Jahream Bula #269

[Telltails]

It's not about him being a player without weaknesses. It's about this club building a competitive squad and retaining players to make that happen.
There are some players that you have to back and if we let him go there is very little to suggest that we can replace him with anyone better or equal - whether we pay less or more.
I saw enough last year to show we are better with him than without him and at 23 I have no doubt he is not close to reaching his ceiling.

 

[Vicious]

It's not about him being a player without weaknesses. It's about this club building a competitive squad and retaining players to make that happen.
There are some players that you have to back and if we let him go there is very little to suggest that we can replace him with anyone better or equal - whether we pay less or more.
I saw enough last year to show we are better with him than without him and at 23 I have no doubt he is not close to reaching his ceiling.

You could sign Jaxon Purdue for a million dollars per season and he is on the verge of becoming a genuine superstar of the game.
Signing players to million dollar per season contracts who are good players, but not genuine superstars will not get you far and will certainly not give the team that does that any opportunity of winning a premiership and I thought that was the main aim ?

 

[Telltails]

You could sign Jaxon Purdue for a million dollars per season and he is on the verge of becoming a genuine superstar of the game.
Signing players to million dollar per season contracts who are good players, but not genuine superstars will not get you far and will certainly not give the team that does that any opportunity of winning a premiership and I thought that was the main aim ?

You can identify "genuine superstars" from other systems but actually getting them to sign with this club is the challenge. We have being doing that for years and have been treading water while players we have had in our systems find success elsewhere.

 

[Tom Shines]

If you truly think we can afford to pay Bula 900k plus to re-sign him, entrust him to be our regular game breaker and match winner at NRL level and be a premiership winning contender than I’m happy for it, but I cannot see that being a reality.

In your opinion ,,,You can’t read the future ..and you have been wrong before ..I keep saying this to people that make these kind of proclamations..he is 23 and played around 50 games …we don’t know his ceiling yet

People have got to live in reality sometimes ,… they inherited this situation regarding Bula’s contract …fair play to Bula’s previous manager doing a good job for his client …but I doubt Richo would have played it that way ..unfortunately the Management now have to make a difficult call that some now gone administrator come up with

The option is 1 year only …try to get a deal done but if he won’t agree than pull the trigger and buy yourself more time to see if he improves and/or to find a Plan B.. what’s the additional cost - $100k ? How much are they paying for Bud Sullivan to play at Souths …much more than that..

At the very least Bula is a handy player that at the moment is our best attacking option ..

 

[Tom Shines]

You could sign Jaxon Purdue for a million dollars per season and he is on the verge of becoming a genuine superstar of the game.
Signing players to million dollar per season contracts who are good players, but not genuine superstars will not get you far and will certainly not give the team that does that any opportunity of winning a premiership and I thought that was the main aim ?

He , like any other player you mention, has gotta want to come here …and he might have other options

 

[Buttface]

You could sign Jaxon Purdue for a million dollars per season and he is on the verge of becoming a genuine superstar of the game.
Signing players to million dollar per season contracts who are good players, but not genuine superstars will not get you far and will certainly not give the team that does that any opportunity of winning a premiership and I thought that was the main aim ?

I think I get what you’re saying, the salary cap and player contract values are always a balance.
I haven’t watched a lot of other teams this season but I don’t think Jaxon plays fullback, he’s been playing 5/8 or centre? Or are you talking about that 1x length of field try he scored playing FB off the bench?
So you wanna throw our million dollar FB money at a kid who’s had one good season, doesn’t play fullback, and will want overs to come here?
No offence V, but I’m not pushing all in on that one. At the moment I’d be trying to get Bula to stay on as cheap as possible, I reckon he’s probably worth 750-800 but I wouldn’t be surprised if we are paying 900. A mil+ is out of the question, that’s is for rep game winners, Jaxson doesn’t fit that either.

 

[Spartan117]

Give him a million dollar contact, let’s see if that helps us make the top 8 or win a premiership.
4 tries in a game is always a great achievement, but the opposition was sub standard and his defence was below average.
If the produces those tries or try involvements at NRL level I would be impressed, but I haven’t seen that happen as yet.

This is a pragmatic post. I agree.

Lets celebrate the headline of 4 tries but not rename the grand stand just yet.

Bula Needs to be retained as he is good and a player that Attracts/aids in Retention.

