Signings, Suggestions & Rumours Discussion

[avocadoontoast]

I want Bennett but I don't think we can afford to wait until 2020\. I don't want 2019 to be a write off and that's exactly what it will be if we still have Ivan at the helm. We need to move on and we need to do it now.

So basically Madge or Toovs. I wouldn't want anyone else outside those two or Bennett.

Yep either of those guys would be fine.

Does the fact Madge basically coached the same bunnies side from this year to 12th position not concern you?

I know he won a comp but he did have a star studded side.

Yes it does, but he did win a premiership and had enormous success in the UK. I'm not his biggest fan by any stretch of the imagination, but I think behind Bennett he's our best option and he would have the ability to attract talent (but nowhere near to the level of Bennett). I think Cleary staying in '19 would be diabolical for the club and I hope it is not even being considered by PasGo.

 

[jirskyr]

read this morning that the knights had a huge play for panjai jnr , and lodge , now it didnt happen and i have no idea if the tigers had a crack, but at least the knights have come out and advised there fans that they tried to sign players, they also stated they were after mann and another ist grader, what the hell have we been told, YES we upgraded 3 ISP plodders, and we the fans are supposed to be happy. with what we have i think we could be in a battle for the wooden spoon next year.

BP, who knows what’s going on behind the scenes??? We could be talking to a host of players or nobody. I don’t mind the silence if It is to protect their recruitment drive, but the NRL being the beast it is always has leaks, and player managers are the masters at it. Anyway there is zero talk around recruitment at the Tigers and that is a real worry. Maybe the Cleary thing is dominating the Tiger talk, but as a long term member I am really worried about our squad for 2019

Personally I'd rather not be the club that gets linked to every player on the market, and subsequently looked over by most of these players. OK you can say Knights have informed their fans, but a good portion of those fans might bemoan the lack of being able to sign players despite the big-money offers.

I just don't get what recruitment activity some people expect at the end of the season? Many deals are struck in the first half of the year, whereas the end of the year most clubs try to have their rosters set for the pre-season.

For 2019 we extended Benji, Farah, Hooth, Marsters, Thompson; signed Mbye, Matterson and Momers. We released Grant, Godinet, Lolohea, Naiqama, Bayley Siro, Sauaso Sue and MWZ.

None of the players we released were key to a premiership and I feel most fans are in favour of / indifferent towards them moving on, individually. Only Sue and Naiqama played any significant role in the 2018 campaign.

Matterson is superior to any player we've lost and Momers is arguably superior to Naiqama.

I don't understand all the doom and gloom I've been reading these last pages. The 2018 team came 9th and whilst I'd love to have some big-ticket signings, they only have to improve a small amount to be a finals-quality side.

 

[Nelson]

I want Bennett but I don't think we can afford to wait until 2020\. I don't want 2019 to be a write off and that's exactly what it will be if we still have Ivan at the helm. We need to move on and we need to do it now.

So basically Madge or Toovs. I wouldn't want anyone else outside those two or Bennett.

Yep either of those guys would be fine.

Does the fact Madge basically coached the same bunnies side from this year to 12th position not concern you?

I know he won a comp but he did have a star studded side.

I think it's a little more complicated than that. Inglis was out for the season in 2017 which probably had a bigger impact than it should have. He was so dominant in their premiership win that the squad probably felt over-reliant on him. Dane Gagai was added to the roster this year. Young guys like Campbell Graham, Robert Jennings and Braidon Burns were a year older this year and made the back line a lot more threatening. Maguire brought those guys in and they were always going to be slightly longer term prospects - Seibold benefited from that.

The Burgess twins remembered how to play this year. Part of that may be coaching but part may also be that it was a contract year for them. Changes of coaches can also mean that the old excuses are out the window so players step up.

Basically I don't think it's a straightforward thing to say that the difference between Souths in 2017 and 2018 means that Maguire is a crap coach…

 

[Tiger_Steve]

read this morning that the knights had a huge play for panjai jnr , and lodge , now it didnt happen and i have no idea if the tigers had a crack, but at least the knights have come out and advised there fans that they tried to sign players, they also stated they were after mann and another ist grader, what the hell have we been told, YES we upgraded 3 ISP plodders, and we the fans are supposed to be happy. with what we have i think we could be in a battle for the wooden spoon next year.

BP, who knows what’s going on behind the scenes??? We could be talking to a host of players or nobody. I don’t mind the silence if It is to protect their recruitment drive, but the NRL being the beast it is always has leaks, and player managers are the masters at it. Anyway there is zero talk around recruitment at the Tigers and that is a real worry. Maybe the Cleary thing is dominating the Tiger talk, but as a long term member I am really worried about our squad for 2019

Personally I'd rather not be the club that gets linked to every player on the market, and subsequently looked over by most of these players. OK you can say Knights have informed their fans, but a good portion of those fans might bemoan the lack of being able to sign players despite the big-money offers.

