Signings, Suggestions & Rumours Discussion

[loklok]

Clubs like Penrith and Melbourne have developed their identities over years, with stable coaching and clear philosophies that the players can adapt to and thrive under. Benji's methods don’t fully account for the context he’s stepped into, so certain critiques of him (and our pathways) are probably a little premature given the lack of continuity. While it’s reasonable to compare us to benchmark teams, it’s a bit unfair to overlook the foundational work done by their coaching staff. For instance, John Donehue (Melbourne's wrestling coach) has been with them since 2004, just a year after Bellamy's appointment, and the Penrith Panthers junior academy has been in place since 2016. These long-term commitments to coaching and development are key to their success, something the Tigers are still striving to establish.

As Benji builds his own roster and implements his vision, some judgments should probably be reserved until there’s more time to assess how he can shape the team and its culture. Feel it’s also important to recognise that the dynamics and ages of our current roster will largely influence how he manages them, both psychologically and physically. With several 18 year olds, building confidence and trust are likely his main goals as he’s trying to foster an environment that supports their development.

We need stability before anything else but we need result's aswell .that's y alot of us have been pee'd off .

 

[Kelce68]

All basics being roughly equal he beats Klemmer by a country mile in tackle breaks and off loads. That's is precisely what we desperately lack.

Stefano had 97 tackle breaks this season compared to Kaufusi's 36.

How'd that help our pack?

I'm not against Oregon, but tackle breaks is anything but 'precisely what we desperately lack'.

 

[batboy]

Making statements that are statistically incorrect will get shown up. Weird that people celebrate Kaufusi & bag Klemmer when Klemmer's number exceed Kaufusi's.

While you're pointing out Dumb Arguments,
the actual comment I came into this was that Klemmer, Seyfarth and Twal
walk into a successful teams top 17....

In all your stats
- I'm yet to see which 3 players in the top 17 of which successful club, are these 3
waltzing in over the top of?

There's no way a top team has those 3 blokes in their top 17.

 

[bptiger 0]

He would’ve been good for us

I wonder if we even tried to sign him , can’t see us getting the players we need , we got the cash , but spots a problem due to giving kids spots that haven’t even earned

 

[Coastie_Tiger]

Shawn Blore just said the Tigers didn't want him, is that true? I thought he wanted to leave for Melbourne

Think Sheens wanted Bateman which left Blore hanging a bit and then we got Olam Storm got Blore. We finished with the spoon he's in a GF.
Edit think there was also a debate around Blore wanting to play an edge and we wanted him as a middle iirc.

 

[Tiger Stripes]

Stefano had 97 tackle breaks this season compared to Kaufusi's 36.

How'd that help our pack?

I'm not against Oregon, but tackle breaks is anything but 'precisely what we desperately lack'.

Can you comment on the off loads?

 

[Wiz]

I wonder if we even tried to sign him , can’t see us getting the players we need , we got the cash , but spots a problem due to giving kids spots that haven’t even earned

A few of my mates follow the Sharks and they were all happy to see the back of him.

 

[PabloX]

Think Sheens wanted Bateman which left Blore hanging a bit and then we got Olam Storm got Blore. We finished with the spoon he's in a GF.
Edit think there was also a debate around Blore wanting to play an edge and we wanted him as a middle iirc.

Didn't he make our recruitment team look like fools. Especially with how things turned out with Bateman. We could've kept him at half the cost of Bateman

 

[Tiger-ferret]

All basics being roughly equal he beats Klemmer by a country mile in tackle breaks and off loads. That's is precisely what we desperately lack.

I’m not against klemmer but that is a good summary. He could probably better his offloading. Tackle breaks Probabaly a different matter?

 

[Tonymontana]

Think Sheens wanted Bateman which left Blore hanging a bit and then we got Olam Storm got Blore. We finished with the spoon he's in a GF.
Edit think there was also a debate around Blore wanting to play an edge and we wanted him as a middle iirc.

