cultural evolution & defensive mindset at the club.

A quality outside back is probably the position we are actively seeking now for next season whilst I reckon Benji is keen to see if any of our young guys getting a run in Cup really put their hand up in the 2nd half of the season.
 
Vicious said:
5 or 6 additional quality recruits could change us from a team Wests Tigers fans hope will win on the weekend, into a team we are highly confident will win on most weekends.
Fullback looks to be covered with Bula and back up options Staines, Mason or Laulilli.
Staines is earning his right to be a lock on one wing and think we need to recruit for the other wing position, To’a can’t be discounted if he is going to be left out of the centres.
Maybe recruiting Turuva would create competition between he and To’a to see who plays centre and who plays wing.
Regardless I think we need to recruit a big bodied wing option, Skelton or Valemai both great options.
Olam locks down left centre when fit to play. natural left centres in Faatape, Feledy and Makasini all provide great cover for Olam, but for Salary Cap reasons we can probably only afford to keep one or two of them.
Being a natural left centre I really don’t see Faatape as a long term right centre option, therefore recruiting someone such as Schiller or Lomax is the preferred option.
Halves obviously covered with Luai’s arrival.
Unless we see big improvement I think we need to offload Naden and most likely Sullivan.
If we did offload Sullivan we would require a very strong back up halve, maybe a player like Bailey Hayward from the Bulldogs or Adam Cook from the Raiders.
Hooker is covered, although you really do need 3 good quality hookers in the squad, so may need to replace Simpkin if he departs.
We are pretty strong for props providing we retain Stefano, however one extra dynamic ball runner would certainly help. Trey Mooney would be a great addition.
I really don’t see any long term value in Bateman, I’d be offloading him and signing with Angus Crichton or Jayden Su’a.
Even then we need at least one good quality back up edge forward and have an option of moving Papali’i to 13. For low cost options I really like the look of Billy Burns currently at the Sharks and Matt Doorey at the Eels.
Lastly I would consider Josh Schuster as a 13 option ONLY if we could get him for 400k or less. Reason being I really don’t think our young 13 hopefuls are capable of stepping up to NRL level as soon as we may have liked. A big watch on how Matamua goes this week as he’s now had the last season of grounding in NSW Cup, he could be much more ready for NRL now..
Click to expand...
You've mentioned Doorey a few times. I've no idea what you see in him.
 
BlackWhiteGold said:
Great summation @Vicious

5 or 6 may be stretching it given the way Richo has been speaking in podcasts. I get the feel that we may recruit about 3 externals with our focus being developing our own.

The 3 externals being in positions where we do lack depth, so based on your summary and what we know, an outside back, back up edge forward and either a utility hooker or another solid middle.

I strongly doubt we'll offload Bateman given he is VC and part of our cultural evolution & defensive mindset at the club.

A quality outside back is probably the position we are actively seeking now for next season whilst I reckon Benji is keen to see if any of our young guys getting a run in Cup really put their hand up in the 2nd half of the season.
Click to expand...
I agree with what you are saying, but I can see Richo having a change of heart and recruiting more heavily once he realises some our juniors in particular our forwards are not as near ready for NRL as what was first thought.
Results will be a deciding factor as I’m sure Richo and Benji will want more from our edge back row if they continue to offer no attacking threat.
 
gregjm87 said:
You've mentioned Doorey a few times. I've no idea what you see in him.
Click to expand...
Big body who runs hard, tackles hard, about the right age to be approaching the prime of his career.
Has made a few clean line breaks in his limited NRL opportunities, when was the last time any of our much higher paid edge forwards made a clean line break ?
 
FrodoTBaggin said:
Just saw a clip from 100% footy that I thought was interesting. Weidler was talking about the Lomax situation and someone asked him if any other club was interested, he said Lomax's manager was saying there is one other club interested but he wouldn't say who it was.

Could be smoke and mirrors to try and put pressure on Parra, but I also recall Richo saying a few weeks ago that if it gets out that they are talking to a player then they will pull any offer and stop all discussions.
Click to expand...
I definitely think it is us that is in the picture, but similar to what you've mentioned they're reluctant to name us.

