Signings, Suggestions & Rumours Discussion

[hodgo]

I think the build up to the 2020 season is a hard one for Tigers fans because we have money in the kitty and desperately want success - sick of being the butt of jokes when out for a beer with the fellas. We need to be patient. We are on the right path. We are pushing s*@t uphill compared to the glamour clubs. We are though, moving in the right direction. 2-3 established players in needed positions and we are 'top 8' bound. Unfortunately this mightn't occur in 2020 but we are literally maximum a year away in my opinion from becoming a contender....

Seems to be what we say every year!

Surely you feel that the next couple of years will be different? We had hacks in our high level ranks previously (for a long period). Get a sense its going to be tough as Madge won't pay overs which is what players expect from the Tigers but we are building a stable foundation which includes players who want to be at the club and believe in its long term viability and success.

Why would I think that when our top 30 roster has moved backwards since last season? The club has shown no reason to see that saying next year will be better is any more accurate then the last 8 years we have said it.


Some times its not about the top 30, its about the over all squad and over all i think we are stronger. The good coach is building from the ground up. Its been a long long time since we have had juniors to be confident about and a coach who is in it for the long term.

I do understand that and we have signed some promising juniors, the last time we had a good batch of juniors they all left once established. They were juniors who had been in our system for a long time so why should we be confident that these new juniors who have spent a lot less time in our systems will decide to stay once established?

Even when we had that good crop of juniors (our very own big 4) we still didn't make the 8!

I don't think it is too much to ask for an improved top 30 roster for this upcoming season, especially when a lot of decrease in our roster came from us releasing players which seems to have done with no solid plan for replacing those players!


You have the answers bro who you bringing in to improve the roster

You don't release players that you don't have a replacement for!

So stop telling us what we know and tell us how we get these improvements you speak of

Easy to point out problems give us some solutions otherwise it comes across like whinging

 

[cochise]

I think the build up to the 2020 season is a hard one for Tigers fans because we have money in the kitty and desperately want success - sick of being the butt of jokes when out for a beer with the fellas. We need to be patient. We are on the right path. We are pushing s*@t uphill compared to the glamour clubs. We are though, moving in the right direction. 2-3 established players in needed positions and we are 'top 8' bound. Unfortunately this mightn't occur in 2020 but we are literally maximum a year away in my opinion from becoming a contender....

Seems to be what we say every year!

Surely you feel that the next couple of years will be different? We had hacks in our high level ranks previously (for a long period). Get a sense its going to be tough as Madge won't pay overs which is what players expect from the Tigers but we are building a stable foundation which includes players who want to be at the club and believe in its long term viability and success.

Why would I think that when our top 30 roster has moved backwards since last season? The club has shown no reason to see that saying next year will be better is any more accurate then the last 8 years we have said it.


Some times its not about the top 30, its about the over all squad and over all i think we are stronger. The good coach is building from the ground up. Its been a long long time since we have had juniors to be confident about and a coach who is in it for the long term.

I do understand that and we have signed some promising juniors, the last time we had a good batch of juniors they all left once established. They were juniors who had been in our system for a long time so why should we be confident that these new juniors who have spent a lot less time in our systems will decide to stay once established?

Even when we had that good crop of juniors (our very own big 4) we still didn't make the 8!

I don't think it is too much to ask for an improved top 30 roster for this upcoming season, especially when a lot of decrease in our roster came from us releasing players which seems to have done with no solid plan for replacing those players!


You have the answers bro who you bringing in to improve the roster

You don't release players that you don't have a replacement for!

So stop telling us what we know and tell us how we get these improvements you speak of

You don't put yourself in a position to need to seek those improvements when the you already have the quality players under contract!

 

[hodgo]

I think the build up to the 2020 season is a hard one for Tigers fans because we have money in the kitty and desperately want success - sick of being the butt of jokes when out for a beer with the fellas. We need to be patient. We are on the right path. We are pushing s*@t uphill compared to the glamour clubs. We are though, moving in the right direction. 2-3 established players in needed positions and we are 'top 8' bound. Unfortunately this mightn't occur in 2020 but we are literally maximum a year away in my opinion from becoming a contender....

