Signings, Suggestions & Rumours Discussion

[upthetigers]

Herbert will only ever see NRL with us if we’re injury depleted if we’re just calling it as it is.

However on the To’a earning his spot part… I think he may struggle to keep it in 2026 if I was being honest.

1. Bula (untouchable)
2. Turuva (untouchable)
3. May (untouchable)
4. ?
5. ?

Skelton, Makasini and To’a fully fit one has to get dropped. Who you picking?

Are we transitioning Makasini as a winger on his preferred side or do we keep him at centre on the right side.

Side note: One thing I will say is I was at the awards night this year and Richo did give our right side defence a bit of a spray during his speech, calling them out on needing to be better and it not being acceptable.

Seyfarth and To’a both on that side. Seyfarth hooked for KPP. Do we give To’a a crack still.

It’s a very interesting discussion going into next year….. personally I’m running Skelton and Makasini.

To'a is inconsistent. I would start the season with To'a and let Mak earn the spot.

 

[Jolls]

Herbert will only ever see NRL with us if we’re injury depleted if we’re just calling it as it is.

However on the To’a earning his spot part… I think he may struggle to keep it in 2026 if I was being honest.

1. Bula (untouchable)
2. Turuva (untouchable)
3. May (untouchable)
4. ?
5. ?

Skelton, Makasini and To’a fully fit one has to get dropped. Who you picking?

Are we transitioning Makasini as a winger on his preferred side or do we keep him at centre on the right side.

Side note: One thing I will say is I was at the awards night this year and Richo did give our right side defence a bit of a spray during his speech, calling them out on needing to be better and it not being acceptable.

Seyfarth and To’a both on that side. Seyfarth hooked for KPP. Do we give To’a a crack still.

It’s a very interesting discussion going into next year….. personally I’m running Skelton and Makasini.

This is exactly the dilemma we want - let the pre season sort out the details and have the player that misses out pushing hard for a FG spot from reggies. There will be injuries so everyone will get a run no doubt - but first runs on the board will occur over the off season.

I'm not fussy who starts to be honest and I trust that the coaching staff will sort out the introduction of Masi into grade and the positional chess that goes with it.

The competition and depth is the good part of the story - we do need to sort some depth on the other side of the paddock - but one problem at a time.

The bigger issue for me is around our halves/13.

 

[crazycat]

We need another good
Class front rower to make the hard yards, play the ball quick and keep the Middle defence tight . Can’t see us making the semis without

Lets look at 2026:

Prop:
Bunty, Pole, May

2nd row:
Samuela Fainu, KPP

We also have:
Seyfarth, S Fainu (other), Twal and I am sure a depth signing I have forgotten.

I think this is a "hold your cards" moment. Unless an upgrade comes along. I mean maybe, and this is a stretch you could swap say Twal/Seyfarth out for Nelson AS ... But I don't see us having the cap space for that.

Look you always need a spare Prop and having more props fighting for a position tends to lead to a tougher front row. .. but not our biggest problem right now.

 

[Fainu Brothers]

Competition for spots is great. If
toa is serious he need to be the first 8 rounds Star not the injured turnstile. It won’t be acceptable this year. Herbert is a T&T nothing to lose…didn’t say he is a world beater. Will go good in cup and who knows, hopefully he buys into the culture and trains hard. Boys look fit in the preseason photos.

 

[Canadian Club]

Competition for spots is great. If
toa is serious he need to be the first 8 rounds Star not the injured turnstile. It won’t be acceptable this year. Herbert is a T&T nothing to lose…didn’t say he is a world beater. Will go good in cup and who knows, hopefully he buys into the culture and trains hard. Boys look fit in the preseason photos.

I’ve seen NRL games where Patrick Herbert was ripping in, playing extremely aggressively and physically dominant in attack and defence.
He’s not overly big, not tall and not real fast, but when on his game he’s highly aggressive and plays very physical.
No guarantees he will even play NRL, but on a Train & Trial deal he’s well worth having to see if he can get back to somewhere near his best.

When was that, 3 years ago? Think it’s a wasted T&T spot for an injury prone player who was never crash hot and hasn’t played in 3 years.

Would have preferred other guys who were available like Tui’tupou, Jake Tago, Haze Dunster, Smith-Sheilds, Tony Francis and some others from Super League over Herbert on a T&T, but I guess that’s all we were left with.

 

[The Chad]

Herbert = Whakatane origin of birth.

Benji doing local lad from back home a favour & giving him a shot?

 

[innsaneink]

No wonder theres no mention of him when he signed on