Signings, Suggestions & Rumours Discussion

IronFist said:
The experts react to the most recent weekend, not week-to-week like we do.

Doueihi did some great stuff on the weekend. Mostly, it was opportunistic. He also managed the game well in the second half considering the conditions, particularly his kicking. But he didn't lay on points by organising great attacking shape. Nothing was different here than every other week this season. In fact, Canterbury scored better tries in shape.

I've agreed that Latu still needs to develop as a half back. But in his time here, he's mostly been the third wheel, repping on 'Team 2' as the concord scoreboard labels them, or injured. The past few months have been the best for him fitness-wise. He needs a solid pre-season as a first-team half to assist in the development in his game.

There's no doubt, Doueihi is better closer to the ruck. If he stays, then it's as a lock or back-up half. He needs the appropriate mindset for this, particularly in defence. But no extra dollars.

The big question mark on this squad remains in the forwards. On the whole, they are still a very weak unit. That's where the money needs to be spent for 2026.
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Best summary of the reasons Douiehi worked well in the conditions so far. Well done.
 
Vicious said:
If Manase is allowed to play NRL once released from jail then good, I’m sure we will give him an opportunity, we would be mad not to, but if he’s not allowed than there is nothing Wests Tigers can do about it.
We need 2-3 quality players in addition to re-signing Douehi and Taylan May ASAP, well before we need to worry about the Manase situation.
Talakai ticks a lot of boxes, he would be my choice to prioritise as our number 15 to cone on and make a positive impact, but also apply pressure for a starting position in the back row or centres.
We then should be making a choice of who we want out of Trey Mooney, Davvy Moale, Braden Hamlin-Uele and Jack Hetherington as our likely number 17.
The final recruit should be an outside back as potentially an upgrade on the constantly injured To’a.
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It looks like we have missed out on mooney , looks like going to knights , I hope we are after him and we sneak under the knights
WesternSuburbsBoy said:
Cooper Cronk is helping out at WT's training sessions? yerrr right have you heard the bloke commentate us? he was basically heartbroken that we'd won on Sunday lol
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cone on April 1 has long passed , he hates our club , there’s no way he would be coaching our team
 
Nonotmeagain said:
Why do you think that someone just goes and plays rugby union ? What if they have no background in the game - overseas clubs are not going to touch them when there's a ready made supply of European, South African , New Zealand and Pasifika players who are already grounded in the game to chose from. You don't go from being a rugby league prop to a tight head union prop on $500K a year when you feel like it. The ARU doesn't have the funds or the desire to poach untried league players - they are protecting their own ( Jorgensen etc) or going after the players who are at the top and have a background in the game - the days of Tiquiri, Sailor and Rogers are gone.
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Yep no rugby league props will adapt to being a tight head prop or a loose head prop for 2 reasons they're not big enough and the dark arts of scrummaging take years to learn in fact I'd go so far as to say they wouldn't adapt to anywhere in the tight five, yes would be the odd exception eg Brad Thorn. Someone like Payne Haas might make it as a number 8. Mobile league props can make it as crash ball running no 12s especially if they're in a teams that plays 10 man rugby. Boring as bat shit to watch but effective if done right.
 
weststigers said:
It's more feasible that an 18 year old switches codes more easily because they still have some years to develop and the gap in knowledge wouldn't be as big. The serious coaching only starts around 16 years old. Most kids don't even get that.

I played both games. It's not hard to adjust particularly if you're a fan of both too...

In saying that, only the top talents or guys that came from a rugby background really consider switching. I don't think it's a massive concern in Australia.

The real concern will be R360...we've already seen it a bit with Japanese rugby. R360 will be on steroids compared to that...it's going to be hard to stop players going for a few years to get a big paycheck. I'll be interested to see how that plays out.
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Don't think R360 is a threat at all to league. There's a lot of rugby players they'll sign before they even look at league players. Might sign the odd 1 or 2 but that's it. League players unfortunately are big fish in a little pond. Internationally rugby is a much bigger pond. At the moment it just a bunch of click bait journos pushing it on behalf of player managers to try and inflate the market. It may not even get off the ground.
 
