Signings, Suggestions & Rumours Discussion

[Jolls]

I can see the point from both sides of the coin in the Api/TDS debate. I'm also not too sure that the TDS "threat" is real; probably more a bit of Sabre rattling to ensure that Richo knows where to put the decimal point on the next contract offer. There is a deal to be done where we keep both - but that deal can't throw the cap out and needs to provide flexibility for the club and for the players in order for it to be workable.

TDS would be well aware that he is not at the same level as Api yet and we don't know how long Api will remain at theat level. In additon we have another young hooker coming through the grades and the option to recruit a starter if need be. The key is to structure the contract offers with the right on and off roads to keep everyone interested.

At the end of the day if TDS wants to be a starter in 27 he has two options - unseat Api or find another club. If Api is playing better than him come 27 he keeps developing until whatever clause is activated for him to leave. If he is as good as he thinks he will be then there should be no issues. If he isn't - he moves on and we develop the next in line.

If we had the previous administration still in charge this whole saga would be front page click bait. As it is - we are negotiating behind closed doors. This is a good sign and I trust will allow us to keep both. If not we will have time to find the next man up - be that junior development or we buy someone in.

 

[Alex Seyfarth's #1 Fan]

lets just say we loose everyone bar api

in 2027 manese fainu will have a full preseason and be 27/28 years old 🧐 hahah

Just don't let him attend any more church parties.

 

[innsaneink]

Liddle would be an idiot to come here and play second fiddle again.

Hes rightly a starting hooker.

But hes not starting....Cook is

 

[Tom Shines]

I can see the point from both sides of the coin in the Api/TDS debate. I'm also not too sure that the TDS "threat" is real; probably more a bit of Sabre rattling to ensure that Richo knows where to put the decimal point on the next contract offer. There is a deal to be done where we keep both - but that deal can't throw the cap out and needs to provide flexibility for the club and for the players in order for it to be workable.

TDS would be well aware that he is not at the same level as Api yet and we don't know how long Api will remain at theat level. In additon we have another young hooker coming through the grades and the option to recruit a starter if need be. The key is to structure the contract offers with the right on and off roads to keep everyone interested.

At the end of the day if TDS wants to be a starter in 27 he has two options - unseat Api or find another club. If Api is playing better than him come 27 he keeps developing until whatever clause is activated for him to leave. If he is as good as he thinks he will be then there should be no issues. If he isn't - he moves on and we develop the next in line.

He will likely have other offers from November this year that he can consider for the start of 2027 …Perth might even recruit him with the inside running to be theiir No 1 …. those opportunities won’t still be available when what exit clause he negotiates to move on from the Tigers in 2027 is triggered …

 

[Camel2281]

Liddle would be an idiot to come here and play second fiddle again.

Hes rightly a starting hooker.

He's not. That's why he's not a starting hooker at a bottom feeder club now

 

[GNR4LIFE]

Liddle is really underrated. Stands out in an average team like the Dragons. No place here for him though. We have more hookers than Canterbury Road.

 

[mtd#2]

But hes not starting....Cook is

he will leave to go somewhere he can start.. because he is rightly a starting hooker

 

[Aceshigh]

Liddle is really underrated. Stands out in an average team like the Dragons. No place here for him though. We have more hookers than Canterbury Road.

Haha are the hookers still on Canterbury road , those were the days 👍

 

[Camel2281]

he will leave to go somewhere he can start.. because he is rightly a starting hooker

In England maybe

 

[Vicious]

What are everyone’s thoughts on Davvy Moale as a potential recruit for 2026 ?
I would be trying to offload Royce Hunt before he gets older, even more unfit and more of a liability and I think a young up and comer such as Davvy Moale could be a good replacement.
I thought he would have been high on the Rabbitohs priority list to retain, but based on him being dropped to NSW Cup for this weekend, that may not be the case.
If we were interested in him, now would be the perfect time to strike.

 

[Vicious]

Liddle is really underrated. Stands out in an average team like the Dragons. No place here for him though. We have more hookers than Canterbury Road.

How many do they have on Canterbury Road ?

 

[tigerballs]

Agree to a certain extent, but if we keep it in context understanding how disproportionatly big our catchment is compared to other clubs. Our development has been pretty woeful over the last 7 - 8 years. Hoping that will change. In saying that I totally agree that other clubs are bringing in players from outside and moving them into their systems, which is what we've been doing, which would probarbly account for why our junior nursery isn't pumping players out. Why invest in your juniors when you can direct that money to identify other clubs juniors you want to bring in. Over time though it's proven to be at the detriment of our teams long term success. It may work for other clubs but hasn't for us. We need to rely on our strengths, our nursery's particularly in south West Macarthur are our strength. Just through sheer numbers of juniors coming through.

Unfortunately, what's waaay more important than a good pathways system is a generous benefactor like Politis or Laundy. That way you can keep who you want.

