Signings, Suggestions & Rumours Discussion

[Tom Shines]

So assuming that is true, are we happy with Seyfarth, Sukkar and Saukuru as our back ups and the players to apply pressure for the starting NRL positions ?

Yeah ..I’m happy with that …it’s adequate depth with some NRL experience … you don’t want to be spending even more money on reserve graders when their are multiple bigger needs in the middle

 

[Mighty_Tiger]

I really like bringing Andrews back to the club, but we also need to be realistic. He's not on an NRL deal, and he's still young.
I just watched the u19s origin and honestly he was the least involved of the 4 halves on the field. Touched the ball maybe 4-5 times in the first half. Yes he will solid in the last 10 mins but in reality he put in two good grubbers and kicked a goal from the sideline. How he got mom is beyond me.
As a 5/8 I'm not sure where he would fit at wt long term. While I'm not one for moving players I do think he could be a very good centre, or maybe even lock in the future. He's got the size and strong defence, not sure how much pace he has. We already have two running 5/8s at the club long term
I doubt he's even on a development contract for next year. I'd say train and trial, then maybe development in 2027. If he were top 30 or development straight away the club would have mentioned so, like with Murray, Godinet etc.
He's a great prospect to have at the club, he's versatile and skilled. We need more players like that in all grades, and it's great to see us sign a junior from outside our pathways regions. This is what all good clubs do..!

I like the signing, he has natural attacking instincts. Speed and game breaker which we need. I’m not concerned about involvement right now more focused on the difference his involvement has when the ball is in his hands.

My view is we need quality depth in our ranks that as a whole allows us to drive the right standards (you can’t do that if we have crap players), creates competition which then drives the teams as a whole to lift and it also then let’s the kids develop in their correct pathways rather than all being accelerated.

I like how Richo and Benji are uplifting our squad, we still have alot of gaps but the changes made in 12mths is significant.

 

[Bus 2 Terrigal]

Recruitment and talent scouting for us is one and the same. We've got one guy doing it all.

Surely recruitment involves a whole bunch of people - with the coach having a huge say.

Talent scouting on the other hand used to be largely ex players, fans, contacts etc out in the country. I can remember back in the early 1990s I even turned my hand to a bit of talent scouting. I remember trying my darnedest to get the Magpies to sign Mal Peckham. The kid was a genius. Little did I know at the time, Arthur Beetson who was at Cronulla then, was similarly keen. Apparently Artie had identified Peckham ahead of Dave Peachey but the young three quarter simply wasn’t interested in leaving Moree (he did later play one season with Redcliffe however). Many years on and after all the dust has settled - stories of the great Mal ‘Sunboy’ Peckham are still told far and wide in NSW country circles 👍

 

[tigahhh]

Yep - Get that too...
Our pathways is hardly killing it at the moment (Considering we just lost 2 of the best kids in forever)

if you knew anything about our pathways you’d know they’re actually very strong atm & there is NRL talent coming through

 

[BlackWhiteGold]

Good to hear another assessment of Andrews' talent. Vicious and BWG raved how good he was when I asked the question as the U 19 highlight real didn't reveal MOM feats.
Will be interesting to follow his development and make my own assessment.

Adel Hage provides some positive intel on Javon in the latest Wests Tigers Life podcast (out last night) for those interested (in the first 20 mins of the show).

 

[batboy]

Quoting your post, but only because it's topical.

Philosophically speaking, how does a club manage the balance between having NRL quality, or more importantly, top 4 quality players and develop the next crop underneath them if they aren't willing to wait for their turn in your system.

Da Silva is a good example. Varying opinions, but some may argue he wasn't 100% ready and it meant letting Api gona little early, so it creates an experience gap in that position while Da Silva develops further.

Alternatively, you keep Da Silva, who is 20 years old, and then the next quality kid comes through and sees a guy with a 15 year career in front of him, isn't he going to leave for a clearer pathway? I don't know how you can manage that effectively and keep all the best ones. Inevitably some will leave and you may not make the right pick in 100% of cases.

For example, it's likely we lose Haywood if Da Silva stays...or Haywood would overtake him and we'd lose Da Silva anyway. Weren't we always going to lose one?

