Signings, Suggestions & Rumours Discussion

[Canadian Club]

I would suggest they have looked who we have off contract & taken a stab... We haven't got TayMay locked in for next year. That's priority 1... Naden or Staines maybe... But only one of them... Porter no given he hasn't played NRL this year & is only a development deals currently

I would say that Taylan re-signing is just a formality and will be announced with Terrells upgrade and extension (reported they were trying to do that a few weeks ago). I assume Porter would be a Cup re-signing and needs to fit in the second tier cap.

We would easily still have plenty of money in the cap, but the decision for Naden and Staines would be around how much we are willing to spend on players 18-30 on the roster.

The way that clubs set up their salary cap is that they generally set a $$$ amount for each spot 1-30. They then match the player to the spot and money. Ivan, Gus, Brandy and a few other coaches/administrators have all spoken about it. I spoke to someone at a club a couple years ago who gave me a pretty detailed breakdown as to how they manage it. Every club is different in how they do it, but it always follows the same principles.

For example a club that is top heavy like Melbourne might only have 300k allocated for the 13 slot (13th best player), but a team that is more balanced like the sharks might have 400k-450k allocated to the 13 spot. So when signing or re-signing a player its crucial they fall into the correct number/slot. For example you dont want to be paying Naden 350k if that makes him the 13th highest paid player.

 

[Westoz]

Are you serious richo???

Charlie Staines, Brent Naden and Reuben Porter are all putrid

Only one i'd retain for depth would be staines

 

[Demps]

Porter? Surely not 😂😂😂 honestly find it hard to believe it would be anything other than a NSW Cup contract.

Even then a slight head scratcher, but who knows the guy could the ultimate professional, helps the young guys etc.

Haven't heard a mention of Porter in months. Almost all year...

Can't imagine he's that much of a priority.

 

[BlackWhiteGold]

Haven't heard a mention of Porter in months. Almost all year...

Can't imagine he's that much of a priority.

Especially when he has been out-performed by Kit, Rahme, Taateo, Murray & more recently Vaka Aho in the middle in Cup.

 

[Jimmy Jazz]

Roberts is a big boy at 195cm and 105kg

Only 20 years old so plenty of time to develop

Do you know if he's related to Famous Amos

I think maybe the DT is making some assumptions there.

Daily Astonisher just throwing darts again

 

[hsvjones]

For me there are 2 internal signing we need to wrap up ASAP

1. Tiny May clearly is a must so 2-3 year deal maybe with incentives and a clause for bad behaviour as cover. He clearly wants to stay here.
2. Bula - He is going to be a superstar in a few years so get this man wrapped up before it becomes a circus. This way his grubby agent would get commission because he does the deal.

Richo is building us nicely without blowing all our cap on areas that him and Benji want addressed.

I also still think we will get 1 or 2 big name signings before start of next season.

GOOD TIMES AHEAD for a change

 

[tigahhh]

For me there are 2 internal signing we need to wrap up ASAP

1. Tiny May clearly is a must so 2-3 year deal maybe with incentives and a clause for bad behaviour as cover. He clearly wants to stay here.
2. Bula - He is going to be a superstar in a few years so get this man wrapped up before it becomes a circus. This way his grubby agent would get commission because he does the deal.

Richo is building us nicely without blowing all our cap on areas that him and Benji want addressed.

I also still think we will get 1 or 2 big name signings before start of next season.

GOOD TIMES AHEAD for a change

agree Bula & Tiny are a must, which is why they might be being strict with the cap now

 

[Demps]

Ryles planning to name Dylan Brown in the centres this week.

Always felt this would be his best position.

Has Bailey Simonsen upset though, as mentioned.

Will be an interesting watch.

 

[BAGNF05]

Are you serious richo???

Charlie Staines, Brent Naden and Reuben Porter are all putrid

Only one i'd retain for depth would be staines

Is Richo quoted anywhere saying these three are priority? Highly doubt it.

 

[Demps]

agree Bula & Tiny are a must, which is why they might be being strict with the cap now

Our mate has passed on that Taylan has expressed desire to stay at the club long term. Club will sit down with him in coming weeks and work out a two year deal 🔒

CO option after the first year.

 

[Demps]

Are you serious richo???

Charlie Staines, Brent Naden and Reuben Porter are all putrid

Only one i'd retain for depth would be staines

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[Demps]

DT throwing three off contract players into the report for some extra spice.

 

[FrodoTBaggin]

Are you serious richo???

