Signings, Suggestions & Rumours Discussion

[Guest]

What happened yesterday is simple.

Team looks good for 25 minutes.

Mbye enters the game.

Game over.

Worst player in the team consistently................NEVER BEEN DROPPED.

The problem stems far beyond Mbye. To believe otherwise is madness.

Obviously.
I'm just making the point that Mbye has been consistently poor yet has managed to never be dropped while other players performing at a higher level have paid the price.

 

[Tiger5150]

Broncos have just lost/let go Tom Dearden and are reportedly chasing Mitchell Moses hard (Moses has a player option next year for Parra).

I know its a hard thought, but what about buying back the farm?

 

[TigerWest]

What happened yesterday is simple.

Team looks good for 25 minutes.

Mbye enters the game.

Game over.

Worst player in the team consistently................NEVER BEEN DROPPED.

The problem stems far beyond Mbye. To believe otherwise is madness.

Obviously.
I'm just making the point that Mbye has been consistently poor yet has managed to never be dropped while other players performing at a higher level have paid the price.

Who has been dropped whilst performing at a higher level?

 

[avocadoontoast]

It’s going to be hard to sign players until we have an idea of who our coach will be next year.

 

[Guest]

Benji, Liddle, Mikaele, Garner, Reynolds.......The list goes on and on.

All have far more to offer than Mbye.
He contributes nothing.

 

[JC99]

It’s going to be hard to sign players until we have an idea of who our coach will be next year.

As if it's not hard enough already 😂 no decent player will join us until we can prove we don't suck and that might be never lol

 

[jirskyr]

There was a point during the Jason Taylor era, where the 3 worst teams in the comp were clearly us, Gold Coast and Newcastle Knights

Newcastle now have Ponga, Pearce, Frizzell, Klemmer and Brailey

Titans now have David Fifita, Brimson and Tino

Both teams pushing for top 8 spots

We have.... ?

Left with no improvements or generational player to build for, it shows how poor our recruitment must be that we seem to be the only team to struggle signing big players when the other teams who were in worse positions than us seem to nab everyone, we need to be more aggressive in recruitment and not keep singing other teams rejects and push for a marquee player... should’ve got Latrell and JAC, but instead we end up with “the jet”

Bulldogs are even doing it now, they don’t sit around and try sign rejects they turned around and signed Burton, Cotric, JAC and Flanagan now they want the cheese. They aren’t gonna sit around and try the “developmental approach” like we have, where all it’s left us is in constant disappointment due to whenever the young players who develop leave us before they hit there primes cause they realise the basket case we can be and we’re stuck at the same spot we started in.

Here’s our opportunity, go get a Reynolds and maybe even a Kotani Staggs. We have the cap space, I don’t wanna see a Naden type signing cause it’s a repetitive cycle that’s obvs not working, be aggressive

Rant over

There's a couple of issues with your argument.

Firstly, Titans, Newcastle and Bulldogs aren't currently blueprints for success. "Pushing for Top 8" is a pretty weak benchmark and Titans are currently running 7th, Newcastle 10th, Bulldogs last, and obviously the Knights are the only team we've beaten this year.

Secondly, Tigers have already been on spending sprees in the past and I would say it's pretty conclusive that it doesn't get the job done, not without a complimentary foundation of experienced players and upcoming juniors. We are still hampered by the big spending that Ivan Cleary did.

Certainly the odd player like Ponga or Fifita are top-level talents, but guys like Mitchell Pearce, Klemmer... you have to ask what level of success they are bringing for their pay packet? Pearce is in his 4th year at Newcastle, Klemmer his 3rd, and in that time Knights have made the finals once, lost their only match handsomely.

Thirdly your Bulldogs argument is all over the place. You say they don't try to sign "rejects", but that's exactly what Bulldogs have done over many years, with Flanagan being one of their star rejects. Cotric is a reject centre, which they've since figured out and put him back to the wing. Burton is no different to Daine Laurie, good player looking for opportunities. Sure "they want the cheese" - everyone wants the cheese, but wanting a player is not indication of anything.

