Signings, Suggestions & Rumours Discussion

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Someone has to say it....

Hymel Hunt is 30 years old and managed just 5 NRL appearances in 2 years, there is a reason he hasn't had a NRL gig since round 4 2023.

I'm not sold on Olam at 30 but Hunt is many levels below where Olam is at and pretty much below anyone we currently have on the books.

Your Hunt love is getting sad 🙄....."

"You love Hymel Hunt. Why is he without a club for 2024?"


I'm starting to see how the boys on 360 manage to get the Tigers fanbase so worked up..
 
yes we do. his name is Fonua Pole. Chris Fa’agutu is also in that mould. they aren’t your brick shithouse body types but they can certainly be explosive enforcers.
Serious question, in terms of body shape and size, what’s the difference between Spencer Leniu amd Pole? I’d say no difference, the enforcer aspect comes through aggression and desire to bash through a line. Do I see it differently or do others agree?
 
Serious question, in terms of body shape and size, what’s the difference between Spencer Leniu amd Pole? I’d say no difference, the enforcer aspect comes through aggression and desire to bash through a line. Do I see it differently or do others agree?
near identical mate.

Leniu - 183cm, 110kg
Pole - 182cm, 108kg

for reference Chris Fa’agutu sits at 179 and 101, while Kit is at 178 and 105. both are more in the lock mould.
 
Dont know about walking into those sides. He’s a bit of a bash them through the middle type, low skill all barge. And he seems to have lost his venom in his most crucial part of his game. Your taking him hoping the 30+ old Olam is going to recapture some old form. Nice bet for $600,000 for 3 years.
Just not worth the bet for me, with heaps of juniors coming through that needs spots. Remember Cronk wasn’t a half when he started. U can groom a player into another position.

U can groom a player into another position.
When have we "DONE" that?

Chris Lawrence is the only example that worked for us, unless you count Josh Reynolds at Hooker ;)

There are 2 halves to scoring:
the good halfback or 5/8 who sees the gap.
The back that runs through.

By biggest fear with signing Luai, is we sign a 5/8 becoming Halfback who has no actual backs he can put through a gap. Yes Nofa, for all his faults, Nofa can find the line.... But who else?

Were loosing an injury prone forward for a decent center who at his worst equals our best center
 
When have we "DONE" that?

Chris Lawrence is the only example that worked for us, unless you count Josh Reynolds at Hooker ;)

There are 2 halves to scoring:
the good halfback or 5/8 who sees the gap.
The back that runs through.

By biggest fear with signing Luai, is we sign a 5/8 becoming Halfback who has no actual backs he can put through a gap. Yes Nofa, for all his faults, Nofa can find the line.... But who else?

Were loosing an injury prone forward for a decent center who at his worst equals our best center
I’m going with never. Reynolds, just no and Chris Lawrence would never had played SRF for any other club but ours, he was average at best. I hate saying it bcoz he’s one our few one club players and a good bloke.
 
AJ looks to be converting to a backrower given what we’ve seen in preseason photos. also makes sense if Blore is moving on due to a clear lack of quality on the edge beyond Papali’i and Bateman.

Olam will obviously take one centre spot with To’a and Naden fighting it out for the other on the right. both are players who will either thrive due to the competition for spots or fade into obscurity.

as for Feledy I think in time he could unseat all three of them, but he is a long way off right now imo. his defence isn’t even NSW Cup standard, let alone first grade.

AJ looks to be converting to a backrower given what we’ve seen in preseason photos. also makes sense if Blore is moving on due to a clear lack of quality on the edge beyond Papali’i and Bateman.

Olam will obviously take one centre spot with To’a and Naden fighting it out for the other on the right. both are players who will either thrive due to the competition for spots or fade into obscurity.

as for Feledy I think in time he could unseat all three of them, but he is a long way off right now imo. his defence isn’t even NSW Cup standard, let alone first grade.
I agree with most of your points, apart from Naden being in the mix. I hope he proves us wrong.
 
Been a few mentions of Matamua recently including by myself, I think he’s a long way away from FG from what I’ve seen.
Pretty sure Matamua is seen as a smarter, Yeo-style lock. Between a few unforced errors, limited minutes and some floggings, he hasn't shown much at all. Still, he looks better than someone like Liam Fulton did at the same stage of his career.
 
