Signings, Suggestions & Rumours Discussion

[426Tlgerland]

That’s correct we need a couple of genuine good standard or better players who are automatic selections in our top 17 to allow us to make the top 8, but we have missed the boat, no more of those players available.
Therefore a couple of depth insurance type of players might at least allow us to finish 9th - 12th rather than finishing worse than that if we don’t improve our depth.

Elliot and Jack H from Newcastle would be in the price range no problem , I would think both at $ 250/300 each leaving $:200 for another , we need players in position both these guys are what we need position wise

 

[PabloX]

Albert Hoppa has been released from the Raiders. He's better than most of the outside backs we have in KOE. Is he worth a shot with his injury history?

 

[GNR4LIFE]

Absolutely.., I see Parra have to pay him $600k next year …: I wouldn’t be looking at all to help them out with that …. Matterson will be Russel Packer Mark 2 next year … collecting a pay check to play NSW Cup …

Don’t think any club will show any interest in him. Think he’s been damaged goods ever since he took a suspension over a fine. Out for himself.

 

[Demps]

Albert Hoppa has been released from the Raiders. He's better than most of the outside backs we have in KOE. Is he worth a shot with his injury history?

Would take him...

 

[clontarfkid]

So your theory is that players at the positions of need aren’t currently available … so recruit someone else ? I keep saying we got limited resources…likely around $700- 800k and three spots left … so best to wait until someone does become available like May did last year …we need an impact player in the middle … not more “depth “…. Do you think any of those depth players will move the needle next year ?

Clearly, we need more from him.
Our middles become less effective as the game wears on as they are being asked to shoulder far too much load.
We can’t have a bloke sitting on his arse for 3/4 of the game. This isn’t a pussy sport like NFL where bludgers are celebrated.
We have to get rid of this guy and get some proper big minute footballers in to replace him.

..or play him longer minutesLose just a little bit of weight..improve a lot of his fitness
Were not getting bang for our buck atm

 

[clontarfkid]

Elliot and Jack H from Newcastle would be in the price range no problem , I would think both at $ 250/300 each leaving $:200 for another , we need players in position both these guys are what we need position wise

Elliot turns 31 next month...been good,but has fallen away over recent years.
Hetherington turns 30 next year and hasnt really cut it as a 1stgrader at any of the 4 clubs hes been with already,and incurs a t of penalties
Buy one decent middle and improve Kit to become one

 

[Betterdays22]

Elliot turns 31 next month...been good,but has fallen away over recent years.
Hetherington turns 30 next year and hasnt really cut it as a 1stgrader at any of the 4 clubs hes been with already,and incurs a t of penalties
Buy one decent middle and improve Kit to become one

So much next year is going to hinge on Benji getting Pole and Hunt to play close to their ceilings (they were both way off this year), getting slightly more out of Sione Fainu and developing Kit into a quality prop who can play 30-40 minutes 10 games per year and not let anyone down.

 

[2041]

No ,.. thats why I want a difference maker ..signing depth players won’t help

This is a fundamental misunderstanding of how successful NRL rosters are built. It's not basketball - very rarely does adding one guy make a huge difference. It's much more about having at least 25 players who can come in and be first grade standard. That's what Melbourne have, and it's why they're winning finals games without $3m of cap money including their star half on the field. They didn't sign Shawn Blore to be a "difference maker", they signed him to do a job.

The Tigers' best players are fine and the roster is the youngest in the comp - natural improvement from experience should make a significant difference. The problem we have is that as soon as anyone gets injured or loses form there's nothing to come in and replace them. Brent Naden played eight games this year, Charlie Murray played five, Tony Sukkar 15, Jack Bird 17, Charlie Staines 7, Heath Mason 7 - and we didn't have major injury concerns. With the greatest respect to players who I'm sure are doing their best, those guys don't get a game at the Storm unless they have about 20 injuries. They're next in line at the Tigers.

When people talk about "depth" they don't mean signing another Jack Bird. They mean signing Shawn Blore so that when Sam Fainu gets injured we don't have to play Jack Bird.

The club has been highly active at moving on players they don't need anymore and I'm sure it will continue to do so, but the reality is the bulk of that work has now been done. Yes, I'm sure they'd be delighted if someone came and took Royce Hunt off the books with no freight or Jack Bird walked away from the last year of his contract. But it is what it is, and there aren't many clubs with no bad deals on the books. On that front, actually I don't think we're in too bad a position.

On that basis, it sounds like we have a small amount of cap room for 2026 and limited likelihood of increasing it. If that's true, I'd rather the money was spent on three legitimate first grade depth players so Heath Mason and Tony Sukkar never get picked again than one "difference maker" who isn't currently available so would inevitably end up being a Hail Mary desperation heave like Asofa-Solomona.

 

[Betterdays22]

This is a fundamental misunderstanding of how successful NRL rosters are built. It's not basketball - very rarely does adding one guy make a huge difference. It's much more about having at least 25 players who can come in and be first grade standard. That's what Melbourne have, and it's why they're winning finals games without $3m of cap money including their star half on the field. They didn't sign Shawn Blore to be a "difference maker", they signed him to do a job.

