Signings, Suggestions & Rumours Discussion

[momo_amp_medo]

I just watched the Semi final of teh QLD schoolboy Cup and Chris Faagutu was certainly impressive as captain for Marsden. The co-winner ot the Justin Hodges medal, he ran hard and also got a nice try assist with a short ball to put his prop over close to the line. A modern day lock, mobile, hard working, good skills, and a strong leader. Looks a great pickup. More on him below.

We did also sign last year's Justin Hodges Medal winner too, Corey Thomas, he played fullback and 5/8 for Balmain in SG Ball this year.

Team of the year:
Chris Faagutu (Marsden SHS)

Faagutu was the joint Justin Hodges medal player of the year, sharing the award with Keano (PBC SHS). Signed by the Tigers, Faagutu has something for everyone. He is a workhorse on and off the ball, but also a damaging ball runner who can play middle or on an edge. Tremendously mobile, Faagutu is also a great leader.

--------------------------------
Palm Beach Currumbin SHS fullback Keano Kini and Marsden SHS lock and captain Chris Faagutu are joint winners of the Justin Hodges Medal for player of the year.

Kini capped a remarkable debut season in the Langer Trophy with another wholehearted performance in PBC SHS’s NRL Schoolboys Cup grand final victory over Marsden SHS on Wednesday.

Marsden SHS’s Faagutu was typically even-tempered and stoic on grand final day.

Faagutu was a model of consistency and fair play throughout the season and is highly respected.

An astute signing by the Wests Tigers, Faagutu is a mobile middle forward whose ruck running, support play and speed made him a handful all season.

The year 11 student thanked his team mates and family for their support of his career.

“It is an honour to receive this award. I love being captain of the Marsden Makos and without my team, I wouldn’t have achieved this honour.

“It has been an amazing journey and I would like to thank my family for all the support to this point.

“All credit to my mum and dad because without them up my backside I wouldn’t be the player I am today,’’ he said.

Marsden SHS coach Matt Hartigan said Faagutu was a “phenomenal young man’’.

“I have seen him come through the Marsden system across the last five years and I love his attitude and his attention to detail.

“He is a hard worker and deserves every success that comes his way.’’

Link https://www.couriermail.com.au/questnews/sport/langer-trophy-justin-hodges-medal-player-of-the-year/news-story/379d8f5a57def569e46be676db9dc31f?fbclid=IwAR24XaLAije5JwBq1LjT7NVxGCsip21-HqK_12CzSIF00Evk1P_pXq9ALo4

Young man Looks promising.
Thanks for the article.

 

[momo_amp_medo]

https://westslife.podbean.com/e/my-dealings-with-wests-tigers-management-with-adrian-tripodina/

For those who want to have an inside listen into how our club deals with signings. Adrian Tripodina is a business man who was dealing with out club during the big 4 stuff up and lifts the lid on just how poor our head of office actually is.

Honestly a fantastic listen and will leave you gobsmacked.

No thanks. What leaves me gobsmacked is that you think I would be influenced by you telling me what will leave me gobsmacked. Wasting your time there, man.

The mans just suggesting it for people who might be interested ? Why be an asshole for ?

I thought I was more polite in my response than you are to mine. Is "asshole" allowed now moderators?

Could care less what’s allowed. Just calling you out for what it is. There was no need to respond like that

You should care because a remark like that will see you take a spell for a week.

Sorry for telling the truth through colourful language

Respect the rules or you can leave the forum - your choice.


Slightly off topic but wouldn’t Elijah Taylor been a perfect 13 for us this year..passion, great leader on field by actions, strong defender and ability to link

Well he didn’t do all that well while he was here.
Solid but no world beater.

 

[happy_tiger]

https://westslife.podbean.com/e/my-dealings-with-wests-tigers-management-with-adrian-tripodina/

For those who want to have an inside listen into how our club deals with signings. Adrian Tripodina is a business man who was dealing with out club during the big 4 stuff up and lifts the lid on just how poor our head of office actually is.

