Signings, Suggestions & Rumours Discussion

[JB9918]

Whatever the result we know Richo has flagged a "go to" outside back & middle tier players as the priority. He also stated he would like to release a few more & build a "war chest".

Fifita hits the war chest mark. Big signing.

Outside back will keep us all guessing I think.

26 on the books for 2025. Including Tumeth with a Player Option & Sezer & Stef with a Mutual Option.

Tumeth you would think goes, he won't play first grade.

Essentially 25 on the books now.

Faataape, Simpkin, Kepaoa, Doueihi, Alaimalo & Sione Fainu unsigned.

Faataape & Sione yes please. Makes 27...

 

[Needaname]

Whatever the result we know Richo has flagged a "go to" outside back & middle tier players as the priority. He also stated he would like to release a few more & build a "war chest".

Fifita hits the war chest mark. Big signing.

Outside back will keep us all guessing I think.

26 on the books for 2025. Including Tumeth with a Player Option & Sezer & Stef with a Mutual Option.

Tumeth you would think goes, he won't play first grade.

Essentially 25 on the books now.

Faataape, Simpkin, Kepaoa, Doueihi, Alaimalo & Sione Fainu unsigned.

Faataape & Sione yes please. Makes 27...

Depending on how long To’a recovers from his ankle injury he may miss out on coming back in the starting side all together if Faataape continues to hold his own.
Surely he might get a tap in that case.

 

[tonza]

Depending on how long To’a recovers from his ankle injury he may miss out on coming back in the starting side all together if Faataape continues to hold his own.
Surely he might get a tap in that case.

Toa is the first one to go please. He has done nothing for our team apart from one game. Have to wonder what Naden has done as well. I cannot remember the last time he played for us let alone have a positive input. When you look into it, there is quite a lot of dead wood around the place. Douiehi would be another one with a big question mark. There appears to be a lot of money tied up on rubbish.

 

[Tiger Stripes]

Depends how ruthless we are for mine I would happily let go of Naden Toa staines and as much as it hurts douhei. I don't think any of them are truly modern first-graders atm. My question is what other team would they start or come off the bench for I can't one.

If you picked up dave fifita with some money chipped in surely you do it, He is exactly what we lack, a devastating ball runner who over the last year has improved his work rate as well. Shocked people wouldn't. Imagine him running off luai, wowzer that's delicious

Off loading Toá, Naden and Douhei [to mention just a few who have peaked and are still not too flash] would certainly free up some space to shop around.
James Schiller sounds like a goer for a centre [from other reports] and Trey Mooney the type of prop we need as part of our prop rotation.

 

[Vicious]

Cotric would be a total waste of money. Hasn't been any use since he went to the Dogs, he's a fringe first grader at best nowadays.

I watched Cotric closely last weekend, he has lost it no longer a genuine NRL player.

 

[Tiger Stripes]

I'd be happy with that.

I think Talagi was the 5/8 when they played together. Galvin 2nd row. We have enough 5/8. Not sure if he is a top centre yet and the talk here is putting Galvin in the centres maybe.
A lot of sorting out what direction we take.

 

[Vicious]

Whatever the result we know Richo has flagged a "go to" outside back & middle tier players as the priority. He also stated he would like to release a few more & build a "war chest".

Fifita hits the war chest mark. Big signing.

Outside back will keep us all guessing I think.

26 on the books for 2025. Including Tumeth with a Player Option & Sezer & Stef with a Mutual Option.

Tumeth you would think goes, he won't play first grade.

Essentially 25 on the books now.

Faataape, Simpkin, Kepaoa, Doueihi, Alaimalo & Sione Fainu unsigned.

Faataape & Sione yes please. Makes 27...

The Laulilli brothers, Miller, Saukuru and Sukkar would all need to make big improvements as this season progresses to be considered genuine top 30 players..

 

[FrodoTBaggin]

I think Talagi was the 5/8 when they played together. Galvin 2nd row. We have enough 5/8. Not sure if he is a top centre yet and the talk here is putting Galvin in the centres maybe.
A lot of sorting out what direction we take.

I believe it was
1. Galvin
6. Latu
7. Talagi

Honestly I think Talagi is just someone who doesn't really fit into our team atm. We need centres and wingers, not another potential half that we can try and shift to another position.

 

[SwervinMervin]

I agree having a devastating ball runner such as David Fifita playing alongside Jerome Luai would take our team to another level.
I hope we become ruthless like other clubs, try and make big signings like this happen and be ruthless in offloading players who would become excess to requirements.

Fifita has a great highlights reel, but he simply doesn't have enough impact on the outcome of games over a full NRL season. On paper, the Titans have an OK team. Not top drawer, but OK. Fifita hasn't changed their trajectory at all. Now Tino on the other hand...

 

[KingRobbie]

26 on the books for 2025. Including Tumeth with a Player Option & Sezer & Stef with a Mutual Option.

The 26 signed for '25 doesn't include Tumeth or Stefano.

