Signings, Suggestions & Rumours Discussion

[weststigerman]

Neither of them have great leg speed. Even Pole takes a while to wind up, his footwork is great though. It’s that wrecking ball type of forward that everyone on this forum is crying out for. Sadly, they don’t grow on trees.

I always hear this talk of a “wrecking ball” front rower. To me that just sounds like another way of saying an elite prop.

I’m curious to understand what you mean by that? JFH or Fonua-Blake? Or budget like Royce Hunt?

 

[Needaname]

Neither of them have great leg speed. Even Pole takes a while to wind up, his footwork is great though. It’s that wrecking ball type of forward that everyone on this forum is crying out for. Sadly, they don’t grow on trees.

Agree but not all teams have them at prop , but they do seem to have at least 1 of them in the pack.
Olakuatu for manly, Kicks for the dogs, Sua, Leulia the Dragons, Fifita Titans to name a few that aren’t props but are just as effective as a go to hit man.

 

[BAGNF05]

I always hear this talk of a “wrecking ball” front rower. To me that just sounds like another way of saying an elite prop.

I’m curious to understand what you mean by that? JFH or Fonua-Blake? Or budget like Royce Hunt?

I think quick leg speed players who are hard to tackle. Taumalolo in his prime the obvious example. AFB another. Junior P and Josh Pap in their early years but have slowed. Moses Leota also comes to mind.

 

[BAGNF05]

Agree but not all teams have them at prop , but they do seem to have at least 1 of them in the pack.
Olakuatu for manly, Kicks for the dogs, Sua, Leulia the Dragons, Fifita Titans to name a few that aren’t props but are just as effective as a go to hit man.

Yeah it just changes how you construct your sets but generally it’s easier to get downfield and they get you some cheap tries.

I’d like to think Samuela Fainu will be pretty hard to handle in a year or so.

 

[Needaname]

Yeah it just changes how you construct your sets but generally it’s easier to get downfield and they get you some cheap tries.

I’d like to think Samuela Fainu will be pretty hard to handle in a year or so.

Thinking the same. Oddly enough as he already is such a large forward in stature but he looks like he has a teenagers lanky build and could definitely put a fair bit more muscle on that frame.

 

[BAGNF05]

Thinking the same. Oddly enough as he already is such a large forward in stature but he looks like he has a teenagers lanky build and could definitely put a fair bit more muscle on that frame.

And already breaking tackles on the edge with regularity 🔥

 

[Needaname]

And already breaking tackles on the edge with regularity 🔥

Just checked his profile. He is apparently 109kg. You’ve got Olakuatu at 113kg and Kikau at 116kg. He is close and could easily add 4 or 5kg to his frame for physicality without losing speed or agility.

 

[BAGNF05]

Just checked his profile. He is apparently 109kg. You’ve got Olakuatu at 113kg and Kikau at 116kg. He is close and could easily add 4 or 5kg to his frame for physicality without losing speed or agility.

You have to think he’s even better next year. Galvin will improve. Pole is getting better. Bula is consistent. Luai isn’t coming to play with a pack of guys who are over the hill.

That’s the light at the end of the tunnel for me. Big job for the club and coach but not hopeless.

 

[Juice]

This gets said a lot but it doesn't really stand up to scrutiny. Most players who have left the Tigers have absolutely not set the world on fire. Going through the list: Aloiai is worse than he was here, Hastings is exactly the same, Peachey never came back to first grade and Daine Laurie hasn't done so far, Gildart vanished without trace, so did Maumalo, Madden is a nuffie, Liddle is no better than he was at the Tigers, Ofahengaue is a bench player at absolute best, Musgrove is out of the comp, Luciano Leilua has got worse, Matterson had one good season and is now chronically meh, Garner is a fringe first grader at best, Mbye carried on his downward trajectory, Marsters and Lolohea vanished without trace. Even Brooks is basically the same as he was at the Tigers just with DCE alongside him and on a smaller contract.

The problem isn't that players magically become better when they leave the Tigers; the problem is that we've had too many bad players in first grade.

I agree on some including Brooks is the same, a 5/8 forced to play out of position for a long time. I think Leilua has been good at the dragons, Garner in the 17 for the 3 time premiers almost every week, Ofahengaue & Aloia have also been solid this year. All of those players on current form would make this team easy. Hard to really judge Simpkin after only a month into a new system.

