Signings, Suggestions & Rumours Discussion

[Tom Shines]

Does anyone know if Brandon Tumeth has exercised his player option yet for 2025?

🙄

 

[crazycat]

While I understand the desire to move on players like Bateman, Naden & Sullivan- I will just say it's more important that the club free up Top 30 spaces than Top 30 money right now.

If the club can afford to keep them, letting players like Tumeth, Lobb & Matamua leave is just as useful.

Remember- we aren't paying the wages, even if we think they are overpaid.

If Galvin, Luia or Fainu get hurt long term- the security of a player like Sullivan is far more comforting than Brandon Wakeham.

If Bateman is returning- he's a starting forward next season. Like him or not- he's one of the starting backrow along with Sam Fainu. Probably puts Bird at lock or in the centres. Which would strengthen the centres at the very least. Probably also means that a Kobe Hetherington is the only other addition required from outside the club, and retaining Sione Fainu can be done.

If Naden is your KOE centre along with Feledy, with Doueihi at fullback in KOE, Mason & Sullivan in the KOE halves...Lualili'i & Faataape & Staines...that is some far more comforting depth than we have had in years.

We need front rowers. So Yes I would keep Matamua, just because who is behind him is probably worse.

I feel for Lobb a little. Another season would give him a chance to prove himself. But OK to see him go.


Sullivan is just a failed experiment. We don't need a 4th half nor a 5th half. With Doueihi on min wage, I would rather keep him then Sullivan but as you remind us Sullivan is FREE.


Overall I agree, forget first grade and focus on winning the KOE 😉

 

[Roar_Power]

We need front rowers. So Yes I would keep Matamua, just because who is behind him is probably worse.

I feel for Lobb a little. Another season would give him a chance to prove himself. But OK to see him go.


Sullivan is just a failed experiment. We don't need a 4th half nor a 5th half. With Doueihi on min wage, I would rather keep him then Sullivan but as you remind us Sullivan is FREE.


Overall I agree, forget first grade and focus on winning the KOE 😉

Lobb will be a career reserve grader - above average for that grade but too slow for NRL. I reckon Makasini's re-signing and top 30 spot in 2026 also spells the end for Staines as a Tiger.

Sullivan - hopefully we aren't stuck with him. I also don't think Doueihi will be a Tiger come 2026. He will be down the pecking order as a half and centre.

 

[Coastie_Tiger]

Does anyone know if Brandon Tumeth has exercised his player option yet for 2025?

🙄

Moses is his manager i can have an educated guess and say yes, we'll end up having to pay him out.

 

[user118245]

I'm not sure we were fending off clubs at that moment. He was contracted to us for a couple of years wasn't he? My thoughts were it was more of a goodwill upgrade by the club, realising they have him locked in on massive unders. I also thought it started closer to the 500k mark rather than 700k. I can't recall why i have this in my head, so I could be wrong. Pascoe was in charge after all.

I was looking through the signings page our the tigers website the other day, and I think he was upgraded/extended twice last year.

Jahream Bula signs contract extension

Wests Tigers is delighted to announce a contract extension and upgrade for Jahream Bula ahead of Sunday’s home game against Manly Sea Eagles.

www.weststigers.com.au

Jahream Bula extends stay at Wests Tigers

Wests Tigers is delighted to announce a contract upgrade and extension for exciting young fullback Jahream Bula.

www.weststigers.com.au

 

[user118245]

I was looking through the signings page our the tigers website the other day, and I think he was upgraded/extended twice last year.

Jahream Bula signs contract extension

Wests Tigers is delighted to announce a contract extension and upgrade for Jahream Bula ahead of Sunday’s home game against Manly Sea Eagles.

www.weststigers.com.au

Jahream Bula extends stay at Wests Tigers

Wests Tigers is delighted to announce a contract upgrade and extension for exciting young fullback Jahream Bula.

www.weststigers.com.au

First one was a contract upgrade and I believe one year extension while second one is the extension and more $$$

 

[88]

While I understand the desire to move on players like Bateman, Naden & Sullivan- I will just say it's more important that the club free up Top 30 spaces than Top 30 money right now.

If the club can afford to keep them, letting players like Tumeth, Lobb & Matamua leave is just as useful.

Remember- we aren't paying the wages, even if we think they are overpaid.

If Galvin, Luia or Fainu get hurt long term- the security of a player like Sullivan is far more comforting than Brandon Wakeham.

If Bateman is returning- he's a starting forward next season. Like him or not- he's one of the starting backrow along with Sam Fainu. Probably puts Bird at lock or in the centres. Which would strengthen the centres at the very least. Probably also means that a Kobe Hetherington is the only other addition required from outside the club, and retaining Sione Fainu can be done.

If Naden is your KOE centre along with Feledy, with Doueihi at fullback in KOE, Mason & Sullivan in the KOE halves...Lualili'i & Faataape & Staines...that is some far more comforting depth than we have had in years.

Agree Chad, strengthening the top team allows better players to flow back down through the grades. Having more competitive teams at each level I think would have an overall positive effect on the whole club. More competition, cover for injuries, more consistent combinations, etc.

 

[BAGNF05]

Bateman just said his thanks and farewells to Warrington fans on Instagram.
Said he back In Australia end of the week to see wife and kid.
No mention of Tigers.
But does say thanks to those in Warrington who ‘helped him find the love back In the game and enjoying what I do again’

My guess he not coming back to play for Tigers.

Hopefully he has fallen back in love with the game because he was clearly frustrated in his time with us.

