Signings, Suggestions & Rumours Discussion

[TheEnz]

Word is Pole wants to stay .

Heard that too, looks like his younger brother is down the pecking order at Storm and has not been given a look in to 1st grade. So we may see him come to us rather than the other way around. Shine is coming off the Storm and I don't know if Bellamy has the motivation to hang around and fix it.

 

[Wiz]

Dragons offer Drinky $1M a year for 3 years

So how much is Bula worth now ?

Drinkwater is a way better attacking player than Bula. Both are pretty ordinary in defence. I think $900k is still a bit too much for Bula. The more we win the more attractive our fullback position will become for free agents if Bula leaves. Alternatively, the way we are playing should make it easier for a young guy to transition in.

 

[Tiger Stripes]

Sorry I disagree, pole has been going great so far , and it’s about time we steal his brother from the storm , if he is any good .
But this kid from the dragons , is only a kid , how many of them have we thought would be great 1st grade players , only to see them fail , pole is a proven 1st grade , stick with the proven one , me thinks

A big kid, but with big ambitions or a big ego?
He has to be better than our 2 current prospects in the front row;
Christiam Taupau-Moores - was my prospect hopeful a couple of years ago but not getting rave reviews now. I haven't seen him play of late.
Broederlow - no idea of his progress, but does get the occasional mention.
BWG - Do we have any other props looking like NRL potential?

 

[hammertime]

Dragons offer Drinky $1M a year for 3 years

So how much is Bula worth now ?

They're paying a premium for Drinky because they are in a hole, just like we did for Jarome years ago.

So I don't think you can compare it directly

 

[TheEnz]

People saying our roster is settled and we don't need anyone have not been watching our roster and pathways over the last 10 years, whilst we have plenty of players how many actually make it through to KOE or 1sts. The roster is ever changing and recruitment never stops. We cop even half of the injuries the Bunnies had last year and I reckon we are cooked. We have some depth this year, however i would not say it is anywhere near deep enough, if we lose a 2nd rower we are calling up Tony Sukkar and after him not much else, we lost centers and moved wingers into the center positions. Every player that comes on the market needs to be looked at by the recruitment team.

 

[Tito Santana]

Isnt it nice to be considered a destination club now because we win?

Cue the regular dooms dayers to shoot down this comment... .Or will they? Come on, take the bait......take the bait.....

Ooh you cant help yourselves can you????

 

[Tom Shines]

, if we lose a 2nd rower we are calling up Tony Sukkar and after him not much else,

Seyfarth… I’m not a huge fan ..but he is comparable to most other clubs 4th second rowers ..

The roster is more “settled “ out of necessity that they have spent a lot of the money already and there are a number of players to extend prior/during to the next offseason

 

[BlackWhiteGold]

A big kid, but with big ambitions or a big ego?
He has to be better than our 2 current prospects in the front row;
Christiam Taupau-Moores - was my prospect hopeful a couple of years ago but not getting rave reviews now. I haven't seen him play of late.
Broederlow - no idea of his progress, but does get the occasional mention.
BWG - Do we have any other props looking like NRL potential?

No absolute standouts but we don't need top tier with Terrell May, Fonua Pole & Sione Fainu with many years of footy left + Twal and then depth with Seyfarth & Bunty.

We can develop Taupau-Moors properly progressing through Flegg & Cup first and working on the areas to become an NRL bench prospect perhaps by 2028 (which is when Royce may have finished up).

Four lower grade players who are showing signs are ...

-Elijah Mataale (22), however has not been sighted since doing a T&T with the NRL squad pre-Xmas. Injury???
- Vaka Aho (23), a real slow burner, been in our pathways for years and has improved each season. Starting to really stand out for the Magpies in NSW Cup this season. No star but could develop into solid depth. I'd love to see what he can develop into with a full NRL pre-season.
-Lachlan Broederlow (22) - back playing on an edge but has looked good in the middle. Amazing how he has developed after a full pre-season in the fitness stakes.
-Archie Duncombe (20) - workhorse, leads by example, very good line speed & contact in defence, reminds me of Tyson Frizell in style and action.

 

[king_sirro]

Isnt it nice to be considered a destination club now because we win?

Cue the regular dooms dayers to shoot down this comment... .Or will they? Come on, take the bait......take the bait.....

Ooh you cant help yourselves can you????

Strange character

 

[pacey]

NRL media and podcasts are in overdrive trying to manufacture storylines out of our success.

A couple of takes I’ve seen and heard this week:

“The Tigers have a HUGE dilemma with Luai coming back and have a potential crises. They’ve won THREE games without him. Should he even keep his spot? Maybe we should rest Luai evn more.

“Now that Jock Madden has lost his spot, despite being a genuine first grader, does he start looking for a mid-season move to another club?”