Always thought he was good and had potential, really pissed we didn't try harder to keep him

 

[Juice]

I would't trust Zero Tackle

He is on $900k & it’s been well known for a while now. There’s a reason no team made any offers when he was allowed to leave early in this season

 

[Tom Shines]

Shawn Blore just said the Tigers didn't want him, is that true? I thought he wanted to leave for Melbourne

Blore wanted to stay here but the Tigers didn’t want him…

 

[gregjm87]

Shawn Blore just said the Tigers didn't want him, is that true? I thought he wanted to leave for Melbourne

The apparent events were discussed on here. It was said he made several enquiries in 23 about an extension and was told each time they would get back to him before finally advising he look elsewhere. He then verbally agreed to terms with Melbourne late in the 2023 season for '25. Eventually the club came back to him with an offer but he told them he had an offer elsewhere. This eventually led to the Olam swap. Don't know how true any of this is, just what was rumoured to have happened. It is in line with some media reports that we told him he was not wanted but changed our minds to late.

 

[Tom Shines]

The apparent events were discussed on here. It was said he made several enquiries in 23 about an extension and was told each time they would get back to him before finally advising he look elsewhere. He then verbally agreed to terms with Melbourne late in the 2023 season for '25. Eventually the club came back to him with an offer but he told them he had an offer elsewhere. This eventually led to the Olam swap. Don't know how true any of this is, just what was rumoured to have happened. It is in line with some media reports that we told him he was not wanted but changed our minds to late.

He was quoted in the media as wanting to stay here … so it was more than a rumour

 

[stephen]

I see there are still people here defending Madge. He was here nearly 4 years.
Each year we were worse.

Fair enough, CQ, but how have we gone since he left?

 

[FrodoTBaggin]

He was quoted in the media as wanting to stay here … so it was more than a rumour

Stefano was quoted in the media saying he wanted to stay and captain the club one day... surely you don't just take their word for it?

 

[gregjm87]

He was quoted in the media as wanting to stay here … so it was more than a rumour

Yes his desire to stay here was reported several times. More just saying that the actual events unfolding the way I outlined was the rumour.
It could have been any number of scenarios. Some exampes he wanted to stay here but only on X dollars or if we offer X years. Or told yes but we need to free up cap space and offer won't be made until this is done. Or dispute over playing position. Or he was wanted but the Fulton-Benji BS put contract talks on hold. Or wanted by some of our recruitment team and not by others. Or straight up not wanted. Or even he could be full of it (I doubt it) and was always looking elsewhere but protecting his reputation. Either way I believe not retaining him was a mistake.

 

[Tom Shines]

Stefano was quoted in the media saying he wanted to stay and captain the club one day... surely you don't just take their word for it?

Two seperate issues pal… he wanted to extend his contract and the Tigers never made him an offer , and said he was free to approach other clubs …he wouldn’t have been able to sign with the Storm more than a year prior otherwise ..

 

[Rugba]

Weird argument.

Message Board Target Kaufusi- 873.3 PCM

Message Board Villian Klemmer- 846.5 PCM

Kaufusi- 84m per game average
Klemmer- 101m per game average

Kaufusi 95.1% tackle effeciency
Klemmer 96.4% tackle effeciency

Kaufusi- 2186 run metres
Klemmer - 2023 run metres

The only areas Kaufusi is significantly superior to Klemmer is tackle breaks (36 v 15) & offloads (32 v 5)

Klemmer is guilty of not being a flashy, explosive forward. Luckily the Tigers have 2-3 of those guys in Hunt, Pole & Sione Fainu on the books.

Not sure how Kaufusi fixes what ails the Tigers in place of poor old boring Klemmer.

Late to the convo , but yes klemmer is good for yardage but the problem is they are slow . He fights for those extra PCM and the defensive line is generally set , he generally has slow ptb

Also his general demeanour during a game would be off putting he gets angry and frustrated which I think effects everyone else

 

[batboy]

Fair enough, CQ, but how have we gone since he left?

Madge was at 33.3% win Ratio in his last full season.
Then at 25% win Ratio When he was sacked....

We then Went on to have an 8.3% Win Rate in the remainder of the season.
16.6% Last year
25% This year....
Madges' squad wasn't as good last year and this year,
Would also have been hard to argue he wouldn't have won another game in 2022 with the Squad he had.

At best we're the same as when we sacked him, With a far superior side....