Signings, Suggestions & Rumours Discussion

[Whatson]

Thanks for the replies guys, but my point is the top 30 and supplementary roster for 2026 is unbalanced. Yes, those backs departed are not consistent NRL players, and a couple them aren't even NRL players at all, but all 5 of them were in the 36 and not one has been replaced in terms of like for like in these positions. There's not even one back in the supplementary list next year - Tapau-Moors, Godinet, Murray, Roberts, Broederlow, Haywood. Do we think Tu'itupou (at 29), and Mapapalangi (at 23) are going to want to stay on T&T making $1200 per week before tax?

From other posters counts, 3 positions are available in the top 36 for 2026, and it's agreed by many here that at least one has to be an NRL-ready prop. The team was dominated in this area in many games. And look at the middles in the roster at the moment (alphabetical order):
Bird & Doueihi (utilities), Broederlow, Sione Fainu, Hunt, Kit Laulilii, Terrell May, Murray, Pole, Seyfarth, Taupau-Moors, and Twal. They could even look to turn Sukkar into a mid too. The regular NRL 5 or 6 can't do a consistent job, and the rest listed aren't even reserve grade standard. They're clogging up valuable roster spots.

And like I wrote, not much depth in terms of quantity in the backs either. Do we really think the roster has improved?

 

[Tom Shines]

Bird & Doueihi (utilities), Broederlow, Sione Fainu, Hunt, Kit Laulilii, Terrell May, Murray, Pole, Seyfarth, Taupau-Moors, and Twal. They could even look to turn Sukkar into a mid too. The regular NRL 5 or 6 can't do a consistent job, and the rest listed aren't even reserve grade standard. They're clogging up valuable roster spots.

Do you think that is a good enough list ?

Games are won and lost by the pigs in the middle …not by the 7th or 8th outside back

 

[Whatson]

Do you think that is a good enough list ?

Games are won and lost by the pigs in the middle …not by the 7th or 8th outside back

What did I write? The guys that were regularly picked struggled, and the middle depth is awful. Look at the reserve grade teams this season without Hunt in them.

Re backs looking at the Grand Final squads, Broncos have Mariner, Karapani, and then Arthurs as reserve - they've come in after the injuries of Cobbo and suspension of Shiba, and they've done a job in finals. Melbourne have Anderson and Faalogo not even making their GF team.

Looking at some other good teams in the comp, Cronulla have Stonestreet, Hiroti, and Vealia biding their time, and Canberra have highly rated guys like Waitere, Asomua there too. Don't forget Stuart is in because either Tamale or Savage have been injured towards the end of the season. He's been outstanding, and when all are fit, he's a back up.

Penrith have Alamoti languishing in reserve grade all year and then unleashed him in finals to great effect.

Based on above, it seems depth in the backs is important. Tigers don't really have it, both in quality and quantity.

Laulilii and Mason will have another pre-season under their belt, and Makasini is beginning his journey. They can improve. Are they going to slot in when required, or if there is a longer term injury, and do a job consistently? Read a little bit of social media and the slashing Mason copped.

Your back 5 take at least the first 3 carries on every transition to attack to set up field position, and their work on the edge in defence is integral to stopping tries. Fobbing my posts off with 'games are won by the pigs in the middle, not by the 7th and 8th back' tells me constructive discussion is not really the way it goes around here. And our pigs aren't even that good.

 

[cktiger]

Id call Naden and Staines fairly solid with 80 nrl games each...for the most part they were reliable when called upon despite occasional off days.
Players next rung up our our top grade level....as long as theyre all replaced with better then thats fine but thats also long odds imo

Yeah, suppose I was a bit hard on them ... but definItely were never being run on regulars again.
TBH, thought they might have kept Naden above the others as the blokes coming through seem to mention him as a big help.

 

[Betterdays22]

Thanks for the replies guys, but my point is the top 30 and supplementary roster for 2026 is unbalanced. Yes, those backs departed are not consistent NRL players, and a couple them aren't even NRL players at all, but all 5 of them were in the 36 and not one has been replaced in terms of like for like in these positions. There's not even one back in the supplementary list next year - Tapau-Moors, Godinet, Murray, Roberts, Broederlow, Haywood. Do we think Tu'itupou (at 29), and Mapapalangi (at 23) are going to want to stay on T&T making $1200 per week before tax?

From other posters counts, 3 positions are available in the top 36 for 2026, and it's agreed by many here that at least one has to be an NRL-ready prop. The team was dominated in this area in many games. And look at the middles in the roster at the moment (alphabetical order):
Bird & Doueihi (utilities), Broederlow, Sione Fainu, Hunt, Kit Laulilii, Terrell May, Murray, Pole, Seyfarth, Taupau-Moors, and Twal. They could even look to turn Sukkar into a mid too. The regular NRL 5 or 6 can't do a consistent job, and the rest listed aren't even reserve grade standard. They're clogging up valuable roster spots.

