happy_tiger
Well-known member
Thank you Ssmuela ....now onto bigger and better things
Signings, Suggestions & Rumours Discussion
- Thread starter MacDougall
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Tiger_Fanatic3
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BlackWhiteGold
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NRL market watch: Benji Marshall completes Tigers puzzle as Samuela Fainu’s contract is confirmed
For a team often criticised for a lack of stability, Benji Marshall has the Wests Tigers’ future on solid ground as yet another star signs on for the long haul at Concord.
Tyson Jackson - October 22, 2026 - 4:00PM
The final piece in Benji Marshall’s puzzle is complete with Samuela Fainu signing a fresh deal with the Wests Tigers, keeping him at the club until the end of 2029.
After drawn-out contract negotiations, the Tigers finally got their man on a $1.6 million deal, which nearly completes Marshall’s five-month recruitment and retention drive.
Fainu knocked back interest from multiple rivals to stay loyal to the Tigers, where it’s believed he will one day captain the club.
“The club has looked after me, my family, and my brothers very well,” Fainu said.
“I love playing alongside these boys, so to get to do it for two more years makes me very excited about what’s to come. Benji Marshall values family and, for me, that’s one of the most important things in my life.
“He not only wants me to be the best footy player I can be, but he also wants me to be the best version of myself off the field, and that’s something that you can’t find in many places.”
The Tigers and Marshall went on a signing spree after five-eighth and captain Jarome Luai announced he would be joining the PNG Chiefs.
They first re-signed Terrell and Taylan May, before removing clauses out of fullback Jahream Bula’s contract to keep the trio at the club until the end of 2030.
Wingers Sunia Turuva (2030) and Heamasi Makasini (2029) quickly followed, before Marshall brought Junior Tupou back to the club as a stopgap until the end of 2027.
Jake Averillo was headhunted from the Dolphins to come as a centre until the end of 2030, with Jayden Brailey, Kurt Mann and Tyson Frizell all following suit on short-term deals.
In March, the Tigers showed faith to halfback Adam Doueihi on a three-year extension, while also investing in their younger stars, signing Solomone Saukuru and Tino Tavana to extended deals in the outside backs.
Alex Twal and Sione Fainu were extended in the pre-season until the end of 2029.
Now, five months after it looked as though the Tigers were set for another mass exodus which has plagued their development over the years, the club is in the most stable position it’s been in for a long time.
Samuela believes the club has prepared itself for long-term success.
“Within the group, we have achieved so much already. You can see the changes we’ve made, and I truly feel we are building towards something very special here,” Samuela said.
“As a player, I have learnt so much here and I know I still have more to learn, but I’m eager to lead and guide the younger boys next season.”
The club will turn its attention to Samuela’s brother Latu, who is yet to open contract negotiations with the club, but is desperate to stay.
Latu will battle Javon Andrews in the off-season to replace Luai in the club’s now-vacant No.6 jersey, while Averillo hasn’t given up hope on making a full-time move into the halves.
Marshall also has an ace up his sleeve in the form of Josh Schuster, who he handed a lifeline to last year, giving the promising half a train-and-trial deal after leaving the game for a period.
Schuster is another potential option to play five-eighth.
It is understood the club is on the verge of announcing its new coaching staff in the coming weeks, with Marshall looking to bring both Ryan Carr and Michael Crawley into the fold.
Marshall’s right-hand man Chris Heighington is also expected to be retained as a link between the coach and his players.
For a team often criticised for a lack of stability, Benji Marshall has the Wests Tigers’ future on solid ground as yet another star signs on for the long haul at Concord.
Tyson Jackson - October 22, 2026 - 4:00PM
The final piece in Benji Marshall’s puzzle is complete with Samuela Fainu signing a fresh deal with the Wests Tigers, keeping him at the club until the end of 2029.
After drawn-out contract negotiations, the Tigers finally got their man on a $1.6 million deal, which nearly completes Marshall’s five-month recruitment and retention drive.
Fainu knocked back interest from multiple rivals to stay loyal to the Tigers, where it’s believed he will one day captain the club.
“The club has looked after me, my family, and my brothers very well,” Fainu said.
“I love playing alongside these boys, so to get to do it for two more years makes me very excited about what’s to come. Benji Marshall values family and, for me, that’s one of the most important things in my life.
