Signings, Suggestions & Rumours Discussion

[Merlot]

This made me laugh 🤣

PNG is a hard sell ,at best
Wouldn't be surprised if it all blows up in their faces, it all seems like a knee jerk political reaction.
Was reading the other day that the Australian tax dollars going towards them is spit 50% to PNG Franchise 25% to PNG junior development and the last 25% sprinkled through development in Fiji Samoa etc

 

[Wests Tigers]

Is Ethan Roberts a prop or second rower?

 

[Odessa]

So you want to go off perception from a photo, where you can't see the full bodies, who's closer, are there steps or anything else that's tricking the camera.

I'm going off seeing him on the field. At SG Ball level he was smaller than all of the Souths forwards, and smaller than all of our other forwards. CTM towers over him. He's a similar frame to SBW.

Hahaha to quote the great Geoff Toovey

We Need An Investigation hahaha

 

[Jedi_Tiger]

Is Ethan Roberts a prop or second rower?

second row

 

[Odessa]

So you want to go off perception from a photo, where you can't see the full bodies, who's closer, are there steps or anything else that's tricking the camera.

I'm going off seeing him on the field. At SG Ball level he was smaller than all of the Souths forwards, and smaller than all of our other forwards. CTM towers over him. He's a similar frame to SBW.

Teenage kids have groth spurts it's not uncommon

 

[Merlot]

Is Ethan Roberts a prop or second rower?

offical WTs site has him as a 2ndrower 192cm 106kg

 

[Betterdays22]

I have heard NOTHING LIKE THAT.. any source on it?

Believe @Jedi_Tiger knows someone close to the family who has indicated as much. Something along those lines.

Obviously just a rumour but once bitten twice shy and all that

 

[weststigers]

PNG is a hard sell ,at best
Wouldn't be surprised if it all blows up in their faces, it all seems like a knee jerk political reaction.
Was reading the other day that the Australian tax dollars going towards them is spit 50% to PNG Franchise 25% to PNG junior development and the last 25% sprinkled through development in Fiji Samoa etc

Will be interesting who is responsible for the development money. If it is the government, then it may be worse than what it is now by the time the money runs out.

 

[Odessa]

So you want to go off perception from a photo, where you can't see the full bodies, who's closer, are there steps or anything else that's tricking the camera.

I'm going off seeing him on the field. At SG Ball level he was smaller than all of the Souths forwards, and smaller than all of our other forwards. CTM towers over him. He's a similar frame to SBW.

Here is another Benji looking small at 183cm

 

[BlackWhiteGold]

I vividly remember Skelton’s contract with us being reported as 225k last season up to 250k for this season.
At that price he is great value and even if we increase him to 300k he’s still good value.

I think Skelton is probably one of our next priorities to extend especially with Luke Laulilii confirmed as leaving.

If we say Taylan, Makasini, Turuva & To'a are our 1st choice three-quarters then Skelton will be in that mix if he extends or at the least first choice depth. He will not be in that position at any other club imo.

I also doubt we're in the mix for Averillo as he'll want almost a guaranteed 1st team position where he signs. Currently Benji favours To'a for that right centre position and we've just signed Herbert as depth.

Benji's big on internal progression too so Tavana & Max Taotua will be given every chance to secure a contract over the first few months of the season (either Dev or Top 30) if they can brain it.

With Craig probably unlikely to be extended and depending on the form of both Tavana & Taotua, we could go for another centre/winger type, at a low cost ($200-$300k).

 

[Odessa]

So you want to go off perception from a photo, where you can't see the full bodies, who's closer, are there steps or anything else that's tricking the camera.

I'm going off seeing him on the field. At SG Ball level he was smaller than all of the Souths forwards, and smaller than all of our other forwards. CTM towers over him. He's a similar frame to SBW.

CTM must be close to 7-8 foot then

 

[Tito Santana]

it may even be brooksie himself. Did anyone see manly today? Time for a second bbq

Was he shit?

 

[Odessa]

Godinet is under 6foot~, sbw was mid 190cms, Godinet is around low 90kgs, sbw was 110kgs. So yeah, they're poles apart.

That doesn't mean Phoenix can't develop into an excellent NRL player, just that power isn't his game at the moment. He's still filling out and will end up close to 100kgs

So if Phoenix is Under 6 foot is Benji a Hobbit?

 

[Merlot]

Will be interesting who is responsible for the development money. If it is the government, then it may be worse than what it is now by the time the money runs out.

Fancy name for kickbacks maybe. Surely its the sanction of the IRLB of that country , .
Only a few years ago Samoan players threatened a boycott with accusations of miss spent funds and had those in control turfed out.
More of my tax dollar probably goes into propping up the woke at the ABC,not fussed

 

[Odessa]

Seriously? Sbw was 20cm and 20kgs bigger than Godinet. There's absolutely nothing similar between them, completely different players

He's a big boy come on under 6 foot how ?

 

[BlackWhiteGold]

https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/nrl/hull-krs-tyrone-may-keen-to-reunite-with-brothers-terrell-and-taylan-in-nrl/news-story/f195d75029ed118f65f08d787020b67a

Hull KR’s Tyrone May keen to reunite with brothers Terrell and Taylan in NRL

Tyrone May left the NRL a shattered figure but was the hero of Hull KR’s World Club Challenge boilover of the Broncos. Now the former premiership winner has a plan to reunite with his brothers.

