Signings, Suggestions & Rumours Discussion

[Canadian Club]

Competition for spots is great. If
toa is serious he need to be the first 8 rounds Star not the injured turnstile. It won’t be acceptable this year. Herbert is a T&T nothing to lose…didn’t say he is a world beater. Will go good in cup and who knows, hopefully he buys into the culture and trains hard. Boys look fit in the preseason photos.

I’ve seen NRL games where Patrick Herbert was ripping in, playing extremely aggressively and physically dominant in attack and defence.
He’s not overly big, not tall and not real fast, but when on his game he’s highly aggressive and plays very physical.
No guarantees he will even play NRL, but on a Train & Trial deal he’s well worth having to see if he can get back to somewhere near his best.

When was that, 3 years ago? Think it’s a wasted T&T spot for an injury prone player who was never crash hot and hasn’t played in 3 years.

Would have preferred other guys who were available like Tui’tupou, Jake Tago, Haze Dunster, Smith-Sheilds, Tony Francis and some others from Super League over Herbert on a T&T, but I guess that’s all we were left with.

 

[The Chad]

Herbert = Whakatane origin of birth.

Benji doing local lad from back home a favour & giving him a shot?

 

[innsaneink]

No wonder theres no mention of him when he signed on

 

[Tigerwould]

Played union at what age?

All ages

 

[hammertime]

Herbert will only ever see NRL with us if we’re injury depleted if we’re just calling it as it is.

However on the To’a earning his spot part… I think he may struggle to keep it in 2026 if I was being honest.

1. Bula (untouchable)
2. Turuva (untouchable)
3. May (untouchable)
4. ?
5. ?

Skelton, Makasini and To’a fully fit one has to get dropped. Who you picking?

Are we transitioning Makasini as a winger on his preferred side or do we keep him at centre on the right side.

Side note: One thing I will say is I was at the awards night this year and Richo did give our right side defence a bit of a spray during his speech, calling them out on needing to be better and it not being acceptable.

Seyfarth and To’a both on that side. Seyfarth hooked for KPP. Do we give To’a a crack still.

It’s a very interesting discussion going into next year….. personally I’m running Skelton and Makasini.

I reckon bird might be a smokey for the centre spot if he aims up.

 

[tigahhh]

When was that, 3 years ago? Think it’s a wasted T&T spot for an injury prone player who was never crash hot and hasn’t played in 3 years.

Would have preferred other guys who were available like Tui’tupou, Jake Tago, Haze Dunster, Smith-Sheilds, Tony Francis and some others from Super League over Herbert on a T&T, but I guess that’s all we were left with.

there’s no limit to t&t’s. they obviously identified the centre depth gap in the cup squad and got an experienced older player for it. tago is signed for this year with parra & haze just did his acl

 

[Tom Shines]

They kept this one very quiet

It’s a tough job for the club to keep us updated on new signings which occur about once every month or two

He’s not overly big, not tall and not real fast,

He’ll fit in very well.

 

[king_sirro]

Herbert will only ever see NRL with us if we’re injury depleted if we’re just calling it as it is.

However on the To’a earning his spot part… I think he may struggle to keep it in 2026 if I was being honest.

1. Bula (untouchable)
2. Turuva (untouchable)
3. May (untouchable)
4. ?
5. ?

Skelton, Makasini and To’a fully fit one has to get dropped. Who you picking?

Are we transitioning Makasini as a winger on his preferred side or do we keep him at centre on the right side.

Side note: One thing I will say is I was at the awards night this year and Richo did give our right side defence a bit of a spray during his speech, calling them out on needing to be better and it not being acceptable.

Seyfarth and To’a both on that side. Seyfarth hooked for KPP. Do we give To’a a crack still.

It’s a very interesting discussion going into next year….. personally I’m running Skelton and Makasini.

I know Taylan killed it in the left,but everyone who knows him says he is a natural freak, so i imagine he could play just the same on any side. Id be having a look a him on the right in the preseason and see how he feels there. Then if Toa doesn't cut it, Taylan shifts across amd Mak comes in on the left

 

[BlackWhiteGold]

It’s a tough job for the club to keep us updated on new signings which occur about once every month or two



He’ll fit in very well.

It seems to the case TS. Hopefully we hear more on our T&T squad now that the jersey and draw have been announced.

Those who have been negative towards Patrick Herbert need to remember it's a train & trial contract. He's being given a chance to impress the coaches. That is all. Hopefully he succeeds.

Remember we had Samual Loizou on a T&T over summer a couple of seasons ago before being cut and playing R1 NSW Cup with the Eels. We had that ex Warriors Cup half Eiden Ackland on a T&T last season before playing the majority of the season in Ron Massey Cup. Some work out, some don't.

Who knows, we may have KMpaz on a T&T too to fight for a spot. Hopefully we get some clarity from the club soon.

 

[Kelce68]

To'a is inconsistent. I would start the season with To'a and let Mak earn the spot.

That's probably the safe money for now I'd say.

 

[innsaneink]

How do we know its a T and T deal.when the clubs said nothiing.