I'd still prefer Turuva to Lomax for a couple reasons, but I certainly wouldn't be complaining if Zac ended up in Concord. he has ability you simply cannot coach.
 
Vicious said:
Big body who runs hard, tackles hard, about the right age to be approaching the prime of his career.
Has made a few clean line breaks in his limited NRL opportunities, when was the last time any of our much higher paid edge forwards made a clean line break ?
Click to expand...
Papalii has effectively been a prop for us for the last year. No sign that he is capable of making a break, he's a 50 minute hit up merchant currently, and with Bateman more interested in fighting than playing footy we desperately need two starting level back rowers, no room for prospects
 
balmain boy said:
Papalii has effectively been a prop for us for the last year. No sign that he is capable of making a break, he's a 50 minute hit up merchant currently, and with Bateman more interested in fighting than playing footy we desperately need two starting level back rowers, no room for prospects
Click to expand...
His cut out ball to Staines was class
 
Vicious said:
Big body who runs hard, tackles hard, about the right age to be approaching the prime of his career.
Has made a few clean line breaks in his limited NRL opportunities, when was the last time any of our much higher paid edge forwards made a clean line break ?
Click to expand...
I have to disagree. Average sized body who occasionally runs hard and rarely tackles hard and has low work rate on both sides of the ball would be a more apt summary IMO. I dont watch much reserve grade outside of a handful of Workers and the occasional Magpies games but from what ive seen of him i wouldn't have him in my top 5 reggies backrowers.
 
gregjm87 said:
I have to disagree. Average sized body who occasionally runs hard and rarely tackles hard and has low work rate on both sides of the ball would be a more apt summary IMO. I dont watch much reserve grade outside of a handful of Workers and the occasional Magpies games but from what ive seen of him i wouldn't have him in my top 5 reggies backrowers.
Click to expand...
Fair enough everyone sees things differently.
He’s no world beater, but I believe as a back up option he’s much better than what we currently have and what I can tell you there is a distinct lack of depth across the board when trying to find decent edge back rowers.
 
Last edited:
Vicious said:
5 or 6 additional quality recruits could change us from a team Wests Tigers fans hope will win on the weekend, into a team we are highly confident will win on most weekends.
Fullback looks to be covered with Bula and back up options Staines, Mason or Laulilli.
Staines is earning his right to be a lock on one wing and think we need to recruit for the other wing position, To’a can’t be discounted if he is going to be left out of the centres.
Maybe recruiting Turuva would create competition between he and To’a to see who plays centre and who plays wing.
Regardless I think we need to recruit a big bodied wing option, Skelton or Valemai both great options.
Olam locks down left centre when fit to play. natural left centres in Faatape, Feledy and Makasini all provide great cover for Olam, but for Salary Cap reasons we can probably only afford to keep one or two of them.
Being a natural left centre I really don’t see Faatape as a long term right centre option, therefore recruiting someone such as Schiller or Lomax is the preferred option.
Halves obviously covered with Luai’s arrival.
Unless we see big improvement I think we need to offload Naden and most likely Sullivan.
If we did offload Sullivan we would require a very strong back up halve, maybe a player like Bailey Hayward from the Bulldogs or Adam Cook from the Raiders.
Hooker is covered, although you really do need 3 good quality hookers in the squad, so may need to replace Simpkin if he departs.
We are pretty strong for props providing we retain Stefano, however one extra dynamic ball runner would certainly help. Trey Mooney would be a great addition.
I really don’t see any long term value in Bateman, I’d be offloading him and signing with Angus Crichton or Jayden Su’a.
Even then we need at least one good quality back up edge forward and have an option of moving Papali’i to 13. For low cost options I really like the look of Billy Burns currently at the Sharks and Matt Doorey at the Eels.
Lastly I would consider Josh Schuster as a 13 option ONLY if we could get him for 400k or less. Reason being I really don’t think our young 13 hopefuls are capable of stepping up to NRL level as soon as we may have liked. A big watch on how Matamua goes this week as he’s now had the last season of grounding in NSW Cup, he could be much more ready for NRL now..
Click to expand...
I also don't think 13 is what we'll be in the market for.

