Signings, Suggestions & Rumours Discussion

BlackWhiteGold said:
I like you're thinking as a pinch-hitting lock with his speed & toughness, ability to cover dummyhalf and possibility to be that bridge 5/8 until Javon is ready (provided Latu is #7).
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Yeah thats exactly what im thinking. I know many will jump on me for the idea, but they need to take into account the cost. Luke Brooks for 350k is a good signing. We know hes tough, hes experienced. Plays 14 and if we get riddled with injuries he is a bloody good 3rd or 4th half option. I would like to see him in Tigers colours in a role that has no pressure from his price tag or wearing the 7. He can definitely contribute on a weekly basis. Id rather him over Kurt Mann
 
Vicious said:
If we are fair dinkum, Fonua is just as a high a priority as what the Fainu boys are.
Is it really that hard to get the 3 of them in a room together, explain how important all 3 of them are to our teams immediate future, explain we are happy to include ratchet clauses for pay increases in accordance to salary cap increases, but we cannot overpay them if they want and expect a good quality team to play alongside of.
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In theory yes, but this club doesn’t exactly have the bargaining power for that
 
king_sirro said:
It wouldn't surprise me at all if we took Brooks back. He showed some good form at Manly at times, but the game has gone past halves that only play fast. For some reason he has never been able to slow his game down and control the tempo he goes to the line with. Its a no from me.

I will say this though, I'd take him nn the halves over Adam Doueihi anyday.

Also left field option......Brooks lock and hooker off the bench???????? We know defensively he would eat it up in the middle, provide good leg speed, and let's face it, his link play will be better than what we have.

I just talked myself into it, done a 180. Bring Brooksy home. He still lives local.
Let's say we got him as a utility for 350k...would you take that deal?
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An older player coming back to their first club after many years away rarely works well and for whatever reason Brooksy just couldn’t really click with us anyway, so it would be a big no from me.

I feel for him though. I thought he was their best player when Manly were destroying teams under Fozball and they only went on their losing streak immediately after he was sidelined with his season ending injury. It would’ve been interesting to see how they had gone if he didn’t get injured. That 8 week period was actually the best I’d ever seen him play.

So I think it’s a little unfair for Manly to just discard him now, but I understand the decision also. Wrong side of 30 and a long rehab from a bad injury on the cards is not what Manly need. They really need to shed Jake too.
 
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I’ll cop all the hate I have to but I would take brooks back as a running 5/8 with a view of moving to lock once Javon is ready, although I would prioritise going for Fogarty as I think he offers more to the younger boys with respect to experience
 
Chunk said:
Hope not, no doubt he can play but thats just going backwards, we already have a mix of youth & experience already with our halves.
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I fully understand the narrative that having Brooks here would be going backwards, but if its in a completely different role for a fraction of the price it isnt really going back to the past. If you take away the name and history of being the 7 at our club, he is just a decent first grader who has some good attributes if used correctly for the right price that is on the market.
 
Milky said:
I’ll cop all the hate I have to but I would take brooks back as a running 5/8 with a view of moving to lock once Javon is ready, although I would prioritise going for Fogarty as I think he offers more to the younger boys with respect to experience
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Kind of understand what you are saying from a pure footballing perspective, but imagine the vitriol directed at him after a few poor performances. So much baggage here I don't think it would be a good thing for him, the club or the fans. Another circus is the last thing we need.

It's a pointless debate. The aint no way Brooks is coming back here.
 
king_sirro said:
I fully understand the narrative that having Brooks here would be going backwards, but if its in a completely different role for a fraction of the price it isnt really going back to the past. If you take away the name and history of being the 7 at our club, he is just a decent first grader who has some good attributes if used correctly for the right price that is on the market.
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I reckon you would find he (Brooks) would be just as hesitant, if not more hesitant than Doueihi supposedly is about playing 13.
I bet Brooks would much prefer to go and star in the UK Super League playing 5/8 than he would playing well above his weight as a 13 or 9 in the NRL.
 
Hey everyone,

Been in and out of the forum this year due to some medical issues, but I’m doing a lot better now. Really missed catching up with you all!

