Signings, Suggestions & Rumours Discussion

[JC99]

From the Telegraph.
The Tigers have tabled a three-year deal for Thompson with the prop having already met coach Michael Maguire about a possible shift next season. The Cowboys have also expressed a formal interest to try to entice Thompson to Townsville.


I would believe nothing that the murdoch media say without a credible source,which is something they rarely do

Definitely seems like there's a chance it happens. Couple different journos have talked about it now and seem pretty sure - anything can happen though

For me if this was to happen it needs to happen pretty quick and like in the next 2 weeks. We all know what happens when it drags out and it not good for us supporters.

But hold on, it’s only us saying this, not the club?

Reports are that he's free to negotiate with clubs and we are already offering him a deal. We won't be 100% sure if we offer him a deal or not but it would make a lot of sense

I certainly agree. But as you say, we don’t know what the club is going to do yet?

They'd be silly to not have a chat to him. Quality player

 

[Balmainian]

The club needs 1 or 2 Origin calibre players if they want to go to the next level.

I don't think anyone would disagree with you: the team lacks strike, whether that be pace out wide, a game breaking half, a monster edge foward or whatever. But that doesn't take away from the fact that the foundations are being built. Stick a couple of marquees in our team for most of the past decade and we'd be at best where the Knights or Titans are now. What I hope is being built at the moment is a setup where those star signings are the last thing needed to turn the roster into a legit contender - and we're doing it without burning all the cap room we'll need to make those signings when they're available.

I know it's frustrating that we've missed on a bunch of signings, but it doesn't mean we ought to throw up everything else that is going in the right direction and give up. This is a legit, proper, root and branch rebuild that's been going on quietly in the background for a couple of years now. I'd rather it had led to more success at first grade level already but equally I don't want to see it ruined by chucking a bunch of money at bad contracts for ageing "stars" looking for a last payday done with the primary goal of hauling ourselves into 7th position for a year or two.

Absolutely brilliant post!
They are building to get a premiership in a few years, not to make the 8 next year like the Bulldogs look like.

Are they though ? That bulldogs team looks like it’s going nowhere . Look how the broncos have gone with a team of guns and no first grade level half or 9 .

Building and buying are two different strategies.
If we look at the players that we have let go not players that walked but players we let go we would have that strike and X factor.
Addo Carr
Paps
Even Tedesco could have been retained if we handled right.
Taupau
All these guys were brought through our pathways.
I’m happy to not pay overs if that means losing another crop of rising stars.

 

[weststigerman]

People talking about signing Thompson. Do you actually think signing him for 4 years for 2.7 million is a good deal? You can't simply say getting him for 2 years at 500k is good value if in teh final years you're paying him 850k.

This is exactly like the Mbye situation. He was great value while the dogs were chipping in, then in the latter years his full salary was on us and we couldn't wait to offload him. Thompson is not the best prop in the league. I don't think he's in the top 5 and possibly not even in the top 10 props. He's worth about 500k at the most.

If we offered him a 3 year deal for 1.5 mil, with dogs chipping in 700k for 2 years, with a mutual option for the 4th season i could accept that. If we ended up paying more than 500k a year for him at any stage it's a loss.

When the Dogs signed him they thought he was one of if not the best forward in the game. Hence the big bucks. But he's not. I can't see anyone offering him that kind of money again.

After all the talk about how Hartigan won’t pay overs for players, do you really think we’ll take on a monster contract?

We’re more likely to miss out because another club wants to take on the entire contract amount.

Madge said in the MMM pod interview (on here a few days ago), that they would open the purse up for the right player, don’t know if this is the right player or not, but he sounds good?

Potentially, he started fairly average last year when he arrived as the “best prop in the world” but seems acclimatised to the NRL now. 3 years is right IMO.

Makes a lot of sense as the Dogs can’t even offer Vaughan a contract for 2023 so are probably making room.

 

[rihannafan1]

HSS and Egan Butcher coming??? Oh wait nah they're not.. typical..smh

They're reserve graders at present and would not have made a huge difference.

That's what we'll tell ourselves, lol
Curve the rejection.

Sound salty ??

I think the poster I replied to might be salty but I'm just not gonna get upset about two guys that have played most their career in reserves.

 

[rihannafan1]

what happened to Jamayne isaako I thought we where after him early on along side pangi he can play multiple positions and has speed plus he is a very good goal kicker and he makes a few mistakes but who doesnt at the tigers I think he could do ok with a change of club

Think once Maumalo was signed all interest in Isaako dropped off.

There is a win by Tigers recruitment right there but I dont expect anyone to acknowledge it.

