Signings, Suggestions & Rumours Discussion

[rugbygoated]

I think you have jumped the gun here. It is round 1 and Luai did not participate in any of the trials due to injury so this is the first game he has played with the squad agaisnt and NRL calibre team. Of course it was going to be clunky. Galvin also had an average game behind a pack that failed to win the collision on many occasions and with a pair of hookers that are KoE level and still learning the ropes. Out PTB speed was almost a second slower to Newcastle so our halves were playing agaisnt a "set defence". Sure the 7 tackle set was not great but it didn't cost us the game; there were 16 other players equally as responsible.

Api will bring the forwards onto the ball providing more go forward and I expect we will see a significant improvement in out PTB speed. Bula will play the sweeping role and relieve some of the pressure Galvin was feeling. There is plenty of time for Galvin and Luai to deconstruct last weeks effort and develop, with the support of the coaching staff a solution to the coordiantion issues that were evident.

If you can't see the growth in Marshall as a coach you aren't watching very closely. Does he have all of the Xs and Os sorted? Maybe not; however, he is a charismatic leader that seems to have the respect of the players. His approach to this pre season shows clear development and him putting it on the senior players to also be responsible for setting standards.

Our opening game wasn't great, but it is way too early to make a call on the season or Luai (or Galvin for that matter). The first three or four games of this season will be effort based as we try to integrate seven new faces into the team. Our team culture is changing as much as the Bulldogs did; it isn't there yet but it is defintely happening.

We are going to be nowhere near the bulldogs. Funny how james graham loves comparing us to them. We have the potential to be one of the best attacking sides in the NRL, but nowhere near best defence like Dogs were. Which is why we won't make the 8 until we get a new coach with a decent mentality

 

[TV Ted Ellery]

Brooks is a great 5/8, but can also win his team games

Everyone's entitled to their own opinion but it should be grounded in some reality. Fitler was a great 5/8. Daley was a great 5/8. As for Brooks? His record of failure at the Tigers speaks for itself. He can only perform at Manly because he's surrounded by a team of superstars. That's hardly the calling of a 'great' player.

 

[Jolls]

We are going to be nowhere near the bulldogs. Funny how james graham loves comparing us to them. We have the potential to be one of the best attacking sides in the NRL, but nowhere near best defence like Dogs were. Which is why we won't make the 8 until we get a new coach with a decent mentality

Check your stats - Dogs were nowhere near the best defence.

We were off last week; but let's see how we go over the next few weeks before jumping to conclusions. Building a season isn't about trying to win the GF week one. It is about building blocks and hitting milestones: win three of the first five, cut defensive errors, improve set completions etc etc. We need to build into the season to be in prime condition physically and mentally come September.

If you can't see the direction the coaching staff are tying to take the team you are not looking hard enough.

 

[Needaname]

I wouldn’t rule it out. Gus want’s quality players regardless of who he has on the books. Things constantly change so he puts in the ground work for potential future signings. The Dogs recently released Karl Oloapu, touted the best young 5/8 in the game when they paid the Broncs a $500k transfer fee in 2023. They were intending to play him as a lock.

That’s a fair call. Gus could pump up lachies tyres sign him and play him at lock.

 

[Hbom]

Raging troll.

 

[user118245]

Cheese to south’s set to be finalised in next few weeks, 2 year deal

 

[madgey76]

65th minute is not clutch

And neither are you now power back to manly

 

[liltiger]

That's the thing though. Wests Tigers are not going to be beating many teams by 10+ points. So close games will come down to the halves. Luai being the 1.2 million dollar guy (ie. the guy who comes up with big plays under pressure when the game is on the line) could be the difference between us avoiding a spoon winning narrowly, or making the 8 even. The game on the weekend we were the better team and leading for 50 minutes, until luai lost it for us with his 7 tackle set that was something the fans here would bag Brooks for. At least brooks would attempt to win the game

Wasn't Luai that lost it for us, it was our handling errors and stupid penalties that helped Newcastle make they're way up field with absolutely no resistance, that and when we did have ball in the attacking zone Galvin's short kicking game wasn't his best.

