Signings, Suggestions & Rumours Discussion

[BlackWhiteGold]

The Wests Tigers cubs ready to take over the mantle from Lachlan Galvin as the club’s best pathways prospect​

Is there still life in the Tigers after Lachlan Galvin? We take a look at the rising stars ready to take over the mantle from Galvin as the club’s next brightest NRL prospect.

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2 min read
April 27, 2025 - 5:30AM
20 Comments

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The impending exit of boom five-eighth Lachlan Galvin has rocked the Wests Tigers.
After playing a key role in the Western Suburbs Magpies grand final victory in Harold Matthews (under 17’s) two years ago, Galvin was viewed as the future at the Concord club.

Coach Benji Marshall has an immediate solution to remedy Galvin’s exit in rising rookie Latu Fainu, who is waiting in the wings to wear the no. 6 jumper alongside Jarome Luai in the halves.


But as a development club, the loss of Galvin, a Campbelltown junior, is a huge blow to the Tigers.

So, who is the new jewel in the crown of the club’s junior representative pathways?

With Lachlan Galvin set to leave the Wests Tigers, who are the young cubs ready to replace him? Picture: Getty Images
Heamasi Makasini might not be a playmaker but the barnstorming centre is a prodigious teenage talent like Galvin.

One of the most sought after league and union prospects in the country, Makasini will turn 18 this year making him eligible for an NRL debut.

In the fullback ranks excitement is building at Concord about the youngster being compared to Storm superstar Ryan Papenhuyzen – the Tigers junior who slipped through the club’s fingers almost 10 years ago.

While generational talents like Galvin are hard to come by, the club has high hopes for a number of young halves impressing through the ranks like Sonny Edwards-Moeke and Marc Tannous.



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We take a look at the Tigers cubs ready to take over the mantle from Galvin as the club’s best pathways prospects, and as potential future NRL stars:

Wests Tigers rising stars​

Wests Tigers rising stars​

Sonny Edwards-Moeke

Cohen Benson

Marc Tannous

Tyler Birnie

Iverson Matai

Heamasi Makasini

Riley Oitmann

Logan Brookes

Glassie Glassie

Xavier Tauaifaiga

Faaletino Tavana

Max Taotua

Christian Tapau-Moors

Jared Haywood

Phoenix Godinet

Archie Duncombe

Byron Laupepa

Peter Taai

Kohan Lewis

Jeremiah Leatigaga

On the DT page, you can click on each player for more info.

 

[Buttface]

Adam Reynolds not ready to walk away from RL yet. Salary cap headache for Broncos. Perhaps we can help.

MSN

Have they got a young half coming through or will they be making from for a DCE retirement plan?
With Reynolds age and niggles maybe he should give it away soon.

I think I remember reading on here years ago, that Adam was our jr who got injured and then we prioritised Brooks and didn’t resign Adam after his injury, so he went to souths? Do you know much about that Paws, or is that just not true?

 

[orange&black]

I have reconsidered KPP since reading that Bullemore is managed by Moses, maybe all he needs is a fresh start and some new found Tigers spirit.

On that topic, I am so disappointed by the crap that has pervaded our club in the last few weeks. I had been feeling really excited by what I thought was a new culture building, driven by and around our fresh recruits. At last a competitive, winning attitude and an upbeat team mentality- a squad that were hungry for success. I was a ‘believer’ - WAS, but now I’m not so sure.
Now I’m beginning to sense the same shit “Tigers of old” vibe starting to sneak back in. This media storm has disconnected our group and we need to find and focus on what we were developing before otherwise we’ll be back on the bottom in a flash.

 

[Buttface]

On the DT page, you can click on each player for more info.

I hate advertising how good our juniors are. Do the DT do this with other teams.

Anyway thanks for posting it.

Any of those young blokes young reckon will actually make it?

 

[Needaname]

Have they got a young half coming through or will they be making from for a DCE retirement plan?
With Reynolds age and niggles maybe he should give it away soon.