Honestly a fantastic listen and will leave you gobsmacked.

No thanks. What leaves me gobsmacked is that you think I would be influenced by you telling me what will leave me gobsmacked. Wasting your time there, man.

The mans just suggesting it for people who might be interested ? Why be an asshole for ?

I thought I was more polite in my response than you are to mine. Is "asshole" allowed now moderators?

Could care less what’s allowed. Just calling you out for what it is. There was no need to respond like that

You should care because a remark like that will see you take a spell for a week.

Sorry for telling the truth through colourful language

Respect the rules or you can leave the forum - your choice.


Slightly off topic but wouldn’t Elijah Taylor been a perfect 13 for us this year..passion, great leader on field by actions, strong defender and ability to link

Well he didn’t do all that well while he was here.
Solid but no world beater.

Like so many of our signings over the last 10 years ...they aren't bad signings .....but they need to be surrounded by the right players ...and thats where we have got it so wrong .....Josh Reynolds could have been a good signing ...but he needs to be partnered by a particular style of 7 .......Adam Blair was the same ......keep Dwyer fit and Ellis in Australia and he was a good signing .......Johnny Morris ...put him in correct position ...good signing ....Bodene Thompson ......get a quality front row in front of him ...good signing ......

We don't understand or can't recruit the entire side that will gel ...will trust in each other ...will work together as a unit ...and most importantly will die fighting for each other and their fans until they hear the final hooter every given Sunday

And you look at the Roosters .....4 plus million sitting in the Grandstands and get lapped occasionally..but those blokes are having a dig every week ......

 

[boonboon]

I just watched the Semi final of teh QLD schoolboy Cup and Chris Faagutu was certainly impressive as captain for Marsden. The co-winner ot the Justin Hodges medal, he ran hard and also got a nice try assist with a short ball to put his prop over close to the line. A modern day lock, mobile, hard working, good skills, and a strong leader. Looks a great pickup. More on him below.

We did also sign last year's Justin Hodges Medal winner too, Corey Thomas, he played fullback and 5/8 for Balmain in SG Ball this year.

Team of the year:
Chris Faagutu (Marsden SHS)

Faagutu was the joint Justin Hodges medal player of the year, sharing the award with Keano (PBC SHS). Signed by the Tigers, Faagutu has something for everyone. He is a workhorse on and off the ball, but also a damaging ball runner who can play middle or on an edge. Tremendously mobile, Faagutu is also a great leader.

--------------------------------
Palm Beach Currumbin SHS fullback Keano Kini and Marsden SHS lock and captain Chris Faagutu are joint winners of the Justin Hodges Medal for player of the year.

Kini capped a remarkable debut season in the Langer Trophy with another wholehearted performance in PBC SHS’s NRL Schoolboys Cup grand final victory over Marsden SHS on Wednesday.

Marsden SHS’s Faagutu was typically even-tempered and stoic on grand final day.

Faagutu was a model of consistency and fair play throughout the season and is highly respected.

An astute signing by the Wests Tigers, Faagutu is a mobile middle forward whose ruck running, support play and speed made him a handful all season.

The year 11 student thanked his team mates and family for their support of his career.

“It is an honour to receive this award. I love being captain of the Marsden Makos and without my team, I wouldn’t have achieved this honour.

“It has been an amazing journey and I would like to thank my family for all the support to this point.

“All credit to my mum and dad because without them up my backside I wouldn’t be the player I am today,’’ he said.

Marsden SHS coach Matt Hartigan said Faagutu was a “phenomenal young man’’.

“I have seen him come through the Marsden system across the last five years and I love his attitude and his attention to detail.

“He is a hard worker and deserves every success that comes his way.’’

