Signings, Suggestions & Rumours Discussion

[Deleted member 3518]

Don't get why people need to crap on one of our promising rookies in Jake Simpkin all the time, let the kid develop and see how he goes. Clearly he's worth putting time into

If you like Liddle that doesn't mean you have to hate Jake Simpkin fellas, end of the day it's about the team not individuals ?

This is quite ironic. As soon as you criticise players like Simpkin or Hastings, it’s seen as unfair. Yet for players like Brooks, Noffa and Liddle, it’s open slather. To the point where a lot of it gets personal. I’ve seen Brooks called an imp, Noffa is constantly referred to as Nofoalooza. But it’s the ones who criticise darlings like Simpkin and Hastings that get called out for being unfair and should rein it in. Classic double standards.

The Simpkin thing is the same as brooks and Liddle . People built up their expectations , and when reality didn’t meet their fairytale , they turned on the player . It was obvious from 2017 brooks was destined for above average first grade half eg. Matt Orford career . But nope because he’s not the next Andrew johns , then he’s somehow a reserve grader ??
Same thing for Liddle and Simpkin is headed that way as well . They evaluate them on what they want them to be rather than what they are .

Brooks is a very average first grade half. He's in the bottom 4 for me and is a major reason why we remain average. This has nothing to do with me wanting him to be the next Johns although, wouldn't that be nice? Seriously, wouldn't it be nice if he had even a slither of the skill of Johns? I don't know why people are so passionate to defend mediocrity. These are professionals on loads of mon

Mate I’m not interested sorry . If you can’t see the forest from the trees , that’s on you . I’m not debating it . People who do this stuff for a living agree with me , to varying degrees I’m sure , but in general . That’s good enough for me. I tend to go an electrician for electrical faults . Or a plumber for water issues . And I don’t assume I know more than either . That’s the last thing I’m going to say . I hope you have a good night .

The varying degrees is the issue. Certainly not a rep level player. Not a finals player. He is perfectly average. Wins the odd game he shouldn’t. Loses a lot of games he shouldn’t.
That is not good enough for a lot of supporters. We want more from our halfback and fear we have given him a free career he would not have achieved elsewhere.
Our rebuild can only begin when he leaves.

We must be watching a different player. Brooks would get a start with many clubs who would be happy to build a side around him.

How many other halfbacks experienced the loss of quality players such as Tedesco, JAC, Simona, Moses, Matterson, Tapau, Woods, Sironen (perhaps Koroibete as well) without players of equal quality replacing them?. He is the one who stayed and is hammered for it.

Firstly, he stayed because no one else wanted him.
Secondly, he was crap when all those boys were here.
Thirdly, you cannot build a side around a voiceless introvert with middling talent.

Cool man . Stop saying the same things over and over . Let it go . We don’t agree with you . I’m never going to agree with you ( I can’t speak for paws and others) . And most of the nrl doesn’t agree with you , regardless of what the fans are screaming about .
Think what you want . But stop repeating yourself , or keep it in the “we hate Luke brooks “ echo chamber thread .

You and paws are the ones who keep bringing up how good he is. There's like 3 people on here who continually say the same thing praising Brooks despite all evidence proving you wrong.

And your most of the NRL doesn't agree his average, hahaha. If that were the case he'd have made rep teams, been sought-after for previous contract negotiations (no one has ever come in for him). And you wouldn't have articles written showing bemusement when he won player of the year as 'most of the NRL' realise he's a mediocre player who's been given a free ride for 8 years

Not doing this . Read my history . Otherwise I’ve got nothing for you . It’s all been said 100 times over .

 

[Camel2281]

Isaiah Papali'i is a terrific player, he is definitely worth $600k. Massive motor, great passing game, defence and can play on an edge or on the middle. Hopefully we make an offer and be actually thinks about it

Luciano won't get $700k from anyone. Let him go to the open market and he will come crawling back asking for a reduced deal

Hopefully the Hodgson deal gets done. He and Raiders obviously don't get on and he'll be leaving so we can afford to hold out and play hardball with them

I'm not sure about this guy. He had a huge year this year no doubt, but I get a bit of the Tony Williams vibe about him.

