Signings, Suggestions & Rumours Discussion

[BAGNF05]

What are you talking about? Do you not see the evolution of the elite halves lately?
DCE was captain of his Origin side at 35 this year. He is going around again next year at 36.
Cody Walker was a unanimous MOM in SOO game 3 in 2023 at 33. He is going around again next year at 35.
Ben Hunt played SOO and made the Kangaroos this year at 34. He is going around again next year at 35.
Adam Reynolds led his team to a GF at 33. He is going around again next year at 35.
Kieran Foran is going around again next year at 35.
Cooper Cronk was 35 when he retired a GF victor.
Chad Townsend is going around again next year at 34.

Halves these days can keep going well into their 30's and compete. Are you really trying to tell people that at 30 Luai will be washed up? He'll still be playing Origin and Test footy at that age.

Nah he’s got clauses so he’s going to tank now 🤪

 

[Bellend]

Luai agent needs to be given a huge pat on the back for the deal.

In terms of Benji coaching skills how many players improved their game under his control last season??

 

[Buttface]

Question for those complaining about the clause in Luai's contract.

If Galvin agrees to re-sign and extend for 4 more years (to end of 2030), but have a similar clause at the end of 2028. Do you think Richo should agree to it? Or say no more clauses and let him go to market?

I sign him.
What if Staggs says I’m in for the same deal, sign me assp?
Start winning games and only the shite ones will leave.

 

[boonboon]

The question is would you rather him at Tigers with options or at bulldogs with options because that is the actual choice here.

 

[Tucker]

again a media beat up
burned by stefano (worked out better for us)

We dont know that losing Stef has worked out better for us at all.
Yes he wasnt producing, but is still young enough to improve and was targetted by the Storm - arguably the best club in the world for eyeing talent.
We replaced him with a decent player who was unwanted by the Roosters and let go early from his contract, despite them losing considerable talent and experience heading into 2025.
I hope it does work out, but you cant just say it has without any proof.

 

[BAGNF05]

We dont know that losing Stef has worked out better for us at all.
Yes he wasnt producing, but is still young enough to improve and was targetted by the Storm - arguably the best club in the world for eyeing talent.
We replaced him with a decent player who was unwanted by the Roosters and let go early from his contract, despite them losing considerable talent and experience heading into 2025.
I hope it does work out, but you cant just say it has without any proof.

We lost two good players.

But it’s just untenable to have over $1.5 million tied up in two want away players.

 

[Tucker]

We lost two good players.

But it’s just untenable to have over $1.5 million tied up in two want away players.

How did they become want aways? That is what we should be focusing on.

 

[BAGNF05]

How did they become want aways? That is what we should be focusing on.

True. One clearly wanted out before coming. That was long ago.

The other had an offer to lead the Storm’s pack into the future.

From where we’ve been, it’s all pretty understandable to me.

 

[AdelaideTiger]

So if Bateman goes to Souths, it would appear they have a bit of a glut of 2RWs.
Koloamatangi, Arrow, Host, Duncan, Murray (potentially Schuster).
Would we be happy with the advertised release of Bateman (incl paying $300k of salary for next 2 years) if Souths offered Tallis Duncan in return?

 

[tigermate]

Anyone got the read article they can post

 

[Tim Sheens]

Burwood Utd I think

It was, as I coached/managed the West Ryde/Denistone team that played against them for a few years in the newly merged age competition after I busted my knee again in U18's. Brasher played mostly centre in a team that IIRC had 4 players later make grade, with the half-back I think also filling in for first grade at Easts once.

 

[Jolls]

What no one knows it the nuances of the clause and the discussions that were held between player/club as to how they would see this working and why they would want it included.

Is it linked to the the TV deal; no increase no option?
Does it do away with our right of last reply as he is contracted to us?
What decision points are there to allow the clause to be exercised?

Richo has been around for a while - I doubt the contract is written entirely in Luai's favour.

This is click bait.

Is it new in NRL contracting? No

What has actually changed in the last 48 hours that will affect our performance in 25 or 26? Nothing.

