Signings, Suggestions & Rumours Discussion

[Vicious]

I swear you don’t actually watch NRL - all you bang on about is kids and washed up reserve graders….

Doorey went to Parra on the back of them being runners up - they didn’t make the 8…

If he’s not improving the runners up, how’s he improving the wooden spooners?

Next

It is called depth, something we don’t have.
It’s one thing having a sub standard NRL team, but it just makes a bad situation worse when you lack depth and lack players in reserve grade at least keeping the NRL players on their toes.
It would be nice to only sign superstars, but something called a Salary Cap doesn’t allow that, therefore depth signings are very important to the success of any NRL club.
Melbourne have made an art form of it over the years, Wests Tigers always get it terribly wrong and compound that by never recruiting halfway through a season when results are clearly terrible.
We talk about developing our young up and comers, well that don’t work by playing them in a team that gets belted every week, you need a strong team with a few experienced players who are highly successful in this grade to ably assist our young players development.

 

[balmain boy]

I remember Jake Toby scoring 4 tries against us a couple of years ago can't understand why he's still in reggies.

Probably because he's like 60kgs

 

[The Chad]

Whoever the club brings in- unless that player is the difference between success & failure at the club over the next year or so (ie Luai type signings)- the Tigers just should not over spend.

You overspend on guys you develop yourselves, to a degree. You know what they offer, how they fit in etc. But paying an equal amount, or more, for external help- you're just as likely to get a Papali'i- a good player that just hasn't fit the system the way he fit someone else's.

I would pay a little more for Utoikamanu. Because, for whatever he lacks, he's been developed by us, is a player on the rise & can't be improved on from outside.

But you add guys like Willison (do not overpay) & get value, instead of signing a guy away from a club like Hunt at the Sharks, who is under contract & unlikely to move for less than he is already on.

Some people have suggested bring back Garner & some people have scoffed at the idea. I quite like it. Because, despite being incomplete as a player- he has shown he can fit into this club, as well as having displayed the ability to play with Luai. Most importantly- he's not going to be Papali'i value against the cap while additionally not giving a SIGNIFICANT downgrade in production.

For me- that is a smart purchase & allows younger players behind him time to develop, challenge & then overtake him without slugging the club with a large contract on top.

Euan Aitken in the centres is the same.

Guys like Jack Williams at the Sharks- young, developing players- I'd be tempted to spend more on. But again, within reason.

If a guy like Nick Cotric is actually available/interested & can be had for Charlie Staines like value- he's not a bad option either. You just don't sign him for 5 years. And eventually Luke Lualili'i takes his spot.

 

[weststigers]

It is called depth, something we don’t have.
It’s one thing having a sub standard NRL team, but it just makes a bad situation worse when you lack depth and lack players in reserve grade at least keeping the NRL players on their toes.
It would be nice to only sign superstars, but something called a Salary Cap doesn’t allow that, therefore depth signings are very important to the success of any NRL club.
Melbourne have made an art form of it over the years, Wests Tigers always get it terribly wrong and compound that by never recruiting halfway through a season when results are clearly terrible.
We talk about developing our young up and comers, well that don’t work by playing them in a team that gets belted every week, you need a strong team with a few experienced players who are highly successful in this grade to ably assist our young players development.

I think you're judging things as if this is the end result.

We are 5 months into the board approved strategy after the review.

We have many more moves to make yet.

 

[Todd Packer]

I personally believe we have too many pacific islanders.
I know that comes across badly to read, but i hope peop;e dont see it that way, i'll explain.
The reason I say that as a negative is because they play the 'power' game and i think that only works in smaller amounts.
Notice that when england played tonga they thumped them 3-0, when tonga had an NRL studded lineup, and england had injuries and a couple of nrl players only. Their team were more the hard headed worker type.

Also, when Bennet built the dolphins, a top 4 team, I noticed he targeted the exact same type of player as a nucleus. he did similar at Saints and newcastle.

A third example is dogs team last year and this year. I truly believe that if you look who exited and who came in, CC made a conscious decision to limit the power poly game, and replace with high IQ versatile footy players that are the opposite of the poly power game.

Fourth, I know one player who we targeted that i wont name who said he did not sign with the tigers because of this.