Not to mention everyone trying to start talking about Luai's and Bula's contract situation.

 

[bptiger 0]

A big kid, but with big ambitions or a big ego?
He has to be better than our 2 current prospects in the front row;
Christiam Taupau-Moores - was my prospect hopeful a couple of years ago but not getting rave reviews now. I haven't seen him play of late.
Broederlow - no idea of his progress, but does get the occasional mention.
BWG - Do we have any other props looking like NRL potential?

The dragons kid wants to play 1st grade now , our 1st grade props are not that old and will be around for 2-4 years , he will jump on a club that will give him 1st grade time , but I bet he will only for two years max , then if he is good he will jump ship to the strongest team

 

[Tigerwould]

NRL media and podcasts are in overdrive trying to manufacture storylines out of our success.

A couple of takes I’ve seen and heard this week:

“The Tigers have a HUGE dilemma with Luai coming back and have a potential crises. They’ve won THREE games without him. Should he even keep his spot? Maybe we should rest Luai evn more.

“Now that Jock Madden has lost his spot, despite being a genuine first grader, does he start looking for a mid-season move to another club?”

Not to mention everyone trying to start talking about Luai's and Bula's contract situation.

We have Jock signed for 2 years with the Bronco’s paying us part of his salary. Great position to be in.

 

[Odessa]

Dragons offer Drinky $1M a year for 3 years

So how much is Bula worth now ?

And his manager said its not enough hahaha

 

[pawsandclaws1]

The dragons kid wants to play 1st grade now , our 1st grade props are not that old and will be around for 2-4 years , he will jump on a club that will give him 1st grade time , but I bet he will only for two years max , then if he is good he will jump ship to the strongest team

Obviously, a club or clubs have approached his manager.

 

[Tito Santana]

Strange character

That reaction counts as bait taken. Winning!

 

[king_sirro]

That reaction counts as bait taken. Winning!

Trolling admitted. Job done

 

[Rock Hopper Steve]

Isnt it nice to be considered a destination club now because we win?

Cue the regular dooms dayers to shoot down this comment... .Or will they? Come on, take the bait......take the bait.....

Ooh you cant help yourselves can you????

I'm not going to take the bait mate, but I wished when I was out night fishing yesterday that big wiley bream that was taunting me by picking up the bait and dropping it did.

Really pissed me off, going back after him tonight lol.

 

[Buttface]

Dragons offer Drinky $1M a year for 3 years

So how much is Bula worth now ?

Just bcoz the dragqueens are desperate doesn’t mean we should be. I hope he stays but at Benji’s price.

 

[Tiger Tarl]

I don't really get your point.

Cameron Smith is the second best player to ever play the game.
His unmatched ability to make refs accept his will added to his value.

Mate, Cameron Smith isn't even the second-best hooker to play the game. His longevity, leaderhip and ref whispering were second to none, but second best player to ever play? Please.

 

[weststigers]

People saying our roster is settled and we don't need anyone have not been watching our roster and pathways over the last 10 years, whilst we have plenty of players how many actually make it through to KOE or 1sts. The roster is ever changing and recruitment never stops. We cop even half of the injuries the Bunnies had last year and I reckon we are cooked. We have some depth this year, however i would not say it is anywhere near deep enough, if we lose a 2nd rower we are calling up Tony Sukkar and after him not much else, we lost centers and moved wingers into the center positions. Every player that comes on the market needs to be looked at by the recruitment team.

I think most clubs are cooked if you strip 5 starters from their team, but what you say around the 2nd row is true. We are a bit light there, but only insofar as we don't have a game breaker sitting on the bench to slot in if Fainu or KPP go down. Seyfarth and Sukkar are there to defend - that's their job.

If we want someone more dynamic to sit on the bench, those backrowers don't come cheap - anyone you bring in means you lose depth elsewhere through cap balancing. I thought Ethan Roberts was going to be that guy...young player, not a lot of coin and good ball runner. Sadly he is injured. The other guys are Murray, Broederlow and Godinet that sit under Seyfarth and Sukkar. A lot of excitement around Broederlow and Godinet as they develop, but the questions when these complaints inevitably come up are....

if depth is an issue:
Which signings would remove that issue?
Are they available to sign?
Do we have the money/roster spots available?
Would they even want to come to play on the bench? We already have 2 locked in starters.

You can't have 30 first graders in your squad. You will always have developing players and thin depth in some areas - that's where the odd Patrick Herbert or Bunty Afoa help out for a year or 2 until the younger guys have had a chance to develop a bit. To me, we have Seyfarth, Sukkar and probably Sione Fainu if we are short, then Afoa moves into prop.

I think Hooker is a far bigger depth issue to be honest.