Signings, Suggestions & Rumours Discussion

I think that deep down we all want Bula to stay optimistically hoping he can back up in attack more and improve his fragile defense.

But if his D wad manager is pushing for multiple years @ 900k or higher, do we pay that.

Richo's sure to have a ceiling on the deal and there could be a stalemate happening now hence the deafening silence, oh apart from A wipe whipping up the media.
 
Journey man, career lower grader.

Naden, Staines and Lobb gone... we get this guy.

Just glad he's a cup contract.
Why get rid of Staines then? Staines was a reliable back up, good defender and if he was outside better centres would have been a more potent attacker. It seems this Parra & Souths reject just can't crack it in first grade, can't see him making our top team anytime soon....unless we have a bad run with injuries.
 
Galvin is very much the opposite of Luai...

Luai knows when to go quiet and hang back. Galvin makes himself the center of attention and is used to being able to physically punch through.

GI was one of the best at knowing how to do this. Yes some games he dominated, but he could wait for the right moment and pounce. Munster was trained at Melbourne to read the play, play your part and know when to pounce... All Centers and 5/8's not halfbacks.
Andrew Johns was the best at choosing his moments....would almost be invisible for 60mins just steering the ship (at 7) and would then put on a clinic for 20mins.
 
I think that deep down we all want Bula to stay optimistically hoping he can back up in attack more and improve his fragile defense.

But if his D wad manager is pushing for multiple years @ 900k or higher, do we pay that.

Richo's sure to have a ceiling on the deal and there could be a stalemate happening now hence the deafening silence, oh apart from A wipe whipping up the media.
would any other club be dumb enough to pay $900k is the question. I doubt it. Problem is that other clubs can incentivise in other ways.
 
Why get rid of Staines then? Staines was a reliable back up, good defender and if he was outside better centres would have been a more potent attacker. It seems this Parra & Souths reject just can't crack it in first grade, can't see him making our top team anytime soon....unless we have a bad run with injuries.
Probably cost too much money.
This Lehmann guy probably a fraction of the price and isn't taking a top 30 spot.
 
Wondering about KMapz an Izaac T
This may be a sneaky insight but it looks like the club is in the process of updating the player profiles on the website with departing players removed (i.e. Staines, Naden & co) however KMapz remains.

 
Why get rid of Staines then? Staines was a reliable back up, good defender and if he was outside better centres would have been a more potent attacker. It seems this Parra & Souths reject just can't crack it in first grade, can't see him making our top team anytime soon....unless we have a bad run with injuries.
Hes cheap..but agree we shouldve kept staines if he was happy to stay
 
Why get rid of Staines then? Staines was a reliable back up, good defender and if he was outside better centres would have been a more potent attacker. It seems this Parra & Souths reject just can't crack it in first grade, can't see him making our top team anytime soon....unless we have a bad run with injuries.
Costs way to much. I like Staines as a bloke and a player but he is everything that was wrong with this clubs cap management the last few years. We reportedly paid him 500k his first season then extended him for 2 more at likely about 300k to do a role a train and trialist should be doing. Would likely not have been retained without offering a top 30 contract given he had options overseas.
 
I think that deep down we all want Bula to stay optimistically hoping he can back up in attack more and improve his fragile defense.

But if his D wad manager is pushing for multiple years @ 900k or higher, do we pay that.

Richo's sure to have a ceiling on the deal and there could be a stalemate happening now hence the deafening silence, oh apart from A wipe whipping up the media.
Who do you sign to replace him in the next 12 months to replace him that is an upgrade ......that is the $64000 question
 
Who do you sign to replace him in the next 12 months to replace him that is an upgrade ......that is the $64000 question
Think what Richo would do is hold firm on what his assessed value offer is and if Bula doesn't accept it then trigger the club option for 1 year.

That gives him 2 years to find a worthy replacement and only has to cough up the inflated 900k for one year which in my opinion is overpriced.
 
https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/s...s/news-story/95f1df07df2175d2c8986c2d098b177e

Wests Tigers’ stunning improvement sees club make first profit in 10-years

The Wests Tigers jumped off the bottom of the ladder in 2025, but their dramatic improvement has been eclipsed by their performance off the field, making a profit for the first time in 10-years.

Michael Carayannis and Brent Read
less than 2 min read
November 6, 2025 - 2:00PM

The Wests Tigers’ dramatic improvement on the field has been eclipsed by a stunning turnaround off it as the club reports a profit for the first time in more than a decade on the back of surging revenues and soaring crowds.
Sport Confidential can reveal that the Tigers increased their overall revenues this season by $3 million and had a million-dollar jump in sponsorship under chief executive Shane Richardson.

The club’s playing kit also increased by 40 per cent and they reported a significant rise in corporate hospitality as they finally enjoyed some success after years of disappointment.

Throw in an increase in membership and a 45 per cent lift in crowds and the Tigers have started to turn the corner off the field.

Richardson confirmed the club had returned a profit in 2025 after losing $5.5 million in the previous two seasons – their profit margin was even greater when they factored in the club’s share of the spoils from the federal government in the wake of Papua New Guinea’s addition to the competition.

Every club in the game is due to receive $1.75 million from the NRL this year, the first of five payments totalling $4 million over the next four years.

The Tigers made huge strides on the field as well as they won nine games and kept the finals flame flickering for much of the year.

They eventually finished in 13th spot, which represented a dramatic lift in their fortunes after three successive wooden spoons.

“The club is obviously on the way up on and off the field,” Richardson said.

“We’re really looking forward to what we can do next year.”
 
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