Signings, Suggestions & Rumours Discussion

[GNR4LIFE]

Looking Strong they line up to play under Mal

Mal is the figurehead. He won’t be the one coaching them.

 

[GNR4LIFE]

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

I think our ceiling is 9th or 10th.

 

[batboy]

Yea. Api Korisau being better than all of them.

Yeah - Cos 1 ageing Hooker who clearly can't play 80 minutes is enough for the year!!

Remember when we borrowed the Storms 3/4th best Hooker and he was about our best player?
Good times.

 

[batboy]

I think our ceiling is 9th or 10th.

With a lot of luck....

 

[hank37w]

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.

Not only that but the use of the bench at times was inexplicable.

I have to admit that I am no genius when it comes to the game of Rugby League (it is after all supposedly a simple game) but I was left scratching my head at times, too many minutes played by Api and most would agree that Terrell would benefit by playing fewer minutes.

Yes I know it can be argued that there are some limitations when it comes to available depth in those positions, but what has been done up till now to alleviate that situation and yes I do understand that it may not be that easy with HBG blowing up the joint whenever it looks like we are actually starting to head in the right direction.

It also seems pretty obvious to me that despite Marshall and Hodgson, while players, were stars in their respective positions in the halves and at full back, when it has come to coaching they have not been able to impart too much of their knowledge and experience to the players.

It appears that it may just be too difficult to coach someone spontaneity when you yourself as a player didn't know most of the time what you were going to do next.

 

[Spartan117]

You cant even write T_rump, who is a convicted Rapist and Felon. This place is a joke

This is a privately owned website at the end of the day.

Personally I support free speech even if I dont like the opinion or the stance.

Trolling. Personal attacks. Swearing and Blasphemy are curtailed.

When everyone contributes with maturity, the WTForum is a great place to hang ( get therepy) from / with fellow Tigers tragics.

 

[Spartan117]

Mate, I hope you’re joking. They are our future winners, and they’re solid talent that any club would take off our hands immediately.

As a moderator, we don’t need your opinion, we just need you to do your job without bias.

Mods are entitled to their opinions here.

This is a voluntary role that comes with a truckload of crap.

It's all about respect and the Team we love.

 

[Lestronge]

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🙏🙏

They’re not controlling halves . That’s not what they do . Melbourne shifts and plays both sides of the ruck , with Hughes taking the bulk of the kicking . But the play doesn’t flow through him . He’s not a “maestro conducting an orchestra”. He’s an extremely creative player that gets the team where he needs to . But in actuality , their attack comes off Harry Grant . He’s the lynchpin he will go, see an opportunity . And then Munster or Hughes will feed off that . It’s because of this style that people are questioning , whether they do in fact need a controlling 7. I don’t think so . It will be interesting this year without the electricity of Paps , and whether Meaney or Faalogo can replicate it .
Metcalf is lightning quick instinctive player. He gets them a round the park , but once again thier play comes off thier giant forward creating momentum and second phase . It all comes from the middle .
Cleary and Moses touch the ball a lot . They run a lot of plays through them (Cleary less so which is why I suggest Yeo is quietly the one ) . They dictate where the ball is going and. Who gets it all the time . That’s not how Melbourne , or the warriors behave . It’s not what the dogs wanted with sexton , which is why he will be wearing a SL jersey this year and a bears in 27, Katoa … he’s 21 man I’m not going to put that pressure on him . He can do it , but he fell away the back end of last year . He needs someone to take the pressure off him. He will be the number 1 by the time he’s 27 . I have zero doubt . But not yet … and Walker is famous for not being a controlling half and playing ad lib football , he’s not an example mate . I also said the roosters with DCE( I think he shits the bed this year . I don’t see Cronk 2.0 . He was never the ice cold student Cronk was , so why would he start now ?).
Like I said there’s really only 2. 3 if you think Reynolds hamstrings can holdup … I mean Fogarty ? I guess … I’m not convinced . He was a reserve grader before he went to sticky ,bounced around between the GC and the eels. I think sticky knew how to use him. I’m not 💯 convinced he will be the same player at manly . Say what you will about Brooks , but he played better footy wearing a tigers jersey . He’s been invisible since going to manly . They won that year because turbo was the best player in the game . And olakuatu was a menace . Anyways I digress … I think this is the new norm for the next 5 years whilst the Katoa types , and Walker even Latu mature and learn how to be that player . But it really doesn’t happen until guys are 26 plus …Those 2-3 years of Maturation during Covid will cause the bulk of this down slide in the traditional controlling halves . Hopefully it means teams will have to be more creative in the way they attack , and not the same old bloc play , that’s only really executed perfectly on teams with a Moses / Cleary type half.
My point is I think we are in a new era where teams will have to manufacture points . And old school controlling half will have to wait a bit until these kids mature into it. Probably around 2030. I think the 28/29 seasons when guys like Moses will be mid 30s and a lot of the best halves will be on coaching teams , will be interesting how the points will come . It might be a return to the 16-12 type games .