 

[Jolls]

He will likely have other offers from November this year that he can consider for the start of 2027 …Perth might even recruit him with the inside running to be theiir No 1 …. those opportunities won’t still be available when what exit clause he negotiates to move on from the Tigers in 2027 is triggered …

That is his call - all we can do is put forward a plan for his development and a plan for us to build a team around him. It is up to him to push Api out, not get a walk up start - because at the moment he is not the best hooker we have. If he wants to make the position his - he can; he just has to perform better than Api in 26. If he wants a guarantee that he will be the man come 27 we certainly shouldn't leave ourselves short in 26 while he gets there.

As I mentioned there is a deal there that keeps them both - but if he isn't interested - we have time to train up the next guy.

 

[Demps]

What are everyone’s thoughts on Davvy Moale as a potential recruit for 2026 ?
I would be trying to offload Royce Hunt before he gets older, even more unfit and more of a liability and I think a young up and comer such as Davvy Moale could be a good replacement.
I thought he would have been high on the Rabbitohs priority list to retain, but based on him being dropped to NSW Cup for this weekend, that may not be the case.
If we were interested in him, now would be the perfect time to strike.

He has extended with South's.
No longer available

International Rabbitohs forward lands new contract

He is one of ten off-contract players at the South Sydney Rabbitohs.

www.zerotackle.com

 

[Vicious]

He has extended with South's.
No longer available

International Rabbitohs forward lands new contract

He is one of ten off-contract players at the South Sydney Rabbitohs.

www.zerotackle.com

Looks like we will have to get Royce fit somehow 🤷‍♂️

 

[hammertime]

So basically you want to throw away a kid ( local junior) you have developed and touted a few years now, who might be here another 10:years …all to get 2 more years out of a 34 yr old

I think we've made the mistakes over the year for always investing into the future. We need to make the 8 now. That's api

 

[Vicious]

I think we've made the mistakes over the year for always investing into the future. We need to make the 8 now. That's api

If we want to help stiffen up our defence in the middle, we need Api playing 40-50 minutes each game, not 80.
I find it extraordinary that Benji cannot see this when Ivan the Panthers could see it 4 years back.

 

[Odessa]

Liddle is really underrated. Stands out in an average team like the Dragons. No place here for him though. We have more hookers than Canterbury Road.

In the 80's what a drive by

 

[Dennisspicer1]

Let’s Clear a Few Things Up

Firstly, To'a came from Newcastle. He is not a Tigers junior.

Secondly, we need to remember how the NRL works these days. Players and their managers are looking for the clearest path to first grade. If a club has too much talent in one position, it’s only natural someone will move on. That’s exactly why Skelton came to us. Wonderful player and worthy of NRL at the Bulldogs, but he wanted to be first choice.

Choosing youth over experience just because they’re a junior isn’t always the right move. It has to suit where the team is at. Right now, keeping Api and bringing Tallyn along slowly makes the most sense because, let’s be honest, Api is still the better player.

Here’s the real issue: some people want to make a call today based on a prediction about what Tallyn might be in two years. But young players don’t always follow a neat, upward trajectory. That thinking has burned us before (Brooks?). Also, we blood a player, showcase them in first grade, and then they get picked off by another club after we hinge our hopes on them filling a position for years to come. Players from all clubs are moving around much more frequently. It's possible this could be a generational difference...who knows, but it's happening.

For me, Api is the better hooker today. And unless something changes, that’s who should be starting. I’d rather wait and reassess when we need to, instead of being forced to make a call now based on potential. If Tallyn does leave, we’ve still got time to find Api’s replacement in the coming seasons.

About Retention - Let’s Not Rewrite the Story

There’s this narrative going around that we can't hold onto juniors. Let’s take a step back:

Retained Juniors:

Bula
Makasini
Mason
Laulii bros
Pole
Tapau-Moors
Phoenix Godinet

Lost:
Rat boy Galvin

Picked up from other clubs:
Fainu bros
Turuva
To'a

That’s just off the top of my head, and I’m sure there are more in each category.

We’re doing better than people think. Let’s just focus on making the right decisions for the team, not ones driven by outside noise or hypothetical future projections.

In England maybe

Bears.

 

[BlackWhiteGold]

That is his call - all we can do is put forward a plan for his development and a plan for us to build a team around him. It is up to him to push Api out, not get a walk up start - because at the moment he is not the best hooker we have. If he wants to make the position his - he can; he just has to perform better than Api in 26. If he wants a guarantee that he will be the man come 27 we certainly shouldn't leave ourselves short in 26 while he gets there.

As I mentioned there is a deal there that keeps them both - but if he isn't interested - we have time to train up the next guy.

Chammas mentioned on the WT Life podcast tonight that Tallyn’s agent is asking for $600k in ‘27 for an extension. Maybe it’s a starting point in negotiations. IMO don’t think Richo would go for that if Api extends.