Signings, Suggestions & Rumours Discussion

[Buttface]

Yeah he's like Douhie. No idea what position he is. If we got Ramien hypothetically which we won't, be kicking themselves they signed Naden on a long deal.

No my comment was referring to one of the inside info comments someone made that he’d bulked up a bit and was gunna be tried in the second row instead of centre.

 

[426Tlgerland]

im Not concerned if we miss Moses
Brooks under Sheens I think he will improve and with Benji in the mix with his ideas all they need to do is select the right person to play beside him , AD , Laurie , ? I don’t know but with the players we have signed and Bateman as a possible we will be able to get on top of teams , last season we were a beaten pack week in week out , we now have some solid aggression in Klemmer and Pappi as well as Blore and Pole , good organising player in Appi , Speed with Stains coming in , it’s not all bad it’s pretty dam good compared to season gone by , I know a gun 1/2 and 5/8 are required but we will be fine maybe Smith is the smokey at 1/2 with Brooks to 5/8 , AD at 5/8 brooks to 1/2 there are options

 

[tigerap]

He really is pathetic. Puts down the club whenever he can but tries to eat his cake by trying to make deals around them.

You are not Wests Tigers. You never played for them.

Unless Moses has 100% bought into the Sheens/Benji “sell”…Back door Elias has effectively told us Mitch ain’t coming to the Tigers…I mentioned this 2 weeks ago Elias is setting WT up for a soft landing… no matter how much money we throw at him….still nothing official, but read between the lines and there is your answer…

 

[pawsandclaws1]

im Not concerned if we miss Moses
Brooks under Sheens I think he will improve and with Benji in the mix with his ideas all they need to do is select the right person to play beside him , AD , Laurie , ? I don’t know but with the players we have signed and Bateman as a possible we will be able to get on top of teams , last season we were a beaten pack week in week out , we now have some solid aggression in Klemmer and Pappi as well as Blore and Pole , good organising player in Appi , Speed with Stains coming in , it’s not all bad it’s pretty dam good compared to season gone by , I know a gun 1/2 and 5/8 are required but we will be fine maybe Smith is the smokey at 1/2 with Brooks to 5/8 , AD at 5/8 brooks to 1/2 there are options

With the Christmas break nearly upon us, the timing is perfect for an announcement on Friday or Saturday regardless of which way the decision goes. This is more the case if it is bad news.

 

[KingRobbie]

I know the club is chasing Moses but when that fails, can anyone tell me who our backup halves will be?
Laurie is not a halfback or 5/8 so please do not say that and god help us if that is Sheens fall back plan (which would not surprise me).
Hookers should be hookers and not be manufactured halves. I still have nightmares when Sheens thought Johnny Morris was the next Cooper Cronk.

My suggestions:

1. Kurt Falls
2. Brandon Wakeman
3. Albert Kelly
4. Phoenix Crossland

Just a real lack of talent across the league in the halves in my opinion. We are basically banking on Brooks and Doueihi and no one putting any pressure on them and I am struggling to see anyone the club should recruit.

@KingRobbie - is there any halves that you may have seen trailing or are they just young blokes like Zane Camroux who is basically not up to that level.

Having someone like Tristian Reilly in a top 30 contract is such a huge mistake when this contract should be passed to recruit a decent backup half.

The only halves trialling over pre-season are Camroux, Will Smith, Kade Hill and Luke Knight.

We know Smith is just a fringe first-grader who can sometimes do a job; not sure if the others will end up making it.

Knight has joined us from the Roosters and he’s a fullback/half so haven’t seen heaps of him.

I thought Kade Hill was very good this year at Jersey Flegg level.
Not sure if his skill will translate to first grade, as he’s all skin and bones, but he’ll start the year in NSW Cup and go from there.

Have also read a few times that they’re training Reilly as a half, not as an outside back, interestingly enough.

 

[Telltails]

The bigger issue was no player talk ......the players have to believe in themselves and talk up the game plan .......no matter what the scoreline

Has to be leadership on the field or no matter how the coach delivers his halftime talk - yelling or whispering - in the heat of the battle some one has to lead that others will follow and set the standard on the field.

