Signings, Suggestions & Rumours Discussion

[sleeve]

This is probably going to sound negative, and may be unpopular, but in my mind when I take off my orange and black (and white) glasses for a minute and look realistically at our spine I can't see how anyone can say that on current form ("potential" aside - just form) we are good enough.
Just put Halfback aside (lord knows there has been plenty said about Brooks) and Hastings is an unknown quantity.
Laurie, as much as I like the guy, is way off the top fullbacks in the game at the moment and needs to improve many areas of his game to get near them. His support play, his positional play, his D, even his passing game are all only average at best.
AD is the same, a long way to go to be a great 5/8. Love the guy, don't get me wrong, but has much work to do and his injury will hamper his development.
Liddle is way off the best hookers, and in my mind probably has the least chance of getting there. I've already posted my thoughts on him and my disappointment if we miss out on getting Hodgson.

So, what's the answer - obviously our half needs to stand up, but we also really need a quality hooker and we really need our fullback and 5/8 to step up to the next level if we want to compete with the best.

It is unpopular, but I have been saying this for months. 2022 is looking like more misery. There are signs 2023 could be better though, if we had 2 or 3 more big names to go along with big Pap

2022 is another building year.

Hopefully some heat from 2023 onwards.

Honest comments re Laurie and AD. Both tried hard and there form was spasmodic ,and both would not be in the FB or halves positions in the other sides. Some fans greatly overestimate there ability.

 

[batboy]

This is probably going to sound negative, and may be unpopular, but in my mind when I take off my orange and black (and white) glasses for a minute and look realistically at our spine I can't see how anyone can say that on current form ("potential" aside - just form) we are good enough.
Just put Halfback aside (lord knows there has been plenty said about Brooks) and Hastings is an unknown quantity.
Laurie, as much as I like the guy, is way off the top fullbacks in the game at the moment and needs to improve many areas of his game to get near them. His support play, his positional play, his D, even his passing game are all only average at best.
AD is the same, a long way to go to be a great 5/8. Love the guy, don't get me wrong, but has much work to do and his injury will hamper his development.
Liddle is way off the best hookers, and in my mind probably has the least chance of getting there. I've already posted my thoughts on him and my disappointment if we miss out on getting Hodgson.

So, what's the answer - obviously our half needs to stand up, but we also really need a quality hooker and we really need our fullback and 5/8 to step up to the next level if we want to compete with the best.

It is unpopular, but I have been saying this for months. 2022 is looking like more misery. There are signs 2023 could be better though, if we had 2 or 3 more big names to go along with big Pap

If Hastings performs to a high level we are a lot better side. If Gildart comes in and proves he is a quality NRL centre we are a lot better side. If we can sign Hodgson it gives us another option at hooker as well. There is also time until the seasons starts.

Do we need ANOTHER option at hooker?
IMHO maybe we need a replacement. Liddle seems to have momentary flashes of Brilliance, Simpkin did help us win a few games but...

Were carrying promise, not performance.
Getting 3 hookers, means 2 watching the game or a bench hooker. None of Hodgson, Simpkin or Liddle seem able to play Lock/second row so you would be carrying a specialist hooker.
Seek other options.

You can't be serious - I've said this (I don't know how many times)
Simpkins in 19 (Jersey Flegg age)
Between Flegg, Ressies and Firsts - YES... We need that many hookers. (Especially when all 3 have work to do)

For those of you that still don't get it - Let this sink in....

Storm won the Comp with Cameron Smith, Brandon Smith and Harry Grant on the Books.
People are struggling to justify us having a bloke near the end of his contract and a couple young blokes.
Get real - Please....

 

[Demps]

This is probably going to sound negative, and may be unpopular, but in my mind when I take off my orange and black (and white) glasses for a minute and look realistically at our spine I can't see how anyone can say that on current form ("potential" aside - just form) we are good enough.
Just put Halfback aside (lord knows there has been plenty said about Brooks) and Hastings is an unknown quantity.
Laurie, as much as I like the guy, is way off the top fullbacks in the game at the moment and needs to improve many areas of his game to get near them. His support play, his positional play, his D, even his passing game are all only average at best.
AD is the same, a long way to go to be a great 5/8. Love the guy, don't get me wrong, but has much work to do and his injury will hamper his development.
Liddle is way off the best hookers, and in my mind probably has the least chance of getting there. I've already posted my thoughts on him and my disappointment if we miss out on getting Hodgson.

So, what's the answer - obviously our half needs to stand up, but we also really need a quality hooker and we really need our fullback and 5/8 to step up to the next level if we want to compete with the best.

It is unpopular, but I have been saying this for months. 2022 is looking like more misery. There are signs 2023 could be better though, if we had 2 or 3 more big names to go along with big Pap

2022 is another building year.

