Signings, Suggestions & Rumours Discussion

[tony soprano]

Won’t happen, can you imagine the backlash from Hadley.

And zorba

 

[gregjm87]

I'd say we'll be hearing about plenty of signings for '25 and contract extensions from later this week now the NRL has got its big draw announcement out of the way.

Remember the new 10-day rule is in where current club has 10 days to re-negotiate once a player has agreed to a contract with another club. So really if a player agrees to a contract on 1 Nov, we won't hear about it until 2 weeks later.

Approximately how many do you consider plenty? How many players across the whole comp can you recall signing this time last year for 2024? I think us making 2 big name signings in Nov/Dec 2021 for the 23 season distorts the reality of how often this happens. I also believe that was an over active market due to the Dolphins entering the competition.

 

[GNR4LIFE]

What relevance does the 24 draw have for signings in 25?

 

[BlackWhiteGold]

Approximately how many do you consider plenty? How many players across the whole comp can you recall signing this time last year for 2024? I think us making 2 big name signings in Nov/Dec 2021 for the 23 season distorts the reality of how often this happens. I also believe that was an over active market due to the Dolphins entering the competition.

Let me rephrase, plenty of signings for '25 and contract extensions across the NRL (not just us) from this week until end of pre-season.

 

[BlackWhiteGold]

What relevance does the 24 draw have for signings in 25?

I would think the NRL told clubs we will be announcing the draw on X date so don't plan any major announcements on that day. PR101.

 

[Yossarian]

Nobody named Fulton should ever have been considered as an employee of a club called Wests to begin with.
But now that he's here the excellent reviewers had an obligation to hear his point of view before boning him you'd think.

Somebody better tell Liam the bad news.

 

[Telltails]

I'm amazed some support Fulton. He is a germ. Who would accept that job without meeting with the coach/head of football first? Only an arrogant nob would. He then set about a slander campaign through a player manager and Peter Peter's trying to undermine Benji.

He is the definition of the type we have to eliminate at the club.

Through his dads mates, he was hailed as the best in the business when we signed him, only for us to later find out he has never even had this type of role before. Zero history in leading the recruitment at a club.

He targets only Islanders. You can't have a squad full of islanders just like you can't fill the squad with all Caucasians.

He has to go and when he does ill be over the moon (obviously)

Yep lost me when he didn't shut down Peter Peter's airing stuff that was clearly bias and damaging to the coach and club. Stinks of self interest - exactly why it seems Manly were happy to rid themselves of all associated with the name.

 

[gregjm87]

Let me rephrase, plenty of signings for '25 and contract extensions across the NRL (not just us) from this week until end of pre-season.

Yeah several extensions probably.

But I highly doubt there will be many clubs announcing new signings. Last summer there were only the 3 players (that i can think of) that were signed and all 3 were from outside the NRL, 2 Poms to Knights and Xerri to Dogs. Then there was the very late in the preseason player swap that saw the Knights pick up Lachie Miller.

There were a handful the previous summer. Just off the top of my head there was Api, Papali'i, Smith, Metcalf and several Dolphins so it is not without precedent, however as I said earlier I believe the Dolphins distorted the market that season.

 

[BlackWhiteGold]

Been told that Lee & Fulton will be let go after yesterday’s meeting & the club will be backing Benji all the way (hence Fulton being let go) Whether it happens or not is a different story but thought i’d share here.

Looking at these separately. I agree that Lee should step aside as Chairman for the betterment of the club but, if it fits within the Board structure, maybe he can stay on the Board as an independent director. Or maybe the situation would be untenable.

I would hope if Fulton is moved on, it is an 'amicable' separation with legal protection, otherwise we face a significant media backlash AGAIN!

The only possibilities are a significant pay out with a non-disclosure agreement (like Sheens) including to player managers. Or whether the review has uncovered something untoward in his dealings which warrants dismissal (i.e. constant leaks to media, knifing members of staff etc etc) and he has to go quietly.

Regardless to remove two senior members of board/admin usually requires someone with backbone, respect and strength to lead the club through it. Not sure who that would be to front the members, fans, media, managers etc.

 

[GNR4LIFE]

Yeah several extensions probably.

But I highly doubt there will be many clubs announcing new signings. Last summer there were only the 3 players (that i can think of) that were signed and all 3 were from outside the NRL, 2 Poms to Knights and Xerri to Dogs. Then there was the very late in the preseason player swap that saw the Knights pick up Lachie Miller.

There were a handful the previous summer. Just off the top of my head there was Api, Papali'i, Smith, Metcalf and several Dolphins so it is not without precedent, however as I said earlier I believe the Dolphins distorted the market that season.

Not surprising considering that had to sign an entire squad.

 

[BlackWhiteGold]

Yeah several extensions probably.

