Isaiah Papali’i #265

[GNR4LIFE]

I think this is a great signing. It relieves the pressure valve and shows we can sign good players. I’m also loving the fact we got one over Parra and all the media pressure is on them now because of poor recruitment strategies.

And their supporters are flipping out

 

[innsaneink]

Disappointed its not next year... Good signing I think we'll done whoever... Wazza Macca?

 

[Russell]

Sheens refused to take credit for getting the Papali’i deal over the line, and praised coach Michael Maguire for flagging the 23-year-old who can play on an edge or in the middle in the first place. Maguire will also relish the chance to work with Papali’i with New Zealand at next year’s World Cup.

and

While Sheens may have clinched the deal, even he acknowledged much of the work was done before he arrived back in the country.

Sheens said his predecessor Adam Hartigan got the ball rolling and Papali’i was understood to be attracted to playing under Michael Maguire again.

Nice to see credit, where credit is due.

 

[Tiger_Fanatic3]

‘The kid can play’: Sheens says Papali’i will have huge impact on Tigers
By Christian Nicolussi
Timestamp
November 18, 2021

Wests Tigers director of football Tim Sheens says Isaiah Papali’i will be the first and last Eels player the club targets after he joined them on a three-year deal worth just under $2 million from 2023.

Sheens said Papali’i was someone who would “improve our football team on and off the field”, but there was next to no chance of him heading to Concord early in time for the 2022 season.

Sheens refused to take credit for getting the Papali’i deal over the line, and praised coach Michael Maguire for flagging the 23-year-old who can play on an edge or in the middle in the first place. Maguire will also relish the chance to work with Papali’i with New Zealand at next year’s World Cup.

“Isaiah is someone who had a breakout year on the field, and while we won’t see him until 2023, it’s a move in the right direction for us,” Sheens told the Herald. “He’s a student of the game and the kid can clearly play.

“As far as I can see, Isaiah will improve our football team and a player who will have an influence on our team, on and off the field.”

https://www.smh.com.au/sport/nrl/sheens-lands-first-signing-with-papali-i-to-join-tigers-from-eels-20211118-p59a3v.html

 

[palms]

All hail the Messiah, Isaiah Papali'i!

 

[Tigerwould]

Wests Tigers director of football Tim Sheens says Isaiah Papali’i will be the first and last Eels player the club targets after he joined them on a three-year deal worth just under $2 million from 2023.

I’m definitely reading too much into the Sheens quote above. But its very interesting he would say this.

“First and last Eels player”
Is Sheens playing mind games with Parra? (Or head games as Roy&HG would say)

I wonder how that line from Sheens was delivered.
If there was emphasise on the “will be” a long pause after it.
Hinting if they play nice , maybe early release or a player swap we might not go after any others.

 

[mikey]

Good signing that should deliver.

 

[GNR4LIFE]

Wait, you telling me this wasn’t a dream?

 

[TheDaBoss]

www.youtube.com/watch?v=LsFUY4a3rR0

 

[weststigerman]

I just hope we have better luck with this biblical name than we had from “Moses”.

 

[tig_prmz]

Someone mentioned here that he's had one good year which is technically true but that one good year was worth giving him a massive contract. If we didn't, another club who wanted an edge forward would have.

I hope that people don't turn on the football staff even if this signing doesn't work out. We turned on the staff when Reynolds, Mbye and Parker didn't work out but if you look back to the threads of their signing, most people were just as supportive of the signings as they are of Papali'i.

I also wish that when Sheens was asked if there is any chance he can come in 2022, he should've had a sarcastic comment that "we like our players and coaches to honour their contract" .. swiping at Moses and Matterson.

 

[cochise]

Credit where credit is due, this is a massive signing, Tim Sheens hits the ground running.

 

[twentyforty]

Credit where credit is due, this is a massive signing, Tim Sheens hits the ground running.

That’s the simplistic view, and while I agree, it doesn’t give credit to the hard work done by those who made it possible by balancing our cap. It was 2 or 3 seasons of hard slog under enormous difficulty, not made any easier by angry fans and media criticism. It’s almost like giving credit to the winger who made 1 tackle in the game and crossed for the winning try unmarked.

