Signings, Suggestions & Rumours Discussion

[upthetigers]

He wouldn’t be blocking Makasin as he has mainly played right centre, Makasini has always played on the left.
It’s quite clear that Benji and Richo are happy with To’a as our right centre, so we will have to see how that works out for us in 2026.
When you consider Averillo has genuine speed that we are lacking, is also a very good back up fullback when required and is also a handy goal kicking option, you would think we would be knocking the door down to sign him.

You really want to disrupt the left edge?

 

[Rock Hopper Steve]

Apparently they wanna moven him on to fit in Kamakamica

I don't know why we don't have a dig at Kami, he looks in great shape and a big dude with some left in the tank not a worn-out recruit that the storm usually let go, 1 year deal with a club option.

 

[batboy]

Keppie is purely speculation based on a report about Souths potentially moving him on.

He's not a great player.

But he is a massive unit. With over 100 games at NRL level. Who averages 85m a game.

Taller than all but Sam Fainu, bigger than all but Royce Hunt. In a team that gets bullied far too often.

If he was a part of our forward mix, I'm ok with it. A few intimidating big bodies in the squad just makes the opposition defence take a peek.

Yeah
- A top 17 with Twal, Seyfarth, Royce and Keppie in it would really get us humming
😂😂

 

[Vicious]

You really want to disrupt the left edge?

No my previous post indicated I would play Jake Averillo at right centre if we signed him.

 

[Rock Hopper Steve]

Yeah
- A top 17 with Twal, Seyfarth, Royce and Keppie in it would really get us humming
😂😂

Mmm we can't have that spare a thought for the pea in the ref's whistle.

 

[Vicious]

Yeah
- A top 17 with Twal, Seyfarth, Royce and Keppie in it would really get us humming
😂😂

Those 4 player are not getting any Wests Tigers doing backflips or jumping for joy, BUT I’m sure you along with many other supporters on this forum do not take any notice of the weekly bench players that are listed for all other NRL clubs ?
If you were taking notice, you would be seeing one, two, sometimes 3 players regularly listed on rival benches that are no better, if not inferior to these 4 players.
I’m not saying I would sign Keppie, as you and others have pointed out his errors and penalties conceded offer negate the good things he does and we already have a few players like that, so another one is probably not a good idea.
However the point I’m making is there are worse players than Sean Keppie appearing on the bench for NRL teams on a weekly basis.

 

[upthetigers]

No my previous post indicated I would play Jake Averillo at right centre if we signed him.

That's what I'm saying, you don't want to disrupt the left edge so Makasini when ready will play on the right. So you're blocking his pathway. Maybe I'm completely wrong just my opinion mate.

 

[Vicious]

That's what I'm saying, you don't want to disrupt the left edge so Makasini when ready will play on the right. So you're blocking his pathway. Maybe I'm completely wrong just my opinion mate.

You are not wrong, it’s all down to opinion.
In a perfect world I would have Makasini pushing for a starting spot on the left wing and depending on his form, potentially playing a few games at centre throughout the season to cover for injuries etc

 

[upthetigers]

Those 4 player are not getting any Wests Tigers doing backflips or jumping for joy, BUT I’m sure you along with many other supporters on this forum do not take any notice of the weekly bench players that are listed for all other NRL clubs ?
If you were taking notice, you would be seeing one, two, sometimes 3 players regularly listed on rival benches that are no better, if not inferior to these 4 players.
I’m not saying I would sign Keppie, as you and others have pointed out his errors and penalties conceded offer negate the good things he does and we already have a few players like that, so another one is probably not a good idea.
However the point I’m making is there are worse players than Sean Keppie appearing on the bench for NRL teams on a weekly basis.

You are the voice of reason, V. I don't follow juniors but like watching non tigers games too. Our bench in 2026 will have plenty of impact. In pre season photos anyone know if Latu was training at hooker at all, Api will need a rest. I think we should ease him into first grade there are so many questions unanswered to seriously know how we will go next season.

 

[Rock Hopper Steve]

You are not wrong, it’s all down to opinion.
In a perfect world I would have Makasini pushing for a starting spot on the left wing and depending on his form, potentially playing a few games at centre throughout the season to cover for injuries etc

I doubt that Benji will throw him in at centre straight up, just too hard for a young bloke to handle unless he's an absolute blueblood.

