Signings, Suggestions & Rumours Discussion

[tigahhh]

watching the nba draft , how much more fun would it be if we had a draft .

 

[Needaname]

Telling TDS to wait 3-4 years to get a starting spot when he could walk straight into a first grade team right now and call it selfish for him wanting to leave after his contract EXPIRES just isn’t fair and completely biased for us fans to think that.

TDS has made it very clear…. he’s happy for the next 18 months to work under Api and grow into the position then hopefully take over in 2027 when API’s contact expires at 34-35.

Don’t see a problem with that… the kid wants to stay but wants a chance to play. The club coming first want him as the starting 9 and he still made it clear he prefers stay with us if we can give him the chance to play in 2027. Absolutely crazy for us to blame Tallyn or shame him for wanting that.

The last few games he has played he looked excellent and very comfortable within the top grade, so much so that up to 4 clubs are already circling trying to get him NOW and more clubs are expected to come to the party. I think it’s quite obvious in 2027 he’ll be ready to be a starting 9 in the NRL. If I’m being honest, he’s ready now for the NRL.

So I really hope us as fans don’t blame TDS for this request as it’s completely reasonable, we as a club made the decision to prioritise Api. I love Api and I personally think he’s been our best signing this last decade, but he’ll also be 34. Picking a 34 year old to try squeeze 1-2 more years of him instead of a junior who will look more than ready to take over in 2027 that could be our long term option for the next 15 years makes me scratch my head.

He’s willing to wait 1.5 years instead of going the Galvin route and forcing himself out as he knows he could get a starting spot next week at an NRL club. Expecting him to wait longer than the 18 months and risk himself getting injured and derailing his career doesn’t make sense for himself.

I think how Tallyn has handled this is perfect - he has made it clear he wants to stay and wants a chance to play allowing the club to make a decision between himself or Api and it seems like we made the wrong one if you ask me.

Technically Api will be 33 when his contract expires.

 

[pawsandclaws1]

Fireworks imo.

We've only got Skelton and Toa for another year if they aren't extended.

1. Bula
2. Turuva
3. Makasini
4. Mariner
5. TMay

Wow

Toa has played outstandingly well this year to the point he is our strike centre. He must retain his right centre position. Makasini is an outstanding talent but we need to develop him and that will take time.

 

[teddy23]

Technically Api will be 33 when his contract expires.

34 for the season he extends on and turning 35 later in that first year.

 

[magpies forever]

I'd like to see WT go hard for Mariner & Gagai- probably getting one of them or hopefully both. Doueihi shouldnt be renewed and Toa may not extend his contract beyond next year. BUT, we have to find a dedicated goal kicker.

Edit- I know May is coming in but Gagai can be good depth if we dont get Mariner

 

[Tom Shines]

If we do lose Da Silva, what are everyone’s thoughts on Lachlan Illias as our number 14 ?
He’s a tough bugger, a very good defender and strong runner of the ball, he should be very effective as an interchange hooker who could also potentially play a bit of 13 and be good cover for the halves.

Hard pass from me

 

[Tom Shines]

I'd like to see WT go hard for Mariner & Gagai- probably getting one of them or hopefully both. Doueihi shouldnt be renewed and Toa may not extend his contract beyond next year. BUT, we have to find a dedicated goal kicker.

Edit- I know May is coming in but Gagai can be good depth if we dont get Mariner

I would prefer to keep Toa … but I’m guessing we will know soon if he is here for 2027 or not …. If he wants to go to the market he is very likely out the door ..

 

[Tom Shines]

Technically Api will be 33 when his contract expires.

Technically he will be 34 and four months when he plays his first game under his new contract

 

[Needaname]

34 for the season he extends on and turning 35 later in that first year.

Yes but as the rugby league ^season runs from November to November Api would turn 35 in the 2nd year if he was to extend for 2.
It’s not horrible when you consider Cook is 34 as of last week and is contracted till the end of next year.
Hunt will be now playing hooker is already 35 and is contracted for another year.

