Signings, Suggestions & Rumours Discussion

[boonboon]

We need more and better depth in the backs.

Next year at the moment our outside backs past the starting 5 are - Makasini, Laulii, Mason

This year we needed
Mason - 7 games
Naden - 8 games
Faatape - 2 games
Staines- 7 games
Luke L- 4 games
Tuitupo - 1 games
Makasini - 1 game
Bird- 1 starting, numerous off the bench

That's 30 games where those played in the backs plus whatever Bird played off the bench in the backline and we dont have enough depth.

Its not our top 17 for me its the next 10 we need to improve because those have often been the weak links

 

[Batmans Parents]

All 3 points below are bare minimum if we want any chance of competing for a top 8 spot next year. Still much more to do after these but:

1) Better assistants. I love Hodgson for what he did as a player but he has been nothing but a failure as a coach. Heighington was a low-IQ moron as a player who shouldn’t be anywhere near a coaching role and was a pure nepo hire. Holbrook or AOB if possible.

2) Better forwards. Throw our hat in the ring for Davvy Moale, Harrison Hasset and Viliami Fifita for starters and see what else falls out of the tree in the offseason. A bench hooker/utility not named Hope or Mason as Api can’t play 80 going forward and it really showed this year and those two are not it. Haywood to probably debut in the second half of 26 depending on how he goes in KOE. Throw Seyfarth in the toilet and flush him like the useless turd he is. Sukkar and Murray back to KOE as depth.

3) Finalise the backline. Replace Toa with Makasini and there’s our backline. Toa is the weak link, he’s lazy, poor defensively and is a sook. Bula, Turuva, Makasini, May, Skelton, Luai and Latu.

 

[jirskyr]

I’ve lost money on some slow greyhounds

Yeah but that's comparing greyhounds to other greyhounds. Like I'm sure there are average cheetahs as well.

 

[BlackWhiteGold]

yea to’a is the weak link, latu covers for him massively defensively and that’s why when latu has come off injured twice that edge gets torn apart. turuva is a good defender but it’s obvious he doesn’t trust his inside man

To'a definitely defended a lot better in his first 6 or so games this season before he sustained that elbow/arm injury and seemed to lose strength in it.

I'm just assuming he's already slated as our 1st choice right centre next season given Benji rates him so highly & was extended.

I think our best hope is we can recruit someone on 'unders' to create competition for To'a on that right side, the only one I can see who is available & a strong NRL quality centre is Albert Hopoate (just returning now from ACL).

Or rising 20yo pathways talent Max Taotua absolutely shoots the lights out in the pre-season!

 

[tigahhh]

To'a definitely defended a lot better in his first 6 or so games this season before he sustained that elbow/arm injury and seemed to lose strength in it.

I'm just assuming he's already slated as our 1st choice right centre next season given Benji rates him so highly & was extended.

I think our best hope is we can recruit someone on 'unders' to create competition for To'a on that right side, the only one I can see who is available & a strong NRL quality centre is Albert Hopoate (just returning now from ACL).

Or rising 20yo pathways talent Max Taotua absolutely shoots the lights out in the pre-season!

i know there was word that hiroti was re-signing with the sharkies but they haven’t officially announced anything yet. he’d be the best out of the bunch, goal kicks i believe. sharks cap must have zero room to move anymore they have a lot of their squad on really long term deals. he did reject the dragons tho lol players rather play reserve grade than first grade under flanno

 

[Wezt]

It’s us or the Dragons that will get Nelson according to Buzz

 

[tigahhh]

It’s us or the Dragons that will get Nelson according to Buzz

gosh

 

[Odessa]

I

It’s us or the Dragons that will get Nelson according to Buzz

I think he looks good in Red

 

[Glenji95]

It’s us or the Dragons that will get Nelson according to Buzz

Where’d you see that?

 

[jstigers]

It’s us or the Dragons that will get Nelson according to Buzz

They also said that since Nelson is so tall he finds it difficult to adjust his playing style to the newer game but I find that BS as there are plenty of tall middles that don't get suspended. For me he has a low football brain IQ and lazy. If Melbourne can't get the best out of him, how TF are West's going to do better....

 

[Ermo]

That was TDS.

He prefers to play behind Ryley Smith rather than behind Api

 

[BlackWhiteGold]

Not player signing news but admin staff, Wests Tigers has appointed Matthew Townsend as its new Chris Warren as Media & Comms Advisor. Comes with experience as Media Manager at Football Australia, NSW Waratahs & Newcastle Jets FC so has runs on the board. I think it was Matt interviewing Masi on the latest club Youtube video

 

[liltiger]

I'll just be happy to have a squad next year that doesn't allow Mason a chance to play in first grade. Maybe in time he will turn into a good utility, but I'm sorry atm he is nowhere near N.R.L first grade standard. He hasn't got a clue how to read the attacking team running at him, he hasn't got the ability atm to defensively contribute in our system and he is totally ineffective when trying to tackle the opposition. The Titans ran straight at him and he couldn't do anything to hold his ground. We lost that game as soon as Latu went off. Iv no doubt Mason tried his best, and I don't want to pan a young player, but he was dreadful replacing Latu. He can not see first grade again until he seriously develops. It's a sign of where our squads at atm. If we don't see him in first grade next year, I'll take it as our squad developing.

 

[tigahhh]

sandon smith to knights 4 year deal

Kobe hetherington to manly 4 year deal

 

[JB9918]

Ma

sandon smith to knights 4 year deal

Kobe hetherington to manly 4 year deal

Manly will struggle to turn their roster over if they don't get results. Everyone is 4 or 5 years.

 

[liltiger]

T

yea to’a is the weak link, latu covers for him massively defensively and that’s why when latu has come off injured twice that edge gets torn apart. turuva is a good defender but it’s obvious he doesn’t trust his inside man

To'a was caught out covering for Mason aswell to be fair.

 

[Betterdays22]

sandon smith to knights 4 year deal

Kobe hetherington to manly 4 year deal

Think we have dodged a bullet with Hetherington. 4 years is crazy.

 

[jrtiger]

Think we have dodged a bullet with Hetherington. 4 years is crazy.

speaks to how dire the market is currently.

 

[WesternSuburbsBoy]

Think we have dodged a bullet with Hetherington. 4 years is crazy.

We should make a play for Caleb Navale... seems like his pathway is a bit blocked now.

 

[Tigers_Wests]

speaks to how dire the market is currently.

What are your thoughts on going after Moale @jrtiger ?