Snidest 0 said:
It can't happen - the RLPA has no power to implement it on behalf of its members and there are no pathways to the draft!
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Kenty was saying on his podcast that the rlpa could agree to one in a bargaining agreement but the n.r.l would have to give a pretty big lump sum payment to them for the players for them to agree with it. What he also said was that the genesis for the rlpa came from an ex player in the 70s I think he said and at the rlpas very core it was set up to be totally against any form of draft system it's in the very DNA of the rlpa so can't see it ever happening.
 
Tito Santana said:
I think what has been proven is that Douhei is required as much as Latu is and Luai.

Luai is a 6 but what does seem to work is the rotation of Douhei and Latu on a case by case basis. I think Latu is more open to coming of off the bench more than Douhei, and both can play lock as well (Douhei can play anywhere really).

The thing I really like about Douhei is his arrogance and run first mentality and wants his hands on the ball constantly.

The signing of Madden is purely for injuries only.

I think overall if we continue to win games, the players will want to stay. Latu gives me the impression he’s not all about him like Galvin.
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Never forget the interview he did a wee bit ago. When asked where his preferred position to play was, he said wherever Benji thinks is best for the team.
 
Jimmy Jazz said:
Don't think R360 is a threat at all to league. There's a lot of rugby players they'll sign before they even look at league players. Might sign the odd 1 or 2 but that's it. League players unfortunately are big fish in a little pond. Internationally rugby is a much bigger pond. At the moment it just a bunch of click bait journos pushing it on behalf of player managers to try and inflate the market. It may not even get off the ground.
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Well yeah...not saying it's a threat...but, with the right conditions, some players will defect. There's also a lot of players in AU, NZ and SA that come from a rugby background and may stay in the game. League does get a lot of players that have played both games believe it or not.

It's never a threat in the beginning. It's usually a slow erosion over time if they're not careful.
 
liltiger said:
Kenty was saying on his podcast that the rlpa could agree to one in a bargaining agreement but the n.r.l would have to give a pretty big lump sum payment to them for the players for them to agree with it. What he also said was that the genesis for the rlpa came from an ex player in the 70s I think he said and at the rlpas very core it was set up to be totally against any form of draft system it's in the very DNA of the rlpa so can't see it ever happening.
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The RLPA, like most unions, are happy to bite the hand that feeds them. Take, take, take, but never concede anything.
 
gregjm87 said:
We did not find any blue print.
The rain played into our hands. Dogs out work teams with a smaller more mobile pack. They could not utilise that mobility in the wet. Our team was up for the fight whilst Dogs showed up expecting the win. Add in a couple moments of pure luck and it stacked up to a good victory. Not the blueprint for future success.
I'm all for keeping Doueihi but I think you are reading far to much into what is thus far a one off win.
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One week before the Dogs played us in the wet,
They flogged Manly at Brooky 42 to 4 in an absolute torrential downpour,
Yet everyone is making the excuse for the Dogs not being able to play their normal open game due to the rain, and that was an advantage to the Tigers,

WHAT A LOAD OF RUBBISH.
 
Dennisspicer1 said:
One week before the Dogs played us in the wet,
They flogged Manly at Brooky 42 to 4 in an absolute torrential downpour,
Yet everyone is making the excuse for the Dogs not being able to play their normal open game due to the rain, and that was an advantage to the Tigers,

WHAT A LOAD OF RUBBISH.
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Here’s the highlights from that game I’m still waiting to see the rain.
 
Dennisspicer1 said:
One week before the Dogs played us in the wet,
They flogged Manly at Brooky 42 to 4 in an absolute torrential downpour,
Yet everyone is making the excuse for the Dogs not being able to play their normal open game due to the rain, and that was an advantage to the Tigers,

WHAT A LOAD OF RUBBISH.
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Bro what are you talking about?

The game was at the SFS not Brookie.

And what rain? Highlights from YT seems pretty dry.

Let's leave the fake news for Facebook and Twitter yeh
 
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