There's no doubt you're right about Gould's recruitment.
Personally I don't care what nation they're from if they have footy smarts. You are correct that we have the dumbest team on the planet.

 

[Lebanese_Coach_aspiration]

He’d be absolutely terrible. He’s a shadow of what he was.

Yeah Id pay 250 tops and probably someone id consider a benchie for depthm but his status wouldnt allow for it.

 

[Lebanese_Coach_aspiration]

There's no doubt you're right about Gould's recruitment.
Personally I don't care what nation they're from if they have footy smarts. You are correct that we have the dumbest team on the planet.

It isnt so much bout where hey are from, but the culture and style of play, which is interlinked

 

[Lebanese_Coach_aspiration]

It is called depth, something we don’t have.
It’s one thing having a sub standard NRL team, but it just makes a bad situation worse when you lack depth and lack players in reserve grade at least keeping the NRL players on their toes.
It would be nice to only sign superstars, but something called a Salary Cap doesn’t allow that, therefore depth signings are very important to the success of any NRL club.
Melbourne have made an art form of it over the years, Wests Tigers always get it terribly wrong and compound that by never recruiting halfway through a season when results are clearly terrible.
We talk about developing our young up and comers, well that don’t work by playing them in a team that gets belted every week, you need a strong team with a few experienced players who are highly successful in this grade to ably assist our young players development.

We need to pad our depth with a mix of players who bring culture but are past it, that we can get cheap. As well as youngsters.
I think Nathan Brown is ideal, he would cost 200. Wallace, same. Aitken (number one target) would be 300. Hutchison, 200. Gabrael, 150. I'd even look for someone like Kurt Mann on a 2 year deal as he is a bit limited at the doggs. Liam Knight another.
Add a few promising juniors and there is your depth.
That'll allow some cash for stars.

Manly also have done this decently this season.

 

[Demps]

Aitken weighing up big club switch for 2025

He is off-contract at the end of 2024.

www.zerotackle.com

 

[tigerbenji]

If the tigers are really looking for some speed at the back and a player who could play , fullback , winger , and centre, look no further than David Armstrong from the knights , the bloke has a ton of talent and is of contract , the knights have signed Schiller so they don’t have much room left

The Rorters are interested in him so the Smelegraph says.

 

[Betterdays22]

A third example is dogs team last year and this year. I truly believe that if you look who exited and who came in, CC made a conscious decision to limit the power poly game, and replace with high IQ versatile footy players that are the opposite of the poly power game.

Their two game changing, culture signings Kikau and Chrichton are both polynesian. He made Chrichton captain...

Still unsure if you are a troll or not... Our problem is our players are not very talented, and not very smart. Where these players are from does not play into in in the slightest.

 

[Lebanese_Coach_aspiration]

Their two game changing, culture signings Kikau and Chrichton are both polynesian. He made Chrichton captain...

Still unsure if you are a troll or not... Our problem is our players are not very talented, and not very smart. Where these players are from does not play into in in the slightest.

Those two are genuine marquees, it isnt about race.
There is nothing wrong with pacific islanders, let me be clear about that.
I said it bluntly in that post that having polys are good, but you cannot have TOO MUCH of that style of player.
Let me say it in a PC way, you cannot have 5 prime Dave Taylors in your pack, but for sure you can have 1, maybe 2. You do need Max Kings and Mark Nicholls.

Teams that overload on polynesians struggle. This is fact.
How many times have you hard over the years 'The Warriors need more Australian players to be successful'.
Think to yourself what they actually meant by that. Like... really think.

Look at recipes, pick any real dish. You need the balance right.

But we have learnt that in 2024, a team of wily hard headed hard workers beats the power players. I'll die on this hill.

Why did England beat Tonga 3-0? Quite easily mind you.

I only mention poly's because they are the power players in the game.

 

[Todd Packer]

Those two are genuine marquees, it isnt about race.
There is nothing wrong with pacific islanders, let me be clear about that.
I said it bluntly in that post that having polys are good, but you cannot have TOO MUCH of that style of player.
Let me say it in a PC way, you cannot have 5 prime Dave Taylors in your pack, but for sure you can have 1, maybe 2. You do need Max Kings and Mark Nicholls.

