Signings, Suggestions & Rumours Discussion
- Thread starter MacDougall
- Start date
Rock Hopper Steve
Well-known member
Metcalf is a pacey half but an organiser worthy of that money, Mmm.
Darty the winger
Active member
When is this announced officially?
Halbrowne61
Well-known member
Well they would have to improve dramatically for Young to keep the job. They have been as bad, if not worse, in the 2 games since he took over. Compare that to Manly, instant turnaround when Foran took over.
Dunno mate . It’s a fair question . It’s gotta be said though , at some point you can have all the training and pats on the bum in the world , but you need to deliver . And really guys like Geyer , and Bunty , even hope , you got them at points in their careers where they’re close to the final product , so really it’s not the club lacking development . It’s simply these guys arnt doing thier job .
And here’s the thing . The KoE team has gotten heaps better since they blooded a few of the Flegg players like Brooke’s and Robert’s , a couple of backs . Lanyon has taken a bit of a leap lately . So if they don’t start doing thier job , then not only will they get dropped but there’s a real chance they will get leapfrogged . Especially as it’s only a few weeks away from being able to play whoever the club wants because it’s past the round 12 cut off for playing non top 30 players .
The systems clearly work . We’ve seen it . So now it comes down to individual accountability. And mental toughness .
The kids are coming . They’re all used to winning for the most part . So they don’t have the scar tissue guys like Hope would . And that winning mentality leads to usually an uptick in effort areas . That’s where the guys stepping up have been poor . Simply they look apathetic. And that’s not on the club or coaches . It’s the person in the mirror . As much as people want to look for the old tired cliches to blame .
user118245
Well-known member
Bears land Jamie Humphreys. I was giving slack to dragons for their spine last night but geez the bears spine is uninspiring, however it’s their first year.
1 Meaney
6 Sexton
7 Humphreys
9 Wishart
1 Meaney
6 Sexton
7 Humphreys
9 Wishart
GNR4LIFE
Well-known member
That’s still a better spine than the Dogs.
Individually they are all decent players, no superstars but pretty good
I’d love Humphreys!!
About the best utility getting around.
Everyone bangs on about a 6 man bench, a bloke like Humphreys saves you having a hooker and half on the bench - and can play lock, even centre at a pinch…
Red88_Tiger
Well-known member
Think at least one of their halves needs to be a bit quicker
tigerbenji
Well-known member
Humphreys is a very good utility, covers a few positions.
TheEnz
Well-known member
Has Kit Laulii been named in any teams or played a single game this year? i keep seeing him in the team training photos and videos. My understanding was he is recovering from a head knock, its been months since he played....having said that the Bears have signed him so it cant be an ongoing issue...bit of a head scratcher especially seeing Bunty come out and show he is no longer at 1st grade level we may be in a bit of a hole if we get a couple of middles out at the same time.
Think people have forgotten how good he is....
Fresh on the scene.
He was talk of the game.
Then he got injured and was forgotten real quick.
He's a good player.
Perth landed a good one.
I don't mind their spine.
Meany is solid.
Wishart is crafty.
Sexton, well, he looked capable at the dogs till they torpedoed their season.
Second this. The bloke could even do a job at prop or second row if you absolutely needed him to. There's plenty of him. As it stands, I think he's got the potential to become a very good lock.
He has no incentive to risk further consequences of headknocks when he is signed with the Bears, he is probably just delaying as much as possible. wouldn't be surprised if he doesn't play this season
BlackWhiteGold
Well-known member
Wests Tigers re-signing spree: Fonua Pole next in line - and he could lure his brother too
Having locked down half a dozen stars in the past week, the wild Wests Tigers spending spree could net them another big target - and a poaching raid on the Melbourne Storm.
Tyson Jackson, Michael Carayannis and Abisha Sapkota
May 15, 2026 - 10:18AM
The Wests Tigers have been on a wild spending spree since star Jarome Luai announced his departure - and one of their most loyal players could be next.
He might even bring his brother with him.
Fonua Pole debuted when the Tigers felt more like a sinking ship than a genuine threat.
He watched a revolving door of stars head for the exit - including his initial front-row partner, Stefano Utoikamanu, who left for the Storm and reached a grand final in his first year away.
In fact, Pole is one of just five players who remain from that season in 2022, while a sixth, Jock Madden, went to Brisbane and returned.
Fonua Pole is one of the Tigers impressive young forwards - and he wants to stick around. Picture: Getty
But now the vibes are different in Concord.
After the club locked down his best mate Jahream Bula, brothers Terrell and Taylan May, and winger Sunia Turuva, Pole is finally seeing the tide turn.
It’s the same tide that could entice the enforcer to stay well beyond his current contract and lure his brother, Suli, from Melbourne to join the Tigers’ renaissance.
