Signings, Suggestions & Rumours Discussion

[momo_amp_medo]

@Geo Yeah right ..... we should do that as matter of priority.
For some on here this is a comedy club gig.

 

[happy_tiger]

@Geo Yeah right ..... we should do that as matter of priority.
For some on here this is a comedy club gig.

Well an audition for one

 

[Matto]

Bring on Haas


 

[GNR4LIFE]

Bring on Haas


More of a chance of signing Tommy Haas.

 

[Spud_Murphy]

Veteran journalist Brent Read revealed Watene-Zelezniak could be on as much as $800,000 a season.
The Panthers will reportedly have to chip in a large chunk of his salary to play at another club next season.

It is believed the Eels and the Cowboys are interested in his services, while the Tigers can’t afford him under their salary cap, despite his close relationship with Kiwis’ coach Michael Maguire.

https://www.foxsports.com.au/nrl/nrl-premiership/panthers-legend-ryan-girdler-pinpoints-where-dallin-watenezelezniak-went-wrong-at-penrith/news-story/fef6526c6457ff6f6a3ca6374fe3e484

And just how are Parramatta able to afford that? I thought they had cap issues? Somehow their cap issues never seem to stop them from signing anyone. Jennings must be retiring, it's the only way they could afford DWZ and also actually fit him in the team.

We seem to be the only team that ever actually toes the salary cap line when it comes to recruitment. When we have cap issues, we have to pull out of contention and end up signing no one. When other teams have cap issues they somehow still manage to pick up 2-3 good players - it boggles my mind completely!

 

[Spud_Murphy]

https://www.foxsports.com.au/nrl/nrl-premiership/teams/panthers/fire-sale-panthers-put-stars-up-for-sale-to-cure-cap-crisis/news-story/5c70512d7ad231cffec5c89eb94bd3ce

Would take Whare and Kikau thanks...

I wonder what happened to that Jack Hetherington kid? He was great for them off the bench last season, now he has been unseen in first grade all year in a team doing so poorly. I know he re-signed with Penrith last year, but perhaps he might need a change of environment. Looked like a very promising player.

 

[boonboon]

@Spud_Murphy injured Hetherington

 

[Spud_Murphy]

@Spud_Murphy injured Hetherington

That explains it, thank you. Long term injury?

 

[WT2K]

@Spud_Murphy injured Hetherington

That explains it, thank you. Long term injury?

Despite a growing injury toll, don’t expect to see Jack Hetherington back in first grade any time soon. The 22-year-old, who made his first grade debut a little over a year ago, played Canterbury Cup last week after a few weeks off but Ivan Cleary is unlikely to elevate him into the NRL side. Hetherington is not necessarily out of favour but has some work to do both on and off the field before he can be thrown into the pressure of the NRL melting pot again. The club is closely monitoring him.

https://westernweekender.com.au/2019/05/masked-panther-panthers-monitor-hetherington/

 

[momo_amp_medo]

@Spud_Murphy LOL! Not according to our recent history.

 

[pawsandclaws1]

We don't need more forward but we do need fast backs., Anyone watch the Panthers v Sharks game to see young Xerri blow DWZ away for pace will understand the latter is no speedster and not what we need.

 

[Spud_Murphy]

@Spud_Murphy injured Hetherington

That explains it, thank you. Long term injury?

Despite a growing injury toll, don’t expect to see Jack Hetherington back in first grade any time soon. The 22-year-old, who made his first grade debut a little over a year ago, played Canterbury Cup last week after a few weeks off but Ivan Cleary is unlikely to elevate him into the NRL side. Hetherington is not necessarily out of favour but has some work to do both on and off the field before he can be thrown into the pressure of the NRL melting pot again. The club is closely monitoring him.

https://westernweekender.com.au/2019/05/masked-panther-panthers-monitor-hetherington/

Doesn't sound good ? Probably another one caught up in the "more going on underneath at Penrith" that Cleary was talking about the other day.

 

[Spud_Murphy]

We don't need more forward but we do need fast backs., Anyone watch the Panthers v Sharks game to see young Xerri blow DWZ away for pace will understand the latter is no speedster and not what we need.

Xerri is exceptionally fast, DWZ would still be faster than anyone we have in the backline at present.

 

[BalmainJnr]

@pawsandclaws1 I feel the need, the need for speed as much as the next guy. You can never have enough forwards though and we have a few that could be upgraded still. No platform, no victory.