For those who still remember me, I still get the odd bit of info from time to time. Haven’t been around much lately so I’m not sure if this has already been mentioned, but I’ve got it on very good authority that all three Fainu brothers are going nowhere. They’ve given verbal commitments to friends, family and the club that they’re staying put.

This next part is more of a guess, but I reckon the negotiations are taking a bit longer once you factor Manise into the mix. The three younger brothers seem to have a really strong desire to play alongside their older brother when he’s available again or if he’s available again.

I actually posted about this around 18 months ago, that the club are looking at Manise, and that the Fainus’ management team had been working with the club to get a T&T deal done. It’s been in the works for a while not just this past 3-4 months like reports suggest.

This clearly means a lot to the boys, you can tell. I think it’s a fantastic idea imo. The extra motivation of not only playing alongside three brothers (including one who’s been locked away), but also chasing the shared dream of a premiership and helping revive Manase’s career and journey in doing so, is huge. It’s giving Latu and Samuela in particular that extra drive to reach their full potential and scratch their scary ceiling.

Will it happen or won’t it happen we’ll see, but regardless both Sameula and Latu are staying put 100%.
 
king_sirro said:
Yeah thats exactly what im thinking. I know many will jump on me for the idea, but they need to take into account the cost. Luke Brooks for 350k is a good signing. We know hes tough, hes experienced. Plays 14 and if we get riddled with injuries he is a bloody good 3rd or 4th half option. I would like to see him in Tigers colours in a role that has no pressure from his price tag or wearing the 7. He can definitely contribute on a weekly basis. Id rather him over Kurt Mann
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What your describing is what we've signed Brailey for, I believe.

I think England is the next move for Brooks.
I don't think we want him / he wants to come back.

Let's ask his uncle, @Jedi_Tiger
 
Demps said:
What your describing is what we've signed Brailey for, I believe.

I think England is the next move for Brooks.
I don't think we want him / he wants to come back.

Let's ask his uncle, @Jedi_Tiger
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But Brailey isnt a 3rd or 3th choice half. He is a specialist hooker who could play a little 13 maybe. Brooks provides great depth in a position we are vulnerable in while contributing weekly off the bench in the middle. Brailey plays reserve grade while Haywood get another season in flegg which wont hurt his development. He has plenty of time.
 
supercoach said:
Always thought Brooks would make a good no9, strong front on defender and has both a passing and kicking game. Not sure if we need any more no9 and halve coverage and I guess cap and roster space should be directed to areas of need, but Brooks could do a job at no9
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I was on that train while he was here. I thought he could potentially be an excellent 9.
 
Why are we talking about Brooks… let’s aim higher.

If the rumours are true that Dearden wants to move to Sydney. I would genuinely offer him $1.5 mil a season over 4 years.

We’d be able to blow souths out of the water with $ offers

Could you imagine plugging Dearden next to Latu, Bula and Api.
 
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teddy23 said:
Hey everyone,

Been in and out of the forum this year due to some medical issues, but I’m doing a lot better now. Really missed catching up with you all!

For those who still remember me, I still get the odd bit of info from time to time. Haven’t been around much lately so I’m not sure if this has already been mentioned, but I’ve got it on very good authority that all three Fainu brothers are going nowhere. They’ve given verbal commitments to friends, family and the club that they’re staying put.

This next part is more of a guess, but I reckon the negotiations are taking a bit longer once you factor Manise into the mix. The three younger brothers seem to have a really strong desire to play alongside their older brother when he’s available again or if he’s available again.

I actually posted about this around 18 months ago, that the club are looking at Manise, and that the Fainus’ management team had been working with the club to get a T&T deal done. It’s been in the works for a while not just this past 3-4 months like reports suggest.

This clearly means a lot to the boys, you can tell. I think it’s a fantastic idea imo. The extra motivation of not only playing alongside three brothers (including one who’s been locked away), but also chasing the shared dream of a premiership and helping revive Manase’s career and journey in doing so, is huge. It’s giving Latu and Samuela in particular that extra drive to reach their full potential and scratch their scary ceiling.

Will it happen or won’t it happen we’ll see, but regardless both Sameula and Latu are staying put 100%.
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Great to hear from you Teddy, hoping your alot better 🙏 always interested in your mail
 
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