 

[Buttface]

The only halves trialling over pre-season are Camroux, Will Smith, Kade Hill and Luke Knight.

We know Smith is just a fringe first-grader who can sometimes do a job; not sure if the others will end up making it.

Knight has joined us from the Roosters and he’s a fullback/half so haven’t seen heaps of him.

I thought Kade Hill was very good this year at Jersey Flegg level.
Not sure if his skill will translate to first grade, as he’s all skin and bones, but he’ll start the year in NSW Cup and go from there.

Have also read a few times that they’re training Reilly as a half, not as an outside back, interestingly enough.

What’s that, are saying Tristan Reilly the union centre that can’t tackle a been bag glued to the lounge room floor is training at halfback?

 

[KingRobbie]

What’s that, are saying Tristan Reilly the union centre that can’t tackle a been bag glued to the lounge room floor is training at halfback?

Would think more five-eighth, but yeah, in the halves is what’s been suggested online.

He was a five-eighth as a junior.

 

[rusted-on]

Each player (men and women) that participates in an NRL or NRLW game is brave and we have many women now playing rugby league.

That being said, you would not want him playing like a woman, even one of the best women. This is a man's comp and even the best women wouldn't cut it.

 

[happy_tiger]

Has to be leadership on the field or no matter how the coach delivers his halftime talk - yelling or whispering - in the heat of the battle some one has to lead that others will follow and set the standard on the field.

And the on field moaning and whinging has to stop ....Nofa reacting like a spoilt child in d ....save it for the video sessions ....bad look on field

And if your booting them up the ass in the ingoal ...you can't be the one meandering there way back in defence when the opposition makes a break .....AD

You want to be a leader ...lead by your actions first and foremost ......play every play like it's your last every week .....

 

[happy_tiger]

Would think more five-eighth, but yeah, in the halves is what’s been suggested online.

He was a five-eighth as a junior.

Well technically your inside centre in Union is a back up 5/8 or 10

But when you think of quality inside centres in Union they should be one of your best defenders (ie Tim Horan )

God I would have loved to see Tim Horan play league

 

[pawsandclaws1]

That being said, you would not want him playing like a woman, even one of the best women. This is a man's comp and even the best women wouldn't cut it.

I did specify the different competitions.

 

[rusted-on]

I did specify the different competitions.

Then there should be no issue with saying Brooks needs to play like a man then. He is not playing in the women's comp 😉

 

[Krammy]

Apart from being cringeworthy, the Tigertales doco gave us real insight into the Tigers dressing room…for me what stuck out is the shouting and screaming at players is old school, doesn’t work (apart for Bellamy)….Madge’s coaching methods do not resonate with this generation of footballers…he was well intended, but just could not deliver…

I saw it pretty much the same. I do agree, however, that Madge has always shown himself to be a man of integrity and I wish him well.

 

[Champ1]

I wonder though have you ever met Lee H, spoken to him at length and judged for yourself? That's why I'm always hesitant to critique the guy's personality because I've never actually met him, and public personas are often misleading.

For example, I know TigerSteve (who doesn't post much in here any more) and he had a long interview with Lee H this year. It wasn't recorded for their podcast but he was allowed to take notes and summarise the discussion.

He said Lee was very passionate and knowledgeable about both rugby league and Wests Tigers, and although it's easy to see an arrogant side to his personality / position, and although he didn't agree with all of Lee's takes on the club and their plans, he couldn't doubt those plans were developed from a lot of careful consideration and research.

Which I suppose makes sense as a prominent lawyer.

So - if you have met Lee and spoken to him, it's interesting to hear your take. If you have only observed him from the media, I'd wager you don't really know the guy at all. He was already rich before he became Tigers Chairman and he was already a VERY prominent club sponsor before they offered him that role.

He also sponsors a lot of league sides - surely sponsoring Tigers and the NSW Blues does the job for his advertising and legal referrals? Surely sponsoring NSW Cup sides must include an element of pure rugby league passion and not just dollar signs?

