Tucker
Well-known member
Even better 👍🏼
Signings, Suggestions & Rumours Discussion
- Thread starter MacDougall
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The exact sort of 7 we need.
Tony Taco
Well-known member
The Ash Taylor comment is money
Dennisspicer1
Well-known member
Signed with Super league.
Tom Shines
Well-known member
Anyone got the full article ?
www.smh.com.au
Was this the moment Jarome Luai became a poster boy for maturity?
Jarome Luai was once criticised for showing a lack of humility. He painted a different picture in Wests Tigers training gear on Thursday.
BlackWhiteGold
Well-known member
Four premierships and Origin series triumphs have defined Jarome Luai’s career to date, but Thursday afternoon’s Wests Tigers media performance may be the making of him as a leader.Anyone got the full article ?
Was this the moment Jarome Luai became a poster boy for maturity?
Jarome Luai was once criticised for showing a lack of humility. He painted a different picture in Wests Tigers training gear on Thursday.
A one-time magnet for the haters and a polarising player who was criticised during his tenure at Penrith for a perceived lack of humility might have become rugby league’s poster boy for maturity and measured conversation.
The way he handled himself in the furnace of Thursday’s press conference after fronting the media to answer all things Lachlan Galvin spoke more of his qualities as a leader than any social media post ever could.
It was more impressive considering reports suggesting Galvin, his teenage halves partner, in part wanted out of the club because he had been unsettled by Luai’s arrival to Tiger Town.
Tempting as it might have been, Luai didn’t criticise Galvin personally. Instead, he made it known that he was not going to let the leader of the pack, coach Benji Marshall, be the scapegoat for a situation that many believe has been deliberately inflamed to hasten Galvin’s departure from the club.
“It’s been good,” Luai said in response to the opening question about his relationship with Galvin, although he added the caveat “up until this point”.
Jarome Luai shares a joke with Tigers coach Benji Marshall.CREDIT: GETTY IMAGES
“I’ve enjoyed playing with him and I thought we’ve worked really hard.” Then again, he repeated “up until this point”.
The message was clear – “up until this point”, the playing group had respected what Galvin had brought to the team, despite several senior players privately worrying that the young star was beginning to show a sense of entitlement.
That all went out the window this week when Galvin’s agent, Isaac Moses, told the club the five-eighth wanted to move on because he did not believe he could develop as a player under Marshall. The players saw that as criticism of a coach they strongly support and a deliberate attempt to discredit him.
“He’s our coach, and at the end of the day, if you disrespect him, you’re disrespecting us as a team,” Luai said. “I don’t stand for that.”
That he refrained from taking a shot at Galvin directly was a smart move. Luai is still earning the respect of a playing group that includes individuals like Tallyn Da Silva, who are close to Galvin.
Those close to Luai say the “Team First” Instagram post was a call for unity rather than a shot at Galvin.
“I was just throwing support behind coach, behind what we stand for as a club.” Luai said. “And moving forward if anything happens like this, we’re working hard to have team first behaviours and making sure that’s built from the bottom up.”
The reason the senior players felt so aggrieved was because they learned during the week that Galvin’s agent had compiled a dossier of grievances, which he then presented in a meeting with chief executive Shane Richardson.
Lachie Galvin at Wests Tigers training on Thursday.CREDIT: RENEE NOWYTARGER
The first related to a wrestling session, from which Galvin was removed by Marshall after five minutes. Sources at the club, speaking anonymously in order to talk freely, said it was Marshall’s way of looking after his star player, a young playmaker like he once was. He said he didn’t need to get involved in the grubby stuff around the play-the-ball area.
Moses, however, claimed that Marshall’s gesture had been detrimental to his client’s development, arguing he needed the additional time at the wrestling session to improve the defensive aspect of his game.
The senior players couldn’t understand why their teammate was reporting such things back to his manager, especially as it had the potential to destabilise their attempt to play finals football.
The second grievance Moses took to Richardson related to an alleged comment Marshall made that offended his client.
When asked about this masthead’s reports that Galvin felt overshadowed by Luai’s arrival over the summer, Luai replied: “You’re going to have ask him bro, but I know why I’m here and why I came here, and that’s to improve this team culturally and on the field.
“I’m enjoying my time here. I can’t speak for everybody, but we’re doing some good things behind the scenes.”
Luai knows more than most the need for a player to do what’s best for him and his family. He walked out on his beloved Panthers after attracting a long-term deal with the Tigers worth almost half a million dollars a season more than he was earning at Penrith.
“That’s rugby league, bro. Everyone has the right to seek what’s best for them,” Luai said.
“I did it last year. But the thing that has disrupted us the most as a team are the things said about coach, and our team in general.”
Whether those things were said directly by Galvin or via his manager, the Tigers players haven’t differentiated.
The strongest moment of the press conference was when Apisai Koroisau was asked if he had spoken to Galvin since the drama erupted on Monday. “No,” was the terse reply.
It speaks volumes for how angry some of the senior players are, despite everyone leaving the door open for Galvin to return to first grade this year.
“If the time is right and the coach is happy with that,” Luai said. “At the end of the day, it’s his call to make the team selection. He will do what’s best for the team. If he’s in the right mindset, his heart is in the right spot and he deserves to wear the jersey, then by all means come with us.”
