Signings, Suggestions & Rumours Discussion

[Lukic]

Da Silva is very good. Most hookers don't debut until 22/23, its probably the most physically demanding position all things considered.

The fact he's passable in first grade at 20 means a lot. He has good instincts for his age too.

I think there's a very good chance he ends up at least a solid first grader, possibly more.

 

[Coastie_Tiger]

lets just say we loose everyone bar api

in 2027 manese fainu will have a full preseason and be 27/28 years old 🧐 hahah

We can't even sign Taylan with a rails run, pretending we'll get a guy who's still locked up is fantasy.

 

[Tom Shines]

i would argue he makes good choices in attack and and often leads our line speed. There is a difference in their defensive pressure, work rate, and skill set. But ye,s Api misses a lot as well. I would still say he is a better defender than TDS atm.

And TDS is 20 years old and played about 20 games …who will be better come 2027 is the question when Api will be 34

 

[Tom Shines]

Da Silva is very good. Most hookers don't debut until 22/23, its probably the most physically demanding position all things considered.

The fact he's passable in first grade at 20 means a lot. He has good instincts for his age too.

I think there's a very good chance he ends up at least a solid first grader, possibly more.

I think he hasn’t been as good this season as I expected at the start of the year … but perhaps he has been affected by what has gone on with Galvin …?

 

[hodgo]

i agree

Da Silva is very good. Most hookers don't debut until 22/23, its probably the most physically demanding position all things considered.

The fact he's passable in first grade at 20 means a lot. He has good instincts for his age too.

I think there's a very good chance he ends up at least a solid first grader, possibly more.

but i don't think he is ready to make the step up to number one guy. Could he in the future for sure? Again, no one is a certainty. My concern is him wanting to be the guy now or next year. Most hookers come good as mentioned a little latter i.e harry grant, jacob little, etc

I liken tds situation to Owen Pattie at Canberra. They both aren't the number one guy, but given time, they definitely could be.

I also think the club has every right to stand their ground on this. I'm sick of players dictating to us when and where they should play.

 

[hodgo]

And TDS is 20 years old and played about 20 games …who will be better come 2027 is the question when Api will be 34

Honestly, in 2 years I would put my money still on Api. Api has achieved the top escelon for a hooker in our sport. If TDS gets close to that, he has had an awesome career.

My question is this: what does he currently offer that makes him a starter over Api, apart from youth or fear of losing him.

 

[cqtiger]

Where is this south west junior nursery we supposedly have?

They are all there they just want to play for someone else.

 

[Tom Shines]

i agree

but i don't think he is ready to make the step up to number one guy. Could he in the future for sure? Again, no one is a certainty. My concern is him wanting to be the guy now or next year. Most hookers come good as mentioned a little latter i.e harry grant, jacob little, etc

I liken tds situation to Owen Pattie at Canberra. They both aren't the number one guy, but given time, they definitely could be.

I also think the club has every right to stand their ground on this. I'm sick of players dictating to us when and where they should play.

He wants to be the guy in 2027 when he will be in the first year of his next deal ...he will have around 50 games and the benefit of two more offseasons by then to get stronger …. Im not gunna get the shits with a young guy backing themselves… there will be multiple clubs willing to take a chance on him being their No 1

 

[Tom Shines]

Honestly, in 2 years I would put my money still on Api. Api has achieved the top escelon for a hooker in our sport. If TDS gets close to that, he has had an awesome career.

My question is this: what does he currently offer that makes him a starter over Api, apart from youth or fear of losing him.

Well … I would pick -TDS … but it appears the people that matter have already decided on Api

 

[Lestronge]

the problem with TDS situation though ,is that they need to decide 18 months in advance whether to keep TDS for 2027 when Api will be 34 with what … two more years left ? I’m not saying its an easy call… but frankly it’s what Richo gets paid big money to get right …

TDS has been part of their system for years now … they should know what he is and what he can be… I’ll leave the call to them … but I’ll tell you … they better be making the call based on what is best for the future, not now… and if they let TDS go, I don’t want to be seeing TDS running around for years playing good footy like Paps.or heaven forbid in a blue jersey

It’s one of the reason this negotiate for 12 months prior, so really 18 months because of tampering , is such a dumb rule .
No other job in the world has contract protections 3 months in advance let alone 12 . It’s nonsense .

 

[Tom Shines]

It’s one of the reason this negotiate for 12 months prior, so really 18 months because of tampering , is such a dumb rule .
No other job in the world has contract protections 3 months in advance let alone 12 . It’s nonsense .

