Apisalome Saukuru

[Glenji95]

We can’t afford to stuff up 2024 with the guys we brought in this year. If we don’t make finals with Api, Klem and Bateman we could easily slip back into another long period of dog shit.

We already have stuffed up 2024. Being 0-4 and very high chance we go to 0-8, we won’t be landing any major stars for 24. I reckon Api, Ipap, Klem and Bateman all wish they didn’t come here.

 

[Glenji95]

True these new recruits need to keep leading by example and make the others accountable for their own work rate and lack of the 1% plays that make all the difference to a games end result. Maybe then the whole team will look and play together. Still say the team needs a big ol team bonding piss-up.

It definitely need something.

 

[thegbone]

I'm more concerned about the likes of Reilly, Fainu, Simpkins who are all a long way from first grade.

The club has always gone for these types of players, often highly rated juniors who at 21 or so havent cracked it with their clubs so we think maybe we can do it for them. Sometimes we have a bit of luck like with a Balke Austin or Marty Taupau, but the majority of the time they end up completely usless like those ones mentioned.

Fainu is a ridiculous contrac. 3 years for a bloke who Manly didnt want thats never played first grade, seriously? Reilly, 2 year top 30 deal for a bloke who hasnt played league in 4 years and played no jnr reps? Both of these guys should be development at best, you arent fighting other clubs for them, why give them fulltime contracts? Tumeth should have been another year development, hes a guy you can risk losing when you have Bateman and Papalli as starting second rowers.

I get that you have to have some low end contracts to round out the salary cap, however you're much better off getting a mid 20s journeyman like a Jack Gosiewski, Jack Murchie, Billy Burns etc. At least these guys might do a job for 6 or 7 games a year off the bench. Blokes like Fainu etc will never get near a first grade 17.

 

[Glenji95]

The club has always gone for these types of players, often highly rated juniors who at 21 or so havent cracked it with their clubs so we think maybe we can do it for them. Sometimes we have a bit of luck like with a Balke Austin or Marty Taupau, but the majority of the time they end up completely usless like those ones mentioned.

Fainu is a ridiculous contrac. 3 years for a bloke who Manly didnt want thats never played first grade, seriously? Reilly, 2 year top 30 deal for a bloke who hasnt played league in 4 years and played no jnr reps? Both of these guys should be development at best, you arent fighting other clubs for them, why give them fulltime contracts? Tumeth should have been another year development, hes a guy you can risk losing when you have Bateman and Papalli as starting second rowers.

I get that you have to have some low end contracts to round out the salary cap, however you're much better off getting a mid 20s journeyman like a Jack Gosiewski, Jack Murchie, Billy Burns etc. At least these guys might do a job for 6 or 7 games a year off the bench. Blokes like Fainu etc will never get near a first grade 17.

The club wouldn’t even be able to sign Murchie, Burns or Gosiewski. Last years was and most likely be the only time the club will be able to say they recruited well. Unfortunately, they didn’t do enough.

 

[Odessa]

Can somebody tell me why we are wasting a top 30 spot on this bloke.He only plays jersey flegg not even koe .If he's a good prospect put him in the developement squad don't waste a top 30 spot

Because Canterbury came chasing and the Tiger's had to pay to keep him

 

[Needaname]

Sometimes to entice players to sign, they’ll get them to sign Development Contracts with guaranteed Top 30 options after a year or two in the Development squad. It’s a risk.

This is what happened with Lomi and it doesn’t look like it’s worked out.

We’d be just about the only club that does this.
Yet we don’t even put our major junior recruits like Cathane Hill, Herman T and Chris Faagatu into these positions.
We sign them on something contracts and expect them to love the tigers enough not to get home sick and stick around.
These ^ are the guys that should be on Dev contracts in our club.
It shows when you are recruiting them you are investing in their longevity.

 

[BlackWhiteGold]

Because Canterbury came chasing and the Tiger's had to pay to keep him

Really?! So we went hard to keep the 3 Saukuru brothers & 2 Fautimau brothers and likely only 1 will develop into a player (Solomone Saukuru), hopefully!