Signings, Suggestions & Rumours Discussion

[Vicious]

Yeah, I think papalii as an impact middle off the bench, or starting, would be really good. He runs out of puff too quickly for us when on an edge and lacks lateral movement for defensive work, but in the middle he is just able to run and hit and then get a break when he gets puffed and he does that well. We have no one with his physicality on our team and he is a loss.

However, it was obvious even from before he came here that he didn't want to be here. I'd guess he's been pushing hard for a release ever since.

I don’t agree, I watched Papali’i closely and I believe he has been unfairly criticised.
On the rare occasions where we physically dominated our opponents such as the Sharks game at Leichhardt, Papali’i was very dominant.
He would have been perfect as our long term 13 and said himself he asked for a contract extension which was rejected, so it was not him who wanted to leave.
We are now very under strength in our back row stocks, if we do not recruit well it wil really hurt us in 2025.

 

[Tcat]

Appoint Josh Hannay immediately as assistant, pay him head coach money and tell Benji to do as he's told.

Good call. Would certainly help with culture building after hanging around the QLD camp over the past few years.

 

[twentyforty]

Yeah, I think papalii as an impact middle off the bench, or starting, would be really good. He runs out of puff too quickly for us when on an edge and lacks lateral movement for defensive work, but in the middle he is just able to run and hit and then get a break when he gets puffed and he does that well. We have no one with his physicality on our team and he is a loss.

However, it was obvious even from before he came here that he didn't want to be here. I'd guess he's been pushing hard for a release ever since.

He’s a massive loss. A 25yo 150 gamer. Another player we failed 😞

 

[king_sirro]

Appoint Josh Hannay immediately as assistant, pay him head coach money and tell Benji to do as he's told.

I doubt Hannay would take the job.
Brae Arthur would though if he hasn't lined up the Perth job.

 

[GNR4LIFE]

Letting Papalii go is insane .. we need hard hitting, tough running forwards and he is on his prime .. who can we get that is better ?

He doesn’t want to be here. What are you supposed to do? I mean, of course you can hire an actual coach, but realistically, what are you supposed to do?

 

[The Chad]

People bemoaning losing Papali'i and 3 months back this board couldn't get rid of him fast enough.

He didn't ask for a contract extension either. He asked for clarity on his future which the Tigers wouldn't commit to, therefore he asked for a release from his current contract.

I'm starting to think as a whole, the fans are only satisfied if they are unsatisfied.

 

[The Chad]

I doubt Hannay would take the job.
Brae Arthur would though if he hasn't lined up the Perth job.

Anthony Griffin offers 1st grade coach experience without applying the speculation & heat from outside sources over the potential to replace Marshall.

Brad Arthur, Josh Hannay- these guys get signed & you are literally asking the likes of 360 to stir the pot.

You may not like Benji as the coach. But I'm pretty confident you doom whatever chance of success he has if you bring in a guy ready-made to replace him & have the media white-ant us every day of the week.

The only solution is to double down on the plan.

 

[Squater]

Yeah, I think papalii as an impact middle off the bench, or starting, would be really good. He runs out of puff too quickly for us when on an edge and lacks lateral movement for defensive work, but in the middle he is just able to run and hit and then get a break when he gets puffed and he does that well. We have no one with his physicality on our team and he is a loss.

However, it was obvious even from before he came here that he didn't want to be here. I'd guess he's been pushing hard for a release ever since.

Personal opinion but seems to me he was playing with shit half's and he got Jack of it. Shame he's nor hanging around for luoi. We should have kept him. Richo stuffed up here. We will regret it.

 

[Vicious]

People bemoaning losing Papali'i and 3 months back this board couldn't get rid of him fast enough.

He didn't ask for a contract extension either. He asked for clarity on his future which the Tigers wouldn't commit to, therefore he asked for a release from his current contract.

I'm starting to think as a whole, the fans are only satisfied if they are unsatisfied.

Blind Feddy could see Papali’i value to the team was much greater than Bateman’s.
You need to replace these players as we have no edge back rowers or 13’s in our lower grades who are impressing enough to be considered ready to be NRL regulars, therefore we need to recruit and there is not much available.

 

[Red Rugby]

Before the razor blades are passed around don’t underestimate the impact the Jerome Luai is going to have. He’s a winner, he’s abrasive, he’s arrogant and most importantly he has a point to prove. He’ll hold his team mates accountable and I get the impression players will go to war with him.

