Signings, Suggestions & Rumours Discussion

Vicious said:
I agree with you that what we currently have is not quite enough and we need 2 to 3 more genuine NRL quality recruits before we can be confident we have genuine top 8 team.

1. Jahream Bula
2. Sunia Turuva
3. Taylan May
4. ???
5. Jeral Skelton
6. Jerome Liai
7. Adam Doueihi
8. Terrell May
9. Api Korisau
10. Sione Fainu
11. Samuela Fainu
12. Kai Pearce-Paul
13. Alex Twal

14. Latu Fainu
15 ???
16. Fonua Pole
17. ???

** Heamasi Makasini looks likely to make plenty of improvement between now and round 1 of the 2026 season, therefore it may just be a case of slotting him into our vacant centre position. The question mark is will he be 💯 NRL ready by round 1 2026 and if so, who will capably play as our right centre considering both May and Makasini seem to heavily favour playing on the left ?
It coud also be an option to start Makasini’s NRL career off on the wing which could mean he takes Skekton’s wing spot ?
** Seyfarth would be in contention to challenge for a spot on our bench form permitting.
** Filling the question marks with better quality than what we currently have will be crucial to our success in 2026.
** I don’t love the idea of Twal at 13, however he stiffens our defence and helps with the yardage, therefore I think we need him to start games at 13 and allow Latu Fainu to come on and replace him at 13 after approximately 25mins. Whether that means Latu plays 13 or plays 7 with Doueihi moving to 13 is up for debate. I think Latu has shown he is a very capable 13 who creates a big positive impact when playing that position, but if we decide he plays 7 and Doueihi shares the 13 role with Twal, that could also work, but I’m not sold on that idea.
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Skelton and Toa were good early this season …and are both under contract next year …I assume that both have been affected by injury this season and the focus should be over the offseason getting them back into the form they demonstrated early …Skelton was improved last week, and scored a good finishing wingers try …

I would be starting them in their respective positions Week 1 2026 the way things are at the moment ..If Makasini is looking good over the offseason than that could change my mind ..

I’m not going to give up on Latu just yet at 7…his ceiling is high … but it seems we aren’t agreeing on that one ..

I would put AD as 14 week 1… he will be my first cab off the rank to be back up 6,7 and 13 so he will start plenty of games over the course of the season

I want to see them still buy a starting 13 at the every least ..it’s a massive need …that would push Twal back to the bench ..looks like Seyfarth is still on the best 17 bench the way things stand at the moment …
 
IronFist said:
I agree with @Vicious. Our needs are a right centre, and a starting prop. I just don't agree with Averillo and Talakai.
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I'm with you guys on those needs, however we have no 'official' idea on how many spots we have remaining.

We can only assume Jock Madden is top 30 as he wouldn't have signed so early just for a T&T + upgrade. And Mav Geyer for 1 season wouldn't have signed in August for next season if it was just a T&T (so top 30 for him).

Then Javon Andrews & Ethan Roberts, we just don't know officially yet if both are top 30 or Dev with an upgrade in '27.

Then the Bud situation has to be formalised, the potential for 1 or 2 surprise early releases & many of us on here think Broederlow could be under the gun.

But what we do know is that the Benji/Richo/Gallant team has been good thus far in recruiting needs (KPP as a right edge, Madden as a game managing goal kicking depth half, Geyer as a solid matured depth backrower, Hope as a permanent backup hooker, Javon as a exciting young half etc etc).

So common sense tells us that an experienced 1st grade-ready depth centre or winger & tallish, strong experienced prop will be on their radar.

If one of To'a or May (assuming May is extended) go down, we will have AD plus the potential of a Makasini or Laulilii, but I think someone like Naden at the right price or the ilk of Hiroti (goal kicker too) could be a target. Maybe Mapapalangi is highly thought of but he doesn't have much NRL experience to bring.

Just not sure on that big prop unless Richo is saving $$$ for one to fall out of the tree.
 
Whilst it's a long way from now, I'd be very surprised if Latu at 7 and Doueihi at 13 isn't how we begin next season, regardless of how AD is slotting in currently.

It's the long term plan with Latu, another pre season together, a squad that will be better again than this year and Benji has already shown he's willing to pick him as his starting 7 at full, or near-full strength.
 
Kelce68 said:
Whilst it's a long way from now, I'd be very surprised if Latu at 7 and Doueihi at 13 isn't how we begin next season, regardless of how AD is slotting in currently.

It's the long term plan with Latu, another pre season together, a squad that will be better again than this year and Benji has already shown he's willing to pick him as his starting 7 at full, or near-full strength.
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I agree …

Any chance you think that Latu could fill in at 9 to give Api a 20 min rest next year ?
 