 

[kratos]

Someone mentioned here that he's had one good year which is technically true but that one good year was worth giving him a massive contract. If we didn't, another club who wanted an edge forward would have.

I hope that people don't turn on the football staff even if this signing doesn't work out. We turned on the staff when Reynolds, Mbye and Parker didn't work out but if you look back to the threads of their signing, most people were just as supportive of the signings as they are of Papali'i.

I also wish that when Sheens was asked if there is any chance he can come in 2022, he should've had a sarcastic comment that "we like our players and coaches to honour their contract" .. swiping at Moses and Matterson.

I think 400-600k is asking price for a backrower whi is just about average and if he plays at 80% then it's still worth that contract. Problem with Reynolds, mbye and packer was we paid massive overs for their contracts

 

[cochise]

Credit where credit is due, this is a massive signing, Tim Sheens hits the ground running.


That’s the simplistic view, and while I agree, it doesn’t give credit to the hard work done by those who made it possible by balancing our cap. It was 2 or 3 seasons of hard slog under enormous difficulty, not made any easier by angry fans and media criticism. It’s almost like giving credit to the winger who made 1 tackle in the game and crossed for the winning try unmarked.

I agree fully but that is not a conversation worth having on here at present.

 

[bigsiro]

Fantastic signing!

Arguably the best piece of recruitment in recent memory.
Well done Tigers and management for making this happen.

 

[AdelaideTiger]

We showed last year sometimes you need to go all in and pay a bit more to get the player. We were too conservative last year and got noone.

Whilst we not offering stupid money for a player like mbye or Reynolds this bloke has plenty upside and we can afford it

The right type of player will always outplay his contract value, barring injury. I think Papa is one.

We haven't paid stupid money either. We've paid good money but not stupid.

Fifita is on 1 million +. Is Fifita a better player ?

Yes he is.

I don’t think he is. I think Fifita is terribly overrated.

Goes missing a lot and is very ineffective without the ball. Titans payed way way too much.

 

[avocadoontoast]

We showed last year sometimes you need to go all in and pay a bit more to get the player. We were too conservative last year and got noone.

Whilst we not offering stupid money for a player like mbye or Reynolds this bloke has plenty upside and we can afford it

The right type of player will always outplay his contract value, barring injury. I think Papa is one.

We haven't paid stupid money either. We've paid good money but not stupid.

Fifita is on 1 million +. Is Fifita a better player ?

Yes he is.

I don’t think he is. I think Fifita is terribly overrated.

Goes missing a lot and is very ineffective without the ball. Titans payed way way too much.

He's a bit of a flat track bully.

 

[pawsandclaws1]

We showed last year sometimes you need to go all in and pay a bit more to get the player. We were too conservative last year and got noone.

Whilst we not offering stupid money for a player like mbye or Reynolds this bloke has plenty upside and we can afford it

The right type of player will always outplay his contract value, barring injury. I think Papa is one.

We haven't paid stupid money either. We've paid good money but not stupid.

Fifita is on 1 million +. Is Fifita a better player ?

Yes he is.

I don’t think he is. I think Fifita is terribly overrated.

Goes missing a lot and is very ineffective without the ball. Titans payed way way too much.

He's a bit of a flat track bully.

He played an outstanding game when play from the interchange so he can provide maximum impact. To me, Garner and Leilua are similar types of impact forwards if played from the interchange.

 

[avocadoontoast]

We showed last year sometimes you need to go all in and pay a bit more to get the player. We were too conservative last year and got noone.

Whilst we not offering stupid money for a player like mbye or Reynolds this bloke has plenty upside and we can afford it

The right type of player will always outplay his contract value, barring injury. I think Papa is one.

We haven't paid stupid money either. We've paid good money but not stupid.

Fifita is on 1 million +. Is Fifita a better player ?

Yes he is.

I don’t think he is. I think Fifita is terribly overrated.

Goes missing a lot and is very ineffective without the ball. Titans payed way way too much.

He's a bit of a flat track bully.

He played an outstanding game when play from the interchange so he can provide maximum impact. To me, Garner and Leilua are similar types of impact forwards if played from the interchange.

I was talking about Fifita. I think he's a bit overrated.