Hopefully some heat from 2023 onwards.

Honest comments re Laurie and AD. Both tried hard and there form was spasmodic ,and both would not be in the FB or halves positions in the other sides. Some fans greatly overestimate there ability.

Also could be said the more they spend in those positions, the better they will become...

Our forward pack for 2023 should be really strong and allow the spine to really succeed. Even a guy like Luke Brooks.

Centre is still an issue.

 

[TigerSJ]

This is probably going to sound negative, and may be unpopular, but in my mind when I take off my orange and black (and white) glasses for a minute and look realistically at our spine I can't see how anyone can say that on current form ("potential" aside - just form) we are good enough.
Just put Halfback aside (lord knows there has been plenty said about Brooks) and Hastings is an unknown quantity.
Laurie, as much as I like the guy, is way off the top fullbacks in the game at the moment and needs to improve many areas of his game to get near them. His support play, his positional play, his D, even his passing game are all only average at best.
AD is the same, a long way to go to be a great 5/8. Love the guy, don't get me wrong, but has much work to do and his injury will hamper his development.
Liddle is way off the best hookers, and in my mind probably has the least chance of getting there. I've already posted my thoughts on him and my disappointment if we miss out on getting Hodgson.

So, what's the answer - obviously our half needs to stand up, but we also really need a quality hooker and we really need our fullback and 5/8 to step up to the next level if we want to compete with the best.

It is unpopular, but I have been saying this for months. 2022 is looking like more misery. There are signs 2023 could be better though, if we had 2 or 3 more big names to go along with big Pap

Disagree …… next season we improve.
But small steps upwards will satisfy me.
Not viewed with rose coloured glasses but logic tells me that.

Team has had a extra year together behind them so that always helps.

New coaching group under Madge and Sheens should pack a punch and I’m sure their number one goal is to get Improved defence structure going. Cayless, Gardiner with input when required by Farrah, Benji and experienced Lambkin steering our Magpies squad ….. see that as a positive.

Our draw is really good and we can get a leg up on that front.

The other thing is that for me I can see that apart from the Bulldogs not many Clubs have improved their rosters and some will have players with 2023 contracts with other clubs which can cause some problems.

I am particularly looking forward to next season to watch our development players and young guns in Magpie colours show their talent.

I have faith

I am not saying I don't have faith and I agree with your comments around the coaching changes in particular. I specifically am hopeful that some new blood (players and coaches) will see a change in attitude that is desperately needed. The point of my post was that on current form we are limited by an average performing spine that without change will not get us to where we need to be to compete against the top teams.

 

[Kelce68]

This is probably going to sound negative, and may be unpopular, but in my mind when I take off my orange and black (and white) glasses for a minute and look realistically at our spine I can't see how anyone can say that on current form ("potential" aside - just form) we are good enough.
Just put Halfback aside (lord knows there has been plenty said about Brooks) and Hastings is an unknown quantity.
Laurie, as much as I like the guy, is way off the top fullbacks in the game at the moment and needs to improve many areas of his game to get near them. His support play, his positional play, his D, even his passing game are all only average at best.
AD is the same, a long way to go to be a great 5/8. Love the guy, don't get me wrong, but has much work to do and his injury will hamper his development.
Liddle is way off the best hookers, and in my mind probably has the least chance of getting there. I've already posted my thoughts on him and my disappointment if we miss out on getting Hodgson.

So, what's the answer - obviously our half needs to stand up, but we also really need a quality hooker and we really need our fullback and 5/8 to step up to the next level if we want to compete with the best.

It is unpopular, but I have been saying this for months. 2022 is looking like more misery. There are signs 2023 could be better though, if we had 2 or 3 more big names to go along with big Pap

2022 is another building year.

Hopefully some heat from 2023 onwards.

Honest comments re Laurie and AD. Both tried hard and there form was spasmodic ,and both would not be in the FB or halves positions in the other sides. Some fans greatly overestimate there ability.

Lauire and Doueihi wouldn't be in the halves or fullback in any other sides?

ANY other sides?.....

 

[JD Tiger]

How much you offering to upgrade Stefano if you were WT 🤔

Who are the two wingers in the Unders team?

Mat Feagai and Max Feagai? What team are they with?

 

[Kelce68]

2022 will be fine.

We've improved the squad and there's still time and money to further that even moreso before March.

A lot of water to flow under the bridge between now and round 1 re; squad.

 

[Kelce68]

How much you offering to upgrade Stefano if you were WT ?

Who are the two wingers in the Unders team?

Mat Feagai and Max Feagai? What team are they with?

Dragons. They're big fans over there.

