Signings, Suggestions & Rumours Discussion

[Vicious]

“Rumoured” lol …This is all no doubt based on your gut feels for what players are earning …no one knows outside a few at the club and the NRL what the real numbers are
Did you take into consideration Olam’s money? They also have freed up considerable money moving on from Klemmer as well,,,,,I think they will be fine…Galvin isunder contract in 2026 anyway

1. Jahream Bula / Heath Mason 800
2. Sunia Turuva / Luke Laulilli 600
3. Adam Doueihi / Starford To’a 700
4. Taylan May 500
5. Jeral Skelton / Heamasi Makasini 450
6. Lachie Galvin / Latu Fainu 1100
7. Jerome Luai / Jayden Sullivan 1700
8. Terrell May 650
9. Api Korisau 650
10. Fonua Pole / Kit Laulilli 650
11. Alex Seyfarth 350
12. Samuela Fainu 500
13. Alex Twal 400
14. Talyn Da Silva 300
15. Jack Bird 450
16. Sione Fainu 350
17. Royce Hunt 450

** 10.6 million with 6 top 30 spaces to fill.
** Where 2 players have been included for one value, it is factoring 150 for Mason, 150 for both Laulilli’s, 350 for To’a. 200 for Makasini and 500 for each of Latu Fainu and Jayden Sullivan.

 

[Betterdays22]

When analysing the squad, it is more useful to look at % of cap rather than getting bogged down in an arbitrary "1 million dollar is a lot of money" kind of attitude. The salary cap is around 12 million (which will increase). To have around 1/3 (4 million) of your overall cap locked up in your spine is not the worst thing imo. I dare say this is the model of many of the most successful clubs in the modern era.

 

[Tom Shines]

1. Jahream Bula / Heath Mason 800
2. Sunia Turuva / Luke Laulilli 600
3. Adam Doueihi / Starford To’a 700
4. Taylan May 500
5. Jeral Skelton / Heamasi Makasini 450
6. Lachie Galvin / Latu Fainu 1100
7. Jerome Luai / Jayden Sullivan 1700
8. Terrell May 650
9. Api Korisau 650
10. Fonua Pole / Kit Laulilli 650
11. Alex Seyfarth 350
12. Samuela Fainu 500
13. Alex Twal 400
14. Talyn Da Silva 300
15. Jack Bird 450
16. Sione Fainu 350
17. Royce Hunt 450

** 10.6 million with 6 top 30 spaces to fill.
** Where 2 players have been included for one value, it is factoring 150 for Mason, 150 for both Laulilli’s, 350 for To’a. 200 for Makasini and 500 for each of Latu Fainu and Jayden Sullivan.

you are already counting players that haven’t even signed yet 😂…

 

[Vicious]

you are already counting players that haven’t even signed yet 😂…

So you think we will be happy to stick with the centres we already have and not worry about recruiting someone like Taylan May ?
Adding to this, if we somehow manage to get the 500k contract value of Jayden Sullivan off our books, we could then afford to potentially increase Lachie Galvin’s salary to 1 million per season and still be able to add another good quality edge back rower if one becomes available, but unless that happens the figures clearly show there will not be much salary cap space to work with.

 

[Tom Shines]

So you think we will be happy to run with the centres we already have and not worry about recruiting someone like Taylan May ?

Possibly …. Doobie hasn’t signed next year either …so there is $800k there that you have over estimated already….

they can also move on Latu as he will be surplus to requirements

 

[BlackWhiteGold]

Please stop the Jack Hetherington talk. Aim higher if you want the tigers to play finals

Not all. When he keeps his discipline in check, he is very solid middle who would provide experienced depth. He has a high tackle efficiency (90+%) & makes decent metres. When I mention him, it's more as a squad depth signing which we will need if we want to play finals. He's been going good for the Knights since he tried to fight Reed Mahoney in the tunnel about 12 months ago.

 

[Rock Hopper Steve]

Guru said on his podcast today that from what he’s heard Blake Laurie will be coming to the Tigers in a swap for Klemmer.

That's just great, Pugsley Adam's in Klemmer out, I can't believe Richo would be all over this deal it's a step backwards, hope this is another media guy making shit up.