Roster Breakdown: 2024-2029

ROSTER BREAKDOWN First post in thread is updated when new signings, contract extensions, or releases are made. 2024 - 29/30 1. Jahream Bula 2. Charlie Staines 3. Starford To’a 4. Justin Olam 5. Junior Tupou 6. Lachlan Galvin 7. Aidan Sezer 8. Stefano Utoikamanu 9. Apisai Koroisau (c) 10. David...

weststigersforum.com

 

[ROZELLE.O.G]

Corporate space is very limited at LO. I have no doubt if the government was to fund corporate facilities to supply an extra 500 corporate seats (Corporate suites) then I think Richo would have a long term lease signed. Unfortunately we miss out on big dollars because we don’t have the capacity to host big corporate numbers. I have no doubt Richo will keep this in the media to keep the pressure on the government. Definitely something magical about the old girl. Walking in on Saturday night I was instantly pumped up. Fingers crossed we get something done there

I love going to Leichhardt the feeling was electric on Saturday night and its been pretty good for last couple years even when we weren't winning. I have got to be honest when you have young kids everything is wonderful at Leichhardt except access to toilets and food/drink. The only thing that I can see where moving to a modern ground is a positive is that it would have better transport, parking and corporate facilities.. When Souths did it and moved, they at least were training at Redfern for a over a decade while playing at Homebush, now they are permanently training out their CofE at Maroubra and only junior rep footy is at Redfern. In hindsight Leichhardt could've been the Centre of Excellence with a minimal spend. That's we Richo is paid the big bucks its a tough one.

 

[Vicious]

I believe it was
1. Galvin
6. Latu
7. Talagi

Honestly I think Talagi is just someone who doesn't really fit into our team atm. We need centres and wingers, not another potential half that we can try and shift to another position.

I agree.
We need big fast athletes, give us David Fifita, Zac Lomax, James Schiller and Trey Mooney and we would quickly become a team who opposition fears.

 

[Vicious]

The 26 signed for '25 doesn't include Tumeth or Stefano.

Roster Breakdown: 2024-2029

ROSTER BREAKDOWN First post in thread is updated when new signings, contract extensions, or releases are made. 2024 - 29/30 1. Jahream Bula 2. Charlie Staines 3. Starford To’a 4. Justin Olam 5. Junior Tupou 6. Lachlan Galvin 7. Aidan Sezer 8. Stefano Utoikamanu 9. Apisai Koroisau (c) 10. David...

weststigersforum.com

Based on that list we need an urgent review of the value we will get from To’a, Naden, Sullivan, Bateman, Laulilli x2, Miller, Sukkar, Feledy, Faagatu & Saukuru.

 

[FrodoTBaggin]

I agree.
We need big fast athletes, give us David Fifita, Zac Lomax, James Schiller and Trey Mooney and we would quickly become a team who opposition fears.

There is absolutely 0 chance we sign someone as disruptive as Fifita.

Richo pulled out of signing Fonua Blake because he thought we have a strong crop of young forwards that will be needing upgrades. I doubt he will re evaluate and end up spending more on Fifita than he would of with Fonua Blake.

Jayden Sua would be the one I think we should try for.

I agree with you on Lomax, I've been saying we need him for over a year at this point.
Potential rep level right centre that can kick, also adds the height we don't ever have.

 

[JB9918]

The 26 signed for '25 doesn't include Tumeth or Stefano.

Roster Breakdown: 2024-2029

ROSTER BREAKDOWN First post in thread is updated when new signings, contract extensions, or releases are made. 2024 - 29/30 1. Jahream Bula 2. Charlie Staines 3. Starford To’a 4. Justin Olam 5. Junior Tupou 6. Lachlan Galvin 7. Aidan Sezer 8. Stefano Utoikamanu 9. Apisai Koroisau (c) 10. David...

weststigersforum.com

Check the image.

Remove Nofa makes 29 currently & 26 for 2025

 

[BlackWhiteGold]

I agree.
We need big fast athletes, give us David Fifita, Zac Lomax, James Schiller and Trey Mooney and we would quickly become a team who opposition fears.

The other non negotiable in recruitment & retention that Richo raised in the podcast that Benji is a big on, is strength of character/leadership or however you want to put it. Apparently that's why Galvin & Heath Mason are held in very high regard, and Nofa got the boot.

 

[balmain boy]

Depends how ruthless we are for mine I would happily let go of Naden Toa staines and as much as it hurts douhei. I don't think any of them are truly modern first-graders atm. My question is what other team would they start or come off the bench for I can't one.

If you picked up dave fifita with some money chipped in surely you do it, He is exactly what we lack, a devastating ball runner who over the last year has improved his work rate as well. Shocked people wouldn't. Imagine him running off luai, wowzer that's delicious

I think Richo would be more than happy to move on all of Staines, Toa, Naden and Doueihi. They've all peaked, wont be improving. They're all depth players, when really we need our youngsters to be depth players and sign stars to the first team

 

[KingRobbie]

Check the image.

Remove Nofa makes 29 currently & 26 for 2025

Count the X's (Top 30 deals) in the 2025 column.

26, not including Tumeth, Sezer or Utoikamanu.

 

[Vicious]

There is absolutely 0 chance we sign someone as disruptive as Fifita.

Richo pulled out of signing Fonua Blake because he thought we have a strong crop of young forwards that will be needing upgrades. I doubt he will re evaluate and end up spending more on Fifita than he would of with Fonua Blake.

Jayden Sua would be the one I think we should try for.

I agree with you on Lomax, I've been saying we need him for over a year at this point.
Potential rep level right centre that can kick, also adds the height we don't ever have.

Su’a is a slug compared to Fifita, chalk and cheese.
Unless it’s a major upgrade we should be keeping the 2 back rowers we currently have.

 

[balmain boy]

The other non negotiable in recruitment & retention that Richo raised in the podcast that Benji is a big on, is strength of character/leadership or however you want to put it. Apparently that's why Galvin & Heath Mason are held in very high regard, and Nofa got the boot.

Character is fine, but not every player in the squad needs to be Captain material either. You need 1-2 hard edged tough guys, and leadership isn't usually high up on their skill sets, at least not until they get older....