 

[townsvilletiger]

@happy_tiger you are of your tree Tamou is a cat

 

[happy_tiger]

@happy_tiger you are of your tree Tamou is a cat

You need to be more specific with your classification ....cat yes Panther yes and been leading from the front all year at Penrith

Personally I reckon he is better than Packer and Matulino though I must admit Matulino has improved greatly last month or so

 

[happy_tiger]

Bit of talk Milford is on the nose at Brisbane...I know he isn't a short term prospect ....but we can start negotiating in November

Thoughts on a Brooks /Milford combination in 2021

2020 if we could palm off Reynolds to Brisbane

 

[Geo]

Trade rage...click..

 

[WeHaveCheeKam]

Bit of talk Milford is on the nose at Brisbane...I know he isn't a short term prospect ....but we can start negotiating in November

Thoughts on a Brooks /Milford combination in 2021

2020 if we could palm off Reynolds to Brisbane

Why on earth would Brisbane wantg a severely overpaid, injury prone, past his best, old Josh Reynolds??

No disrepect to JR intended there either. The problem with alot of our guys we have is that noone wants them.

 

[Tiger_Bond]

Player swap part of Tigers' ploy to snare Watene-Zelezniak

May 24, 2019 — 4.26pm
By Sam Phillips and Adrian Proszenko


Wests Tigers are entertaining the prospect of a player swap in their attempt to lure Dallin Watene-Zelezniak away from the Panthers.

Watene-Zelezniak was this week granted permission by Penrith to speak to other clubs after being dropped by coach Ivan Cleary and being made unavailable for Canterbury Cup duties.

Eastbound and down: Dallin Watene-Zelezniak is poised to leave Penrith and could end up at Concord.
Eastbound and down: Dallin Watene-Zelezniak is poised to leave Penrith and could end up at Concord.
Photo: AAP
The New Zealand international may no longer be wanted at the foot of the mountains but the Eels, Tigers, Cowboys and Bulldogs have all expressed interest in the 23-year-old.

With both the Panthers and Tigers short on salary cap space, the Herald understands part of the Tigers' ploy is to include a player in any potential deal.

It's understood Russell Packer is a leading candidate to be involved in the swap despite being miffed by Cleary's controversial departure at the end of last year.

Elijah Taylor's name has also been raised as a potential trade candidate.

Both players signed long-term deals with Cleary at the helm but have fallen out of favour since coach Michael Maguire took the reins at the start of this season.

There are a handful of other players that Cleary brought to the Tigers who could also feature in a trade.

Packer has not played first grade since the club's humiliating 51-6 loss to Parramatta on opening day at Bankwest Stadium in round six.

Taylor has not featured in Maguire's best 17 since the 30-14 win over the Titans in round seven.

"The one thing about Madge (Maguire) is he is very honest. He doesn’t beat around the bush," Taylor said of his omission earlier this month.

“He has the CV with the premierships. He knows what he is doing and exactly what he wants from his forwards. He was very clear in what I needed to do."

While no deal has been done and Watene-Zelezniak's manager remains overseas, Penrith have already played their hand by declaring the Kiwi captain a free agent despite having 18 months to run on a lucrative contract.

"Earlier this week, Dallin Watene-Zelezniak’s management sought permission from Panthers to speak with other NRL clubs regarding Dallin’s immediate and future playing career," the club said in a statement on Wednesday.

"This permission was granted following discussions by the club’s retention and recruitment committee.

"Out of respect for all parties, the club will be making no further comment at this time."

After scraping past the Eels on Thursday night, recalled winger Josh Mansour weighed in on the situation.

"Dal is my mate, he's a great teammate of mine. I can't help the way he's feeling, but I can support him in any way possible," Mansour said.

"At the end of the day, if that is his decision (to leave), then that's his decision.

"It's on his shoulders and we have to accept his decision. If he's to leave to find happiness, then that's up to him."

While Watene-Zelezniak has fallen out of favour in Penrith, his sub-par form this season has not deterred Tigers and Kiwis coach Maguire.

Even if he does not find a new club before the June 30 deadline, the Herald understands Maguire will pick him for the Kiwis' Test against Tonga on June 22 in Auckland.

If the Tigers are able to get a deal done, Maguire is understood to be considering playing Watene-Zelezniak in the centres, rather than his preferred position of fullback.

The Tigers' chief competitors for Watene-Zelezniak's services, Parramatta, are understood to be eager to play the New Zealand international in the centres, too.

He was initially considered a fallback at fullback if negotiations with Clint Gutherson fell over but after he put pen to paper, a move to the centres is on the cards.