Signings, Suggestions & Rumours Discussion

Just a recap of our contracted player position into next season:

ON CONTRACT - 25 players from 20 players currently in top 30 + 5 players currently on Dev or T&T deals (Faagutu, Kit Laulilii, Saukuru, Sukkar & Luke Laulilii)

OFF CONTRACT - Utoikamanu & Sezer (mutual options for 25), Tumeth (player option for 25), Kepaoa, Simpkin, Tupou, Sione Fainu, Doueihi, Alaimalo, Faataape (dev deal)

Out of those off contract, Utoikamanu, Sezer, Fainu & Faataape (upgrade), have the best chance of staying. If Sezer was to go around for another season as a back-up half, it would have to mean Bud Sullivan is let go.

That would take our stocks to 28 players.

Given the positions of the off contract players departing, upgraded dev guys and our current weaknesses in the roster, it is most likely we'd look to an:
  • Winger
  • 2nd Row/Utility
It still leaves us short in the hooker ranks with only Api & TDS as out-and-out hookers with Sezer possibly a utility option. Or we add a Bailey Hodges as a development player.

What this doesn't factor in are those on-contract players that are tapped on the shoulder & given the opportunity to explore other options. Aside from Bud, I'm thinking one of T'oa or Naden could be in the firing line (most likely T'oa as another club would snap him up & Naden does bring experience & versatility).
 
TigerSJ said:
Looking at the players/positions we are currently lacking to make up a “complete” team -

Wing - we need at least 1 quality finisher, speed, size, aerial ability, strength. Two would be better.

Centre- we have a few options although none are really top notch, but we probably need some time to sort this position out within our current group. Olam, if remaining fit, obviously takes one spot.

Edge - need to bring in a big strong hard running mobile player of the level that the top teams have to complement our current pack. These guys are creating so many attacking opportunities in those teams. We are producing nothing in that area. Perhaps Sam F will develop here.

Lock- i can see us finding a solution here from within. There are a few possibilities and we need time for them to develop. In a year or two I reckon Latu will fill out even more and has the perfect skill set.

Front row- Pole, Twal, Uto, Klem. We need to bring in one more prop who is big, tough and angry. This guy would start instead of Klem.

IMO these are the glaring gaps that need filling for us to be a top 4 contender. It’s recruitment of 4-5 quality players. Not easy I realise, but we have to start somewhere. Identify one player and move on him, then as long as we keep developing as a team and showing the marketplace that we are a team building towards something big, then other quality players will see us as a viable club.
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I think Klem will be a bit old by 2026 despite his great form recently. Hoping that we have a promising forward coming through who can help Stef. If Stef makes origin this year it would be huge for his confidence and being a forward leader once Klemmer departs
 
weststigers said:
Dude, you pasted me for saying Luai could fill 13 if we needed to fit Luai, Latu and Galvin into the same team and you come up with that?
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Soz.

I’m too busy being Tito to remember your lame idea. Obviously got under your skin though somehow.

Cool story. None of them are 7s. Fail.
 
Tito Santana said:
Soz.

I’m too busy being Tito to remember your lame idea. Obviously got under your skin though somehow.

Cool story. None of them are 7s. Fail.
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Don't give yourself so much credit to get under my skin. Just pointing out your hypocrisy.

"Lame", "Cool story", ï got under your skin", "Fail". What are you a teenage girl? Man up a little son.
 
rugbygoated said:
He's had some bad injuries which makes him vulnerable at centre and edges against fast outside backs because he's slower. In the middle he can focus on tackling slower middles and also act as an extra ballplayer. I think he could succeed there
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Let's be honest. None of us have seen him defends in the middle. The only way we know is if he gets a shot there in state cup.

I agree that in theory, his running game and size would be ideal for 13.
 
AmericanHistoryX said:
Wests Tigers i like your thinking
13. Luai, 7. Fainu 6. Galvin. Only if Luai can tackle.
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Luai will go on strike if we play him as a 13.
Out of the three Latu Fainu is the most likely to be able to play as a 13 anytime soon, but I can’t imagine him being happy about taking on that position full time.
I think the only scenario that might work is playing Fainu as a 14 and letting he and Galvin share the 6 and 13 role for parts of each game. Would be unfair on them and the team to make any 18/19 year old 5/8 to start or play full games at 13.
 
weststigers said:
Let's be honest. None of us have seen him defends in the middle. The only way we know is if he gets a shot there in state cup.