We've got too manly lined up for that lock role. We'll need to push a couple of the guys to the edge or into the prop rotation. I think pole might move into the 8-10 purely because of depth at prop vs lock.

The earlier benji can identify who shifts, the better. All lads should be duel training in lock + prop or edge.

Given our depth here, Galvin may be looking more at centre. It looks like he finds it hard to put on weight.

As others have said, it's a big year for matimua to justify a top 30 with this quality competition around him
 
"
Someone has to say it....

Hymel Hunt is 30 years old and managed just 5 NRL appearances in 2 years, there is a reason he hasn't had a NRL gig since round 4 2023.

I'm not sold on Olam at 30 but Hunt is many levels below where Olam is at and pretty much below anyone we currently have on the books.

Your Hunt love is getting sad 🙄....."

"You love Hymel Hunt. Why is he without a club for 2024?"


I'm starting to see how the boys on 360 manage to get the Tigers fanbase so worked up..
Give him a Reggie's contact good for that and mite fill in a game or two
 
I agree with most of your points, apart from Naden being in the mix. I hope he proves us wrong.
don’t worry I agree with you, I just think that with our clear lack of quality outside backs that he will be in contention.
 
We've got too manly lined up for that lock role. We'll need to push a couple of the guys to the edge or into the prop rotation. I think pole might move into the 8-10 purely because of depth at prop vs lock.

The earlier benji can identify who shifts, the better. All lads should be duel training in lock + prop or edge.

Given our depth here, Galvin may be looking more at centre. It looks like he finds it hard to put on weight.

As others have said, it's a big year for matimua to justify a top 30 with this quality competition around him
I think Matamua and Laulili’i are the only two in the top 30 or development squad that are genuine 13 prospects.

Bateman was a bust, Pole lacks the ballplaying ability and Seyfarth would be a temporary solution.

they moved Fa’agutu into the front row for SG Ball and that’s all he’s ever played in our system. Galvin is a 5/8 who will likely transition to the edge but may be able to play in the middle if need be, but again I don’t see him as a genuine option.

the only other genuine 13 prospect in the pathways for mine is Siotame Havea, and even then he is years away.

2024 is important for us in working out who partners Jarome at the scrumbase and who our long term 13 is. it’ll go a long way towards future success if we can find the answers for both. my guess? Kit will be wearing the 13 by season’s end.
 
I think Matamua and Laulili’i are the only two in the top 30 or development squad that are genuine 13 prospects.

Bateman was a bust, Pole lacks the ballplaying ability and Seyfarth would be a temporary solution.

they moved Fa’agutu into the front row for SG Ball and that’s all he’s ever played in our system. Galvin is a 5/8 who will likely transition to the edge but may be able to play in the middle if need be, but again I don’t see him as a genuine option.

the only other genuine 13 prospect in the pathways for mine is Siotame Havea, and even then he is years away.

2024 is important for us in working out who partners Jarome at the scrumbase and who our long term 13 is. it’ll go a long way towards future success if we can find the answers for both. my guess? Kit will be wearing the 13 by season’s end.
Elite 13’s such as Yeo, Murray and Radley are all very mobile, extremely fit and skilful.
Kit looks tough and fearless, but is he mobile and fit enough to be an elite 13 ?
Galvin may lack size at the moment, but Yeo wasn’t much different at a young age.
Galvin certainly ticks the boxes in regards to being mobile, fit and skilful enough to become an elite 13.
 
I think Matamua and Laulili’i are the only two in the top 30 or development squad that are genuine 13 prospects.

Bateman was a bust, Pole lacks the ballplaying ability and Seyfarth would be a temporary solution.

they moved Fa’agutu into the front row for SG Ball and that’s all he’s ever played in our system. Galvin is a 5/8 who will likely transition to the edge but may be able to play in the middle if need be, but again I don’t see him as a genuine option.

the only other genuine 13 prospect in the pathways for mine is Siotame Havea, and even then he is years away.

2024 is important for us in working out who partners Jarome at the scrumbase and who our long term 13 is. it’ll go a long way towards future success if we can find the answers for both. my guess? Kit will be wearing the 13 by season’s end.
Yeah I agree that it will be a big year to work out the 13 moving forward. Matamua will most likely get first crack and it is an important year for him. If he doesnt perform, I reckon Kit takes the role and never looks back.
 
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