 

[innsaneink]

Those 4 player are not getting any Wests Tigers doing backflips or jumping for joy, BUT I’m sure you along with many other supporters on this forum do not take any notice of the weekly bench players that are listed for all other NRL clubs ?
If you were taking notice, you would be seeing one, two, sometimes 3 players regularly listed on rival benches that are no better, if not inferior to these 4 players.
I’m not saying I would sign Keppie, as you and others have pointed out his errors and penalties conceded offer negate the good things he does and we already have a few players like that, so another one is probably not a good idea.
However the point I’m making is there are worse players than Sean Keppie appearing on the bench for NRL teams on a weekly basis.

Luckily we have you to point this out to us

 

[Odessa]

Yeah
- A top 17 with Twal, Seyfarth, Royce and Keppie in it would really get us humming
😂😂

200K no more for keppie 1 year and option in clubs favourite for second

But can see him at the dragons Flanno likes big body's

But I think we have better then Keppie at the club already

 

[Vicious]

Luckily we have you to point this out to us

Lucky.
We still do have some people wanting to argue that the likes of Ben Talty, Tyson Smoothy, Jack Gosiewski who were all regulars on the bench for the Broncos are far better than the likes of Twal, Seyfarth and Hunt etc

 

[innsaneink]

Oh well.. lucky nothing any of us express here makes a lick of difference

 

[Tom Shines]

However the point I’m making is there are worse players than Sean Keppie appearing on the bench for NRL teams on a weekly basis.

Who cares though ?

I’m just worried about players on my team …

But now thst you mention it ..I want a pack of forwards like the Roosters…Who are the worse players getting regularly picked for them ?

 

[Vicious]

Who cares though ?

I’m just worried about players on my team …

But now thst you mention it ..I want a pack of forwards like the Roosters…Who are the worse players getting regularly picked for them ?

In the 2025 season players such as Zac Docker-Clay, Salesi Foketi, Blake Steep and Siua Wong regularly appeared on their bench.
All 4 serve a purpose and Steep in particular looks set to be a much better and much more valuable player in 2026, but as of now does any of those 4 dramatically improve our bench ?
They may be slightly better than what we have, but not that much better that you could say if we swapped them for our likely 2026 bench and we would be a dramatically improved team.
They also had Makahesi Makatoa on their bench fora few games, he’s certainly not as good as our likely bench players for 2026.

 

[Tom Shines]

In the 2025 season players such as Zac Docker-Clay, Salesi Fukati, Blake Steep and Suia Wong regularly appeared on their bench.

Improve the bench is not what you said … you said worse than Keppie or Seyfarth..

These are young players whose careers are still going up..not down ..

Seyfarth is in our best 17 every week … maybe Wong is too for the Roosters …he is a good player though …the other aren’t getting picked every week

 

[Vicious]

Improve the bench is not what you said … you said better than Keppie or Seyfarth..

These are young players whose careers are still going up..not down ..

Seyfarth is in our best 17 every week … maybe Wong is too for the Roosters …he is a good player though …the other aren’t getting picked up every week

Yes because Seyfarth will only be considered as a bench player for us in 2036 except if we get more than a few injuries to our forwards.
Keppie has mainly been considered as a bench player for the majority of his NRL career.
So it makes sense to compare bench players to other bench players doesn’t it ?

 

[Tom Shines]

Yes because Seyfarth will only be considered as a bench player for us in 2036 except if we get more than a few injuries to our forwards.
Keppie has mainly been considered as a bench player for the majority of his NRL career.
So it makes sense to compare bench players to other bench players doesn’t it ?

well I think Wong is much better player than Seyfarth and Keppie … the others are not in the Roosters best 17…one has already been let go I see

 

[Vicious]

well I think Wong is much better player than Seyfarth and Keppie … the others are not in the Roosters best 17…one has already been let go I see

Wong is more similar in size and position to Seyfarth and yes he’s a much better and more dynamic ball runner, but he isn’t known for being a great defender just yet and is prone to an occasional missed tackle or lack of effort play that leads to line breaks or tries conceded.
If swapped with Seyfarth he would improve our attack, but certainly would not improve our defence.
Considering we now have the possibility of having two strong ball carriers who are defensive liabilities on our bench in Hunt and Afoa, we could not afford to have our 3rd bench player as another attack minded player if selecting those 2.
Balance being the key word.