Link https://www.couriermail.com.au/questnews/sport/langer-trophy-justin-hodges-medal-player-of-the-year/news-story/379d8f5a57def569e46be676db9dc31f?fbclid=IwAR24XaLAije5JwBq1LjT7NVxGCsip21-HqK_12CzSIF00Evk1P_pXq9ALo4

To be captain and star player for one of the leading schools in Australia in Year 11 especially is a great sign and as is how they speak about him. Attention to detail and work ethic are what make a good footy player great. Look forward to seeing him in our backrow in a couple of yrs

 

[JC99]

Burns is a decent enough player but so many injuries I'd be surprised if he finds the form he had before all of that again. Still only 25 at least

 

[GCfan]

Asiata has signed with Canterbury for next season and meanwhile at Tigers HQ ...... Crickets ..........

It just feel like clubs like the dogs are just rubbing salt into us...

Not saying we should have signed Asiata but would love to get our 1st NRL signed player for next year soon

Asiata is no top class player but he could've been a short term option to fill a glaring weakness in our roster. We don't have a ball playing lock and signing him on a 1 year deal would've made a world of sense for us

I don’t think will have a ball playing 13 while that dinosaur is in the coaching box. We’ve gotta be one of only 3-4 teams in the league that still plays the 13 as a third prop.

Storm do okay. The players are hard to find that do the total job as a forward and ball player.
Yeo, Radley, Murray are probably the best in the business. I think Tuki Simpkins can fill the role longer term.

Storm have multiple forwards that ball play, mostly Welch and Brandon Smith but Finucane does it too sometimes.

They have better players no surprise. We don’t have the cattle. Can only coach to the strengths of the players. Twal, Mikalele, Ofehengaue you are asking for trouble having them ball play.

I'm not asking them to ball play, I'm asking them to sign someone who can. John Asiata would've been dirt cheap and could fill that role as a short term fix but we didn't seem interested. They must think they will get it from someone at the club

I remember hearing Fittler talking up Seyfarth in terms of his ball playing ability. Maybe that’s the thought with a bit more time.

As long as it’s not bloody Hastings

Let’s no go there again hey….

Why not Hastings will be the best ball player in the club.

Stirrer

 

[crazycat]

https://westslife.podbean.com/e/my-dealings-with-wests-tigers-management-with-adrian-tripodina/

For those who want to have an inside listen into how our club deals with signings. Adrian Tripodina is a business man who was dealing with out club during the big 4 stuff up and lifts the lid on just how poor our head of office actually is.

Honestly a fantastic listen and will leave you gobsmacked.

No thanks. What leaves me gobsmacked is that you think I would be influenced by you telling me what will leave me gobsmacked. Wasting your time there, man.

The mans just suggesting it for people who might be interested ? Why be an asshole for ?

I thought I was more polite in my response than you are to mine. Is "asshole" allowed now moderators?

Could care less what’s allowed. Just calling you out for what it is. There was no need to respond like that

You should care because a remark like that will see you take a spell for a week.

Sorry for telling the truth through colourful language

Respect the rules or you can leave the forum - your choice.


Slightly off topic but wouldn’t Elijah Taylor been a perfect 13 for us this year..passion, great leader on field by actions, strong defender and ability to link

Well he didn’t do all that well while he was here.
Solid but no world beater.

Like so many of our signings over the last 10 years ...they aren't bad signings .....but they need to be surrounded by the right players ...and thats where we have got it so wrong .....Josh Reynolds could have been a good signing ...but he needs to be partnered by a particular style of 7 .......Adam Blair was the same ......keep Dwyer fit and Ellis in Australia and he was a good signing .......Johnny Morris ...put him in correct position ...good signing ....Bodene Thompson ......get a quality front row in front of him ...good signing ......

We don't understand or can't recruit the entire side that will gel ...will trust in each other ...will work together as a unit ...and most importantly will die fighting for each other and their fans until they hear the final hooter every given Sunday

And you look at the Roosters .....4 plus million sitting in the Grandstands and get lapped occasionally..but those blokes are having a dig every week ......

Well said.
To the point, we can't recruit an entire side that will Gel, trust or work together. But the Roosters can develop Juniors who can?

