Signings, Suggestions & Rumours Discussion

[colmcd]

Wing is the last position which will be addressed. We have a stack of players in this position. We are with them, like it or not, for at least a couple of years.

We have Nofo and Fonua, after that who are all these players

Well there's also MWZ & Thompson and I suppose Milne and Kev could play there if need be. I guess we're a bit more covered there than in previous years, but I certainly would still like to see someone with height and speed on our flanks. I reckon we should go hard to get Corey Oates for 2019\. Can be difficult to get players to leave Brisbane, but worth a try, especially if we still have some coin to spend.

Milne would have to be a serious option for the wing position with his showings in the world cup.

Center we are well covered with Suli, marsters, Milne, etc.

Wing we are covered with Nofo, Fauna (can't spell his name at all), MWZ or Kevin Naq can stand in.
I so did not realise we had Corey Thompson signed as well. Wow we should have a stack of depth if no bright stars.

Fullback we only have Tui!

Utility? I could see Milne and Marsters being bench spots 3 and 4\. They both would lift the side when they enter the field. In fact, Marsters as a Gavin Cooper/Mitch Aubusson type player that can play a little in the centers would be an awesome bench 3 spot.

Do we need tall guys as wingers?
Nope! I am surprised though Taylor did not sign some tall guys as tall guys work well with Taylorball and rough high kicks in the oppositions try line.

I see Tui as our best impact back, as someone who can threaten the line a little and create a bit of havoc. I imagine Thompson, Founa or Milne will either become the full time full back and Tui the bench Utility OR one of these three will be bench/impact utility.

Looking at all this I think we have signed too much depth back. We could probably have signed 1 player less and gone for a bigger star. Definitely a player that played more fullback would be useful.

 

[AL The Tiger]

We are not stacked in the wing/centre positions at all. Having a large quantity amount of players, does not substitute for the fact we have a serious lack of quality whatsoever. You can't just name Nofo, MWZ, Naiqama and Fonua and simply say we are stacked. We are not stacked! Our options are extremely sub-par, stop settling for mediocrity.

 

[Roar_Power]

We are not stacked in the wing/centre positions at all. Having a large quantity amount of players, does not substitute for the fact we have a serious lack of quality whatsoever. You can't just name Nofo, MWZ, Naiqama and Fonua and simply say we are stacked. We are not stacked! Our options are extremely sub-par, stop settling for mediocrity.

Bit harsh. Don't agree they are sub par. These guys will get a job done as long as defence improves through the season. They aren't origin or national players but I think that's somewhat part of Ivan's plan. He is money balling. I reckon we will pick up an X-factor player or two over the course of the next year but as long as our forwards take us that way, the backs should be able to make some inroads.

I am really looking forward to watching this side next season - they will surprise a few in my opinion.

 

[Tiger_Watto]

I think Ivan may well head into this coming season with who we have now , he may wait and see how the guys perform through the pre season and early trials before deciding if we need to spend more , we may be able to compete with what we have , we were going ok towards the end of last season and we are a better team on paper so maybe it's a wait and see game .

We need a top 30 so, we'll see 2 more signings. Wether that's just 2 ISP players getting promoted or 2 completely new signings is something we'll have to wait and see.

I'm confused… Surely the Highest Paid 30 players on Wests Tigers contracts make up our Top 30 regardless which competition they play in?

 

[Russta]

I read somewhere that Michael Morgan wants to test his value on the open market. He would be awesome. Unlike Cronk, he doesn't need a superstar team around him to excel.

 

[steve-o]

We are not stacked in the wing/centre positions at all. Having a large quantity amount of players, does not substitute for the fact we have a serious lack of quality whatsoever. You can't just name Nofo, MWZ, Naiqama and Fonua and simply say we are stacked. We are not stacked! Our options are extremely sub-par, stop settling for mediocrity.

Well said. This can apply to positions other than wing/centre too.

 

[krayola]

We are not stacked in the wing/centre positions at all. Having a large quantity amount of players, does not substitute for the fact we have a serious lack of quality whatsoever. You can't just name Nofo, MWZ, Naiqama and Fonua and simply say we are stacked. We are not stacked! Our options are extremely sub-par, stop settling for mediocrity.

Well said. This can apply to positions other than wing/centre too.

We're not stacked but neither are the four wingers named above mediocre. They're all average NRL players paid appropriately for their ability, who play with heart and are coached by a guy who gets the best out of them and everyone on the team. I'll take a team full of average players who compete over a team with 2-3 self-centred stars who turn up when they feel like it.

 

[The-moP]

Milne and Suli are both big, talented young guys and under the right coach (Cleary) could develop into some real talent for the future. Fonua is a very handy pickup, a player who can play both centre and wing .. damaging runner with ball. Thompson when with the Dogs was a very talented winger, who could find the line .. smallish in stature but he had (hopes he's still got it ??) plenty in determination. Gamble could be our x factor for the backline 7,6 and 1 he is handy at.

