Signings, Suggestions & Rumours Discussion

[BlackWhiteGold]

He should, but has proven that he isnt capable of delivering on this.

The loan deal just for the remainder of this year with KPP coming early would be fair.

But no way Richo releases him for 2026 unless we get something big coming our way. Richo will know the optics would be terrible after the Galvin debacle.

 

[Tucker]

I would imagine any half decent hooker would slot in nicely next to a halves combo of Luai and Fainu with a pack consisting of May, Pole, Fainu, KPP etc. He appears to making a quick climb through the grades and obviously experts in the club have seen enough in him to warrant extending his contract long term and moving on TDS, I would like to think Richo and Benji know enough about the NRL to know who is the better long term option at 9.

That makes no sense.
What you have described is TDS.

 

[Needaname]

TDS is one of the success stories in the development sphere.

So he has improved since his first game for us vs the Storm 2 years ago.
Personally I’d beg to differ.

 

[Tucker]

How so?

Because we brought him through the grades. We used the pathways correctly and gave him a great player to learn from, which he has been doing a top job of accomplishing.
This is how you develop a player to become 10+ year legend of the club.
The way weve done it with a lot of others including Galvin was BS.

 

[1itiger]

Imagine if Storm took that attitude with Harry Grant when they had Cam Smith.

I feel like they had more boats in their marina.

 

[TigezTime]

Allowing TDS to walk for Api who will be 34 by the start of the 2027 season just doesn’t make any sense whatsoever.

We have a kid that can be our next 9 for the next 10-15 years yet we choose Api who gives us max 1-2 years left after his current deal.

I’m a big advocate for Richo and Benji - but the handling of Galvin and TDS has been terrible and will haunt the club for a while.

Not getting any players in return for Galvin and letting him walk practically for free, then this.

Hooping we have a plan…..

Just a couple of things on this. Firstly on "the handling of Galvin situation being terrible." Reading the tea leaves I strongly suspect the bullying element likely had a large role in massively reducing any bargaining power we had. The fact Galvin also had to sign a non-disparagement clause against the club I think is also indicative of the fact there may have been a bit more smoke to his claims. To be clear I think it's all a bunch of rubbish but the indications to come from various resultant actions seem to suggest that we may have actually had a bit of a problem re the bullying claim. As such I don't blame Richo, given he was basically playing with his shoes tied together.

On the TDS situation, I agree it is a shame and I understand the fears of many posters that we are losing another talented junior. I also think he does want to be here and if Api was shown the door he would almost certainly re-sign and extend. I think what many posters are not doing is empathising with the club's predicament in all this. Api is probably the best leader we've had here in more than a decade. The players love him (some of them have even come because of him ie Turuva) and he is still probably the 2nd best hooker in the competition. To let him go I think would be a huge cultural loss. In saying that TDS is a uniquely talented player that I think will be a first grader for a long time. It is a difficult decision.

It is easy to continue to blame the club given it has often has made many mistakes - this scenario is more of a confluence of bad timing than poor decision-making and I feel for Benji and Richo. In my opinion I would keep Api and try get Gagai + KPP and just hope by 2027 Haywood comes good or there is a FA hooker available, but I would not begrudge the club for either choice.

Sorry for the long post from a long time lurker that loves the club.

 

[Tucker]

So he has improved since his first game for us vs the Storm 2 years ago.
Personally I’d beg to differ.

Of course he has

 

[Terry T.Nuts]

That makes no sense.
What you have described is TDS.

Or Haywood. I am saying any decent hooker! The facts seem to be TDS doesn't want to come of the bench for the next two years because he believes he should be starting over Api, the fact is Api is an elite hooker NOW and TDS is a developing hooker NOW.

 

[Tucker]

I think the club is shifting the focus it seems to have had about 5 year plans etc in favour of- you need to be better right away.

This is Benji panicking as he clearly isnt getting the results they stupidly thought he would.

 

[Tucker]

Or Haywood. I am saying any decent hooker! The facts seem to be TDS doesn't want to come of the bench for the next two years because he believes he should be starting over Api, the fact is Api is an elite hooker NOW and TDS is a developing hooker NOW.

Show me where he has said he should be the starting hooker now over Api.

 

[Terry T.Nuts]

Show me where he has said he should be the starting hooker now over Api.

His demands apparently show this, hence why he wants to go if Api extends.

 

[GNR4LIFE]

His demands apparently show this, hence why he wants to go if Api extends.

That is not a demand. That’s him choosing to go somewhere where his path isn’t blocked.

 

[bryan2005]

Let TDS go, re-sign Api and sign Owen Pattie. He’ll be an adequate back up whilst we assess if Jarred Haywood is a good prospect.

He’ll be behind Starling and Brailey next year. Steady, no frills hooker with an insanely good long kicking game which we are severely lacking with Luai and Latu in the halves.

 

[Needaname]

Imagine if Storm took that attitude with Harry Grant when they had Cam Smith.

Storm were lucky they had a hopeless Club like us willing to give him a year to grease up and break free of his training wheels. Remember when we thought he’d stay… hahahaha

 

[Vicious]

Let TDS go, re-sign Api and sign Owen Pattie. He’ll be an adequate back up whilst we assess if Jarred Haywood is a good prospect.

He’ll be behind Starling and Brailey next year. Steady, no frills hooker with an insanely good long kicking game which we are severely lacking with Luai and Latu in the halves.

A - He is not off contract.
B - There is no chance the Raiders will be letting him go.
C - Da Silva is a much better attacking number 9 than Pattie.

 

[Tucker]

His demands apparently show this, hence why he wants to go if Api extends.

Two different issues.
The "demands" are for 27 onwards.
Not 25
Not 26.
The club is pushing him into a position where he is now very unlikely to stay here for 26.
That is stupid and didnt need to happen for mine.

 

[Demps]

Manase Fainu early parole maybe??? lol
What are you thinking @Demps ?

Phoenix Crossland,

Back up hooker/ #13

 

[Needaname]

If this is true, it has a very 2017 feel to it when we lost 3 of the big 4. At least back then we were around 9th and had a proven coach.

Losing Galvin, Large x 2, and TDS all in the same year is unacceptable for a club where we are at. All 4 of these guys will be first graders at worst and likely spine players.

No no no no. The 3 of the 4 were all starters in 2017. Galvin is the exception though it could be argued that it was not a long term plan for him to be the starter.

 

[bryan2005]

A - He is not off contract.
B - There is no chance the Raiders will be letting him go.
C - Da Silva is a much better attacking number 9 than Pattie.

A - Galvin was not off contract.
B - Richo said he would NOT be released.
C - Sexton was playing much better than Galvin.

Welcome to Rugby League.

 

[Vicious]

Phoenix Crossland,

Back up hooker/ #13

I don’t want us to lose Da Silva and think it will be a bad blunder by our club if we prioritise Api over him, however if we do have to lose him for whatever reason, Crossland would be a very handy replacement.
Very under rated player in my opinion.