Signings, Suggestions & Rumours Discussion

[happy_tiger]

Have a listen to bloke in a bars recent podcast with Hastings seems like he has really matured and is ready for another crack in the nrl



Heard an interview with Rugby League Guru podcast on Spotify. Got the same vibe.
Matty Johns spoke highly of him on one of his episodes too and I remember hearing that as many Manly players who trash-talked him, an equal number thought the opposite.
I think to myself, is he a similar bloke to Munster? A larrikin, a diamond in the rough that doesn't always rub people the right way, but is totally confident in his abilities and backs himself 100% to win a game on his own?...
Wish, no, HOPE Brooksy gets some of that in him this year.

He spent a year with a psychologist. Indicated he will still stuff up sometimes but much more mature now

The biggest thing with halves is backing yourself ...I think I have used this scenario before .....but Wayne Bennett would say to Wally Lewis ...I'm happy for you to try a low percentage play ...but I will kick your ass if it doesn't come off ....it is a very tight line to walk and can mess with your head ...especially if you think your spot in the side is under question

Personally ..I think the best thing for Brooks is to get away from the WT's ...and that probably isn't a popular subject

 

[jrtiger]

Hastings on a cut price deal I wouldn't say no to. he has never had any issues with ability, only his ego and mindset. if he can sort those then the sky is the limit.

 

[TYGA]

Hastings on a cut price deal I wouldn't say no to. he has never had any issues with ability, only his ego and mindset. if he can sort those then the sky is the limit.

As a utility on the cheap it’s a smart play if we unload Mbye

 

[Tiger5150]

also forgot about 3 of the greatest to pull on our jersey in Hodgo, Skando and Chris Lawrence. point is the Campbelltown area needs to be properly nutured and we will reap the rewards from it.

Jarrod Hayne, The Paea brothers, Hodkinson, Lafai, the Pritchard brothers

I asked how many top-flight footballers have been generated for Wests by the Macarthur region, not a list of every footballer who has ever lived in the greater South West.

Izzy Folau, for example in first response, moved to Brisbane, is a Queenslander for rep footy and was scouted by Melbourne. Nothing whatsoever to do with Magpies pathways.

Nevertheless the combined thought power still yielding some 20 regular first graders for any club at all, from the region.

I wonder how many of the St Gregs boys are like Jimmy Smith and Trent Barrett. Genuine country boys but played for St Gregs and therefore Macarthur juniors?

Funny side note, I checked Barretts Wiki to double check I had his background correct. In his bio he is listed as "official furniture supplier to the Manly Warringah Sea Eagles". Funny stuff. Someone should update Anastas to tape and gatorade supplier for the Wests Tigers.

 

[Tiger5150]

Shawn Blore. Stefano Utoikamanu and Tommy Talau have all made the Emerging Blues 29 man squad ??

Good acknowledgment for these guys but does anyone know if there are any classifications to who is eligible for the emerging blues? Moses Leota is 25 years old and played 81 NRL games. He might want to fully emerge soon if he’s going to get many origin years in before he retires.



You make a very good point about eligibility for the Emerging Blues Squad, but as far as I can tell there are no set guidelines or restrictions on who may qualify for the squad other than them being possible future selections and giving them a little bit of exposure to the highest level of the NRL.

Having a look at the list theres no slouches taking up space on it. Highly rated and promising players the lot of them, should give us a lot of confidence and pride 3 of our squad managed to make it in.

I agree and congratulations to all 3 of our boys who have been terrific signings for us, but unless I am mistaken, none of the 3 are actually our local juniors, which reinforces my concern about abandoning growth/junior areas.

Does it really matter about the development of "local juniors" if you can sign up good juniors from anywhere in Australia?

There's a real discussion to be had about the benefit of focusing on a specific geographical area or simply casting your net as wide as possible.

For example, of all the historical association Wests have had with Macarthur since 1987, how many actual first-class juniors has the region yielded for Magpies or WT? Would the answer be, honestly, more than 20 or 30 players in the past ~35 years?

The best junior Macarthur has arguably ever produced plays for Bondi now, as simple as new teeth and some brown paper bags.


Thats a good point - however that junior you mention did play for WT - it was poor on field performances and bad management plus the paper bags and new teeth that ended up with him leaving. So maybe its more a retention problem. I suppose the real question is how many of the juniors from Macarthur or Balmain go on to NRL level without going through the WT system.