I get what you are saying tho, I guess it is a career graveyard if you come here. I wonder if it’s worth it to the players coming here for the overs knowing it will most likely be their careers over by the time they leave

 

[Flippedy]

This gets said a lot but it doesn't really stand up to scrutiny. Most players who have left the Tigers have absolutely not set the world on fire. Going through the list: Aloiai is worse than he was here, Hastings is exactly the same, Peachey never came back to first grade and Daine Laurie hasn't done so far, Gildart vanished without trace, so did Maumalo, Madden is a nuffie, Liddle is no better than he was at the Tigers, Ofahengaue is a bench player at absolute best, Musgrove is out of the comp, Luciano Leilua has got worse, Matterson had one good season and is now chronically meh, Garner is a fringe first grader at best, Mbye carried on his downward trajectory, Marsters and Lolohea vanished without trace. Even Brooks is basically the same as he was at the Tigers just with DCE alongside him and on a smaller contract.

The problem isn't that players magically become better when they leave the Tigers; the problem is that we've had too many bad players in first grade.

This gets said a lot but it doesn't really stand up to scrutiny. Most players who have left the Tigers have absolutely not set the world on fire. Going through the list: Aloiai is worse than he was here, Hastings is exactly the same, Peachey never came back to first grade and Daine Laurie hasn't done so far, Gildart vanished without trace, so did Maumalo, Madden is a nuffie, Liddle is no better than he was at the Tigers, Ofahengaue is a bench player at absolute best, Musgrove is out of the comp, Luciano Leilua has got worse, Matterson had one good season and is now chronically meh, Garner is a fringe first grader at best, Mbye carried on his downward trajectory, Marsters and Lolohea vanished without trace. Even Brooks is basically the same as he was at the Tigers just with DCE alongside him and on a smaller contract.

The problem isn't that players magically become better when they leave the Tigers; the problem is that we've had too many bad players in first grade.

Perspective 👍

My main concern isn’t the players who have moved on from us getting better at other clubs so much as it is the good players we’ve bought from other clubs turning to crap once they put the Tigers jersey on.

 

[Tigerdazz2]

Wayne Bennett has a keen eye, we saw what he did in the lead up to Dolphin's inaugeral

 

[Tigerdazz2]

Wayne Bennett sure makes astute signings. (Bennett's fingerprints are all over it) We've all seen what he has done since the lead up to the Dolphin's debut season and in the time since.

He's starting to put together a his squad for season 2025 and he's just signed this young blokes who is currently at the Storm. He looks a real goer, he'd of looked good in a Tigers jersey!

 

[colinbh]

Wayne Bennett sure makes astute signings. (Bennett's fingerprints are all over it) We've all seen what he has done since the lead up to the Dolphin's debut season and in the time since.

He's starting to put together a his squad for season 2025 and he's just signed this young blokes who is currently at the Storm. He looks a real goer, he'd of looked good in a Tigers jersey!

No good. According to some on this forum he would be crap as soon as he gets here.

 

[Tom Shines]

This gets said a lot but it doesn't really stand up to scrutiny. Most players who have left the Tigers have absolutely not set the world on fire. Going through the list: Aloiai is worse than he was here, Hastings is exactly the same, Peachey never came back to first grade and Daine Laurie hasn't done so far, Gildart vanished without trace, so did Maumalo, Madden is a nuffie, Liddle is no better than he was at the Tigers, Ofahengaue is a bench player at absolute best, Musgrove is out of the comp, Luciano Leilua has got worse, Matterson had one good season and is now chronically meh, Garner is a fringe first grader at best, Mbye carried on his downward trajectory, Marsters and Lolohea vanished without trace. Even Brooks is basically the same as he was at the Tigers just with DCE alongside him and on a smaller contract.

The problem isn't that players magically become better when they leave the Tigers; the problem is that we've had too many bad players in first grade.

You list some but don’t mention others … there are a lot of players that have left the Tigers this past decade .. so all boxes will be ticked by several at their new club ..bad, the same and improved …

Aloiai looks better to me , along with Brooks … Joe is ok… but I actually rated him when he was here ..too early with Liddle ..some were terrible when they were here and were terrible at their new club like Mbye and Musgrove ..and I’m betting you can add AJ to that list … of course Teddy and Moses went on to be superstars .. Madden was crap when he was here … how could he not be better getting picked for first grade at the Broncos? but off the top of my head I could also mention the likes of Brown, Taupau and Lodge who arguably were better at their next club ..if there is a list let me know and I’ll pick out others Im sure ..

