Kelce68
Well-known member
Yeh, I think To'a is in the frame.
Signings, Suggestions & Rumours Discussion
- Thread starter MacDougall
- Start date
orange&black
Active member
Was previously thinking there was still some movement in our roster for 2025 but now I’m not so sure that we will see any further additions apart from possibly Bateman going and Sione F upgrading to a top 30 deal. Can’t imagine we have much cap left and whatever we gain will go towards re-signing Galvin.
This means we play 2025 with the squad we currently have.
So weak points are clearly on the edge and in the centres. We need to manufacture/develop some options for these positions and some depth behind them as well in case of injury.
The centre spot (assuming Olam comes good) will go to one of AD, Toa, Faataape, or Turuva.
The srf spot could be any number of guys with Seyfarth, Bird, Sione as front runners. Personally I like Bird as an option if he’s fit enough- reason being he is used to D on the edge as a centre and still can run the ball and knows the right lines. Could add some attack on the edge and has the skills. Needs to be fit enough to keep up in A and D however.
This means we play 2025 with the squad we currently have.
So weak points are clearly on the edge and in the centres. We need to manufacture/develop some options for these positions and some depth behind them as well in case of injury.
The centre spot (assuming Olam comes good) will go to one of AD, Toa, Faataape, or Turuva.
The srf spot could be any number of guys with Seyfarth, Bird, Sione as front runners. Personally I like Bird as an option if he’s fit enough- reason being he is used to D on the edge as a centre and still can run the ball and knows the right lines. Could add some attack on the edge and has the skills. Needs to be fit enough to keep up in A and D however.
Jolls
Well-known member
I think you are close to the money there. We have limited options on the edge and at centre. Moving Bateman on and paying him to play elsewhere just makes the cap situation worse - so my preference is that Johnee turns up; shakes hands with Benji and gets into the grind. That would probably give us just the depth cover we need on the edge once we upgrade Sione F.
Olam/Turuva (depending on how his defence stands up) or Olam/Toa are both probably workable combinations at centre with Naden/Faataape provide depth (AD maybe - prefer him gone).
Bird could be an edge or 13; I just get the feeling he will get the nod at the back. I could well be wrong - I'm a long way from the CoE so can't just drop in and have a sqiz. I'm looking forward to hearing reports back from the members training day on Saturday. It may provide some insights - and maybe comone can let us know if Benji seem to be on the ball with clipboard in hand!
jrtiger
Well-known member
we're at 30 spots currently, but once Miller's situation is resolved and Bateman is moved on we'll have approximately $800k in the cap. Sione will take up approx $150-200k of that and a possible Galvin upgrade will likely cost another $200k.
leaves us with around $400k to spend on a backrower, which the club has apparently prioritised. we'll probably have to look at someone who's off contract end of year and is looking for an opportunity. Dylan Egan, Harrison Hassett, Brodie Jones, Ativalu Lisati and Simi Sasagi all fit the bill.
Tiger_claws
Well-known member
Apparently they got absolutely flogged in it.
In theory, a good team can accommodate some less than phenomenal players so I'm less worried than others about who the 12th or 13th best starter in the team might be. To take a pertinent example, I really don't think there's a gulf in class between Luke Garner and Alex Seyfarth - if the two had swapped last season I sincerely doubt the presence of Seyfarth prevents Penrith winning the premiership, at least. If Seyfarth is the starting right edge that's not in and of itself a catastrophe - especially if he can cut some of the brain explosions out of his game.
What does bother me is that we're probably now done for cap room for 2025 and quite possibly 2026 as well - at least in the sense of making relatively big signings - and we don't really have any plausible answers at centre or edge.
At centre, even if we assume Makasini is able to make an immediate impact around mid-season I don't really like any of the other options: it's Olam, who's quite possibly past it, Doueihi, who is slow and can't defend, To'a, who has never been consistently good, or Turuva, who just weakens another position where we aren't overflowing with talent and isn't proven at centre anyway.
Edge might be better because hopefully Fainu has one spot tied down for years (though his defence also needs work) and I think Seyfarth can be a first grade standard footballer. Also, historically this has been a position that good teams can plug average players into and get decent results - look at Blore at Melbourne, Garner at Penrith or basically anyone Parra has used for the past half decade. If we start looking like a decent side this is exactly the sort of position where you should be hoping to save a bit of cash. The problem is depth: after the starters we're almost immediately into reserve graders. I'm hoping this idea of experimenting with Johanssen at edge might have some legs, because otherwise I'm not sure where we're finding a usable body from at this stage (and no, it's not going to be Bateman - that ship has sailed, run aground on the rocks and sunk).
What does bother me is that we're probably now done for cap room for 2025 and quite possibly 2026 as well - at least in the sense of making relatively big signings - and we don't really have any plausible answers at centre or edge.