In fact if anything I think Bulldogs are a classic example of panic-buying, something Tigers have been very guilty of. I don't think their purchases do anything to fix their deficiencies, especially in the forwards. They have a heap of cash for 2022 now tied up in two wingers - rep-level wingers for sure - but wingers and wingers only, not utility backs who can cover fullback or centre.

I personally think the Tigers have recruited smartly for 2021, the main issue is we've spent 2 years trying to clear the old bad signings and have only really had one good smart recruitment year, with money available to spend. Tigers have a lot of kids on the books and kids struggle to find resilience in tough matches. We lack the experienced heads to hold the team together, and despite a signing of someone like Tamou, the team as a whole lacks that experienced resilience, because Tamou is only 1 guy. Of the 22 players Madge has played in 2021, only 9 of them have more than 75 games experience - Brooks, Jimmy Jet, Tamou, MCK, BJ, Mbye, Nofo, Ofa, Packer. And unfortunately for us, those 9 are mostly not resilient tough winners: Packer barely plays, Jet is old and cooked, MCK is a career benchie, Mbye is a career backup, Nofo is a career defensive liability, BJ is unreliable.

It would have been great to have jagged Latrell and Tigers did everything they could to make it happen. We were 2nd in that race to sign him. You look at Knights, the primary reason they signed Pearce and Klemmer is because they both fell out with their Sydney clubs and wanted to get out of town. Frizell was cooked after many years at St George and wanted out. Ponga was really the only marquee signing and it's worked out for them, but obviously there's great risk putting so much money into a junior from another club.

 

[avocadoontoast]

It’s going to be hard to sign players until we have an idea of who our coach will be next year.

As if it's not hard enough already ? no decent player will join us until we can prove we don't suck and that might be never lol

We have a fair bit of money to spend next year. It’s pretty clear Maguire won’t be here so cut him now and try and salvage what we can. It’s become evident that representative players don’t want to play for him.

 

[avocadoontoast]

Firstly, Titans, Newcastle and Bulldogs aren’t currently blueprints for success. “Pushing for Top 8” is a pretty weak benchmark

I’d be happy with that at the moment. We’re almost last with a f/a of -104 after 7 games and only 1 win. It’s April and our season is already over. There’s no way to sugarcoat it, we suck.

 

[Jedi_Tiger]

It’s going to be hard to sign players until we have an idea of who our coach will be next year.

As if it's not hard enough already ? no decent player will join us until we can prove we don't suck and that might be never lol

We have a fair bit of money to spend next year. It’s pretty clear Maguire won’t be here so cut him now and try and salvage what we can. It’s become evident that representative players don’t want to play for him.

Latrell didn't want to play under Madge
JAC didn't want to play under Madge
Jail Arrow didn't want to play under Madge

the guy has to go he does not attract big names and he has lost the dressing room completely

 

[JC99]

It’s going to be hard to sign players until we have an idea of who our coach will be next year.

As if it's not hard enough already ? no decent player will join us until we can prove we don't suck and that might be never lol

We have a fair bit of money to spend next year. It’s pretty clear Maguire won’t be here so cut him now and try and salvage what we can. It’s become evident that representative players don’t want to play for him.

We've got money but players still won't come here, been that way before Madge was here. We never sign genuine stars unfortunately

 

[Guest]

What happened yesterday is simple.

Team looks good for 25 minutes.

Mbye enters the game.

Game over.

Worst player in the team consistently................NEVER BEEN DROPPED.

The problem stems far beyond Mbye. To believe otherwise is madness.

Obviously.
I'm just making the point that Mbye has been consistently poor yet has managed to never be dropped while other players performing at a higher level have paid the price.

He hasn't been our worst performer - sure he's overpaid but some of the arm grabbing from players yesterday left a lot to be desired.

