Signings, Suggestions & Rumours Discussion

[Vicious]

T

You will never win a comp with Doueihi in the halves, he’s to inconsistent

No inconsistency shown in the halves this season.

 

[Vicious]

For half your spine that’s fine. Turuva is only on $450k a year. 3 outside backs on millions is just stupid

They will be costing us a combined total of 2.7 million in 2027.
Do you think that’s good value for those 3 players ?
I don’t even think the Perth Bears would see 2.7 million of value in those 3 players.
I can see it now the Perth Bears finishing well ahead of us in 2027 due to them recruiting much smarter than us.

 

[crazycat]

True and that is why we will keep Luai at all costs, even if he asks for a pay rise to stick with us after next season.
The million dollar question is will we get genuine star quality value out of him in 2026 and beyond ?
Time will tell, but the pressure is on him to step up to the plate and be in our top 3 players nearly every week, not just occasionally.

Yes, but there are a few qualities of Luai that I like:
1. He is a sniper. By that I mean he can go quiet during games and pick his moment. GI did this during Origin, where he would just blend into the qld line then intercept or go through at the right point when the players were watching others.

2. He manages the defense. We need Bula to learn this, but Luai is definately doing a fair bit of work at the back. We have gone from a team with Swiss Cheese wingers to a team who you attack through the middle!


Yes, he needs to step up. We definately haven't seen absolute gun moments from him like we saw at the Riff. But we also haven't seen total botches (bar origin). Next year it's going to be a backline he knows in Skelton, Toa, Bula, May, Turuva... so if there are not too many injures he should be able to direct the ball to players who can score.

 

[tigahhh]

They will be costing us a combined total of 2.7 million in 2027.
Do you think that’s good value for those 3 players ?

absolutely? most clubs dedicate most of the cap to spine players and find value elsewhere, Melbourne especially. not sure how you think 3 outside backs on ridiculous money will have more impact than spine players. it’s smart salary cap balancing by richo.

 

[Vicious]

absolutely? most clubs dedicate most of the cap to spine players and find value elsewhere, Melbourne especially. not sure how you think 3 outside backs on ridiculous money will have more impact than spine players. it’s smart salary cap balancing by richo.

We will see.
We have zero chance of being genuine premiership contenders anytime soon with our current 1-7, not near enough x-factor or ability.

 

[tigahhh]

I don’t even think the Perth Bears would see 2.7 million of value in those 3 players.

bula is on the bears list as a target 😂🤦🏻‍♀️ you’re not being realistic to how a salary cap works

 

[Vicious]

bula is on the bears list as a target 😂🤦🏻‍♀️ you’re not being realistic to how a salary cap works

There is nobody on the planet other than blinded Wests Tigers supporters who are considering paying Jahream Bula 1 million dollars per season ahead of the likes of Jaxon Purdue or Mark Nawaqanitawase.
You could also add Fletcher Sharpe to the list.

 

[GNR4LIFE]

14,000 🥳🥳

 

[tigahhh]

There is nobody on the planet other than blinded Wests Tigers supporters who are considering paying Jahream Bula 1 million dollars per season ahead of the likes of Jaxon Purdue or Mark Nawaqanitawase.
You could also add Fletcher Sharpe to the list.

the bears probably would, they’ll need to pay overs to get players. nobody on the planet is paying a winger a million dollars no matter how good mark is that’s for damn sure.

 

[GNR4LIFE]

There is nobody on the planet other than blinded Wests Tigers supporters who are considering paying Jahream Bula 1 million dollars per season ahead of the likes of Jaxon Purdue or Mark Nawaqanitawase.
You could also add Fletcher Sharpe to the list.

There’s a ton of players that warrant being paid a million dollars before Bula. But those two? Marky Mark for Gods sake?

 

[Vicious]

the bears probably would, they’ll need to pay overs to get players. nobody on the planet is paying a winger a million dollars no matter how good mark is that’s for damn sure.

What tells you he would not be an elite fullback or centre ?
He is a supreme athlete with the size, explosive speed, athleticism and skill to trouble any opposition, I’m sorry to say but Bula can only dream of being in that class of player.
We have certainly become accustomed to being satisfied with mediocrity as Wests Tigers fans.