The potential for Luai to walk in 27 is an unrealised risk; that Richo and the team should already have a management plan developed for; ie, if it can be predicted it can be planned for. Any good organisation will have already wargamed the scenario. It is not a big deal really.

We just won the spoon and have yet to play a game, yet we are worried about decision points affecting our 27 roster 11 months out. The solution to the problem is how we perform in 2025 and if Luai isn't resolving that problem for us maybe he isn't the half we need in 2027!

The media have achieved exactly what they wanted; they are lauging all the way to the bank!

 

[Camel2281]

Not aware of anything in particular he is doing/has done to galvanise and harmonise the team? He seems to have been disruptive in the past however with reported disagreements with Bateman, Klemmer, Naden and Ofahengaue. Whether he has learnt from his mistakes and now doing a better job managing the players remains to be seen.

Ultimately I think it foolish to assume Bateman is completely at fault and the only disruptive force with whatever happened between the two of them. Especially given there has been minimal reporting on how their relationship broke down.

Bateman has fallen out with coaches and/or teammates at every club he's been at. He's a serial offender

 

[Don Kershane]

Don't know about the players but this is the most gruelling off season the Forum has had in in my experience. Sure to augur well for next year.

 

[jirskyr]

There's another angle on the Luai clause:

If we aren't a better side after 2 years with Luai, would we be in such a rush to keep paying him some $1.2M every year? I said in the other thread: the last player to opt out of staying with the club, we replaced him with 2 better players inside 3 months.

In other words: any time $1.2M is freed up you have a very big opportunity to make some serious recruitment.

But also Tigers must not squander this current roster opportunity and we've only ourselves to blame if we do.

 

[851]

We got 4-5 guys in our team who Richo wants to moves on ..but they tell him they got a contract and aren’t going anywhere ….surely this is not news to you?

Completely different, no one wants them, plenty of clubs would take Luai, and that's on us

 

[batboy]

$1.2 million will probably be the going rate for a top 10 halfback by then, his manager has just done what’s best for his client, and Luai will play safe in the knowledge he’ll earn what he deserves.

If not more,
Walker just got 1.05 a year for 2 didn't he?

 

[WestsEffTheRest]

Anyone got the read article they can post

The Wests Tigers’ signing of Jarome Luai is back under the microscope amid revelations that their $6 million man has a series of options in his favour after the 2026 season.
Why are we surprised? Luai, after all, held the whip hand in negotiations with the Tigers. The Samoan superstar was coming from a club that had won four successive premiership and moving to a club that had won three successive wooden spoons.

He was a State of Origin player and an international. He had clubs, most notably the Bulldogs, desperate for a piece of him.

He was a legitimate magnet for other players. In return, the Tigers offered him the chance to join a club that was looking to climb off the bottom of the ladder.

Sure, they also offered him plenty of cash and the chance to be the man. Yet Luai had all the leverage and he wisely used it to his advantage. The Tigers could have turned around and refused to give Luai the options his camp wanted but chances are he would have walked and signed with the Bulldogs.

Or somewhere else. The Tigers would have been back where they started. So they did the deal and backed Luai to make a significant impact, that would in turn convince him to stay.

Luai hasn’t started training yet but he has already changed the face of the Tigers. He played a role in Terrell May joining the Tigers in the face of rival offers from St George Illawarra.

He could walk away in two years but if he does, chances are the move hasn’t been a success and the Tigers will probably be happy to see the back of him and his mega-contract.

For too long the Tigers have been the NRL’s whipping boys. The only way to change that is to climb the ladder and Luai gives them some hope that could happen.

If he can help them turn it around over the next two years, his deal will be worth every cent. Options or not.

 

[851]

again a media beat up
burned by stefano (worked out better for us)

some players with current player options
- moses
- munster
- brown
- fifita
- grant
- solomona
- wighton
- ponga
- cotter


reece robsons pitched deal to the chooks includes a clause and player options around the tv deal

literally nothing to see here

But Bellamy and the Storm wouldn't allow this, good clubs don't do it according to the whingers on here

 

[Jolls]

If he can help them turn it around over the next two years, his deal will be worth every cent. Options or not.

This is the fact we should be focussed on