 

[TigerWest]

There was a point during the Jason Taylor era, where the 3 worst teams in the comp were clearly us, Gold Coast and Newcastle Knights

Newcastle now have Ponga, Pearce, Frizzell, Klemmer and Brailey

Titans now have David Fifita, Brimson and Tino

Both teams pushing for top 8 spots

We have.... ?

Left with no improvements or generational player to build for, it shows how poor our recruitment must be that we seem to be the only team to struggle signing big players when the other teams who were in worse positions than us seem to nab everyone, we need to be more aggressive in recruitment and not keep singing other teams rejects and push for a marquee player... should’ve got Latrell and JAC, but instead we end up with “the jet”

Bulldogs are even doing it now, they don’t sit around and try sign rejects they turned around and signed Burton, Cotric, JAC and Flanagan now they want the cheese. They aren’t gonna sit around and try the “developmental approach” like we have, where all it’s left us is in constant disappointment due to whenever the young players who develop leave us before they hit there primes cause they realise the basket case we can be and we’re stuck at the same spot we started in.

Here’s our opportunity, go get a Reynolds and maybe even a Kotani Staggs. We have the cap space, I don’t wanna see a Naden type signing cause it’s a repetitive cycle that’s obvs not working, be aggressive

Rant over

There's a couple of issues with your argument.

Firstly, Titans, Newcastle and Bulldogs aren't currently blueprints for success. "Pushing for Top 8" is a pretty weak benchmark and Titans are currently running 7th, Newcastle 10th, Bulldogs last, and obviously the Knights are the only team we've beaten this year.

Secondly, Tigers have already been on spending sprees in the past and I would say it's pretty conclusive that it doesn't get the job done, not without a complimentary foundation of experienced players and upcoming juniors. We are still hampered by the big spending that Ivan Cleary did.

Certainly the odd player like Ponga or Fifita are top-level talents, but guys like Mitchell Pearce, Klemmer... you have to ask what level of success they are bringing for their pay packet? Pearce is in his 4th year at Newcastle, Klemmer his 3rd, and in that time Knights have made the finals once, lost their only match handsomely.

Thirdly your Bulldogs argument is all over the place. You say they don't try to sign "rejects", but that's exactly what Bulldogs have done over many years, with Flanagan being one of their star rejects. Cotric is a reject centre, which they've since figured out and put him back to the wing. Burton is no different to Daine Laurie, good player looking for opportunities. Sure "they want the cheese" - everyone wants the cheese, but wanting a player is not indication of anything.

In fact if anything I think Bulldogs are a classic example of panic-buying, something Tigers have been very guilty of. I don't think their purchases do anything to fix their deficiencies, especially in the forwards. They have a heap of cash for 2022 now tied up in two wingers - rep-level wingers for sure - but wingers and wingers only, not utility backs who can cover fullback or centre.

When you look at the successful teams, there core has been there a while and they can then withstand new players coming in without faltering there standard, though the Raiders have dented that a bit lately, but I believe that’s where we need to be, but sticking solid with continual under performers won’t help.
Madge has mentioned the reserve grade are performing well, but we are 6-1, so we need to do something with what we have, otherwise it’s no point in having a reserve grade? There are a few worth a try.
Though a few elites wouldn’t hurt. We have the cash.

 

[jirskyr]

Though a few elites wouldn’t hurt. We have the cash.

We really do from 2022 onwards.

 

[jirskyr]

Firstly, Titans, Newcastle and Bulldogs aren’t currently blueprints for success. “Pushing for Top 8” is a pretty weak benchmark

I’d be happy with that at the moment. We’re almost last with a f/a of -104 after 7 games and only 1 win. It’s April and our season is already over. There’s no way to sugarcoat it, we suck.

You'd be happy with it as a long-suffering Tigers fan, but it's a very poor strategic target for a club.

 

[avocadoontoast]

It’s going to be hard to sign players until we have an idea of who our coach will be next year.

