Signings, Suggestions & Rumours Discussion

[AmericanHistoryX]

I wish we could all live in Pleasantville WTS... where life is black n white and all the people are perfect....

 

[hammertime]

Why aren't you on our board?

Thanks bro. Might be more qualified than Julie Romero. But that's not saying much.

 

[JB9918]

Twas the week before Xmas...

You'd assume Jayden Sullivan & John Bateman's fate gets sealed this week.

All parties would want to move forward returning after the break.

 

[finnzo]

Funny this time 2 years ago most of us were anticipating the signing of Bateman haha

 

[Tucker]

If he's killing it in Cup all year, you wouldn't give him a few games off the bench towards the end of the season or through injury? Not rushing him just because...as in, he is the obvious pick based on his performances.

Of course I would and I did say so.
I’m just questioning the idiocy of people thinking a 17 is ready now because he is big.
He’s never even tackled a man yet…top hat or not.

 

[Tom Shines]

Was only an arm grabbing turnstile in defence, but in most evaluations on this forum, like the club itself, it seems attack is the only side of the ball that’s important.

These young kids need to work for it, and they need to realise that strolling over for tries like they did easily in the junior grades doesn’t happen at NRL level. And the

would have fitted in well then with the rest of the defensive deficiencies amongst the side …unlike most of the others, he has plenty of time to work on his defensive technique

you aren’t really disputing my comment that Galvin was an NRL level player last season right ?

 

[GNR4LIFE]

would have fitted in well then with the rest of defensive deficiencies amongst the side …

you aren’t really disputing my comment that Galvin was an NRL level player last season right ?

There are exceptions. Not everyone is ready at 18. The majority aren’t.

 

[2041]

Wow ,selling on 2 x 2, 3 year contracts at 1/2 price ,sure as wouldn't run the household bills like that. Grants n all pumped into the game, think some have lost reality on the value of a $

The sunk cost fallacy also applies to household budgets.

 

[Tom Shines]

There are exceptions. Not everyone is ready at 18. The majority aren’t.

You are literally parroting my original comment

 

[GNR4LIFE]

I can’t say I have ever seen too many 17 year olds earmarked as needing to debut the moment they turn 18. It happened with Large at 16. Could only imagine the hype around him in 25 if was still at the club.

 

[jadtiger]

Funny this time 2 years ago most of us were anticipating the signing of Bateman haha

Not everybody because some of us were aware that he has never seen out a contract and no coach wants him back after he leaves

 

[hank37w]

Not to mention the fact that he has been shit since his stint at Canberra.

 

[Buttface]

Not to mention the fact that he has been shit since his stint at Canberra.

Or the fact that a Wests Tigers forum member that lives in Pomland ( poor bugger), was telling us all how shite Johnny had become, and not to sign him, or the fact that bcoz of Covid and then international commitments he was never gunna get a pre-season in with us.
Mr Sheens and Fruit Pascals says suk it.

 

[weststigerman]

I can’t say I have ever seen too many 17 year olds earmarked as needing to debut the moment they turn 18. It happened with Large at 16. Could only imagine the hype around him in 25 if was still at the club.

Large is a lot smaller than Makasini and probably won't debut at 18. He could still end up a better player though.

 

[The-moP]

Yeh mate get out there and have a go mate she’ll be right mate, good enough is old enough, don’t be a whimp mate, it’s all good mate yeaaaahhhh!

This 17 years young kid is ready for the NRL .. he will be training with the NRL side in the new year .. and when turns 18 .. in Jul 25 .. he'll have 1 or 2 games in the KOE Cup then up to the NRL.

I'm 6'3" and 105kgs and standing next this kid ... wow .. then to see him run / glide across the field with the ball in one hand and palming defenders off like swatting flies away with the other hand is crazy .. this kid has serious talent .. i really think we have a future superstar on our hands .. !!





From a Rugby Forum:

A day after representing the Australian U18 rugby union side, schoolboy star winger Heamasi Makasini announced his future deal with the NRL club Wests Tigers.

The Tigers new signing has a touch of Julian Savea about him, a power wing with size and speed with a running style similar to The Bus. Makasini showed his worth with three tries across two matches as Australia U18 went undefeated against New Zealand’s best.

But many believe he should have been barred from representing the Australian U18 side with a rugby league deal imminent.

The deal has divided opinion with no right answer. However, recent precedent suggests that barring the young talent might be the wrong way to go about it.

In 2019, a young Joseph Sua’ali’i was afforded the same opportunity to represent Australia in union despite being a Rabbitohs junior who had committed to the club in February of that year.

Sua’ali’i is about to return to rugby union, albeit on a much higher price than if he was originally retained. But his experience as a schoolboy, including representing Australia, has likely shaped his decision.

If he proves to be as valuable as Israel Folau was, that accommodative policy will prove to be worth it. Australia’s strategy of giving the best rugby league talents the highest possible exposure to the game is a good one given the limited options available.

They can’t compete on cash, with NRL clubs ready to pay elite teenage prospects more than what an average Super Rugby player takes. They can’t compete on opportunity either, Australian Super Rugby teams are reluctant to play young players, even outside backs. By giving them a taste, it might create an itch that needs to be scratched later.

Despite losing Makasini, former rugby league legend Brad Fittler’s son Zach has decided to stay in union and take a development deal with the Waratahs. An inside centre, Fittler featured off the bench briefly on the New Zealand tour.

 

[Tom Shines]

At Wests Tigers, yes. At another club, he would’ve played much fewer games. Bellamy would’ve had him focusing on fixing his issues like he did with Jack Howarth for a couple of seasons. Similar with Sam Walker at Roosters in his debut year. Unfortunately, Wests Tigers didn’t have that luxury with suspensions and injuries, or flat out refused to consider a player.

we’ll agree to disagree…he may have been beaten out by better players at other clubs … but it doesn’t mean what he showed wasn’t NRL standard …. Gus Gould spent most of the year slobbering all over him .., but what does he know

 

[Tucker]

I'm 6'3" and 105kgs and standing next this kid ... wow .. then to see him run / glide across the field with the ball in one hand

He’d want to cut that shit out of his game.

. this kid has serious talent .. i really think we have a future superstar on our hands ..

That’s great. Let’s develop him correctly and ensure he reaches that potential.
What is his defence like? Have to see him defending against men before labelling him ready.

 

[GNR4LIFE]

It is true that he only originally debuted cos we had no one else. At a team like Melbourne, he’d be eased in.

 

[Tiger Stripes]

Large is a lot smaller than Makasini and probably won't debut at 18. He could still end up a better player though.

Better than Latu?

 

[weststigerman]

Better than Latu?

Much faster, but didn't dominate the lower grades the way Latu did. He could be better, but has a lot of work to do as a playmaker.