I agree that in theory, his running game and size would be ideal for 13.
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Yep I think it's the only logical position he could play. Obviously he's a half but we have plenty of halves so that's blocked. His defence at centre is atrocious. At fullback he doesn't have enough speed or ballplaying. At lock, he can do a bit of ballplaying (not too much) and he's got the build
 
AmericanHistoryX said:
Wests Tigers i like your thinking
13. Luai, 7. Fainu 6. Galvin. Only if Luai can tackle.
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This is awful. We might as well blow up the contract lol. And I think for 2025 if we did blow it up, the halves would still be Sezer and Galvin/Fainu. Can't have 2 19 year olds leading around a team that has just won 2 wooden spoons
 
I understand he's 85-90kgs, I get that he's only just starting his NRL career, I know he's a junior rep at 7 & 6 & I've seen him being successful at 6.

But I still believe that Galvin would be an excellent 2nd rower (in time) to take over from Bateman. Solid defender with the ability to either use his height & length through the line (like Garner would) or with the ability to hold the defence up & pass at or before the line to a support player (Gavin Miller).

I think at #13 he'll get bogged down in the defensive game. Leave that to the workhorses like Fa'agutu & Lualili'i. Galvin at #12, with Bula either inside or outside him & Faatape on the other side, running off Luai or Fainu...it's not how 'other' teams use their 2nd rowers. But that doesn't mean it's not a good way to use them. It's essentially an extra wide playmaker.
 
rugbygoated said:
This is awful. We might as well blow up the contract lol. And I think for 2025 if we did blow it up, the halves would still be Sezer and Galvin/Fainu. Can't have 2 19 year olds leading around a team that has just won 2 wooden spoons
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I agree with you whole heartedly. I dont know as much as football as you fellow forumers, I was just thinking spreading the money out. Also Sezer is a great point. He kick direct a team around the park. Who else do we have or signed for next year that can?
 
The Chad said:
I understand he's 85-90kgs, I get that he's only just starting his NRL career, I know he's a junior rep at 7 & 6 & I've seen him being successful at 6.

But I still believe that Galvin would be an excellent 2nd rower (in time) to take over from Bateman. Solid defender with the ability to either use his height & length through the line (like Garner would) or with the ability to hold the defence up & pass at or before the line to a support player (Gavin Miller).

I think at #13 he'll get bogged down in the defensive game. Leave that to the workhorses like Fa'agutu & Lualili'i. Galvin at #12, with Bula either inside or outside him & Faatape on the other side, running off Luai or Fainu...it's not how 'other' teams use their 2nd rowers. But that doesn't mean it's not a good way to use them. It's essentially an extra wide playmaker.
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Galvin will never be in the pack. Was Wally Lewis?
 
Vicious said:
Luai will go on strike if we play him as a 13.
Out of the three Latu Fainu is the most likely to be able to play as a 13 anytime soon, but I can’t imagine him being happy about taking on that position full time.
I think the only scenario that might work is playing Fainu as a 14 and letting he and Galvin share the 6 and 13 role for parts of each game. Would be unfair on them and the team to make any 18/19 year old 5/8 to start or play full games at 13.
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Listen, it's obviously not ideal, but here's a second question.

Everyone is saying what not to do, but the same people will be saying how we should have tried harder to keep all 3 if they are playing out of their skins and one leaves because we keep carrying one on the bench.

In that situation, what is the answer?

The Luai at 13 suggestion is based on 2027 or onwards. Not next year or the year after and depending on how Latu and Galvin develop.

I'm not even advocating for Luai at 13. Simply saying if you are going to try and move one of the halves to another position over time, then Luai fits lock better than Galvin and Fainu. It COULD be a solution depending on the landscape at the time.

Secondly, watching Latu on the weekend, it's clear he is 1 or 2 years off. Now we are looking at an ageing Luai, Galvin with 2-3 years under his belt and Latu with 50 games experience around 2027 or 2028 season. At that stage, Luai might be happy to shift depending on form.

All this is a wait and see, but I don't think you can keep carrying a spare half on the bench because you don't want to lose them. You have to give them a path to full-time first grade and a position they can specialise in for the long term.
 
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