Wasn’t that junior a mad roosters supporter ? And Minnicello was his idol ? I think there’s some extenuating circumstances there as much as how bad we mismanaged it .

I spoke to his Uncle at around the time of his first grade debut and they were in the process of trying to renew his contract. His Uncle told me then that Teddy was not in love with the Tigers and wanted to leave. His Uncle loves the Tigers.(long term sponsor).

 

[jirskyr]

also forgot about 3 of the greatest to pull on our jersey in Hodgo, Skando and Chris Lawrence. point is the Campbelltown area needs to be properly nutured and we will reap the rewards from it.

Jarrod Hayne, The Paea brothers, Hodkinson, Lafai, the Pritchard brothers

I asked how many top-flight footballers have been generated for Wests by the Macarthur region, not a list of every footballer who has ever lived in the greater South West.

Izzy Folau, for example in first response, moved to Brisbane, is a Queenslander for rep footy and was scouted by Melbourne. Nothing whatsoever to do with Magpies pathways.

Nevertheless the combined thought power still yielding some 20 regular first graders for any club at all, from the region.

Three issues are linked and you can't simply focus on those that came through WT pathways. The biggest issue in the South West isn't ac lack of talent, it's the magpies absolutely atrocious job of identifying talent. The magpies are the last choice of all the top juniors and will only play for them if no one else gives them a run.

And think about Folau, why didn't Wests identify him as a top prospect and start nurturing him when they had the opportunity? How is it that Melbourne could spot him but they couldn't?

Because Israel Folau moved to Brisbane when he was 15? Folau moved to Brisbane because he Dad got a job there, it wasn't some club-led move.

Melbourne spotted him at the Australian Championships, whilst he was playing for QLD. Therefore the argument is why didn't any other club identify him, not just Tigers. He was not within Tigers' traditional catchment or junior systems at the time.

By way of reference, Folau was in the same Year 12 class as Chris Sandow and Antonio Winterstein. Sandow grew up in Cherbourg and ended up at Souths. Winterstein was born in NZ, grew up in Brisbane and was signed to Roosters Jersey Flegg and NYC.

I therefore reject that Israel Folau is an example of specific lack of Wests Magpies junior development. His classmates had similarly diverse upbringings and ended up strewn all across the NRL.

 

[happy_tiger]

Shawn Blore. Stefano Utoikamanu and Tommy Talau have all made the Emerging Blues 29 man squad ??

Good acknowledgment for these guys but does anyone know if there are any classifications to who is eligible for the emerging blues? Moses Leota is 25 years old and played 81 NRL games. He might want to fully emerge soon if he’s going to get many origin years in before he retires.



You make a very good point about eligibility for the Emerging Blues Squad, but as far as I can tell there are no set guidelines or restrictions on who may qualify for the squad other than them being possible future selections and giving them a little bit of exposure to the highest level of the NRL.

Having a look at the list theres no slouches taking up space on it. Highly rated and promising players the lot of them, should give us a lot of confidence and pride 3 of our squad managed to make it in.

I agree and congratulations to all 3 of our boys who have been terrific signings for us, but unless I am mistaken, none of the 3 are actually our local juniors, which reinforces my concern about abandoning growth/junior areas.

Does it really matter about the development of "local juniors" if you can sign up good juniors from anywhere in Australia?

There's a real discussion to be had about the benefit of focusing on a specific geographical area or simply casting your net as wide as possible.

For example, of all the historical association Wests have had with Macarthur since 1987, how many actual first-class juniors has the region yielded for Magpies or WT? Would the answer be, honestly, more than 20 or 30 players in the past ~35 years?

The best junior Macarthur has arguably ever produced plays for Bondi now, as simple as new teeth and some brown paper bags.


Thats a good point - however that junior you mention did play for WT - it was poor on field performances and bad management plus the paper bags and new teeth that ended up with him leaving. So maybe its more a retention problem. I suppose the real question is how many of the juniors from Macarthur or Balmain go on to NRL level without going through the WT system.

Wasn’t that junior a mad roosters supporter ? And Minnicello was his idol ? I think there’s some extenuating circumstances there as much as how bad we mismanaged it .


I spoke to his Uncle at around the time of his first grade debut and they were in the process of trying to renew his contract. His Uncle told me then that Teddy was not in love with the Tigers and wanted to leave. His Uncle loves the Tigers.(long term sponsor).