I think I remember reading on here years ago, that Adam was our jr who got injured and then we prioritised Brooks and didn’t resign Adam after his injury, so he went to souths? Do you know much about that Paws, or is that just not true?

They are absolutely stacked mate!
Coby Black, with Madden in filler role for the meantime.
Though in the short term you’d expect Mam to return and Hunt to partner him.
I wouldn’t be surprised to see Reynolds go to the Titans, Dolphins or Dogs if he returns to Sydney.

 

[Needaname]

Have they got a young half coming through or will they be making from for a DCE retirement plan?
With Reynolds age and niggles maybe he should give it away soon.

I think I remember reading on here years ago, that Adam was our jr who got injured and then we prioritised Brooks and didn’t resign Adam after his injury, so he went to souths? Do you know much about that Paws, or is that just not true?

Second part. That was Illias, Reynolds debuted earlier then Brooks and was SSTID.

 

[BlackWhiteGold]

I hate advertising how good our juniors are. Do the DT do this with other teams.

Anyway thanks for posting it.

Any of those young blokes young reckon will actually make it?

A lot of these young guys are rated highly none moreso than Haemasi Makasini & Jared Haywood and Christian Taupau-Moors & Pheonix Godinet.

I'm also a big fan of young fullbacks Riley Oitmann, Tino Tavana & Logan Brookes as well as the Taotua twins (Max & Mitch).

One player not mentioned and has been unsighted since the trials is Flegg middle Jekope Sovau (Api's cousin), heaps of power, skill, leg speed & upside.

 

[pawsandclaws1]

I hate advertising how good our juniors are. Do the DT do this with other teams.

Anyway thanks for posting it.

Any of those young blokes young reckon will actually make it?

Smorgasboard.

 

[pawsandclaws1]

Have they got a young half coming through or will they be making from for a DCE retirement plan?
With Reynolds age and niggles maybe he should give it away soon.

I think I remember reading on here years ago, that Adam was our jr who got injured and then we prioritised Brooks and didn’t resign Adam after his injury, so he went to souths? Do you know much about that Paws, or is that just not true?

Reynolds would know when his body has had enough. Richardson would also be well aware due to their time together at Souths. I believe Reynolds was always a Souths player.

 

[hodgo]

Could we be willing to let tds go knowing Haywood is the potential future?

 

[Roar_Power]

Reynolds would know when his body has had enough. Richardson would also be well aware due to their time together at Souths. I believe Reynolds was always a Souths player.

You would roll yourself out in a wheelchair for $600k a season....

 

[pawsandclaws1]

Could we be willing to let tds go knowing Haywood is the potential future?

No. The player market is tight now, wait until the new teams start recruiting. We need to lock down our quality juniors we produce through both junior districts.

 

[liltiger]

Is there sufficient talent for expansion - good MSN article with Braith Anasta

MSN

All that will happen is what always does. The teams that have the junior bases. Tigers, Dragons, Penrith, Parra any other club with a huge junior footprint will be used to supply the new teams until they get their set ups going. Problem is if in setting up a team the new teams admins switch on to the fact they can just cherry pick the juniors they want from other clubs development pathways, then the millions each year required for their own systems they can relocate to other parts of the setup. Hypothetically if we just cherry picked what we wanted we wouldn't need to spend more than 2 million a year in our junior systems, we could use that money for other things. Whether it's good for long term success or not I think depends on who's running the joint. We neglected it under the old regime and we were a disaster. Under Richo it could work cause he knows what he's doing. I don't think it's fair imo. I think before any team is included it should be mandatory they have a pathway system up and running for 3 - 5 prior to being granted an N.R.L license to compete in reserve grade and the lower comps, so clubs like us who spend the cash on junior development arnt unfairly disadvantaged. I understand we recieve more t.v money as there's more games broadcast, but money doesn't run out on the pitch to win football games and at the end of the day when you break it all down it's all about wins and losses.