I have a gut feeling that Latu Fainu maybe the guy as he will physically develop into a real nugget, is already one of the best wrestlers at the club, very good defensively and could be given a license to roam as well as link.

Just a gut feeling!
 
BlackWhiteGold said:
I also don't think 13 is what we'll be in the market for.

I have a gut feeling that Latu Fainu maybe the guy as he will physically develop into a real nugget, is already one of the best wrestlers at the club, very good defensively and could be given a license to roam as well as link.

Just a gut feeling!
Click to expand...
In the short term that could be a very good option.
Also just because the likes of Yeo generally play the full 80 minutes, doesn’t mean it’s an 80 minute role.
I don’t see a problem with others such as Pole or Seyfarth spending some game time at 13, just it would be nice to have someone with a lot more attacking flair play 13 for at least some parts of each game.
 
Vicious said:
Fair enough everyone sees things differently.
He’s no world beater, but I believe as a back uk option he’s much better than what we currently have and what I can tell you there is a distinct lack of depth when trying to find decent good edge back rowers.
Click to expand...
plenty around, just very few that arent tied up elsewhere long term. From those available:

Hohepa Puru is probably the pick of the bunch for mine MO next season at Canberra (honestly having him and Mooney in the same reserve grade pack is ridiculous).
Dan Russell (Dragons) probably the next best coming off contract and the most achievable. At Dragons both the Couchman boys and Dylan Egan all look to be good prospects but contracted til 25. There development increases likelihood of Russell being available.
Mason Teague (Dolphins) is more a smaller middle that could do a job on an edge. He is a step above QCup. Similar Kalani Going (Warriors).
Jacob Alick (Titans) Has a stellar QCup resume and looks the goods every preseason. Just never seems to get a crack at first grade.
Anyone else in reserve grade unsigned next year i probably wouldn't look twice at. Possibly some up and comers in Flegg that may be of interest, but i havent watched any flegg, highlights even, this year.
 
gregjm87 said:
plenty around, just very few that arent tied up elsewhere long term. From those available:

Hohepa Puru is probably the pick of the bunch for mine MO next season at Canberra (honestly having him and Mooney in the same reserve grade pack is ridiculous).
Dan Russell (Dragons) probably the next best coming off contract and the most achievable. At Dragons both the Couchman boys and Dylan Egan all look to be good prospects but contracted til 25. There development increases likelihood of Russell being available.
Mason Teague (Dolphins) is more a smaller middle that could do a job on an edge. He is a step above QCup. Similar Kalani Going (Warriors).
Jacob Alick (Titans) Has a stellar QCup resume and looks the goods every preseason. Just never seems to get a crack at first grade.
Anyone else in reserve grade unsigned next year i probably wouldn't look twice at. Possibly some up and comers in Flegg that may be of interest, but i havent watched any flegg, highlights even, this year.
Click to expand...
Some interesting names there.
I’ve thought Dan Russell would be ok as a depth signing. He went ok when playing NRL for the Dragons last season, but now stuck behind a massive log jam of back rowers. Only concern with him is his age, he’s now in his late 20’s and we don’t really want players in the twilight of their career taking up positions in our lower grades.
Hohepa Puru looks a very natural ball playing 13 who is unlikely to get much NRL game time at the Raiders. I’d take him in a heart beat, I think he’s got much more value than all our young up and coming 13’s.
Teague an interesting one as he’s a Sydney boy up at the Dolphins. From the little I’ve seen of him, I think Puru is more talented.
 
Last edited:
The Chad said:
3 players is what Richardson has suggested.

Liam Knight, Isaiah Tass & Tesi Niu
Click to expand...
I'd honestly rather we just go out and try to get a gun centre like Lomax.Know he's not as popular due to his price range and what's currently happening with him seeking a release from the Dragons, but he and Olam would be a great pairing - the latter has shown he's still quite capable - until our juniors come through/up to grade.
Another second rower ofc. is the other essential requirement IMO.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Latest posts

Members online

Total: 243 (members: 11, guests: 232)
Forever online: Tigergran, Geo
Back
Top