Charlie Staines, Brent Naden and Reuben Porter are all putrid

Only one i'd retain for depth would be staines

To be honest we wouldnt have the top 30 spots for all 3, sounds like people just looking at the last players off contract and guessing...

Current Top 30 for 2026
1. Bula
2. Skelton
3. Taylan - I'd guess that we keep him
4. Toa
5. Turuva
6. Luai
7. Latu
8. Terrell
9. Api
10. Twal
11. KPP
12. Samuela
13. Doueihi - DT Rumour
14. Hope - Hooker
15. Sione - Prop
16. Pole - Prop
17. Seyfarth - Prop / Second Row / Lock
18. Bird - Second Row / Lock
19. Hunt - Prop
20. Madden - Halfback
21. Geyer - Second Row
22. Makasini - Centre / Wing
23. Sukkar - Second Row
24. Mason - Five-Eighth / Fullback
25. L. Laulilii - Wing / Centre / Fullback
26. K. Laulilii - Lock
27. Andrews - Half
28. Roberts - Second Row - DT Rumour
29. Saukuru - Centre / Second Row
30. Sullivan - Half


Our Current 6 Dev Spot for 2026
1. Haywood
2. Godinet
3. Taupau-Moors
4. Murray
5. Broederlow
6.

I'd guess we look at moving Sullivan and Saukuru on... if we can do that and Doueihi stays as the 13, Taylan stays at centre and we do sign Roberts, then we would have 2 spots left in the top 30 and 1 dev spot left.

My assumption is with the 1 dev spot we give that to Tavana

With the 2 top 30 spots, my guess is that if no other backs become available, then we do keep one of Naden or Staines.

The other spot needs to go to a prop capable of pushing for a bench spot. We currently have Taateo playing cup who was contracted to Raiders top 30 next year, wouldnt be surprised if it goes to him... but kind of wish we get Mooney or Stone.

I could also see Porter going back to the same train and trial deal he had in 2024, but no real loss if he goes as I see the second row order as it stands being KPP & Samuela > Seyfarth > Geyer / Roberts / Sukkar > Godinet

Edit: Now being reported that Staines is off to Catalans

 

[tigahhh]

good to see them making moves & getting our roster in shape, in richo we trust

 

[weststigers]

Poor old Staines signed his fate in the Titans game.

 

[Bellend]

Sullivan is not coming back not in 2026 at least wants to stay at Souths, and Wayne Bennett wants him to stay.

 

[Needaname]

Well I’m far from convinced Jock Madden is, or can be as effective as a 7 at NRL level as what Jack Cogger or Brad Schneider are and they are also bigger, stronger bodies who would both be much more suitable to fill in or play 9 if required.
Both Navrik Geyer and Ethan Roberts are decent depth options, but we now have 6 edge back rowers in our top 30 and that’s not including Seyfarth who has played there for the majority of this season.
We don’t need 6 edge back rowers in our top 30 and out of the 6 it is only really Saukuru who you would say is flexible enough to play edge back row or centres if required.

Have a Gese at how many Backrowers the teams around us have. Titans, Eels, Dragons. Most teams play 4 Backrowers at least each game. Is that’s 7 at the club, that’s 3 in the reserves list. That’s standard depth!

 

[Needaname]

DT: “Adam Doueihi is poised to accept a revised two-year deal with Wests Tigers now trying to find the salary cap money to retain Charlie Staines, Brent Naden and Reuben Porter. Doueihi's imminent retention and the recent arrival of Mavrik Geyer from Penrith and young Ethan Roberts from the Sydney Roosters has put the squeeze on Wests Tigers' salary cap.”

Stop it! We are actually using our whole cap for once?

 

[Needaname]

You’d have to think as well, it is easier less durable option to throw a young rookie in the outside backs then it is the forwards. Experience in the forwards is necessary. I’d be less worried about retaining a bunch of backup backs in stains and Naden when you have Makinhisi and Mapapalgi about. But we all saw how hard it was for Sukkar, Kit and Murray this year surrounded by a younger less experienced pack.
We can afford to have not just 1 backup option there and as someone mentioned they replace NPC’s like Matuma and Tumeth.

 

[Demps]

Sullivan is not coming back not in 2026 at least wants to stay at Souths, and Wayne Bennett wants him to stay.

Apparently the Bunny's offered us Lewis Dodd for a swap with Bud and the club declined.

Expecting Dodd to land elsewhere & Bud will remain on their books.

Tigers likely to wear some cost.