“I’ve been trying for a while,” Fonua said of bringing his sibling into the fold.
Suli Pole (L) is forging his own path - but it could lead him to a family dynasty at the Wests Tigers. Picture: Sean Teuma
Suli has been steadily progressing through the Melbourne system, making it a challenge to convince the young gun to move to the big smoke of Sydney.
But the biggest hurdle may actually back at home.
“He’s the last boy at home, so my mum’s pretty strong on him not leaving,” Fonua said.
Fonua currently lives with his cousins in Sydney but is planning to move out when he gets married at the end of the year.
He is already prepared to offer a room in his new place to Suli if he chooses to join him.
Suli Pole is tackled by the Tigers defence. Picture: Sean Teuma
“I stay with my cousin, so if he came in, we’d be sleeping outside,“ Fonua joked.
”I’ll move out soon when I get married … maybe if he comes up, he can stay with me.”
The Pole family got to watch Fonua play last weekend for the first time in a while, as the group often finds it difficult to regularly travel from Melbourne to Sydney for Tigers games.
Fonua has excelled since giving up AFL and switching to the NRL.
His brother Suli is now following a similar path; after making his mark in the Jersey Flegg competition, he made his NSW Cup debut last weekend just hours before Fonua took the field.
Pole is impressed by what the Tigers have been building in recent years. Picture: Getty
“I think he went pretty good. They were unlucky to come away with the loss, but it was a good experience for him,” Fonua said.
“I don’t get many chances to play in front of my mum or any of my family. They’re getting pretty old and they don’t get to come out to my games much.
“I always look forward to it and it was a special moment seeing my mum in the crowd too and seeing them after the game”.
While the prop is available to negotiate with rival clubs from November 1 as he enters the final stages of his contract, he is yet to make a definitive decision on his future.
The lure of playing with his brother is a major draw, but for now, he is focused on his performances on the field.
“I don’t want to really worry about it right now. I’ve still got next year to worry about and this whole year to get through,” he said.
“It’s just pretty good to see and it just shows the culture that we’re building here and I think the brotherhood that we have. It just shows how much everyone’s bought in”.
Having locked down half a dozen stars in the past week, the wild Wests Tigers spending spree could net them another big target - and a poaching raid on the Melbourne Storm.
Tyson Jackson, Michael Carayannis and Abisha Sapkota
May 15, 2026 - 10:18AM
The Wests Tigers have been on a wild spending spree since star Jarome Luai announced his departure - and one of their most loyal players could be next.
He might even bring his brother with him.
Fonua Pole debuted when the Tigers felt more like a sinking ship than a genuine threat.
He watched a revolving door of stars head for the exit - including his initial front-row partner, Stefano Utoikamanu, who left for the Storm and reached a grand final in his first year away.
In fact, Pole is one of just five players who remain from that season in 2022, while a sixth, Jock Madden, went to Brisbane and returned.
Fonua Pole is one of the Tigers impressive young forwards - and he wants to stick around. Picture: Getty
But now the vibes are different in Concord.
After the club locked down his best mate Jahream Bula, brothers Terrell and Taylan May, and winger Sunia Turuva, Pole is finally seeing the tide turn.
It’s the same tide that could entice the enforcer to stay well beyond his current contract and lure his brother, Suli, from Melbourne to join the Tigers’ renaissance.
“I’ve been trying for a while,” Fonua said of bringing his sibling into the fold.
Suli Pole (L) is forging his own path - but it could lead him to a family dynasty at the Wests Tigers. Picture: Sean Teuma
Suli has been steadily progressing through the Melbourne system, making it a challenge to convince the young gun to move to the big smoke of Sydney.
But the biggest hurdle may actually back at home.
“He’s the last boy at home, so my mum’s pretty strong on him not leaving,” Fonua said.
Fonua currently lives with his cousins in Sydney but is planning to move out when he gets married at the end of the year.
He is already prepared to offer a room in his new place to Suli if he chooses to join him.
Suli Pole is tackled by the Tigers defence. Picture: Sean Teuma
“I stay with my cousin, so if he came in, we’d be sleeping outside,“ Fonua joked.
”I’ll move out soon when I get married … maybe if he comes up, he can stay with me.”
The Pole family got to watch Fonua play last weekend for the first time in a while, as the group often finds it difficult to regularly travel from Melbourne to Sydney for Tigers games.
Fonua has excelled since giving up AFL and switching to the NRL.
His brother Suli is now following a similar path; after making his mark in the Jersey Flegg competition, he made his NSW Cup debut last weekend just hours before Fonua took the field.