 

[crazycat]

For half your spine that’s fine. Turuva is only on $450k a year. 3 outside backs on millions is just stupid

Look it's fine. As a team we had 1 player in the top 100 paid players. ...

But...

I think there are 1m backs and I think it's actually a good idea. Players like Jamie Lyon really changed things for Manly. Players like SBW or Israel Filau (in their day) justify that 1m tag. GI for instance and GI is better to have at center as he will own the opposing center. ... A big $$$ center or wing that scores 2 tries a game and defends, yes please.

450 for Turuva, who has changed our backline from turnstyles to OK defense. DONE.

600k? for Taylan May, DONE.

I don't think there are any real questions on paying 900k/1.2m/500k?/700k?? for the positions of Fullback/5-8/7/Hooker in Bula/Luai/Latu/Api. There are some questions if Paying that much to those players is worth it.

I have been saying though. Pay up and high for 1-13. Lets get top shelf players and first graders in our starting side and forget about depth for a bit. This seems to be what the club is doing and I think it's working.

 

[crazycat]

There’s a ton of players that warrant being paid a million dollars before Bula. But those two? Marky Mark for Gods sake?

I want Marky Mark and I want him for 600k.

100% not paying that 1m mark for Marky Mark.

 

[tigahhh]

What tells you he would not be an elite fullback or centre ?
He is a supreme athlete with the size, explosive speed, athleticism and skill to trouble any opposition, I’m sorry to say but Bula can only dream of being in that class of player.

so you want to throw a million dollars to find out ? are you realising how silly it sounds yet. he’s also error ridden & will most likely be going back to rugby for the world cup

not sure what your issue is with bula but he has speed & athleticism. you’re just cherry picking it’s not realistic lol

 

[GNR4LIFE]

I want Marky Mark and I want him for 600k.

100% not paying that 1m mark for Marky Mark.

I see a lot of sizzle with Marky, but not a lot of steak.

 

[Mighty_Tiger]

We atre already paying close to 3 million with the Bula, Turuva and Luai combination.

No we aren’t

 

[Vicious]

so you want to throw a million dollars to find out ? are you realising how silly it sounds yet. he’s also error ridden & will most likely be going back to rugby for the world cup

not sure what your issue is with bula but he has speed & athleticism. you’re just cherry picking it’s not realistic lol

No issue with Bula, but he will be asking us for elite player money and for that type of money there are much better quality players available.

 

[Vicious]

No we aren’t

1.25 for Luai
1 million from 2027 onwards for Bula
450k for Turuva
Total is 2.7 million
The salary cap becomes 12 million I believe in 2027, so those 3 players alone will be taking up almost 25% of our salary cap.
All 3 are good solid players, but they do not have the quality to be taking up almost 25% of our salary cap and allowing us to build a good enough team around them to challenge for a premiership.
So we can continue with mediocrity or do something about it.

 

[tigahhh]

1.25 for Luai
1 million from 2027 onwards for Bula
450k for Turuva
Total is 2.7 million

you don’t know what we will be paying for bula in his new deal, if he stays.

 

[Mighty_Tiger]

I know this is realistically no chance of happening, but I think it’s a valid question to ask would Jonah Pezet at 7 and Latu Fainu at 6 be a better halves pairing than Latu and Luai ?
I believe it would certainly be a more balanced better halves pairing and would have the benefit of a natural, confident 7 with a good kicking game, which would free up Latu to do what he does best, running the ball and challenging the opposition similar to how Ethan Strange plays for the Raiders.
Not only would it be a better long term halves pairing, it would also save us money to spend on upgrading other positions as we could surely sign Pezet for 1 million dollars per season if not slightly less ?
As I say it will not happen while Benji is our coach as he will want to show loyalty to Luai, but if we were serious about becoming the best team possible, we would at least consider it.

I agree with the concept, Pezet is more a traditional halfback not a run / dynamic style but also think we need more time to assess Luai and Latu combination.

We also need to be very careful about the culture impact that is clearly being formed. Luai has brought Latu very close this season they have started building a very big bond. We add into the impacts to his brothers - sammy started to fire backend outside of Luai and it’s just something we need to be very careful of us starting something like this.

Pezet won’t leave Storm unless he was a walk up starter 100% locked in.