I just don't get what recruitment activity some people expect at the end of the season? Many deals are struck in the first half of the year, whereas the end of the year most clubs try to have their rosters set for the pre-season.

For 2019 we extended Benji, Farah, Hooth, Marsters, Thompson; signed Mbye, Matterson and Momers. We released Grant, Godinet, Lolohea, Naiqama, Bayley Siro, Sauaso Sue and MWZ.

None of the players we released were key to a premiership and I feel most fans are in favour of / indifferent towards them moving on, individually. Only Sue and Naiqama played any significant role in the 2018 campaign.

Matterson is superior to any player we've lost and Momers is arguably superior to Naiqama.

I don't understand all the doom and gloom I've been reading these last pages. The 2018 team came 9th and whilst I'd love to have some big-ticket signings, they only have to improve a small amount to be a finals-quality side.

I’m not so sure mate. There was a lot of excitement and hype around our new culture etc that really contributed to our early success. That won’t be there next year. We missed the 8 by 6 points. So we have to be a ‘three win’ better team at least AND play with incredible intensity born out of something other than new culture excitement.
We need 2 big signings to do this I think. Current squad won’t make the 8 imo.

 

[GNR4LIFE]

Not much chance of signing 2 big names in October. I'm betting we are done recruiting for 2019.

 

[GNR4LIFE]

A lot of you forget Mbye is technically a 2019 recruit.

 

[Bee-Em]

read this morning that the knights had a huge play for panjai jnr , and lodge , now it didnt happen and i have no idea if the tigers had a crack, but at least the knights have come out and advised there fans that they tried to sign players, they also stated they were after mann and another ist grader, what the hell have we been told, YES we upgraded 3 ISP plodders, and we the fans are supposed to be happy. with what we have i think we could be in a battle for the wooden spoon next year.

BP, who knows what’s going on behind the scenes??? We could be talking to a host of players or nobody. I don’t mind the silence if It is to protect their recruitment drive, but the NRL being the beast it is always has leaks, and player managers are the masters at it. Anyway there is zero talk around recruitment at the Tigers and that is a real worry. Maybe the Cleary thing is dominating the Tiger talk, but as a long term member I am really worried about our squad for 2019

Personally I'd rather not be the club that gets linked to every player on the market, and subsequently looked over by most of these players. OK you can say Knights have informed their fans, but a good portion of those fans might bemoan the lack of being able to sign players despite the big-money offers.

I just don't get what recruitment activity some people expect at the end of the season? Many deals are struck in the first half of the year, whereas the end of the year most clubs try to have their rosters set for the pre-season.

For 2019 we extended Benji, Farah, Hooth, Marsters, Thompson; signed Mbye, Matterson and Momers. We released Grant, Godinet, Lolohea, Naiqama, Bayley Siro, Sauaso Sue and MWZ.

None of the players we released were key to a premiership and I feel most fans are in favour of / indifferent towards them moving on, individually. Only Sue and Naiqama played any significant role in the 2018 campaign.

Matterson is superior to any player we've lost and Momers is arguably superior to Naiqama.

I don't understand all the doom and gloom I've been reading these last pages. The 2018 team came 9th and whilst I'd love to have some big-ticket signings, they only have to improve a small amount to be a finals-quality side.

I’m not so sure mate. There was a lot of excitement and hype around our new culture etc that really contributed to our early success. That won’t be there next year. We missed the 8 by 6 points. So we have to be a ‘three win’ better team at least AND play with incredible intensity born out of something other than new culture excitement.
We need 2 big signings to do this I think. Current squad won’t make the 8 imo.

And how many supporters and so called experts thought the Tigers were odds on favourite for the spoon this year?

 

[jirskyr]

I’m not so sure mate. There was a lot of excitement and hype around our new culture etc that really contributed to our early success. That won’t be there next year. We missed the 8 by 6 points. So we have to be a ‘three win’ better team at least AND play with incredible intensity born out of something other than new culture excitement.
We need 2 big signings to do this I think. Current squad won’t make the 8 imo.

Well we don't necessarily have to win 3 more games. Yes we missed the 8 by 6 points but 2018 was a highly unusual ladder; you don't normally need 32 points to finish 8th. In fact 32 points, on average, takes 5th spot and the average points for 8th spot is 28\. And that's remembering that we switched from 2 byes to 1 bye this season, so every team is 2 points lower.

And you are right, there might be a lull after the "first new season" culture changes, or just as possible there might be a solidification/improvement of that new culture.

If Ivan stays for 2019 he might build on his existing culture, or if a new coach comes in, you might get a renewed energy again.

