Matulino does not deserve to be put in the same category as Tamou and Klemmer as he tried his heart out for us (no self preservation) and nor does Packer as he was only interested in collection his pension.
Signings, Suggestions & Rumours Discussion
- Thread starter MacDougall
- Start date
Rock Hopper Steve
Well-known member
Probably hinges on Bird's future, if he is here next season we will probably only have room for a depth forward, disappointing but needed and have to live with it.
He meant the out house
Rock Hopper Steve
Well-known member
Boutique Point Piper out house, start bidding at 300k lol.
I'm not making any comment on anyone's effort or character. What I'm saying is every time we sign "the experienced pack leader we need" they turn out to be one or more of past it, crocked or not interested. I can't see any reason to imagine Asofa-Solomona would be any different.
Tucker
Well-known member
What do you suggest then?
We can’t keep going into seasons with Alex Twal as our starting prop.
Don’t get me wrong, I like the guy and respect his effort but his ceiling at most other clubs is likely “dependable squaddie”.
Here he is often seen as starting calibre.
We need guys who will push him and others down the pecking order. Not young blokes he has to train, who may come good, but reliable first graders.
Rock Hopper Steve
Well-known member
Yes, we can't go into next season with the middles we have there's just not enough depth there.
We can't just rely on someone dropping from the tree, it may not happen again.
It could come down to the unfortunate predicament where have to take a chance and hope it works out.
Are the likes of Corey Jensen and Josh King much if any better than Alex Twal ?
Twal is no superstar by either are those 2 who both just started in the 2025 Grand Final.
We certainly need more middle forward depth there is no denying that, but when we ask if our current forward pack player for player is capable of matching it with the top 8 teams from the 2025, we do not match up all that badly except for not having a star dominant forward such as Payne Haas, but there are not too many like him around unfortunately.
However when you match our back 5 up with the top 8 from the 2025 season we fall a long way short in overall class and x-factor.
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Tiger Tarl
Well-known member
Some people are saying we don’t have room in the salary cap for certain signings. I’m not sure why that would be the case. Below is an example of a balanced use of the club salary cap (obviously, this is just a generalisation for the sake of argument).
2026 SALARY CAP: $11.5M (Plus $300k for Veteran and Developed Player Allowance)
TIER ONE: 2 x $1M players = $2M
TIER TWO: 4 x $700k players = $2.8M
TIER THREE: 6 x $500 players = $3M
TIER FOUR: 12 x $250k players = $3M
TIER FIVE: 6 x $120k players = $0.7M
WT 2026:
TIER ONE: Luai, ???
TIER TWO: Api, Bula, Terrell, ???
TIER THREE: Latu, Samuela, KPP, Taylan, Turuva, Hunt
TIER FOUR: Toa, Doueihi, Twal*, Bird*, Pole, Seyfarth, Skelton, Sione, Jock, Makasini, Mason, ???
TIER FIVE: Geyer, Hope, Kit, Luke, Saukuru, Sukkar
*I’ve used the Veteran and Developed Player Allowance to bring down Twal and Bird to tier 4.
Using this, we could have another Tier One player (Ok, $800k player to accommodate Luai’s $1.2M) AND another Tier Two player PLUS one more Tier Four Player.
This doesn’t take into account payments for players like Sullivan and Bateman but also any contracts that are being subsidised by other teams to us. Also, doesn’t take into account front-loading, which I believe we have done this year, so should have at least $1M to spend on a player next year with some left over to fill our squad to 29 players by March.
2026 SALARY CAP: $11.5M (Plus $300k for Veteran and Developed Player Allowance)
TIER ONE: 2 x $1M players = $2M
TIER TWO: 4 x $700k players = $2.8M
TIER THREE: 6 x $500 players = $3M
TIER FOUR: 12 x $250k players = $3M
TIER FIVE: 6 x $120k players = $0.7M
WT 2026:
TIER ONE: Luai, ???
TIER TWO: Api, Bula, Terrell, ???
TIER THREE: Latu, Samuela, KPP, Taylan, Turuva, Hunt
TIER FOUR: Toa, Doueihi, Twal*, Bird*, Pole, Seyfarth, Skelton, Sione, Jock, Makasini, Mason, ???
TIER FIVE: Geyer, Hope, Kit, Luke, Saukuru, Sukkar
*I’ve used the Veteran and Developed Player Allowance to bring down Twal and Bird to tier 4.
Using this, we could have another Tier One player (Ok, $800k player to accommodate Luai’s $1.2M) AND another Tier Two player PLUS one more Tier Four Player.
This doesn’t take into account payments for players like Sullivan and Bateman but also any contracts that are being subsidised by other teams to us. Also, doesn’t take into account front-loading, which I believe we have done this year, so should have at least $1M to spend on a player next year with some left over to fill our squad to 29 players by March.
tigahhh
Well-known member
twal is our best defensive prop and had a great year. not everything is abt attack he cleans up for us in the middle
The Chad
Well-known member
I see the argument for 'upgrading' Twal. I also see the argument that Twal is a reasonable starting quality NRL forward.
What he isn't, is impactful.
Whether it's replacing him, or rotating him with someone off the bench, the club needs forwards that can either turn the game with running/passing or turn it through aggression/intimidation.
Personally, I think with Sione, Hunt & Pole, the club has the runners covered.
We need a few guys you throw on the field when we are getting bullied, as we often seem to by the more dominant packs.
What he isn't, is impactful.
Whether it's replacing him, or rotating him with someone off the bench, the club needs forwards that can either turn the game with running/passing or turn it through aggression/intimidation.
Personally, I think with Sione, Hunt & Pole, the club has the runners covered.
We need a few guys you throw on the field when we are getting bullied, as we often seem to by the more dominant packs.
Richo said we do have money and spots left over but our roster is set unless something drops out of the tree. So we aren’t going to sign anyone unless a situation like Terrell May happens again.
innsaneink
Well-known member
Nov 1....and perth will be in the mix too
Storm, Dogs are others that need forwards
It wont be easy but we are relying on.luck according to richo so fingers Xed
upthetigers
Well-known member
I think dogs will target NAS they need an impact forward
Tucker
Well-known member
You have it arse about.
Our back 5 hold their own comp wise. When our pigs laid platforms at the start of the season, our backs had little problem turning chances into points. As the year wore on and the forwards got busted, our scoring suffered.
Our pack does not consistently measure up over 24 games and requires strengthening.
Tucker
Well-known member
That’s why he is a good bench player. We need our starters to be great at both facets of the game.
tigahhh
Well-known member
a genuine 13 would be a god send.
I guess the fact that 4 of them were actually the same person didn’t dawn on this genius journalist 🙄
user118245
Well-known member
2025 Test Rugby League Tigers:
Australia and PM 13 - None
England - Kai Pearce-Paul (inbound Tiger)
New Zealand - None
Tonga - None
Samoa - Jarome Luai, Terrell May and Taylan May
Fiji - Jahream Bula, Samuela Fainu, Sione Fainu, Josese Lanyon, Solomone Saukuru and Sunia Turuva
Cook Islands - I think Reuben Porter (departing club)
PNG - None
Let me know if I missed anyone
Australia and PM 13 - None
England - Kai Pearce-Paul (inbound Tiger)
New Zealand - None
Tonga - None
Samoa - Jarome Luai, Terrell May and Taylan May
Fiji - Jahream Bula, Samuela Fainu, Sione Fainu, Josese Lanyon, Solomone Saukuru and Sunia Turuva
Cook Islands - I think Reuben Porter (departing club)
PNG - None
Let me know if I missed anyone
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