Signings, Suggestions & Rumours Discussion

[Tito Santana]

Interesting line from Buzz article:

Bula is on a good $700,000 deal and his car from his previous manager.

But it means nothing to Moses who knocked back $6 million to take Galvin out.

Previously Moses has moved Luke Brooks, Aaron Woods, James Tedesco, Mitchell Moses, John Bateman, Dave Klemmer, young forward Brandon Tumeth and now Galvin from the club.

Moses makes no secret of the fact he doesn’t rate Benji Marshall as a coach.

As far as i'm aware, Tumeth is still at the club and yet to sign elsewhere?

Bula - I hope he changes managers. There are slot of good fullbacks though. I don’t know where he could go.

 

[GCfan]

Hopgood would be really good. Would make selections out of Twal and Sione interesting but this is what you want in a top 4/top 8 side

Hopgood or Williams would be the two I’d want out of that side, especially Williams

 

[Tito Santana]

Yea, i have been struggling looking at the Eels going " I want this guy".
I mean there are a few Won't happens:
Isaiah Longi, Junior Paulo...

Kelma Tuilagi, Hopgood, JAC etc. Goodish signings but not worth Galvin​

would rather KPP.

Their center pairing is good in Sean Russell and Will Pensini but our center pairing actually seems to have worked this year. I don't want to disrupt that.

I was always a fan of Paulo but the way May and Pole are playing, I wouldn’t trade them for anyone.

 

[Tito Santana]

Hey lads,

Nothing really big or surprising.

From a source that’s pretty close to the situation, if I was a betting man I would say parra are $1.10 for galvin.

Although we have all thought it. It was as good as done.

Not surprising, but as we all know 6 months in football is a long time, who knows how many twists and turns we may have.

An unofficial comment that made me take notice ‘ it can be hard to be the odd one out in a very Polynesian team and vibe’.

No personal opinion here, just passing on info. Take it or leave it 👍

If that is the truth, that is disgusting.

Newsflash Adolf Galvin, the majority of the comp is Polynesian.

I really hope he gets [This word has been automatically removed]ed up now.

 

[BAGNF05]

If that is the truth, that is disgusting.

Newsflash Adolf Galvin, the majority of the comp is Polynesian.

I really hope he gets [This word has been automatically removed]ed up now.

He also wears Stilletos when he goes out on dates. Smear campaigns can work both ways.

 

[Vicious]

Broadelow could be anything , he’s just raw . Archie Duncombe is a good player , and there’s others much younger . Also Tony Sukkar is coming on I think . Moses is his manager though .

Archie’s body shape makes him too slow to play on an edge, hence the reason he’s been moved to 13.
He’s got some playmaking skills, toughness and willingness about him, but will need to work very hard on his fitness levels which would in turn increase his energy levels.
Brioederow has size, but not overly fast and has defensive issues.
Sukkar has also had defensive issues, but showing signs of improvement.
Godinet would be lucky to weigh 90kgs at the moment. He’s young and plenty of time to add bulk, but he will need to play with extreme high energy and aggression ala Briton Nikora if he is to become an NRL player.
However if you take a good look across all current NSW Cup and Qld Cup line ups, there is virtually nobody who look like they are NRL prospects anytime soon, so every club are in the same predicament as us in wondering where their next edge back rowers are coming from.

 

[Ron Brodrick's Spirit]

If that is the truth, that is disgusting.

Newsflash Adolf Galvin, the majority of the comp is Polynesian.

I really hope he gets [This word has been automatically removed]ed up now.

The Aryan Bulldogs aren't.
Phil Goebbels has made sure of that.

 

[Buttface]

Hopgood used as a lock would be very good for us. Ryles is using him more as a utility forward this year - he has played hooker, backrow, prop and lock during games. It’s clear Ryles doesn’t have a forward position plan for him.

Totally agree, Hopgood is good, it’s in his name. 🤷‍♂️
Ryles is stifling his career. Hopgood plays above his weight, those kind of players usually need to make hay before they burn out. We need to get him under a decent coach (Benji), for the better development of his career, and soon, before Ryles, ruins him.
But Gal equals l 3 Hopgood’s?

 

[Tim Sheens]

I did ! We needed someone to offer a point of difference . Another gain we’ve made this year , is the bench . When they comes on all 4 guys , you know they’re out there .
Hunt is wrecking dudes ! Fainu is creating indecision around the middle . TDS is causing grief with tired middles , and. It’s is creating an all playing lock , but also bringing about of mongrel .
we need to find the next hunt , some 19 year old who will destroy for 20-25 mins .
I know we’ve got some good middles in the lower grades .