At centre, even if we assume Makasini is able to make an immediate impact around mid-season I don't really like any of the other options: it's Olam, who's quite possibly past it, Doueihi, who is slow and can't defend, To'a, who has never been consistently good, or Turuva, who just weakens another position where we aren't overflowing with talent and isn't proven at centre anyway.
Edge might be better because hopefully Fainu has one spot tied down for years (though his defence also needs work) and I think Seyfarth can be a first grade standard footballer. Also, historically this has been a position that good teams can plug average players into and get decent results - look at Blore at Melbourne, Garner at Penrith or basically anyone Parra has used for the past half decade. If we start looking like a decent side this is exactly the sort of position where you should be hoping to save a bit of cash. The problem is depth: after the starters we're almost immediately into reserve graders. I'm hoping this idea of experimenting with Johanssen at edge might have some legs, because otherwise I'm not sure where we're finding a usable body from at this stage (and no, it's not going to be Bateman - that ship has sailed, run aground on the rocks and sunk).
Rock Hopper Steve
Well-known member
Isn't May not actually signed yet lack of top 30 spots
426Tlgerland
Well-known member
I don’t know of a thread for the NRLW signings , rumours , etc , but hay enjoy your dig , hope it makes you feel better
Jolls
Well-known member
If I have the Top 30 right, we need to move on two players to make this happen, based ont he assumption that Sione F is a done deal. So Bateman is one; any info on who else is likely to move (assuming Naden and Bud aren't going anywhere)? Tumeth is probably he low hanging fruit unless somone wants to take on Doueihi.
426Tlgerland
Well-known member
Shows you are not a real Wests Tigers supporter , SHE was a great part of the start of our ladies side of footy
I’d be happy with a no-nonsense defencely sound second rower like Brodie Jones. We’ve got some spark around the park now, our edge defence is and always has been horrible.
Kaito
Well-known member
Yessir. I still haven't found any plausible reason or
logical expiation for breaking up x2 premiership
combination of Luai & Turuva by shifting him from
the left wing to right centre. Skelton is a lock for the
right wing position in my team sheet, #2 is his natural
position too, hence why I rate To'a or Doueihi for right
centre. Bird at #13, he's a determined competitor
In D & point of difference in attack — good extra foot
of speed will help us swing the ball 2 where we need
it and fast. I have to give Seyfarth the #17 jumper.
No clue who we play @ 2nd row If Batemans not back
The Chad
Well-known member
If Bateman doesn't come back, I think Bird plays 2nd row & Sione, Matamua, Twal & Seyfarth fight out #13 until Kit wins it off them.
Bird actually gives us some depth in the second row, but is forgotten in most conversations because the belief is he will play #13.
I don't like Bird having to defend against Haas etc in the middle. I'd much rather him as a quasi-centre defender- much more his skill set. Think Euan Aitken.
Seyfarth is the other second row option. Then it's the younger guys.
Twal is the forgotten man. The least exciting, but most likely to not let you down, particularly in defence.
Bird actually gives us some depth in the second row, but is forgotten in most conversations because the belief is he will play #13.
I don't like Bird having to defend against Haas etc in the middle. I'd much rather him as a quasi-centre defender- much more his skill set. Think Euan Aitken.
Seyfarth is the other second row option. Then it's the younger guys.
Twal is the forgotten man. The least exciting, but most likely to not let you down, particularly in defence.
The Chad
Well-known member
It doesn't look likely that anyone other than Bateman moves on. So one spot becomes available, which would be Sione Fainu's spot.
That says to me that any other recruits for 2025 are going to be T&T style signings. If our KOE squad is strong, our 1st grade squad is strong. There are still some solid squad players available to fit that role.
That says to me that any other recruits for 2025 are going to be T&T style signings. If our KOE squad is strong, our 1st grade squad is strong. There are still some solid squad players available to fit that role.
Tito Santana
Well-known member
Ah who cares….
Buttface
Well-known member
I like the idea, did it actually increase performance?
happy_tiger
Well-known member
Payton flogs them on the hill up in Townsville
Tigerchief
Member
Hey all,
Long long long time reader of the forum but first time poster. I was at training today and both Turuva and Luai both trained. Stayed about an hour and a half. They did some ball work before they joined the rest of the boys. Marshall had them doing full contact training after that. Did not see May or Hunt and Doueihi, Klemmer and Twal all did not train but were there. You could really hear Hodgson and Marshall both ripping into anyone making a mistake. Also spoke to Olam last Friday at their training and the guys had him doing 30 meter runs and then 50 meter runs for about 20/25 minutes with 3 second breaks in between set. When he walked past me and asked me if I was ok I laughed and I replied “ yeah mate I’m good but you look like you’re about to throw up”. He’s reply was “ they’re f%#ing making me work for it”.
All in all I’m definitely not an expert but they looked more intense than I’ve seen them train in the past and a few other pundits watching said the same.
Tito Santana
Well-known member
Good work Chief.
Keep us in the loop. I would love an excuse to fire Twal and Douhei especially.
The Chad
Well-known member
Tito the Axeman
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