 

[hammertime]

Mate, I hope you’re joking. They are our future winners, and they’re solid talent that any club would take off our hands immediately.

As a moderator, we don’t need your opinion, we just need you to do your job without bias.

You really need to understand that mods are not paid. They volunteer for this role, and they receive a lot of misinformed criticism like this.

They are entitled to their own opinion, just like every member on here. Moderation is distinctly separate.

Learn to appreciate things that you're getting for free.

 

[Vicious]

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.

I agree.
Luai cannot function well as a 7 when he does not have a genuine first receiver 13 such as Yeo.
Korisau will give us plenty of wholehearted performances, but his smaller body becomes fragile from constantly tackling the much bigger bodies in the middle, which is the reason he should ideally only be playing around 50mins each game.
Our attacking flow and structure looks much better when Doueihi is controlling things at 7. He’s not a natural 7 himself, but is a much more competent game controller than what Luai is.
I keep reading comments of how Bula has good ball playing ability ?
If he does we need to see it much more often, he needs to be getting closer to the action much more often and assisting our halves.

 

[Spartan117]

WOW, Actual Footy talk in this thread.

Bloody Brilliant

 

[innsaneink]

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….

Correct.
We were discussing this a few weeks.back
I assume there will be the bench of four that will be a.likely ... no injury scenario bench...and.the extra two just in case..likely a halve and maybe a 3/4
I dunno how.it will work as u said my worry with the way the reggies comp is all over the place there could be a couple of players not getting much footy.
Wether they have 3 x players each for positions 18 & 19 and rotate them weekly to ensure theyre getting match fitness either in nrl or reserve...how practical that is i dont know
Thur and fri games in NRL will.benefit those players...the clubs.with most of those will benefit

 

[GCfan]

I see decision making being a much bigger issue than the contact part with Mason, and especially so when in the halves. Sadly, Doueihi is the same.

I agree that decision making is no doubt part of it, but arm grabbing is lack of intent in my opinion and Mason is one of the best arm grabbers I’ve seen. AD has improved his defence out of sight and whilst still not perfect I’d happily take AD

 

[Odessa]

You're joking, right?

I have picked them for the spoon in 27

They should have given the job to Brad Arthur


I think Arthur will end up back at Manly at some stage


Ben Gardener I think his name is the ex tigers lower grade coach is the head guy in Perth has a 5 year contract and I think in year 4 of the contract becomes head coach

 

[TheEnz]

Gonna be a roster that competes for the first grade spots… been a while since we had that. Still think we are a block busting forward short, but you never know, someone may stand up and be that.

Kit could be a Leniu type player...hopefully he shows us something this year.

 

[crazycat]

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.

It is a cop out and I blame Benji Marshall.

he is the one pushing this "free flowing", play it as you see it no plan attack.

This may work for him if he is playing 5/8. It is not working for the team.
I have no problems with players devating from the plan when they see an opportunity, but that initial "What do we do" should be very clear.

 

[Tiger_claws]

Good Shout
- I'm shocked at how many Halves can't throw a decent Spiral Ball.
Or can't pass both ways.
Kids could do it better in the 80's.

Totally agree. In the early 90s I was extremely fortunate to receive 2 bits of advice from Jack Gibson after a game. (I know, I know, name dropping) One of those bits of advice was that I should forget about spiralling the ball. He wanted me to make sure I gripped it correctly & followed through with my hands each & every time. He said so many star players in first grade can’t pass properly. I have been in & out of coaching for 30 years & I always tell any player to practice passing both sides everyday. So many halves can’t do it

 

[Rock Hopper Steve]

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.

You can't say having Galvin, Latu and Doueihi moving in and out of the halves wouldn't be a disruption we have seen how one important spine member can affect other teams ala Parra.

When Doueihi came into the side after a couple of games the side improved but when he was KO'd in the cowboys game it all fell to shit again.

We can only hope for once we can get through a season with minor spine interruption/media speculation, if this happens with a good off season they should show spine alignment, very disappointing if they don't.

 

[innsaneink]

Correct.
We were discussing this a few weeks.back
I assume there will be the bench of four that will be a.likely ... no injury scenario bench...and.the extra two just in case..likely a halve and maybe a 3/4
I dunno how.it will work as u said my worry with the way the reggies comp is all over the place there could be a couple of players not getting much footy.
Wether they have 3 x players each for positions 18 & 19 and rotate them weekly to ensure theyre getting match fitness either in nrl or reserve...how practical that is i dont know
Thur and fri games in NRL will.benefit those players...the clubs.with most of those will benefit

Just about every round in 2026 NRL and reserves playing the same day

 

[TIGERS]

Mal is the figurehead. He won’t be the one coaching them.

Sitting in on the Zoom calls and CC'd on all the contract negotiations eh?? Maybe Mal Meninga needs to do a few seasons in NSW cup first to learn a bit more about footy.

Benji doesn't count as a 'real coach' and neither does Mal Meninga apparently. Jeez, who's your dream appointment?? Are you Matt Elliott's agent or something??