Seems to be what we say every year!

Surely you feel that the next couple of years will be different? We had hacks in our high level ranks previously (for a long period). Get a sense its going to be tough as Madge won't pay overs which is what players expect from the Tigers but we are building a stable foundation which includes players who want to be at the club and believe in its long term viability and success.

Why would I think that when our top 30 roster has moved backwards since last season? The club has shown no reason to see that saying next year will be better is any more accurate then the last 8 years we have said it.


Some times its not about the top 30, its about the over all squad and over all i think we are stronger. The good coach is building from the ground up. Its been a long long time since we have had juniors to be confident about and a coach who is in it for the long term.

I do understand that and we have signed some promising juniors, the last time we had a good batch of juniors they all left once established. They were juniors who had been in our system for a long time so why should we be confident that these new juniors who have spent a lot less time in our systems will decide to stay once established?

Even when we had that good crop of juniors (our very own big 4) we still didn't make the 8!

I don't think it is too much to ask for an improved top 30 roster for this upcoming season, especially when a lot of decrease in our roster came from us releasing players which seems to have done with no solid plan for replacing those players!


You have the answers bro who you bringing in to improve the roster

You don't release players that you don't have a replacement for!

So stop telling us what we know and tell us how we get these improvements you speak of

You don't put yourself in a position to need to seek those improvements when the you already have the quality players under contract!

Anyway this is a waste of time. Hopefully you find a positive here and there.

 

[cochise]

I think the build up to the 2020 season is a hard one for Tigers fans because we have money in the kitty and desperately want success - sick of being the butt of jokes when out for a beer with the fellas. We need to be patient. We are on the right path. We are pushing s*@t uphill compared to the glamour clubs. We are though, moving in the right direction. 2-3 established players in needed positions and we are 'top 8' bound. Unfortunately this mightn't occur in 2020 but we are literally maximum a year away in my opinion from becoming a contender....

Seems to be what we say every year!

Surely you feel that the next couple of years will be different? We had hacks in our high level ranks previously (for a long period). Get a sense its going to be tough as Madge won't pay overs which is what players expect from the Tigers but we are building a stable foundation which includes players who want to be at the club and believe in its long term viability and success.

Why would I think that when our top 30 roster has moved backwards since last season? The club has shown no reason to see that saying next year will be better is any more accurate then the last 8 years we have said it.


Some times its not about the top 30, its about the over all squad and over all i think we are stronger. The good coach is building from the ground up. Its been a long long time since we have had juniors to be confident about and a coach who is in it for the long term.

I do understand that and we have signed some promising juniors, the last time we had a good batch of juniors they all left once established. They were juniors who had been in our system for a long time so why should we be confident that these new juniors who have spent a lot less time in our systems will decide to stay once established?

Even when we had that good crop of juniors (our very own big 4) we still didn't make the 8!

I don't think it is too much to ask for an improved top 30 roster for this upcoming season, especially when a lot of decrease in our roster came from us releasing players which seems to have done with no solid plan for replacing those players!


You have the answers bro who you bringing in to improve the roster

You don't release players that you don't have a replacement for!

So stop telling us what we know and tell us how we get these improvements you speak of

You don't put yourself in a position to need to seek those improvements when the you already have the quality players under contract!

Anyway this is a waste of time. Hopefully you find a positive here and there.

i'm actually more positive then most here, just be nice to see us making some progress and I hope it comes this season. I'll still be a all games regardless of the roster, ground, opposition or results!

 

[Rugba]

Re previous page back and forth about paps. Everyone seems to forget that the storm shopped him around before he debuted. The fact is the club did not rate him that high, otherwise he would have played for WT in 19 not storm.

You can’t blame coaches and administrations about letting young Unproven Talent go , they are a gamble the lower grades are absolutely no indication if they will kick on in NRL , otherwise we would have had 100 of the next SBWs that are said every season

 

[happy_tiger]

I think the build up to the 2020 season is a hard one for Tigers fans because we have money in the kitty and desperately want success - sick of being the butt of jokes when out for a beer with the fellas. We need to be patient. We are on the right path. We are pushing s*@t uphill compared to the glamour clubs. We are though, moving in the right direction. 2-3 established players in needed positions and we are 'top 8' bound. Unfortunately this mightn't occur in 2020 but we are literally maximum a year away in my opinion from becoming a contender....

