Signings, Suggestions & Rumours Discussion

[Whatson]

Thanks for the replies guys, but my point is the top 30 and supplementary roster for 2026 is unbalanced. Yes, those backs departed are not consistent NRL players, and a couple them aren't even NRL players at all, but all 5 of them were in the 36 and not one has been replaced in terms of like for like in these positions. There's not even one back in the supplementary list next year - Tapau-Moors, Godinet, Murray, Roberts, Broederlow, Haywood. Do we think Tu'itupou (at 29), and Mapapalangi (at 23) are going to want to stay on T&T making $1200 per week before tax?

From other posters counts, 3 positions are available in the top 36 for 2026, and it's agreed by many here that at least one has to be an NRL-ready prop. The team was dominated in this area in many games. And look at the middles in the roster at the moment (alphabetical order):
Bird & Doueihi (utilities), Broederlow, Sione Fainu, Hunt, Kit Laulilii, Terrell May, Murray, Pole, Seyfarth, Taupau-Moors, and Twal. They could even look to turn Sukkar into a mid too. The regular NRL 5 or 6 can't do a consistent job, and the rest listed aren't even reserve grade standard. They're clogging up valuable roster spots.

And like I wrote, not much depth in terms of quantity in the backs either. Do we really think the roster has improved?

 

[Tom Shines]

Bird & Doueihi (utilities), Broederlow, Sione Fainu, Hunt, Kit Laulilii, Terrell May, Murray, Pole, Seyfarth, Taupau-Moors, and Twal. They could even look to turn Sukkar into a mid too. The regular NRL 5 or 6 can't do a consistent job, and the rest listed aren't even reserve grade standard. They're clogging up valuable roster spots.

Do you think that is a good enough list ?

Games are won and lost by the pigs in the middle …not by the 7th or 8th outside back

 

[Whatson]

Do you think that is a good enough list ?

Games are won and lost by the pigs in the middle …not by the 7th or 8th outside back

What did I write? The guys that were regularly picked struggled, and the middle depth is awful. Look at the reserve grade teams this season without Hunt in them.

Re backs looking at the Grand Final squads, Broncos have Mariner, Karapani, and then Arthurs as reserve - they've come in after the injuries of Cobbo and suspension of Shiba, and they've done a job in finals. Melbourne have Anderson and Faalogo not even making their GF team.

Looking at some other good teams in the comp, Cronulla have Stonestreet, Hiroti, and Vealia biding their time, and Canberra have highly rated guys like Waitere, Asomua there too. Don't forget Stuart is in because either Tamale or Savage have been injured towards the end of the season. He's been outstanding, and when all are fit, he's a back up.

Penrith have Alamoti languishing in reserve grade all year and then unleashed him in finals to great effect.

Based on above, it seems depth in the backs is important. Tigers don't really have it, both in quality and quantity.

Laulilii and Mason will have another pre-season under their belt, and Makasini is beginning his journey. They can improve. Are they going to slot in when required, or if there is a longer term injury, and do a job consistently? Read a little bit of social media and the slashing Mason copped.

Your back 5 take at least the first 3 carries on every transition to attack to set up field position, and their work on the edge in defence is integral to stopping tries. Fobbing my posts off with 'games are won by the pigs in the middle, not by the 7th and 8th back' tells me constructive discussion is not really the way it goes around here. And our pigs aren't even that good.

 

[cktiger]

Id call Naden and Staines fairly solid with 80 nrl games each...for the most part they were reliable when called upon despite occasional off days.
Players next rung up our our top grade level....as long as theyre all replaced with better then thats fine but thats also long odds imo

Yeah, suppose I was a bit hard on them ... but definItely were never being run on regulars again.
TBH, thought they might have kept Naden above the others as the blokes coming through seem to mention him as a big help.

 

[Betterdays22]

Thanks for the replies guys, but my point is the top 30 and supplementary roster for 2026 is unbalanced. Yes, those backs departed are not consistent NRL players, and a couple them aren't even NRL players at all, but all 5 of them were in the 36 and not one has been replaced in terms of like for like in these positions. There's not even one back in the supplementary list next year - Tapau-Moors, Godinet, Murray, Roberts, Broederlow, Haywood. Do we think Tu'itupou (at 29), and Mapapalangi (at 23) are going to want to stay on T&T making $1200 per week before tax?

From other posters counts, 3 positions are available in the top 36 for 2026, and it's agreed by many here that at least one has to be an NRL-ready prop. The team was dominated in this area in many games. And look at the middles in the roster at the moment (alphabetical order):
Bird & Doueihi (utilities), Broederlow, Sione Fainu, Hunt, Kit Laulilii, Terrell May, Murray, Pole, Seyfarth, Taupau-Moors, and Twal. They could even look to turn Sukkar into a mid too. The regular NRL 5 or 6 can't do a consistent job, and the rest listed aren't even reserve grade standard. They're clogging up valuable roster spots.

And like I wrote, not much depth in terms of quantity in the backs either. Do we really think the roster has improved?

Agreed we probably need another depth centre/winger. I think this is probably how the club sees it though:
- tui'tupou takes Staines spot.
- They will look to develop some of the Flegg backs in Cup this year, by all reports Tavana and Tatoua are two who could step up.
- They will expect Makasini and Luke Lauli'li to establish themselves as at least part time first graders.
- Doueihi can also fill in at centre at a pinch.

 

[Tom Shines]

Your back 5 take at least the first 3 carries on every transition to attack to set up field position, and their work on the edge in defence is integral to stopping tries. Fobbing my posts off with 'games are won by the pigs in the middle, not by the 7th and 8th back' tells me constructive discussion is not really the way it goes around here. And our pigs aren't even that good.

“Our pigs aren’t even that good”…. That’s entirely my point…. That’s what needs to be priority and improved to get this team to a premiership winning level…not the backs depth

Have a look at the starting packs and the benches of the GF teams and Penrith… we are way behind ..

You have raised a lot of points here ..Im not going to debate them all ..

We got three spots left and limited funds … you need to pick and choose where to put the remaining assets …

Our starting back 5 are mid level and we got a couple left over that can provide adequate depth …maybe bring in one more depth piece as I alluded to earlier today above,,,but the focus has got to be improving the middle with a quality piece