One of the biggest issues in my opinion that was expressed to me was he felt under appreciated by top level management at the WT's

Grant Mayer telling another WT's official "he couldn't see all the fuss in Tedesco was big in him signing with Canberra "

And clubs would fall head over heels to talk to Teddy and his Dad about any issues or question they had .....the Tigers stopped answering John Tedesco's calls at one stage ....

When your employer starts taking you for granted ...how do you feel ...used ..abused ..underappreciated ....difference for us is usually we don't have 15 other employers banging the door down wanting to offer us better conditions and better employees to work with ...pay you the same and make your job easier ...hell ..where do I sign ??

 

[jirskyr]

Hopefully it’s a sign of the junior scouting improving (although he was at manly previously) but hartigan is big on improving juniors and we’ve done a deal with St Greg’s so hopefully keeps getting better

I maintain that an official association with a school is fine, but you are still going to battle for the top juniors, no matter how much money or time you funnel into a school development program. So long as we can all accept that and not blow up any time a St Gregs schoolboy ends up at a club other that the Tigers.

My primary argument is that some folks appear to be considering school associations or junior geographies as the be-all of development. I question what significantly positive outcome Wests Tigers have achieved via the historical associations we have in our geographies and our schools. I might almost be of the mindset - I haven't decided yet - that historical geographical associations are dead within such a large and mixed metropolis such as Sydney.

Our best kids on the books in 2021 are not from Tigers territory.

For example, I follow Tigers because my Grandad grew up in Lilyfield and his uncles were wharfies when Balmain Tigers were incorporated. But I live on the border of Bulldogs and Saints territory. No way in hell my kids will support Dragons! Certainly, you are more likely to see Dogs and Saints supporters locally, but not at the complete extinction of other clubs. It's a trend I expect to continue, as populations diffuse around Sydney over the next 50 years.

 

[happy_tiger]

Hopefully it’s a sign of the junior scouting improving (although he was at manly previously) but hartigan is big on improving juniors and we’ve done a deal with St Greg’s so hopefully keeps getting better

I maintain that an official association with a school is fine, but you are still going to battle for the top juniors, no matter how much money or time you funnel into a school development program. So long as we can all accept that and not blow up any time a St Gregs schoolboy ends up at a club other that the Tigers.

My primary argument is that some folks appear to be considering school associations or junior geographies as the be-all of development. I question what significantly positive outcome Wests Tigers have achieved via the historical associations we have in our geographies and our schools. I might almost be of the mindset - I haven't decided yet - that historical geographical associations are dead within such a large and mixed metropolis such as Sydney.

Our best kids on the books in 2021 are not from Tigers territory.

For example, I follow Tigers because my Grandad grew up in Lilyfield and his uncles were wharfies when Balmain Tigers were incorporated. But I live on the border of Bulldogs and Saints territory. No way in hell my kids will support Dragons! Certainly, you are more likely to see Dogs and Saints supporters locally, but not at the complete extinction of other clubs. It's a trend I expect to continue, as populations diffuse around Sydney over the next 50 years.

Takes all supporters to make the world go around ...and having a friendly rivalry with someone every week is always fun ...especially when we win .....hope that happens far more often in the future

 

[jirskyr]

Shawn Blore. Stefano Utoikamanu and Tommy Talau have all made the Emerging Blues 29 man squad ??

Good acknowledgment for these guys but does anyone know if there are any classifications to who is eligible for the emerging blues? Moses Leota is 25 years old and played 81 NRL games. He might want to fully emerge soon if he’s going to get many origin years in before he retires.



You make a very good point about eligibility for the Emerging Blues Squad, but as far as I can tell there are no set guidelines or restrictions on who may qualify for the squad other than them being possible future selections and giving them a little bit of exposure to the highest level of the NRL.

Having a look at the list theres no slouches taking up space on it. Highly rated and promising players the lot of them, should give us a lot of confidence and pride 3 of our squad managed to make it in.

I agree and congratulations to all 3 of our boys who have been terrific signings for us, but unless I am mistaken, none of the 3 are actually our local juniors, which reinforces my concern about abandoning growth/junior areas.

Does it really matter about the development of "local juniors" if you can sign up good juniors from anywhere in Australia?

There's a real discussion to be had about the benefit of focusing on a specific geographical area or simply casting your net as wide as possible.

For example, of all the historical association Wests have had with Macarthur since 1987, how many actual first-class juniors has the region yielded for Magpies or WT? Would the answer be, honestly, more than 20 or 30 players in the past ~35 years?