But I highly doubt there will be many clubs announcing new signings. Last summer there were only the 3 players (that i can think of) that were signed and all 3 were from outside the NRL, 2 Poms to Knights and Xerri to Dogs. Then there was the very late in the preseason player swap that saw the Knights pick up Lachie Miller.

There were a handful the previous summer. Just off the top of my head there was Api, Papali'i, Smith, Metcalf and several Dolphins so it is not without precedent, however as I said earlier I believe the Dolphins distorted the market that season.

Good research @gregjm87 yes mainly extensions I would think or new signings for players who either would be getting significantly more $$$ at a new club or likely to get a better opportunity to progress.

 

[tigerap]

I wonder how the Fainu brothers will feel about this if true… Wasn’t it only because of their relationship with him that they came to the tigers?

They’ll be kicking stones, playing the mental health card to get out asap…Also, 100% Gus is lurking waiting to pounce

 

[tigerap]

Looking at these separately. I agree that Lee should step aside as Chairman for the betterment of the club but, if it fits within the Board structure, maybe he can stay on the Board as an independent director. Or maybe the situation would be untenable.

I would hope if Fulton is moved on, it is an 'amicable' separation with legal protection, otherwise we face a significant media backlash AGAIN!

The only possibilities are a significant pay out with a non-disclosure agreement (like Sheens) including to player managers. Or whether the review has uncovered something untoward in his dealings which warrants dismissal (i.e. constant leaks to media, knifing members of staff etc etc) and he has to go quietly.

Regardless to remove two senior members of board/admin usually requires someone with backbone, respect and strength to lead the club through it. Not sure who that would be to front the members, fans, media, managers etc.

To me, the only issue with Lee is his big mouth….if the Board gave him a clear ultimatum, stay and shut your mouth…I’d prefer he stays….if he goes so does our major sponsor

 

[Buttface]

Been told that Lee & Fulton will be let go after yesterday’s meeting & the club will be backing Benji all the way (hence Fulton being let go) Whether it happens or not is a different story but thought i’d share here.

Is Lee an employee? I thought his position would have been a vote situation and are we talking as chair or off the board completely?
I don’t like the idea of letting Fulton go, it makes us look like idiots again, we only just hired him, made a fuss about him being a gun, and that’s why we did it without the coaches knowledge to make sure we we got this gun recruiter before anyone else.
Or did they just do it to get the Fainu boys? If so that’s ruthless biz I like it but will the Fainus, maybe not, so maybe we need to make sure they are locked in bcoz it will be Fulton who once they start winning nrl games.

 

[cktiger]

Yep lost me when he didn't shut down Peter Peter's airing stuff that was clearly bias and damaging to the coach and club. Stinks of self interest - exactly why it seems Manly were happy to rid themselves of all associated with the name.

I can’t recall Fulton saying anything at all about anything.

 

[hammertime]

Fulton seemed pretty reasonable on the podcast. Surely we can't be that dumb to remove him.

It's good to have differences between him and benji. It's actually a governance check. With the juniors coming through, he really only has to sign a couple of signatures a year.

Surely the only way he'd be fired is if he's already messed up big time, more than once.

We've had 3 heads of recruitment already in 2 years.

 

[Tucker]

We've had 3 heads of recruitment already in 2 years.

Goes along well with our 4 coaches in 2 years.

 

[diedpretty]

Are we all ageists and dismiss Bennett (73 yrs), Politis (81 yrs) and Gould (65 yrs) as has beens,
or are we just hypocrites?🤔

Lol - cue the violins.

 

[diedpretty]

I wonder how the Fainu brothers will feel about this if true… Wasn’t it only because of their relationship with him that they came to the tigers?

I have never heard either of them say the only reason they came to WT was because of Fulton. As for the speculation on here that that's the reason they came - well thats another thing all together.

 

[crazycat]

I’ve always thought we looked unfit and weak,however this season was the first in some time where I thought we looked the part.Had a good year with injuries too.

Cohesion was one of our major issues ,as was gameplan.From all reports we spent an entire off season learning to play “attacking footy” which is fine when you have the cattle to bring it to life.But I think most Tigers fans could see our strengths,decent pack ,elite 9.
Not exactly a team you’d even attempt to play flash footy with.
In saying that we looked like we’d never trained together most games.
But back on the whole cohesion thing ,this is where Benji and Co really need to stamp some authority.Evey player needs to know what position/side they will be playing and spend a whole off season working on combinations and learning their mates game.constantly changing what side a centre,second rower or winger plays is never going to end well ,of course injuries play a major part,but spending a whole off season training in one position next to the same bloke will go a long way.

You hit the nail on the head there.

Des Haslier I respect as a coach. When he went from Manly to the Dogs, he coached to the players he got.
Sheens had a slow team and went "lets play fast footy".