 

[cktiger]

This is probably going to sound negative, and may be unpopular, but in my mind when I take off my orange and black (and white) glasses for a minute and look realistically at our spine I can't see how anyone can say that on current form ("potential" aside - just form) we are good enough.
Just put Halfback aside (lord knows there has been plenty said about Brooks) and Hastings is an unknown quantity.
Laurie, as much as I like the guy, is way off the top fullbacks in the game at the moment and needs to improve many areas of his game to get near them. His support play, his positional play, his D, even his passing game are all only average at best.
AD is the same, a long way to go to be a great 5/8. Love the guy, don't get me wrong, but has much work to do and his injury will hamper his development.
Liddle is way off the best hookers, and in my mind probably has the least chance of getting there. I've already posted my thoughts on him and my disappointment if we miss out on getting Hodgson.

So, what's the answer - obviously our half needs to stand up, but we also really need a quality hooker and we really need our fullback and 5/8 to step up to the next level if we want to compete with the best.

It is unpopular, but I have been saying this for months. 2022 is looking like more misery. There are signs 2023 could be better though, if we had 2 or 3 more big names to go along with big Pap

2022 is another building year.

Hopefully some heat from 2023 onwards.

Honest comments re Laurie and AD. Both tried hard and there form was spasmodic ,and both would not be in the FB or halves positions in the other sides. Some fans greatly overestimate there ability.

Funny then…nearly all my mates who follow other teams think they’re our best two players.

 

[KingRobbie]

This is probably going to sound negative, and may be unpopular, but in my mind when I take off my orange and black (and white) glasses for a minute and look realistically at our spine I can't see how anyone can say that on current form ("potential" aside - just form) we are good enough.
Just put Halfback aside (lord knows there has been plenty said about Brooks) and Hastings is an unknown quantity.
Laurie, as much as I like the guy, is way off the top fullbacks in the game at the moment and needs to improve many areas of his game to get near them. His support play, his positional play, his D, even his passing game are all only average at best.
AD is the same, a long way to go to be a great 5/8. Love the guy, don't get me wrong, but has much work to do and his injury will hamper his development.
Liddle is way off the best hookers, and in my mind probably has the least chance of getting there. I've already posted my thoughts on him and my disappointment if we miss out on getting Hodgson.

So, what's the answer - obviously our half needs to stand up, but we also really need a quality hooker and we really need our fullback and 5/8 to step up to the next level if we want to compete with the best.

It is unpopular, but I have been saying this for months. 2022 is looking like more misery. There are signs 2023 could be better though, if we had 2 or 3 more big names to go along with big Pap

2022 is another building year.

Hopefully some heat from 2023 onwards.

Honest comments re Laurie and AD. Both tried hard and there form was spasmodic ,and both would not be in the FB or halves positions in the other sides. Some fans greatly overestimate there ability.

Funny then…nearly all my mates who follow other teams think they’re our best two players.

They are.

We should be building around them two, Stef and Papali’i when he’s here.

 

[DJG]

How much you offering to upgrade Stefano if you were WT 🤔

This crap makes me laugh..

But the thing is, friends, colleagues and family all come to you and say "ARE YOU REALLY PAYING 850K PLUS FOR LUKE BROOKS".. does ya head in.

Truthfully I reckon hes on 600-650K, because he's on the old boys list with Nofa.

 

[WT2K]

From The Mole

Hodgson staying put
Josh Hodgson's proposed move to the Tigers looks to be officially dead.

The switch looked a certainty a few weeks ago, with the Raiders keen to move Hodgson on and the Tigers in need of an experienced number nine.

But the Raiders have dug their heels in, refusing to pay any of Hodgson's hefty contract money.

The Tigers would only play ball if the Raiders contributed to the deal, so the deal is off unless Canberra changes its stance.

 

[Chicken_Faced_Killa]

From The Mole

Hodgson staying put
Josh Hodgson's proposed move to the Tigers looks to be officially dead.

The switch looked a certainty a few weeks ago, with the Raiders keen to move Hodgson on and the Tigers in need of an experienced number nine.

But the Raiders have dug their heels in, refusing to pay any of Hodgson's hefty contract money.

The Tigers would only play ball if the Raiders contributed to the deal, so the deal is off unless Canberra changes its stance.

I wanted this to happen but not disappointed if this is the way it went down.

 

[tigerman 0]

Should be an awesome season for Josh and Ricky

 

[batboy]

This is probably going to sound negative, and may be unpopular, but in my mind when I take off my orange and black (and white) glasses for a minute and look realistically at our spine I can't see how anyone can say that on current form ("potential" aside - just form) we are good enough.
Just put Halfback aside (lord knows there has been plenty said about Brooks) and Hastings is an unknown quantity.
Laurie, as much as I like the guy, is way off the top fullbacks in the game at the moment and needs to improve many areas of his game to get near them. His support play, his positional play, his D, even his passing game are all only average at best.
AD is the same, a long way to go to be a great 5/8. Love the guy, don't get me wrong, but has much work to do and his injury will hamper his development.
Liddle is way off the best hookers, and in my mind probably has the least chance of getting there. I've already posted my thoughts on him and my disappointment if we miss out on getting Hodgson.