And like I wrote, not much depth in terms of quantity in the backs either. Do we really think the roster has improved?

Agreed we probably need another depth centre/winger. I think this is probably how the club sees it though:
- tui'tupou takes Staines spot.
- They will look to develop some of the Flegg backs in Cup this year, by all reports Tavana and Tatoua are two who could step up.
- They will expect Makasini and Luke Lauli'li to establish themselves as at least part time first graders.
- Doueihi can also fill in at centre at a pinch.

 

[Tom Shines]

Your back 5 take at least the first 3 carries on every transition to attack to set up field position, and their work on the edge in defence is integral to stopping tries. Fobbing my posts off with 'games are won by the pigs in the middle, not by the 7th and 8th back' tells me constructive discussion is not really the way it goes around here. And our pigs aren't even that good.

“Our pigs aren’t even that good”…. That’s entirely my point…. That’s what needs to be priority and improved to get this team to a premiership winning level…not the backs depth

Have a look at the starting packs and the benches of the GF teams and Penrith… we are way behind ..

You have raised a lot of points here ..Im not going to debate them all ..

We got three spots left and limited funds … you need to pick and choose where to put the remaining assets …

Our starting back 5 are mid level and we got a couple left over that can provide adequate depth …maybe bring in one more depth piece as I alluded to earlier today above,,,but the focus has got to be improving the middle with a quality piece

 

[BlackWhiteGold]

“Our pigs aren’t even that good”…. That’s entirely my point…. That’s what needs to be priority and improved to get this team to a premiership winning level…not the backs depth

Have a look at the starting packs and the benches of the GF teams and Penrith… we are way behind ..

You have raised a lot of points here ..Im not going to debate them all ..

We got three spots left and limited funds … you need to pick and choose where to put the remaining assets …

Our starting back 5 are mid level and we got a couple left over that can provide adequate depth …maybe bring in one more depth piece as I alluded to earlier today above,,,but the focus has got to be improving the middle with a quality piece

Let's go Richo ...

1 - Bring in Albert Hopoate as our outside back depth (is an NRL starter at his best & covers centre, wing, fullback). His cousin Monson is coming up through our pathways.
2 - Try to pry one of Ray Stone (value) or Josh Curran a year early - high effort, fast line speed lock, strong D.
3 - One of Jack Hetherington or Lazaraus Vaalepu as a big bodied depth prop in case we have injuries. I think Benji sees our '26 prop rotation as May, Pole, Sione, Twal & a rejuvenated injury-free Hunt.

 

[Tom Shines]

Let's go Richo ...

1 - Bring in Albert Hopoate as our outside back depth (is an NRL starter at his best & covers centre, wing, fullback). His cousin Monson is coming up through our pathways.
2 - Try to pry one of Ray Stone (value) or Josh Curran a year early - high effort, fast line speed lock, strong D.
3 - One of Jack Hetherington or Lazaraus Vaalepu as a big bodied depth prop in case we have injuries. I think Benji sees our '26 prop rotation as May, Pole, Sione, Twal & a rejuvenated injury-free Hunt.

I’ll take some of these moves…we need a bigger name to add to that prop rotation …I don’t know what’s happened to Pole…. If they can get someone better instead …they should see if the Storm want Pole to free up some cash…

I hope Richo was playing mind games when he said the squad was settled..he has got to keep churning …

 

[Flippedy]

I think Madge can coach but he can’t build a roster from scratch. He was definitely hindered here with cap issues & was trying to coach blokes who signed to play under Ivan & we can all agree 2 very different styles. The thing that concerned me was his game plan mimicked that of his time at Souths & we didn’t have the firepower in the forwards to be affective and he didn’t change it to adapt to his squad strengths. Good luck to him in GF though as I think he genuinely cared for the club

People also forget that his time with Souths didn’t end well either.

 

[Flippedy]

Richo needs to be scouting the bush areas for a lunatic prop or back rower.

 

[GNR4LIFE]

Richo needs to be scouting the bush areas for a lunatic prop or back rower.

Not sure so many are hung up on wanting aggression. Especially in today’s game. I’ll just take a prop or back rower that can play.

 

[Dr_Ice]

Taylan (tiny) plays in centres
Terrell plays prop
Tyrone is irrelevant and plays in England

Centres are smaller than props, so remember the centre as tiny

The confusing thing is that in all my teams “Tiny” was the biggest, like “Rowdy” is the quiet one etc

 

[innsaneink]

Hoping we recruit starting quality forwards or any position is probably equivalent or less chance than hoping our current players can improve a few rungs next year

 

[Tom Shines]

Hoping we recruit starting quality forwards or any position is probably equivalent or less chance than hoping our current players can improve a few rungs next year

Perhaps we can hope for both ….