 

[palms]

Nofo was playing severely hampered by injury last year. He is a beast of a winger and with an uninterrupted pre season will be huge.

 

[Tim Sheens]

We are not stacked in the wing/centre positions at all. Having a large quantity amount of players, does not substitute for the fact we have a serious lack of quality whatsoever. You can't just name Nofo, MWZ, Naiqama and Fonua and simply say we are stacked. We are not stacked! Our options are extremely sub-par, stop settling for mediocrity.

Didn't one of those "extremely sub-par" options get voted as winger of the year by his peers?

 

[Seantice]

The players are better than we had last year. In saying that the only issue I have is the lack of pace. The dragons were similar this year tjat if there line got broken or if they made a line break they had no one to out pace the opposition. Killdd a lot of tryscoring opportunities.

 

[Russell]

Lolohea is the full back at the moment.

Marshall, Nofo and Kev can all play full back - that is not bad for back ups.

colmcd, you say you can see Milne and Marsters as bench spots 3 and 4 , I can't see that happening.

Two front rowers will definitely be on the bench and another forward I would think that can can play front row and back row - don't think Marsters can do that.

The other spot would be a utility that can cover the backs - Marshall fills the bill because he can cover every position in the backs, that is a no brainer. He also has the experience, reasonable kicking game and is a goal kicker. Milne is not in the event for a bench spot imo.

Can't understand all the negativity at the moment - I think we have bought as well as we could given our history over the past 4-5 years - probably better than we could have expected. We will probably fill a few spots that we can improve upon for 2019 or pick someone up in the 6-7 months for 2018.

Hardly think we even had a chance (not that we would not have tried for some) of players like Cronk, Maloney, Moylan, Hayne, Pearce etc. If you are real - ask yourself this question if you were one of those players at the moment would you sign with Wests Tigers - the absolute answer is NO. All the banter about these players coming here was just pie in the sky stuff.

Let's have faith in Ivan - see how it all unfolds and what will be his next step when he knows for sure.

 

[steve-o]

We are not stacked in the wing/centre positions at all. Having a large quantity amount of players, does not substitute for the fact we have a serious lack of quality whatsoever. You can't just name Nofo, MWZ, Naiqama and Fonua and simply say we are stacked. We are not stacked! Our options are extremely sub-par, stop settling for mediocrity.

Well said. This can apply to positions other than wing/centre too.

We're not stacked but neither are the four wingers named above mediocre. They're all average NRL players paid appropriately for their ability, who play with heart and are coached by a guy who gets the best out of them and everyone on the team. I'll take a team full of average players who compete over a team with 2-3 self-centred stars who turn up when they feel like it.

Nofo is great, I have no issue with him. Fonua I haven't seen much of since he left the storm. Apparently he killed it in the ESL, but the outside backs in the ESL are far inferior to those in the NRL. I'd say MWZ and naiqama are the definition of mediocre. Mediocre means about average… Not bad, but not very good either. They are middle of the road type players.

 

[AL The Tiger]

We are not stacked in the wing/centre positions at all. Having a large quantity amount of players, does not substitute for the fact we have a serious lack of quality whatsoever. You can't just name Nofo, MWZ, Naiqama and Fonua and simply say we are stacked. We are not stacked! Our options are extremely sub-par, stop settling for mediocrity.

Didn't one of those "extremely sub-par" options get voted as winger of the year by his peers?

Nofo's attacking flair does not account for his defensive ability. He is a good winger, but his defense severely hampers him.

 

[balmain boy]

We have a lot of players that can do a job in the nrl, but few standouts. That's the problem. A team full of solid players should be competitive, but if a top side kicks into gear we can't match them consistently. We don't have individually brilliant players in our backline.

If our opponents choose to bomb us we'll be in trouble as we have the shortest backline in the comp, by a long way. Fonua, while short, seems quite competent in the air in both attack and defence which is a plus though. We lack height and pace in the backs but we won't be reliant on unproven kids which is a plus.

I also doubt Benji will be on the bench. Carrying a half is a waste of a spot and won't happen if we're playing 2 hookers. Marsters would probably be our bench utility.

I'd say we have
1 Tui
2 Nof
3 Suli
4 Milne
5 Fonua

14 Liddle/MMcW
15 Marsters
+2 props

 

[JD Tiger]

We have a lot of players that can do a job in the nrl, but few standouts. That's the problem. A team full of solid players should be competitive, but if a top side kicks into gear we can't match them consistently. We don't have individually brilliant players in our backline.

If our opponents choose to bomb us we'll be in trouble as we have the shortest backline in the comp, by a long way. Fonua, while short, seems quite competent in the air in both attack and defence which is a plus though. We lack height and pace in the backs but we won't be reliant on unproven kids which is a plus.