Kelce68 said:
Whilst it's a long way from now, I'd be very surprised if Latu at 7 and Doueihi at 13 isn't how we begin next season, regardless of how AD is slotting in currently.

It's the long term plan with Latu, another pre season together, a squad that will be better again than this year and Benji has already shown he's willing to pick him as his starting 7 at full, or near-full strength.
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It's probably the likely outcome from what we know @Kelce68 .

But jeez I can see so much potential for Latu at lock and becoming one of the NRL's best in this spot. Whilst I do want him to succeed in the halves, I just see so much lock forward in him.

... his deft ball skills as 1st receiver & ability to push our halves wider.
... ability to put the defence in two minds with his explosive running game off the mark & power in his little legs to break tackles.
... but probably more than anything, his defence & strength in the tackle/wrestle is exceptional.
... and he atm lacks a very good long & short kicking game which he will need as a half. That may come but I just haven't seen it.

Just an opinion and probably the unlikely plan.
 
I'm surprised that Skelton to centre has never been floated as an idea.

Probably not right now, but if we have the likes of Masi being preferred to come into grade on a wing, I think it would be worth considering.

Lest I get too daring and consider him a backrow option if we become flush with outside backs into the future...

...I'll see myself out, don't worry.
 
Tom Shines said:
I agree …

Any chance you think that Latu could fill in at 9 to give Api a 20 min rest next year ?
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I think Latu could make an excellent fist of hooker if he had to, Tommy, and if he ends up starting at 14 early, I'd assume he may be required to do some of that work.

But I'd say that would be more a testament to Latu's versatility, rather than something I'd prefer, especially if they're considering moving their halves/lock/utility roles around mid-games as a specific plan, like they have at times this year.

Those types of game plans make me want to headbutt a fork.
 
IronFist said:
He has the best long kick in the club. Other than that, he hasn't done anything yet to prove the team is better with him in the halves.
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Anyone ever seen Bula kick a ball? He has the mechanics to have a long kick (long levers, fast twitch fibres), just never seen him do it. He also has the speed to run other chasers on side.
If he can add a kicking option to his game as many other fullbacks offer I think it could really add something to our side.
 
Tom Shines said:
I put a move like this as a pipe dream … it relies on two things happening which are not even on anyone’s drawing board at the moment ..Bird leaving and Talakai wanting to come here

They haven’t done a hell of a lot really to improve the starting 17 to date for next season, other than KPP for Seyfarth and let’s include Taylan as well… two moves that improve the team…but I don’t think it’s enough to get us in the 8
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A blessed run with injuries and we're a chance but even still I put us a quality middle short.
 
BlackWhiteGold said:
It's probably the likely outcome from what we know @Kelce68 .

But jeez I can see so much potential for Latu at lock and becoming one of the NRL's best in this spot. Whilst I do want him to succeed in the halves, I just see so much lock forward in him.

... his deft ball skills as 1st receiver & ability to push our halves wider.
... ability to put the defence in two minds with his explosive running game off the mark & power in his little legs to break tackles.
... but probably more than anything, his defence & strength in the tackle/wrestle is exceptional.
... and he atm lacks a very good long & short kicking game which he will need as a half. That may come but I just haven't seen it.

Just an opinion and probably the unlikely plan.
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I don't disagree, mate, especially as he continues to grow. He has shocked me the amount of size he has packed on in such a short time, at such a young age; I wouldn't be at all surprised if he's playing at the low to mid 90kgs already.

My only concern is his workload given his age.

Given he is such a strong defender and goes after the contact, until his body properly matures, he'll really leave himself open to contact injuries in the middle; he won't be able to help himself i think.

As a 7, I hope that Benji is going to be the type to not typecast our halves and that he lets them play to their strengths, both obviously being running five-eighths by trade. I worry that pigeonholing Latu into a 7 role that conducts could be a stifling of everything that makes him great currently and we could risk going down a Brooks path all over again.

I think that's why a Doueihi-type in lock would be essential if we're to play with two five-eighths essentially, otherwise we're a Porsche 911 without a steering wheel.

The apparent good thing about the Luai, Latu, Doueihi situation from our end is there's a number of ways they could run that setup, depending on final squad formation, preferred style of play, etc.

And there's a world where a few different approaches could work I think.
 
gregjm87 said:
Anyone ever seen Bula kick a ball? He has the mechanics to have a long kick (long levers, fast twitch fibres), just never seen him do it. He also has the speed to run other chasers on side.
If he can add a kicking option to his game as many other fullbacks offer I think it could really add something to our side.
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He has recently developed an ok short kick option.

...and he immediately looks more dangerous. He is such a raw talent, Bula.
 
gregjm87 said:
Anyone ever seen Bula kick a ball? He has the mechanics to have a long kick (long levers, fast twitch fibres), just never seen him do it. He also has the speed to run other chasers on side.
If he can add a kicking option to his game as many other fullbacks offer I think it could really add something to our side.
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For 900k I’d be making him learn fast if he doesn’t already know how to kick a ball long and high.
 