I think he's a star. He's only 23, he's still on the improve

 

[Aesopian]

Isaiah Papali'i is a terrific player, he is definitely worth $600k. Massive motor, great passing game, defence and can play on an edge or on the middle. Hopefully we make an offer and be actually thinks about it

Luciano won't get $700k from anyone. Let him go to the open market and he will come crawling back asking for a reduced deal

Hopefully the Hodgson deal gets done. He and Raiders obviously don't get on and he'll be leaving so we can afford to hold out and play hardball with them

I'm not sure about this guy. He had a huge year this year no doubt, but I get a bit of the Tony Williams vibe about him.

I think he's a star. He's only 23, he's still on the improve

If by some miracle he actually signs with us, I'm not sure he'd stay on the upward trajectory.

The major issue with our training facility being at Concord is the KFC around the corner.
The lure of the Colonel is akin to a SuperMassive Black Hole. No rugba leege player is immune...

 

[Tiger_Fanatic3]

Papali’i should be our starting Snd Rower with Big Stefano. Our best defensive forward, and has some decent plays in him ..
But Tamou will still start for no apparent reason.
Therefore, I really hope seyfarth doesn’t get lost in the shuffle. He was really good before that aloiai dog shot damaged his leg.

 

[BAGNF05]

Wests Tigers ready to pounce as Papali’i rejects Parramatta offer
Michael Chammas
By Michael Chammas
October 29, 2021 — 6.00pm
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The Wests Tigers are circling star Eels back-rower Isaiah Papali’i after he rejected Parramatta’s offer of a two-year extension on Friday.

Papali’i, who has one more year to run on his contract with the Eels, has been in negotiations with the club about an extension since the season ended over a month ago.

Isaiah Papali’i in action against the Wests Tigers earlier in the year.
Isaiah Papali’i in action against the Wests Tigers earlier in the year.CREDIT:NRL PHOTOS
Parramatta are willing to upgrade his $200,000 contract to about $275,000 next year, but the Eels aren’t budging on their $425,000-a-season offer as part of a two-year extension for 2023 and 2024.

Papali’i’s manager notified the club on Friday that his client has opted to formally reject their offer and instead hit the open market on November 1 when he is free to negotiate with rival teams.

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The Wests Tigers have already indicated they would be in a position to make an offer. The Herald understands the Tigers, led by new director of football Tim Sheens, are willing to offer up to $600,000 to lure Papali’i away from the Eels in 2023.

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Former Tigers general manager Adam Hartigan had been manoeuvring behind the scenes for weeks trying to convince Papali’i that the Wests Tigers and coach Michael Maguire were worth taking a chance on.

Hartigan has since parted ways with the club, with Sheens and recently appointed recruitment manager Warren McDonnell picking things up.

It comes as negotiations between the Tigers and Luciano Leilua’s manager have hit a road block. Leilua’s manager has been asking for in excess of $700,000 a season from the Tigers for the back-rower.
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However club officials believe Papali’i, the reigning Dally M back-rower of the year, could be better value at around $550,000-$600,000 a year to play the same position.

Papali’i was a revelation for the Eels after joining the club from the Warriors in 2021, pushing his way into the starting side following the lifeline handed to him by coach Brad Arthur.

Isaiah Papali’i celebrates after scoring a try in Canberra.
Isaiah Papali’i celebrates after scoring a try in Canberra.CREDIT:GETTY
He scored seven tries and averaged 150 metres per game in a breakout year, finishing the season with 109 tackle breaks and 30 offloads from 25 games played. He also finished the year third in the NRL for post-contact metres.

The Eels have a number of players who will hit the open market in a couple of days, with skipper Clint Gutherson, hooker Reed Mahoney and props Junior Paulo and Reagan Campbell-Gillard all free to negotiate with other clubs for 2023.