Sure for some bizarre reason the Roosters may be attracting better Juniors (why on earth would you want to play for the flight lounge). Overall our culture, our training our drilling our way of operating should be solidifying our team.
We should recruit for that one position we don't fill well. Not half the entire team post season.

Manly get it right, Fortress Brookevale. It's a us vs them with people sticking together for the team. I remember Braith Anasta saying when he was recruited it seemed to disrupt that team/brothers in arms thing "with Chris Heighington and Beau Ryan leaving it was like someone dropped a bomb".

The problem is not just Madge, it's been in the Wests Tigers a long time. It's us.

 

[2041]

Josh Reynolds could have been a good signing

Josh Reynolds at 30+ on 800k a year wouldn't have been a good signing with Andrew Johns at 7 mate.

 

[mikey]

https://westslife.podbean.com/e/my-dealings-with-wests-tigers-management-with-adrian-tripodina/

For those who want to have an inside listen into how our club deals with signings. Adrian Tripodina is a business man who was dealing with out club during the big 4 stuff up and lifts the lid on just how poor our head of office actually is.

Honestly a fantastic listen and will leave you gobsmacked.

No thanks. What leaves me gobsmacked is that you think I would be influenced by you telling me what will leave me gobsmacked. Wasting your time there, man.

The mans just suggesting it for people who might be interested ? Why be an asshole for ?

I thought I was more polite in my response than you are to mine. Is "asshole" allowed now moderators?

Could care less what’s allowed. Just calling you out for what it is. There was no need to respond like that

You should care because a remark like that will see you take a spell for a week.

Sorry for telling the truth through colourful language

Respect the rules or you can leave the forum - your choice.


Slightly off topic but wouldn’t Elijah Taylor been a perfect 13 for us this year..passion, great leader on field by actions, strong defender and ability to link

That guy was a super talent.
He was so good for us.

Amazing.

Not having a go at you guys but time does on ocassion make things look better than they were. Most people on here were saying he was done and I thinkthey were right. In his day, a very good player but he wouldn't have changed a thing this year and would have ben a forum pinyata.

 

[Demps]

https://westslife.podbean.com/e/my-dealings-with-wests-tigers-management-with-adrian-tripodina/

For those who want to have an inside listen into how our club deals with signings. Adrian Tripodina is a business man who was dealing with out club during the big 4 stuff up and lifts the lid on just how poor our head of office actually is.

Honestly a fantastic listen and will leave you gobsmacked.

No thanks. What leaves me gobsmacked is that you think I would be influenced by you telling me what will leave me gobsmacked. Wasting your time there, man.

The mans just suggesting it for people who might be interested ? Why be an asshole for ?

I thought I was more polite in my response than you are to mine. Is "asshole" allowed now moderators?

Could care less what’s allowed. Just calling you out for what it is. There was no need to respond like that

You should care because a remark like that will see you take a spell for a week.

Sorry for telling the truth through colourful language

Respect the rules or you can leave the forum - your choice.


Slightly off topic but wouldn’t Elijah Taylor been a perfect 13 for us this year..passion, great leader on field by actions, strong defender and ability to link

That guy was a super talent.
He was so good for us.

Amazing.

Not having a go at you guys but time does on ocassion make things look better than they were. Most people on here were saying he was done and I thinkthey were right. In his day, a very good player but he wouldn't have changed a thing this year and would have ben a forum pinyata.

I disagree.

We have needed a proper lock all year.
ET is and was a proper lock.

A lot of people seem to have issues with strengthening our roster in areas we are clearly weak in.

Been an ET fan for years and the talent was always evident. He was great for us.

 

[hsvjones]

So it looks like Brendan Smith likely to stay at storm I say we pull the big dollars out to bring Harry Grant back.. He is clearly a star and will be playing SOO for years plus he knows first hand what we are building here.. If I was him I would not want to play 2nd fiddle in my prime time of my career.. He can control a game from 9 and his passing is excellent..

