Signings, Suggestions & Rumours Discussion

Lindsay Smith is quite obviously a good player, current Australian Rep and has a rapidly developing passing game, something we are still lacking within our forward pack.
The question is what is is value and what value could we offer him to try and persuade him to sign with us instead of nearly every other NRL club who I assume will also be interested in signing him ?
I reckon his Market Value is probably be between 600k - 700k so we would probably need to offer 800k to be a chance of signing him.
Is he worth that is the big question ?
I’m not sure he is worth 800k, but I’m not sure he is not worth it either.
Assuming we retain Sione Fainu who I assume we will also have to upgrade, I’d say we would have to offload someone to be able to pay someone like Lindsay Smith 800k.
Lindsay Smith does everything Twal does and more! Not available until 2027.
Afoa signed for 1-year, 2026. Then Lindsy Smith for 2027 sounds good planning to me.
 
Lindsay Smith does everything Twal does and more! Not available until 2027.
Afoa signed for 1-year, 2026. Then Lindsy Smith for 2027 sounds good planning to me.
No doubt Lindsay Smith offers more and is a good upgrade on someone like Twal, but he would need to be as he will cost us twice as much as Twal.
We desperately need to extend Sione Fainu, Samuela Fainu, Terrell May and make a decision on whether or not we want to try and keep Fonua Pole long term.
Personally I think those 4, 3 of them being middles are vital re-signings and will form the basis of our forward pack for many years to come.
If that is the plan and it comes to fruition we still ideally need one more middle forward signing while waiting to see how the likes of Kit Laulilli and Christian Taupau-Moors progress.
In addition to that we need a genuine good quality starting 13 unless one can be manufactured.
Twal has been a true warrior,very loyal to our club and I think he can still give us value for the next season or two, but he doesn’t have the skill set or attributes to be of much value once he’s into his 30’s, so you would assume we are already in the planning process to replace him when his contract runs out at the conclusion of the 2027 season, or maybe an early release to the Perth Bears for 2027.
 
NRL and NSW cup forward depth looking strong

8. Terrell May8. Bunty Afoa
9. Api Koroisau9. Tristan Hope
10. Fonua Pole10. Alex Seyfarth
11. Samuela Fainu11. Mavrik Geyer
12. Kai Pearce-Paul12. Tony Sukkar
13. Adam Doueihi13. Nathan Brown (rumoured)
14. ?14. Jared Haywood
15. Alex Twal15. Kit Laulilii/Charlie Murray
16. Royce Hunt16. Jaxson Rahme/ Peter Taateo
17. Sione Fainu17. Solo Sakuru/Ethan Roberts
 
No doubt Lindsay Smith offers more and is a good upgrade on someone like Twal, but he would need to be as he will cost us twice as much as Twal.
We desperately need to extend Sione Fainu, Samuela Fainu, Terrell May and make a decision on whether or not we want to try and keep Fonua Pole long term.
Personally I think those 4, 3 of them being middles are vital re-signings and will form the basis of our forward pack for many years to come.
If that is the plan and it comes to fruition we still ideally need one more middle forward signing while waiting to see how the likes of Kit Laulilli and Christian Taupau-Moors progress.
In addition to that we need a genuine good quality starting 13 unless one can be manufactured.
Twal has been a true warrior,very loyal to our club and I think he can still give us value for the next season or two, but he doesn’t have the skill set or attributes to be of much value once he’s into his 30’s, so you would assume we are already in the planning process to replace him when his contract runs out at the conclusion of the 2027 season, or maybe an early release to the Perth Bears for 2027.
Pole gets way too much hate on here. He struggled at the back end of last year after his injury, but early in the season he was one of our best forwards.

He's still only 23, he isn't even close to his peak yet for a prop forward. Look at where Terrell and Sione Fainu were at 23, they were just as inconsistent and in and out of first grade.

The next two years we should start to see Pole take off. The fact Melbourne were chasing him hard says it all, they don't go for scrubs...
 
I am glad you are of this opinion @teddy23. I had the temerity to suggest the exact same thing 2 months ago. I received some friendly fire from forum regulars, @Kelce68, @weststigers, and our esteemed mod, @Demps referred to Lindasy Smith as 'the blonde Matt Eisenhuth'. All scoffed at my suggestion. Glad to see I'm not the only one who thinks it's a good idea. Always enjoy the affable banter and difference of opinion on the forum.
People were parading about getting Kobie Hetherington to the club.

Lindsay Smith is leaps and bounds the better player and could be a future 13 with his ball playing skills.

I think it’s a no brainer.
 
We will still need an 'experienced' depth outside back to add to our top 30 for next season, especially one who can play right centre if Star goes down. Yes we have 18yo Makasini waiting in the wings & Luke Laulilii but we still need another especially with experience.

I have a feeling it will go to Izaak Tui'tupou given his outstanding NSW Cup form this season & already in the wider squad. The other potential I see is Corey Allan. There is basically no one else available who fits the bill better than either of these two IMO.

And before anyone says Jesse Arthurs, ask yourself why someone would ask for a release to come to a club to be a depth outside back & likely 3rd in line for similar $$$ than they are already on lol
He's a better player than Starford for starters
 

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