Whilst everyone is wetting thair pants that we "cant attract anyone" and "missed out on" marquee player X, the clubs recruitment team has added Maumalo, Laurie, Stef, Tuki, Joe O, Tuilagi, in the last 12 months to add to Douiehi, LL & Blore in the 12 months prior.

These players are the best in our squad and if we had a squad of this capability we make the 8. I am genuinely amazed that everyone here is blind to seeing that the improvement of the squad over the last 18-24 months is due to the recruitment system we have.

The squad has not improved from 18 months ago.

I don’t believe that’s true, the squad has improved, Maumalo, Laurie, Steff, are just a few that counter your claim, granted our results are still not where we want them though.

Hard to say the squad is better if the results aren't.

 

[rihannafan1]

what happened to Jamayne isaako I thought we where after him early on along side pangi he can play multiple positions and has speed plus he is a very good goal kicker and he makes a few mistakes but who doesnt at the tigers I think he could do ok with a change of club

Think once Maumalo was signed all interest in Isaako dropped off.

There is a win by Tigers recruitment right there but I dont expect anyone to acknowledge it.

Whilst everyone is wetting thair pants that we "cant attract anyone" and "missed out on" marquee player X, the clubs recruitment team has added Maumalo, Laurie, Stef, Tuki, Joe O, Tuilagi, in the last 12 months to add to Douiehi, LL & Blore in the 12 months prior.

These players are the best in our squad and if we had a squad of this capability we make the 8. I am genuinely amazed that everyone here is blind to seeing that the improvement of the squad over the last 18-24 months is due to the recruitment system we have.

The squad has not improved from 18 months ago.

Ceiling has improved......

2021 Average age 23, 2019 average age 25.5

2021 Wests Tigers are the **youngest** average age in the NRL. 2019 Wests Tigers were the **oldest** in the NRL. That is a MASSIVE turnaround. There is a lot of work going on building this squad and the constant bedwetting totally misses the point.

You really like to wet stuff, huh.

 

[Red Rugby]

Barrett ,just said Thompson is going no where,unsure of how the rumour started

Barrett also think he has an unlimited Salary Cap now.. Over rated coach in my eyes

Well someone is telling 'porkies'....The Telegraph has us tabling an offer and yet Trent knows nothing about it. Welcome to Phil Gould managing the side Trent!

 

[Tiger5150]

People talking about signing Thompson. Do you actually think signing him for 4 years for 2.7 million is a good deal? You can't simply say getting him for 2 years at 500k is good value if in teh final years you're paying him 850k.

This is exactly like the Mbye situation. He was great value while the dogs were chipping in, then in the latter years his full salary was on us and we couldn't wait to offload him. Thompson is not the best prop in the league. I don't think he's in the top 5 and possibly not even in the top 10 props. He's worth about 500k at the most.

If we offered him a 3 year deal for 1.5 mil, with dogs chipping in 700k for 2 years, with a mutual option for the 4th season i could accept that. If we ended up paying more than 500k a year for him at any stage it's a loss.

When the Dogs signed him they thought he was one of if not the best forward in the game. Hence the big bucks. But he's not. I can't see anyone offering him that kind of money again.

After all the talk about how Hartigan won’t pay overs for players, do you really think we’ll take on a monster contract?

We’re more likely to miss out because another club wants to take on the entire contract amount.

Madge said in the MMM pod interview (on here a few days ago), that they would open the purse up for the right player, don’t know if this is the right player or not, but he sounds good?

In the SEN interview, link above, when asked who he wants to buy, his answer immediately was "a big prop". Interesting answer.

 

[Tiger5150]

what happened to Jamayne isaako I thought we where after him early on along side pangi he can play multiple positions and has speed plus he is a very good goal kicker and he makes a few mistakes but who doesnt at the tigers I think he could do ok with a change of club

Think once Maumalo was signed all interest in Isaako dropped off.

There is a win by Tigers recruitment right there but I dont expect anyone to acknowledge it.

Whilst everyone is wetting thair pants that we "cant attract anyone" and "missed out on" marquee player X, the clubs recruitment team has added Maumalo, Laurie, Stef, Tuki, Joe O, Tuilagi, in the last 12 months to add to Douiehi, LL & Blore in the 12 months prior.

These players are the best in our squad and if we had a squad of this capability we make the 8. I am genuinely amazed that everyone here is blind to seeing that the improvement of the squad over the last 18-24 months is due to the recruitment system we have.

The squad has not improved from 18 months ago.

Ceiling has improved......

