Signings, Suggestions & Rumours Discussion

[Tiger Stripes]

True and as I said it’s possible Benji let’s Luai play what he sees and doesn’t ask him to reel it in when it gets too chaotic too often.
As a few posts have pointed out, Luai played much more controlled when playing 7 for the Panthers in 2024.
I don’t think Ivan Cleary would accept a frantic eyes up style of play too often on the 5th tackle.

Luai had to do all the thinking on his own. No Reynolds, Cleary, DCE at WT.
Surrounded by brain dead robots or inexperienced players.
That's why if AD is the lock and Madden works out to be an OK half there will be 3 players providing options, especially in the red zone. Grubber kicks, punts to the wing, cut out passes etc.
We were a one-horse show in the red zone this year.

 

[poopy_diaper]

Out of the blue I was able to chat to Mat Burton today. Great guy. So down to earth. Put the hard word on him when he was going to sign for the tigers…

Not anytime soon haha.

But he did say we had a better year and Luai was good for us and was a tigers fan as a kid.

I was a bit cheeky and said there’s plenty of competition for spots at the doggies so are you aiming for the 6. “He’ll play where ever the team needs him”.

Seems every player in the NRL was a Tigers fan.

 

[The Chad]

Given what is left available, Tigers should look at Mason Teague & Joey Lussick for depth. Teague could play #13 & #9 & Lussick could be a KOE deal #9 for added depth.

Teague was linked to return to the Panthers, but signing the Warriors KOE #13 Goings probably puts a pin in that.

 

[upthetigers]

Out of the blue I was able to chat to Mat Burton today. Great guy. So down to earth. Put the hard word on him when he was going to sign for the tigers…

Not anytime soon haha.

But he did say we had a better year and Luai was good for us and was a tigers fan as a kid.

I was a bit cheeky and said there’s plenty of competition for spots at the doggies so are you aiming for the 6. “He’ll play where ever the team needs him”.

Who would you say is a better player. Matt Burton or AD? And yes it's a serious question.

 

[Tiger_Yoshi]

Who would you say is a better player. Matt Burton or AD? And yes it's a serious question.

Burton doesnt have AD's smarts.....

 

[crazycat]

Why get rid of Staines then? Staines was a reliable back up, good defender and if he was outside better centres would have been a more potent attacker. It seems this Parra & Souths reject just can't crack it in first grade, can't see him making our top team anytime soon....unless we have a bad run with injuries.

This bothers me too.

Look I won't say Staines is a good defender, but he could cross the line.
As a backup fullback/wing he is decent. Plus he had a known combination with Taylan May.

I am guessing Staines must have wanted too much coin, and was behind Skelton/Turuva.

Hopefully this signing is just a filler for the top 30. Taylan May will have brainfarts, so we need a replacement ready.

 

[Tiger-ferret]

Who would you say is a better player. Matt Burton or AD? And yes it's a serious question.

I’d take burtos bomb and his reliability any day of the week. Will douehi ever make origin?

 

[Jolls]

I’d take burtos bomb and his reliability any day of the week. Will douehi ever make origin?

Can Burto play 13 - that is our biggiest hole at present.

 

[sparky Steve]

Guy's if you watch the the interview with Benji on the May day pod cast you will get a good insight on why players are signing with us and what Benji has in mind. Also the one with Api is good.

 

[crazycat]

Who would you say is a better player. Matt Burton or AD? And yes it's a serious question.

Burton by a good country mile.

Better defense, which has been AD's weakness.
Better kicking/game management. AD has really only been a half for a tiny handful of games.

AD has better fitness and better leadership.

 

[PabloX]

This bothers me too.

Look I won't say Staines is a good defender, but he could cross the line.
As a backup fullback/wing he is decent. Plus he had a known combination with Taylan May.

I am guessing Staines must have wanted too much coin, and was behind Skelton/Turuva.

Hopefully this signing is just a filler for the top 30. Taylan May will have brainfarts, so we need a replacement ready.

Is he worth one of the two remaining top thirty spots we have left??

Personally, I don't think so. Yes he could finish off a backline play, but that's the easiest part of a wingers job. The tough stuff he goes missing. He's very replaceable

 

[Betterdays22]

Guy's if you watch the the interview with Benji on the May day pod cast you will get a good insight on why players are signing with us and what Benji has in mind. Also the one with Api is good.

Benji's interpersonal skills and leadership have never been in question. Its the Xs and Os coaching where there are doubts. Luckily the latter is much easier to teach than the former.

 

[TheEnz]

Is he worth one of the two remaining top thirty spots we have left??

Personally, I don't think so. Yes he could finish off a backline play, but that's the easiest part of a wingers job. The tough stuff he goes missing. He's very replaceable

Gets dominated in the tough stuff.

 

[Nonotmeagain]

This bothers me too.

Look I won't say Staines is a good defender, but he could cross the line.
As a backup fullback/wing he is decent. Plus he had a known combination with Taylan May.

I am guessing Staines must have wanted too much coin, and was behind Skelton/Turuva.

Hopefully this signing is just a filler for the top 30. Taylan May will have brainfarts, so we need a replacement ready.

The guy is TRIALLING for a NSW Cup contract - nowhere has there been a mention of a top 30 spot being considered. There's always plenty of triallists at clubs - most of them don't go anywhere.

 

[Jolls]

Luai had to do all the thinking on his own. No Reynolds, Cleary, DCE at WT.
Surrounded by brain dead robots or inexperienced players.
That's why if AD is the lock and Madden works out to be an OK half there will be 3 players providing options, especially in the red zone. Grubber kicks, punts to the wing, cut out passes etc.
We were a one-horse show in the red zone this year.

I would add that any play what you see type player is better the more time and space they have. Our pack does not provide time and space - especially in the red zone where the defensive pressure is increased.

We lack the ability to take the focus off our single playmaker.

Give them a couple of more headaches to worry about and the defensive intensity has to be disapated across the threats. Madden has the best kicking game out of all of the halves we have. Add a bash and barge threat in Royce/Bunty, an offload to a running lock from May/Bunty, a running ball playing 13, two good kick options and two centre options for a 5th tackle shift and we are now talking about a complex beast to deal with.

We need to put our one dimensional 2025 season behind us and focus on where we need to be. We are getting closer but we are still short in the pack.

 

[vlad]

I’d take burtos bomb and his reliability any day of the week. Will douehi ever make origin?

Would Burto make origin if he played for the tigers ?

 

[crazycat]

Is he worth one of the two remaining top thirty spots we have left??

Personally, I don't think so. Yes he could finish off a backline play, but that's the easiest part of a wingers job. The tough stuff he goes missing. He's very replaceable

Unsure if you are talking Charlie Staines or Max Lehmann.. But I think that makes the point.

Charlie Staines > Max Lehmann... That said, I believe Charlie was on 400k. Trading down as I am pretty sure Max Lehmann is worth 150k makes sense. Free up cap for the top 13

 

[yeti]

Seems every player in the NRL was a Tigers fan.

They're only human!

 

[jadtiger]

Seems every player in the NRL was a Tigers fan.

Undoubtedly the "Benji" factor,it is just a tragedy that our club has not used his excitement and talent at his best to attract better player quality over the years.
A missed opportunity mainly because of our short sighted and useless management (thanks HBG)

 

[Kelce68]

Richo has a poor record getting these deals done.
The more it drags on, the more likely he goes.

I don't see it the same mate.

Doueihi, Luai, Taylan, all those negotiations dragged on for quite a while and he got them all done.

I can't think of too many he missed, barring the obvious Galvin situation.