You get the feeling it’s going to take a lot to convince them of that. Team first, and all that
old_man_tiger
Well-known member
"deserves to wear the jersey"
These guys don't think like losers anymore, led by this man. Monday is huge, this is either the most delusional I've ever been as a tigers fan (huge call) or a big positive moment for the team.
These guys don't think like losers anymore, led by this man. Monday is huge, this is either the most delusional I've ever been as a tigers fan (huge call) or a big positive moment for the team.
Tom Shines
Well-known member
Pretty good article from Chammas actually who I thought had been on the other side ….
Tigers really have something cooking here …if only they had a bit more quality depth to call on …still hoping Richo can dig up,something…
Tigers really have something cooking here …if only they had a bit more quality depth to call on …still hoping Richo can dig up,something…
Tucker
Well-known member
You realise Richardson played a big role in this?
There’s no reason this couldn’t wait until November, when we hopefully would have had more data to use in our negotiations. Talking after we played finals would have changed perceptions a bit.
Probably wouldn’t have made a difference, but it may have.
So moving forward hopefully we get some news about a few extensions.
Doueihi - 2 years
Naden - 1 year
Mason - 2 years
Luke Luailli - 2 years
Sukkar - Activate the Club Option for 2026 & add 2027
Toa & Da Silva extend until 2028. They are contracted for 2026 already.
The makes 25 on the books for the top 30.
No other real regular first graders missing.
All should be pretty good value except for maybe Doueihi, Toa & Da Silva will have to pay market value. Maybe overs for Da Silva slightly.
5 spots plus plenty in the bank can target at least 2 big names IMO.
Doueihi - 2 years
Naden - 1 year
Mason - 2 years
Luke Luailli - 2 years
Sukkar - Activate the Club Option for 2026 & add 2027
Toa & Da Silva extend until 2028. They are contracted for 2026 already.
The makes 25 on the books for the top 30.
No other real regular first graders missing.
All should be pretty good value except for maybe Doueihi, Toa & Da Silva will have to pay market value. Maybe overs for Da Silva slightly.
5 spots plus plenty in the bank can target at least 2 big names IMO.
Go_You_Good_Things
Well-known member
Yeah, I heard a radio grab of Chammas talking about the situation and was prepared to hear how Moses is the worlds most compassionate manager . . . but he actually spoke in support of our side of the argument.
Tucker
Well-known member
So what’s the real reason?
Are they making him the top earner in the comp?
It’s a baffling decision unless he’s getting a massive increase from what Richo offered. To that point, they didn’t even negotiate and try and get that offer raised.
It doesn’t make any sense other than he completely hates being a Wests Tiger. If that’s the case, why hasn’t that been identified earlier?
I think it was perfect timing.
I would imagine our players already knew about Galvin’s lunch dates with Mitchell Moses and although it’s only 6 games into the season, it was there for all to see the club was on the improve which what Galvin was rumoured to previously be wanting to see.
The playing in a successful team now appears to not matter to him seeing it’s quite clear the Eeks are his club of choice.
Nevervthe less we have revealed the truth and in doing so have united our playing group and supporter base, so it’s a win for Wests Tigers.
Betterdays22
Well-known member
Im pretty confident be won't he another Ash Taylor. Taylor made a really poor career decision by taking the money and heading to the Gold Coast.
Say what you want about Galvin but this doesnt seem to be about money. If he isn't totally full of BS he is actually doing the oppposite of what Taylor did and trying to get himself into a strong team/system likely for less money, thats why I think he will sign for the Dogs.
I will always hate Galvin for leaving especially the way he has torched Benji on the way out. I would love nothing more than for him to fail at a club like the Eels with Moses. But liking him to Ash Taylor is wishful thinking
upthetigers
Well-known member
I don't want to big note myself but I identified 2 games this season that were must win games for team morale and confidence moving forward and we won both. This is another must win game.
Enmore_Tiger
Well-known member
Getting the extention done now takes the huge and ongoing distraction of the table. It was totally legitimate to want to get it done. It's totally normal to negotiate before a player goes on the open market.
Additionally getting it done allow a decision on how to develop Latu - who to invest in.
These 2 grievances are deadset laughable..
If this is what they are using Galvin and him Dad need to swap Managers ASAP
Tucker
Well-known member
Well it’s not really a win. This kid has 15 or more NRL seasons ahead of him and is a natural footballer. I don’t like him as a half, but there’s zero doubt he can play the game…possibly at an elite level one day.
It also seems unlikely this decision is money based. That’s a critique of this club by one of the hottest young prospects we’ve seen in years.
Also….Im finding it really hard to believe he is going to Parra. I reckon Penrith may find some wiggle room. His old mate Blaize is no good,
Betterdays22
Well-known member
If he is not totally full of BS he will go to Penrith, Roosters for less money. I think he will find Gus and Ciraldo very hard to turn down. He goes to one of the above clubs he has a very long and successful career imo.
If he ends up at Parra or Manly, we know who has actually made the decision.
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Enmore_Tiger
Well-known member
So if he is not a half it complicates the decision of what is the right salary cap investment. If Latu can do a better job at half the cost the money should be invested on the edges where it is needed. Galvan is a few years away from being a value spend on an edge. All clubs lose players due to the salary cap puzzle.
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