Signings, Suggestions & Rumours Discussion

[TigerBurnsy]

If we lose bula we should have a crack at sua from the storm whos friends with pole, or we should go for one of the 3 full backs at the titans

 

[Roar_Power]

From within club we have Mason (geez hope not) and Lailili- one of the 2 brothers has apparently not done a bad job at fill in FB in reserves i think. Nothing else with Doueihi too slow in that role- but you never know they may give him another chance at that. Unless there is another sleeper at the club i reckon we would have to buy a replacement if Bula goes.

We have Bula for 2026; so over 12 months to locate the ideal replacement. Hopefully it doesn't get to that though...

 

[Roar_Power]

If we lose bula we should have a crack at sua from the storm whos friends with pole, or we should go for one of the 3 full backs at the titans

Pole is more likely to go to the Storm

 

[BlackWhiteGold]

I really dont like the chances of us hanging on to Bula .. just because of the history with us and his manager .. this guy is hell bent on destroying us .. !! So if we dont have Bula .. Tyrell Sloan is who we should be looking at .. on the outer at the Dragons .. proven fullback with speed .. we could get him at half the price of what Bula's manager wants.

We currently have Heath Mason and Faaletino Tavana on our books.

He's not ready for NRL just yet but I would not be surprised if Tino Tavana develops into our NSW Cup fullback this season. This is not a hail mary guess.

He has both x-factor & footy nous, and whilst he played right wing for Flegg this season to accommodate 19yo Brookes development, he has played fullback very well.

Before anyone criticises this opinion, go and watch the 2nd half of our pre-season trial against the Bulldogs when Benji played him at fullback. It's up on the NRL website. Looked right at home at fullback setting up 3 tries as well.

Tavana has improved his game every season and just needs to work on his defence & voice in marshalling. One to watch that's for sure!

 

[Betterdays22]

We have Bula for 2026; so over 12 months to locate the ideal replacement. Hopefully it doesn't get to that though...

Another potentially destabilising contract negotiation mid-season is the last thing needed for 2026. If an extension can not be sorted, or he indicates he wants out, I think he will be gone before 2026.

 

[tigahhh]

If we lose bula we should have a crack at sua from the storm whos friends with pole, or we should go for one of the 3 full backs at the titans

i’d love to land sua

 

[das tigers]

Is Bula with us next year as it stands?

or

because he has an option he could be playing elsewhere for 26?

For the record, I'm a huge bula fan and i'd be surprised if he was to leave. Wish he played
behind a decent pack and a half that played more direct.

 

[Bellend]

Innuendo is just that - it lacks substance and you are just feeding it!

It has all been media beat-up bullshit!

Aaliyah was on a development contract and did not make the game day squad for any round - she was not retained and did not expect to be FFS!

His agent isn't asking for anything that he is not entitled to - he already has a guaranteed $800K or $900K in 2027 under his current contract if he or the club takes up their options - so your idea of him staying for $650K is fanciful and ignorant!

Stop talking shit!

So snidest are you paying on future potential or the assumption that Bula is at his peak??

Yes i do know his wife was on a development contract and i understand she was not in any starting side this year, but yet again it is how the process played out. The club should not make promises.

 

[TheEnz]

i’d love to land sua

I think we may be seeing the house of cards at the storm collapsing in real time....the glue that holds it together is Bellamy and he is not going to be there much longer....already a bit of chatter about key players and their options to leave. Grant still not done and he is a free agent come Nov 1, munster to Perth, Pezet gone etc....

 

[Wezt]

“Sources close to Bula say he is upset at the Tigers for not giving wife Aaliyah, the daughter of former Bulldogs star Solomon Haumono, an NRLW contract for next season after she was a development player with the club this year.”

She got sacked from the Eels the year before…

I think Bula was leaving either way and Isaac is using this an excuse

 

[Snidest 0]

So snidest are you paying on future potential or the assumption that Bula is at his peak??

Yes i do know his wife was on a development contract and i understand she was not in any starting side this year, but yet again it is how the process played out. The club should not make promises.

I'm paying on market value - which reflect his negotiated contract terms.

The club didn't make any promises to Aaliyah - and the value of his 2027 options are already part of his registered contract (NOT a promise).

I would be seeking to extend beyond 2027 on similar terms... and I trust that is what is happening behind the scenes.

 

[Tito Santana]

I like Bula but im resigned to the fact he is leaving.

Heath Mason is not the answer.

 

[GNR4LIFE]

Wouldn’t surprise me if we end up with someone like Connor Tracey.

 

[Snidest 0]

“Sources close to Bula say he is upset at the Tigers for not giving wife Aaliyah, the daughter of former Bulldogs star Solomon Haumono, an NRLW contract for next season after she was a development player with the club this year.”

She got sacked from the Eels the year before…

I think Bula was leaving either way and Isaac is using this an excuse

Because of two journos speculating with unnamed sources being repeated in social media?

You need better media literacy and critical evaluation skills.

 

[derekderekson]

Is Bula with us next year as it stands?

or

because he has an option he could be playing elsewhere for 26?

For the record, I'm a huge bula fan and i'd be surprised if he was to leave. Wish he played
behind a decent pack and a half that played more direct.

Bula is contracted to Tigers for 2026. There is zero indication he wont be playing for Tigers in 2026.
All the contract talk is for 2027 and beyond.

I don't see him leaving, and the Manager just wanting a new extended deal asap so he gets paid.

 

[BlackWhiteGold]

Any word on Bird?

I feel any chance of Adam Elliott coming will be contingent on Bird finding a new home. If he doesn't, he'll still be of good utility value for us if his head & body are right as he mentioned to @Wiz .

We'll still have 2 roster spots left but no rush to fill them until someone either falls from the tree or one of our T&T or Dev guys carves up in pre-season.

 

[BlackWhiteGold]

Further ... we're just over a week from pre-season training starting for our 1st to 3rd year players, Dev and T&Ts.

So I'd expect to hear some news from the club over the next week if any rumoured releases are actually happening and who are our T&T players for the pre-season in addition to Tavana.

 

[Tito Santana]

Wouldn’t surprise me if we end up with someone like Connor Tracey.

A jobber like him has Tigers written all over him.

Immortal.

 

[Wiz]

Bula on $900k versus Tracey on ~$350k? Could the ~$550k salary cap saving be used to strengthen our squad elsewhere so we are better off overall? I’m not saying one is right and one is wrong but this is the type of thought process Richo will be undertaking in managing our salary cap.

 

[Wezt]

Because of two journos speculating with unnamed sources being repeated in social media?

You need better media literacy and critical evaluation skills.

With the imminent departure of Bula, we can play your favourite player at fullback now

Douhei