Jahream Bula #269

[Tim Sheens]

I keep my posts generally rare in this forum but I did want to say that I don't like the way a lot of people in this forum approach contract negotiations like this.

The insulting of Bula, the suggestion we should let him go straight away, the insinuation that we have juniors who can replace him or (the worst) the suggestion that we put in our best rookie in a generation (who is a centre) into fullback. Lets be clear:

1. Losing Bula would be a disaster - he has been our best fullback prospect (by far) since Tedesco and has heaps of growth in him - just look at the games last year with and without him. Anyone who follows footy can see we are easily a better side with his threat
2. We will not be able to find a suitable replacement for him in the near future. I have watched enough junior games to know Logan Brookes is not the answer, nor is Attard (the Panthers rarely let the good ones go - Katoa excepted). On the free market pickings are even slimmer and suggestions like Purdue (a centre who wants to play 5/8th) beggar belief
3. We NEED to pay overs for players. There is so much stink around us as a club due to those idiots at HBG that any good player manager knows they can get more out of us. Without saying too much I work in the legal field and am around many of the player managers and the fact is players don't want to pay for an unstable team unless its for money. Although - I will say the feedback on Benji (sans Isaac Moses) is very positive, the players adore him. The important thing is that people understand what a big contract is for a player of Bula's quality. 1 million now is not 1 million 5 years ago. With the rate of projected growth in the salary cap it will not be long before we have our first 2 million dollar player. For the player I think Bula will be we should pay whatever he asks for.

I understand that people are upset that this is happening again. I am as well. But we need to do what it takes to sign Bula and if we cannot do that jump on the option so we have 2 years to find his replacement. This Tigers team is a top 8 side, who knows maybe a good year will be enough to convince him to say but more importantly it will give Benji some breathing room and time to sign someone who will be our long-term fullback.

Apologies for the rambles.

Ramble on.

 

[JC99]

I keep my posts generally rare in this forum but I did want to say that I don't like the way a lot of people in this forum approach contract negotiations like this.

The insulting of Bula, the suggestion we should let him go straight away, the insinuation that we have juniors who can replace him or (the worst) the suggestion that we put in our best rookie in a generation (who is a centre) into fullback. Lets be clear:

1. Losing Bula would be a disaster - he has been our best fullback prospect (by far) since Tedesco and has heaps of growth in him - just look at the games last year with and without him. Anyone who follows footy can see we are easily a better side with his threat
2. We will not be able to find a suitable replacement for him in the near future. I have watched enough junior games to know Logan Brookes is not the answer, nor is Attard (the Panthers rarely let the good ones go - Katoa excepted). On the free market pickings are even slimmer and suggestions like Purdue (a centre who wants to play 5/8th) beggar belief
3. We NEED to pay overs for players. There is so much stink around us as a club due to those idiots at HBG that any good player manager knows they can get more out of us. Without saying too much I work in the legal field and am around many of the player managers and the fact is players don't want to pay for an unstable team unless its for money. Although - I will say the feedback on Benji (sans Isaac Moses) is very positive, the players adore him. The important thing is that people understand what a big contract is for a player of Bula's quality. 1 million now is not 1 million 5 years ago. With the rate of projected growth in the salary cap it will not be long before we have our first 2 million dollar player. For the player I think Bula will be we should pay whatever he asks for.

I understand that people are upset that this is happening again. I am as well. But we need to do what it takes to sign Bula and if we cannot do that jump on the option so we have 2 years to find his replacement. This Tigers team is a top 8 side, who knows maybe a good year will be enough to convince him to say but more importantly it will give Benji some breathing room and time to sign someone who will be our long-term fullback.

Apologies for the rambles.

Absolutely nailed it mate. Every point I agree with fully.

 

[Chunk]

I keep my posts generally rare in this forum but I did want to say that I don't like the way a lot of people in this forum approach contract negotiations like this.

The insulting of Bula, the suggestion we should let him go straight away, the insinuation that we have juniors who can replace him or (the worst) the suggestion that we put in our best rookie in a generation (who is a centre) into fullback. Lets be clear:

1. Losing Bula would be a disaster - he has been our best fullback prospect (by far) since Tedesco and has heaps of growth in him - just look at the games last year with and without him. Anyone who follows footy can see we are easily a better side with his threat
2. We will not be able to find a suitable replacement for him in the near future. I have watched enough junior games to know Logan Brookes is not the answer, nor is Attard (the Panthers rarely let the good ones go - Katoa excepted). On the free market pickings are even slimmer and suggestions like Purdue (a centre who wants to play 5/8th) beggar belief
3. We NEED to pay overs for players. There is so much stink around us as a club due to those idiots at HBG that any good player manager knows they can get more out of us. Without saying too much I work in the legal field and am around many of the player managers and the fact is players don't want to pay for an unstable team unless its for money. Although - I will say the feedback on Benji (sans Isaac Moses) is very positive, the players adore him. The important thing is that people understand what a big contract is for a player of Bula's quality. 1 million now is not 1 million 5 years ago. With the rate of projected growth in the salary cap it will not be long before we have our first 2 million dollar player. For the player I think Bula will be we should pay whatever he asks for.

I understand that people are upset that this is happening again. I am as well. But we need to do what it takes to sign Bula and if we cannot do that jump on the option so we have 2 years to find his replacement. This Tigers team is a top 8 side, who knows maybe a good year will be enough to convince him to say but more importantly it will give Benji some breathing room and time to sign someone who will be our long-term fullback.