Do we NEED to big signings? No, this team can play finals footy with a little more consistent output. Would we like 2 big signings - sure, no argument.

But I would expect that BIG signings normally occur earlier in the year, not super-late in the early pre-season, not unless something dramatic and unusual happens like a coach change or some indiscretion.

 

[FOD001]

Some people need to look at how the salary cap works especially with regards to players 27-30.
Here’s the link
https://www.nrl.com/operations/the-game/the-salary-cap/

 

[TigerSJ]

read this morning that the knights had a huge play for panjai jnr , and lodge , now it didnt happen and i have no idea if the tigers had a crack, but at least the knights have come out and advised there fans that they tried to sign players, they also stated they were after mann and another ist grader, what the hell have we been told, YES we upgraded 3 ISP plodders, and we the fans are supposed to be happy. with what we have i think we could be in a battle for the wooden spoon next year.

BP, who knows what’s going on behind the scenes??? We could be talking to a host of players or nobody. I don’t mind the silence if It is to protect their recruitment drive, but the NRL being the beast it is always has leaks, and player managers are the masters at it. Anyway there is zero talk around recruitment at the Tigers and that is a real worry. Maybe the Cleary thing is dominating the Tiger talk, but as a long term member I am really worried about our squad for 2019

Personally I'd rather not be the club that gets linked to every player on the market, and subsequently looked over by most of these players. OK you can say Knights have informed their fans, but a good portion of those fans might bemoan the lack of being able to sign players despite the big-money offers.

I just don't get what recruitment activity some people expect at the end of the season? Many deals are struck in the first half of the year, whereas the end of the year most clubs try to have their rosters set for the pre-season.

For 2019 we extended Benji, Farah, Hooth, Marsters, Thompson; signed Mbye, Matterson and Momers. We released Grant, Godinet, Lolohea, Naiqama, Bayley Siro, Sauaso Sue and MWZ.

None of the players we released were key to a premiership and I feel most fans are in favour of / indifferent towards them moving on, individually. Only Sue and Naiqama played any significant role in the 2018 campaign.

Matterson is superior to any player we've lost and Momers is arguably superior to Naiqama.

I don't understand all the doom and gloom I've been reading these last pages. The 2018 team came 9th and whilst I'd love to have some big-ticket signings, they only have to improve a small amount to be a finals-quality side.

I agree with most of your points here Jirskyr - especially those regarding players we've let go. However, we missed the eight by a bit in the end - more than just a few wins in my book. The difference between us and finals teams was that when we had the opportunity to be the masters of our own destiny and secure a spot in the 8, we could not rise to the occasion, and this happened a number of times. Yet each one of the teams that could have dropped out, Broncos, Warriors, Dragons and Panthers, all won those games they needed to.
The other thing is, that saying that we only need to improve by a small amount, assumes that all the other teams will remain at the same level next season. However, all teams are trying to improve their rosters and build on their previous year - they are all trying to be better, so you would have to expect every team to lift performance (even though history shows that some do and some don't - often with a few surprises).
Overall I think we are improving our squad by trading out of those players we have, and bringing in the few new guys and development players, but the big difference I believe will be these last couple of positions. A couple of really quality signings in spots we need will make a hell of a big improvement to our group. I have my fingers crossed that we are working hard behind the scenes to get these signings.

 

[WT2K]

Lodge and TPJ knock back knights via fox

Mann to sign with knights via mole

 

[LARDS]

I think that's exactly what will happen. Bennett won't be here next season, he has unfinished business with the Broncos after the poor way they went out of the finals this year. Those extremely talented youngsters up there will be another year older and wiser, I think Bennett knows he has a good tilt at a Premiership with them next season, so unless he is pushed out, I'm certain he will see out his contract. Hope to see him here in 2020.

I want Bennett but I don't think we can afford to wait until 2020\. I don't want 2019 to be a write off and that's exactly what it will be if we still have Ivan at the helm. We need to move on and we need to do it now.

So basically Madge or Toovs. I wouldn't want anyone else outside those two or Bennett.

Yep either of those guys would be fine.

How about we sign Demetrio (Bennetts assistant) for next year to hold the fort for Benny?

 

[Elderslie_Tiger]

Broncos won't sack Bennett because it will cost them $1 mil Tigers won't sack Cleary for the same reason how about this Bennett gets released to the Tigers Broncos pay his salary for 12 months Cleary seeks a release to join Penriff who pay his salary whoever coaches the Broncos we pay his salary for twelve months Penriff would be the lossers because they would be paying Griffen and Cleary and Ciraldo just a thought to get things sorted by Nov 1

 

[newtiger]

read this morning that the knights had a huge play for panjai jnr , and lodge , now it didnt happen and i have no idea if the tigers had a crack, but at least the knights have come out and advised there fans that they tried to sign players, they also stated they were after mann and another ist grader, what the hell have we been told, YES we upgraded 3 ISP plodders, and we the fans are supposed to be happy. with what we have i think we could be in a battle for the wooden spoon next year.

