Signings, Suggestions & Rumours Discussion

[Vicious]

KPP was one of the Poms best players …. Not that’s a high bar …. They were pretty ordinary

He played well.
Not outstanding, but well enough to be just about the most valuable forward in his team.
I’m still concerned that he lacks explosive speed and genuine line break ability and I’m wondering if he could transition and become a very good 13 ?
He’s got the engine, he’s got the toughness, he’s got the defence, he’s got the offload and when he passes the ball he generally does it intelligently which makes me think he would be capable of the ball playing 13 role.

 

[Tom Shines]

He mated well.

Jesus,,, what are you implying here ?

He mated well.
Not outstanding, but well enough to be just about the most valuable forward in his team.
I’m still concerned that he lacks explosive speed and genuine line break ability and I’m wondering if he could transition and become a very good 13 ?
He’s got the engine, he’s got the toughness, he’s got the defence, he’s got the offload and when he passes the ball he generally does it intelligently which makes me think he would be capable of the ball playing 13 role.

He will be a good upgrade ,… I’ll keep him on the edge …they are one more decent middle away I reckon

 

[tigahhh]

KPP was one of the Poms best players …. Not that’s a high bar …. They were pretty ordinary

few nice offloads which he wasn’t allowed to do at newcastle

 

[bptiger 0]

Great experience for him, played well in a losing team. Not sure why they still pick Bateman

Loved the off loads, but there is something missing, he doesn’t hit the holes and I don’t see him looking for work , in defence he is more of a grabber rather than a hitter, for such a huge man I want to see more involvement

 

[innsaneink]

KPP was ok in Pom team , but they just don’t use him right same as Newcastle , he is big and strong and needs to be running off players so he can hit the line at pace like Sam F does , tigers use him correct he becomes a weapon

Runs very upright and not hard, I see him getting stopped dead, lifted and pushed back like Klemmer

Wide ball player with May & Slelton/Mak off his hip might be better

 

[innsaneink]

Loved the off loads, but there is something missing, he doesn’t hit the holes and I don’t see him looking for work , in defence he is more of a grabber rather than a hitter, for such a huge man I want to see more involvement

Yeah much of what I saw this year at the Knights....he waits for work to come to him

 

[Tito Santana]

Yeah much of what I saw this year at the Knights....he waits for work to come to him

But is that not more from not wanting to come out of his corridor which is probably what he should be doing?

If he hits holes I’m not too worried about his speed as I would expect him to have support on both sides.

Actually think League players that are tall are somewhat at a disadvantage hence why I think Kit Laullii may have a future.

 

[Tito Santana]

Runs very upright and not hard, I see him getting stopped dead, lifted and pushed back like Klemmer

Wide ball player with May & Slelton/Mak off his hip might be better

Mak at top flight off KPP - That’s Jonah Lomuesque!

 

[JB9918]

1000% improves our right edge defense. Big body, big motor, can tackle. Will take pressure of Toa & Turuva. Plus also provide consistency over Seyfarth, Sukkar or Sione.

Attack offers a good offload & kick option.

 

[boonboon]

Yeah much of what I saw this year at the Knights....he waits for work to come to him

Made 40 tackles a game and 108 meters per game and 29 offloads over the season

Sam Fainu for comparison made 30 tackles, 84 meters and 3 offloads for the season

Doesent seem like he waits for the work comes to him unless it was all coming to him

 

[Tigerwould]

But is that not more from not wanting to come out of his corridor which is probably what he should be doing?

If he hits holes I’m not too worried about his speed as I would expect him to have support on both sides.

Actually think League players that are tall are somewhat at a disadvantage hence why I think Kit Laullii may have a future.

Yep, in attack a more compact player can be harder to stop sometimes. KPP was go at getting the ball away and draw in defenders.
But in defence with his size and wing span he is hard to get past. The WTs right edge defence was as issue last season. KPP with help fix that in 2026.

 

[pawsandclaws1]

KPP is an excellent buy for WTs. He offers height, can offload at will and with our halves will be much better in attack. He will improve our defence and we have purchased him at what I think is a very good price. Well done to our club.

 

[Vicious]

few nice offloads which he wasn’t allowed to do at newcastle

KPP offloads as good as anyone in the game, so the 2nd phase play that comes off it should be good for us.

 

[diedpretty]

Loved the off loads, but there is something missing, he doesn’t hit the holes and I don’t see him looking for work , in defence he is more of a grabber rather than a hitter, for such a huge man I want to see more involvement

He certainly hit Grant in a great front on tackle.

 

[Mighty_Tiger]

Made 40 tackles a game and 108 meters per game and 29 offloads over the season

Sam Fainu for comparison made 30 tackles, 84 meters and 3 offloads for the season

Doesent seem like he waits for the work comes to him unless it was all coming to him

I have mentioned his work rate a fair few times this year. He solves some defensive issues for us and if used the right way will open the edge up very nicely - thats on the coach, halves and Bula not KPP.

I do see what others have said though about how he hits the line, have seen enough of him to not be concerned about it pending how the teams formations operate to utilize him as a runner.

 

[Tiger Stripes]

Runs very upright and not hard, I see him getting stopped dead, lifted and pushed back like Klemmer

Wide ball player with May & Slelton/Mak off his hip might be better

With those long skinny legs he will be cut down easily if near the middle.
Needs to be wider and at speed and use his great off load.
Defended well.
I was against him when he was first mentioned coming here; having watched how Newcastle used him as the perennial decoy.
Last night I thought he went well. Should be the back row upgrade we were after.

 

[bptiger 0]

He certainly hit Grant in a great front on tackle.

Can u come up with any more, not saying he is a bad defender, he just seems to grab, and need to see a better work rate

 

[balmain boy]

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!

Realistically Brookes is next in line for fullback, both at Cup and maybe in a year at NRL level.

Tavana doesn't quite have the speed or X factor for a fullback. He does for wing though. His greatest strength is in the air, which would be wasted at the back.

Brookes imo is a better prospect than Mason or Laulilii, even though they were both Aussie schoolboys

 

[tigertragic]

Chalk and cheese comparing KPP and Batemans stats from last night. A good option in an area of need for the tigers

 

[twentyforty]

We’re still short of a back fence middle. Wouldn’t do any harm to see what Matt Lodge’s plans are for 2026?