Seems to be what we say every year!

Surely you feel that the next couple of years will be different? We had hacks in our high level ranks previously (for a long period). Get a sense its going to be tough as Madge won't pay overs which is what players expect from the Tigers but we are building a stable foundation which includes players who want to be at the club and believe in its long term viability and success.

Why would I think that when our top 30 roster has moved backwards since last season? The club has shown no reason to see that saying next year will be better is any more accurate then the last 8 years we have said it.

We're getting a gym.

A really , really big gym

 

[Tim Sheens]

I think the build up to the 2020 season is a hard one for Tigers fans because we have money in the kitty and desperately want success - sick of being the butt of jokes when out for a beer with the fellas. We need to be patient. We are on the right path. We are pushing s*@t uphill compared to the glamour clubs. We are though, moving in the right direction. 2-3 established players in needed positions and we are 'top 8' bound. Unfortunately this mightn't occur in 2020 but we are literally maximum a year away in my opinion from becoming a contender....

Seems to be what we say every year!

Surely you feel that the next couple of years will be different? We had hacks in our high level ranks previously (for a long period). Get a sense its going to be tough as Madge won't pay overs which is what players expect from the Tigers but we are building a stable foundation which includes players who want to be at the club and believe in its long term viability and success.

Why would I think that when our top 30 roster has moved backwards since last season? The club has shown no reason to see that saying next year will be better is any more accurate then the last 8 years we have said it.


Some times its not about the top 30, its about the over all squad and over all i think we are stronger. The good coach is building from the ground up. Its been a long long time since we have had juniors to be confident about and a coach who is in it for the long term.

Not only that, we are currently judging it with 10% of that number yet to be confirmed and about 15% of the related cap monies to purchase same with.

 

[LeichhardtTiger]

getting a gym.

Better not be Maloney! Sorry, It's late and I'm drink..

 

[jirskyr]

In ‘your opinion’ it has moved backwards. To me it’s a bout the same with player growth i think it will be better

This is my position exactly.

A lot of folks seem to think "Tigers 2019 finished 9th, we lost more players than we added, therefore we will do worse in 2020". It's almost a mathematical consideration in their eyes, that, in terms of cattle, we've subtracted more than we added.

It totally ignores the impact of individual player and team development.

The other side of the coin from recruitment is improvement of the individuals we have. Can they individually and collectively go to a higher level, achieve more sustained success, be a more consistent side?

I felt we finished 2019 ok, 4 wins from 7 and 3 of those wins by large margins.

Interesting stat is that our average winning margin in 2019 was 17.45 points, vs 7.17 points in 2018. What this tells me is that the roster has the capability of beating the opposition very well, when we get it right (bit like Sheenius Tigers). Trick is obviously to get it right as often as possible, or at least to have some level of consistency when you aren't quite at your best, to still put in a decent performance.

This was unlike 2018 where we ground out basically all of our wins and didn't really have the capacity to do anything other than stick in games, which helped against the better sides, but ultimately wore the team out.

But fundamentally the roster has the ability, we just need to get to another level to compete more consistently with the better sides and aim for that 5-8 group rather than head of the 9-12.

 

[twentyforty]

In ‘your opinion’ it has moved backwards. To me it’s a bout the same with player growth i think it will be better

This is my position exactly.

A lot of folks seem to think "Tigers 2019 finished 9th, we lost more players than we added, therefore we will do worse in 2020". It's almost a mathematical consideration in their eyes, that, in terms of cattle, we've subtracted more than we added.

It totally ignores the impact of individual player and team development.

The other side of the coin from recruitment is improvement of the individuals we have. Can they individually and collectively go to a higher level, achieve more sustained success, be a more consistent side?

I felt we finished 2019 ok, 4 wins from 7 and 3 of those wins by large margins.

