Signings, Suggestions & Rumours Discussion

[clontarfkid]

I have a great deal of time for Bud. The way he handled the situation at the Tigers and at Souths, keeping his head down, doing the work, not kicking stones, is refreshing to see from a professional player. I genuinely hope he has a long and successful career...except against us.

He got completely shafted by us...who wld have thought wed snare Luai to take his slot?
On the other hand,we initially offered him a ridiculous deal for 4 years which is life changing for him...and we will still be paying some of that for the next 2 seasons
swings and roundabouts

 

[Tom Shines]

When you go to watch the games I assume you would ideally like your team to win ?
If we continue to overpay players we will not have enough money left to fill the team with players capable of winning more games than we lose.
Surely you are sick of us losing, I know I am.
Jahream is a good slightly better than average player, he’s no superstar and not even close to being a superstar, so why would we want ti pay him superstar money ?
If he agrees to stay for 800k or less fantastic, but to pay superstar money to a player who shows nothing to suggest he’s anywhere near being a superstar is insane and certainly will not help us adequately manage our salary cap to have a team capable of making the top 8.

He hasn’t signed anywhere yet …so why are you so anxious ?

Maybe wait and see what actually happens ., we don’t know yet

Unfortunately the club has inherited this situation ( another one) from the previous management

 

[crazycat]

We wouldn’t get him here for less than 600k. He’s underrated but a downgrade on Bula.

Can’t afford to be stingy here, fullback is too important.

Which I think is why Kennedy lost out.

He is a decent player. Probably worth 600k and definately helping the Sharks team.

But a stack of teams have identified 'fullback' as a key part, aka Spine.
It seems the spine players people are opening their chequebooks widely.

When you want a Gun/Top shelf player in that position because they will cross the line and win you games. A good player like Kennedy isn't an appealing option.

We would rather pay Bula 900k then Kennedy 400k because we want a fullback who can deliver 900k (or at least 800k) of value on the field. Kennedy is the moneyball option.

Ofcourse if we got explosive wingers or centers, i.e. Latrell/Lomax/Mark naqa/etc... I think that could work. A cheaper fullback like Kennedy + gun center/wing's would make us different and I would say highly competitive. But the wizdom is "everything on spine", so no one wants a 500k fullback.

 

[RonDingo]

Big Stef the pillow trying to recruit so he doesn't have to work hard, so glad he left.

"Come back": Utoikamanu wants to see ex-teammate join Melbourne Storm https://search.app/KAtVF

 

[Tim Sheens]

Yep, that's the rest of it. Hopefully Richo got a decent deal done there.

We'll chalk that one up to Benji still being a bit green early on. Didn't need to rush that signing

Sullivan can play and that needs to be said, still, what a stupid signing that was. Mainly because it was based too much on one short performance against us, but 4 bloody years.

Reminds me of Rua(?) who played a similar cameo in a trial game that fooled plenty on here at the time, and resulted in the ridiculous top 30 for two years upgrade.

 

[crazycat]

Junior Amone is available to sign for 26 preseason as of next week. Replacement for Bud? Yes Sir!

Can we just BREAK on signing players with Behaviour issues.

We have Taylan May. He is, a good signing and going to be behaved somewhere between Carney and Blake Fergusson. .... Benji has his hands full.

One very smart thing Cronulla has done is sign players that are easier to coach for Craig Fitzgibbons first year of coaching. I reckon Craig can handle people better then Benji, but even then Cronulla realised they had a first year coach and needed players who would lead and obey the coach.

I am not saying no idiots, Carney was a gun player and you can make your case for or against... . I am saying No more idiots because we got our quota!

 

[Alex Seyfarth's #1 Fan]

Can WT send a legal 'cease and desist' letter to Ute? He is at it again over Pole. Pole has 2 years left on his current contract with WT.

"Come back": Utoikamanu wants to see ex-teammate join Melbourne Storm

The NSW Blues front-rower made the move to the Storm from the Wests Tigers.

www.zerotackle.com

This is getting ridiculous.

Pole this year reminded me of Stefano last year. Disinterested at times, lots of errors, not running very hard. Hope he turns it around next year, otherwise I wouldn't be sad to see him go to Melbourne.

 

[crazycat]

Big Stef the pillow trying to recruit so he doesn't have to work hard, so glad he left.

"Come back": Utoikamanu wants to see ex-teammate join Melbourne Storm https://search.app/KAtVF

Hey, just a reality check here....

Since when have the storm wanted to recruit our forward pack?

I mean HUH!
Sure they brought Blore, then brought Stef... While I rate Pole as good for our club, surely the Storm have better players around.

Honestly this is Twilight zone stuff. Heck lets throw Charlie Murray at them and see how he goes!

 

[Demps]

Hey, just a reality check here....

Since when have the storm wanted to recruit our forward pack?

I mean HUH!
Sure they brought Blore, then brought Stef... While I rate Pole as good for our club, surely the Storm have better players around.

Honestly this is Twilight zone stuff. Heck lets throw Charlie Murray at them and see how he goes!

Charlie has been in the Storm system before, as has Pole.

 

[tiges69]

Big Stef the pillow trying to recruit so he doesn't have to work hard, so glad he left.

"Come back": Utoikamanu wants to see ex-teammate join Melbourne Storm https://search.app/KAtVF

Absolutely agree. He is a flat track bully who specialises in picking out the smallest blokes on the field. He was woeful in GF . He was the same with us. When you needed him to mix it up he went missing. Sorry if i sound a bit harsh but this guy is over rated to billio. We dodged a bullet not giving him $800,000.