 

[Kelce68]

So you think we will be happy to stick with the centres we already have and not worry about recruiting someone like Taylan May ?
Adding to this, if we somehow manage to get the 500k contract value of Jayden Sullivan off our books, we could then afford to potentially increase Lachie Galvin’s salary to 1 million per season and still be able to add another good quality edge back rower if one becomes available, but unless that happens the figures clearly show there will not be much salary cap space to work with.

Too many assumptions about actual figures will throw your estimations out by far more than will feasibly allow pundits like us to track our cap position.

I'm a big proponent of public salaries to avoid this type of speculation.

I like what you're trying to do with these estimations, but they cannot be verified and so are basically pissing in the wind; particularly if you want to use those assumptions as a basis for making sweeping statements about our cap position being full.

 

[Tom Shines]

Adding to this, if we somehow manage to get the 500k contract value of Jayden Sullivan off our books, we could then afford to potentially increase Lachie Galvin’s salary to 1 million per season and still be able to add another good quality edge back rower if one becomes available, but unless that happens the figures clearly show there will not be much salary cap space to work with.

If Galvin extends , there is no chance that both Sullivan and Latu are on the team in 2026 …maybe both could be gone …so $550k ( and maybe $1m) at least saved right there which on its own probably takes care of Galvin

 

[Vicious]

That's just great, Pugsley Adam's in Klemmer out, I can't believe Richo would be all over this deal it's a step backwards, hope this is another media guy making shit up.

If depends on cost and what we can believe in regards to rumoured figures.
I’ve seen reports stating Klemner was set to be paid 650k had he remained with us in 2026, but other reports saying it was as high as 800k.
I don’t think Klemmer let us down when he played for us, but he had become a very straight up and down prop who would make his tackles without ever dominating anyone and would make his carries without scattering any defenders and rarely ever offloading or passing the ball, therefore being over 30 years of age and not looking likely to improve, his true contract value should have only been around 400k.
If it’s true and we sign Blake Lowrie, it will be interesting to know what we are paying him as you would hope we are not going any higher than 350k tops.
At around 350k I think he’s decent value as he adds depth quality as an experienced NRL prop who could come into our NRL side and do a decent job as the first choice middle forward back up and if he plays at his best he would be challenging Sione Fainu for a regular top 17 position.

 

[upthetigers]

If depends on cost and what we can believe in regards to rumoured figures.
I’ve seen reports stating Klemner was set to be paid 650k had he remained with us in 2026, but other reports saying it was as high as 800k.
I don’t think Klemmer let us down when he played for us, but he had become a very straight up and down prop who would make his tackles without ever dominating anyone and would make his carries without scattering any defenders and rarely ever offloading or passing the ball, therefore being over 30 years of age and not looking likely to improve, his true contract value should have only been around 400k.
If it’s true and we sign Blake Lowrie, it will be interesting to know what we are paying him as you would hope we are not going any higher than 350k tops.
At around 350k I think he’s decent value as he adds depth quality as an experienced NRL prop who could cone into our NRL side and do a decent job as the first choice middle forward back up and if he plays at his best he would be challenging Sione Fainu for a regular top 17 position.

Surely we can aim higher then Blake Lowrie. A forward has to see a good opportunity we're a club on the up!

 

[Vicious]

Too many assumptions about actual figures will throw your estimations out by far more than will feasibly allow pundits like us to track our cap position.

I'm a big proponent of public salaries to avoid this type of speculation.

I like what you're trying to do with these estimations, but they cannot be verified and so are basically pissing in the wind; particularly if you want to use those assumptions as a basis for making sweeping statements about our cap position being full.

I believe quite a few values I noted are likely less than what they are actually being paid, I can’t see which ones would be likely to be higher than their true contract value, can you ?

 

[SeanT]

I believe we will lose TDS come end of 2026 if not sooner. There are already 6 .. if not more clubs that are lining up to secure his signature. The way contracts for players are going TDS could becoming the richest number 9 in the game come the end of the 2026 season.

Haha wow your talking him up like Cameron Smith.

He's got a long way to go before he's even in the top 10 of hookers. He's signed to end of 2026 as well.

No idea why people on here go on a bout it. Bad as the media.