 

[Tiger_Yoshi]

moses is trying to beat up interest in galvin
if anyone wants to pay him anything close to a million dollars , be our guest

a very good crop of young halves are about to emerge and galvin will fall back to the field , trying to get his pay day before it happens

ethan sanders and strange

mitchell woods - love that gus made those comments about galvin to take the attention away from woods , who is a star

coby black

joey walsh

keagan russell smith

thomas duffy

zac herdegen -

onitoni large

throw in jonah pezet

plenty of options , the media just turning the screw as usual

None of those names are in our system tho....Large was and we let him walk..... 🙁🙁

 

[SeanT]

Wasn't Luai that lost it for us, it was our handling errors and stupid penalties that helped Newcastle make they're way up field with absolutely no resistance, that and when we did have ball in the attacking zone Galvin's short kicking game wasn't his best.

Luai's defense was good.

I felt that the whole team was off abit. I just need to see some kind of shape. Hopefully the spine stays for for next few weeks so we can see.


If Olam and Klemmer goes I think we need another 2nd row/lock

 

[innsaneink]

Check your stats - Dogs were nowhere near the best defence.

We were off last week; but let's see how we go over the next few weeks before jumping to conclusions. Building a season isn't about trying to win the GF week one. It is about building blocks and hitting milestones: win three of the first five, cut defensive errors, improve set completions etc etc. We need to build into the season to be in prime condition physically and mentally come September.

If you can't see the direction the coaching staff are tying to take the team you are not looking hard enough.

Dogs were 3rd best defence overall and tries conceded 2nd only to penrith last year... Very close to the best

 

[lathami]

You have ignored what i said. Can't name one time luai has ever come clutch? Because it's true

Sorry champ I don’t watch a lot of pamfers games, but imagine when Cleary has gone down injured over the years. Like last seasons extended vacation Luai has one them a few. You also haven’t come forward with many of the Luke brooks fine moments?!?

 

[lathami]

It changed the game. And he didn't do anything as the leader to stop it despite leading most of the game

Settle petal, it’s his first game of the season, first game for the club and first game at halfback, plus no trials! Give him some time and the club to get some continuity. He looked tired out there in the second half. What I did like from him was the contested kicks he offered, for years with the brooks high kicks deep down field for the easy take and easy twenty metre gain. Luai kicked nearly every ball to a contested mark that would of landed where the brooks kick did anyway but contested!

 

[Buttface]

I haven't in the past. I am probably the only person who has fairly criticised his failure on the weekend while everyone is blaming Galvin. I think galvin should go to reserves while luai should be considered as the 6 and latu at 7 if he keeps this up

Latu is not a 7.
We bought JL to play 7, so he needs to do it, and feed the 6 only when he deems it necessary.
No one gets dropped for 3 games I don’t reckon.

 

[rihannafan1]

None of those names are in our system tho....Large was and we let him walk..... 🙁🙁

That wasn't his point. We still have Latu on the books.

 

[Buttface]

Cheese to south’s set to be finalised in next few weeks, 2 year deal

If he’s serious Wayne will get him going.

 

[crazycat]

None of those names are in our system tho....Large was and we let him walk..... 🙁🙁

re Large and other talent in our system.


Honestly what does a club Junior mean now?
More then that, what does it mean to us.

I mean lets assume we sign the next Nathan Cleary, 300k for 3 years. They get unhappy and a greedy manager, they know they will be something and look for a better offer. Sure we may get the first opportunity to sign them for 1m..

Heck we even keep this remarkable talent, what then? Do they develop the best here, or Languish?
If we did have the next DCE or Thurston here, Would they actually develop or if they went to Bennett or Bellamy, would they then be the next big thing?

It just seems totally different to the time of Chris Lawrence. Even then he and Nofu are the only juniors to remain signed for their career. Particularly Halfbacks, it's probably better they learn under a few different coaches....

TLDR, if we are going to break the bank, why not keep a Center or forward at the club.

 

[pawsandclaws1]

No , Jedi Tiger, Tiger Yoshi, paws and claws would also select Brooks,, I think that just about covers it .. out of the rest of the 7 million league fans polled

We don't need Brooks because a Luai/Fainu halves combination will serve WTs well. Brooks cannot be faulted for his loyalty to WTs. Moses, Tedesco and Woods pissed off. Galvin wants to follow them out the door. A little loyalty goes along way. especially if you are a kiddie in Sydney's South West who supports WTs.

 

[Spartan117]

Brooks has won more than a few games in clutch situations. Fans just use him as a scapegoat for losses

No mate, brooks is anything but clutch.

He is a very talented player but not a good leader or decision maker.

Anyway, He's at another club now

 

[pawsandclaws1]

Interesting article on commentating and perceived conflicts of interest.

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