Signings, Suggestions & Rumours Discussion

[Tucker]

Those stats are immaterial to your point, because they're mostly non-transferable metrics. They're stale — look at 23 its a totally different roster, and Luke Brooks was our key player! Study statistics properly before using on here ad nauseam.

In any case, your stats are also incorrect in other ways. We in 25 scored the 3rd fewest points, but that doesn’t mean we had the 3rd worst attack. Counting those raw numbers to make a solid argument ignores the fact we lost Galvin smack bang in the middle of the season and only (finally!) got a strike centre at the ass end of it. You'd go far in a 2021 WT boardroom.

Stale stats and flawed metrics. Try again hahaha. Prove me wrong. The Sheeple still standing tall!

It won’t matter what I say so what is the point? You clearly have your head stuck where commonsense can’t penetrate. The inability you have to decipher stats has always been embarrassing. Your biggest weakness though is not understanding the game.
Carry on as you are, it doesn’t affect me at all.

 

[GNR4LIFE]

My biggest indicator last year that coaching waa our issue was how lost our spine looked a lot of times. A spine consisting of Bula, Luai and Api shouldn’t have struggled as much as they did. I’ve heard the excuse about Galvin leaving. That’s a cop out. If they don’t improve, we’re toast.

 

[Tucker]

Not to mention we havent played finals in a very long time and although we cant blame Benji for those years, he has been coach for past couple of wooden spoons and with a very improved squad we played some very very average football, so members have the right to there opinion . Im hoping Benji has learned a lot from his past couple of seasons so i am expecting an improvement. i think its clear at the end of the day we ALL want the WT to do well or you wouldnt waste your time on this forum regardless of wether your a Benji fan as a coach or not.
Like i said b4 i think 2026 will be the making or breaking of Benji as a coach. If all these players are threatning to leave because they are all totally behind him, they need to show us on the field in 2026 and play finals, not thru media threats.

Yes agreed.
The past is the past and as clear as it is to some, there will always be others who just can’t see it. Let’s hope Benji has been able to self reflect, and take advice based on lessons learned and leaning on others who have already walked this path and developed a strategy of self improvement. The days of spending training with the hat on backwards running drills personally is over. That’s not working.
He has had Sheens in 22 and 23 there to wipe his arse and Richardson in 24 and 25 doing likewise. Even with those two running protection, his results have been poor.
This year he is on his own.
If he steps up, I’ll be as happy as anyone because it will be the missing ingredient that prevented the club playing finals in 25 and as I maintained all year last season, this squad is good enough. Yes I’d prefer we put someone a bit more experienced than Morris with him, but that’s not happening.
Can he do it? Well he has been involved with top level footy for over 2 decades now and has made a lot of mistakes both as a player and as a coach. He grew as a player somewhat. Our only hope is that the evolution can continue into his job now.

 

[Dusty]

I agree…. Our spine still lacks a controlling 7. A game manager that doesn’t lose their head when under pressure. Luai may improve this year but I can’t see him doing the job we need him to do. Api can’t game manage either. It’s our biggest roster hole. Until we get a general to lead us around we will look unorganised and continue to be inconsistent.

 

[Tucker]

But you have 19 on the bench. So you can choose from 6 instead of 4.


I just realised how much this will advantage teams like Brisbane and Storm. Any injuries to Walsh/Munster/etc and their high quality Juniors will be ready to step in.

These 6 reserves are all on the sideline on game day, meaning two of them will be ready to go but won’t play? Do I have that right?
How do we keep them all match fit?
If we don’t know until late into the game which 2 will miss out, they will likely not play that week. We have a poor history of using the bench. I hope this is something they are running drills on otherwise we risk it being the same two guys each week….