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The other unknown is the future of Ryan Matterson, who appears to be on the outer at the club despite joining the Eels from the Tigers two years ago. Matterson recently took up an option in his favour to remain at the Eels in 2022.

The Tigers themselves are in the middle of negotiations with Canberra hooker Josh Hodgson. Hodgson is on a deal worth $900,000 for next year, however a six per cent reduction in the salary cap due to the impact of COVID-19 means he is owed around $850,000 in 2022.

The Wests Tigers have indicated they are willing to pay $500,000 of his salary, plus another year on top. The Raiders, however, will only chip in $100,000 for next year leaving the two parties $250,000 apart.

Absolute no brainer. See ya mcluciano

 

[tigerman 0]

Papali’i should be our starting prop with Big Stefano. Our best defensive forward, and has some decent plays in him ..
But Tamou will still start for no apparent reason.
Therefore, I really hope seyfarth doesn’t get lost in the shuffle. He was really good before that aloiai dog shot damaged his leg.

He is a 2nd rower, not a prop

 

[JC99]

Papali’i should be our starting prop with Big Stefano. Our best defensive forward, and has some decent plays in him ..
But Tamou will still start for no apparent reason.
Therefore, I really hope seyfarth doesn’t get lost in the shuffle. He was really good before that aloiai dog shot damaged his leg.

He is a 2nd rower, not a prop

He can play both very effectively and did so for eels this year

 

[balmain boy]

Sign Papali'i and then offer Leilua up as a swap. We may have to chip in a little too get an immediate swap

 

[JC99]

Luciano > Garner if you're choosing one to come off the bench. Garner is ineffective unless we are close to the try line most of the time.

 

[GNR4LIFE]

Sign Papali'i and then offer Leilua up as a swap. We may have to chip in a little too get an immediate swap

I’d say the plan is to keep both. Give Parra Garner.

 

[Bones]

Hopefully it means we are giving Garner his walking papers. Need to do better than him.

To be honest I’d keep Garner over LL. At least after Garner got dropped his defence improved dramatically. LL is a massive liability in defence which cancels out his work with the ball IMO.

Having said that I’m not sure either are starters at too many other clubs.

Sorry but that would be a shocker ….. Garner is at best a bench player.

He’s not asking for $700K and he can tackle. As I said neither are great but is LL twice as good? I don’t think so.

 

[happy_tiger]

Do we need to see more from isiaah Papalii ....he was pretty meh at the Warriors and only when he was behind blokes like RCG , Brown ,Matterson , Paolo, Nuikora ,Lane ..that he shone

 

[yeahcaz]

Everyone knows Luch isn’t asking for 700k.

If you believe that, the media have done their job. If we’re serious about improving, we try have both in our 17.

 

[Mighty Mouse]

Why on earth would papalii come to the wests tigers and ruin his career just when it’s on the up?!

 

[yeahcaz]

Why on earth would papalii come to the wests tigers and ruin his career just when it’s on the up?!

Money talks. If he cares about his career, he’ll extend with the eels

 

[the_third]

Now that recruitment sits with sheens. Let's see how we go on Sunday.

 

[Merlot]

Papali'i ,yes,lets get Nickawotshisname as well

 

[compensate]

Papali’i should be our starting prop with Big Stefano. Our best defensive forward, and has some decent plays in him ..
But Tamou will still start for no apparent reason.
Therefore, I really hope seyfarth doesn’t get lost in the shuffle. He was really good before that aloiai dog shot damaged his leg.

Mate you're literally a robot, all your posts are copy and paste

 

[Roar_Power]

Papali'i and Hodgson would really add something to our side. Definitely need to sure up the centre position as well. If we keep chipping away with signings like these, over time we will become a more attractive proposition for players and our own up and coming stars.
On a side note, I don't think Tamou will start next year. A bench spot beckons.

 

[bptiger 0]

If this is true , then sheens needs this to happen A.S.A.P no dragging it out for weeks on end go in with a starting price but willing to go just a touch higher and give him a deadline , get it over the line