Peter Badel
February 22, 2026 - 4:00PM

Broncos giant-killer Tyrone May is keen to reunite with his brothers in the NRL after revealing his “rock bottom” fightback from rugby league’s infamous sex-tape scandal.

Hull KR halfback May was outstanding in Friday’s World Club Challenge boilover of Brisbane, outpointing champion rival Adam Reynolds to inspire the Robins’ 30-24 stunner at MKM Stadium.

May’s composed performance demonstrated why the clever utility is still good enough for the NRL as he plots a potential reunification with his younger siblings Terrell and Taylan at the Wests Tigers.

A two-time premiership-winner at Penrith, May accepts time is running out for a family affair.

The Samoa international turns 30 in June and while he is contracted to Hull KR next year, the Robins are unlikely to stand in the road if May craves a Tigers homecoming.

May revealed the brothers have had talks about finally forming a Holy Trinity at Concord.

“There’s always going to be that temptation to play with my brothers,” he said after engineering the greatest win in Hull KR’s 144-year history.

“It’s something that we’ve spoken about, we’ve dreamt of doing since we started walking, really.

“Every time contract time comes up, there will always be that chat.

“We all fall off-contract at the same time, but that’s not till the end of 2027.

“We’ll cross that bridge when it comes.

“I did have the opportunity to go back home and play with my brothers last year, but I turned it down because I thought that this was the right thing to do.”

That’s a reference to Robins coach Willie Peters bringing May to East Hull in 2024 after a two-year stint at Catalans, where he rebuilt himself in France after navigating the worst chapter of his life.

The Blacktown product was one of the first players to be subjected to the NRL’s no-fault stand-down policy following his sex-tape saga.

He was hit with a three-year good behaviour bond and ordered to perform 300 hours of community service.

But May has found contentment at Hull KR after admitting he had to have a good look at himself during his darkest days.

“Rock bottom … I guess you can say when I was in that limbo where I really didn’t know if I was going to play,” May said of his off-field ordeal.

“Going through the stuff that I had caused myself, and then having the realisation that I had to look in the mirror, and end up accepting the fact that it’s my fault and then moving on.

“I guess when I moved over to the Catalans, it was a good realisation that there is a (second chance).

“People don’t always have the same opinion, and I think it took for me to leave (Penrith and the NRL) to acknowledge that and then finally accept the fact that I was in the wrong.”

Having since amassed 165 games in the NRL and Super League, May says he is proud of Terrell, 26, and Taylan, 24, who joined the Tigers midway through last season after battling mental-health issues.

“I’m very happy, especially with my youngest brother going through the stuff that he did last year, being able to turn the corner and show what he showed to the world,” he said.

May dedicated the epic World Club Challenge win to Peters, who is regarded as an NRL coach-in-waiting.

“It was good to get it done for him,” May said. “He has stuck by the club … just 10 years ago, they were relegated.”

 

[Odessa]

Seriously? Sbw was 20cm and 20kgs bigger than Godinet. There's absolutely nothing similar between them, completely different players

I think U got your players mix up

 

[Tigerstigerstigers]

I think Skelton is probably one of our next priorities to extend especially with Luke Laulilii confirmed as leaving.

If we say Taylan, Makasini, Turuva & To'a are our 1st choice three-quarters then Skelton will be in that mix if he extends or at the least first choice depth. He will not be in that position at any other club imo.

I also doubt we're in the mix for Averillo as he'll want almost a guaranteed 1st team position where he signs. Currently Benji favours To'a for that right centre position and we've just signed Herbert as depth.

Benji's big on internal progression too so Tavana & Max Taotua will be given every chance to secure a contract over the first few months of the season (either Dev or Top 30) if they can brain it.

With Craig probably unlikely to be extended and depending on the form of both Tavana & Taotua, we could go for another centre/winger type, at a low cost ($200-$300k).

Where’s Javron Andrews fit in .?

 

[Tigerstigerstigers]

Was he shit?

It was a shitfest

 

[Vicious]

I think Skelton is probably one of our next priorities to extend especially with Luke Laulilii confirmed as leaving.

If we say Taylan, Makasini, Turuva & To'a are our 1st choice three-quarters then Skelton will be in that mix if he extends or at the least first choice depth. He will not be in that position at any other club imo.

I also doubt we're in the mix for Averillo as he'll want almost a guaranteed 1st team position where he signs. Currently Benji favours To'a for that right centre position and we've just signed Herbert as depth.

Benji's big on internal progression too so Tavana & Max Taotua will be given every chance to secure a contract over the first few months of the season (either Dev or Top 30) if they can brain it.

With Craig probably unlikely to be extended and depending on the form of both Tavana & Taotua, we could go for another centre/winger type, at a low cost ($200-$300k).

I agree with what you are saying, I just don’t have much confidence in a To’a and Turuva combination on our right.
I know they someone very good things early last season, but they are a big defensive liability and I don’t think their attack is good enough to make up for it.
Hypothetically if we offloaded To’a for 2027 and had a 2-5 of Makasini and Taylan May on the left and Averillo and Jeral Skelton on the right it would be a far better balance of size, speed and power and has definite top 4 potential.
I wouldn’t be offloading Turuva, but he needs to start showing a lot more on a more regular basis to become a guaranteed starter and with Skelton’s size I think he is a better winger.