He is the circuit breaker we’ve been praying for.

He’ll turn half chances into points which equates to scoreboard pressure on the opposition. Teams won’t be able to sit back and wait for the Tigers to do something dumb to release the pressure. The Tigers may still do something dumb but hopefully they’ll be 6-12 points to the better because of what they’ve tried.

He’s bringing his mate from Penrith so that’s another piece of the puzzle put in place. Those young fellas who are error prone today will grow with him leading the way.

I’m feeling very bullish about the Tigers in 25 and beyond.

 

[The Chad]

Blind Feddy could see Papali’i value to the team was much greater than Bateman’s.
You need to replace these players as we have nobody in our grades who is impressing in the back row, so we need to recruit and there is not much available.

I suspect Blind Freddy doesn't post in here then.

Just for argument's sake, it's entirely possible that instead of Richo deciding Papali'i was no good, he instead valued that financial capitol being used in other areas as the roster is built in the Richo-Benji vision instead of the Pascoe-Sheens vision.

 

[liltiger]

I doubt Hannay would take the job.
Brae Arthur would though if he hasn't lined up the Perth job.

Pretty sure he's following his young fellow to Newcastle

 

[Newtown]

Agree. It's honestly just not even remotely realistic to consider it. We have some great talent in our spine for next year, hopefully he can get the team on an upward trajectory. We simply can't afford for Benji to not work.

Didn't the Canberra club have two coaches of equal standing years ago.?

 

[The Chad]

Didn't the Canberra club have two coaches of equal standing years ago.?

You mean pre-1989?

Furner & Bennett?

 

[2041]

Blind Feddy could see Papali’i value to the team was much greater than Bateman’s.
You need to replace these players as we have no edge back rowers or 13’s in our lower grades who are impressing enough to be considered ready to be NRL regulars, therefore we need to recruit and there is not much available.

Yes, which is why there haven't been any offers to take Bateman. Keeping Bateman and releasing Papali'i doesn't mean anyone thinks Bateman is better - it just shows that there's a market for decent players on manageable contracts and there isn't one for poor players on shocking contracts.

 

[madgey76]

Appoint Josh Hannay immediately as assistant, pay him head coach money and tell Benji to do as he's told.

I’m a good mate of Josh’s trust me he won’t come anywhere near us as an assistant coach…. However offer him the head coach job and he would jump at it

 

[Harvey]

The assistant we needed is heading to super league. Cartwright has success wherever he floats around in the background

 

[Bellend]

People need to understand Papali’i did not want to come here twice he tried to back out. he was even caught on the Parramatta eels what's app saying he did not want to come here.

Dumb management has set this club back for far to long.

 

[hsvjones]

Before the razor blades are passed around don’t underestimate the impact the Jerome Luai is going to have. He’s a winner, he’s abrasive, he’s arrogant and most importantly he has a point to prove. He’ll hold his team mates accountable and I get the impression players will go to war with him.

He is the circuit breaker we’ve been praying for.

He’ll turn half chances into points which equates to scoreboard pressure on the opposition. Teams won’t be able to sit back and wait for the Tigers to do something dumb to release the pressure. The Tigers may still do something dumb but hopefully they’ll be 6-12 points to the better because of what they’ve tried.

He’s bringing his mate from Penrith so that’s another piece of the puzzle put in place. Those young fellas who are error prone today will grow with him leading the way.

I’m feeling very bullish about the Tigers in 25 and beyond.

If I could like this more than once I would.

Laui is the sliding doors moment for us and I'm excited especially after watching him this year in the 7 and his performances in SOO.

Just a winner who will drags others with him.

 

[Mighty_Tiger]

Ice: second rower of the year. Klemmer: getting back to SOO form. Bula: Rookie of the year. Stef: Most promising prop in NRL. Bateman: Missing piece of the puzzle. Galvin: Potential superstar. Sezer: The half we always wanted.

All going backwards at WT.

The despised Brooks and Talau, playing finals with Manly. Reject Blore, top of the ladder.

Don't blame the roster.

100% The roster should be performing better & those that leave will perform better away from here. The coaching structure is a major flaw currently.

Would love to bring in 1 or 2 of Holbrook, Griffin, Brown, Gardiner etc. We lack development and ability to build game plans / more importantly to our players strengths.