Signings, Suggestions & Rumours Discussion

Telltails said:
Can't control what the media say and do when something like this happens.
If RPLA are so concerned about 19 year olds maybe support a change in the system in relation to contract negs and a trade window that doesn't impact on the competition - which they are so against.
You expect fan support - this is what it looks like when this crap happens six weeks into season. Don't pretend you care that much
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Yea …. Maybe tiered rookie contracts for kids under 21 ? And a draft/ mid season trade window . What about only being able to negotiate contracts in the final 6 months of your previous one , like every other professional sport ?
 
BUGSY MALONE said:
If he is NOT a top 17 player why did Richo and the WT just offer him $1Million a season? A lot of money to offer a NSW Cup standard player. I will yell it from the rooftops that L Galvin is WITHOUT DOUBT a top 17 player! I am not a Gus Gould fan but he is a great judge of a footballer and his admiration of LG is spot on. Injury aside he will go on to be one of the stars of the game. Tigers need to win games and having Galvin in the team will increase their chances. TETL!
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You said that because Galvin is a top 17 player, he needs to be in first grade.

I’m not disputing that he has remarkable potential and moments of brilliance. Is he in our top 17 for raw talent? Undoubtedly — I agree with you there.

But is he in our top 17 when it comes to giving us the best chance of success? Based on his attitude and impact on team cohesion, the answer is a clear no.

This is a team sport. The Tigers, like any professional club, don’t just need talent; they need unity. Culture matters. And when an individual puts themselves above the team, potential means very little.

The team has spoken. They don’t want to play with him; a petulant teenager with no real runs on the board, questionable form and a chip on his shoulder. Especially not when another promising player is champing at the bit.

So no, he doesn’t need to be in first grade. In fact, keeping him out might be exactly what this team needs.
 
You just have to go through Lachies performances in a key position to justify giving Douehi a crack. No case to answer for him giving a stint back in ressies especially with recent events as well.
 
Even before reading Latu's thoughts . . . I didn't really want the club to chase another halfback.
Whoever it is. However good they are.
Because the huge risk is that the superstar that has maybe 2 years left it him puts Latu's nose out of joint and he is disappointed at seemingly having his shot once LG walks out . . . then has that swept from underneath by DCE, or whoever.
In all honesty, Latu has shown more direct spark and creativity than LG, IMHO. He will complement Luai, not sulk because Luai gets more attention.
I'd hate to lose him because of some 35 year old.
And then, after reading Latu's thoughts, close the book. We have our next half already.
Just for a laugh, compare the words of Latu's statement to LG's one.
 
bigsiro said:
You said that because Galvin is a top 17 player, he needs to be in first grade.

I’m not disputing that he has remarkable potential and moments of brilliance. Is he in our top 17 for raw talent? Undoubtedly — I agree with you there.

But is he in our top 17 when it comes to giving us the best chance of success? Based on his attitude and impact on team cohesion, the answer is a clear no.

This is a team sport. The Tigers, like any professional club, don’t just need talent; they need unity. Culture matters. And when an individual puts themselves above the team, potential means very little.

The team has spoken. They don’t want to play with him; a petulant teenager with no real runs on the board, questionable form and a chip on his shoulder. Especially not when another promising player is champing at the bit.

So no, he doesn’t need to be in first grade. In fact, keeping him out might be exactly what this team needs.
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Just on the team unity topic.

I was speaking with someone this morning who is close to a snr rep player from Penrith.

The morale is not good within the playing group. There is a split between snr and jnr players. The jnr group are just not doing the hard yards, show boating, flick passing. Not knuckling down with the coaches instructions. 5 and 1 the snr players are pissed…
 
Not sure if it’s been mentioned here but

Does anyone remember when we signed Luai that the panthers said we could have him early if we released Galvin ?

Tigers said no we can wait & we want to keep Lachie

Also remember late last year Brian To’o asked for a release from the Panthers , presumably to come to us and panthers wouldn’t give him a release .

So currently panthers need a 6 to partner Cleary

It might make sense for a To’o / Galvin swap to occur now
 
BlackWhiteGold said:
MUST READ ... gives me goosebumps!

‘I’m ready’: Latu Fainu ready to make Galvin’s No.6 jersey his own

ByAdrian Proszenko
April 16, 2025 — 3.45pm

Latu Fainu has declared himself ready to step into Lachlan Galvin’s No.6 jersey, believing coach Benji Marshall’s guidance will help fulfil his ambition of becoming Jarome Luai’s long-time halves partner.