 

[TheDaBoss]

So it looks like Brendan Smith likely to stay at storm I say we pull the big dollars out to bring Harry Grant back.. He is clearly a star and will be playing SOO for years plus he knows first hand what we are building here.. If I was him I would not want to play 2nd fiddle in my prime time of my career.. He can control a game from 9 and his passing is excellent..

Swap liddle for grant

Keep simpkin to come of bench

 

[Geo]

If only the TRADE RAGE button existed in real life Rugbeh Leegue..

 

[GNR4LIFE]

So it looks like Brendan Smith likely to stay at storm I say we pull the big dollars out to bring Harry Grant back.. He is clearly a star and will be playing SOO for years plus he knows first hand what we are building here.. If I was him I would not want to play 2nd fiddle in my prime time of my career.. He can control a game from 9 and his passing is excellent..

He could go to a team like the Roosters who are in need of a hooker, who can present him with an open cheque and be an instant premiership contender. Then there is us who are “building”. Tough choice 🤔

 

[cochise]

If only the TRADE RAGE button existed in real life Rugbeh Leegue..

I don't know why we never traded Russell Packer to keep Grant in the 1st place.

 

[Needaname]

https://westslife.podbean.com/e/my-dealings-with-wests-tigers-management-with-adrian-tripodina/

For those who want to have an inside listen into how our club deals with signings. Adrian Tripodina is a business man who was dealing with out club during the big 4 stuff up and lifts the lid on just how poor our head of office actually is.

Honestly a fantastic listen and will leave you gobsmacked.

No thanks. What leaves me gobsmacked is that you think I would be influenced by you telling me what will leave me gobsmacked. Wasting your time there, man.

The mans just suggesting it for people who might be interested ? Why be an asshole for ?

I thought I was more polite in my response than you are to mine. Is "asshole" allowed now moderators?

Could care less what’s allowed. Just calling you out for what it is. There was no need to respond like that

You should care because a remark like that will see you take a spell for a week.

Sorry for telling the truth through colourful language

Respect the rules or you can leave the forum - your choice.


Slightly off topic but wouldn’t Elijah Taylor been a perfect 13 for us this year..passion, great leader on field by actions, strong defender and ability to link

Well he didn’t do all that well while he was here.
Solid but no world beater.

Like so many of our signings over the last 10 years ...they aren't bad signings .....but they need to be surrounded by the right players ...and thats where we have got it so wrong .....Josh Reynolds could have been a good signing ...but he needs to be partnered by a particular style of 7 .......Adam Blair was the same ......keep Dwyer fit and Ellis in Australia and he was a good signing .......Johnny Morris ...put him in correct position ...good signing ....Bodene Thompson ......get a quality front row in front of him ...good signing ......

We don't understand or can't recruit the entire side that will gel ...will trust in each other ...will work together as a unit ...and most importantly will die fighting for each other and their fans until they hear the final hooter every given Sunday

And you look at the Roosters .....4 plus million sitting in the Grandstands and get lapped occasionally..but those blokes are having a dig every week ......

Well said.
To the point, we can't recruit an entire side that will Gel, trust or work together. But the Roosters can develop Juniors who can?

Sure for some bizarre reason the Roosters may be attracting better Juniors (why on earth would you want to play for the flight lounge). Overall our culture, our training our drilling our way of operating should be solidifying our team.
We should recruit for that one position we don't fill well. Not half the entire team post season.

Manly get it right, Fortress Brookevale. It's a us vs them with people sticking together for the team. I remember Braith Anasta saying when he was recruited it seemed to disrupt that team/brothers in arms thing "with Chris Heighington and Beau Ryan leaving it was like someone dropped a bomb".

The problem is not just Madge, it's been in the Wests Tigers a long time. It's us.

I think you’ll find, until we become an attractive team for high profile recruits. We are just going to keep on this path of recruiting from the other end of the cap.

I’m ok with it. But we need to be careful about the length of the terms of deals. If we are recruiting the best age group juniors into our elite junior teams; SG and Flegg we need to be prepared Not to offer long term deals to these players before they have shown they can handle it.