The best junior Macarthur has arguably ever produced plays for Bondi now, as simple as new teeth and some brown paper bags.


Thats a good point - however that junior you mention did play for WT - it was poor on field performances and bad management plus the paper bags and new teeth that ended up with him leaving. So maybe its more a retention problem. I suppose the real question is how many of the juniors from Macarthur or Balmain go on to NRL level without going through the WT system.

Wasn’t that junior a mad roosters supporter ? And Minnicello was his idol ? I think there’s some extenuating circumstances there as much as how bad we mismanaged it .


I spoke to his Uncle at around the time of his first grade debut and they were in the process of trying to renew his contract. His Uncle told me then that Teddy was not in love with the Tigers and wanted to leave. His Uncle loves the Tigers.(long term sponsor).

One of the biggest issues in my opinion that was expressed to me was he felt under appreciated by top level management at the WT's

Grant Mayer telling another WT's official "he couldn't see all the fuss in Tedesco was big in him signing with Canberra "

And clubs would fall head over heels to talk to Teddy and his Dad about any issues or question they had .....the Tigers stopped answering John Tedesco's calls at one stage ....

When your employer starts taking you for granted ...how do you feel ...used ..abused ..underappreciated ....difference for us is usually we don't have 15 other employers banging the door down wanting to offer us better conditions and better employees to work with ...pay you the same and make your job easier ...hell ..where do I sign ??

No offence but that's all hearsay. Why would the Tigers ignore the Tedescos when he was always one of our key juniors? Why did Tedesco end up at the club he supported as a kid? Why did Tedesco sign with both Raiders and Roosters at every contract opportunity?

Grant Mayer left WT in June 2015. Did his successor fail to engage the Tedescos as well, during the two years between June 2015 and May 2017 when he signed for Roosters?

Even - to what extent did Raiders not take Tedesco for granted, but he reneged on them anyway?

Of course any player will be tempted to go to an organisation with a better track record of success, more money, more clout within the NRL fraternity, arguably more clout in local business and sponsorship, more rep players, a highly-credentialed coach. That's a no-brainer. But Roosters can't have all 500 NRL footballers and rugby league has never been about brains, it's been about heart.

 

[compensate]

Great to see Mavoni Tuifua getting a deal with the club. He’ll be a special player this bloke, runs at the line at 150km an hour and always carries defenders on his back, got a good offload in him as well. Very similar build to Junior Paulo. Great guy in person too

 

[earl]

Why would the Tigers ignore the Tedescos when he was always one of our key juniors?

One thing I noticed about Tedesco is that he appears to be a pretty sensitive person in that he expects everyone to bow down to him. Maybe that is a family trait.

I remember at a young age the Tigers threw him into first grade on the wing. We were clearly backing him.

I view him as a primma donna. The same issues are apparent in his relationship with his managers and his horse whisperer pyschologist.

If his attitude was a little different he would have stayed with us but that isn't the way people like that view the world. They have chips on their shoulders about all sorts of stuff. Happy's comments to me just show what he was like. The tiniest little slight becomes something significant.

We offered him top dollar. We bent over backwards for him. We gave him a shot early in first grade. We supported him throughout his injuries. None of that matters to him because he has been slighted.

Great player. I wouldn't want him anywhere near my daughter.

 

[Needaname]

Great to see Mavoni Tuifua getting a deal with the club. He’ll be a special player this bloke, runs at the line at 150km an hour and always carries defenders on his back, got a good offload in him as well. Very similar build to Junior Paulo. Great guy in person too

Position in the 30?
Or onto the Second tier to be called upon if required?

 

[Littlebittipsy]

Penrith Panthers veteran Dean Whare forced to Super League after young stars rise

By The Mole - 2 hours ago

Someone has mentioned this already somewhere on the forums. Found on twitter. Maybe opens up a spot for Momo.

 

[JC99]

Great to see Mavoni Tuifua getting a deal with the club. He’ll be a special player this bloke, runs at the line at 150km an hour and always carries defenders on his back, got a good offload in him as well. Very similar build to Junior Paulo. Great guy in person too

This is great stuff. Clearly Madge rates him been training with first grade all year, hope we continue to see his development.

 

[happy_tiger]

Shawn Blore. Stefano Utoikamanu and Tommy Talau have all made the Emerging Blues 29 man squad ??

