Signings, Suggestions & Rumours Discussion

[jadtiger]

Buzz is an old drunk wanker

I doubt if being a wanker would be of much use to Buzz these days considering the look of his physique,i would say being an alcoholic voyeur would be his sole pleasure these days

 

[Long Term Fan]

Maybe if WT are under the salary cap in 2022 they can paid out the rest of Mbye's contract to free up money for 2023.

I like many on this Forum have watched Rugby League for a long time and appreciate that not many stars/talented juniors make it to the elite level. The grind of week to week NRL is a tough gig.

Given the toughness of the sport and limited time in the sport I am all for players trying to make the most money whilst they can. We all know most players are only a serious injury away from retirement. Concussion and it's long term effects are a major concern and needs to be addressed by the powers to be.

I don't like the idea of a 17th team but that is the direction the NRL are going.

Like most most long term Magpies fans we have got use to losing good players to other clubs Sad seeing Tommy and O'Grady suit up for the Jets and don't get me started on Manly.

WT have had the same issues losing quality players in Teddy, Moses, Gibbs, Fifita, Prince, JAC, Dora, etc and now Leuila. I appreciate every player has their own story or reason but still sad to see local juniors move on and not wanting to stay together.

All successful teams need experienced and hard nosed players in their team which compliments the juniors that surround them.

I have read on many Forum Member's reviews that WT have a crop of talented juniors coming through and we need to learn from the Panthers that these players need to be identified, given the right tools to succeed and great mentor programs. As well as money and tied up to contracts (yes we know contracts are not worth the paper they are drawn on) we need a bunch of elite juniors to want to stick together through the grades and want to succeed at the highest level together.

We need to learn from mistakes made with players like Papps and Ryan Hoffman who were once outstanding juniors but left for more Green (maybe Purple is a better word) pastures.

Happy for WT every year to buy these hard nosed experienced players but really the money and time needs to bring a bunch of local juniors up together and want to stick together like Penrith have done. WT should also identify other teams local juniors to compliment any short comings they have in certain positions.

 

[pawsandclaws1]

It's a likewise injury comparison to AD.
First few yrs we had teddy and First few years we've had AD.
Paws brought it up and I compared to teddy.
We know how good he turned out to be.
Don't hate on the King.

I've stated many times Doueihi is a good player and he is a local junior. But we need to temper our praise in view of his injury history. Criticise Brooks all you like but he is the player who ran down the young Manly centre who apparently ran 10.5 at school.

 

[TrueTiger]

Laurie stays, AD stays and plays centre, Brooks and Hastings (who will need an upgrade and ext) remain the halves for next year at least. These blokes don't need upgrading (in terms of a finding better players) or moving on. Nofoaluma and Maumalo are locks on the wings.

That is the most likely, and most common sense approach to our backline. It puts us 1 quality centre short with current (or more correctly, '23) options remaining To'a, Roberts, Gildart, Talau and Kepaoa and Peachey for now, despite a couple of those currently not having deals.

That is a backline I'm quite pleased with and one who can bring a lot of success. There are only a couple of players, currently available who can improve that backline, but we're not the only club at the grocery store.

In regards to the forwards, Tamou gets an extra year for mine, with Musgrove, Twal, Utoikamanu remaining the most likely rotation, Pole is a smoky for some Mikaele-like bench time later in the season ('23). He's looks a beauty. Hooker is sorted with Api and Simpkin as the 14. Rua also moving into a top 30 spot in '23. I'm certain Liddle will be picked up by a team desperate for a reliable starting 9, relieving us of his '23 roster spot. Canberra, Bulldogs, even Roosters come to mind. Second row we are very light, this isn't a secret. Papali'i starts, with Blore likely needing to re-enter via bench or Cup, with him being out for over 12 months at that point. Seyfarth retained for 12 months as a backup, but cannot be our first choice starting imo, being locked into a bench spot at best. Talau I think should be genuinely considered a second row option. That leaves us needing a solid starter, and where I'd spend my money. Crichton or Tapine are 750k+ propositions in this spot, however likely those might be, I have no dramas in spend 1.5ish on our starting second rowers (incl. Papali'i at ~600) if that's what's required. I would even entertain the roosters conundrum and see how Suluka-Fifita or the Baker brothers are enjoying playing bit-part roles, signed or otherwise. Hudson Young may be worth a conversation with Canberra's rumored overhaul, ditto for Palasia or TC Robati at the Broncos, with their game time being limited. Intra-club, Fainu is being earmarked as a possible edge, despite playing reserves in the middle, but he's a top 30 option, with the development players still a little way off, I see Kautoga the most likely there. Ofahengaue locks the scrum as long as he wants on current form.

This squad needs to spend money on a sprinkle of top-tier talent but, injuries aside, I think there's a very decent core there, much more adept than most give the club credit for.

Great post mate...I just want to say that with our centres we have a fair bit of youth and experience there for next year and the only point I want to make is,If JTJ recovers from back surgery and is fully fit by next season kick off,he could produce some of his origin form and on low wages could be the surprise packet as he seems to have a better attitude here with us.....

 

[Kelce68]

Great post mate...I just want to say that with our centres we have a fair bit of youth and experience there for next year and the only point I want to make is,If JTJ recovers from back surgery and is fully fit by next season kick off,he could produce some of his origin form and on low wages could be the surprise packet as he seems to have a better attitude here with us.....