As I’ve mentioned it before. Since the Panthers went through their ‘Gus Gould’ era only 1 player remains from the juniors that debuted before 2016.
The junior crop of Cootes, Graham’s, Jennings, Grant and McKenndry that propelled the Panthers to the 2010 top four only McKenndry was retained until retirement.
Of the next crop of DWZ, RCG, Mansour, Moylan, Cartwright and Yeo that got the new rebuilt team to the 2014 top four; only Yeo remains.
The following crop of 2015 nyc premiers and 2016 nyc runners up; JFH, Leota, Edwards, Cleary, Nadden, May, Leuia and To’o the majority of this group have been retained and the new crop of Burton, Leinu, Blore, Stains, Laurie, Tago, Crichton. Well only half of them were retained as some of the positions were covered by the players from the crop above (Burton: Leuia), (Laurie: Edwards), (Blore: Martin)

Panthers had to shake up the foundations not just once but twice, to ensure they got the best mix.

If these young boys from Queensland are the real deal, we have to be prepared to give them time to develop but also be open to the possibility that they may displace some local Heros or fan favourites when the time comes.

 

[GNR4LIFE]

So it looks like Brendan Smith likely to stay at storm I say we pull the big dollars out to bring Harry Grant back.. He is clearly a star and will be playing SOO for years plus he knows first hand what we are building here.. If I was him I would not want to play 2nd fiddle in my prime time of my career.. He can control a game from 9 and his passing is excellent..

Swap liddle for grant

Keep simpkin to come of bench

*sigh*

 

[Demps]

If only the TRADE RAGE button existed in real life Rugbeh Leegue..

I don't know why we never traded Russell Packer to keep Grant in the 1st place.

This was an option?

 

[weststigers]

https://westslife.podbean.com/e/my-dealings-with-wests-tigers-management-with-adrian-tripodina/

For those who want to have an inside listen into how our club deals with signings. Adrian Tripodina is a business man who was dealing with out club during the big 4 stuff up and lifts the lid on just how poor our head of office actually is.

Honestly a fantastic listen and will leave you gobsmacked.

Bloody big noting rubbish.

Have to agree with you there. Like what he was saying hasn't been said by hundreds of other fans before....It was like listening to a summary of the forum.

 

[mikey]

https://westslife.podbean.com/e/my-dealings-with-wests-tigers-management-with-adrian-tripodina/

For those who want to have an inside listen into how our club deals with signings. Adrian Tripodina is a business man who was dealing with out club during the big 4 stuff up and lifts the lid on just how poor our head of office actually is.

Honestly a fantastic listen and will leave you gobsmacked.

No thanks. What leaves me gobsmacked is that you think I would be influenced by you telling me what will leave me gobsmacked. Wasting your time there, man.

The mans just suggesting it for people who might be interested ? Why be an asshole for ?

I thought I was more polite in my response than you are to mine. Is "asshole" allowed now moderators?

Could care less what’s allowed. Just calling you out for what it is. There was no need to respond like that

You should care because a remark like that will see you take a spell for a week.

Sorry for telling the truth through colourful language

Respect the rules or you can leave the forum - your choice.


Slightly off topic but wouldn’t Elijah Taylor been a perfect 13 for us this year..passion, great leader on field by actions, strong defender and ability to link

That guy was a super talent.
He was so good for us.

Amazing.

Not having a go at you guys but time does on ocassion make things look better than they were. Most people on here were saying he was done and I thinkthey were right. In his day, a very good player but he wouldn't have changed a thing this year and would have ben a forum pinyata.

I disagree.

We have needed a proper lock all year.
ET is and was a proper lock.

A lot of people seem to have issues with strengthening our roster in areas we are clearly weak in.

Been an ET fan for years and the talent was always evident. He was great for us.

Not disagreeing he did fine for us but he was/ is 31 this year and imo was less ineffectual in his last year or so. 🙂