Signings, Suggestions & Rumours Discussion

[EllisFan]

Exactly.
When an on-field talent shines through they still have to pass a face-to-face assessment from Benji, our talent scout, our CEO and the players management. They need to be able to separate the BS from reality. Where their headspace is, family and future ambitions. And then pray they get it right.

Storm do it better than anyone. Not sure if it still happens but Bellamy used to have a mate who ran a construction company and he’d send prospects to work on the site and his mate would let him know if they were made of the right stuff.

Call it old school, but it’s that sort of stuff that separates the best leaders in the game.

Shaun seems like he had a good upbringing to prepare him for that part of the job.

 

[Vicious]

3-way trade- Starford to Parramatta, Lomax to Penrith- Tago brothers (Parra & Penrith)to Tigers to play alongside their mates, the May Brothers.

I think Tago is the May brothers cousin.
Although Tago plays tough and has plenty of positives in his game, I don’t think he’s in the same class as Lomax.
If the Eels accepted a trade of To’a for Lomax, it would be like winning lotto without buying a ticket.

 

[Rock Hopper Steve]

I think Tago is the May brothers cousin.
Although Tago plays tough and has plenty of positives in his game, I don’t think he’s in the same class as Lomax.
If the Eels accepted a trade of To’a for Lomax, we will have won lotto without buying a ticket.

In any alternate universe there isn't any club dumb enough to take Toa for a trade with his ongoing issues.

 

[wstigers11]

Tago is a turnstile even at Penrith

 

[Vicious]

In any alternate universe there isn't any club dumb enough to take Toa for a trade with his ongoing issues.

I feel bad to regularly be downplaying his ability, but right centre is certainly the most concerning position in our team.
If he comes out and plays close to the best of his ability on a much more consistent basis we will have nothing to worry about, so I suppose he deserves an opportunity to show what he can do with a much more complete team around him.

 

[batboy]

Izack Tago has been dropped to reserve grade.
Told to work his way back into the team.

Take him @ the Tigers, over Starford any day of the week.

I'd even sign his brother as a depth option too.

Quite a contrast in organisations ay? Maybe why they been winning premierships and we been winning spoons.

They drop their Tagos to ressies, we give our Will Craig’s NRL contracts.

Maybe there’s something in the Lomax - Tago talk…
Parra got rocks in their head if they let him go to Union and get nothing for him.

 

[king_sirro]

Izack Tago has been dropped to reserve grade.
Told to work his way back into the team.

Take him @ the Tigers, over Starford any day of the week.

I'd even sign his brother as a depth option too.

Tago is terrible. Offers little in attack and is terrible defensively

 

[The Chad]

I think Tago is the May brothers cousin.
Although Tago plays tough and has plenty of positives in his game, I don’t think he’s in the same class as Lomax.
If the Eels accepted a trade of To’a for Lomax, it would be like winning lotto without buying a ticket.

They run the very real possibility of having Lomax do nothing for 2 years. To'a would give them a fresh (ish) body to go now.

That'd be about the ONLY way it could be a win for Parra.

But I hate Parra- so it sounds great to me.

 

[Rock Hopper Steve]

I feel bad to regularly be downplaying his ability, but right centre is certainly the most concerning position in our team.
If he comes out and plays close to the best of his ability on a much more consistent basis we will have nothing to worry about, so I suppose he deserves an opportunity to show what he can do with a much more complete team around him.

I have no confidence in seeing his best going forward mate, not trying to be the grim reaper guy but the post today about him not training has me imagining him holding that shoulder already.

 

[Rock Hopper Steve]

Quite a contrast in organisations ay? Maybe why they been winning premierships and we been winning spoons.

They drop their Tagos to ressies, we give our Will Craig’s NRL contracts.

Maybe there’s something in the Lomax - Tago talk…
Parra got rocks in their head if they let him go to Union and get nothing for him.