 

[Dusty]

Yes agreed.
The past is the past and as clear as it is to some, there will always be others who just can’t see it. Let’s hope Benji has been able to self reflect, and take advice based on lessons learned and leaning on others who have already walked this path and developed a strategy of self improvement. The days of spending training with the hat on backwards running drills personally is over. That’s not working.
He has had Sheens in 22 and 23 there to wipe his arse and Richardson in 24 and 25 doing likewise. Even with those two running protection, his results have been poor.
This year he is on his own.
If he steps up, I’ll be as happy as anyone because it will be the missing ingredient that prevented the club playing finals in 25 and as I maintained all year last season, this squad is good enough. Yes I’d prefer we put someone a bit more experienced than Morris with him, but that’s not happening.
Can he do it? Well he has been involved with top level footy for over 2 decades now and has made a lot of mistakes both as a player and as a coach. He grew as a player somewhat. Our only hope is that the evolution can continue into his job now.

Let’s hope he wipes his arse real good all by himself now.
His shortcomings as a player were magnified when he had to be a game manager. Surely he understands the importance of a boring robotic style 7.
Who in our top 30 would you say can do a reliable job in the 7?

 

[Tucker]

Let’s hope he wipes his arse real good all by himself now.
His shortcomings as a player were magnified when he had to be a game manager. Surely he understands the importance of a boring robotic style 7.
Who in our top 30 would you say can do a reliable job in the 7?

Madden and Doueihi at the moment.
Latu needs to get his body right and work on some key areas.
7 is a weakness no doubt.

 

[Odessa]

Brimson was an elite junior and has excelled in first grade, just had injury problems holding him back. Mason hasn't yet dominated at any grade. Flegg and cup he's extremely hot and cold. After being thrown into fullback he still hasn't quite adjusted to it, struggles too much positioning.
He's got good acceleration and might be a handy utility, or a fill in when there's a mid game injury but I certainly don't see him starting in the backs again anytime soon.

What's Mason have to do with the conversation?

 

[Odessa]

Brimson was an elite junior and has excelled in first grade, just had injury problems holding him back. Mason hasn't yet dominated at any grade. Flegg and cup he's extremely hot and cold. After being thrown into fullback he still hasn't quite adjusted to it, struggles too much positioning.
He's got good acceleration and might be a handy utility, or a fill in when there's a mid game injury but I certainly don't see him starting in the backs again anytime soon.

Talking about Javon Andrews

You said you don't know if he fits into the 17

And my comment was he could be the Tigers AJ Brimson

Both played for QLD both played 5/8 both broke there backs both kick goals

Maybe if Bula leaves he mite can a run at fullback in Reggie's

 

[Demps]

@BlackWhiteGold
Anyone who cares

Krystian Mapapalangi is now at Manly

 

[batboy]

My biggest indicator last year that coaching waa our issue was how lost our spine looked a lot of times. A spine consisting of Bula, Luai and Api shouldn’t have struggled as much as they did. I’ve heard the excuse about Galvin leaving. That’s a cop out. If they don’t improve, we’re toast.

It is a cop out
- We were absolutely Rudderless in attack for most of the year.

Our shape and strike in the Red zone was absolutely abysmal,
I could grab 13 blokes from here that would have looked to have more an idea.

 

[Dusty]

Madden and Doueihi at the moment.
Latu needs to get his body right and work on some key areas.
7 is a weakness no doubt.

Glad you mentioned Madden. Not sure if he can succeed or not. But I think he is the most likely to do the job. He played some decent games for Brisbane last year. He is not flashy and I couldn’t say he has greater skillset than other options. He may have the right stuff between the ears to go out and execute a game plan. Latu is classy but yet to see if he can direct team to where it needs to be?

 

[Lestronge]

Could be, but I don’t think it’s a done deal yet.

He’d be a good fit after letting TDS go. I could see him backing up Api and jumping into most of our back line spots.

Heyward mate . TDS was let go because the club thinks Heyward will be better. From what I’ve seen , I think we messed TDS development up . He has no kicking game, and his passing off the ground under pressure needed a natural maturation . Heyward is getting that maturation , that TDS should have… McDonnell and sheens decided he’d get blooded early. My guess is Heyward will have fought his way into the 19 man squad by the end of the year , probably with Latu , maybe even AD or even th young gun from the GC Andrew’s . That will leave a spot for a bench back , and 3 forwards . Then it will be how the games play out whether he gets a run or not .

