Signings, Suggestions & Rumours Discussion

SwervinMervin said:
I always reckon the same but if you take a look at the 2005 GF backline it isn't really full of noted speedsters out wide. Brett Hodgson, Daniel Fitzhenry, Paul Whatuira, Shane Elford, Pat Richards, Benji Marshall, Scott Prince. The two fastest players in that team were the halves probably. Hodgson no slouch but not electric either and the outside backs were not quick at all. The difference being they all had the knack of being in the right place at the right time and played pretty flat which makes players look faster by taking time away from the defence. That team played up tempo footy without having speed to burn. Fast hands, fast between the ears, unpredicatable and a smaller, creative, mobile pack made the difference. A fast team without noted individual speedsters.
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Agree, Benji and Prince ---- Hastings and AD, like comparing Ferraris to Combie vans.

We would not have got to the 2005 finals, with this pair, and the game is far quicker today. Sheens knows this, both WT and Raiders that he coached to premierships had great halves, has have all the great sides. I don't think Brooks, AD or Hastings are great , but of the three i would take Brooks.
 
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TigerSkins said:
There are words/rumours going around that Ken Maumalo might be forced to call it a day due to knee problems .. ?? So Jimmy (age 22) can slot in there, when and if Ken leaves .. ??

Dont worry about Jimmy Ngutlik not having played enough .. if he's got the talent and ya think he's good enough .. the Sheenius will give him a crack .. just like he did with this school kid they called .. Benji .. !! :unsure:;):unsure:
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Hope Kenny can overcome his knee, blokes a real weapon even with one leg he was one of our better players
 
Earl said:
I want to see Hastings and AD given a chance. Everyone talks about them being slow but Brooks is quick and we've been terrible for years on end.

I'd prefer all our players to be quicker but it's only one aspect of playing footy.
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And a greatly underestimated aspect in regards to 6 and 7.

Still sitting on the fence Earl,? Tell me how many good or great sides had slow halves?
 
sleeve said:
And a greatly underestimated aspect in regards to 6 and 7.

Still sitting on the fence Earl,? Tell me how many good or great sides had slow halves?
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Only 1 I can think of is the great Shane Perry Western suburbs Magpie legend and Brisbane Broncos 2006 number 7 grand final winner besides that I struggle to think of a half as bog average but he played in a absolutely cracking team
 
Odessa said:
Only 1 I can think of is the great Shane Perry Western suburbs Magpie legend and Brisbane Broncos 2006 number 7 grand final winner besides that I struggle to think of a half as bog average but he played in a absolutely cracking team
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If only every middle of the Road 7 could play in a side with 16 Origin Players every week....

Hard to believe - That 06 Broncos side ALL played Origin (Bar Perry)
Even Bloody David Staggs.
 
sleeve said:
And a greatly underestimated aspect in regards to 6 and 7.

Still sitting on the fence Earl,? Tell me how many good or great sides had slow halves?
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It's hard to answer the question on flow halves. I don't think Andrew Johns, Wally Lewis or Peter Sterling were fast.

I think our best option in the halves is Doueihi and Hastings. The thing is Staines or Laurie miss out on the fullback spot.

The alternative is Staines at 1, Laurie and Doueihi in the halves with Hastings as a ball playing lock who is really our 7. It might work but I think it's more risky than a Hastings/Doueihi combination.

I'm assuming Brooks is gone.
 
Earl said:
It's hard to answer the question on flow halves. I don't think Andrew Johns, Wally Lewis or Peter Sterling were fast.

I think our best option in the halves is Doueihi and Hastings. The thing is Staines or Laurie miss out on the fullback spot.

The alternative is Staines at 1, Laurie and Doueihi in the halves with Hastings as a ball playing lock who is really our 7. It might work but I think it's more risky than a Hastings/Doueihi combination.

I'm assuming Brooks is gone.
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There's a real difference between not being 'fast' and being back rower 'slow'
 
batboy said:
Bateman to lock maybe?
Frizzel one edge, Paps on the other....

Why wouldn't Hasting go to 7 if Brooks is gone?