As if it's not hard enough already ? no decent player will join us until we can prove we don't suck and that might be never lol

We have a fair bit of money to spend next year. It’s pretty clear Maguire won’t be here so cut him now and try and salvage what we can. It’s become evident that representative players don’t want to play for him.

We've got money but players still won't come here, been that way before Madge was here. We never sign genuine stars unfortunately

That's partly down to who we are as a club and also the coaches we've brought on board. Potter and Taylor had limited appeal to players and Ivan panic bought. Deserved or not evidence suggests established players with multiple options don't want to play for Madge. We need to move on to someone else.

 

[avocadoontoast]

Firstly, Titans, Newcastle and Bulldogs aren’t currently blueprints for success. “Pushing for Top 8” is a pretty weak benchmark

I’d be happy with that at the moment. We’re almost last with a f/a of -104 after 7 games and only 1 win. It’s April and our season is already over. There’s no way to sugarcoat it, we suck.

You'd be happy with it as a long-suffering Tigers fan, but it's a very poor strategic target for a club.

That's true, but at the moment our target for the short term is not getting the spoon. We are not a club on the up or being turned around. We're in a constant state of decline and there need to be massive changes. Sticking with the current coach and current management is the recipe for certain failure.

 

[JC99]

It’s going to be hard to sign players until we have an idea of who our coach will be next year.

As if it's not hard enough already ? no decent player will join us until we can prove we don't suck and that might be never lol

We have a fair bit of money to spend next year. It’s pretty clear Maguire won’t be here so cut him now and try and salvage what we can. It’s become evident that representative players don’t want to play for him.

We've got money but players still won't come here, been that way before Madge was here. We never sign genuine stars unfortunately

That's partly down to who we are as a club and also the coaches we've brought on board. Potter and Taylor had limited appeal to players and Ivan panic bought. Deserved or not evidence suggests established players with multiple options don't want to play for Madge. We need to move on to someone else.

I don't think it'll make a difference unless we get one of the super coaches. It's career suicide coming to play for us unless you're a rookie trying to get some first grade so you can get signed elsewhere

 

[TigerWest]

It’s going to be hard to sign players until we have an idea of who our coach will be next year.

As if it's not hard enough already ? no decent player will join us until we can prove we don't suck and that might be never lol

We have a fair bit of money to spend next year. It’s pretty clear Maguire won’t be here so cut him now and try and salvage what we can. It’s become evident that representative players don’t want to play for him.

Latrell didn't want to play under Madge
JAC didn't want to play under Madge
Jail Arrow didn't want to play under Madge

the guy has to go he does not attract big names and he has lost the dressing room completely

From memory, Latrell said he didn’t want to be the guy who everyone depended on, if he played here?
JAC went for the money?
Jai Arrow reportedly said (just recently), he went to Souths to play under Bennett and be part of a super star club?

The way I am understanding it, we no longer pays overs, we’ve been there and done that, but others will, so I do think the club has to rethink that strategy for a few elite players to give us a chance?

 

[avocadoontoast]

It’s going to be hard to sign players until we have an idea of who our coach will be next year.

As if it's not hard enough already ? no decent player will join us until we can prove we don't suck and that might be never lol

We have a fair bit of money to spend next year. It’s pretty clear Maguire won’t be here so cut him now and try and salvage what we can. It’s become evident that representative players don’t want to play for him.

We've got money but players still won't come here, been that way before Madge was here. We never sign genuine stars unfortunately

That's partly down to who we are as a club and also the coaches we've brought on board. Potter and Taylor had limited appeal to players and Ivan panic bought. Deserved or not evidence suggests established players with multiple options don't want to play for Madge. We need to move on to someone else.

I don't think it'll make a difference unless we get one of the super coaches. It's career suicide coming to play for us unless you're a rookie trying to get some first grade so you can get signed elsewhere

Players want to earn good money and win. They don't want to go to a club with an old fashioned disciplinarian that loses all the time. If we can get someone in that has good man management skills and is decent tactically, we might start winning some games. I think we have the squad to upset a few teams. Once that happens we might start getting some players through the door.