Signings, Suggestions & Rumours Discussion

[Buttface]

Happy to trade;

View attachment 14294
I got this from Stef just as he stumbled out of the gym and into a diamond encrusted Cyber Truck with Victorian number plates: TANTY1

Keep it, it will be rare as after everyone else has burnt theirs.

 

[mikey]

Happy to trade;

View attachment 14294
I got this from Stef just as he stumbled out of the gym and into a diamond encrusted Cyber Truck with Victorian number plates: TANTY1

How about two spliffs of leaf? About as effective as Stef on a good day.

 

[weststigerman]

NRLW and NSW Cup not up to scratch either. Can’t be a coincidence.

 

[Tucker]

I believe there's an old saying...the going gets Tough [for the opposition] when the Tough get going.
Papalii never wanted to be here and that showed in his play.
He had a bad case of the 's as he couldn't get out of his contract so decided he wasn't going to bust a gut for Us and wasn't mentally Tough enough at any stage to pull his finger out to be the player we Needed him to be.

The bloke has averaged 96m in attack and 34 tackles per game he has played for us this year.
Not the figures of a bloke taking the piss.

 

[Mighty_Tiger]

Just looking at the squad for next year to see which areas need attention:

1st Team 2nd Team
Fullback- Fullback-
Bula Luke Lualili'i
Heath Mason

Wingers- Wingers-
Turuva Lobb
Staines Willett
Alaimalo ?
Ngutlik (T&T maybe?)

Centres- Centres-
Olam Feledy
Doueihi Saukuru
Faataape (If signed) Casey (T&T again)
Naden

Half & 5/8- Half & 5/8
Luai Sullivan
Galvin Iverson Matai ??
Latu Fainu Noah Ryan
Sezar (If Kade7 is right)

Middles- Middles-
Pole Matamua
Klemmer Fa'agutu
Twal K Lualili'i
Sione Fainu Johannssen
Seyfarth Miller

Back Row- Back Row-
Sam Fainu Sukkar
Rueben Porter ? Broederlow
Bateman ?? Hassett ??
Tumeth ?

Hooker- Hooker-
Koroisau Valevatu
Da Silva Nicholas
Hodges

Just doing this for depth purposes. Knowing that a stronger second grade squad makes our top grade squad better through competition.

I'm going to assume that Bateman doesn't return & that Tumeth is released as well.

We are obviously very weak on the wings & have zero depth in the centres.

I assume if Bula goes down that Staines is the obvious replacement.

Too many halves. Considering that Heath Mason can play in the halves as well, the club cannot re-sign Sezar & have Sullivan as well. If Kade7 is right & Sezar's option has been taken, then you have to assume Sullivan is going elsewhere...OR...Latu Fainu/Sezar/Galvin are being shifted to #13

Because...

When you look at the middles, it's pretty obvious we lack a #13 that is 1st team ready. Plenty of young #13's in reserve grade, but no obvious player moving into 1st's.

Add to that, our back row stocks are dismal too. Rueben Porter would be a great depth player, but could very well be needed to start at this rate. Ideally, Porter, Johannssen & Sukkar are the 2nd Team backrow.

The rumoured addition of Hassett could keep Johannssen in the middles however.

I think the club NEEDS to find a way to move Sullivan, Matamua, Tumeth & Bateman on. I'm now leaning toward keeping Naden in reserve, simply due to the lack of depth in our outside backs.

In my calculation that gives 26 contracted players. Sezar & Sione Fainu are retained. Faataape & Rueben Porter are retained. That gets us back to 30.

Which players are on Development contracts? Willett, Miller, Mason, Broederlow & Saukuru?

That gets us back to 25. Am I way off?

So 5 players to fill the roster, if I have this right.

Must admit you do put a huge amount of effort & thought into your posts mate.

 

[Mighty_Tiger]

The bloke has averaged 96m in attack and 34 tackles per game he has played for us this year.
Not the figures of a bloke taking the piss.

He has definitely had some ordinary games this year but most have - most games though his effort has been solid.

 

[Vicious]

Must admit you do put a huge amount of effort & thought into your posts mate.

He does and I reckon he is pretty right in saying we definitely require players who are genuine NRL quality 2 outside backs, 1 edge forward, 1 middle forward and 1 player who can play 9 and be versatile enough to play other positions.
That is just what is essential and we then need more quality of depth.

 

[Demps]

Must admit you do put a huge amount of effort & thought into your posts mate.

👑

 

[Mighty_Tiger]

He does and I reckon he is pretty right in saying we definitely require players who are genuine NRL quality 2 outside backs, 1 edge forward, 1 middle forward and 1 player who can play 9 and be versatile enough to play other positions.
That is just what is essential and we then need more quality of depth.

My view for 25 top 20 roster wise is we are 3 backs, 2 edge, 2 props, lock & utility short = 9 players need to step up/inbound to see genuine winning progress.

Scary thought is we realistically only have 4-5 spots unless deck chairs are moved. But if we fill those 4-5, retain the NRL/close to NRL level players and then in 26 build again onto those players our roster then starts to become competitive.

They key is getting the right personnel and not just the flashy stars / punt players. We need hungry/attitude style players that will dig in and contribute in a change, not cost huge amounts but over the next 18-24mths makes our roster competitive.

 

[Don Kershane]

Would prefer to give him the Perpetually Soft Award.

Is that similar to a PSA test?

 

[2041]

According to the experts on here there's barely a dozen players worthy of our consideration.
They seem to forget we've won 3 spoons in a row and have a terrible squad.

