Signings, Suggestions & Rumours Discussion

[Asu Kepaoa's #1 Fan]

Hopefully this doesn’t lead us into signing him out of guilt. If I was that guy I would signed up straight away. Get a nanny. Pretty sure he could afford one. Get the parents to come over. My wife is from Brazil (oh behave!), and we’ve had no help at all with my little Tito’s.

Bottom line - don’t resign Seyfarth. Plus, this also has me doubting how intelligent he is. What an idiot.

Warriors are known to be a good family club. No doubt they would have done everything in their power to make it work for him. A 3 year contract for someone of Seyfarth's stature in the game is life-changing.

 

[trentrunciman]

Brooks has had one reasonable season in 10 years and we would seriously contemplate 3+ years longer?
If this happens it is proof, yet again, that we are the stupidest club in the NRL... and it's not even close.

I’m not a fan of brooks over the past few years but perhaps Moses and api will life his game? But to offer 3+ years already is premature imo

 

[sleeve]

I was guilty of that in the past. I just want the best here now.

I'd have taken Hitler, Stalin and Mao if they could've played.

This hating players that have left, is a common theme in this forum. I have never understood it.
Most sides, including ours are mainly imports, and even the great Saints side played dirty tricks to get Raper, Clay and others from Newtown. We only guess why some of our players left, but this is a professional game,and holding grudges should not play a part.

 

[Kelce68]

I'd be happy with Moses and Brooks until Harold matt boys are ready.

Ditto.

 

[Bucko73]

those who wouldn't, very hard to please IMOP. Could turn out to be the best pairing in the comp as once envisioned, a little later than expected but as they say patience is a virtue. I say bring it on and lets enjoy the ride of the second time round, a much bigger reason for hope with this than without especially if Brooks gets his right headspace and regains his mojo

 

[Muffstar]

I mentioned this 2 weeks ago… they are seeking 3+ years for Brooks

And it makes sense. If the intent is for a Brooks/Moses combo then that is part of price the club has to consider.

I like the way the club has beefed up the forwards so really looking to see how Brooks plays behind a pack which hopefully has some go forward.

I'd be keen to see Moses and Brooks together again and be with the club for a couple of years to come.

Any further news tigerap as to how the Brooks extension may or may not be coming along ?

 

[Tom Shines]

I wish Seyfarth had of taken that deal with the Warriors..

Hope he doesnt come to regret it...

 

[bathursttiger1]

Hopefully this doesn’t lead us into signing him out of guilt. If I was that guy I would signed up straight away. Get a nanny. Pretty sure he could afford one. Get the parents to come over. My wife is from Brazil (oh behave!), and we’ve had no help at all with my little Tito’s.

Bottom line - don’t resign Seyfarth. Plus, this also has me doubting how intelligent he is. What an idiot.

When you look at the players that we have signed Alex won't get a look in the top 21 this year unless we have a huge amount of injuries.
Nice guy good clubman but we have much better in our squad and cominf through the system.

 

[tigerap]

And it makes sense. If the intent is for a Brooks/Moses combo then that is part of price the club has to consider.

I like the way the club has beefed up the forwards so really looking to see how Brooks plays behind a pack which hopefully has some go forward.

I'd be keen to see Moses and Brooks together again and be with the club for a couple of years to come.

Any further news tigerap as to how the Brooks extension may or may not be coming along ?

The club wants to keep Brooks. Sheens made that clear from the day he took in the job… the club is comfortable with a 3 year deal for Brooks, but that is still being negotiated.. as are the $$$… I see it all working out..

 

[Cultured_Bogan]

Hey @Lee's fedora trying to flick you a PM lad.

 

[bathursttiger1]

From WT's website.​

Lawrence: Why Heighington is so important​

AuthorChris Lawrence & Wests Tigers & Thomas BeauchampTimestampMon 6 Feb 2023, 05:43 PM
One of the greatest compliments that a player can receive is being branded as a person that every teammate wanted to play alongside. Chris Heighington was one of those rare individuals.
Stand by me: Premiership-winners in 2005
The man known as ‘Heighno’ was a history-maker. He was part of the squad that won the Wests Tigers’ maiden title in 2005, before shifting to Cronulla and helping the Sharks break their premiership drought in 2016.

