as to why a good player / upcoming player would want to join the WT?
Seriously..I can understand the young player looking for a start (but if talented it could happen with any club, within reason) ..but without being flippant, or negative, what would entice a good player to join us, apart from $$?
What exactly do we offer to attract talent?
An open question, not sure there is an answer.
@tiger-heart that is actually a very good question.
What existing benefits would attract a player to WT?
I really can’t see many to be honest. There is the opportunity to play nrl, which could attract a good offer from another club, or prolong your career on reasonable remuneration.
What do I think would attract players if it was seen to be a certainty benefit?
ENHANCED REPUTATION.
When a player can be seen by peers and fans as being better simply by wearing a team jersey then you know your club is successful. What are we doing right now to enhance the reputation of our players? This is the question all WT employees should be answering.
It took years before Braith would even admit to being contracted at the Tigers. Another who prolonged his career at high cost to WT.
We should stamp it on the arm of everyone at the club until it becomes reality.
Wests Tigers , enhancing players reputations.
Yeah you could get the same at 13 other clubs ...and not be a 250 -1 shot of winning the title and 20-1 shot of even making the 8 .....
You can get the same enhanced reputation at 13 clubs? I disagree Hap. imo only the chooks and Storm have that benefit. OK, sure Benji has been puffing his chest out since joining the Bunnies, so to some extent the Bunnies have that benefit but not in spades like chooks and Storm. Did you think Benji was a better player when you first saw him in a Souths jersey?
I don’t think Panthers have that reputation building benefit about them after hitting 17 wins straight and looking hot favourites to hold up the Provan Summons trophy. They don’t have the same John west look about them, but maybe they’re on their way? So, it doesn’t necessarily coexist with winning. I see winning as a consequence of doing everything else. Being able to do the right thing at the right time without thinking etc.
Put yourself in the shoes of any NRL player
Why would you choose the WT's over the other 15 clubs
Career wise ......imagine how many more risks you'd have physically and mentally trying to get us to a premiership than you would any of Top 6 clubs alone
It isn't worth it for a player wanting to play SOO ,Tests Dally M awards etc
I'll be honest , for us to sign a Top 5 player we will need to attract at least 5 Top 50 players beforehand .....and that will be hard enough
Even then we only become a Top 6 side ......
I don't even think we currently have a Top 50 player .....
yes Hap I value and respect your opinion,however one point I would like to make is that apart from internal tensions,what Madge is doing with the young players and developing a solid pathway,we can produce our own top players from within...Many teams do rely on buying marquee players with vasts amount of money including us,but it hasnt worked here over the few seasons and we must develop our young players...
To me we have suffered enough with recruitment and coaches trying to buy success,Madge is trying to create success on our terms,granted we are in a muddle at the moment but I honestly think it will succeed in the long run...it will take time,effort and pain but we will come out on top...
sacking coaches.paying huge overs,buying crocks hasnt got us anything except heartache...
I think we should give Hartigan and Madge the time they are here for to get us where we need to be...in the finals...I think we are heading in the right direction apart for a few hurdles that we need to get over and one of those is to get some wins...