That's fair enough, and to be fair, I need to check my rose-colored glasses sometimes.
But if we are being rational about it, the majority of the Wests Tigers issues stemmed from the way the club was run by the board, with all the leaks, the agenda's etc.
It hasn't even been a year since the clean-out, and the signs are more positive now than ever before - because there's no BS derailing the plans behind the scenes.
I just don't think we can compare the last 10+ years to the year that has passed and what's to come in 2025...
We've always said we are rebuilding, but we never actually were. We signed donkeys on big dollars. There was no thought behind the development pathways, we didn't blood youngsters...
2024 will be the roughest of our next 10 years, I am positive of that.
Re signings:
- I'd argue that Turuva is a great signing - his kick returns in the GF were amazing, he's reliable under the high ball and he can finish.
- Skelton is at a make or break stage of his career as a winger. We got him pretty cheap. So if he lifts his game by 30% on what he did last year, its a very good signing and great return on investment.
- Bird, whilst at the latter end of his career, has been a great player in the past. He has taken less money to come to the Tigers, which is unheard of these days - meaning he has something to prove.... He could have easily stayed at the Dragons and earnt double the money. This in my opinion is a smart signing for the $$ and experience he can bring (in the past we would have paid 800k a year for him)....
- If we get Hetherington, that's a solid signing - we've been lacking a workhorse for years...
- I'm concerned about Hunt, as it stand's he's a liability.. Whether the coaches can change that in the pre-season I guess we'll have to wait and see.
There's been talk we still have a signing or two to come. I am not going to write that off just yet, even given the squad numbers, because we've operated a lot better this year with a lot less leaks...
I have to be hopeful, I can't bare another season like the last 3 LOL
I completely agree that many of the issues stemmed from the previous admin and understand that it will take time for the current admin to get results. Although, I will add that the pathways work began long before Richardson, even if it was largely ignored for the last decade. It is just that it has taken time to see the fruits of that work.
I also think that many of the moves being made are steps in the right direction. It's just that i will need to see further results to be convinced that we are actually improving rather than simply looking like we will eventually improve.
As I've previously stated, I'm not against any of the signings. They are all reasonable and likely an improvement on what we've got. I just don't think they are anything to be excited about either.
I will agree to disagree on Turuva. I by no means think he is a bad signing, just nothing more than solid. I think his running metres are more a result of Panthers defence than his running game. He certainly doesn't shirk his work but neither is he the tackle busting, post contact metre beast that To'o is. He doesn't seem to find his feet and get quick play the balls. He doesn't provide an aerial threat, doesn't seem to have the acrobatic finishes nor elite speed of other wingers. He seems decent enough at everything without providing anything extra.
Skelton I think is a good prospect but was a reserve grader, 4th in line for a wing spot at his club when we signed him. You are right in that if he lifts his game by 30percent he will be a great signing. But that is a pretty big IF. Still he seems like a bloke that just needs an opportunity to become a handy first grader.
Bird as you say has been a great player in the past. But that is in the past. Nowadays he seems to be worth about what we are reported to have offered him. Fair enough signing but not sure how you think he could have easily stayed at Dragons and earnt double what we have offered. He was reportedly on 600k this year which is not double the 400k a season we're alleged to be paying. He wasn't released from that contract but rather the mutual option wasnt taken up. Which would suggest that he wasn't likely offered any more at the Dragons.
I've spoken before about our club desperately needing a genuine lock. Hetherington is that. But he would be what, the 15th best starting lock in the game if he were to come here? Again a solid enough signing but not really one to get excited about and most importantly is yet to have happened.
Someone (poorly in my opinion) compared these signings to the Dogs suggesting all these guys could be part of a good team when combined with other good players. This is true but unless/until we drastically improve the forward pack, see continued improvement from the likes of Bula and Galvin and somehow revive Olam we aren't surrounding them with good players.
I am not suggesting that there won't be more signings to come. I'm just not going to get excited about a rumour that there will be more but rather I'll wait until there actually is more. I'm not suggesting we won't recruit around these guys next off-season and put together a solid squad. Again I'm not going to get excited until we do. Are we taking steps in the right direction? Yeah of course. Does next season look more promising? Unfortunatley, not yet in my opinion.