. I am gobsmacked with Talau … I laughed at my Manly supporting friends when they bought him … I didn’t think he was an NRL first grader … Im not laughing now ..

no good player seems to get worse at their next club after leaving here… unlike a lot we sign

 

[WestsTigers4VR]

well well well…. Johnny Morris as the defence coach…. To be honest I didn’t think much of it till I googled but during his reign at the sharks during the 2019-2021 seasons his final two seasons saw his team top the list of most missed tackles. While equally having to make the least amount of total tackles in the comp for one of them and not so far off for the other. Thoughts?

 

[stephen]

Is Api as good as prime Farah - No
Is Luai as good as prime Scott Prince - No
Is Galvin as good as Benji - No
Is Bula as good as Hodgson - No

Prime Api better than prime Farah in my opinion, mate.

 

[Buttface]

well well well…. Johnny Morris as the defence coach…. To be honest I didn’t think much of it till I googled but during his reign at the sharks during the 2019-2021 seasons his final two seasons saw his team top the list of most missed tackles. While equally having to make the least amount of total tackles in the comp for one of them and not so far off for the other. Thoughts?

Stats don’t tell the whole story, so they say.
We should have been patient and signed a more experienced head coach and Benji stay on as assistant, but fruit pascals and Pee Bagypants were more worried about getting likes on their socmed.

 

[Todd Packer]

Prime Api better than prime Farah in my opinion, mate.

Picking a team to play to save your life I'd have Farah at hooker every time.
Time fades how good Robbie was.
Time also fades how much better than either of them Benny was.

 

[Tucker]

well well well…. Johnny Morris as the defence coach…. To be honest I didn’t think much of it till I googled but during his reign at the sharks during the 2019-2021 seasons his final two seasons saw his team top the list of most missed tackles. While equally having to make the least amount of total tackles in the comp for one of them and not so far off for the other. Thoughts?

He has been a disaster.
We’ve focused our training and preparation on defence. All off season, up until now….we’re the worst in the comp….almost 30 points per game.
He needs to be removed from his position.

 

[2041]

You list some but don’t mention others … there are a lot of players that have left the Tigers this past decade .. so all boxes will be ticked by several at their new club ..bad, the same and improved …

Aloiai looks better to me , along with Brooks … Joe is ok… but I actually rated him when he was here ..too early with Liddle ..some were terrible when they were here and were terrible at their new club like Mbye and Musgrove ..and I’m betting you can add AJ to that list … of course Teddy and Moses went on to be superstars .. Madden was crap when he was here … how could he not be better getting picked for first grade at the Broncos? but off the top of my head I could also mention the likes of Brown, Taupau and Lodge who arguably were better at their next club ..if there is a list let me know and I’ll pick out others Im sure ..

. I am gobsmacked with Talau … I laughed at my Manly supporting friends when they bought him … I didn’t think he was an NRL first grader … Im not laughing now ..

no good player seems to get worse at their next club after leaving here… unlike a lot we sign

I actually went through the list of Wests Tigers players on Wikipedia and I thought I'd picked out more or less everyone who left for another club rather than just disappearing from the comp. I didn't include Tedesco, Moses or Taupau as these were players the Tigers were keen to keep and who even the clowns running the joint at the time knew were going to be excellent. Lodge was sacked because he threatened to kill some people in New York - I'm not sure the same rules apply.

Otherwise, if you think Aloai and Brooks are a bit better now and I think they're either about the same or worse, we're probably talking about not much improvement either way. Again, I'm just not seeing a lot of players we let go because we thought they weren't any good who have gone on to be stars.

Mainly, when players leave and go ok it's because they're in better situations not because they have suddenly developed superpowers. Brooks is much more comfortable as a second-line half who doesn't have to be the main playmaker. Talau is better on the wing for a mediocre side than playing centre for a terrible one. Blore, well, Blore is basically the same but it helps to be in a super well drilled side where he only needs to do the things he can do well. Hand on heart, if we re-signed any of these blokes and they played exactly as well as they've played this season it would make absolutely zero difference to how the Tigers are travelling.

Oh, and in answer to your last question: Aaron Woods, Esan Marsters, Ken Maumalo, Joe Ofahengaue, James Gavet, Jesse Sue.