Buttface
Well-known member
We may need to release someone?Apparently a hand/finger injury mean he can’t at the moment
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We may need to release someone?Apparently a hand/finger injury mean he can’t at the moment
Was always a BS rumour!I was thinking the same thing. If we land Montoya, we aren't recruiting a a big dollar winger in To'o too.
That's just a horrible 17. Absolutely no chance of being anywhere near realityThere is zero chance there will be that many changes.
Faataape, Mason, Sukkar, Feledy- shouldn't see 1st grade next year without improvements in their game & form demanding it.
Tupou & Utoikamanu are already gone. Papali'i is easily the one going to be missed most of the departing players, Bateman isn't coming back.
With Bird, Hunt, Skelton, Luia, Turuva & possibly/likely Horsburgh coming in, what I would HOPE is that:
Staines & Doueihi are considered depth players
Sione Fainu, Twal fight for a bench position with Johannssen
Latu Fainu, Da Silva, Galvin all play in the squad in some way all season.
A first team that looks like:
1. Bula
2. Turuva
3. Latu Fainu
4. Olam
5. Skelton
6. Galvin
7. Luai
13. Horsburgh
12. Seyfarth
11. Sam Fainu
10. Klemmer
9. Koroisau
8. Hunt
14. Da Silva
15. Pole
16. Bird
17. Twal
And allows Doueihi, Staines, Faataape, Sione Fainu, Johannssen, Porter to be KOE back-up depth is already stronger & more skilled.
I'd like 2 more KOE/1st grade fringe forwards added to give balance. I'd like more depth than Porter, Sione Fainu & Johannssen. Although- that could be where Fa'agutu, Kit Lualili'i etc fit.
Heard on radio this week that Burgess wants him to stay at Wolves next year onwards tooHas Bateman been confirmed?
Why does his father hate Wests Tigers?I definitely agree, but his father hates Wests Tigers. it would take some incredible diplomacy work on Richardson's part to fix it.
The only point which is accurate is that Staines is a back-up. Which is obvious. Toa and Doueihi will struggle to get any interest whatsoever, Naden and Faatape likewise are utterly useless. All 4 should goI would think To'a would gather interest at other clubs pretty easily. And Doueihi on minimum would be easy to move to another club. I can't see how Staines gets in the side without injury at this point. I'd almost be tempted to keep Naden & Faataape as our centre depth.
Hahaha one of my old schoolmates was another MM with a similar twist to his name...Mario Mendez....probably doing time he was a wee bit looseAll on less than Bud.
Yeah I don’t mind Latu getting full games as the reggies 7 but I would prefer to fit him in the NRL team.
Hey I like Marcelo Montoya’s name, saying it quickly with a Mex accent sounds like a Mex Drug Lord. 😎
Why did we sign Skelton and Surava and this guy plus young luuali and others . Surely Montoya is extra to our needs . We need a big boppa intimidating forwardgee i hope its not true about Montoya, i see nothing in him and what he brings to the club!!
That seems extremely unlikely.Commentators just said in this game that Canberra fully expect Horsburgh will still be there next season. I must’ve missed that report
I predict we won't see much of Olam next year, he is broken, chronic knee issues. Look at Douehi, even after his knee reconstructions the guy is playing below par, won't move laterally in defence (when he actually rarely does read the attack).There is zero chance there will be that many changes.
Faataape, Mason, Sukkar, Feledy- shouldn't see 1st grade next year without improvements in their game & form demanding it.
Tupou & Utoikamanu are already gone. Papali'i is easily the one going to be missed most of the departing players, Bateman isn't coming back.
With Bird, Hunt, Skelton, Luia, Turuva & possibly/likely Horsburgh coming in, what I would HOPE is that:
Staines & Doueihi are considered depth players
Sione Fainu, Twal fight for a bench position with Johannssen
Latu Fainu, Da Silva, Galvin all play in the squad in some way all season.
A first team that looks like:
1. Bula
2. Turuva
3. Latu Fainu
4. Olam
5. Skelton
6. Galvin
7. Luai
13. Horsburgh
12. Seyfarth
11. Sam Fainu
10. Klemmer
9. Koroisau
8. Hunt
14. Da Silva
15. Pole
16. Bird
17. Twal
And allows Doueihi, Staines, Faataape, Sione Fainu, Johannssen, Porter to be KOE back-up depth is already stronger & more skilled.
I'd like 2 more KOE/1st grade fringe forwards added to give balance. I'd like more depth than Porter, Sione Fainu & Johannssen. Although- that could be where Fa'agutu, Kit Lualili'i etc fit.