 

[liltiger]

On the DT page, you can click on each player for more info.

Damn, why are we the only club who's juniors are always put in the paper like it's a shop window.

 

[Buttface]

A lot of these young guys are rated highly none moreso than Haemasi Makasini & Jared Haywood and Christian Taupau-Moors & Pheonix Godinet.

I'm also a big fan of young fullbacks Riley Oitmann, Tino Tavana & Logan Brookes as well as the Taotua twins (Max & Mitch).

One player not mentioned and has been unsighted since the trials is Flegg middle Jekope Sovau (Api's cousin), heaps of power, skill, leg speed & upside.

Is Haywood as good as TDS at the same age?

And Jekope, when ya say middle, ya mean prop, or is it not clear yet?

 

[Needaname]

No. The player market is tight now, wait until the new teams start recruiting. We need to lock down our quality juniors we produce through both junior districts.

Someone needs to have a quiet word with TDS and remind him about how Harry Grant played reserves for 2 years after debuting in grade waiting for Cam Smith to retire. I get that he is ambitious but Api is by far our best option to play hooker for us. I don’t get the entitlement myself.
If he is close to Galvin and considering moving on as he feels the team is breaking up a little i get that, but we should be signing both as a priority. Api and TDS. He is 19 for peats sake.
Comparable Hookers that ended up becoming first choice players in there team.
Robson, Cowboys run on debut at 21
Brailey, Sharks run on debut at 21
Mahoney, Eels run on debut at 21
Egan, Warriors run on debut at 22
Momeselous, Rabbitohs run on debut at 24
Grant, Tigers run on debut at 22

 

[rihannafan1]

Could we be willing to let tds go knowing Haywood is the potential future?

There's no need. They're both very young. Api has like 2-3 years left and will also get injured at times. There is space enough for all of them to share. Api is playing too many minutes atm I reckon. He should be around 50 minutes rather than 60 he has played the last few weeks.

 

[AnonTiger]

Tds will follow Galvin to Parra. Club has a massive opinion of Haywood.

 

[pawsandclaws1]

Someone needs to have a quiet word with TDS and remind him about how Harry Grant played reserves for 2 years after debuting in grade waiting for Cam Smith to retire. I get that he is ambitious but Api is by far our best option to play hooker for us. I don’t get the entitlement myself.
If he is close to Galvin and considering moving on as he feels the team is breaking up a little i get that, but we should be signing both as a priority. Api and TDS. He is 19 for peats sake.
Comparable Hookers that ended up becoming first choice players in there team.
Robson, Cowboys run on debut at 21
Brailey, Sharks run on debut at 21
Mahoney, Eels run on debut at 21
Egan, Warriors run on debut at 22
Momeselous, Rabbitohs run on debut at 24
Grant, Tigers run on debut at 22

I watched him being interviewed about the new sports high school at Campbelltown. He came across as a levelheaded and humble young man. He appeared committed to WTs. Serving your apprenticeship under one of the best, if not the best, hookers in the NRL is an excellent plan for success.

 

[boonboon]

Someone needs to have a quiet word with TDS and remind him about how Harry Grant played reserves for 2 years after debuting in grade waiting for Cam Smith to retire. I get that he is ambitious but Api is by far our best option to play hooker for us. I don’t get the entitlement myself.
If he is close to Galvin and considering moving on as he feels the team is breaking up a little i get that, but we should be signing both as a priority. Api and TDS. He is 19 for peats sake.
Comparable Hookers that ended up becoming first choice players in there team.
Robson, Cowboys run on debut at 21
Brailey, Sharks run on debut at 21
Mahoney, Eels run on debut at 21
Egan, Warriors run on debut at 22
Momeselous, Rabbitohs run on debut at 24
Grant, Tigers run on debut at 22

Yes but this for 2027 - he will be 22 and if Api resigns for 2 more years he will be 24 -25 before he is the starting hooker