Good acknowledgment for these guys but does anyone know if there are any classifications to who is eligible for the emerging blues? Moses Leota is 25 years old and played 81 NRL games. He might want to fully emerge soon if he’s going to get many origin years in before he retires.



You make a very good point about eligibility for the Emerging Blues Squad, but as far as I can tell there are no set guidelines or restrictions on who may qualify for the squad other than them being possible future selections and giving them a little bit of exposure to the highest level of the NRL.

Having a look at the list theres no slouches taking up space on it. Highly rated and promising players the lot of them, should give us a lot of confidence and pride 3 of our squad managed to make it in.

I agree and congratulations to all 3 of our boys who have been terrific signings for us, but unless I am mistaken, none of the 3 are actually our local juniors, which reinforces my concern about abandoning growth/junior areas.

Does it really matter about the development of "local juniors" if you can sign up good juniors from anywhere in Australia?

There's a real discussion to be had about the benefit of focusing on a specific geographical area or simply casting your net as wide as possible.

For example, of all the historical association Wests have had with Macarthur since 1987, how many actual first-class juniors has the region yielded for Magpies or WT? Would the answer be, honestly, more than 20 or 30 players in the past ~35 years?

The best junior Macarthur has arguably ever produced plays for Bondi now, as simple as new teeth and some brown paper bags.


Thats a good point - however that junior you mention did play for WT - it was poor on field performances and bad management plus the paper bags and new teeth that ended up with him leaving. So maybe its more a retention problem. I suppose the real question is how many of the juniors from Macarthur or Balmain go on to NRL level without going through the WT system.

Wasn’t that junior a mad roosters supporter ? And Minnicello was his idol ? I think there’s some extenuating circumstances there as much as how bad we mismanaged it .


I spoke to his Uncle at around the time of his first grade debut and they were in the process of trying to renew his contract. His Uncle told me then that Teddy was not in love with the Tigers and wanted to leave. His Uncle loves the Tigers.(long term sponsor).

One of the biggest issues in my opinion that was expressed to me was he felt under appreciated by top level management at the WT's

Grant Mayer telling another WT's official "he couldn't see all the fuss in Tedesco was big in him signing with Canberra "

And clubs would fall head over heels to talk to Teddy and his Dad about any issues or question they had .....the Tigers stopped answering John Tedesco's calls at one stage ....

When your employer starts taking you for granted ...how do you feel ...used ..abused ..underappreciated ....difference for us is usually we don't have 15 other employers banging the door down wanting to offer us better conditions and better employees to work with ...pay you the same and make your job easier ...hell ..where do I sign ??

No offence but that's all hearsay. Why would the Tigers ignore the Tedescos when he was always one of our key juniors? Why did Tedesco end up at the club he supported as a kid? Why did Tedesco sign with both Raiders and Roosters at every contract opportunity?

Grant Mayer left WT in June 2015. Did his successor fail to engage the Tedescos as well, during the two years between June 2015 and May 2017 when he signed for Roosters?

Even - to what extent did Raiders not take Tedesco for granted, but he reneged on them anyway?

Of course any player will be tempted to go to an organisation with a better track record of success, more money, more clout within the NRL fraternity, arguably more clout in local business and sponsorship, more rep players, a highly-credentialed coach. That's a no-brainer. But Roosters can't have all 500 NRL footballers and rugby league has never been about brains, it's been about heart.

Came from John Tedesco ..not heresay ..unless John was lying or bending the truth

And Tedesco preferred Taylor as a coach over Potter .....

 

[Needaname]

Penrith Panthers veteran Dean Whare forced to Super League after young stars rise

By The Mole - 2 hours ago

Someone has mentioned this already somewhere on the forums. Found on twitter. Maybe opens up a spot for Momo.

Lol, found it scrolling league unlimited a few days back.

 

[Tiger5150]

Our best kids on the books in 2021 are not from Tigers territory.

But 75% of our spine is....

 

[cochise]

Great to see Mavoni Tuifua getting a deal with the club. He’ll be a special player this bloke, runs at the line at 150km an hour and always carries defenders on his back, got a good offload in him as well. Very similar build to Junior Paulo. Great guy in person too

Position in the 30?
Or onto the Second tier to be called upon if required?

That is a Canterbury Cup contract.

 

[JC99]

Our best kids on the books in 2021 are not from Tigers territory.


But 75% of our spine is....

Liddle isn't from Tigers territory.... he's from Wyong. We signed him when he was young though. Brooks and Doueihi are ours though