Well we've seen what happens in the past when the club finally gets some room in the salary cap and immediately spends it on whoever happens to be available at the time. Russell Packer, Josh Reyolds and Chris McQueen is what happens. Or David Klemmer and John Bateman.

 

[Vicious]

My view for 25 top 20 roster wise is we are 3 backs, 2 edge, 2 props, lock & utility short = 9 players need to step up/inbound to see genuine winning progress.

Scary thought is we realistically only have 4-5 spots unless deck chairs are moved. But if we fill those 4-5, retain the NRL/close to NRL level players and then in 26 build again onto those players our roster then starts to become competitive.

They key is getting the right personnel and not just the flashy stars / punt players. We need hungry/attitude style players that will dig in and contribute in a change, not cost huge amounts but over the next 18-24mths makes our roster competitive.

I agree with that 💯 but think we could get away with 5 of them being genuine good quality NRL players and 4 of them being fringe players with the talent to put pressure on and potentially earn spots in our NRL team.
I’d say if we cannot work out a way to recruit like this we will certainly finish bottom 3 again in 2025 and as others have mentioned, another bottom 3 finish would cost us losing more of our better players because of it.
Recruitment and retention is always important, but the way it’s done between now and the 2025 season kick off is more important than ever.

 

[TSP]

To get rid of players, the sad reality is that we have to reach deep into our pockets or find a way to bring them to standard.

Aside from salaries, I imagine it’s a very expensive undertaking to keep a player in firsts or fringing away.

Would run into tens of thousands over the year for a player.

Airfares and transport, accomodation, camps and then the basic cost of running COE and so forth.

 

[stephen]

In a team like we have it’s too easy to call out players for not lifting their weight. Our smallest player makes the most tackles and also misses twice as many as anyone. He plays in the middle, what does that tell you? There’s more than one middle not happy. I can understand why some form the view that he’s an average prop, but I’ve seen what he is capable of and so has Richo. Richo by his own admission was prepared to offer overs to keep him. Why? Because he’s only 24 , big strong fast and can have impact in the middle, centralising opposition defence, breaking tackles. We need 2 or 3 middles like that To win games. Sure he has the skill, he’s a footy player, but it’s not enough to enjoy your footy, and that’s where the extra 5% comes from. I’ve seen a lot of our players in the same predicament. Look at Brooks and Talau.

We've all seen glimpses of what he's capable of. My criticism of Stefano is that he doesn't play to that level consistently. That can't all be blamed on his team mates. I don't expect him to have the same impact every game, but I'm sure most would be happy if he put in consistent effort & intensity.
Many supporters might not have been so disappointed if he hadn't talked up his leadership ambitions at our club.
As for Richo offering overs, that's not necessarily a pointer to his true value. Unfortunately, WT are in the position where we have to offer overs to attract & retain players. Indeed, if we're not offering overs, we're giving players 1st grade positions ahead of time.
Anyway, we might never agree on this and it's a moot point now but I appreciate your thoughts & cheers for the response.

 

[TYGA]

Not paying 850k for Stefano is the best outcome. He’s cooked at Wests. Happens when you work at a bad place for years. Best for both parties he will go strong at Storm just has to do a simple job. A lot of pressure on players at tigers

 

[BalmainJnr]

Not paying 850k for Stefano is the best outcome. He’s cooked at Wests. Happens when you work at a bad place for years. Best for both parties he will go strong at Storm just has to do a simple job. A lot of pressure on players at tigers

Pressure to play like they belong in the NRL?

 

[Tiger Stripes]

I can only assume it’s Fanafou Seve; a young prop.

Thanks mate.

 

[Tiger Stripes]

Not paying 850k for Stefano is the best outcome. He’s cooked at Wests. Happens when you work at a bad place for years. Best for both parties he will go strong at Storm just has to do a simple job. A lot of pressure on players at tigers

It's the forum that puts pressure on them.................all the negativity on here gets back to them.
Do you think there is no pressure on them at other clubs?

 

[mikey]

Not paying 850k for Stefano is the best outcome. He’s cooked at Wests. Happens when you work at a bad place for years. Best for both parties he will go strong at Storm just has to do a simple job. A lot of pressure on players at tigers

Had a reasonably simple job here too - go forward and tackle. His problem is he gave up on the team for whatever reason.
No doubt he will go well at the Storm but like the other fair weather players that left us - good riddance.

 

[Mighty_Tiger]

I agree with that 💯 but think we could get away with 5 of them being genuine good quality NRL players and 4 of them being fringe players with the talent to put pressure on and potentially earn spots in our NRL team.
I’d say if we cannot work out a way to recruit like this we will certainly finish bottom 3 again in 2025 and as others have mentioned, another bottom 3 finish would cost us losing more of our better players because of it.
Recruitment and retention is always important, but the way it’s done between now and the 2025 season kick off is more important than ever.

It’s the mix position wise that’s the key for us.

Hunt, Corey, Walker etc all tick boxes we need but not as singular players or a swap in style player we need to spread the cash the right way if we mixed with Skelton, Hassett (I worry about his body shape but doubt Luai would let us grab him if he wasn’t convinced) & Seve and few others it’s a start in the right direction.

We need to stop just swapping players and focus on building a competitive squad that gets stronger over time. Now out plan here is banking on juniors for a portion of it but they need help.

Hetherington, Knight and some others I think value for reward will be low - they are a typical punt type players. Will cost us more than they are actually worth & cover positions we are are terribly weak in which creates more risk. JAC could be in that bucket as well however his upside is the team first/mateship focus he brings which was pivotal at the Bulldogs.

2m war chest is great but I hope Richo isn’t going after 2-3 players with it rather than focusing on 4-5 players with that cash as a building bloke focusing on 26++ as a serious step up.