2021 Average age 23, 2019 average age 25.5

2021 Wests Tigers are the **youngest** average age in the NRL. 2019 Wests Tigers were the **oldest** in the NRL. That is a MASSIVE turnaround. There is a lot of work going on building this squad and the constant bedwetting totally misses the point.

You really like to wet stuff, huh.

What does that even mean?

 

[TigerWest]

what happened to Jamayne isaako I thought we where after him early on along side pangi he can play multiple positions and has speed plus he is a very good goal kicker and he makes a few mistakes but who doesnt at the tigers I think he could do ok with a change of club

Think once Maumalo was signed all interest in Isaako dropped off.

There is a win by Tigers recruitment right there but I dont expect anyone to acknowledge it.

Whilst everyone is wetting thair pants that we "cant attract anyone" and "missed out on" marquee player X, the clubs recruitment team has added Maumalo, Laurie, Stef, Tuki, Joe O, Tuilagi, in the last 12 months to add to Douiehi, LL & Blore in the 12 months prior.

These players are the best in our squad and if we had a squad of this capability we make the 8. I am genuinely amazed that everyone here is blind to seeing that the improvement of the squad over the last 18-24 months is due to the recruitment system we have.

The squad has not improved from 18 months ago.

I don’t believe that’s true, the squad has improved, Maumalo, Laurie, Steff, are just a few that counter your claim, granted our results are still not where we want them though.

Hard to say the squad is better if the results aren't.

Well we are one game improved on last year after R20.

 

[Tiger-ferret]

what happened to Jamayne isaako I thought we where after him early on along side pangi he can play multiple positions and has speed plus he is a very good goal kicker and he makes a few mistakes but who doesnt at the tigers I think he could do ok with a change of club

Think once Maumalo was signed all interest in Isaako dropped off.

There is a win by Tigers recruitment right there but I dont expect anyone to acknowledge it.

Whilst everyone is wetting thair pants that we "cant attract anyone" and "missed out on" marquee player X, the clubs recruitment team has added Maumalo, Laurie, Stef, Tuki, Joe O, Tuilagi, in the last 12 months to add to Douiehi, LL & Blore in the 12 months prior.

These players are the best in our squad and if we had a squad of this capability we make the 8. I am genuinely amazed that everyone here is blind to seeing that the improvement of the squad over the last 18-24 months is due to the recruitment system we have.

The squad has not improved from 18 months ago.

I don’t believe that’s true, the squad has improved, Maumalo, Laurie, Steff, are just a few that counter your claim, granted our results are still not where we want them though.

Hard to say the squad is better if the results aren't.

Depends what the reference point is?

Yes we haven’t made finals again so I agree no improvement.

Is there a higher ceiling (younger and fitter, more motivated) for better results in the coming seasons with a better managed cap so we can be active in the player market, then yes it is a better squad.

 

[GCfan]

The club needs 1 or 2 Origin calibre players if they want to go to the next level.

I don't think anyone would disagree with you: the team lacks strike, whether that be pace out wide, a game breaking half, a monster edge foward or whatever. But that doesn't take away from the fact that the foundations are being built. Stick a couple of marquees in our team for most of the past decade and we'd be at best where the Knights or Titans are now. What I hope is being built at the moment is a setup where those star signings are the last thing needed to turn the roster into a legit contender - and we're doing it without burning all the cap room we'll need to make those signings when they're available.

I know it's frustrating that we've missed on a bunch of signings, but it doesn't mean we ought to throw up everything else that is going in the right direction and give up. This is a legit, proper, root and branch rebuild that's been going on quietly in the background for a couple of years now. I'd rather it had led to more success at first grade level already but equally I don't want to see it ruined by chucking a bunch of money at bad contracts for ageing "stars" looking for a last payday done with the primary goal of hauling ourselves into 7th position for a year or two.

Absolutely brilliant post!
They are building to get a premiership in a few years, not to make the 8 next year like the Bulldogs look like.

Are they though ? That bulldogs team looks like it’s going nowhere . Look how the broncos have gone with a team of guns and no first grade level half or 9 .

Building and buying are two different strategies.
If we look at the players that we have let go not players that walked but players we let go we would have that strike and X factor.
Addo Carr
Paps
Even Tedesco could have been retained if we handled right.
Taupau
All these guys were brought through our pathways.
I’m happy to not pay overs if that means losing another crop of rising stars.

I could be wrong but I believe Taupau and Addo Carr we’re not juniors but I understand what your saying

 

[Tiger5150]

The club needs 1 or 2 Origin calibre players if they want to go to the next level.