 

[426Tlgerland]

The talk of Tigers baulking at $ 800 for Bula could,be just media rubbish , we don’t know what is going on , Bula could have told Mosses he wants to stay long term , get me a deal of 4 years , and best $ $$$ you can get the club to give , club may be looking at how to fit it all together cap wise , T May will need an upgrade plus others like Sione , so club would be going over players coming through , players we need to unload due to age , ability , first grade std , there is a huge amount of work to get done to fit all in under the cap and make us competitive in the nrl and reserve grade , keep in mind reserve grade is our feeder team so it needs to have some quality back up , For me , Bula stays on extended deal , just my take no info

 

[Tucker]

Look, I agree. But lets just temper the 4 tries against the Cook Islands.

FULL TIME: Fiji vs Cook Islands

Saturday 18th October 2025, 4:00pm at Santos National Football Stadium.

www.zerotackle.com

I mean Esan Marsters kinda went Ok here, and that's about it as far as his nrl career has gone.
That's their biggest name I think. Maybe I have heard of KL Iro and Reuben Porter.

We seem to be talking Fiji with some NRL firstgraders vs Cook Islands with maybe 2 first graders. Good work Bula for scoring 4 tries, but they are 4 tries against a reserve grade side.

I am not basing my opinion on yesterday’s game.
I have been consistent in my support of him.
He is the most important player in our squad moving forward.
Just needs good coaching to become elite.

 

[Vicious]

In your opinion ,,,You can’t read the future ..and you have been wrong before ..I keep saying this to people that make these kind of proclamations..he is 23 and played around 50 games …we don’t know his ceiling yet

People have got to live in reality sometimes ,… they inherited this situation regarding Bula’s contract …fair play to Bula’s previous manager doing a good job for his client …but I doubt Richo would have played it that way ..unfortunately the Management now have to make a difficult call that some now gone administrator come up with

The option is 1 year only …try to get a deal done but if he won’t agree than pull the trigger and buy yourself more time to see if he improves and/or to have a Plan B.. what’s the additional cost - $100k ? How much are they paying for Bud Sullivan to play at Souths …much more than that..

At the very least Bula is a handy player that at the moment is our best attacking option ..

You have just labelled Bula a handy player, but are happy for the club you support to pay him 900k per season?
I think he’s a more than handy player and for those who keep saying we are a better team when he’s playing, of course we are he’s a highly paid player with 3 years of NRL experience behind him, when Heath Mason plays we are using a 19y.o with very minimal NRL experience and only on a Development Contract in 2025. Facts and figures say it should be chalk and cheese when comparing them both at fullback at this stage of their careers.

 

[upthetigers]

I am not basing my opinion on yesterday’s game.
I have been consistent in my support of him.
He is the most important player in our squad moving forward.
Just needs good coaching to become elite.

He needs to be retained but I agree with Vicious we can't pay him elite money just yet

 

[Tucker]

You have just labelled Bula a handy player, but are happy for the club you support to pay him 900k per season.
I think he’s a more than handy player and for those who keep saying we are a better team when he’s playing, of course we are he’s a highly paid player with 3 years of NRL experience behind him, when Heath Mason plays we are using a 19y.o with very minimal NRL experience and only on a Development Contract in 2025. Facts and figures say it should be chalk and cheese when comparing them both at fullback at this stage of their careers.

That’s right, so letting him go sets us back at least a couple of years.it may take 3 years to get back to where we are now. By that time our star imports are all getting ready to leave if they haven’t already. The next 3 years is our chance to push for an unlikely title.
We are not building up the continuation of developed players that we once boasted we would. Once Luai and co go, we are back to the scrap heap again.

 

[Tom Shines]

You have just labelled Bula a handy player, but are happy for the club you support to pay him 900k per season.
I think he’s a more than handy player and for those who keep saying we are a better team when he’s playing, of course we are he’s a highly paid player with 3 years of NRL experience behind him, when Heath Mason plays we are using a 19y.o with very minimal NRL experience and only on a Development Contract in 2025. Facts and figures say it should be chalk and cheese when comparing them both at fullback at this stage of their careers.

