Signings, Suggestions & Rumours Discussion

[Tigers_Wests]

I've been thinking a bit about this too, will be very interesting.

I think we've seen the club this season under Richo a bit more patient with progressing our young talent through the grades & playing them in the right grade until they are ready to progress + until there is a spot to progress to. And how important it is to have some senior depth in NSW Cup.

Personally I think we'll see Tavana, Lanyon, Mataale, Liles & Matai retained for NSW Cup (out of those turning 22 next year) and a good chance Max Taotua is given every chance to lock down the right centre spot in Cup over the pre-season given he's physically ready (even though he can still play Flegg).

Hopefully Jaxson Rahme, Vaka Aho & Izaac Tui'tupou are 3 retained on Cup deals (maybe Tuitupou on higher) to add experienced depth too.

Then the likes of Javon Andrews, Haywood, Godinet, Taupau-Moors start the season in Flegg and then progress to Cup fulltime halfway through the season. Give them a chance to dominate in Flegg and earn the promotion.

Depending on what grade players end up playing most of their footy, that Flegg side could be absolutely brilliant to watch!

Halves is the most intriguing position for me with both Matai and Liles moving up.
The club seems to be giving Pritchard a bit of a run there, so he may figure for some of the season. Maybe Benson as a 6....I thought he was good for Balmain in SG this year. Tannous was the obvious option at 7, but the rumour on here was that he is gone next year. If that's the case, it wouldn't surprise me if we do go externally and get another recruit who is more of a game managing 7 for this grade. Maybe the club already has someone in mind hence Tannous moving on.

Personally I think Andrews will go straight into the Cup side but maybe he does do a stint in Flegg first.

 

[Merlot]

Depending on what grade players end up playing most of their footy, that Flegg side could be absolutely brilliant to watch!

Halves is the most intriguing position for me with both Matai and Liles moving up.
The club seems to be giving Pritchard a bit of a run there, so he may figure for some of the season. Maybe Benson as a 6....I thought he was good for Balmain in SG this year. Tannous was the obvious option at 7, but the rumour on here was that he is gone next year. If that's the case, it wouldn't surprise me if we do go externally and get another recruit who is more of a game managing 7 for this grade. Maybe the club already has someone in mind hence Tannous moving on.

Personally I think Andrews will go straight into the Cup side but maybe he does do a stint in Flegg first.

4 those in the know has Matai progressed since we brought /swapped him over . It seems not

 

[Vicious]

By the Rivers of Babylon …there we sat down ..

Yeah we wept … when we remembered Zyon..,

I’m hoping for more … someone more established ..although he might become something…

I think Richo needs to ride that hot hand

Great song.
Not sure if the rugby league player will cut the mustard.
He used to run the ball off the back fence, but that kamikaze style of play already seems to have fizzled.

 

[Vicious]

4 those in the know has Matai progressed since we brought /swapped him over . It seems not

Matai has only really started living up to his potential in the back half of this season.
He’s got some talent, but Max Liles is a fair way ahead of him in my opinion.

 

[Merlot]

Matai has only really started living up to his potential in the back half of this season.
He’s got some talent, but Max Liles is a fair way ahead of him in my opinion.

Liles come from newcastle ?, not a junior , correct ??

 

[Vicious]

Liles come from newcastle ?, not a junior , correct ??

North Coast I believe.
He is tall, fast and has very good deception with ball in hand.

 

[orange&black]

Moale goes ok from what Ive seen of him. Has reasonable speed and mobility and an offload. Wonder what his price tag would be - anyone know?
I’d love to see us find 2 middles. He could be one of them if Benji thinks he’ll bring the right attitude to the group. I only want “competitors” - for me it’s about hungry guys who want to win every contest for 80 mins.

 

[Merlot]

Moale goes ok from what Ive seen of him. Has reasonable speed and mobility and an offload. Wonder what his price tag would be - anyone know?
I’d love to see us find 2 middles. He could be one of them if Benji thinks he’ll bring the right attitude to the group. I only want “competitors” - for me it’s about hungry guys who want to win every contest for 80 mins.

apparently he is asking for high side 500 , with a clause to bail out if 1 of the new franchises want him .
2nd choice is better than not at all

 

[Vicious]

Moale goes ok from what Ive seen of him. Has reasonable speed and mobility and an offload. Wonder what his price tag would be - anyone know?
I’d love to see us find 2 middles. He could be one of them if Benji thinks he’ll bring the right attitude to the group. I only want “competitors” - for me it’s about hungry guys who want to win every contest for 80 mins.

