Tired Tiger
Well-known member
If he is friends with AD no thanks....
Signings, Suggestions & Rumours Discussion
- Thread starter MacDougall
- Start date
Buttface
Well-known member
Peter Who?
Wakefield grant star immediate release for return Down Under
Wakefield Trinity have granted Seth Nikotemo an immediate release, with the back-rower returning Down Under on compassionate grounds.www.loverugbyleague.com
Tired Tiger
Well-known member
Difference is sticky and Bellamy would have kicked his ass straight from Canberra / Melb to the UK superleague immediately never to be seen or heard from again ..... They both would have had a nuclear reaction 🔥 🔥 🔥 🔥
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I think that information that he’s signed with the Eels is unconfirmed @ancient_magpie
He was a standout with his power and speed a couple of years back before taking a hiatus from the game.
I watched a little bit of his game last week and he wasn’t the same impactful player, but that was game one back after his break and then playing in the Illawarra local league, so he is one you would hope our recruitment team is keeping an eye on.
I watched Kurt Mann closely last night.
He still has a spring in his step when he is running the ball, but looked to tire quickly and lack line speed when defending.
Finding a good 13 is a very hard task and you would hope that is what Benji is discussing with Doueihi. If he could recruit a good 13 that would be ideal, but when none are out there, the only real option is to manufacture one.
What Cameron Murray, Isaah Yeo, Erin Clarke and Victor Radley do for their respective teams is immense and it changes the whole dynamic of the team if you can somehow find a player or a combination of players to replicate the role they play.
He still has a spring in his step when he is running the ball, but looked to tire quickly and lack line speed when defending.
Finding a good 13 is a very hard task and you would hope that is what Benji is discussing with Doueihi. If he could recruit a good 13 that would be ideal, but when none are out there, the only real option is to manufacture one.
What Cameron Murray, Isaah Yeo, Erin Clarke and Victor Radley do for their respective teams is immense and it changes the whole dynamic of the team if you can somehow find a player or a combination of players to replicate the role they play.
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good kid
weststigerman
Well-known member
Given he’s unsigned for next year, I’d say it could go either way but if he plays well he’ll push his price tag up.
The club should have had this all worked out by now and either choose to keep him or let him go.
Tom Shines
Well-known member
Sounds he will fit right in then…
Seriously ..arent we expecting Mann at age 34 next year to be a bench/ depth piece only next season ? If we are expecting him to be the starting 13 and paying him accordingly I suggest that would be a mistake..
Media taking the negative angle on us again …
NRL try-scoring freak Solomone Saukuru to debut amid Wests Tigers contract battle
He may be leading try scorer in the NSW Cup, but the Wests Tigers almost gave up on Solomone Saukuru. Now he’s set for his NRL debut and it may be too late for the club, as multiple rivals prepare to poach him.
Tyson Jackson and George Al-Akiki
He’s the leading tryscorer in the NSW Cup who finally gets his chance to make his NRL debut - but the Wests Tigers face an uphill battle to keep Solomone Saukuru long-term.
The Tigers have only just opened contract extension talks with Saukuru, just weeks after it had appeared there was no future for him at the club.
The joint venture recently changed its tune on the strike centre following a run of good form, but it could be too late, with multiple rivals circling the rising talent.
Before his breakout season in reserve grade this year, Saukuru was described as having raw talent but lacking the work ethic and finishing touches of NRL standard.
The Tigers have only just opened contract extension talks with Solomone Saukuru... but could it be too late to keep him? Picture: Bryden Sharp
Marshall now believes the centre has what it takes to make it in first grade.
“He’s a really good runner of the footy, deceptively fast for his size, pretty smart, intelligent guy, so we just want what he brings to the team,” Marshall said.
“He’s earned his opportunity.
“Everyone’s seen what he’s done at NSW Cup level and from our point of view, we’ve been driving some standards around his weight and his fitness.
“And he’s been meeting them to a tee.
Ardent Tigers fans have been calling for Saukuru’s debut all year, with the barnstorming outside back dominating in the NSW Cup as Marshall ruffled through his centre options.
In 19 games, Saukuru has scored 20 tries in the NSW Cup - the most in the competition.
This masthead can reveal reports indicating the young centre is off to Parramatta next year are off the market, with the Eels instead looking for experience in their 2027 recruitment drive.
Having last signed a contract with the Tigers after the 2022 junior representative season, Saukuru has been forced to bide his time.