I don't think anyone would disagree with you: the team lacks strike, whether that be pace out wide, a game breaking half, a monster edge foward or whatever. But that doesn't take away from the fact that the foundations are being built. Stick a couple of marquees in our team for most of the past decade and we'd be at best where the Knights or Titans are now. What I hope is being built at the moment is a setup where those star signings are the last thing needed to turn the roster into a legit contender - and we're doing it without burning all the cap room we'll need to make those signings when they're available.

I know it's frustrating that we've missed on a bunch of signings, but it doesn't mean we ought to throw up everything else that is going in the right direction and give up. This is a legit, proper, root and branch rebuild that's been going on quietly in the background for a couple of years now. I'd rather it had led to more success at first grade level already but equally I don't want to see it ruined by chucking a bunch of money at bad contracts for ageing "stars" looking for a last payday done with the primary goal of hauling ourselves into 7th position for a year or two.

Absolutely brilliant post!
They are building to get a premiership in a few years, not to make the 8 next year like the Bulldogs look like.

Are they though ? That bulldogs team looks like it’s going nowhere . Look how the broncos have gone with a team of guns and no first grade level half or 9 .

Building and buying are two different strategies.
If we look at the players that we have let go not players that walked but players we let go we would have that strike and X factor.
Addo Carr
Paps
Even Tedesco could have been retained if we handled right.
Taupau
All these guys were brought through our pathways.
I’m happy to not pay overs if that means losing another crop of rising stars.

I could be wrong but I believe Taupau and Addo Carr we’re not juniors but I understand what your saying

And to be pedantic Paps was originally a Parra Junior but yes came through our junior pathways.

 

[Demps]

The club needs 1 or 2 Origin calibre players if they want to go to the next level.

I don't think anyone would disagree with you: the team lacks strike, whether that be pace out wide, a game breaking half, a monster edge foward or whatever. But that doesn't take away from the fact that the foundations are being built. Stick a couple of marquees in our team for most of the past decade and we'd be at best where the Knights or Titans are now. What I hope is being built at the moment is a setup where those star signings are the last thing needed to turn the roster into a legit contender - and we're doing it without burning all the cap room we'll need to make those signings when they're available.

I know it's frustrating that we've missed on a bunch of signings, but it doesn't mean we ought to throw up everything else that is going in the right direction and give up. This is a legit, proper, root and branch rebuild that's been going on quietly in the background for a couple of years now. I'd rather it had led to more success at first grade level already but equally I don't want to see it ruined by chucking a bunch of money at bad contracts for ageing "stars" looking for a last payday done with the primary goal of hauling ourselves into 7th position for a year or two.

Absolutely brilliant post!
They are building to get a premiership in a few years, not to make the 8 next year like the Bulldogs look like.

Are they though ? That bulldogs team looks like it’s going nowhere . Look how the broncos have gone with a team of guns and no first grade level half or 9 .

Building and buying are two different strategies.
If we look at the players that we have let go not players that walked but players we let go we would have that strike and X factor.
Addo Carr
Paps
Even Tedesco could have been retained if we handled right.
Taupau
All these guys were brought through our pathways.
I’m happy to not pay overs if that means losing another crop of rising stars.

I could be wrong but I believe Taupau and Addo Carr we’re not juniors but I understand what your saying

JAC, souths junior recruited from Sharks NYC
Taupau, NZ player recruited from Bulldogs NSW cup

 

[Demps]


@compensate I am not sure I believe.
But i like it.

 

[WT46]


@compensate I am not sure I believe.
But i like it.

that's a big cap

 

[Tiger5150]


@compensate I am not sure I believe.
But i like it.

Hope the Tigers can find him a jersey that fits, it might get him across the line.

 

[2005magic]


@compensate I am not sure I believe.
But i like it.

Damn sight better option than any thought of Woods returning. Get it done guys. He would be an obvious replacement for Packer and heaps better than what we got from him in the end (hopefully)

PS Yes, I know we are helping the Dogs salary cap but we need replenishment of departing ranks, have a bit of cap room and he is better than who is being replaced.

 

[cochise]

From the Telegraph.
The Tigers have tabled a three-year deal for Thompson with the prop having already met coach Michael Maguire about a possible shift next season. The Cowboys have also expressed a formal interest to try to entice Thompson to Townsville.

I can’t see Hartigan paying big dollars for Thompson, plus we don’t want to have another Mbye on our hands in a couple of years.

We wont be paying big dollars for the first 2 years as they will be sibsidised by the dogs. From all reports it will cost us $500 each year for 2yrs , then whatever they decide after that.

That’s the bit that concerns me. If that’s the case it will probably average out to $650 a season for 3 years….
A real worry.

So you think we are going to pay him $950k in the last year?

 

[WswWt]

Would be one of our best signings in years.. bloke
Is a work horse