Interesting stat is that our average winning margin in 2019 was 17.45 points, vs 7.17 points in 2018. What this tells me is that the roster has the capability of beating the opposition very well, when we get it right (bit like Sheenius Tigers). Trick is obviously to get it right as often as possible, or at least to have some level of consistency when you aren't quite at your best, to still put in a decent performance.

This was unlike 2018 where we ground out basically all of our wins and didn't really have the capacity to do anything other than stick in games, which helped against the better sides, but ultimately wore the team out.

But fundamentally the roster has the ability, we just need to get to another level to compete more consistently with the better sides and aim for that 5-8 group rather than head of the 9-12.

You’re absolutely right about the teams desire and ability to go on with the job and be hard to shake once they get on top. A bit like the fat chick you take home at 2am. But getting back to the math. We only have 27 players. We need 30.

 

[Harvey]

Reading through the last dozen pages or so...

There must be a lot of unprofessional NRL clubs around. The storm were shopping Papenhuyzen around as he was a long way down their depth chart, no club wanted him. He has always had talent, but has been constantly injured. Let’s see him play more than half a season of first grade before anointing him as the next immortal.

While we have recruited highly rated youngsters, this always comes with risk. A couple of years ago there was talk of the junior rep players we signed like Dylan Smith and Sam McIntyre, who have not kicked on.

Development players have existed for the last 2 years and despite long term deals including top 30 upgrades, the only development deal graduates that looks near first grade ready are Mikaele and Talau. It could be argued that development upgrades have resulted in more dead wood in our squad than first graders. Hopefully our strike rate here improves as well. I am keen to see how the likes of Cini, Seyfarth etc develop.

 

[pawsandclaws1]

Reading through the last dozen pages or so...

There must be a lot of unprofessional NRL clubs around. The storm were shopping Papenhuyzen around as he was a long way down their depth chart, no club wanted him. He has always had talent, but has been constantly injured. Let’s see him play more than half a season of first grade before anointing him as the next immortal.

While we have recruited highly rated youngsters, this always comes with risk. A couple of years ago there was talk of the junior rep players we signed like Dylan Smith and Sam McIntyre, who have not kicked on.

Development players have existed for the last 2 years and despite long term deals including top 30 upgrades, the only development deal graduates that looks near first grade ready are Mikaele and Talau. It could be argued that development upgrades have resulted in more dead wood in our squad than first graders. Hopefully our strike rate here improves as well. I am keen to see how the likes of Cini, Seyfarth etc develop.

Papenhuyzen is streets ahead of any fullback option we have and is in the top echelon of fullbacks. Try and spin it whatever way you like but there is no getting around this fact. Combined with the loss of Korobeite and JAC they were catastrophic losses for WTs.

Cini gets lots of mentions but his defence is appalling. Go look at Scolari and Wilson as more likely options.

 

[The_Patriot]

I think the build up to the 2020 season is a hard one for Tigers fans because we have money in the kitty and desperately want success - sick of being the butt of jokes when out for a beer with the fellas. We need to be patient. We are on the right path. We are pushing s*@t uphill compared to the glamour clubs. We are though, moving in the right direction. 2-3 established players in needed positions and we are 'top 8' bound. Unfortunately this mightn't occur in 2020 but we are literally maximum a year away in my opinion from becoming a contender....

Seems to be what we say every year!

Surely you feel that the next couple of years will be different? We had hacks in our high level ranks previously (for a long period). Get a sense its going to be tough as Madge won't pay overs which is what players expect from the Tigers but we are building a stable foundation which includes players who want to be at the club and believe in its long term viability and success.

Why would I think that when our top 30 roster has moved backwards since last season? The club has shown no reason to see that saying next year will be better is any more accurate then the last 8 years we have said it.


Some times its not about the top 30, its about the over all squad and over all i think we are stronger. The good coach is building from the ground up. Its been a long long time since we have had juniors to be confident about and a coach who is in it for the long term.

I do understand that and we have signed some promising juniors, the last time we had a good batch of juniors they all left once established. They were juniors who had been in our system for a long time so why should we be confident that these new juniors who have spent a lot less time in our systems will decide to stay once established?

Even when we had that good crop of juniors (our very own big 4) we still didn't make the 8!

