Signings, Suggestions & Rumours Discussion

[Tigertilidie32]

AD needs to go away somewhere and learn how to play football again, not stink up Tigers first grade

Can we get Pat Richards to come in and teach him how to put that big boot of his to better use than an occasional bomb.so much potential going to waste..

 

[Tito Santana]

Zero chance on Papenhuyzen

I wouldn’t be too upset about not getting Papenhuyzen. I don’t think he will play again. His injury was/is bad.

Tuiaki never returned and neither did Yow Yeh. I’m calling a medical retirement for him unfortunately. Great player.

 

[king_sirro]

Garrick is a star
Locked in until 2027 tho

They know they need him because Turbo is so injury prone.

Fantastic player

A sign of how bad we are, Garrick would walk into our 1, but at Manly he would now be rated the clubs 4th best fullback.

 

[bathursttiger1]

Plan A Munster
Plan B Moses
Plan C Williams
Plan D Pearce

Who’s plan E?

Benji 😂😂

 

[bathursttiger1]

Fullback - priority. Not sure the club will keep Staines and they definitely shouldn't keep Laurie, below are the options we should chase;
1 - Kaeo Weekes / Welsby / Kennedy / Nick Meany or Ryan Papz - Melbourne can't keep em all, a competitive offer and early release might secure one of them. Kaeo Weekes is the most realistic, with being off contract and a good offer could get him over- kid looks a star.

2 - Jnr Tupou, high ceiling, massive potential - should lock in this position permanently with a view to move to centre down the track

3 - Brent Naden - coming into his prime, has proven he's close to if not our best outside back. Has a contract locked in and has locked in his position in the team

4 Available, as far as I'm concerned. We need some pace. Some options I would consider, would be... Connor Tracey (Sharks), Declan Casey (Bulldogs), Brian Kelly (Titans), Kayal Iro (Sharks), Thomas Jenkins (Penrith) some early release options like Dene Mariner (Broncos), Sean Russel (Eels) or hopefully Josh Feledy is ready to go.

5 - another available position in my opinion, some of the above suggestions may work as a winger - I'd also suggest Warbrick at the Storm if they plan to move Meany to wing and he misses out. My #1 target would be Tyrell Sloane - yes I'm aware he wants to be a fullback but he's a prototype speedy winger and would be a game changer for us.

6 - Adam Douihei - #6 is his best position and with a safe 7 outside him , im sure he can go to another level. Needs to work on defence and whatnot but he is contracted for 2024 so he makes the team, for now.

7 - Dodd from St Helens would be nice... or Gee Willy, George Williams - Aiden Sezar is my pick but... Ron Volkman would be great too. We need a smart, organisational halfback which we've been missing for too long. This is a costly recruitment however it's the key to unlocking everything.

8 - David Klemmer - no explanation needed.

9 - Api Korosau - same as above.

10 - Alex Twal - work horse front rower, hold the fort and get through the early minutes hard work.

11 - Papalii'i - safe

12 - AJ Kepoa - safe

13 - John Bateman, like the idea of him at lock.

Bench
14 - Blore - bench forward for mine.

15 - Jackson Topine (Bulldogs) Sheens like utility , can probably play centre 6, 9, backrow and lock. Would be a great addition to the team.

16 Stedano Utoikamanu - bench forward for mine.

17 Fonua Pole - impact forward from the bench, seen what he can do and he is great.

This is how i would strengthen our team.

1 Kaeo Weekes
2 Jnr Tupou
3 Brent Naden
4 Kayal Iro
5 Tyrell Sloane
6 AD
7 Sezar
8 Klemmer
9 Api
10 Twal
11 Papalii
12 AJ
13 Bateman

14 Topine
15 Pole
16 Blore
17 Utoikamanu

Trindall would be a great addition at 7 as well.

 

[851]

I wouldn’t be too upset about not getting Papenhuyzen. I don’t think he will play again. His injury was/is bad.

Tuiaki never returned and neither did Yow Yeh. I’m calling a medical retirement for him unfortunately. Great player.

Go and watch the doco where they followed him around on his rehab in the USA, he will be back

 

[426Tlgerland]

Wouldn't mind forming a partnership with St Helens.... of some kind.

We send em players, Tumeth type players to develope, etc.


Looking at their roster;

I'd take Welsby, Dodd and Hopoate.

Joining forces with a Pommy club would be a very smart move , players who are up and coming head over for 2 years and we take one in return that is NRL bound , players heads over does some time then can return to us

 

[426Tlgerland]

How about we chase these guys , 100% liven our team up , we have the forwards we just need spark
Campbell
Iro
Trindall

 

[Demps]

Joining forces with a Pommy club would be a very smart move , players who are up and coming head over for 2 years and we take one in return that is NRL bound , players heads over does some time then can return to us

Makes sense eh.
Ideas man stuff.

 

[Wearyfan22]

Will Smith and Brandon Wakeham for the new halves pairing, can't do any worse. Leave Brooks in reserves for the rest of the year.

we can and would do a hell of a lot worse with them as our halves.

 

[Glenji95]

I tell ya the club has one major battle on its hands in terms of signings. Last year was really the best the club did in recruiting despite ending with a wooden spoon. Sad reality is I reckon Api, Ipap, Klem and Bateman all wish they didn’t come here. I really can’t see us singing a player from another club for 24. I say all our signings will be just juniors for next year, there’s no one dumb enough to come to the Tigers and I can’t blame them. If I was a footy player I would stay as far away as possible from the club.

 

[balmain boy]

A sign of how bad we are, Garrick would walk into our 1, but at Manly he would now be rated the clubs 4th best fullback.