“He not only wants me to be the best footy player I can be, but he also wants me to be the best version of myself off the field, and that’s something that you can’t find in many places.”
The Tigers and Marshall went on a signing spree after five-eighth and captain Jarome Luai announced he would be joining the PNG Chiefs.
They first re-signed Terrell and Taylan May, before removing clauses out of fullback Jahream Bula’s contract to keep the trio at the club until the end of 2030.
Wingers Sunia Turuva (2030) and Heamasi Makasini (2029) quickly followed, before Marshall brought Junior Tupou back to the club as a stopgap until the end of 2027.
Jake Averillo was headhunted from the Dolphins to come as a centre until the end of 2030, with Jayden Brailey, Kurt Mann and Tyson Frizell all following suit on short-term deals.
In March, the Tigers showed faith to halfback Adam Doueihi on a three-year extension, while also investing in their younger stars, signing Solomone Saukuru and Tino Tavana to extended deals in the outside backs.
Alex Twal and Sione Fainu were extended in the pre-season until the end of 2029.
Now, five months after it looked as though the Tigers were set for another mass exodus which has plagued their development over the years, the club is in the most stable position it’s been in for a long time.
Samuela believes the club has prepared itself for long-term success.
“Within the group, we have achieved so much already. You can see the changes we’ve made, and I truly feel we are building towards something very special here,” Samuela said.
“As a player, I have learnt so much here and I know I still have more to learn, but I’m eager to lead and guide the younger boys next season.”
The club will turn its attention to Samuela’s brother Latu, who is yet to open contract negotiations with the club, but is desperate to stay.
Latu will battle Javon Andrews in the off-season to replace Luai in the club’s now-vacant No.6 jersey, while Averillo hasn’t given up hope on making a full-time move into the halves.
Marshall also has an ace up his sleeve in the form of Josh Schuster, who he handed a lifeline to last year, giving the promising half a train-and-trial deal after leaving the game for a period.
Schuster is another potential option to play five-eighth.
It is understood the club is on the verge of announcing its new coaching staff in the coming weeks, with Marshall looking to bring both Ryan Carr and Michael Crawley into the fold.
Marshall’s right-hand man Chris Heighington is also expected to be retained as a link between the coach and his players.
Yeah he tried chasing a premiership at the storm, maybe it will work at the rorters
Masterton
Well-known member
Jake Averillo was headhunted from the Dolphins to come as a centre
Someone should tell Averillo that.
Someone should tell Averillo that.
jrtiger
Well-known member
get Fonua sorted and we’re humming.
I’m really excited by Crawley coming in as Pathways Director. very well credentialed and experienced coach that doesn’t come from the usual Melbourne and Eastern Suburbs coaching trees or from the 05 clan.
got proper pathways experience too. knows what it takes to identify and develop players.
Anika's sock puppets have reported your disinformation and are deleting your posts. But that's ok, I've taken screen shots for Peta Credlin.
Buttface
Well-known member
Relying on others is the only way he will get there.
You Know Who
Well-known member
Great news about Samuela.
Not so great that nuffie, Heighnington, is considered the “right hand man” and even worse “a link between the coach and his players”.
If he kept playing the way he was he would have been NSW hooker for the past 3 years.
swag_tiger
Well-known member
Is it possible Samuela was the rep level forward we were in talks with and it was not going to be a new signing?
clontarfkid
Well-known member
Train and trial..$80k...
clontarfkid
Well-known member
Geez..I hope with got something more coming our way other than resigning a bunch of incumbents who got us to 16th,plus a cple of 35 yos who'se best days are well behind them
Need some quality to be finals bound
See Dragons and Eels,who have recruited genuine game changers
magpies forever
Well-known member
Agree. Samuela great, Heighington somewhat laughable. No public verifiable info on his worth and what he has done. I think there is a comment somewhere that Morris was the sacrificial lamb. Sure looks like it unless either Heighington or Hodgson are tapped on the shoulder but it's getting late for that.
Oscar Martinez
Well-known member
Close.
He'll be paying them and it will be added to their salary cap.
Journos will nod and say "nothing to see here".
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tiger05premier
Well-known member
That's true value right there
user118245
Well-known member
Maybe because they weren’t tryna giveaway the identity of who signed? It was a teaser clip wasn’t it
user118245
Well-known member
There’s some whispers with nanai atm but who knows