Have to admit when Craig was added to top 30, I was just shocked, shocked that decision was made, thought the days of head scratching moves like that one was well and truly over.

 

[mtd#2]

I think Tago is the May brothers cousin.
Although Tago plays tough and has plenty of positives in his game, I don’t think he’s in the same class as Lomax.
If the Eels accepted a trade of To’a for Lomax, it would be like winning lotto without buying a ticket.

In what world is trading a player on a 3 year deal for a player that will play 1 season, winning the lotto? Hes going to r360.

 

[Lestronge]

I feel bad to regularly be downplaying his ability, but right centre is certainly the most concerning position in our team.
If he comes out and plays close to the best of his ability on a much more consistent basis we will have nothing to worry about, so I suppose he deserves an opportunity to show what he can do with a much more complete team around him.

All he needs to do is defend well , work out of yardage , and take his opportunities when presented . No one. Is looking at him to be the star , as the ball is going left 60/40 IMO. And when it does go right , it will be second phase off the backrowers to get toa on the outside of his opposite number to create space for Turuva .
Even then a lot of the time tha will be the setup play for attacking via the left .
I pray that Morris has simplified Toas game and told him he doesn’t need to be a world beater.

 

[Vicious]

In what world is trading a player on a 3 year deal for a player that will play 1 season, winning the lotto? Hes going to r360.

That’s not until 2028 over 2 years away.
In what world would you not at least try to significantly upgrade your team for the next 2 seasons ?

 

[weststigers]

All he needs to do is defend well , work out of yardage , and take his opportunities when presented . No one. Is looking at him to be the star , as the ball is going left 60/40 IMO. And when it does go right , it will be second phase off the backrowers to get toa on the outside of his opposite number to create space for Turuva .
Even then a lot of the time tha will be the setup play for attacking via the left .
I pray that Morris has simplified Toas game and told him he doesn’t need to be a world beater.

Don't get the hate for To'a.

His stats for 2025 compared with Tago who was in a grand final team look better/similar.

Starford To'a 2025
19 games played
Avg. 103 metres a game
9 tries
8 try assists
8 line breaks
90% tackle efficiency

Izack Tago 2025
25 games played
Avg. 125 metres a game
7 tries
9 try assists
4 line breaks
89% tackle efficiency

 

[innsaneink]

I have no confidence in seeing his best going forward mate, not trying to be the grim reaper guy but the post today about him not training has me imagining him holding that shoulder already.

Toa isnt training?

 

[Odessa]

Don't get the hate for To'a.

His stats for 2025 compared with Tago who was in a grand final team look better/similar.

Starford To'a 2025
19 games played
Avg. 103 metres a game
9 tries
8 try assists
8 line breaks
90% tackle efficiency

Izack Tago 2025
25 games played
Avg. 125 metres a game
7 tries
9 try assists
4 line breaks
89% tackle efficiency

I know and he played the second most games of the back 5 behind Tino with 24

 

[Rock Hopper Steve]

I feel bad to regularly be downplaying his ability, but right centre is certainly the most concerning position in our team.
If he comes out and plays close to the best of his ability on a much more consistent basis we will have nothing to worry about, so I suppose he deserves an opportunity to show what he can do with a much more complete team around him.

I don't like that side of Toa and Turuva playing next to each other, opposition gameplans will look to be running there with pace/power trying to exploit it.

 

[Odessa]

Have to admit when Craig was added to top 30, I was just shocked, shocked that decision was made, thought the days of head scratching moves like that one was well and truly over.

So was Richo if you listen to the pod cast about so many juniors getting added to the top 30 and over paid

 

[wstigers11]

If Lomax called Benji for a second chance like Bunty did I couldn’t see Benji saying no.

1. Bula
2. Tito
3. May
4. Masi
5. Lomax

A goal kicker too hallelujah

 

[Rock Hopper Steve]

Toa isnt training?

Apparently, 2026 pre season thread latest page it's mentioned.