Yes I agree … it’s a joke and works against us most of the time

 

[hodgo]

Well … I would pick -TDS … but it appears the people that matter have already decided on Api

That's fair mate, and he could be the better player by then for sure. Thats our gamble I guess, we go with the possible or the proven. Which ever way it will cost us by the looks of it

 

[weststigers]

This goes way beyond this individual situation.

What does it say about our club?

It says we have problems, a good, well run club should be able to keep their juniors. players.

Juniors and retention (Toa) are the way we are suppose to get out of trouble. We can't continue to pay overs for players to come to our club, it's not sustainable.

TDS over API for 2027. Api can play a supporting role and be paid accordingly

Let’s Clear a Few Things Up

Firstly, To'a came from Newcastle. He is not a Tigers junior.

Secondly, we need to remember how the NRL works these days. Players and their managers are looking for the clearest path to first grade. If a club has too much talent in one position, it’s only natural someone will move on. That’s exactly why Skelton came to us. Wonderful player and worthy of NRL at the Bulldogs, but he wanted to be first choice.

Choosing youth over experience just because they’re a junior isn’t always the right move. It has to suit where the team is at. Right now, keeping Api and bringing Tallyn along slowly makes the most sense because, let’s be honest, Api is still the better player.

Here’s the real issue: some people want to make a call today based on a prediction about what Tallyn might be in two years. But young players don’t always follow a neat, upward trajectory. That thinking has burned us before (Brooks?). Also, we blood a player, showcase them in first grade, and then they get picked off by another club after we hinge our hopes on them filling a position for years to come. Players from all clubs are moving around much more frequently. It's possible this could be a generational difference...who knows, but it's happening.

For me, Api is the better hooker today. And unless something changes, that’s who should be starting. I’d rather wait and reassess when we need to, instead of being forced to make a call now based on potential. If Tallyn does leave, we’ve still got time to find Api’s replacement in the coming seasons.

About Retention - Let’s Not Rewrite the Story

There’s this narrative going around that we can't hold onto juniors. Let’s take a step back:

Retained Juniors:

Bula
Makasini
Mason
Laulii bros
Pole
Tapau-Moors
Phoenix Godinet

Lost:
Rat boy Galvin

Picked up from other clubs:
Fainu bros
Turuva
To'a

That’s just off the top of my head, and I’m sure there are more in each category.

We’re doing better than people think. Let’s just focus on making the right decisions for the team, not ones driven by outside noise or hypothetical future projections.

 

[coivtny]

I said here a long time ago he reminds me of a young Connor Watson started at 5/8

Let’s Clear a Few Things Up

Firstly, To'a came from Newcastle. He is not a Tigers junior.

Secondly, we need to remember how the NRL works these days. Players and their managers are looking for the clearest path to first grade. If a club has too much talent in one position, it’s only natural someone will move on. That’s exactly why Skelton came to us. Wonderful player and worthy of NRL at the Bulldogs, but he wanted to be first choice.

Choosing youth over experience just because they’re a junior isn’t always the right move. It has to suit where the team is at. Right now, keeping Api and bringing Tallyn along slowly makes the most sense because, let’s be honest, Api is still the better player.

Here’s the real issue: some people want to make a call today based on a prediction about what Tallyn might be in two years. But young players don’t always follow a neat, upward trajectory. That thinking has burned us before (Brooks?). Also, we blood a player, showcase them in first grade, and then they get picked off by another club after we hinge our hopes on them filling a position for years to come. Players from all clubs are moving around much more frequently. It's possible this could be a generational difference...who knows, but it's happening.

For me, Api is the better hooker today. And unless something changes, that’s who should be starting. I’d rather wait and reassess when we need to, instead of being forced to make a call now based on potential. If Tallyn does leave, we’ve still got time to find Api’s replacement in the coming seasons.

About Retention - Let’s Not Rewrite the Story

There’s this narrative going around that we can't hold onto juniors. Let’s take a step back:

Retained Juniors:

Bula
Makasini
Mason
Laulii bros
Pole
Tapau-Moors
Phoenix Godinet

Lost:
Rat boy Galvin

Picked up from other clubs:
Fainu bros
Turuva
To'a

That’s just off the top of my head, and I’m sure there are more in each category.

We’re doing better than people think. Let’s just focus on making the right decisions for the team, not ones driven by outside noise or hypothetical future projections.