 

[Vicious]

Ideally I would like better than Blake Lowrie also, but we are not in the market for a starting prop, more so someone who can fill a roster spot as our 17th or 18th player to add depth to our squad.
The question is for under 400k is there anyone better we could potentially add anytime soon ?
I regularly look through the NSW Cup and Qld Cup team line ups and there is not much talent there at the moment that you could call up to play NRL and be confident they would add any value I can assure you.

 

[Rock Hopper Steve]

I believe we will lose TDS come end of 2026 if not sooner. There are already 6 .. if not more clubs that are lining up to secure his signature. The way contracts for players are going TDS could becoming the richest number 9 in the game come the end of the 2026 season.

Well we will have to let him go, he has a long way to go to be an 80 minute player by end of 26.
Luai 1.2mil, Galvan 1mil or possibly more, TDS some stupid money, Bula will probably be looking for more knowing his manager somethings gotta give, looking for one of our juniors to step up or Api stays a bit longer if TDS wants stupid money end of 26.

 

[Ermo]

Guru said on his podcast today that from what he’s heard Blake Laurie will be coming to the Tigers in a swap for Klemmer.

Please no

 

[Vicious]

Well we will have to let him go, he has a long way to go to be an 80 minute player by end of 26.
Luai 1.2mil, Galvan 1mil or possibly more, TDS some stupid money, Bula will probably be looking for more knowing his manager somethings gotta give, looking for one of our juniors to step up or Api stays a bit longer if TDS wants stupid money end of 26.

In a perfect world we ideally want to keep all our local juniors who are showing promise, but we cannot be held to ransom by them either.
Kurt Donoghue currently at The Dolphins is currently a superior player to Talyn, he’s also currently off contract for 2026 and beyond and is a very versatile player who can cover 9,13, 6 and 1.
Talyn is showing plenty of promise, but there are plenty of young up and coming hookers who are showing just as much promise and only on minimum wage contracts.

 

[Rock Hopper Steve]

If depends on cost and what we can believe in regards to rumoured figures.
I’ve seen reports stating Klemner was set to be paid 650k had he remained with us in 2026, but other reports saying it was as high as 800k.
I don’t think Klemmer let us down when he played for us, but he had become a very straight up and down prop who would make his tackles without ever dominating anyone and would make his carries without scattering any defenders and rarely ever offloading or passing the ball, therefore being over 30 years of age and not looking likely to improve, his true contract value should have only been around 400k.
If it’s true and we sign Blake Lowrie, it will be interesting to know what we are paying him as you would hope we are not going any higher than 350k tops.
At around 350k I think he’s decent value as he adds depth quality as an experienced NRL prop who could come into our NRL side and do a decent job as the first choice middle forward back up and if he plays at his best he would be challenging Sione Fainu for a regular top 17 position.

Mate can't agree on Lawrie if we want to get better as a team whoever comes in needs to be an upgrade if the player who goes out is ordinary, Kit could do Lawrie's job better from a depth perspective.

 

[Tom Shines]

In a perfect world we ideally want to keep all our local juniors who are showing promise, but we cannot be held to ransom by them either.
Kurt Donoghue currently at The Dolphins is currently a superior player to Talyn, he’s also currently off contract for 2026 and beyond and is a very versatile player who can cover 9,13, 6 and 1.
Talyn is showing plenty of promise, but there are plenty of young up and coming hookers who are showing just as much promise and only on minimum wage contracts.

I’m certain that TDS is being groomed by Benji and Richo to be the long term 9 at the Tigers …I think they will look to get an extension done in the next couple of months

 

[Vicious]

Not all. When he keeps his discipline in check, he is very solid middle who would provide experienced depth. He has a high tackle efficiency (90+%) & makes decent metres. When I mention him, it's more as a squad depth signing which we will need if we want to play finals. He's been going good for the Knights since he tried to fight Reed Mahoney in the tunnel about 12 months ago.

He’s very mobile for a big man, I’m surprised the Knights are not looking at retaining him given they are losing Leo Thompson.
He ticks plenty of boxes with good go forward and plenty of aggression, if a coach could somehow get him to reduce his errors and keep his discipline in check he would be a very valuable player.