Not that I want to get into one of your endless tirades,
But you do it the same way the Good Clubs do it.
Build a pathways and development system that they can believe in.
No one believes in us - and ours, that's why we're signing 17 year olds to NRL Contracts - If they could get them elsewhere, They probably would.

How long has the game been talking about Jonah Pezet?
(Has a dozen games to his name)
You're referencing the outcome, I'm referencing the miles before the outcome.

At what other club (System),
Does an 18 year old Kid whos signed for 3+ years request a release before he even Debuts in NRL because he doesn't see a future at the Club?
That's on Development / Pathways - The only place he'd been before the Pre-Season.

 

[BlackWhiteGold]

Havili set to move as NRL veterans wait on contracts

Almost 90 NRL players are facing uncertain futures with close to one-sixth of the league still unsigned beyond October.

aapnews.aap.com.au

Unless we have another bench utility who can play dummy half up our sleeve, I damn well hope we're talking to Havili who can cover hooker & be a powerful middle off the bench. This is 100% an area of need for us next season as Hope doesn't have the versatility & Haywood is at least 12-18 months away.

 

[Demps]

50k and a couple of country pub feeds at Wests Tigers, you would be great Demps.
Quite a few people on here would be very good in all seriousness, I have heard they generally do not get paid a lot.

Ayyy

I think you'd have to travel a lot and be really tapped in.

Need to be compensated for the effort though.

 

[Vicious]

Yeah ..I’m happy with that …it’s adequate depth with some NRL experience … you don’t want to be spending even more money on reserve graders when their are multiple bigger needs in the middle

Fair enough. you could be right and that is sufficient competition and back up.
All 3 are local products so I hope you are right.

 

[Tom Shines]

Quoting your post, but only because it's topical.

Philosophically speaking, how does a club manage the balance between having NRL quality, or more importantly, top 4 quality players and develop the next crop underneath them if they aren't willing to wait for their turn in your system.

Da Silva is a good example. Varying opinions, but some may argue he wasn't 100% ready and it meant letting Api gona little early, so it creates an experience gap in that position while Da Silva develops further.

Alternatively, you keep Da Silva, who is 20 years old, and then the next quality kid comes through and sees a guy with a 15 year career in front of him, isn't he going to leave for a clearer pathway? I don't know how you can manage that effectively and keep all the best ones. Inevitably some will leave and you may not make the right pick in 100% of cases.

For example, it's likely we lose Haywood if Da Silva stays...or Haywood would overtake him and we'd lose Da Silva anyway. Weren't we always going to lose one?

No once can say today how this will work out …we won’t know for a couple of years whether the correct calls were made ..

I tells ya, Haywood has got a lot of wraps on him for an 18 yr old that hasn’t been near first grade yet … fingers crossed, but for me I’m going to take a conservative view for now … one thing I’m hating is Hope as the currently squad second hooker for next year …his upside seems low to me, and I think the decision to upgrade him might have been a bit premature …don’t be surprised if another move is made here…

i have said for months now that this whole situation around Api/TDS is a very difficult call to make, but the club knows all these guys over years - we don’t … these are the sort of calls they have to get right though for us to get to the promised land ..

 

[Tiger Stripes]

Yep - Get that too...
Our pathways is hardly killing it at the moment (Considering we just lost 2 of the best kids in forever)

It's always big news at WT when we lose young players, right? Penrith lose them all the time, right?
Why did we lose them? ............because they spat the dummy. They wanted to be the number one straight away or I'm out of here. OR were just using WT as a stepping stone to get to where their heart really was OR bolster their ego/bank accounts.
You cant blame WT for not trying, but there are limiting factors to consider, such as salary cap, team harmony and promoting from within by deserving pathways players.
It's all a huge juggle; and very, very hard to keep everyone happy!
But it must be managed a) to keep the best. b) have a plan to attract the best. c) and balance the salary cap. Not an easy path.

 

[Demps]

Brendan Hands Departs Parramatta Eels

Brendan Hands has been granted an immediate release to join Toulouse Olympique for the remainder of the 2025 season.

www.parraeels.com.au

Parras 3rd of 4th string hooker departs for the UK

 

[Tom Shines]

Fair enough. you could be right and that is sufficient competition and back up.
All 3 are local products so I hope you are right.