I don't think it is too much to ask for an improved top 30 roster for this upcoming season, especially when a lot of decrease in our roster came from us releasing players which seems to have done with no solid plan for replacing those players!

You cant just ignore the rookies because youre worried about them leaving. I for one trust the coach to recruit guys who will stick around and help build a culture.

All of this comes down to having faith in Maguire. Some do, some dont, some are worried about things that have happened in the past rather than looking at what we are trying to build.

 

[twentyforty]

I agree. Madge is that guy who can strengthen the club culture. First off, I reckon he should make a call to the wiggles and get them to update the team song. We now know Ivan was never really on the bus.

“It’s our jungle. It’s our jungle.

Wests Tigers Jungle. It’s our jungle.

On the bus huh!”

 

[twentyforty]

I agree. Madge is that guy who can strengthen the club culture. First off, I reckon he should make a call to the wiggles and get them to update the team song. We now know Ivan was never really on the bus.

“It’s our jungle. It’s our jungle.

Wests Tigers Jungle. It’s our jungle.

On the bus huh!”

The door on the bus goes round and round lah lah

 

[Goldust]

Reading through the last dozen pages or so...

There must be a lot of unprofessional NRL clubs around. The storm were shopping Papenhuyzen around as he was a long way down their depth chart, no club wanted him. He has always had talent, but has been constantly injured. Let’s see him play more than half a season of first grade before anointing him as the next immortal.

While we have recruited highly rated youngsters, this always comes with risk. A couple of years ago there was talk of the junior rep players we signed like Dylan Smith and Sam McIntyre, who have not kicked on.

Development players have existed for the last 2 years and despite long term deals including top 30 upgrades, the only development deal graduates that looks near first grade ready are Mikaele and Talau. It could be argued that development upgrades have resulted in more dead wood in our squad than first graders. Hopefully our strike rate here improves as well. I am keen to see how the likes of Cini, Seyfarth etc develop.

Papenhuyzen is streets ahead of any fullback option we have and is in the top echelon of fullbacks. Try and spin it whatever way you like but there is no getting around this fact. Combined with the loss of Korobeite and JAC they were catastrophic losses for WTs.

Cini gets lots of mentions but his defence is appalling. Go look at Scolari and Wilson as more likely options.

Agreed,scolari looks like a future star

 

[Guest]

People need to stop the disguised swearing, unless you want a break from the forum of course.

 

[Harvey]

I agree. Madge is that guy who can strengthen the club culture. First off, I reckon he should make a call to the wiggles and get them to update the team song. We now know Ivan was never really on the bus.

“It’s our jungle. It’s our jungle.

Wests Tigers Jungle. It’s our jungle.

On the bus huh!”


The door on the bus goes round and round lah lah

A counting song. Everything is fine when you’re number 9

 

[jirskyr]

Papenhuyzen is streets ahead of any fullback option we have and is in the top echelon of fullbacks

Absolutely he is not in the top echelon. Unless the top echelon is like 20 players, then maybe he's there on 1 year of form.

I think you are a good judge of talent but you have an extraordinary bee in your bonnet about Paps. We all know why he left, we all know Tigers offered him a good deal which Melbourne matched, and Paps decided to leave to (a) get out from under Tedesco and (b) train under Slater and Bellyache. Paps had been in the Tigers system a long time, they knew what he was capable of and they knew his challenges.

There's no spin in that, the player is quoted saying it himself. Yes it's a fact he left. Players leave, if you want to get hung up on it you will be a miserable rugby league supporter for the rest of your life. Scott Prince and Laffranchi leaving was catastrophic as well, but that's what happens when other clubs target your players. None of them will ever top Tedesco, one of the best Tigers ever and definitely the best to leave when we didn't want him to.

But seriously stop harping on about it. Paps could very well be the next Dufty, he's a little man who has played 22 FG games. Hasn't even gotten through second year yet, with teams now plenty of time to study his tape.

One leg injury and it might be all over for him. Plenty of guts and determination, but limited passing game, no kicking game, mediocre defence. Let's see how it pans out and stop wrist slitting that he's gone.

 

[jirskyr]

This is the bloody Signing and Suggestions thread, go over to the Lament thread with the chit chat about old players.