Tigers fans have been calling for Saukuru’s debut all year, with the barnstorming outside back dominating in the NSW Cup, with 20 tries in 19 games this year - the most in the competition. Picture: Warren Gannon Photography
Saukuru was one year older than the famous 2022 Harold Matthews Cup grand final Magpies team, which featured the likes of Lachlan Galvin, Talyn Da Silva, Jordan Miller, Heath Mason, and the Laulilii brothers, Kit and Luke.
All bar Mason have their futures sorted at other clubs, with Saukuru yet to make a decision on what 2026 holds for him.
Sunday provides him with an opportunity to prove his worth, however Marshall was tight-lipped about whether Saukuru would be re-signed to the club.
“We don’t really talk about contract stuff publicly, so that’ll take care of itself,” he said.
Saukuru’s family is steeped in rugby league history.
His uncle, Colin, played for the Dragons in the 1990s, while his father, Joseph, is a member of the coaching staff for the Fijian Silktails in the Jersey Flegg competition.
Joseph also coached Dragons centre Moses Suli - Saukuru’s direct opposite on Sunday - when Suli was at Fairfield United in his juniors.
Solomone’s uncle Colin Saukuru playing for St George Illawarra in 1995.
The newest Tiger - along with teammates Latu and Samuela Fainu - acted as a ball boy for the Dragons veteran, looking up to Suli as he progressed to the NRL.
Joseph now splits his time between watching his son play football and travelling to Fiji to help the Silktails build their football program.
Saukuru’s centre partner for this weekend, Patrick Herbert, believes the 21-year-old’s injection into the side is timely in the midst of a seven-game losing streak.
“The thing about him, he just plays footy,” Herbert said.
“Just some of the things he does—he’s got real good athleticism, he’s got energy that’ll probably match Tito (Sunia Turuva) as well.
“So, to have those types of players in our team, it’s just really good to feed off of, especially at this time where we’ve strung a few losses together. It’ll help keep the energy up.”
Herbert also believes coach Marshall has put a focus on the side’s backfield carries this week, an area where Saukuru has thrived during his time in the NSW Cup this year.
(L-R) Solomone Saukuru, Joseph O'Neill & Apisalome Saukuru. Picture: Monique Harmer
“He can get us down the field pretty good, he’s got good yardage carries, very physical, and like a physical presence out on the field,” Herbert said.
“So, being a big boy, and, if he can just hone in on... Just show some aggression, and I reckon he’ll go a long way of just building momentum for us getting down the pitch, which I think we’ve been struggling with.
“With Sol, you don’t want to rev him up. He’s just a happy, chirpy lad, and that stuff just comes naturally as soon as he crosses that white line.”
One of Saukuru’s closest mates, Mason, believes the club’s newest debutant will fit right in.
“He can be quiet, but he’s quite funny,” Mason said.
“When he’s comfortable around the group, he’s a joke star, but he’s very mature as well, so it’s a good mix.”
Tom Shines
Well-known member
They have paid Solomone Top 30 money at least three years from memory without a first grade game …if they have the confidence to now finally promote him to first grade ..I hope there is a one year extension all but over the line… it would be a very Wests Tigers situation to lose him exactly when he has developed to the big time standard
it would appear our preferred left centre-wing combination will be Taylan May at left centre and Heamasi Makasini at left wing.
IF they are both injury free and at their best it would appear tj be a very good combination, but we need some good quality back uk in case they are injured or in Makasini’s case an insurance policy in case he is not playing as well as expected.
It would appear Junior Tupou has been recruited as the left wing option.
Is he a better option than someone like Christian Tuipulotu who appears to be available?
In addition to this we have supposedly signed our former star junior in Miley Nasser who I believe is more comfortable on the left. Not sure if he is on a top 30 or development contract, but he does have good potential being tallush, fast and athletic and coming off a Jersey Flegg season where he has been at the top of the charts for metres made.
As for left centre back up, hopefully Solo Saukuru shows some good signs tomorrow and stays with us, but if he goes we will need to find someone else.
On the right we appear to be pinning our hopes on Jake Averillo at right centre and Sunia Turuva at right wing.
Again it looks decent if they are both at or close to their best on a regular basis, but lack of size and lack of defensive physicality does look tj be a concern.
It appears we currently have Oatrick Hebert as our back up right centre and Tino Tavana as our back up right winger.
I don’t think they are near good enough to apply genuine pressure on Averillo and Turuva and we ideally need back up in these positions that can potentially do as good if not a better job.
I have mentioned his name many times, but James Schiller who is reportedly available for an early exit from the Knights is a player we really should be after as he is a tall, strong and fast tackle busting athlete that we really lack in our outside backs. He is a specialist right sided centre or winger who would be a genuine threat to being a regular NRL starting player with genuine attacking threat including very good aerial ability.