 

[Juice]

I have heard rumours Brooks gets moved along at the end of this season … makes sense to me …Manly fans hate him

Surely no other NRL team would take him? Not the worst player obviously but with his age it might be time he wins a man of steel 💪

 

[tigahhh]

Yes but as the rugby league runs from November to November Api would turn 35 in the 2nd year if he was to extend for 2.
It’s not horrible when you consider Cook is 34 as of last week and is contracted till the end of next year.
Hunt will be now playing hooker is already 35 and is contracted for another year.

means we will probably need to go to market then to find another 9 to share the roll with api

 

[Tom Shines]

Surely no other NRL team would take him? Not the worst player obviously but with his age it might be time he wins a man of steel 💪

Parramatta was the rumour I heard to play with his best mate Mitch M … Mitch runs that club doesn’t he ?

 

[Tigerdazz2]

Fitzy was a lot better.

Everyone held their breath as gasped whenever Fitzy was under the high ball back in the day 😂

However he was a very dynamic player and a speed machine, he added more than what Mason has shown at this stage of his career.

 

[Needaname]

means we will probably need to go to market then to find another 9 to share the roll with api

Maybe.
For cover yes but I don’t see too many specialist hookers on team benches these days.

 

[BlackWhiteGold]

Technically he will be 34 and four months when he plays his first game under his new contract

So roughly 3 years younger then when Cameron Smith retired.

 

[Juice]

Parramatta was the rumour I heard to play with his best mate Mitch M … Mitch runs that club doesn’t he ?

Yea wow that’s not a bad shout actually, I could see that happening

 

[Tom Shines]

So roughly 3 years younger then when Cameron Smith retired.

What’s the relevance to arguably one of the greatest players to ever play the game ?

 

[Needaname]

Heath Mason is the new Daniel Fitzhenry.😬

Oh my god, I can’t unsee it.
In our premiership year we’ll have Mason on 1 wing with a big lump of lad and goal kicking winger in Makinhisi on the other!
Already got the Marshall clone just need Latu to spend some kicking sessions with Scotty Prince.
Is Terrell May our new Payton?
Can’t find a Hodgson in our squad though. Maybe that’s Laulii and Bula becomes our Elford.

Haha love it!

 

[Vicious]

I would prefer to keep Toa … but I’m guessing we will know soon if he is here for 2027 or not …. If he wants to go to the market he is very likely out the door ..

The teams on top have good quality outside of their best 17 which creates competition to break into the top 17, that’s what we ideally need to create also.
We all know Doueihi won’t stay with us a back up and as much as I like him, I cannot call him a top quality centre.
So if we sign one more high quality centre such as Mariner or Cobbo, it would mean we have Taylan May competing with To’a and the new signing for our starting centre positions and we would also have Taylan May competing with Turuva and Skelton for our starting wing positions.
That would be good solid competition and even then we would have young up and comers such as Luke Laulilli and Heamasi Makasini also pushing their case as a starting centre or winger.
So to me it’s a no brisker that we still need one more top quality centre/winger.

 

[Tom Shines]

The teams on top have good quality outside of their best 17 which creates competition to break into the top 17, that’s what we ideally need to create also.
We all know Doueihi won’t stay with us a back up and as much as I like him, I cannot call him a top quality centre.
So if we sign one more high quality sentry such as Mariner or Cobbo, it would mean we have Taylan May competing with To’a and the new signing for our starting centre positions and we would also have Taylan May competing with Turuva and Skelton for our starting wing positions.
That would be good solid competition and even then we would have young up and comers such as Luke Laulilli and Heamasi Makasini also pushing their case as a starting centre or winger.
So to me it’s a no brisker that we still need one more top quality centre/winger.

Not sure how this is relevant to my statement about Toa choosing to stay or not… but if he leaves then yeah,,,don’t have a problem with signing Mariner …

My problem as stated earlier is paying Mariner like $500k plus to get him to the club and he is behind May and Star and only sees the field through injury …

Let’s wait and see how May looks later this season …if that means Mariner signs elsewhere than so be it