You are right that meeting a person is certainly different from how the Media portrays them . However for me , actions speak louder than words. His character was on display when he had the chance to stand up against the blatantly bias decisions in that Cowboy game .Tough words are cheap when not followed up with action . He laid down.

 

[Krammy]

im Not concerned if we miss Moses
Brooks under Sheens I think he will improve and with Benji in the mix with his ideas all they need to do is select the right person to play beside him , AD , Laurie , ? I don’t know but with the players we have signed and Bateman as a possible we will be able to get on top of teams , last season we were a beaten pack week in week out , we now have some solid aggression in Klemmer and Pappi as well as Blore and Pole , good organising player in Appi , Speed with Stains coming in , it’s not all bad it’s pretty dam good compared to season gone by , I know a gun 1/2 and 5/8 are required but we will be fine maybe Smith is the smokey at 1/2 with Brooks to 5/8 , AD at 5/8 brooks to 1/2 there are options

Yep - I am more concerned if we miss Bateman. Both Moses and Bateman played well in the World Cup, so I would be happy if either or both came. Bateman was not that good for Wigan this year, but I still think he can add something to the Tigers at a much smaller price than Moses.

 

[SeanT]

Yep - I am more concerned if we miss Bateman. Both Moses and Bateman played well in the World Cup, so I would be happy if either or both came. Bateman was not that good for Wigan this year, but I still think he can add something to the Tigers at a much smaller price than Moses.

Bateman would be ok if nothing but showing potential other players that we now have rep players. Be easier to recruit.

No point having Bateman run the angles if we don't have the halves to exploit the lines though.

 

[tigermate]

I wonder though have you ever met Lee H, spoken to him at length and judged for yourself? That's why I'm always hesitant to critique the guy's personality because I've never actually met him, and public personas are often misleading.

For example, I know TigerSteve (who doesn't post much in here any more) and he had a long interview with Lee H this year. It wasn't recorded for their podcast but he was allowed to take notes and summarise the discussion.

He said Lee was very passionate and knowledgeable about both rugby league and Wests Tigers, and although it's easy to see an arrogant side to his personality / position, and although he didn't agree with all of Lee's takes on the club and their plans, he couldn't doubt those plans were developed from a lot of careful consideration and research.

Which I suppose makes sense as a prominent lawyer.

So - if you have met Lee and spoken to him, it's interesting to hear your take. If you have only observed him from the media, I'd wager you don't really know the guy at all. He was already rich before he became Tigers Chairman and he was already a VERY prominent club sponsor before they offered him that role.

He also sponsors a lot of league sides - surely sponsoring Tigers and the NSW Blues does the job for his advertising and legal referrals? Surely sponsoring NSW Cup sides must include an element of pure rugby league passion and not just dollar signs?

Yes I have met him - a couple of times.

Was extremely charming and polite.

I’ve met countless narcissists who are the same though.

The true colors come out when you disagree with them.

Exactly what happened when Lee said he wouldn’t listen to people who don’t invest money in the club.

Donald Trump clone - without the commercial negotiation skills.

Wish him all the best though but we’re second rate with him and Justin at the helm… proofs in the pudding.

On the narcissist front - he drives a black Ferrari to the training session - the day he sacks Madge.

Players, football department staff, media all take note of this. They would prefer a billionaire who drives a normal car to work - read the room.

 

[Telltails]

I saw it pretty much the same. I do agree, however, that Madge has always shown himself to be a man of integrity and I wish him well.

Unfortunately didn't have the resources around him to get results on the field and paid the price. Was largely the fall guy for many who failed alongside him and escaped accountability, but to date can't fault his humility and approach to moving on.

 

[Bob]

Each player (men and women) that participates in an NRL or NRLW game is brave and we have many women now playing rugby league.

I think your the one bringing the sexist slant on that one…

He said put on big boy pants and play like a man, as if he was playing like a child.

I don’t agree with his comment, think brooks is a good player. But it’s not a sexist comment and maybe paws may doth protest to much on this one.