Teams that overload on polynesians struggle. This is fact.
How many times have you hard over the years 'The Warriors need more Australian players to be successful'.
Think to yourself what they actually meant by that. Like... really think.

Look at recipes, pick any real dish. You need the balance right.

But we have learnt that in 2024, a team of wily hard headed hard workers beats the power players. I'll die on this hill.

Why did England beat Tonga 3-0? Quite easily mind you.

I only mention poly's because they are the power players in the game.

You are correct.
People reading may be reluctant to accept that you are correct for reasons not related to rugby league, but you are 100% correct.

 

[Kelce68]

I personally believe we have too many pacific islanders.
I know that comes across badly to read, but i hope peop;e dont see it that way, i'll explain.
The reason I say that as a negative is because they play the 'power' game and i think that only works in smaller amounts.
Notice that when england played tonga they thumped them 3-0, when tonga had an NRL studded lineup, and england had injuries and a couple of nrl players only. Their team were more the hard headed worker type.

Also, when Bennet built the dolphins, a top 4 team, I noticed he targeted the exact same type of player as a nucleus. he did similar at Saints and newcastle.

A third example is dogs team last year and this year. I truly believe that if you look who exited and who came in, CC made a conscious decision to limit the power poly game, and replace with high IQ versatile footy players that are the opposite of the poly power game.

Fourth, I know one player who we targeted that i wont name who said he did not sign with the tigers because of this.

wot.

Better not bring in Luai or Turuva then, their power game might make us worse.

As redundant as it would be to dismantle this entire post, I'll just do this one:

Also, when Bennet built the dolphins, a top 4 team, I noticed he targeted the exact same type of player as a nucleus. he did similar at Saints and newcastle.

The halves at the Dolphins, who run the side and have the highest need for footy IQ per position, are Kodi Nikorima and Isaiah Katoa....

......both Polynesian.

 

[Todd Packer]

wot.

Better not bring in Luai or Turuva then, their power game might make us worse.

As redundant as it would be to dismantle this entire post, I'll just do this one:

Also, when Bennet built the dolphins, a top 4 team, I noticed he targeted the exact same type of player as a nucleus. he did similar at Saints and newcastle.

The halves at the Dolphins, who run the side and have the highest need for footy IQ per position, are Kodi Nikorima and Isaiah Katoa....

......both Polynesian.

I think you are deliberately misrepresenting what he said.
Unfortunately it's the expected knee jerk reaction that now makes constructive conversation difficult in our fantastic new world.

 

[Tucker]

Those two are genuine marquees, it isnt about race.
There is nothing wrong with pacific islanders, let me be clear about that.
I said it bluntly in that post that having polys are good, but you cannot have TOO MUCH of that style of player.
Let me say it in a PC way, you cannot have 5 prime Dave Taylors in your pack, but for sure you can have 1, maybe 2. You do need Max Kings and Mark Nicholls.

Teams that overload on polynesians struggle. This is fact.
How many times have you hard over the years 'The Warriors need more Australian players to be successful'.
Think to yourself what they actually meant by that. Like... really think.

Look at recipes, pick any real dish. You need the balance right.

But we have learnt that in 2024, a team of wily hard headed hard workers beats the power players. I'll die on this hill.

Why did England beat Tonga 3-0? Quite easily mind you.

I only mention poly's because they are the power players in the game.

Yep, I’ve been saying this for years.

 

[Betterdays22]

Teams that overload on polynesians struggle. This is fact.

Tell that to the 2022 Penrith side. 10 players of polynesian and/or maori heritage in the starting side.

 

[Todd Packer]

It's also why we have been unable to produce any decent forwards for the last decade. I watch our lower grades and it's all boys who can put on the odd power play due to their weight, but are soft bodied and generally lazy in their play.
How many years will it take of our junior forwards not making the grade for our recruiters to change what they're looking for.

 

[Todd Packer]

I've read so much praise for Jordan Miller on here, yet when I watch him play he's a lazy , sloppy fatter version Tuki. I just don't get what people think players like him have to offer beside size.

 

[hank37w]

Must be to make room for my man Matterson.
Welcome home Ryan, we've missed you.

Do we still have that cardboard cut out of Matterson?

Keeping that would be the better option, has more character, a much better personality and doesn't use up a top 30 spot.