The Tigers' best players are fine and the roster is the youngest in the comp - natural improvement from experience should make a significant difference. The problem we have is that as soon as anyone gets injured or loses form there's nothing to come in and replace them. Brent Naden played eight games this year, Charlie Murray played five, Tony Sukkar 15, Jack Bird 17, Charlie Staines 7, Heath Mason 7 - and we didn't have major injury concerns. With the greatest respect to players who I'm sure are doing their best, those guys don't get a game at the Storm unless they have about 20 injuries. They're next in line at the Tigers.

When people talk about "depth" they don't mean signing another Jack Bird. They mean signing Shawn Blore so that when Sam Fainu gets injured we don't have to play Jack Bird.

The club has been highly active at moving on players they don't need anymore and I'm sure it will continue to do so, but the reality is the bulk of that work has now been done. Yes, I'm sure they'd be delighted if someone came and took Royce Hunt off the books with no freight or Jack Bird walked away from the last year of his contract. But it is what it is, and there aren't many clubs with no bad deals on the books. On that front, actually I don't think we're in too bad a position.

On that basis, it sounds like we have a small amount of cap room for 2026 and limited likelihood of increasing it. If that's true, I'd rather the money was spent on three legitimate first grade depth players so Heath Mason and Tony Sukkar never get picked again than one "difference maker" who isn't currently available so would inevitably end up being a Hail Mary desperation heave like Asofa-Solomona.

I agree with most of what you are saying. Roster depth is so important. However I would argue the reason for the Storm's success over multiple sides is because they have 4 or 5 elite talent players who improve the squad players who otherwise might not be capable first graders. Would not surprise me if Tony Sukkar went to Melbourne and became a serviceable squaddie.

Recently Bellamy was interviewed and he said after the salary cap saga that he had no other plans other than to hold onto Cooper Cronk, Billy Slater, Cameron Smith and Greg Inglis because he knew he could build around them.

You can't snap your fingers and make Cameron Smith pop out of the air, but I think we are still 1 or 2 top-tier first graders away from competing regularly, plus 1 or 2 serviceable first graders. Those serviceable first graders can be developed from within if the top-tier talent is there. I think we should be holding out to go all in for the next rep level 13 or prop to fall out of the tree.

 

[colinbh]

Elliot and Jack H from Newcastle would be in the price range no problem , I would think both at $ 250/300 each leaving $:200 for another , we need players in position both these guys are what we need position wise

They couldn't even make first grade for the wooden spooners. No thanks.

 

[Buttface]

Just like last year at this time right …😂

The current season isn’t even over yet …May didn’t become available until November

Don’t worry there will be plenty spitting chips when there are no signings on Nov 1.
Just like every year.
I reckon a signing period or maybe two needs to be tried, and get rid of this signing the year before business.
I think I’d prefer 1 signing window at the end of every season. And you can talk from 6 months out.
They can call it Magic Million Month, or something stupider. It would give the losers something to talk about, more media, sell some hats, they can make special jerseys to extort more money from the fans.
But more importantly it gives the fans and the game back some credibility around NRL contracts, as everyone I talk to reckons its Contract Chaos in the NRL.

 

[Tom Shines]

This is a fundamental misunderstanding of how successful NRL rosters are built. It's not basketball - very rarely does adding one guy make a huge difference. It's much more about having at least 25 players who can come in and be first grade standard. That's what Melbourne have, and it's why they're winning finals games without $3m of cap money including their star half on the field. They didn't sign Shawn Blore to be a "difference maker", they signed him to do a job.

The Tigers' best players are fine and the roster is the youngest in the comp - natural improvement from experience should make a significant difference. The problem we have is that as soon as anyone gets injured or loses form there's nothing to come in and replace them. Brent Naden played eight games this year, Charlie Murray played five, Tony Sukkar 15, Jack Bird 17, Charlie Staines 7, Heath Mason 7 - and we didn't have major injury concerns. With the greatest respect to players who I'm sure are doing their best, those guys don't get a game at the Storm unless they have about 20 injuries. They're next in line at the Tigers.

When people talk about "depth" they don't mean signing another Jack Bird. They mean signing Shawn Blore so that when Sam Fainu gets injured we don't have to play Jack Bird.

The club has been highly active at moving on players they don't need anymore and I'm sure it will continue to do so, but the reality is the bulk of that work has now been done. Yes, I'm sure they'd be delighted if someone came and took Royce Hunt off the books with no freight or Jack Bird walked away from the last year of his contract. But it is what it is, and there aren't many clubs with no bad deals on the books. On that front, actually I don't think we're in too bad a position.

On that basis, it sounds like we have a small amount of cap room for 2026 and limited likelihood of increasing it. If that's true, I'd rather the money was spent on three legitimate first grade depth players so Heath Mason and Tony Sukkar never get picked again than one "difference maker" who isn't currently available so would inevitably end up being a Hail Mary desperation heave like Asofa-Solomona.