 

[Vicious]

Hey, just a reality check here....

Since when have the storm wanted to recruit our forward pack?

I mean HUH!
Sure they brought Blore, then brought Stef... While I rate Pole as good for our club, surely the Storm have better players around.

Honestly this is Twilight zone stuff. Heck lets throw Charlie Murray at them and see how he goes!

Fonua Pole would get a spot in the top 17 of every NRL club.
His form was inconsistent and a long way from his best in 2025, but he is elite in terms of forwards under the age of 23.
Our forward pack has a lot of potential, much moreso than our backs.

 

[Tigerstigerstigers]

Fonua Pole would get a spot in the top 17 of every NRL club.
His form was inconsistent and a long way from his best in 2025, but he is elite in terms of forwards under the age of 23.
Our forward pack has a lot of potential, much moreso than our backs.

You mustn’t have watched half
Our season, there were games where he would have even dropped with many clubs

 

[Alex Seyfarth's #1 Fan]

Absolutely agree. He is a flat track bully who specialises in picking out the smallest blokes on the field. He was woeful in GF . He was the same with us. When you needed him to mix it up he went missing. Sorry if i sound a bit harsh but this guy is over rated to billio. We dodged a bullet not giving him $800,000.

Is also good for a really good game now and then to make you think he's finally going to fulfill his potential, but then immediately goes back to his bad habits. Case and point - preliminary final vs grand final performances.

 

[Modman]

Iv got nothing but huge respect for Bud. The way he's carried himself the whole time, then taking a paycut to make the deal happen. There are more than a few players that could learn from him about integrity, attitude and modesty. Best of luck to him, hope he kicks on.

Thats a great post, hes a great kid who was happy to play for either club without fuss. He had built some good relationship with some of the players at our club that he still has a lot to do with them off the field. i personally without being biased believed he has plenty of improvement in his game and should of been kept by club (he would of accepted a lesser contract), prefer him to Madden considering his age,

 

[Modman]

Bula’s situation has been complicated with the change of Agent ….and the new agent not receiving any compensation for two years due to the deal negotiated by the prior agent … assume the club is using this as leverage to get a new longer deal …eventually the ball is the clubs court , as they can choose to activate the deal to keep him here for 2027… I expect Richo to pull that lever if
he has to …

im no expert on these managers and players and how they deal, what i dont understand is why Bula with the deal that was already in place would bother getting a new manager/agent and involving Moses in any way until his next contract. Unfortunately that doesnt sound like someone that is real keen on staying. Wasnt he guaranteed 900k from us. Doesnt look good i hope im not understanding something . Why fkn Moses of all managers. Disappointing, we are a different team with Bula in the team , we need him to stay its that simple.

 

[teddy23]

From my understanding and it’s probably not smart to go against someone like Michael Chammas’s info, however for what it’s worth I’ve heard that the Bula deal should and will get done, maybe somethings changed but I doubt it.

I don’t see why we’d let him go tbh… he unlocks our attack significantly and polishes our sets off nicely with his improved ball playing skills. He seems on an upward trajectory that isn’t slowing down anytime soon.

Would be a massive loss if he leaves.

 

[Tom Shines]

im no expert on these managers and players and how they deal, what i dont understand is why Bula with the deal that was already in place would bother getting a new manager/agent and involving Moses in any way until his next contract. Unfortunately that doesnt sound like someone that is real keen on staying. Wasnt he guaranteed 900k from us. Doesnt look good i hope im not understanding something . Why fkn Moses of all managers. Disappointing, we are a different team with Bula in the team , we need him to stay its that simple.

From what I understand ..his former agent got a new job at an NRL club …possibly Canterbury… and had to give up his role as a player agent … Why Bula picked Moses as his replacement I don’t know

 

[Tom Shines]

From my understanding and it’s probably not smart to go against someone like Michael Chammas’s info, however for what it’s worth I’ve heard that the Bula deal should and will get done, maybe somethings changed but I doubt it.

I don’t see why we’d let him go tbh… he unlocks our attack significantly and polishes our sets off nicely with his improved ball playing skills. He seems on an upward trajectory that isn’t slowing down anytime soon.

Would be a massive loss if he leaves.

Hi Mate ..without mentioning any names…can I ask where are you getting this mail from ? I appreciate you are a knowledgeable guy in respect of the club … but we know Richo plays the contract stuff close to his chest ..and I assume Isaac Moses isn’t giving you a running commentary

 

[teddy23]

Hi Mate ..without mentioning any names… where are you getting this mail from ? I hope it’s a real source and not some social media bullshit …

I work very closely within the sports industry and made some friends along the way I guess you can say.

Regarding Bula, I heard it from people close around the situation that told me Bula loves the club and wants to remain here for life and the club feel the same way. Hence why I’m a bit perplexed by the recent news that has come out.

I don’t get mail or info much at all tbh, it’s very rare I hear anything Wests Tigers related but when I do I try post what I can. The forum members who have been on here for a while can probs back me when I say it’s usually decent and most times accurate. Wouldn’t say 100% accurate though that’s for sure haha.

 

[Alex Seyfarth's #1 Fan]

Regarding Bula, I heard it from people close around the situation that told me Bula loves the club and wants to remain here for life and the club feel the same way. Hence why I’m a bit perplexed by the recent news that has come out.

We all know why the news is coming out. It's that slimy manager of his orchestrating a media fiasco like he always does.