However, few knew of the extraordinary resilience that Chris Heighington demonstrated on a daily basis.
From catching a ferry and multiple buses to get to training from his home on the Central Coast to playing 338 games over 16 seasons in one of the toughest sports in the world, the middle forward embodied the professionalism required of athletes in the modern era.
The ultimate professional
Chris Heighington understood that being in a professional sporting team required more than individual preparation. He knew that the connections formed between teammates were the glue of any team he played within.
Milestone men: Chris Heighington, Gareth Ellis and Benji Marshall
Wests Tigers legend Chris Lawrence, who is now the managing director of One Wellbeing and One Training, played alongside Heighington for seven seasons and believes that the lock-forward taught him what it took to become a professional.
Pointing to his famous swimming pool lung buster routines on his days off, Lawrence says that Heighington showed his teammates how to walk out onto the field every week knowing that they had prepared their best, and walk back off knowing they gave it everything they had.
Despite this, Lawrence believes that Heighington’s biggest lesson for his teammates was how to enjoy the company they held.
“He taught us how to embrace the locker room banter and the mateship that forms in close knit teams," said Lawrence.
"Heighno led the coffee crew and even introduced this kid from Campbelltown to a coffee, or two, or three, each day.”
Lawrence even recalls the infamous tale of Heighington changing his age on Wikipedia to convince the Sharks to give him an extra year on his contract.
Whether completely true or not, there was probably no need given he would go on to play for a further six seasons in the league before eventually hanging up the boots in 2018.
Transitioning out of rugby league

While Heighington taught Lawrence a lot about rugby league, he wasn’t afraid to lean on his teammates to discuss life after football as he neared retirement.
“Towards the backend of his career, Heighno started assisting his good friend and former professional surfer Glenn Hall train young and up-and-coming surfers,” Lawrence explained.

“He approached me about completing some formal qualifications so he could have a better grounding to help these athletes.”

Heighington went on to complete his Certificate III and Certificate IV in Fitness through Lawrence’s companies One Wellbeing and One Training, which provide freedom for life after sport and empower their communities to reach new heights through a tailored approach to learning.

These qualifications allowed Heighington to smoothly transition out of the game and into his new venture, Chris Heighington Sports Performance, which sees him coach and mentor athletes from a range of sports including rugby league, surfing, cricket, soccer and skateboarding.
One of the most notable athletes Heighington has worked alongside is young female surfer Molly Picklum.

Hailing from a similar area to Heighington on the Central Coast, Picklum has cracked into the professional surfing ranks as one of Australia’s best up-and-coming talents. She recently won the Pipe Masters, with the 20-year-old becoming the first non-Hawaiian woman to win the prestigious event in Oahu.

Lawrence says that Picklum is just one example of a young athlete being able to live out their dreams as a professional under the guidance of ‘Heighno’, and believes that there are likely many more waiting in the wings.

Back where it all began

Now, almost two decades later, Chris Heighington’s career has come full circle as he returns to Concord in a new role as NRL Assistant / Pathways Performance Coordinator.

His return is a testament to his hard work both on and off the field, as well as his commitment to mentoring the next generation of athletes and teaching them the requirements of a career in professional sport.

Lawrence believes that the ambition, drive and resilience that served Heighington so well throughout his playing career are sure to lead him to success in his new position.

He says that it’s no surprise that with the appointment of “The Big Three’ of Tim Sheens, Benji Marshall and Robbie Farah, as well as Head of High Performance Peter Moussa, one of the first additions to their team was Heighington.


“As influential as those guys will be to the resurgence of the Wests Tigers, I am just as confident that having Heighno mentor the young athletes coming through will allow them to have long and successful careers,” Lawrence said.

 

[tony soprano]

And in each of the 10 years he has played behind dud packs.. judge Brooks this year

And dud coach and club

 

[Needaname]

Small snippet in the article which I found interesting:

“I’ve handled the talk about it [better]. I’ve blocked everything out, my management worries about those things. It allows me to focus on Parramatta and train good here, not come to training and be affected by what’s going to happen.

“I haven’t felt any pressure. I’ve handled it a lot better than in the past, you learn from those past negotiations and contract talks. Whatever happens, happens, I guess.”