 

[Lestronge]

In

I agree…. Our spine still lacks a controlling 7. A game manager that doesn’t lose their head when under pressure. Luai may improve this year but I can’t see him doing the job we need him to do. Api can’t game manage either. It’s our biggest roster hole. Until we get a general to lead us around we will look unorganised and continue to be inconsistent.

it doesn’t need a controlling 7 mate . There only 5 teams in the nrl who actually have one IMO. The riff, eels , cowboys and broncos and roosters now with DCE. The cowboys are literally the 2026 version of the wests tigers 05-12..: thy could put 70 on you and then get beat by 50 the next week . DCE was an impediment to manly in the end , but everyone thinks he’s going to have a bounce back season at 38 years old … I mean Ok .., Reynolds is one sprint away from tearing his hamstring off the bone . He’s a little gun though , the most underrated player in the comp most of his career IMO.
And now the big 2 the eels … well they’re a one man band . It’s plain to see what effect Moses has on them . But you shut him down , then there’s literally not much else . Especially in the forwards .
And finally the riff . Who I’d argue their most important player is not Cleary but rather Yeo . When Yeo isn’t there their record is terrible . Everyone else has either a young half still learning , or a makeshift player shoehorned in there . The issue isn’t Luai can’t organise . I thought at times the structures were there but it was just execution . For me his issue is in games of attrition , where precise kicking and monotony because important , he lacks mid field power and accuracy . I think when AD was on the field , that’s clearly ADs big strength , and it made things a lot clearer . It definitely took a while though , the structures needed to change , because they were so built around Galvin and his backline killing cross field runs , to another run down the other side to another run down right .. relentless attack , because he was so fit , this changed to a more fluent , collaborative style where each cog was just as important as the next , and I thought the team clicked at the end . A whole offseason of perfecting this with minimal change to the spine (for the first time in years the same 4/5 guys will return) should lead to connectivity and crisper execution . The players are there .. we’ve got ex Aus schoolboys all across the park . These guys can play .. they need to belive in themselves belive in the system and belive in each other . Those last 2 are the reason teams like the storm are always on top . Because they don’t have Aus schoolboys across the park . They field a lot of rejects from other clubs , who they mould into believing in those last 2. That’s where we need to get . The talent is there IMO.

 

[GNR4LIFE]

We let go Liddle go cos we had Simpkin. Then we let go Simpkin go cos we had TDS. Then we let TDS go cos we had Haywood. There’s a pattern here.

 

[TIGERS]

In

it doesn’t need a controlling 7 mate . There only 5 teams in the nrl who actually have one IMO. The riff, eels , cowboys and broncos and roosters now with DCE. The cowboys are literally the 2026 version of the wests tigers 05-12..: thy could put 70 on you and then get beat by 50 the next week . DCE was an impediment to manly in the end , but everyone thinks he’s going to have a bounce back season at 38 years old … I mean Ok .., Reynolds is one sprint away from tearing his hamstring off the bone . He’s a little gun though , the most underrated player in the comp most of his career IMO.
And now the big 2 the eels … well they’re a one man band . It’s plain to see what effect Moses has on them . But you shut him down , then there’s literally not much else . Especially in the forwards .
And finally the riff . Who I’d argue their most important player is not Cleary but rather Yeo . When Yeo isn’t there their record is terrible . Everyone else has either a young half still learning , or a makeshift player shoehorned in there . The issue isn’t Luai can’t organise . I thought at times the structures were there but it was just execution . For me his issue is in games of attrition , where precise kicking and monotony because important , he lacks mid field power and accuracy . I think when AD was on the field , that’s clearly ADs big strength , and it made things a lot clearer . It definitely took a while though , the structures needed to change , because they were so built around Galvin and his backline killing cross field runs , to another run down the other side to another run down right .. relentless attack , because he was so fit , this changed to a more fluent , collaborative style where each cog was just as important as the next , and I thought the team clicked at the end . A whole offseason of perfecting this with minimal change to the spine (for the first time in years the same 4/5 guys will return) should lead to connectivity and crisper execution . The players are there .. we’ve got ex Aus schoolboys all across the park . These guys can play .. they need to belive in themselves belive in the system and belive in each other . Those last 2 are the reason teams like the storm are always on top . Because they don’t have Aus schoolboys across the park . They field a lot of rejects from other clubs , who they mould into believing in those last 2. That’s where we need to get . The talent is there IMO.