Demps said:
Canberra has so many outside backs and just added the young gun, Sione Finau from the Dragons...

I'd be asking questions - Chevy Stewart is the one exploring his options... but, I'd be asking about Sav Tamale who dates one of our NRLW players. He's a really good player.
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Who doesnt love Tamales! lol I apologise, some SoCal humor there....
 
BlackWhiteGold said:
It's probably the likely outcome from what we know @Kelce68 .

But jeez I can see so much potential for Latu at lock and becoming one of the NRL's best in this spot. Whilst I do want him to succeed in the halves, I just see so much lock forward in him.

... his deft ball skills as 1st receiver & ability to push our halves wider.
... ability to put the defence in two minds with his explosive running game off the mark & power in his little legs to break tackles.
... but probably more than anything, his defence & strength in the tackle/wrestle is exceptional.
... and he atm lacks a very good long & short kicking game which he will need as a half. That may come but I just haven't seen it.

Just an opinion and probably the unlikely plan.
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Putting two and two together, I reckon Benji knows that’s the best option for Latu and for Wests Tigers moving forward,
I would guess having Latu agree to it and keeping he and his brothers happy in the meantime is the hard part.
 
BlackWhiteGold said:
I'm with you guys on those needs, however we have no 'official' idea on how many spots we have remaining.

We can only assume Jock Madden is top 30 as he wouldn't have signed so early just for a T&T + upgrade. And Mav Geyer for 1 season wouldn't have signed in August for next season if it was just a T&T (so top 30 for him).

Then Javon Andrews & Ethan Roberts, we just don't know officially yet if both are top 30 or Dev with an upgrade in '27.

Then the Bud situation has to be formalised, the potential for 1 or 2 surprise early releases & many of us on here think Broederlow could be under the gun.

But what we do know is that the Benji/Richo/Gallant team has been good thus far in recruiting needs (KPP as a right edge, Madden as a game managing goal kicking depth half, Geyer as a solid matured depth backrower, Hope as a permanent backup hooker, Javon as a exciting young half etc etc).

So common sense tells us that an experienced 1st grade-ready depth centre or winger & tallish, strong experienced prop will be on their radar.

If one of To'a or May (assuming May is extended) go down, we will have AD plus the potential of a Makasini or Laulilii, but I think someone like Naden at the right price or the ilk of Hiroti (goal kicker too) could be a target. Maybe Mapapalangi is highly thought of but he doesn't have much NRL experience to bring.

Just not sure on that big prop unless Richo is saving $$$ for one to fall out of the tree.
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I think it’s looking likely we would need to offload Sullivan and also potentially Bird, Hunt and maybe To’a to allow us to add some more NRL quality to our current playing roster,
 
hodgo said:
I think NAS is perfect. Big impact, scary and takes the pressure off TDM. He could be what we wanted hunt to be. Long shot but if we got him and hunt back to decent form that would turn our pack around. I know its a big if. NAS for 20 hunt for 20 then fill the rest with our workers like twal pole and big red
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I like it, if NAS comes with a friendly contract... Hes tortured us for years be nice if it was the other way around. Can bend the line.
 
Kelce68 said:
I think Latu could make an excellent fist of hooker if he had to, Tommy, and if he ends up starting at 14 early, I'd assume he may be required to do some of that work.

But I'd say that would be more a testament to Latu's versatility, rather than something I'd prefer, especially if they're considering moving their halves/lock/utility roles around mid-games as a specific plan, like they have at times this year.

Those types of game plans make me want to headbutt a fork.
Click to expand...

I’m a little concerned about hooker next season the way things stand…I can’t say I’m too wrapped in Hope taking up a bench spot…also with limited Top 30 spots still available, I don’t want them to sign someone else …on the other hand , I don’t want Api playing 80 mins every week …don’t see a lot of other options if not Latu to be honest
 
BlackWhiteGold said:
It's probably the likely outcome from what we know @Kelce68 .

But jeez I can see so much potential for Latu at lock and becoming one of the NRL's best in this spot. Whilst I do want him to succeed in the halves, I just see so much lock forward in him.

... his deft ball skills as 1st receiver & ability to push our halves wider.
... ability to put the defence in two minds with his explosive running game off the mark & power in his little legs to break tackles.
... but probably more than anything, his defence & strength in the tackle/wrestle is exceptional.
... and he atm lacks a very good long & short kicking game which he will need as a half. That may come but I just haven't seen it.

Just an opinion and probably the unlikely plan.
Click to expand...
I’ve been thinking the same. Benji needs to work out before the players get back for preseason which one is half and which is lock and get as many reps there as possible
 
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