Signings, Suggestions & Rumours Discussion

[diedpretty]

So the nuts and bolts of it is the Balmain side of things is getting neglected? If thats the truth i don't see why they don't just make Ball, Fleg ect WT have the best of the best in one team. Theres no point in having 2 talent pools and the forgetting one exists, thats worse than not having one at all imo.
Another factor to all this is, supposedly Fulton has an eye on all the top talents in the West maybe he has some even younger ones identified.
Either way things still seem to be woefully disjointed and for a "Development club" thats criminal, hope this review can also highlight such inadequacies.

Thats a good point. With the junior academy supposedly being built in Campbelltown it would make sense to base the best juniors from both catchments in the SW and play as Wests Tigers with their home ground at Campbelltown

 

[ROZELLE.O.G]

As incompetent as we have been for a long time , I’m very sure that we are snapping up the best kids we can . The Fainu brothers , Galvin , large brothers , miller , Luallii brothers , Mason etc. So I really , really have to think these something else afoot , if he is as talented as you say .
Who is his manager may I ask ?

Mikey Nasser doesn't have a manager, but like I said earlier his dad owns one of the largest supporters of NRL and grassroots rugby league in his company Pain Away and he also sits on the Balmain JRL board. He would be all over contracts and the like. I am starting to sound like a PR machine in the end the kid has left because of bad management. I also saw the Matts and Ball squads and noticed that there are Fulton kids in both of them.

 

[ROZELLE.O.G]

Ch9 reporting Junior Amone and his father have been found guilty of a hammer attack.

The judge has given them 7 weeks grace but he told them he is considering a gaol sentence for both. Decision day Dec 6.

https://www.news.com.au/sport/nrl/nrl-star-junior-amone-found-guilty-of-rooftop-hammer-attack/news-story/6e0a70b6efe451087c6c79bf725fdf22

Wow.

 

[Tiger_heart]

Wow.

That's taking the nickname "Hammer" to a whole new level... ;-)

 

[AmericanHistoryX]

Big news right.

 

[AmericanHistoryX]

Isn't life beautiful?

 

[KCtiger]

So the nuts and bolts of it is the Balmain side of things is getting neglected? If thats the truth i don't see why they don't just make Ball, Fleg ect WT have the best of the best in one team. Theres no point in having 2 talent pools and the forgetting one exists, thats worse than not having one at all imo.
Another factor to all this is, supposedly Fulton has an eye on all the top talents in the West maybe he has some even younger ones identified.
Either way things still seem to be woefully disjointed and for a "Development club" thats criminal, hope this review can also highlight such inadequacies.

Then in a few years we let a generational talent slip through cause roosters now have the Balmain area and everyone complains

 

[KCtiger]

1. categorically yes. while losing Conti and Nassar is disappointing, you have to look at recruitment and retention in the halves. Fainu and Sullivan have signed, Galvin's in the top 30 and Onitoni Large is regarded as the future of the club. i've had a feeling for a little while that the club has also prioritised Alex Isdale over Conti, and there's also young Jonas Peni who looks to have a big future.

Luke Laulili'i has been prioritised over Nassar, simple as that. there's also William Craig, Makasini, Heath Mason and others that are contracted to the club that are in the backs.

2. I believe Benji along with Api, Klem, Bateman and others are turning the culture of the club around. throw in a number of local juniors who have always supported the club and suddenly you have a place where these youngsters want to play. no issues here.

3. it comes down to ensuring they feel wanted and are well looked after. given the size of our junior base, kids are going to fall thru the cracks sometimes. the key is to show that there is a path to first grade if you're good enough (we've done that – look at TDS and Kit) and lock up those that we want to keep. as local juniors, they will have had an affiliation with the club in some form.

while they may not support us due to our lack of success, being in development squads with their mates and doing clinics with the club does a lot to encourage youngsters. ultimately the ground we've made in the pathways space over the last couple of years has helped immeasurably, and given the golden generation coming thru in the next few years, it will be very exciting times rather shortly.

You can't keep all of them, some will be offered better opportunities at other clubs i.e. Top 30 or Development spots, whereas we wouldn't be able to.

Just have to hope we're retaining the right players.

In Nassar's case, it looks like we've prioritised retaining Luke Laulilii over him.

In Conti's case, Dogs simply might've offered him a Development spot for 2024 (or future Development/Top 30 spot) that we weren't prepared to, or we might've decided to prioritise Alex Isdale, who's a year younger.

You both mentioned Luke Laulilii and he is amazing but isn’t he going to sorta be like nofa where he is a fullback in the juniors and becomes a winger in nrl

 

[jrtiger]

You both mentioned Luke Laulilii and he is amazing but isn’t he going to sorta be like nofa where he is a fullback in the juniors and becomes a winger in nrl

yeah i think so. it’s probably where Nassar would’ve ended up himself if I’m honest. Jahream has the spot for however long he wants it.

 

[hsvjones]

People think our club is run bad, but Dragon must be a very close 2nd..
They release Sullivan to us and now have a massive halves problem.
Just shows our club did a great job picking up 3 halves in a market with little available.
Time to get on board this train as we are heading upwards.

 

[teddy23]

Jarome Luai noise is getting louder…….

 

[AmericanHistoryX]

Any relation to our hooker?

 

[Fingers83]

Jarome Luai noise is getting louder…….

How so? I have see nothing new on it.

 

[AmericanHistoryX]

I dont know Fingers. But I can tell you How So was related to How Long. Hong Kong providence. Nice guys. Both of them. And if you think Sydney Harbour is beautiful than you haven't seen Hong Kong at night

 

[Tiger_Fanatic3]

Jarome Luai noise is getting louder…….

If anything, Blore, Olam swap is getting louder.

 

[AmericanHistoryX]

My ears are starting to hurt.

 

[BlackWhiteGold]

Conti & Nasser wouldnt have any expectations of even thinking about first grade. Conti is two years younger than Galvin and Nasser is only 16 years old. They would have aspirations and dreams of playing first grade but they know its a few years away. The missing point is if you know you have great juniors, keep them in your system. Both were offloaded for the wrong reasons and that was because there is war happening between Marshall and Fulton.

Thanks for all your info on this situation @ROZELLE.O.G .

What I'm confused about is what they weren't offered? Were they not invited to be part of the Balmain SG Ball summer squad with the 40-odd others in the squad, or were they not offered some sort of Wests Tigers Pathways contract which are not made public?

Surely they could have still stayed in the Balmain system, continued to excel & progress that way if they were that determined to stay.

 

[AmericanHistoryX]

If you are just confused about that - then you have a beautiful life. You done good Sir.

 

[balmain boy]

Could be related to Willett coming in? Read an article that said his best position was centre, but can play fullback and halfback. Big boot too.

You don't limit the number of good youngsters you have. You need competition, a strong squad in case of injuries too. Given Willett hasn't even trained with us yet we can't compare the two. Willett is 2 years older too so unlikely competing for a spot directly just yet.

 

[Littlebittipsy]

Jarome Luai noise is