When Bird has had to fill in as a starter, I was very disappointed to see the coaching staff breaking up the rest of that bench impact over recent weeks.

Not seeing Hunt and TDS coming on latish in the first half was a bit dismaying, especially when that approach had previously clearly been working. A Tallyn extension must be at or near the top of WT retention list.

 

[Roar_Power]

Yea, i have been struggling looking at the Eels going " I want this guy".
I mean there are a few Won't happens:
Isaiah Longi, Junior Paulo...

Kelma Tuilagi, Hopgood, JAC etc. Goodish signings but not worth Galvin​

would rather KPP.

Their center pairing is good in Sean Russell and Will Pensini but our center pairing actually seems to have worked this year. I don't want to disrupt that.

Hopgood is a gun. Would take him any day of the week.

 

[Tim Sheens]

After flicking around few forums, it has come to my attention that, why can't WT develop / keep back rowers...
Over the years, here is a sample that I can remember.
McQueen - why..
J Edwards - solid, great D injury prone
Idris - well looked great on paper
D Halatau - great player
C Sironen - started 5/8 grew into his body, solid player
B Sironen - honest, never reach the heights of bro
E Taylor - great clubman, player what we need now
Chee-Kam - honest but not great
C Lawrence - made the transition, solid
Rochow - solid but always injured
Gardner - Solid but never tied down a spot
L Leilua - Good player, but lazy
Peachey - had some good games, but...
Matterson - had a great year, but...
Blore - Never should have let him go!!
Papalli - Never want to be here. Finished 2024 well
Bateman - one last payday, solid in D, nothing in A
Kautoga, Tuilagi 2 ex WT currently starting Para,??
Seyfarth - honest hardworking, but...
Sam Fainu fell into our lap, great kid

Our current junior stocks.
Matamua - tried, tried and never made the grade
Tumeth - never got out of first gear "Aussie S-Boys" rep
Godinet - apparently the holy grail, time will tell.
There is obviously others.
So what are your thoughts...

Thoughts, shit happens and plenty of it at WT. Still, I am coming around to Benji as a coach by the day, particularly how he has handled probably the biggest NRL story thus far this year in Galvin.

As such, I was heartened to read above that he supposedly met with KPP this week, who I thought showed enough in round 1 and more last weekend, despite the lack of spark/assistance from his halves and hooker.

Benji has brought culture and drive to WT through recruits that he has targeted to fill roles and more importantly, they want to play for him. On that basis, I trust his judgement on KPP fulfilling his wants in a second rower.

 

[phil1986]

Gotta admit its something thays crossed my mind... and can be an issue.
Ive seen it first hand in the juniors.
Remember scenes from a few years back romey and his big mobile speaker into training and wondered how that went down with other players who maybenwerent into that sorta stuff...id guess itd need to be sorted early if anyone had issues but 4 prems on the trot seem to suggest there wasnt any problems

And TBC, this wasn’t the reason for the ultimate decision.

But it was interesting to hear. Strong and loud personalities vs weaker or quieter personalities can be polarising.

 

[bbobb]

a lot of pundits when discussing if he went to the dogs say he will be a 13 there. I cant see him and Burton as a halves pairing. Would be the tallest and slowest halves in the comp. Burton could go to centre and Crichton to FB but why change the whole dynamics of an undefeated side just to accomaodate him in the 6.

Galvin’s press statement specifically referenced being a halve. Perhaps that is the issue. WT seem as a long term 13 as do other clubs. He will want to go to a club with guarantees he will play in the halves. Eels and Manly have spaces for that.

 

[Coastie_Tiger]

Hopgood is a gun. Would take him any day of the week.

We tried to get him previously, and we were after Hetherington so we clearly still want that style of player in at lock. Also would have worked with the Panther brigade so would know what to expect RE boomboxes 🤣

 

[user118245]

Galvins management has issued a legal letter to WT over alleged bullying. The circus begins

 

[Tito Santana]

We should issue a legal letter for breach of contract for negotiating contracts prior to being able to do so.

 

[Tom Shines]

In the meantime they are playing a pretty big footy game tomorrow ….

 

[Mighty_Tiger]

Galvins management has issued a legal letter to WT over alleged bullying. The circus begins

Moses has done this time and time again.
It’s not his 1st rodeo.
If Galvin sees out his contract it will be a miracle.

 

[Tom Shines]

Moses has done this time and time again.
It’s not his 1st rodeo.
If Galvin sees out his contract it will be a miracle.

doubt he sees out the next month …

 

[Tiger_Yoshi]

Galvins management has issued a legal letter to WT over alleged bullying. The circus begins

Don’t forget folks EVERY step taken by Moses is endorsed by Galvin….