Signings, Suggestions & Rumours Discussion

[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.

 

[Bellend]

Does anyone know who the lower grade parramatta eel we have signed for next season??

 

[bptiger 0]

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.

U can surger coat it as much as u like , but with the forward pack we got , we are going no where , luai and Galvin need the forwards to set a platform, and what we got ain’t going to do it , we need 2-3 more signings

 

[Vicious]

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.

I can’t see any NRL club willing to take on Bateman for anything more than 350k.
We are reportedly paying him 700k so that means we would have to contribute 350k for the next 2 seasons out of our salary cap to get rid of him, doesn’t it ?
Similar situation with Sullivan, a rival team will only pay him 200k at best, we are paying him 500k meaning we would be out of pocket 300k in our salary cap for him also over the next 3 years if we are to offload him.
The annoying part about this is I watched Phil Gould on 💯 Footy earlier this year state how they needed to offload contracted players to overhaul their playing roster and said there was some players paid out and not effect their salary cap moving forward.
No idea how it can be done by the Bulldogs, but not us ?
That aside if the NRL are serious about giving struggling teams a chance to improve themselves, surely common sense says players that are not performing can be paid out and removed from their salary cap without any implications.
If it is not working the player still gets the money owed to them and moves on, what is the problem ?
All this aside we still have our problem of having a coach who could not motivate a pig to roll in mud.

 

[BAGNF05]

"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.

Think he and Benjamin need to break bread.

We need our experienced group to be miles ahead of 2024.

 

[TSP]

At the time it wasn't just a hooker and an edge. It was also former international Klemmer after being named his clubs player's player the previous year, England rep Bateman as well as premiership winning winger Staines. The chat then was just as it is now about How this influx of representative players whom all had finals experience was going to rejuvenate the roster.

Its not that I'm unhappy with any of the signings thus far. Aside I said they are all an upgrade on what we have. No need to recite Luai's resume. I pointed him out as the 1 signing who truly is "REALLY good". I'm just far from convinced that it will be enough to see us make any great improvements. Not unless a few younger forwards really lift next season. I'm hopeful but I'm not confident.

We still need at least one or two decent forwards and I’m inclined to go to market.

That said, a solid pre-season of strength, speed and game practice for the youth will go a long way. They are still in physical growth stage and have legs.

People will focus on the top side, but now more than ever, it’s a whole of squad game.

Hopefully JL turned up for work yesterday!

 

[jrtiger]

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).

Bateman's a little likelier than Naden imo. Moses client who was recruited to WT by Warren McDonnell.

in addition, besides Haumole they only have B. Trbojevic, Bullemor and Dean Matterson in their backrow stocks.

 

[just old magpie]

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.

Didn't you watch him last season.

 

[BAGNF05]

Didn't you watch him last season.

I’ve watched many quality players including our captain become frustrated in our side and their form normally dips pretty badly.

 

[just old magpie]

I’ve watched many quality players including our captain become frustrated in our side and their form normally dips pretty badly.

His form was bad from the start he's to old and to small for the modern game.

 

[Tigers_Wests]

Does anyone know who the lower grade parramatta eel we have signed for next season??

Is this a rumour or fact that we signed someone from them?

 

[Juice]

Blore says hi.

So does Tedesco… huge difference between having injury problems in your early 20’s then when your 30+ with your body already run down from hundreds of NRL games.

 

[BAGNF05]

His form was bad from the start he's to old and to small for the modern game.

He was the best player on the field in an international series months before joining us. Our team lends itself to poor performance because we don’t play as a team.

The Clive Churchill medal winner is not a physical specimen.

 

[just old magpie]

He was the best player on the field in an international series months before joining us. Our team lends itself to poor performance because we don’t play as a team.

That he was the best player in an intl is your opinion which is problematic

 

[user118245]

every warrington fan in his comment is begging him to stay, richo work some magic, maybe a swap deal?

 

[balmain boy]

Is this a rumour or fact that we signed someone from them?

Wasn't Doorey rumoured a while back?

 

[BAGNF05]

That he was the best player in an intl is your opinion which is problematic

Several commentators described his performances as elite against a strong Tongan pack.

At his best, he’s a good footy player. Getting that out of him, and everyone else, is WT challenge.