Well said!!! Some interesting ideas in there.

Not sure if it was our game built too much around Galvin, but similar situation to Brooks where there were no impact or game changers in our outside backs, and it’s left to the spine to do too much of it and it’s very predictable. I think that game late season against the titans, Taylan May just bashed himself over the try line a couple of times. It just makes so much of a difference.

 

[Dusty]

In

it doesn’t need a controlling 7 mate . There only 5 teams in the nrl who actually have one IMO. The riff, eels , cowboys and broncos and roosters now with DCE. The cowboys are literally the 2026 version of the wests tigers 05-12..: thy could put 70 on you and then get beat by 50 the next week . DCE was an impediment to manly in the end , but everyone thinks he’s going to have a bounce back season at 38 years old … I mean Ok .., Reynolds is one sprint away from tearing his hamstring off the bone . He’s a little gun though , the most underrated player in the comp most of his career IMO.
And now the big 2 the eels … well they’re a one man band . It’s plain to see what effect Moses has on them . But you shut him down , then there’s literally not much else . Especially in the forwards .
And finally the riff . Who I’d argue their most important player is not Cleary but rather Yeo . When Yeo isn’t there their record is terrible . Everyone else has either a young half still learning , or a makeshift player shoehorned in there . The issue isn’t Luai can’t organise . I thought at times the structures were there but it was just execution . For me his issue is in games of attrition , where precise kicking and monotony because important , he lacks mid field power and accuracy . I think when AD was on the field , that’s clearly ADs big strength , and it made things a lot clearer . It definitely took a while though , the structures needed to change , because they were so built around Galvin and his backline killing cross field runs , to another run down the other side to another run down right .. relentless attack , because he was so fit , this changed to a more fluent , collaborative style where each cog was just as important as the next , and I thought the team clicked at the end . A whole offseason of perfecting this with minimal change to the spine (for the first time in years the same 4/5 guys will return) should lead to connectivity and crisper execution . The players are there .. we’ve got ex Aus schoolboys all across the park . These guys can play .. they need to belive in themselves belive in the system and belive in each other . Those last 2 are the reason teams like the storm are always on top . Because they don’t have Aus schoolboys across the park . They field a lot of rejects from other clubs , who they mould into believing in those last 2. That’s where we need to get . The talent is there IMO.

Melb Hughes
Warriors metcalf
Raiders fogarty
Broncos reynolds
Dolphins katoa
Eagles dce
Dogs sexton (better team with him)
Penrith cleary
Roosters walker ( when fit)
I hear why you’re saying. We have the talent and skillset in individual positions. But without a 7 who directs the team we will never get to the top level. Maybe a fit latu or ad can do it? Luai has shown at times he can do what is required but it’s not the same as the players mentioned above.
Just look at warriors with and without metcalf. Brains win games at high level. We play dumb footy too often. I hope they prove me wrong this year🙏🙏

 

[TIGERS]

We let go Liddle go cos we had Simpkin. Then we let go Simpkin go cos we had TDS. Then we let TDS go cos we had Haywood. There’s a pattern here.

Yea. Api Korisau being better than all of them.

 

[mtd#2]

When the time comes, it will be more than just Tucker and myself. It’s all fine in January, most are vehemently against seeing any negatives at this time of year. After a few losses in May and June, the outlook is very different. He won’t have many friends here if we’re languishing in the bottom 4.

I haven't kept up, you think he will fail this year?

 

[mtd#2]

Looking Strong they line up to play under Mal

You're joking, right?