I also doubt Benji will be on the bench. Carrying a half is a waste of a spot and won't happen if we're playing 2 hookers. Marsters would probably be our bench utility.

I'd say we have
1 Tui
2 Nof
3 Suli
4 Milne
5 Fonua

14 Liddle/MMcW
15 Marsters
+2 props

Looks good as a lineup, who misses out in the second row/ lock places though?
ET, McQueen, Eiso, Alioai are certainties in my mind, meaning 1 of them on the bench without Marsters or Lawrence.

 

[swag_tiger]

We have a lot of players that can do a job in the nrl, but few standouts. That's the problem. A team full of solid players should be competitive, but if a top side kicks into gear we can't match them consistently. We don't have individually brilliant players in our backline.

If our opponents choose to bomb us we'll be in trouble as we have the shortest backline in the comp, by a long way. Fonua, while short, seems quite competent in the air in both attack and defence which is a plus though. We lack height and pace in the backs but we won't be reliant on unproven kids which is a plus.

I also doubt Benji will be on the bench. Carrying a half is a waste of a spot and won't happen if we're playing 2 hookers. Marsters would probably be our bench utility.

I'd say we have
1 Tui
2 Nof
3 Suli
4 Milne
5 Fonua

14 Liddle/MMcW
15 Marsters
+2 props

Looks good as a lineup, who misses out in the second row/ lock places though?
ET, McQueen, Eiso, Alioai are certainties in my mind, meaning 1 of them on the bench without Marsters or Lawrence.

Twal is a must.

 

[Tigerdon]

We have a lot of players that can do a job in the nrl, but few standouts. That's the problem. A team full of solid players should be competitive, but if a top side kicks into gear we can't match them consistently. We don't have individually brilliant players in our backline.

If our opponents choose to bomb us we'll be in trouble as we have the shortest backline in the comp, by a long way. Fonua, while short, seems quite competent in the air in both attack and defence which is a plus though. We lack height and pace in the backs but we won't be reliant on unproven kids which is a plus.

I also doubt Benji will be on the bench. Carrying a half is a waste of a spot and won't happen if we're playing 2 hookers. Marsters would probably be our bench utility.

I'd say we have
1 Tui
2 Nof
3 Suli
4 Milne
5 Fonua

14 Liddle/MMcW
15 Marsters
+2 props

Looks good as a lineup, who misses out in the second row/ lock places though?
ET, McQueen, Eiso, Alioai are certainties in my mind, meaning 1 of them on the bench without Marsters or Lawrence.

I think it will be Alioai on the bench. Not because he's not good enough to start, just because I think it will be 11-ET, 12-McQueen, 13-Eiso.
If the DH has a spell, I think ET will go there and Alioai will come on into ET's 11 spot.
i'm not sure if all of ET, McQueen & Eiso will all play 80 mins.

 

[Tacky]

I think Ivan may well head into this coming season with who we have now , he may wait and see how the guys perform through the pre season and early trials before deciding if we need to spend more , we may be able to compete with what we have , we were going ok towards the end of last season and we are a better team on paper so maybe it's a wait and see game .

We need a top 30 so, we'll see 2 more signings. Wether that's just 2 ISP players getting promoted or 2 completely new signings is something we'll have to wait and see.

I'm confused… Surely the Highest Paid 30 players on Wests Tigers contracts make up our Top 30 regardless which competition they play in?

From what I know we need 30 players signed to NRL contracts. I believe we currently have 28, the rest of our squad being signed to 2nd tier ISP contracts (like Bailey Sironen). We can't use a player on 2nd tier contract in the NRL unless we get an exemption from the NRL. I'm pretty sure Ivan said in the last Q&A video that we have 28 players signed and have 2 spots left. This is how I'm seeing, someone can correct me if I'm wrong on that.

 

[will1999]

I think Ivan may well head into this coming season with who we have now , he may wait and see how the guys perform through the pre season and early trials before deciding if we need to spend more , we may be able to compete with what we have , we were going ok towards the end of last season and we are a better team on paper so maybe it's a wait and see game .

We need a top 30 so, we'll see 2 more signings. Wether that's just 2 ISP players getting promoted or 2 completely new signings is something we'll have to wait and see.

I'm confused… Surely the Highest Paid 30 players on Wests Tigers contracts make up our Top 30 regardless which competition they play in?

From what I know we need 30 players signed to NRL contracts. I believe we currently have 28, the rest of our squad being signed to 2nd tier ISP contracts (like Bailey Sironen). We can't use a player on 2nd tier contract in the NRL unless we get an exemption from the NRL. I'm pretty sure Ivan said in the last Q&A video that we have 28 players signed and have 2 spots left. This is how I'm seeing, someone can correct me if I'm wrong on that.

yep only 28