The other selling point is the chance to reunite with former halves partner Luke Brooks, who has been encouraging Moses to make the shift.

“Me and Brooksy speak a lot, we’re best mates,” Moses said. “We speak all the time about everything. We’ve had a few conversations, me and Brooksy. My full focus this year is on Parramatta.

“Hopefully we get something sorted before the start of the year … You see all the talk but it hasn’t really come to me, I haven’t had to think about that side of it yet.”

Actually, and I just got around to watching the news reports which has direct quotes from him.
The article has added its own spin as always.

 

[Cultured_Bogan]

And in each of the 10 years he has played behind dud packs.. judge Brooks this year

That's a redundant argument. It hasn't stopped other players having good seasons here only to leave and play just as well elsewhere.

 

[finnzo]

The club wants to keep Brooks. Sheens made that clear from the day he took in the job… the club is comfortable with a 3 year deal for Brooks, but that is still being negotiated.. as are the $$$… I see it all working out..

Do you know what the plan for doughi is?

 

[cktiger]

The club wants to keep Brooks. Sheens made that clear from the day he took in the job… the club is comfortable with a 3 year deal for Brooks, but that is still being negotiated.. as are the $$$… I see it all working out..

To our detriment IMO.
What happens if he is still proves to be a dud?
Will Moses be the next guy to cop the blame for Brooks poor games because he overcalls him ... like Benji, Robbie etc?
Will the new pack get the blame for not being as good as we thought they would be and letting him down?
Or will Sheens get the blame (like every previous coach) for not being able to get the best out of him?
If he does stay I pray the other blokes in the team are good enough to pull the anchor, that's been holding us down, back up from the seabed.
The only thing in defence of signing him is he won't be playing halfback if Moses comes and, the reality is, he's much better where he doesn't have to run the team.
Also, just where does he go if AD kills it at 5/8 this year and totally outplays him?
If we sign Brooks for 3+ years before he has proved himself to be worth the extension, or just because his manager uses him as a bait to get Moses, the club will be a laughing stock ... again.
PS If they sign him now for 3+ years to play halfback, without Moses coming, they are imbeciles.

 

[Needaname]

Actually, and I just got around to watching the news reports which has direct quotes from him.
The article has added its own spin as always.

Here is each quote I’ll let you decide.
Smiling / cheeky demeanour.
“We speak all the time, me and Brooksy are really close, we’ve got a great relationship I’ve known him since I was 10 years old so, he’s one of my best mates so we speak a lot.
More serious tone.
“At the moment I’m just fully focusing on Parramatta so, I’ve left it with my management and they are going to sort all that stuff out and um, I’ve got pretty good management there where they just allow me to focus fully on footy and Parramatta and they’ll let me know when the time is right”

 

[teddy23]

For the last 5-6 years there's been unpredictability with who our halves have been and non stop shuffling. Brooks and Moses have been playing together since they've been 10 and know each others game back to front... the idea of giving the pair 3+ year contracts and allowing them to take control and have the peace of mind they can build off their combo with our current pack and Api guiding them around would only mean good things for us it brings a high level of stability which we've been lacking for a good decade.

Mitch doesn't want to come if he thinks he's gonna go through what Brooks has with constant changes in pairings he wants consistency - tbf can you blame him

We all know Brooks has the talent, I guess that's the most frustrating thing about him and hence why he's the whipping boy of this club - however it's clear and has always been clear he isn't a leader and more the secondary running 6, yet he's been asked to lead a club that has gone through the biggest downfall in the league without much help in the last 6-7 years. Whereas on the field, Mitchell oozes leadership qualities as he's constantly talking on the field and takes charge leading the team around - it's the perfect partnership in terms of skillset and I think they know this.

What I find really interesting is what they can do with Api - he's a really underrated piece to our spine which I think would take Moses and Brooks's combo to the next level. If extending Brooks is the only barrier stopping this from being official I wouldn't hesitate, however of course the $ has to be realistic.

 

[The Fresh Oil]

If Moses signing means 3 more years of Brooks is a Zero-sum game for me.

The thought of watching Brooks run out for another 3 years is horrible.

 

[Cultured_Bogan]

There's been unpredictability because no one stands up to cement their spot.