Apologies for the rambles.

No doubt he has plenty of potential but there are still a few question marks regarding his game, so are you going to commit to a massive contract on trust and hope.

We can pay overs for players like Luai because he's proven but Bula is not proven, I think he needs to show more.

I think he needs to improve his intensity with his running game, willingness to get tackled hard and defence.

He seems to just float around and gets involved occasionally, if he can pick up his intensity and consistency then he's worth a million bucks. Lets see in a few of months time.

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[EllisFan]

No doubt he has plenty of potential but there are still a few question marks regarding his game, so are you going to commit to a massive contract on trust and hope.

We can pay overs for players like Luai because he's proven but Bula is not proven, I think he needs to show more.

I think he needs to improve his intensity with his running game, willingness to get tackled hard and defence.

He seems to just float around and gets involved occasionally, if he can pick up his intensity and consistency then he's worth a million bucks. Lets see in a few of months time.

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I think until we’re entrenched as a top eight side, spine players in particular we will have to pay a 15% premium on. So Bula on a million for us is really around 850. I agree with point being made by the OP whole heartedly.

Bula is far from perfect, but Walsh was an error machine in 2025, and his reputation proceeds him.

The Bula signing is big for us.

 

[HUNT 101]

We started well last year and Galvin still left. This club does the same thing over and over again and hopes for a different result.

Nar... Galvin was a cancer and had to be cut out asap it was a distraction and screwed all the pre season combinations be he wanted to go..

 

[Tim Sheens]

No doubt he has plenty of potential but there are still a few question marks regarding his game, so are you going to commit to a massive contract on trust and hope.

We can pay overs for players like Luai because he's proven but Bula is not proven, I think he needs to show more.

I think he needs to improve his intensity with his running game, willingness to get tackled hard and defence.

He seems to just float around and gets involved occasionally, if he can pick up his intensity and consistency then he's worth a million bucks. Lets see in a few of months time.

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Which to me says that we take up the supposed $900k option for next year that ends shortly, let Jahream and Moses sort out any commission, then worry about the rest later in the year.

 

[mtd#2]

The club should’ve organised a replacement months ago they are so short sighted

Any mail mate? Or just a gut feel

 

[mtd#2]

Isn't the timing incredibly convenient with some of these news stories, the week of our first game.. has to be a Moses special leaking it to his mates in the media

 

[Yossarian]

Dragons seem like the new us. Every second week there seems to be an article about them getting ready to spend big money on some player. I like Bula and I hope he stays but if you’re eyeing off a promising guy months before he’s available as your long term solution, there’s some issues.

 

[Tucker]

Nar... Galvin was a cancer and had to be cut out asap it was a distraction and screwed all the pre season combinations be he wanted to go..

How was he a cancer?
Kid always tried when playing for us even though he didn’t want to stay here.
He was horribly managed by all of the adults around him.

 

[GNR4LIFE]

Nar... Galvin was a cancer and had to be cut out asap it was a distraction and screwed all the pre season combinations be he wanted to go..

Funny. No one ever considered him as one until they did. If Bula signs somewhere else, how long before he’s a cancer too?

 

[Tiger_Yoshi]

Funny. No one ever considered him as one until they did. If Bula signs somewhere else, how long before he’s a cancer too?

He already is pre-canerous

 

[innsaneink]

Funny. No one ever considered him as one until they did. If Bula signs somewhere else, how long before he’s a cancer too?

Man....its footy.
Your either with us or against us

 

[HUNT 101]

How was he a cancer?
Kid always tried when playing for us even though he didn’t want to stay here.
He was horribly managed by all of the adults around him.

Was he really trying though 100% ? I'm not there 24-7 , but off the field is where the cancer was... The fact all your team mates know deep down your not all in your 80% in if that , his mind wasn't 100% Tigers...

 

[TIGERS]

How was he a cancer?
Kid always tried when playing for us even though he didn’t want to stay here.
He was horribly managed by all of the adults around him.

The man gave his agent a 24 point list about how terrible our coaching and training program was. An 18 year old writing down things to dob about while playing alongside 2 senior rep players in the spine with 7 premierships rings to share around in first grade. Glad he's gone!

The list was that stupid Richo wouldn't even let it be read out in full. He ended the meeting with Moses on the spot. Galvin dobbed on the club, to his agent, because he thinks we're sh1t and wanted a move. Cancer. Where were you in 2016 when Pascoe was hiring untrained coaches full time because Isaac Moses told him to,

He's a professional rugby league player not an infant. We copped a spoon giving match time to learn his trade and he fekd off. We are a better club without him here. It's weird you would want to defend him on this forum.

 

[TIGERS]

Man....its footy.
Your either with us or against us

Yep more of that please.

 

[TIGERS]

I think re-signing Bula for the extra 200k at this point would be worth more than the usual brand damage done to the club by it becoming a media rumor podcaster circus. I much prefer when we are out of the limelight. It's one more year. I've watched Russell packer and Josh Reynolds getting rich at this club, I can handle some extra dosh for Bula.

Also, the extension is our option, we put it there. It was our call. I wouldn't forsake 200k in 12 months without being certain. Especially you've just watch the guy you're negotiating with have to resign. My personal preference would be for 2026 and 2027 being this core team sticking together and see what happens then, its still to early to tell.