2026 squad - still not good enough

[hammertime]

The Penrith Luai was more demanding and singled out players who didn’t toe the line. Have we seen much of that?

They'll claim bullying and go to the dogs.

 

[innsaneink]

We have around half of our top 30 who wouldn’t get a start at any other club. But it’s worth considering that Penrith have 5 of our rejects and still winning games?
Makes me wonder if our coaching is simply not good enough?
Our star recruit we wanted to turn into a halfback has been a failure considering his cap share. Why? It’s not totally his fault, he seems to be doing what he’s told.

Need to compare this to a few other rosters.

No doubt our systems arent at a par with Penriths and Ivan has a few more runs on the board than benji

 

[bptiger 0]

Need to compare this to a few other rosters.

No doubt our systems arent at a par with Penriths and Ivan has a few more runs on the board than benji

I have said this many times , luai is not a 1/2 back , he is a runner , he creates his own space , he needs a 1/2 back who can direct the team around the park , and the one piece of the puzzle we are missing is a ball playing lock , that’s what Penrith have , and that we need , NOW

 

[crazycat]

Hello,

So after thinking about how you can structure a salary cap, I figured it was worth looking at our 2026 squad to see how it matches up (based the "how many players ideal" on the calculation in this thread: https://weststigersforum.com/threads/managing-the-salary-cap.36713/#post-2168078).

Long story short - as things stand - our 2026 squad is definetly an improvement on this year, but still too "bottom heavy". Have assumed Jayden Sullivan is moving on, and we are resigning Taylan May. The rest of the names I've taken from the NRL website. The ratings is based on how they rate compared to other players in their respective position. Room for debate on that front I appreciate.

4 players left by this calculation - ideally all four would be average NRL players or above, but that's probably a tall order.

View attachment 26515

Your table literally spells out what I have been thinking.
We need top shelf players aka elite players.

I feel there is a difference between above average and good.

Api was elite in 2024, probably only above average now. Were keeping him no arguments.
Luai is probably our only 'elite' player and even then he is a little debateable about how Elite he is ( Luai can be a gun and has been a total gun in the past, he can also cruise games*).

Bula is in the 'good' category. Very above average for NRL standard. Perhaps only average for Fullbacks.


Agreed, though were bottom heavy. Compared to 2024 though we have increased our top level players...

Which is why I say:
NO MORE DEPTH!

Save your cap. Buy players that are at the good/elite level or if cap spots are present, min wagers.
It seems far easier to turn a below average player to average, then to turn a good player to elite.

*is this him cruising games OR when the opposition mark someone they can't do their stuff? We see Reece Walsh go silent, yet during the grand final it seems Reynolds and Hunt were marked, maybe allowing Reece to run riot.

 

[twentyforty]

I have said this many times , luai is not a 1/2 back , he is a runner , he creates his own space , he needs a 1/2 back who can direct the team around the park , and the one piece of the puzzle we are missing is a ball playing lock , that’s what Penrith have , and that we need , NOW

And a couple of middles who look after the 7. Give him some time.

 

[crazycat]

I think the odds are firming that Spencer will gracefully depart from the roosters in the offseason. seems to be the odd one out in that team.

He would be a good pickup and a known combination with Terrell May


Ofcourse were dreaming. Had we expressed and gotten interest in a swap before the DCE signing, then with cap pressure this could have happened.

Ill also note the Roosters could recover from the loss of two Elite centers with two replacements, an elite winger in Mark Nawa and an elite Center in Robert Toia... How they find these guys?

 

[LeichhardtTiger]

He would be a good pickup and a known combination with Terrell May


Ofcourse were dreaming. Had we expressed and gotten interest in a swap before the DCE signing, then with cap pressure this could have happened.

Ill also note the Roosters could recover from the loss of two Elite centers with two replacements, an elite winger in Mark Nawa and an elite Center in Robert Toia... How they find these guys?

In aisle 10 at Kemeny's Liquor Store on Bondi Road? Sorry, someone spiked my cornflakes! 🍷 🎄🎄🎄🤪

 

[upthetigers]

Your table literally spells out what I have been thinking.
We need top shelf players aka elite players.

I feel there is a difference between above average and good.

Api was elite in 2024, probably only above average now. Were keeping him no arguments.
Luai is probably our only 'elite' player and even then he is a little debateable about how Elite he is ( Luai can be a gun and has been a total gun in the past, he can also cruise games*).

Bula is in the 'good' category. Very above average for NRL standard. Perhaps only average for Fullbacks.


Agreed, though were bottom heavy. Compared to 2024 though we have increased our top level players...

Which is why I say:
NO MORE DEPTH!

Save your cap. Buy players that are at the good/elite level or if cap spots are present, min wagers.
It seems far easier to turn a below average player to average, then to turn a good player to elite.

*is this him cruising games OR when the opposition mark someone they can't do their stuff? We see Reece Walsh go silent, yet during the grand final it seems Reynolds and Hunt were marked, maybe allowing Reece to run riot.

This is probably a terrible idea, but Luai came to the tigers to run the show. If as expected he goes back to being a 5/8, he should give 200k/year back to the club so we can afford an elite player. Yes, Luai has helped changed the culture at the club, but he's not the only player to have done this.

 

[Rock Hopper Steve]

In aisle 10 at Kemeny's Liquor Store on Bondi Road? Sorry, someone spiked my cornflakes! 🍷 🎄🎄🎄🤪

Did you have a big night L lol.

 

[Rock Hopper Steve]

This is probably a terrible idea, but Luai came to the tigers to run the show. If as expected he goes back to being a 5/8, he should give 200k/year back to the club so we can afford an elite player. Yes, Luai has helped changed the culture at the club, but he's not the only player to have done this.

Have to agree mate his pay packet is usually saved for the elite, good luck prising it back though, stuck with the inflated contract for as long as he stays you would think.

 

[twentyforty]

This is probably a terrible idea, but Luai came to the tigers to run the show. If as expected he goes back to being a 5/8, he should give 200k/year back to the club so we can afford an elite player. Yes, Luai has helped changed the culture at the club, but he's not the only player to have done this.

Luai is a great player, and I love him in the team, Panthers made a very good offer to try keeping him at $850k for 2 years. We had no choice but to offer him the halfback loading, the lead domino loading and the long term contract. He turns 29 mid January, and the decisions are his.