2026 squad - still not good enough

[bptiger 0]

Doubt it.

If the tigers let him go to another club , we are not serious about playing finals , it’s one spot that we just need to strengthen

 

[Buttface]

If the tigers let him go to another club , we are not serious about playing finals , it’s one spot that we just need to strengthen

Yeah I’m not a fan, but he plays lock. At the right contract price and short term 2 year max, then he could be handy.
We need an NRL run on 10 and 13 asap.

 

[Red88_Tiger]

Not a big fan of Elliot at lock. I would be ok with him in the front row rotation though

 

[Halbrowne61]

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

That’s why imo Benji will start with AD, coz he gives the team direction. The other guy will be 14.

 

[twentyforty]

100% All the talk was abt he was going to step out of Clearys shadow and run his own team and demanded the dollars for it. Im a fan of Luai and most people will call it negativity but he did not play any where near as i expected espiecially on last plays. No doubt hes been a major difference off field and culture but we are again talking abt having a player to lead us around a year later after spending over 1.2mil on that very thing. He needs to improve regardless whos playing half and i think this year settled at 6 he will have a better season, well im hoping even though i do believe its a lot of money for a number 6 that does very little leading the team around like a Moses.

There wasn’t a lot of info around Luai’s signing due to the clandestine nature surrounding meetings etc. it’s not clear to me who was pushing the 7 ? Was it Luai? Or Benji/Richo? Either way, the narrative was great for building fan expectations and excitement.

 

[TheEnz]

There wasn’t a lot of info around Luai’s signing due to the clandestine nature surrounding meetings etc. it’s not clear to me who was pushing the 7 ? Was it Luai? Or Benji/Richo? Either way, the narrative was great for building fan expectations and excitement.

Tbf Luai has worn 7 or 6 depending on what the team needs. If Latu can become that organising 7 than im fairly certain Luai will happily ply his trade at 6. I love AD however I still dont think he can be a consistent 7.

 

[crazycat]

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.

Unsure exactly what your point is...

But I think you are saying we paid Luai Halfback money. i.e. Nathan Cleary/DCE You steer the team around and get our attack flowing.

So if Luai goes back to just being a gun 5/8 then you argue we should ask for money back???

The club was ready to pay 1.2m for 4 years to Galvin at 5/8.
Munster is worth 1.2m, newcastle paid 1.something M for Dylan Brown for 10 years...

IMHO Luai is the better deal the Galvin or Brown.



That said, I agree we are not getting 1.2m value on the field. We are getting 1.2m leadership but not 1.2 worth of performance.

But the key question. Halfback and steering the plays aka Batman OR 5/8 and taking the opportunities when they come?

My answer is: If Luai is to be our permanent Halfback, we need a halfback coach. Benji was always a 5/8, a good 5/8 but a 5/8. He was never strategic but could simply outplay his opponents.
No one on the coaching staff is a dedicated halves coach. John Morris, Benji and Hodgson are not that. If we get a Johns, Maloney or someone (i.e. like Jason Taylor but not Jason Taylor) who can work Luai into a halfback then this will work.

Otherwise we may as well develop Luai into a perm 5/8.

 

[Tucker]

That said, I agree we are not getting 1.2m value on the field. We are getting 1.2m leadership but not 1.2 worth of performance.

What leadership?

 

[crazycat]

Could his past reputation still be keeping him on the nose.

Re Elliot.

Guys, 2 years ago maybe he would be a good signing. Heck 2025 I would have signed him in a heartbeat because of the people we had lost. 2025 we were so lucky to have Terrell May, otherwise we would have No pack.

Right now he played 7 games for Newcastle and they came last.

Unless he was going for min value, i.e. 130k a season or not much more. I wouldn't give him a look in.
I class him the same as Klemmer now. Great player in prime, past their used-by date.

 

[innsaneink]

We have a part time reggies coach, cant see us getting a dedicated halves coach