So, what's the answer - obviously our half needs to stand up, but we also really need a quality hooker and we really need our fullback and 5/8 to step up to the next level if we want to compete with the best.

It is unpopular, but I have been saying this for months. 2022 is looking like more misery. There are signs 2023 could be better though, if we had 2 or 3 more big names to go along with big Pap

2022 is another building year.

Hopefully some heat from 2023 onwards.

Honest comments re Laurie and AD. Both tried hard and there form was spasmodic ,and both would not be in the FB or halves positions in the other sides. Some fans greatly overestimate there ability.

Funny then…nearly all my mates who follow other teams think they’re our best two players.

That's how bad it is...
The 3rd choice fullback for the Premiers - Is our best player.

Laurie is solid, The way people blow him up shocks me...
He may have potential, He may have speed (I've not seen it)
He's a decent fullback, But he'd be in the bottom 4 in the comp.
Storm have 3 better Fullbacks than him in the Top 30.

We'll need to be aiming a lot higher than Daine at FB
if we ever want to give it a shake.

 

[KingRobbie]

This is probably going to sound negative, and may be unpopular, but in my mind when I take off my orange and black (and white) glasses for a minute and look realistically at our spine I can't see how anyone can say that on current form ("potential" aside - just form) we are good enough.
Just put Halfback aside (lord knows there has been plenty said about Brooks) and Hastings is an unknown quantity.
Laurie, as much as I like the guy, is way off the top fullbacks in the game at the moment and needs to improve many areas of his game to get near them. His support play, his positional play, his D, even his passing game are all only average at best.
AD is the same, a long way to go to be a great 5/8. Love the guy, don't get me wrong, but has much work to do and his injury will hamper his development.
Liddle is way off the best hookers, and in my mind probably has the least chance of getting there. I've already posted my thoughts on him and my disappointment if we miss out on getting Hodgson.

So, what's the answer - obviously our half needs to stand up, but we also really need a quality hooker and we really need our fullback and 5/8 to step up to the next level if we want to compete with the best.

It is unpopular, but I have been saying this for months. 2022 is looking like more misery. There are signs 2023 could be better though, if we had 2 or 3 more big names to go along with big Pap

2022 is another building year.

Hopefully some heat from 2023 onwards.

Honest comments re Laurie and AD. Both tried hard and there form was spasmodic ,and both would not be in the FB or halves positions in the other sides. Some fans greatly overestimate there ability.

Funny then…nearly all my mates who follow other teams think they’re our best two players.

That's how bad it is...
The 3rd choice fullback for the Premiers - Is our best player.

Laurie is solid, The way people blow him up shocks me...
He may have potential, He may have speed (I've not seen it)
He's a decent fullback, But he'd be in the bottom 4 in the comp.
Storm have 3 better Fullbacks than him in the Top 30.

We'll need to be aiming a lot higher than Daine at FB
if we ever want to give it a shake.

He's only 22.

I see a lot of promise and think he's our long-term FB option going forward if he recovers well from his leg injury.

 

[westy81]

Tigers sign Knights discard

The Wests Tigers have picked up a handy front-rower from Newcastle who could push for a top grade spot next season.

Christian Ma'anaima was in the Knights' NRL squad this year but had no chance to show his wares behind the likes of the Saifiti brothers and David Klemmer.

The big middle forward turns 21 next year and will start the season in NSW Cup and wait for an opportunity.

A strong player with a good motor, he could prove another astute buy for the Tigers.

 

[KingRobbie]

Tigers sign Knights discard

The Wests Tigers have picked up a handy front-rower from Newcastle who could push for a top grade spot next season.

Christian Ma'anaima was in the Knights' NRL squad this year but had no chance to show his wares behind the likes of the Saifiti brothers and David Klemmer.

The big middle forward turns 21 next year and will start the season in NSW Cup and wait for an opportunity.

A strong player with a good motor, he could prove another astute buy for the Tigers.


 

[Tiger-ferret]

From The Mole

Hodgson staying put
Josh Hodgson's proposed move to the Tigers looks to be officially dead.

The switch looked a certainty a few weeks ago, with the Raiders keen to move Hodgson on and the Tigers in need of an experienced number nine.

But the Raiders have dug their heels in, refusing to pay any of Hodgson's hefty contract money.

The Tigers would only play ball if the Raiders contributed to the deal, so the deal is off unless Canberra changes its stance.

Happy with this. Signing Hodgson is a risk so Tigers should not be bearing all of it. Good luck Canberra 👍🏻

 

[rihannafan1]

Should be an awesome season for Josh and Ricky

😂😂😂