Depth. When we lost Tupou in an early round to Penrith, we had no size and were playing guys like Faatape on the wing. Richo I am sure is still looking for an additional forward aswell.Why did we sign Skelton and Surava and this guy plus young luuali and others . Surely Montoya is extra to our needs . We need a big boppa intimidating forward
Such as NAS
Fainu at centre😂😂😂😂☠️☠️That's just a horrible 17. Absolutely no chance of being anywhere near reality
Yeah probably Douiehi is the 6 for sure. He likes being the dominant half.Eiden Ackland
Adam Douihei
Iverson Matai
Bailey Hodges
James Valevatu
Possible options, although none are outright halfbacks.
Perhaps if Latu doesn't make the 17, he plays 7 in cup. Unless we land a different option.
I was going to say do we have fitness standards at the club because if we do please sack this coaching staff asap. We are the least fittest team in the comp.Considering how far our good players are behind the rest of the comp on fitness…
Matamua must really be an over achiever!!
Horsburgh is the second coming of Nick Graham - no thanks - spend the money elsewhere.Horsburgh would be close to the slowest player in the NRL? The rubber round his waist doesn't help.
Hopefully before the game that was enough to put anyone offApparently Horsbugh was going to inform the club Friday of his decision ??
Anyone have any updates as the Bird one slipped out to media and the media knew about the decision day.
Hope this is done as Richo seems to be great at making deals that go in our favour.
exactly!!Why did we sign Skelton and Surava and this guy plus young luuali and others . Surely Montoya is extra to our needs . We need a big boppa intimidating forward
Such as NAS
"an extraordinary feat given his well-publicised injury battles that have included three knee reconstructions and rheumatoid arthritis."Departing Dragons star Jack Bird has revealed why he signed with the Wests Tigers, while a Warriors star could join him at the club next season. SEE THE LATEST NRL PLAYER MOVES
David Riccio and Michael Carayannis
4 min read
September 7, 2024 - 5:18PM
11 comments
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Jack Bird has dispelled any notion that he is heading to the Wests Tigers for a swansong contract by declaring he wants to play until he’s 34.
The premiership-winner has also revealed that his decision to sign with the wooden spoon club was to help lead Benji Marshall’s side back to the finals for the first time in 13-years.
The St George-Illawarra utility has broken his silence on departing the Dragons to join the Wests Tigers on a two-year deal.
The 29-year-old was unable to farewell Dragons fans against the Raiders at Netstrata Jubilee Stadium on Saturday after withdrawing due to back spasms in the lead-up to the match.
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Jack Bird is leaving the Dragons to join the Wests Tigers. Picture: Getty Images
The two-year deal with the Wests Tigers will take Bird’s career to an 11th season in the NRL, an extraordinary feat given his well-publicised injury battles that have included three knee reconstructions and rheumatoid arthritis.
“The way that I’ve bounced back from my injuries I’ve been pretty resilient, most people would’ve given up,’’ Bird told this masthead.
“I had three ACL surgeries over my career, rheumatoid arthritis, so to think back when my career started that I would still be playing, I’d say no way.
“But the way I’m going now, I feel like my body is holding up well and I can get through until I’m 32, even 34 hopefully.
“I actually feel great, so I don’t see this as my final contract.
“Obviously the road is getting shorter, but I feel like I’ve still got a bit to go.
“I’m only 29 and by the time the Tigers contract is over, I’ll be turning 32 and I still think I can keep going if not in the NRL, then overseas.’’
The Wests Tigers will be Bird’s fourth club after previous stints at the Sharks, Broncos and Dragons, spanning 157 NRL games.
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Bird was unable to play in the Dragons final game of the season, after battling with a back injury. Picture: NRL Imagery
The former NSW Origin representative and 2016 premiership-winning centre said he was excited to be part of the Wests Tigers rebuild.
“I still think that I’ve got some good footy left in me and I like the way the Tigers are heading,’’ Bird said.
“I’m looking forward to going there and helping change their culture a bit and get them back into the finals.
“I want to challenge myself. I’m probably going to have a bigger role than any previous role I’ve had at a club.
“They’ve signed some great players and they’ve bought me for a reason to show the younger guys how to train and how to win.
“I’m excited.
“The only way is up for the Tigers. They’ve won three consecutive wooden spoons and that doesn’t bother me because I look at the squad they’ve got and they’ve got some great young players. The way I see it, if you’re not in the top eight, you may as well come last anyway.
“If we screw our heads on right at training we can go a long way.’’
Bird added that he held no animosity towards the Dragons after originally wanting to extend his future with the Red-V.
“I spoke to Flanno (Shane Flanagan) and he understands. He said he just wouldn’t have known until next year if there was a contract for me and I understand that,’’ Bird said.
“I love the club, I love the boys, I’m going to miss everyone for sure. There’s no bad blood whatsoever and I’m leaving on good terms.