Your definition of a handy player is likely different to mine…as I seem to rate him higher than you do …Heath Mason is irrelevant to this discussion …

Pascoe decided to put that clause in his contract …not Richo …but Richo has to either pay him that figure or lose him …it doesn’t mean he has valued him that cost ..but perhaps feels he has to keep him for now

 

[Red88_Tiger]

Don’t be fooled Richo let the clause in Luai contract.
I’m not totally against his clause as it gives you time. I’d move the deadline sooner though as it would allow the club to scope the market before November 1

 

[Vicious]

I think I get what you’re saying, the salary cap and player contract values are always a balance.
I haven’t watched a lot of other teams this season but I don’t think Jaxon plays fullback, he’s been playing 5/8 or centre? Or are you talking about that 1x length of field try he scored playing FB off the bench?
So you wanna throw our million dollar FB money at a kid who’s had one good season, doesn’t play fullback, and will want overs to come here?
No offence V, but I’m not pushing all in on that one. At the moment I’d be trying to get Bula to stay on as cheap as possible, I reckon he’s probably worth 750-800 but I wouldn’t be surprised if we are paying 900. A mil+ is out of the question, that’s is for rep game winners, Jaxson doesn’t fit that either.

Blind Freddy can see that Jaxon Purdue has all the attributes to be one of the NRL’s elite fullbacks.
Jahream is a very good player, just not elite.
You can pay as high as 80k for very good players a d we will likely have to upgrade and pay that for Terrell May also, but once you start paying above 800k the players needs to be elite and someone who will regularly come up with match winning plays

That’s right, so letting him go sets us back at least a couple of years.it may take 3 years to get back to where we are now. By that time our star imports are all getting ready to leave if they haven’t already. The next 3 years is our chance to push for an unlikely title.
We are not building up the continuation of developed players that we once boasted we would. Once Luai and co go, we are back to the scrap heap again.

is Jahream Bula the best fullback currently available for 2027 and beyond for an estimated value which I’m led to believe will be a 1 million dollars per season asking price, which is more than the current 800k/900kcontract that is being discussed.
Of course it’s all opinion and guesstimating the level each player will be at come 2027.
Jahream is a current Wests Tigers success story and of course you need a certain amount of DNA within your club, so of course everyone involved or who supports Wests Tigers would want to keep him, but like everting in life it comes with a price and when talking NRL and managing a Salary Cap, paying the right price for each player to adequately manage your Salary Cap effectively is what determines each clubs success.
I strongly believe there are other options currently available for 2027 at a similar cost that would give us more x-factor and help make us a better team.
I understand that we have plenty of Wests Tigers supporters on this forum who think Jahream is the best ting since sliced bread and will be the man to win us an NRL premiership.
Let’s see how this contract negotiation pans out as it will have a large bearing on Wests Tigers success over the next couple of years.

 

[Vicious]

I think I get what you’re saying, the salary cap and player contract values are always a balance.
I haven’t watched a lot of other teams this season but I don’t think Jaxon plays fullback, he’s been playing 5/8 or centre? Or are you talking about that 1x length of field try he scored playing FB off the bench?
So you wanna throw our million dollar FB money at a kid who’s had one good season, doesn’t play fullback, and will want overs to come here?
No offence V, but I’m not pushing all in on that one. At the moment I’d be trying to get Bula to stay on as cheap as possible, I reckon he’s probably worth 750-800 but I wouldn’t be surprised if we are paying 900. A mil+ is out of the question, that’s is for rep game winners, Jaxson doesn’t fit that either.

Blind Freddy can see that Jaxon Purdue has all the attributes to be one of the NRL’s elite fullbacks.
Jahream is a very good player, just not elite.
You can pay as high as 800k for very good players and we will likely have to upgrade and pay that for Terrell May also, but once you start paying above 800k the players needs to be elite and someone who will regularly come up with match winning plays.
It’s very debatable on whether or not Jahream is of that standard at NRL level,

 

[Snidest 0]

Blind Freddy can see that Jaxon Purdue has all the attributes to be one of the NRL’s elite fullbacks.
Jahream is a very good player, just not elite.
You can pay as high as 800k for very good players and we will likely have to upgrade and pay that for Terrell May also, but once you start paying above 800k the players needs to be elite and someone who will regularly come up with match winning plays.
It’s very debatable on whether or not Jahream is of that standard at NRL level,

You have NEVER seen him under the high ball FFS...!!

He's NEVER played fullback!

WTF are you on about???

 

[Tom Shines]

I strongly believe there are other options currently available for 2027 at a similar cost that would give us more x-factor and help make us a better team.

Who are they besides Purdue who wants to play in the halves?

 

[Vicious]

I am not basing my opinion on yesterday’s game.
I have been consistent in my support of him.
He is the most important player in our squad moving forward.
Just needs good coaching to become elite.

He has had the same coach for 3 years and that coach is not changing at Wests Tigers, so that could be a problem.

 

[Snidest 0]

He has had the same coach for 3 years and that coach is not changing at Wests Tigers, so that could be a problem.

So would Purdue or any other options..

Keep moving the goal posts!