Pole is impressed by what the Tigers have been building in recent years. Picture: Getty
“I think he went pretty good. They were unlucky to come away with the loss, but it was a good experience for him,” Fonua said.
“I don’t get many chances to play in front of my mum or any of my family. They’re getting pretty old and they don’t get to come out to my games much.
“I always look forward to it and it was a special moment seeing my mum in the crowd too and seeing them after the game”.
While the prop is available to negotiate with rival clubs from November 1 as he enters the final stages of his contract, he is yet to make a definitive decision on his future.
The lure of playing with his brother is a major draw, but for now, he is focused on his performances on the field.
“I don’t want to really worry about it right now. I’ve still got next year to worry about and this whole year to get through,” he said.
“It’s just pretty good to see and it just shows the culture that we’re building here and I think the brotherhood that we have. It just shows how much everyone’s bought in”.
rihannafan1
Well-known member
And with Ben Gardiner coaching, they will do better than people expect. I reckon they'll start pretty well and fade but still be around 8-12th spot.
rihannafan1
Well-known member
Has Fonua cut into the resigning line ahead of the Fainus? 😆Wests Tigers re-signing spree: Fonua Pole next in line - and he could lure his brother too
Having locked down half a dozen stars in the past week, the wild Wests Tigers spending spree could net them another big target - and a poaching raid on the Melbourne Storm.
Tyson Jackson, Michael Carayannis and Abisha Sapkota
May 15, 2026 - 10:18AM
The Wests Tigers have been on a wild spending spree since star Jarome Luai announced his departure - and one of their most loyal players could be next.
He might even bring his brother with him.
Fonua Pole debuted when the Tigers felt more like a sinking ship than a genuine threat.
He watched a revolving door of stars head for the exit - including his initial front-row partner, Stefano Utoikamanu, who left for the Storm and reached a grand final in his first year away.
In fact, Pole is one of just five players who remain from that season in 2022, while a sixth, Jock Madden, went to Brisbane and returned.
Fonua Pole is one of the Tigers impressive young forwards - and he wants to stick around. Picture: Getty
But now the vibes are different in Concord.
After the club locked down his best mate Jahream Bula, brothers Terrell and Taylan May, and winger Sunia Turuva, Pole is finally seeing the tide turn.
It’s the same tide that could entice the enforcer to stay well beyond his current contract and lure his brother, Suli, from Melbourne to join the Tigers’ renaissance.
“I’ve been trying for a while,” Fonua said of bringing his sibling into the fold.
Suli Pole (L) is forging his own path - but it could lead him to a family dynasty at the Wests Tigers. Picture: Sean Teuma
Suli has been steadily progressing through the Melbourne system, making it a challenge to convince the young gun to move to the big smoke of Sydney.
But the biggest hurdle may actually back at home.
“He’s the last boy at home, so my mum’s pretty strong on him not leaving,” Fonua said.
Fonua currently lives with his cousins in Sydney but is planning to move out when he gets married at the end of the year.
He is already prepared to offer a room in his new place to Suli if he chooses to join him.
Suli Pole is tackled by the Tigers defence. Picture: Sean Teuma
“I stay with my cousin, so if he came in, we’d be sleeping outside,“ Fonua joked.
”I’ll move out soon when I get married … maybe if he comes up, he can stay with me.”
The Pole family got to watch Fonua play last weekend for the first time in a while, as the group often finds it difficult to regularly travel from Melbourne to Sydney for Tigers games.
Fonua has excelled since giving up AFL and switching to the NRL.
His brother Suli is now following a similar path; after making his mark in the Jersey Flegg competition, he made his NSW Cup debut last weekend just hours before Fonua took the field.
Pole is impressed by what the Tigers have been building in recent years. Picture: Getty
“I think he went pretty good. They were unlucky to come away with the loss, but it was a good experience for him,” Fonua said.
“I don’t get many chances to play in front of my mum or any of my family. They’re getting pretty old and they don’t get to come out to my games much.
“I always look forward to it and it was a special moment seeing my mum in the crowd too and seeing them after the game”.
While the prop is available to negotiate with rival clubs from November 1 as he enters the final stages of his contract, he is yet to make a definitive decision on his future.
The lure of playing with his brother is a major draw, but for now, he is focused on his performances on the field.
“I don’t want to really worry about it right now. I’ve still got next year to worry about and this whole year to get through,” he said.
“It’s just pretty good to see and it just shows the culture that we’re building here and I think the brotherhood that we have. It just shows how much everyone’s bought in”.
Not that there's anything in the article really about him resigning.
Speed2burn
Well-known member
Humphreys is a good 7 and Wishart was on the cusp of origin last year
Definitely not bad
weststigerman
Well-known member
I don’t he makes the call on how long to recover from concussion.