Good post, mate. Rational, responsible, reasonable. Not used to seeing that here.

 

[Needaname]

First it was Liddle, then he was expendable cos we had Simpkin coming through. Then he was expendable cos we had TDS. Now TDS is expendable cos of Haywood. There’s a pattern here. We haven’t developed a quality 9 since Farah.

Did you forget about Mania Cherrington? He was first. Then it was a stop gap Godinet/McWrillwick after picking Liddle over Cherrington then it was Simpkin over Liddle then yeah the rest is correct.
Though, did we develop Farah to be a quality 9 or was he just a quality 9 to begin with and the best of the bunch?

 

[Tom Shines]

Here’s the real issue: some people want to make a call today based on a prediction about what Tallyn might be in two years. But young players don’t always follow a neat, upward trajectory. That thinking has burned us before (Brooks?). Also, we blood a player, showcase them in first grade, and then they get picked off by another club after we hinge our hopes on them filling a position for years to come. Players from all clubs are moving around much more frequently. It's possible this could be a generational difference...who knows, but it's happening.

For me, Api is the better hooker today. And unless something changes, that’s who should be starting. I’d rather wait and reassess when we need to, instead of being forced to make a call now based on potential. If Tallyn does leave, we’ve still got time to find Api’s replacement in the coming seasons.

Who is the better player now is irrelevant to who will be the better player in 2027… Api is contracted here until then, and if his form dictates that he continues to be the best hooker in the club until then, keep picking in the NRL side in the meantime …However, Tallyn is 20 years old , played less than 20 games and you would think still has some ( if not a lot) of upside ahead of him…

What is the upside in keeping Api past 2027 when he will be 34 ?

How many more years after that do you expect him to keep playing at a starting hooker level?

 

[TheEnz]

As if winning the game for us wouldn’t have vindicated his belief that he was bigger than our club.

It was not deliberate, however he was probably more focussed on his post try celebration as a nod to his high school mentor now at the dogs and not securing the bloody ball. It was a pretty fitting end to his time with us, almost Shakespearean.

 

[weststigers]

Who is the better player now is irrelevant to who will be the better player in 2027… Api is contracted here in the meantime and if his form dictates that he continues to be the best hooker in the club until then, keep picking in the NRL in the meantime …However, Tallyn is 20 years old , played less than 20 games and you would think still has some ( if not a lot) of upside ahead of him…

What is the upside in keeping Api past 2027 when he will be 34 ?

How many more years do you expect him to keep playing at a starting hooker level?

There's a bit of assumption involved when we try to predict where Tallyn (or other juniors) will be in a couple of years. Everyone hopes he develops into a top-tier hooker, but that's not something we can bank on just yet. The point is, we don't need to rush a decision based on what might happen. What is the rush to dump Api when you don't have a crystal ball? 2 years is a long time in rugby league.

All I’m saying is we don't need to force a decision on Api just because Tallyn’s coming through. If Api is clearly on the decline and Tallyn overtakes him, then great, the decision sorts itself out.

What I’m cautious about is making a call now based solely on age or the assumption that young players improve in a straight, predictable line. Footy development isn’t always linear, and Api is still performing at a high level. Can't we let the form do the talking? Is Tallyn Da Silva the only hooker in the game? At 20 years old, they are still developing. I don't understand this rush to get them into full-time first grade at 19/20.

Also, just on a club culture thing, Api has earned the absolute right, through his loyalty, his actions on and off the field and ultimately his form to be re-signed. You don't dog a legend for some impatient upstart. Tallyn has done nothing in the game. An extra contract for a guy that makes a huge difference to our team is the least we can do. Let Api go on his own terms like the good clubs do it. As long as he's not letting us down in games.

 

[weststigers]

First it was Liddle, then he was expendable cos we had Simpkin coming through. Then he was expendable cos we had TDS. Now TDS is expendable cos of Haywood. There’s a pattern here. We haven’t developed a quality 9 since Farah.

And the players you mention...they went onto to play Origin or for their country did they?

Sounds like we made the right call on every single one of them.

 

[weststigers]

It was not deliberate, however he was probably more focussed on his post try celebration as a nod to his high school mentor now at the dogs and not securing the bloody ball. It was a pretty fitting end to his time with us, almost Shakespearean.

Long-term it's better we are out of the media. He was bringing way too much attention to us. If we won a game it was because of Galvin. If we lost, Galvin was unsettled and could ask for a release. It was too much.