Signings, Suggestions & Rumours Discussion

BAGNF05 said:
He looked really good in a forward pack containing Paulo, RCG, Matterson, Brown, Mahoney, etc. Great that we’re signing young talent but good sides also have rep level talent above them. Hopefully the club have plans in place in that regard.
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Spot on but that's half the story.
Pap's played great in a still great pack. Parra clearly has good training and good building of players and performance.

We get James Tamou who was the forward leader at Penrith. Really, we shouldn't have needed more?

The real problem I think isn't Tamou, It's cultural. Pre Madge and we were not training hard and were just soft. Post Madge were training hard but boy we were soft on the field.

The way we played at the start of the year we had some potential. Later on we were horrible to watch. This to me indicates Attitude and leadership issues. Look no offense to Tariq Sims, I have all respect for him. James Tamou did not work for us and he worked for Penrith.

Hopefully with Cayless coming onboard, we may see Cayless and Tamou work to get this team into shape and to keep fighting even if they are loosing. Till that is solved, we could have anyone play for us and we would still be mediocre.
 

Stoked with the Fonua Pole signing to back up the Matamua signing from last week. Definitely impressive in the games I saw of him last year. Also shows 2 guys who are making the most of their pre season train and trial with the NRL squad and showing what they can do!

For those who want to see a short snippet of Fonua Pole.....go to 2:00 and 3:40.
 
crazycat said:
Spot on but that's half the story.
Pap's played great in a still great pack. Parra clearly has good training and good building of players and performance.

We get James Tamou who was the forward leader at Penrith. Really, we shouldn't have needed more?

The real problem I think isn't Tamou, It's cultural. Pre Madge and we were not training hard and were just soft. Post Madge were training hard but boy we were soft on the field.

The way we played at the start of the year we had some potential. Later on we were horrible to watch. This to me indicates Attitude and leadership issues. Look no offense to Tariq Sims, I have all respect for him. James Tamou did not work for us and he worked for Penrith.

Hopefully with Cayless coming onboard, we may see Cayless and Tamou work to get this team into shape and to keep fighting even if they are loosing. Till that is solved, we could have anyone play for us and we would still be mediocre.
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Safe to say the players put in the minimum. Stephano had to see Finucane at origin camp to see how the real men prepare
 
Tigers_Wests said:

Stoked with the Fonua Pole signing to back up the Matamua signing from last week. Definitely impressive in the games I saw of him last year. Also shows 2 guys who are making the most of their pre season train and trial with the NRL squad and showing what they can do!

For those who want to see a short snippet of Fonua Pole.....go to 2:00 and 3:40.
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Good step
 
jirskyr said:
I don't understand why people say this. I don't want him to be "anything", I want him to be "very good" or better!
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It’s especially confusing giving said player was released 2 years early from his contract. Pretty rare for a club to let a player go under contract if he’s a special talent.
 
Spartan117 said:
Be realistic guys,

Gonna be a very rough season, we havent improved our list for 2022.

(Deadwooding players not included)
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Yes and no mate.
I think our forwards are going to find it tough with no big inclusions and with covid it may test our depth.
This could be a good thing moving forward because Madge will have to rely on development players which is what I've been advocating all preseason.
Players have to get big minutes to improve and show their worth.
The backs, whilst thin, is potentially an upgrade.
I agree Spartan [great game by the way] that it could be another lean year, but I think we need to focus on our 2023 rebuild.
 
The forward planning looks positive while the competiton hasnt started.Who benefits from the work done now, may not see it through if the FG side doesn't aim up.
 
Spartan117 said:
Be realistic guys,

Gonna be a very rough season, we havent improved our list for 2022.

(Deadwooding players not included)
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Been saying this for months. Everyone said it after the last round round against the Dogs. Off season is a strange time. Everyone forgets how bad the team was the previous year and always develops a false sense of optimism. Which is fine if there are reasons for it, such as improvement in the roster like you pointed out. But we already had a weak roster, and we’ve been the weakest club in the player market. So naturally that does not bode well.
 
I like the way Madge and now Sheens are building this club.

Remembering we have been largely inconsistent and unsuccessful for the majority of our existence.

Only now do I believe that we have a stable foundation that we can build sustained improvement.

I really like the Madge culture. The Harder I work, the Luckier I get.
 
TillLindemann said:
Nah I think we'll be heaps better. The Doueihi and Blore injuries don't help, but all round we're a better squad. We're making the 8 this year, take it to the bank.
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Blore and Doueihi both out is bad for us. We really needed both of them to play big roles.

I think we will be competitive at times but we have too many problems to fix. Our edges are potentially disastrous. Luc is the only quality first grader that we have on an edge and his defense is terrible at times.

We need two centres to step up and Luc and Garner or Tuliagi to have career best seasons.

I like the way we are building and we could outperform but it's going to be really tough. We'd have to be considered a bottom 4 team.
 
Earl said:
Blore and Doueihi both out is bad for us. We really needed both of them to play big roles.

I think we will be competitive at times but we have too many problems to fix. Our edges are potentially disastrous. Luc is the only quality first grader that we have on an edge and his defense is terrible at times.

We need two centres to step up and Luc and Garner or Tuliagi to have career best seasons.

I like the way we are building and we could outperform but it's going to be really tough. We'd have to be considered a bottom 4 team.
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The silver lining to the Doueihi injury is it allows Hastings to have a fair crack in the halves. I believe he will be a revelation for us, so where to play Doueihi on his return will be an interesting headache.

I'm not really worried about centre anymore, I think I've made it clear I'm a massive Gildart fan, and either To'a or Tupou will cement a spot.

And maybe it's more hope than conviction, but I think Tuki Simpkins might have a breakout year.
 
The team that has the best roster wins [ usually].
The only time that differs if the club unearths some unbelievable talent that the other players buy into.
Classic example was Benji Marshall, his injection into side as a kid from Keebra Park H.S. pushed honest players like Fulton, Gibbs and Hino to a new level.
Have we got a 2022 roster to compete against to top teams...I don't think so.
Have we got some hidden gems that will bring the best out the best in players like Brooks, Mikaeli, Garner, Musgrove?
Maybe - Hastings and Brooks combo could do just that.
In any case, we have to get quality players to beat qualty sides, and someone like a John Bateman would be a handy pick up this time of the year.
 
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TillLindemann said:
The silver lining to the Doueihi injury is it allows Hastings to have a fair crack in the halves. I believe he will be a revelation for us, so where to play Doueihi on his return will be an interesting headache.

I'm not really worried about centre anymore, I think I've made it clear I'm a massive Gildart fan, and either To'a or Tupou will cement a spot.
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I basically agree with you but the centres have to step up and Hastings has to deliver. It's a lot that has to go right.

Plenty to look forward to this season though.
 
Earl said:
I basically agree with you but the centres have to step up and Hastings has to deliver. It's a lot that has to go right.

Plenty to look forward to this season though.
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If we still have the same defensive issues as 2021, i can’t see us making the 8. Weakness in the 2nd row and centres will be our main area of concern.
The main difference to the starting side in 2022 is Hastings, Oliver Gildart and Peachy. If they click in attack and our defence improves significantly from 2021...we could make the 8.
 
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