It's no use talking to the converted. Why don't a delegation of Wests tigers fans approach Cleary and Pascoe at concord Oval on the first day of pre-season training to express how miserable they are feeling with the club's lack of purpose? Any volunteers?

I think that if I volunteered I’d bop him on his chin.

 

[Newtown]

read this morning that the knights had a huge play for panjai jnr , and lodge , now it didnt happen and i have no idea if the tigers had a crack, but at least the knights have come out and advised there fans that they tried to sign players, they also stated they were after mann and another ist grader, what the hell have we been told, YES we upgraded 3 ISP plodders, and we the fans are supposed to be happy. with what we have i think we could be in a battle for the wooden spoon next year.

It's no use talking to the converted. Why don't a delegation of Wests tigers fans approach Cleary and Pascoe at concord Oval on the first day of pre-season training to express how miserable they are feeling with the club's lack of purpose? Any volunteers?

I think that if I volunteered I’d bop him on his chin.

Gus deserves some recognition, for his coach poaching efforts.

 

[Spud_Murphy]

read this morning that the knights had a huge play for panjai jnr , and lodge , now it didnt happen and i have no idea if the tigers had a crack, but at least the knights have come out and advised there fans that they tried to sign players, they also stated they were after mann and another ist grader, what the hell have we been told, YES we upgraded 3 ISP plodders, and we the fans are supposed to be happy. with what we have i think we could be in a battle for the wooden spoon next year.

It's no use talking to the converted. Why don't a delegation of Wests tigers fans approach Cleary and Pascoe at concord Oval on the first day of pre-season training to express how miserable they are feeling with the club's lack of purpose? Any volunteers?

I think that if I volunteered I’d bop him on his chin.

Gus deserves some recognition, for his coach poaching efforts.

Looking at it objectively, this whole shemozzle has only eventuated because of Gould's strong desire to keep Nathan at Penrith at all costs, Ivan's obsession with coaching his son and Nathan's penchant to continue playing with his mates at the club that has given him all of his opportunities in football. You really can't blame any one of them for that! I'm sure that most people, given the same scenario, would do the same.

 

[Pawsandclaws]

JJ Felise won't be re-signed by knights via Barry Toohey of Newcastle Herald.

He's a big disappointment, showed a lot of promise the first few games he played with us, then went down hill from that.

He is going to Souths and I expect him to to do well.

 

[Newtown]

It's no use talking to the converted. Why don't a delegation of Wests tigers fans approach Cleary and Pascoe at concord Oval on the first day of pre-season training to express how miserable they are feeling with the club's lack of purpose? Any volunteers?

I think that if I volunteered I’d bop him on his chin.

Gus deserves some recognition, for his coach poaching efforts.

Looking at it objectively, this whole shemozzle has only eventuated because of Gould's strong desire to keep Nathan at Penrith at all costs, Ivan's obsession with coaching his son and Nathan's penchant to continue playing with his mates at the club that has given him all of his opportunities in football. You really can't blame any one of them for that! I'm sure that most people, given the same scenario, would do the same.

I think that most, out of decent respect to the club Ivan Cleary is currently signed to would have waited until the last six months of his contract before approaching him.

 

[Don Kershane]

I would rather have the three players (McIntyre, Smith and Mikaele)elevated to the full squad than an average plodder from somewhere else. Sure , they may all not work out but look at the players from say Easts, St George and Penrith that emerged when given the opportunity.Mikaele in particular looked good in trial games this year and will hopefully be the impact forward we are desperate to have in short bursts from the bench. Still have 2 spots open and possibly more.

 

[Spud_Murphy]

I think that if I volunteered I’d bop him on his chin.

Gus deserves some recognition, for his coach poaching efforts.

Looking at it objectively, this whole shemozzle has only eventuated because of Gould's strong desire to keep Nathan at Penrith at all costs, Ivan's obsession with coaching his son and Nathan's penchant to continue playing with his mates at the club that has given him all of his opportunities in football. You really can't blame any one of them for that! I'm sure that most people, given the same scenario, would do the same.

I think that most, out of decent respect to the club Ivan Cleary is currently signed to would have waited until the last six months of his contract before approaching him.

True, but like I said Gould was desperate to keep Nathan and he took desperate measures to make sure he stayed with the club. Because of Cleary's very public declaration that he wanted to coach his son one day soon, Gould obviously assumed that getting him over to coach Penrith again would cement the deal to keep Nathan next season and beyond, but in hindsight, I reckon Nathan would've stayed regardless of Ivan coming over to coach them or not. So yeah, Gould jumped the gun too early and stuffed us around.