Galvin’s future at the club has become clouded after his decision not to entertain a lucrative contract extension in the belief Marshall couldn’t take his game to the next level. At the urging of senior players, Marshall dropped Galvin to NSW Cup.

Phil Gould has labelled the situation “untenable” and predicts there is no way Galvin will see out the remainder of his Tigers contract, which expires at the end of 2026.

Whether Galvin moves on now or later, Fainu is considered the playmaker most likely to fill the void. Currently unavailable due to a hand injury that will likely sideline him for a further three weeks, Fainu has made 11 NRL appearances to date, predominantly off the bench.

However, the 19-year-old believes he is ready to play alongside Luai and make the No.6 jersey his own.

“100 per cent. If [Galvin] is not there, I’m ready,” Fainu said. “I’m willing to do whatever it takes to make this team better. For me, if it means getting that six role, I’m all in.

“When I first came to Wests Tigers, they brought me to play in the halves. That’s all I’ve ever wanted to do. That’s the position I’ve been playing my whole career, since I started playing footy. I feel most comfortable there, I feel I can add more value to the team as a half.

“Whatever the team needs, I’m all in. I love the club.”

While Galvin says he can’t play his best football under Marshall, Fainu believes the former premiership-winning pivot is the perfect person to guide his career.

“Obviously, he has helped me so much on and off the field,” Fainu said of Marshall.

“He was a great player and is a great coach for me. He makes me comfortable in the side and makes me play my best.

“Honestly, when he joins our sessions, I just watch him. When he trains, you get a feel for the mix of how he wants to play and how I want to play. I just want to play like him.

“Whatever the team needs, I’m all in. I love the club.”

“He knows what is best for me as a player. He has given me and my brothers a debut in the NRL. I’m truly grateful to have him as my coach.”

Like Galvin, Fainu was dubbed as the next big thing while coming through the junior ranks. In late 2021, when he was still 16 and at Manly, Fainu signed the biggest contract ever for a player yet to reach NRL level.

When he switched to the Tigers, where he played alongside Galvin in the lower grades, it was Fainu who wore the coveted No.6 jersey.

“He was playing at fullback and then switched to second row when he was playing with me,” Fainu recalled.

The Guilford product said he was keen to play as much football alongside four-time premiership-winning playmaker Luai as possible.

“He’s a great role model, especially for me as a half,” the Tongan international said of Luai. “He knows what he’s doing in on-field situations, but off field he knows what to bring with the culture of the team. He’s just a great person to be around.

“I’m trying to learn as much as I can off him. As much as I want to play this week, I know that I’m injured.

“In talking to Jarome Luai, he’s keeping me up to date and encourages me to take control and play halves with him.”

Fainu said the prospect of playing behind a pack that included Terrell May, Fonua Pole, Alex Twal and Royce Hunt was an exciting one.

“100 per cent, they make our jobs easier,” he said.

“They get to our spots quicker, it makes it so much easier for all of our spine, especially me, Api [Koroisau], Jarome and Jahream [Bula].”

Fainu has already achieved his ambition of playing alongside his brothers Sione and Samuela - who are in the side for the Easter Monday clash against Parramatta - at the Tigers. Now he hopes they get to add to the tally.

“That’s the only thing we want for each other, to play first grade,” he said.

“To continue to play first grade at Tigers, that would be a dream come true.

“It means a lot, they are the only team that trusted us to all play together at the same club.”
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No half-hearted, lip service quotes peddled by manager/dad. Genuinely wants to be here. If Latu stays fit we win out of this whole saga.
 
vlad said:
Not sure if it’s been mentioned here but

Does anyone remember when we signed Luai that the panthers said we could have him early if we released Galvin ?

Tigers said no we can wait & we want to keep Lachie

Also remember late last year Brian To’o asked for a release from the Panthers , presumably to come to us and panthers wouldn’t give him a release .

So currently panthers need a 6 to partner Cleary

It might make sense for a To’o / Galvin swap to occur now
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Not this year for To’o, I’d wait until the end of the season. We have enough wingers, but in a position we need maybe now.
If we can manage it i’d rather him have to rot on his min contract for a while longer than walking straight on to a mill. That’s why he’s doing all this.
Anyway we need to be make sure everyone else thinks we can afford to keep him on min in reggies till end of 26, and still win games or we’ll loose the hand.
 
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