A sign of our abysmal recruitment over many years. We've made practically no effort to secure players in key positions, we just think the NRL players will suffice forever.

In the last few years we've formed Laurie, Wakeham to NRL contracts, with will smith also on a train and trial. We've signed no halves for NSW cup, and depending how far back you want to go Kade Hill as halfback for Flegg. Bula was brought as a winger, but may be able to do a job at fullback but requires extensive training.

The rest have relied upon local juniors to fill the void, even when they didn't warrant it. That's extremely negligent recruitment for the spine

 

[Glenji95]

A sign of our abysmal recruitment over many years. We've made practically no effort to secure players in key positions, we just think the NRL players will suffice forever.

In the last few years we've formed Laurie, Wakeham to NRL contracts, with will smith also on a train and trial. We've signed no halves for NSW cup, and depending how far back you want to go Kade Hill as halfback for Flegg. Bula was brought as a winger, but may be able to do a job at fullback but requires extensive training.

The rest have relied upon local juniors to fill the void, even when they didn't warrant it. That's extremely negligent recruitment for the spine

The club has struggled for recruitment pretty much almost every year since its existence. It has gotten worse over time though. Last years recruitment was literally the best the clubs done in its entire existence and that says something considering that we didn’t secure a 1 and 7.

 

[Needaname]

We are already at Plan F
"F" for FAIL.

Someone gets it

 

[tony soprano]

The club has struggled for recruitment pretty much almost every year since its existence. It has gotten worse over time though. Last years recruitment was literally the best the clubs done in its entire existence and that says something considering that we didn’t secure a 1 and 7.

Went off the clif when stopped developing when Sheens left.

Noone wants to come here half the good players are pledged to the Roosters hence why there's talk sheens and co have locked up a bunch of Flegg and Hmatts boys to five year deals.

The pressure of a wests tigers half is very underestimated.

 

[Demps]

I tell ya the club has one major battle on its hands in terms of signings. Last year was really the best the club did in recruiting despite ending with a wooden spoon. Sad reality is I reckon Api, Ipap, Klem and Bateman all wish they didn’t come here. I really can’t see us singing a player from another club for 24. I say all our signings will be just juniors for next year, there’s no one dumb enough to come to the Tigers and I can’t blame them. If I was a footy player I would stay as far away as possible from the club.

Money talks.

For example -
Tyrell Sloane could have an offer on the table from Dragons for 400k for 2 years

Tigers come in with a 3 year deal at 600k

It's all business.

Munster stayed at Melb, he's played his whole career there and is probably settled and was offered a good contract to stay.

Moses, I truly believe there's more to this story- he was never coming back. Just wanted it his way... yeah we offered big coin but he probably got his asks met at Parra.

Pearce, desperation play. He's always stated he doesn't want to play for his dads club. Maybe some self doubt there with how he'd cut it in the NRL.


Let me remind everyone;
From history, this is how it works at the Tigers.

we chase Latrell or some one
We miss out
we chase Reece Walsh
We miss out
we end up signing Daine Laurie

The same happened with our hookers.
Josh Hodgson, nope
Api, yes.

We chased various outside backs,
seb Kris, nic cotric, Harley smith shields
Ended up with Maumalo

We're asking the right question >
Munster , Moses, Pearce.
We'll land one, eventually.

 

[1eyedmel]

we can and would do a hell of a lot worse with them as our halves.

Untried = unproven. What do we have to lose.

 

[earl]

We're asking the right question >
Munster , Moses, Pearce.
We'll land one, eventually.

Exactly. I think they can see the issue. I mentioned on another thread Sheens in his latest update clearly mentioned they are after a ball player. We don't really have a playmaker but the club sees that.

 

[BlackWhiteGold]

Ok with our strategy as a development club, I am speculating that we have set a path into the top 30 for the following players:

Josh Feledy (confirmed top 30 in 2024)
Brandon Mansfield (confirmed dev contract in 2023 & 24)
Jahream Bula (speculating top 30 in 2024 if not sooner)
Jordan Miller (speculating dev contract in 2024 & 25, top 30 in 26)
Tallyn Da Silva (speculating dev contract in 2024, top 30 in 25)
Kit Laulilii (speculating dev contract in 2024 & 25, top 30 in 26)
Solomone Saukuru (speculating dev contract in 2024, top 30 in 25)
Chris Faagutu (speculating dev contract in 2024 & 25, top 30 in 26)

Given 6 spots max are for development contracts, I'm speculating the players above are prioritised for those deals (they were all on T&T deals over summer suggesting they are top of the crop).

Then I think the following are the next tier of 18/19yos & earmarked for progress to Dev/top 30 if they can hit certain KPIs:

Tony Sukkar (likely JF contract in 2024)
Oliver Lawry (likely JF contract in 2024)
Cameron Kanaan (likely JF contract in 2024)
Zak Clarke (likely JF contract in 2024)
Lachlan Galvin (SG Ball senior in 2024)
Heath Mason (SG Ball senior in 2024)

Then under this age group who will be contending for development contracts from 2026 (maybe some in 25):

Luke Laulilii, Onitoni Large, Alex Conti, Heamisi Makasini, Mikey Nasser, Ali Karnib, Alex Isdale, Riley Oitmann, PJ French, Paul Johnson, Ashton Large, Edwin Langi, Dougie Tuala.

 

[426Tlgerland]

Makes sense eh.
Ideas man stuff.

100% agree , ideas , our guys just don’t seem to be able to think outside the box , strange we have so many ex players and coaches all in the group and keep coming up with poor choices