Signings, Suggestions & Rumours Discussion

[Tcat]

Former NRL duo sign train and trial deals with Sydney club​

The Wests Tigers have confirmed the signatures of two former NRL outside backs on train and trial contracts for the remainder of the 2025 NRL season.

One of six players to depart the Newcastle Knights at the end of the last season, Krystian Mapapalangi has made the move to the Wests Tigers after previously being linked with a switch to the Super League competition.

Debuting in 2022, he made four appearances in first-grade for the Knights after coming through the South Sydney Rabbitohs (Harold Matthews Cup and SG Ball Cup) and Manly Sea Eagles (SG Ball Cup) pathways system.

Only 22, Mapapalangi was once described by Knights coach Adam O'Brien and former recruiter Alex McKinnon as a superstar in the making. Unfortunately, he was continually plagued by injuries during his time at the club.

The Wests Tigers have also upgraded Izaac Tu'itupou (formerly Thompson) to a train and trial contract for this season after he played four games for the Western Suburbs Magpies in the NSW Cup to begin the year.

Debuting in 2022, Thompson managed 14 appearances and six tries for the Rabbitohs over the past three seasons, with five of those coming in the 2024 NRL season.

A member of the 2023 NSW Cup Team of the Year, he was a key back-up player during his time at the club and helped provide depth and coverage to the outside backs.

Awesome. We get Olam off the books and sign another injury plagued player. I don't get it

 

[bptiger 0]

Finally, some actual transfer news.
Hopefully both of them can kick on,

I hope so too , BUT one is has been that no one wanted , and the other is a constant injury prone player , so untill they prove themselves I wouldn’t get to excited

 

[Betterdays22]

Awesome. We get Olam off the books and sign another injury plagued player. I don't get it

He is cup depth. Nothing more.

 

[pawsandclaws1]

Why WTs should consider Latu Fainu as the future of the club. This article is on MSN.

MSN

 

[bptiger 0]

Why WTs should consider Latu Fainu as the future of the club. This article is on MSN.

MSN

Ur 100% correct the kid can play and has the smarts , I think after watching him playing lock , he looked like he had done it all before , he took 1st ball of the ruck and set up play , can u imagine how good he would be after 20 odd games , do we got 4 ball players then

APi
Latu
Laui
Galvin

Now that’s a lot of ball players for the opposition to keep in check

 

[Tucker]

Ur 100% correct the kid can play and has the smarts , I think after watching him playing lock , he looked like he had done it all before , he took 1st ball of the ruck and set up play , can u imagine how good he would be after 20 odd games , do we got 4 ball players then

APi
Latu
Laui
Galvin

Now that’s a lot of ball players for the opposition to keep in check

Plus Bula out the back and Doueihi in the centres. 6 good ballplayers and runners.

 

[tigerballs]

Source ??

A certain halfback north of the border was approached about a move to Bondi, which he rejected but at that meeting with certain powerbrokers was told Ponga had been approached about replacing Teddy, which was also rejected because he had a handshake agreement with a certain side from NZ. At same meeting, Galvin was mentioned as being signed to succeed certain aging halfback in two years time.
Ambiguous as I can be to keep identities secret.

 

[69tiger]

Awesome. We get Olam off the books and sign another injury plagued player. I don't get it

They’re on train and trial contracts nothing more -if they work out great, if not no big deal.

 

[tigerballs]

I hope so too , BUT one is has been that no one wanted , and the other is a constant injury prone player , so untill they prove themselves I wouldn’t get to excited

Great signings for very little money.

 

[tigerballs]

Plus Bula out the back and Doueihi in the centres. 6 good ballplayers and runners.

Plus 4 reasonable kicking games. We've got shit coming from everywhere!

 

[Odessa]

who said he was the next big thing ?

Coming through the juniors had a bigger wrap on him then Starford Toa

 

[tigerballs]

Plus Bula out the back and Doueihi in the centres. 6 good ballplayers and runners.

Now that we seem to have our defence in reasonable order, the offence has infinite potential.

 

[BlackWhiteGold]

A certain halfback north of the border was approached about a move to Bondi, which he rejected but at that meeting with certain powerbrokers was told Ponga had been approached about replacing Teddy, which was also rejected because he had a handshake agreement with a certain side from NZ. At same meeting, Galvin was mentioned as being signed to succeed certain aging halfback in two years time.
Ambiguous as I can be to keep identities secret.

You say 'At same meeting, Galvin was mentioned as being signed to succeed certain aging halfback in two years time.'.

You mean identified not signed as Galvin cannot be signed by another club until 1 November, actually can't be tabled any offer until then.

 

[tiger_one]

A certain halfback north of the border was approached about a move to Bondi, which he rejected but at that meeting with certain powerbrokers was told Ponga had been approached about replacing Teddy, which was also rejected because he had a handshake agreement with a certain side from NZ. At same meeting, Galvin was mentioned as being signed to succeed certain aging halfback in two years time.
Ambiguous as I can be to keep identities secret.

Thanks champion @tigerballs - your info is always appreciated.
Just in passing, if your contacts know this stuff, would I also be correct to assume that Richo himself is also aware of this etc - so the wheels would be in motion here that our future roster adapts accordingly?

 

[Tucker]

The fact Penrith did not want him back considering their current depth tells you all you need to know.

Yep, massive red flag. Maybe Ivan gave us a tip?

 

[tigerballs]

You say 'At same meeting, Galvin was mentioned as being signed to succeed certain aging halfback in two years time.'.

You mean identified not signed as Galvin cannot be signed by another club until 1 November, actually can't be tabled any offer until then.

Call it what you like, they want their man

 

[tigerballs]

Thanks champion @tigerballs - your info is always appreciated.
Just in passing, if your contacts know this stuff, would I also be correct to assume that Richo himself is also aware of this etc - so the wheels would be in motion here that our future roster adapts accordingly?

I can't speak for Richo but can only assume he's aware of the situation. I got my info from the mystery halfback in question. Who knows who knows what but my guess is Richo has an inkling.

 

[Dennisspicer1]

Awesome. We get Olam off the books and sign another injury plagued player. I don't get it

Train & trial.

 

[tigerballs]

You say 'At same meeting, Galvin was mentioned as being signed to succeed certain aging halfback in two years time.'.

You mean identified not signed as Galvin cannot be signed by another club until 1 November, actually can't be tabled any offer until then.

It's interesting though that they seem to have been rejected by Ponga ( maybe ) and said half, although said half has a luxury lifestyle and plenty of incentive to stay in Qld.

 

[rex2ce]

The sad thing is , he might get to mid 30s and go 2 ways about his wasted footy career . “It’s everyone else’s fault “ or “what have I done !!!?”.
He’s good enough to get that generational wealth going , that looks like it’s starting to come into the nrl , and really break the cycle .
But he’s too knee deep in that culture .
He might have some serious mental health issues as well . Like bi polar or personality disorder or something , that’s gone undiagnosed.
anyways… I wouldn’t say we are desperate for centres . He’s just infinitely better than anything we have . But if the guy is a mess of a human being . He’s really got to sort his shit out . It’s not the 80s or 90s where people will let this shit slide because you can play footy . They will just move onto the next player .

Loose cannon it seems , shame