At his best he’s a great defender who provides a good side with some x-factor in attack. An international forward is not something we should be turning away if he’s keen.

 

[426Tlgerland]

I think Bateman will be back and play first grade in 2025 .
he is a solid first grade player and we still need solid players

 

[jrtiger]

I think Bateman will be back and play first grade in 2025 .
he is a solid first grade player and we still need solid players

you seen his latest Instagram post? I reckon he's 500 to 1 to line up in a Wests Tigers jersey ever again.

 

[Demps]

you seen his latest Instagram post? I reckon he's 500 to 1 to line up in a Wests Tigers jersey ever again.

"Thank you for helping me finding the love back for the game and enjoying what I do again"

Obviously didn't enjoy his time at the Tigers.

 

[Buttface]

Hopefully he has fallen back in love with the game because he was clearly frustrated in his time with us.

At his best he’s a great defender who provides a good side with some x-factor in attack. An international forward is not something we should be turning away if he’s keen.

He needs an offseason with the team to gel with the players. He looks like it’s his first game with the team every time he plays.

 

[Vicious]

you seen his latest Instagram post? I reckon he's 500 to 1 to line up in a Wests Tigers jersey ever again.

We can only hope.
The only time he runs the ball or tackles hard is after an opposition player gets him fired up.
The rest of the time he plods, so that tells me something is badly lacking in his desire.
He may have enjoyed playing the game while at Warrington, but there were no signs of him being anywhere near his highly aggressive best.
To me he looks like his smallish frame for a modern day back rower has taken a battering over the past 3 or so years and he has decided self preservation is his best option, but occasionally forgets about that and plays how he should ONLY once an opposition players gets him fired up.
Unfortunately for us Benji is certainly not the right style of ciach to get him or any player fired up from kick off.

 

[Ron Brodrick's Spirit]

"Thank you for helping me finding the love back for the game and enjoying what I do again"

Obviously didn't enjoy his time at the Tigers.

He may have loved his time at Warrington but he was just as bad for them as he was for us.
Proof that Tina Turner was correct.

 

[BlackWhiteGold]

you seen his latest Instagram post? I reckon he's 500 to 1 to line up in a Wests Tigers jersey ever again.

We need Manly to keep recruiting Tigers. I can see Bateman there & hopefully Naden too given they are in their premiership window (Naden as Cup reinforcements not NRL lol).

 

[Ron Brodrick's Spirit]

Warrington were on a real roll and Burgess had them playing like it'd be them and Wigan in the Grand Final.
Then our Johnny joined and it started to turn to shit.

 

[Kelce68]

I kinda like how Newcastle managed it with Chris Heighington and Jacob?? get two older players and use one as a spare for the other.


Olam had 2x ACL's. He was carrying 1x ACL all year and was our best back.

I want to see an uninjured Olam take the field. We saw some of the old brillance and if he actually heals up. ... Which a preseasion + surgery that actually repairs the damage caused can do...

We will have a total weapon on our hands.

You don't 'carry an ACL'.

He was carrying a knee injury (or two), which, given the fact it was rested on certain occasions and he was able to, albeit hindered, play several games with it, means it was most likely a meniscus issue.

A far easier, less intrusive and quicker recovery time situation.

 

[jrtiger]

We can only hope.
The only time he runs the ball or tackles hard is after an opposition player runs gets him fired up.
The rest of the time he plods, so that tells me something is badly lacking in his desire.
He may have enjoyed playing the game while at Warrington, but there were no signs of him being anywhere near his highly aggressive best.
To me he looks like his smallish frame for a modern day back rower has taken a battering over the past 3 or so years and he has decided self preservation is his best option, but occasionally forgets about that and plays how he should ONLY once an opposition players gets him fired up.
Unfortunately for us Benji is certainly not the right style of ciach to get him or any player fired up from kick off.

thankfully it's an easier contract to move on than it was previously as per @kade7.

I think he'd do alright outside a halfback that was able to turn him inside and give him the early ball he craves, so hopefully a club comes knocking.

clearly he's not built to be the leader we hoped he would be.

 

[balmain boy]

Bateman just said his thanks and farewells to Warrington fans on Instagram.
Said he back In Australia end of the week to see wife and kid.
No mention of Tigers.
But does say thanks to those in Warrington who ‘helped him find the love back In the game and enjoying what I do again’

My guess he not coming back to play for Tigers.

He does not want to come back and play for us. We do not want him to come back and play for us.

The payout is still being negotiated...

 

[luaipleasesaveus]

But it wasn't just signing Crichton. They also signed a new fullback, a new halfback, 2 new centres, a new prop, a new lock and a few depth guys. Plus Kikau was like a new signing having only managed 9 games the previous season. In fact over the last 3 years their entire best 17 has changed. During which time they have also retained their better players whilst ours have seemingly had one foot out the door all season.

I very much doubt Luai is going to completely overhaul the team and don't think he has enough help, at least as yet to do so.
I'm not saying our team can't be transitioned over the next few years. It's very much possible that it can be. This could be the start to that. It could also be another false dawn like a couple years ago.

The point of that message is that it wasn't just Crichton. They took multiple years and multiple lower end signings like Tracey and Sexton which weren't looked at as huge signings. That's why I believe Richo is doing such a great job - because he's invested in players like Bird and Hunt who will 100% fight and contribute for this team.

That's why I think that this year Luai will have the effect that people thought Crichton gave to the bulldogs, because it's not just Luai coming. It's signings that we have made this year and last year which compliment our team and will be coming intact along with Luai's impact.