In the words of the immortal James Hooper - "The answer is a pineapple"
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It makes no sense does it. Bateman is not a ball playing lock. He is a small aging edge backrower that for some reason we appear to be buying.

I hope I'm wrong or the rumours are false.
 
batboy said:
There's a real difference between not being 'fast' and being back rower 'slow'
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The question itself is interesting. I mean Sterling was slow. Surely he was slower than Hastings. I don't think Lewis or Johns were quick. I suppose the issue with Hastings is that he doesn't really bust the line like Lewis or Johns could even if they were slow.
 
batboy said:
Bateman to lock maybe?
Frizzel one edge, Paps on the other....

Why wouldn't Hasting go to 7 if Brooks is gone?

In the words of the immortal James Hooper - "The answer is a pineapple"
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I dunno. I know its all speculation, but cant discount that maybe the coach just doesn't like him. It happens. All out of my control.
 
Tiger_Fanatic3 said:
Taking into account the players who have been moved on who were under contract, the retention of the core group of kids, on top of Api + Ice….adding Bateman and potentially Klemmer would make it the best recruitment/retention period the club has had for a period of time.
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Bateman is the 23 version of Sattler in 03
 
Littlebittipsy said:
Anyone have access to the story?
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Jackson Hastings could end up the surprise odd man out following Wests Tigers’ stunning deal that is set to land star English international John Bateman.

Speculation has swept through the NRL in the wake of the shock revelation of Bateman’s pending return that the tough backrower and Hastings weren’t exactly what you’d call the best of mates previously when they played at Wigan.
Hastings agent Sam Ayoub could not be contacted for comment.
But it’s fair to say rival clubs are watching closely to see how the situation unfolds.
Hastings is also off contract at the end of next season, but if he becomes available for 2023 he will certainly attract some genuine interest

Hastings had already been shifted out of his preferred halfback position to play lock this season, with Luke Brooks and Adam Doueihi expected to be the likely halves pairing going forward if Brooks stays.

That of course will depend on whether the Tigers end up releasing Brooks to Newcastle.

Many are still convinced Brooks will end up at the Knights in 2023.

Brooks is off contract at the end of next season, as is Doueihi.

Tim Sheens had previously stated he would not release Brooks, and in fact wanted to extend him beyond next season.

But it’s also no secret Sheens is making a play to try and sign Parramatta’s Mitchell Moses for 2024 and beyond, and he has already chased but missed Cameron Munster.

Brooks is on a monster deal for 2023, in the vicinity of $1.86 million for the season :)~ so his exit would free up huge salary cap space.

When the Bateman deal gets rubber stamped it will certainly give the Tigers some serious respect in the countdown to the new year regardless of who ends up being the halves pairing.

Bateman, 29, is one of the world’s best edge backrowers and was a raging success during his time at the Canberra Raiders.

Even though it ended badly, there is no question Bateman left with plenty of admirers.

The Tigers have not made the finals since 2011, but the new look roster is really starting to create some excitement.

A month ago the Tigers had all but given up hope of doing the Bateman deal because of the huge transfer fee that Wigan had put on Bateman’s release.

But Sheens appears to have been rewarded for his persistence after continuing to work on the deal while in England for the World Cup, and it could end up a real game-changer for the battling NRL club.

On the back of the recruitment of Api Koroisau from Penrith and Isaiah Papali’i from Parramatta, it gives the Tigers plenty of X factor under the new coaching partnership of Sheens and Benji Marshall.

Bateman is also the sort of player who will no doubt help attract more players to a club that previously struggled to land any significant recruits.
 
Earl said:
The question itself is interesting. I mean Sterling was slow. Surely he was slower than Hastings. I don't think Lewis or Johns were quick. I suppose the issue with Hastings is that he doesn't really bust the line like Lewis or Johns could even if they were slow.
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Comparing Sterling is chalk and Cheese...
He played when it was 5m rule, The game itself was much slower and they played in Quagmires every other week...

Johns was slow over 200m.... But decent off the mark, And reasonable agile.
Different again.

Halves don't need to run 100m in 10 seconds, (Sure it's handy)
They need to be quick off the mark....
That's where JH and AD are severely lacking....
 
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