I mean its the short priced favourite option i guess...but i dont really understand these new deals

 

[Kelce68]

I know Taylan killed it in the left,but everyone who knows him says he is a natural freak, so i imagine he could play just the same on any side. Id be having a look a him on the right in the preseason and see how he feels there. Then if Toa doesn't cut it, Taylan shifts across amd Mak comes in on the left

I agree.

I think the versatility and experience of May should be used to explore the right side option, if it's to make way for Masi on the left, in time.

It's a pretty simple equation with them both being left-sided players. Whichever option has the best net outcome is the choice. Whether it's Taylan or Masi to the right.

Personally, I think we lose less from Taylan going to the right than we would from Masi doing the same. At least for the foreseeable future.

 

[gregjm87]

When was that, 3 years ago? Think it’s a wasted T&T spot for an injury prone player who was never crash hot and hasn’t played in 3 years.

Would have preferred other guys who were available like Tui’tupou, Jake Tago, Haze Dunster, Smith-Sheilds, Tony Francis and some others from Super League over Herbert on a T&T, but I guess that’s all we were left with.

But are the other blokes available signing on a train and trial contract?

 

[Canadian Club]

But are the other blokes available signing on a train and trial contract?

They were all un-signed at the end of the season so would have been available to sign T&T contracts.

Herbert seems a waste to me. Theres the point that we can sign as many T&T players, however I would hope that Herbert isn't prioritised over the development of Max Taotua or Tino Tavana. Getting one of the players I mentioned may also do that, but those guys all have recent NRL experienced and development upside. A 28 year old injury prone player who hasn't played in 3 years really does not have much, if any upside.

 

[BrissieTiger67]

I reckon bird might be a smokey for the centre spot if he aims up.

I liked bird off the bench tbh , covered a lot. So many injuries and HIAs in the game atm

 

[Tom Shines]

It seems to the case TS. Hopefully we hear more on our T&T squad now that the jersey and draw have been announced.

Those who have been negative towards Patrick Herbert need to remember it's a train & trial contract. He's being given a chance to impress the coaches. That is all. Hopefully he succeeds.

Remember we had Samual Loizou on a T&T over summer a couple of seasons ago before being cut and playing R1 NSW Cup with the Eels. We had that ex Warriors Cup half Eiden Ackland on a T&T last season before playing the majority of the season in Ron Massey Cup. Some work out, some don't.

Who knows, we may have KMpaz on a T&T too to fight for a spot. Hopefully we get some clarity from the club soon.

My point is mainly around frustration that the club can’t keep us updated with something that doesn’t happen with unmanageable frequency.…I assume Herbert is under contract already to be training with the club

My other point was an attempt at humour ..might have missed the mark ..😎

 

[BlackWhiteGold]

How do we know its a T and T deal.when the clubs said nothiing.

I mean its the short priced favourite option i guess...but i dont really understand these new deals

Just common sense Ink. No way in the world we would sign a 28yo who hasn't played in 3 seasons to a top 30 deal especially when Bunty is just given a Development. I'd put my left nut on it's a T&T or NSW Cup deal (as some of those players are being given an opp to train with the NRL squad).

 

[BlackWhiteGold]

They were all un-signed at the end of the season so would have been available to sign T&T contracts.

Herbert seems a waste to me. Theres the point that we can sign as many T&T players, however I would hope that Herbert isn't prioritised over the development of Max Taotua or Tino Tavana. Getting one of the players I mentioned may also do that, but those guys all have recent NRL experienced and development upside. A 28 year old injury prone player who hasn't played in 3 years really does not have much, if any upside.

He may just be seen as a squad filler for NSW Cup CC. I understand the powers that be rate Max Taotua & Tino Tavana highly so they will be given every chance to impress over the pre-season. Someone like Herbert brings NRL experience & depth and IF he does get back to decent form, he could easily fill in as a NSW Cup centre if injuries strike.

 

[BlackWhiteGold]

My point is mainly around frustration that the club can’t keep us updated with something that doesn’t happen with unmanageable frequency.…I assume Herbert is under contract already to be training with the club

My other point was an attempt at humour ..might have missed the mark ..😎

Yeah I'm with you on the frustration especially seeing some of the content other clubs are putting out. And I have no idea why the club doesn't put out the summer pathways squads yet when they've been training together for weeks.

Got your humour too. At least we have Big Mak with height, speed, skill & power.

 

[gregjm87]

They were all un-signed at the end of the season so would have been available to sign T&T contracts.

Herbert seems a waste to me. Theres the point that we can sign as many T&T players, however I would hope that Herbert isn't prioritised over the development of Max Taotua or Tino Tavana. Getting one of the players I mentioned may also do that, but those guys all have recent NRL experienced and development upside. A 28 year old injury prone player who hasn't played in 3 years really does not have much, if any upside.

THey might all be unsigned but convincing them to take a Trialist contract wouldn't be easy. It is only fractionally more a week than a reserve grade contract but without the security of being signed for the full season. They would potentially also be holding out for a top 30 contract an overseas contract or even potentially a country contract which all have the potential for a better and more secure pay day that a train and trial.
I don't see any way a trialist would be prioritised over development guys. They are usually only here for 3 months at most, unless they prove worthy of something more. Not sure in what way they would be getting prioritised. At this point of preseason it is pretty much all one size fits all fitness work, very little skill development.