I’d love to be able to upgrade most positions … but I’m assuming that there are probably only a couple more external signings still to come ..

 

[batboy]

if you knew anything about our pathways you’d know they’re actually very strong atm & there is NRL talent coming through

I'd hedge my bets I'd know about as much as most,
Having followed them for more than 30 years - Although not as closely the last 2-3.

FYI Jersey Flegg is mid table, And the Magpies are 9th out of 13 Teams, Both Top 5 Comps.
Matts and Ball didn't play finals in either System.
How far back you want to go?

You're definition of 'Really Strong' might need some Adjustment.

 

[Vicious]

Havili set to move as NRL veterans wait on contracts

Almost 90 NRL players are facing uncertain futures with close to one-sixth of the league still unsigned beyond October.

aapnews.aap.com.au

Unless we have another bench utility who can play dummy half up our sleeve, I damn well hope we're talking to Havili who can cover hooker & be a powerful middle off the bench. This is 100% an area of need for us next season as Hope doesn't have the versatility & Haywood is at least 12-18 months away.

We definitely need either a bigger body or a hard hittting aggressive defender who can potentially start NRL games and get the job done to allow Api to come on at around the 20th minute mark after the heat of the battle.
That is is problem in us signing Tristan Hope to a top 30 deal.
I like Tristan as a player, but he’s only small and is a similar style of player Api, he doesn’t really offer a point of difference such as hard hitting defence.
Havili is getting on in years, but he could potentially offer this point of difference while seeing if our own much younger, but similar style of player in Josese Lanyon develops well enough to become NRL quality.

 

[batboy]

Havili set to move as NRL veterans wait on contracts

Almost 90 NRL players are facing uncertain futures with close to one-sixth of the league still unsigned beyond October.

aapnews.aap.com.au

Unless we have another bench utility who can play dummy half up our sleeve, I damn well hope we're talking to Havili who can cover hooker & be a powerful middle off the bench. This is 100% an area of need for us next season as Hope doesn't have the versatility & Haywood is at least 12-18 months away.

Perfect Bench Utility for us, 4 years too late.
Can Play Dummy half and has some Grunt if you need him elsewhere.

 

[Bellend]

Havili set to move as NRL veterans wait on contracts

Almost 90 NRL players are facing uncertain futures with close to one-sixth of the league still unsigned beyond October.

aapnews.aap.com.au

Unless we have another bench utility who can play dummy half up our sleeve, I damn well hope we're talking to Havili who can cover hooker & be a powerful middle off the bench. This is 100% an area of need for us next season as Hope doesn't have the versatility & Haywood is at least 12-18 months away.

He would be a great player to get would instantly add aggression to forwards. On a two year contract would be perfect role model for the younger players.

 

[Alex Seyfarth's #1 Fan]

I'm a fan of Havili. Maybe only cause he's carved us up so many times.

 

[Bus 2 Terrigal]

It's always big news at WT when we lose young players, right? Penrith lose them all the time, right?
Why did we lose them? ............because they spat the dummy. They wanted to be the number one straight away or I'm out of here. OR were just using WT as a stepping stone to get to where their heart really was OR bolster their ego/bank accounts.
You cant blame WT for not trying, but there are limiting factors to consider, such as salary cap, team harmony and promoting from within by deserving pathways players.
It's all a huge juggle; and very, very hard to keep everyone happy!
But it must be managed a) to keep the best. b) have a plan to attract the best. c) and balance the salary cap. Not an easy path.

It is a “huge juggle”.

Trouble is we’ve been spraying the balls all over the shop for a decade and a half.

Penrith on the other hand lose players because they just keep winning those pesky premierships and either the salary cap, or champion players standing in the way forces some to move on . Also, sadly we don’t have a Jamie Jones deciding with great accuracy who in their pathway system to prioritise

 

[tiger05premier]

Brendan Hands Departs Parramatta Eels

Brendan Hands has been granted an immediate release to join Toulouse Olympique for the remainder of the 2025 season.

www.parraeels.com.au

Parras 3rd of 4th string hooker departs for the UK

Wasn't he their young junior replacement for Reed Mahoney?