Yeh, I tend to agree, he showed enough improvement in limited time this year for him to be good value for money.

 

[TheDaBoss]

Lomax for Liddle

Ty

 

[Bones]

I’m not too disappointed we missed Nikora. I’ve been watching a fair bit of him since we were linked and while he goes ok he isn’t a top shelf 2nd rower. He isn’t even the best in his team. We made a good decision not getting into a bidding war for him.

Crichton I would go hard at.

Next target is a quality centre and a 40 odd minute prop who can add a bit of impact.

I’m happy to give Toa the rest of the season to claim the other centre position.

 

[Camel2281]

But you can't just wish Brooks's contract away. No-one is going to pay him a million bucks a year so the question is how much freight we'd need to pay to get rid of him. It's a completely different equation to what you're suggesting.

Brooks only has next season and he's gone though. You just don't re sign the guy then we have $1mill more for other players

 

[tigerap]

Aitken is being looked at as a second row not centre

Right now he's been looked at at for Left Right out...unless he drops he asking price to under $300k and 2 years....He is no better than Garner as a second rower, so why pay more than what we paid Garner.....

 

[tigerap]

I’m not too disappointed we missed Nikora. I’ve been watching a fair bit of him since we were linked and while he goes ok he isn’t a top shelf 2nd rower. He isn’t even the best in his team. We made a good decision not getting into a bidding war for him.

Crichton I would go hard at.

Next target is a quality centre and a 40 odd minute prop who can add a bit of impact.

I’m happy to give Toa the rest of the season to claim the other centre position.

Nikora is not better than Blore....and I can tell you Blore ain't anywhere near the $$ we offered Nikora. The club is over paying top $$$ just to get a signing

 

[batboy]

Brooks only has next season and he's gone though. You just don't re sign the guy then we have $1mill more for other players

What do we do if the Roosters don't re-sign Hunt after next year and sign Jackson Hastings for 2024, And the Dogs sign Doueihi after next year... Brooks signs at Newcastle, And Madden to the Dolphins...

Easy to forget that What the Club Should Do, Needs to Do - And has to Do
is only ever 50% of the conversation.... At best.

 

[Camel2281]

Right now he's been looked at at for Left Right out...unless he drops he asking price to under $300k and 2 years....He is no better than Garner as a second rower, so why pay more than what we paid Garner.....

I'd go as far to say he's worse than Garner. He's too small for 2nd row and too slow and not mobile enough for centre. Plus he's a cat

 

[PJ_]

I've stated many times Doueihi is a good player and he is a local junior. But we need to temper our praise in view of his injury history. Criticise Brooks all you like but he is the player who ran down the young Manly centre who apparently ran 10.5 at school.

Shame the only thing Brooks can do is run

 

[momo_amp_medo]

The Cowboys insist they have no plans to release incoming Wests Tigers forward Luciano Leilua, pledging to honour his $2.1 million deal to join North Queensland next season.

 

[Tiger_Fanatic3]

 

[Needaname]

Any news on the club targeting Jack Williams who is off contract and would be a great buy?

Set to resign with them.

 

[Nelson]

I would jump at the chance to trade Liddle+Cash for Tapine.

I'm sure anyone would. Unfortunately I think the more likely trade with Canberra might be Liddle for an outside back that isn't getting much of a run - someone like Xavier Savage.

There are plenty of teams that could use some help at hooker, I think shopping Liddle is a pretty good idea. Teams that may be interested:

Parramatta (Mahoney going next year);
Cowboys (Robson a bit one-dimensional);
Roosters (struggling with injuries at hooker);
Raiders (Starling is best suited as an impact hooker);
Panthers (Ivan loves ex-Tigers, plus no Api next year);
Titans (terrible at hooker and have been for years);
Dragons (dour options at hooker and no spark);
Warriors (pretty poor options at hooker - but Liddle probably won't want to go there...);
Manly (have been poor at hooker and are still waiting on Fainu, who is likely to go to prison if convicted); and
Knights (poor options at hooker).

Get some bidding going and we might be able to attract a decent return.

 

[earl]

Get some bidding going and we might be able to attract a decent return.

I think they just want him off the books. I can't see us getting a favorable trade for an unwanted player.

 

[WT2K]

Happy to miss Nikora. Not worth what the sharks are paying

 

[pawsandclaws1]

I'm sure anyone would. Unfortunately I think the more likely trade with Canberra might be Liddle for an outside back that isn't getting much of a run - someone like Xavier Savage.

There are plenty of teams that could use some help at hooker, I think shopping Liddle is a pretty good idea. Teams that may be interested:

Parramatta (Mahoney going next year);
Cowboys (Robson a bit one-dimensional);
Roosters (struggling with injuries at hooker);
Raiders (Starling is best suited as an impact hooker);
Panthers (Ivan loves ex-Tigers, plus no Api next year);
Titans (terrible at hooker and have been for years);
Dragons (dour options at hooker and no spark);
Warriors (pretty poor options at hooker - but Liddle probably won't want to go there...);
Manly (have been poor at hooker and are still waiting on Fainu, who is likely to go to prison if convicted); and
Knights (poor options at hooker).

Get some bidding going and we might be able to attract a decent return.

I'm sad to see Liddle go but the Panthers have a lot of talent that Ivan might be prepared to trade.