Personally I see the addition of Fonua-Blake as a game changer this season for the Sharks …particularly in the finals after a very poor post season record recently… Now guys of his quality don’t grow on trees …. But Wests Tigers acquiring someone similar should be the goal in my view…

Vicious had listed his depth players he wanted to acquire …so I understood who he was referring too..

 

[diedpretty]

it’s a really bizarre signing from the dolphins, always thought katoa and nikorima paired really well together.

it is a strange signing. Katoa really stepped up this year in proving himself a top class halfback that can lead a team around the park. Will he take a back seat to Williams?

 

[diedpretty]

I wonder if Katoa is off to Souths now

Add them to the list of teams with unlimited salary cap if he goes there. Plus they are still chasing Fifita.

 

[cqtiger]

So who was the MC interviewing Richo in the recent BTR episode?

 

[GNR4LIFE]

it is a strange signing. Katoa really stepped up this year in proving himself a top class halfback that can lead a team around the park. Will he take a back seat to Williams?

Not as strange as the Raiders signing Brailey when they have Starling and Pattie.

 

[2041]

Personally I see the addition of Fonua-Blake as a game changer this season for the Sharks …particularly in the finals after a very poor post season record recently… Now guys of his quality don’t grow on trees …. But Wests Tigers acquiring someone similar should be the goal in my view…

Vicious had listed his depth players he wanted to acquire …so I understood who he was referring too..

The thing is, if we've got the reported $700-800k in cap room we're not getting Fonua-Blake. Partly because neither he nor anyone remotely comparable to him is available, and second because that's not going to be enough money to sign said player if they were. Fonua-Blake is reported to be on $1m at Cronulla.

Davvy Moale was reported to be on $500k at Souths and presumably he's got a bit more than that out of Manly. Is he enough of a "game changer"? I doubt it.

Meanwhile, a year ago Xavier Willison ($250k) and Corey Jensen ($300k) were on the fringes at Brisbane. TBF I believe we had a crack at Willison and it may just have been Maguire being a vindictive prick that stopped us signing him. After the season he's had he's not going to be leaving any time soon and if he does it'll be for more than $600k. Yet a year ago I'm sure people would have moaned about picking up someone else's rejects or yet another "depth" signing.

Personally I'd rather we made three astute signings like that than blow the budget on someone average like Moale or hold out for a miracle whereby someone like Fonua-Blake becomes available and somehow willing to take unders to come to the Tigers.

More to the point, the reality is that in the roster building cycle we have gone through the phase where we've stripped out everything and have massive flexibility to sign more or less whoever we want. Luai, Koroisau, Bula, May x2, KPP and at least two Fainus are all getting paid decent wedge. If that's not good enough to build a winning side around, I'm afraid we're going to have to wait for some of those contracts to roll off naturally or be prepared to release players we want to keep. From here it's all about value - bringing our own players through and identifying diamonds in the rough. Most clubs, and especially most good clubs, don't make marquee free agent signings every year: I can't think of the last time Penrith or Melbourne did, for instance.

 

[kade7]

believe tyran smith was at concord yesterday , looks after a few players

 

[Tom Shines]

The thing is, if we've got the reported $700-800k in cap room we're not getting Fonua-Blake. Partly because neither he nor anyone remotely comparable to him is available, and second because that's not going to be enough money to sign said player if they were. Fonua-Blake is reported to be on $1m at Cronulla.

Davvy Moale was reported to be on $500k at Souths and presumably he's got a bit more than that out of Manly. Is he enough of a "game changer"? I doubt it.

Meanwhile, a year ago Xavier Willison ($250k) and Corey Jensen ($300k) were on the fringes at Brisbane. TBF I believe we had a crack at Willison and it may just have been Maguire being a vindictive prick that stopped us signing him. After the season he's had he's not going to be leaving any time soon and if he does it'll be for more than $600k. Yet a year ago I'm sure people would have moaned about picking up someone else's rejects or yet another "depth" signing.

Personally I'd rather we made three astute signings like that than blow the budget on someone average like Moale or hold out for a miracle whereby someone like Fonua-Blake becomes available and somehow willing to take unders to come to the Tigers.

More to the point, the reality is that in the roster building cycle we have gone through the phase where we've stripped out everything and have massive flexibility to sign more or less whoever we want. Luai, Koroisau, Bula, May x2, KPP and at least two Fainus are all getting paid decent wedge. If that's not good enough to build a winning side around, I'm afraid we're going to have to wait for some of those contracts to roll off naturally or be prepared to release players we want to keep. From here it's all about value - bringing our own players through and identifying diamonds in the rough. Most clubs, and especially most good clubs, don't make marquee free agent signings every year: I can't think of the last time Penrith or Melbourne did, for instance.

Of course… we definitely couldn’t afford his pay packet for 2026… but I would liike to find the next AFB… because I don’t see the next AFB already at the club …I assume you agree ?

This will probably involve paying some reasonable coin for someone who has been around a couple of years and is on the way up …Id be guessing around $500k- $600k? This is more than “depth “ money obviously

nb - I thought the player that Madge stopped us signing last year was Hethrington?

 

[TheEnz]

believe tyran smith was at concord yesterday , looks after a few players

Doesn't he manage Payne Haas 😉😎