For the second right sided back up it would be nice to take a risk in recruiting an injured prone, but highly talented right centre in Rocco Berry, however there are rumours he will sign with Melbourne Storm as their starting right centre.
Other good options are players seeking better NRL opportunity such as Wilson De Courcey, Sione Finau and HazynnMelkars who I believe all have the potential tj become very good regular NRL players.
Whatever happens we cannot just sit back and be content with players such as Herbert and Tavana as our main back ups to apply pressure for NRL positions in the outside backs.
IF they are both injury free and at their best it would appear tj be a very good combination, but we need some good quality back uk in case they are injured or in Makasini’s case an insurance policy in case he is not playing as well as expected.
It would appear Junior Tupou has been recruited as the left wing option.
Is he a better option than someone like Christian Tuipulotu who appears to be available?
In addition to this we have supposedly signed our former star junior in Miley Nasser who I believe is more comfortable on the left. Not sure if he is on a top 30 or development contract, but he does have good potential being tallush, fast and athletic and coming off a Jersey Flegg season where he has been at the top of the charts for metres made.
As for left centre back up, hopefully Solo Saukuru shows some good signs tomorrow and stays with us, but if he goes we will need to find someone else.
On the right we appear to be pinning our hopes on Jake Averillo at right centre and Sunia Turuva at right wing.
Again it looks decent if they are both at or close to their best on a regular basis, but lack of size and lack of defensive physicality does look tj be a concern.
It appears we currently have Oatrick Hebert as our back up right centre and Tino Tavana as our back up right winger.
I don’t think they are near good enough to apply genuine pressure on Averillo and Turuva and we ideally need back up in these positions that can potentially do as good if not a better job.
I have mentioned his name many times, but James Schiller who is reportedly available for an early exit from the Knights is a player we really should be after as he is a tall, strong and fast tackle busting athlete that we really lack in our outside backs. He is a specialist right sided centre or winger who would be a genuine threat to being a regular NRL starting player with genuine attacking threat including very good aerial ability.
For the second right sided back up it would be nice to take a risk in recruiting an injured prone, but highly talented right centre in Rocco Berry, however there are rumours he will sign with Melbourne Storm as their starting right centre.
Other good options are players seeking better NRL opportunity such as Wilson De Courcey, Sione Finau and HazynnMelkars who I believe all have the potential tj become very good regular NRL players.
Whatever happens we cannot just sit back and be content with players such as Herbert and Tavana as our main back ups to apply pressure for NRL positions in the outside backs.
Tom Shines
Well-known member
You worried about the speed of the backrowers …but Maka is all good on the wing ?
Rock Hopper Steve
Well-known member
This talk of Kurt Mann is not getting me excited, am I the only one who wants 2 props to be signed before any other positions for depth at this point in time.
Don't care if they're NRL experienced already or on the fringe blocked and wanting an opportunity, this season has shown what injuries have done to our go forward when the deck chairs have to be shuffled when our back rowers went down.
No grunt up front forcing the opposition backwards means less time for our halves to be creative and less space for the backs to work some magic.
Don't care if they're NRL experienced already or on the fringe blocked and wanting an opportunity, this season has shown what injuries have done to our go forward when the deck chairs have to be shuffled when our back rowers went down.
No grunt up front forcing the opposition backwards means less time for our halves to be creative and less space for the backs to work some magic.
Tom Shines
Well-known member
I’m not going to die on the Kurt Mann hill ..but we need better bench/ depth in a number of areas ..get another prop ..sure ..keep Sione strictly as a prop only option ..he is found out when moved to the edge
What happened with Haze Dunster is he still a part of a train & trial with the club ?
No idea.
His career has been ruined by constant injuries.
Rock Hopper Steve
Well-known member
This talk of depth at lock would be solved if dopey Doueihi would do what he's been asked to do and transition to 13, doesn't mean he can't be backup if teething problems occur with our young halves combination.
If the plan is to move on Royce (this would be madness right now you'd think) and Bunty unknown (I'd give him another year) we still need more pigs.
balmain boy
Well-known member
Why, so clubs who refuse to spend a cent like us can hold back other clubs that do invest?
Our only problem is HBG refuse to pay for junior development
king_sirro
Well-known member
Someone of the size and speed of Maka on the wing is fine privided its balanced by a centre that has pace. Their are plenty of teams that have wingers of similar pace.
Thats the issue i have had with team selections and signings over the years. I feel like no thought is put into the balance of the team. It really is just throw guys into spots you think individually are the best option. The run on 13 needs balance in size, speed and skillsets across the park.
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