I think it will cost us 550k minimum to be a chance of signing him.
Even so, I think he could potentially add a lot to our team and being the same age as Pole they could compete and push each other.

 

[Merlot]

I like Moale's attitude to back himself . Wayne may have done a PR job , seeing they need money for titans guy and to off load Lewis

 

[crazycat]

Disagree,

Penrith wouldn't let Geyer go if he was top tier.

Tony Sukkar is a very solid young forward. Good defender and will get better with more game time.

Agreed, yet there seems a lot of movements with juniors at the clubs. Easts pinching people from souths, the Riff pinching off others...

Look, Penrith have bush men from west to pick. Mavrik may be a lower prospect but a first grade starter all the same. He raises our front row stocks, even if by penrith standards its a runt.

 

[Tiger Stripes]

What Nationality is Shane Sultana ? He really seems to have a good relationship and presence with the sg ball guys and flegg .

Because I know another Sultana, who was from Malta. and a die hard Rabbitoh 'n Shane Sultana teaches In Souths territory and probably related; I am guessing he has Maltese heritage? Just putting 2 'n 2 together maybe = 4?

 

[Vicious]

Because I know another Sultana, who was from Malta. and a die hard Rabbitoh 'n Shane Sultana teaches In Souths territory and probably related; I am guessing he has Maltese heritage? Just putting 2 'n 2 together maybe = 4?

Correct, anyone with the surname Sultana is of Maltese heritage.

 

[Tiger Stripes]

highly rated by the club. dunno if he gets Flegg or Cup but I'm hoping he remains in Flegg for the sake of player development.

Cup's a prick of a job at the best of times.

Tend to agree. Cup side is always in disarray as players are cherry picked for the NRL side when injuries hit. And he does seem to be able to communicate/coach/steer the young Flegg guys to play to their strengths but still in a team environment.

 

[Tiger Stripes]

I'd still look at Zyon Maiu'u as that impact middle.

Pick him up, he offers versatility between middle & the edge, runs hard & has that 'impact' in his style- he's not a plodder, he's more a Royce Hunt type.

Thing is- you play him in KOE. If it doesn't work out- you don't lose much. But if he starts to crank it up in the KOE, then Royce's number starts to get looked at.

Given the Dogs are moving him on for whatever reason- I doubt anyone is paying full freight to take him. Cheap low risk addition with potential to be a massive upgrade. If he's your #30, you're doing ok.

He's a short 2nd rower. We have enough of them.

 

[orange&black]

apparently he is asking for high side 500 , with a clause to bail out if 1 of the new franchises want him .
2nd choice is better than not at all

So we’d be paying maybe 550k for 2026 and he has an option to move on for 2027 if he gets an offer he likes.
One good thing about that deal is he’s probably highly motivated to get that offer so he’s playing hard for us.
Is one season enough though.

 

[Merlot]

So we’d be paying maybe 550k for 2026 and he has an option to move on for 2027 if he gets an offer he likes.
One good thing about that deal is he’s probably highly motivated to get that offer so he’s playing hard for us.
Is one season enough though.

Low ball him to accommodate flexibility for his contract he wants. And with luck if he kicks on, we retain him
wouldn't know him from Aurther or Marther but knocking back a 2 year deal and demanding more money is really brazen of him or he might just be some freak that believes he wants x amount times y that will get him to z in the easiest time

 

[Tiger Stripes]

Low ball him to accommodate flexibility for his contract he wants. And with luck if he kicks on, we retain him
wouldn't know him from Aurther or Marther but knocking back a 2 year deal and demanding more money is really brazen of him or he might just be some freak that believes he wants x amount times y that will get him to z in the easiest time

Low ball him on his terms and who knows, he might like it here?
And then renegotiate a new deal that suits WT long term.

 

[InBenjiWeTrust]

I would swap both pillow tacklers, Seyfarth and Sukkar , for an aggressive, take no prisoners 2nd rower like Ellis.

 

[Aceshigh]

I would swap both pillow tacklers, Seyfarth and Sukkar , for an aggressive, take no prisoners 2nd rower like Ellis.

I think Ellis is retired 😂