Signings, Suggestions & Rumours Discussion

[kiwitiger]

Absolutely correct about Benji. He deserves credit and respect for his efforts and his love of the Club. Agreed that the rocks and diamonds metaphor is appropriate but let's not lose sight of his achievements as a Tigers legend and celebrate it appropriately.

I think a lot of us do appreciate him but also dislike the show that comes with him.

He gets dropped after the Titans game...whispers come out that he may finish the season with the Warriors. He 'hears from the media' that he won't be offered a contract for 2021 and a furious storm of media allegations come out against us. You can be great without being precious. *And* aside from '05, '10 and '11, 3 seasons out of 12 ('04 - 12, 18-20) when has the team succeded with him?

Great player but time for a new era.

When has this club succeeded outside of those 3 years? Let's get real, blaming Benji or Farah or anyone player for all the failures of the club misses a big point, except for 3 years we have always failed. Infact Benji and robbie where 2 of the best players on the planet in 2010/11 and you could argue that is what dragged us out of mediocrity. If always finishing below average is really mediocrity...I'd consider it worse...but be polite

 

[Tiger5150]

Absolutely correct about Benji. He deserves credit and respect for his efforts and his love of the Club. Agreed that the rocks and diamonds metaphor is appropriate but let's not lose sight of his achievements as a Tigers legend and celebrate it appropriately.

I think a lot of us do appreciate him but also dislike the show that comes with him.

He gets dropped after the Titans game...whispers come out that he may finish the season with the Warriors. He 'hears from the media' that he won't be offered a contract for 2021 and a furious storm of media allegations come out against us. You can be great without being precious. *And* aside from '05, '10 and '11, 3 seasons out of 12 ('04 - 12, 18-20) when has the team succeded with him?

Great player but time for a new era.

When has this club succeeded outside of those 3 years? Let's get real, blaming Benji or Farah or anyone player for all the failures of the club misses a big point, except for 3 years we have always failed. Infact Benji and robbie where 2 of the best players on the planet in 2010/11 and you could argue that is what dragged us out of mediocrity. If always finishing below average is really mediocrity...I'd consider it worse...but be polite

I dont think rihannafan1 was blaming Benji & Farah for the clubs failures, but claiming that they both have been responsible for many of the sideshows at the club.....I'd have to agree with this.

 

[kiwitiger]

Absolutely correct about Benji. He deserves credit and respect for his efforts and his love of the Club. Agreed that the rocks and diamonds metaphor is appropriate but let's not lose sight of his achievements as a Tigers legend and celebrate it appropriately.

I think a lot of us do appreciate him but also dislike the show that comes with him.

He gets dropped after the Titans game...whispers come out that he may finish the season with the Warriors. He 'hears from the media' that he won't be offered a contract for 2021 and a furious storm of media allegations come out against us. You can be great without being precious. *And* aside from '05, '10 and '11, 3 seasons out of 12 ('04 - 12, 18-20) when has the team succeded with him?

Great player but time for a new era.

The "club legend/great/hero" proponents must have forgot when he signed for another club and code and appeared in their colours while still under contract to us because he got benched and spent four years elsewhere after saying he'd never play against us.

He never signed with another team because he was benched. He thought he had agreed a contract with the club for 4 years but then a new ceo came in. I hate the benchie thing as I remember he had a 4 week injury (that weird one where only himself and kg have ever had)came back after 2 weeks for the dogs and sharks games as we had a heap of injuries. After being rushed back was placed on the bench because our coach thought he would tighten up the defense with Fulton at 5/8. 10 minutes later we were 12 points behind and Benji was thrown on as we had to chase the game.
Benchie was for 10 whole minutes. Tactics from potter.

 

[Strider]

End of the day Benji and Robbie were largely responsible for all successes we've had in our entire club history so far. Hopefully time for new successes with new players!! 👍 Surely there is a thread to discuss your anger to him elsewhere. I just want to read juicy signing goss here. C'mon JAC come home baby

 

[Muffstar]

Facebook Fans starting a petition page to resign Benji for 2021

The casual WT fan base really is lost for words stupid


Can we start a Facebook page to get rid of Benji?

Well as far as I’m concerned, apart from one mistimed / misjudged kick he did pretty well. If that kick pulled up we would be all over this subject like a rash.
The guy is 35 and still continues to create opportunities and averages in high% try assists for us. Team members love the guy and so do many fans (me included).
So please show a little respect for one of our greats.

Spot on, Benji was the player that created the opportunities last night, it wasn't Brooks.

 

[Blacknwhite]

Absolutely correct about Benji. He deserves credit and respect for his efforts and his love of the Club. Agreed that the rocks and diamonds metaphor is appropriate but let's not lose sight of his achievements as a Tigers legend and celebrate it appropriately.

I think a lot of us do appreciate him but also dislike the show that comes with him.

He gets dropped after the Titans game...whispers come out that he may finish the season with the Warriors. He 'hears from the media' that he won't be offered a contract for 2021 and a furious storm of media allegations come out against us. You can be great without being precious. *And* aside from '05, '10 and '11, 3 seasons out of 12 ('04 - 12, 18-20) when has the team succeded with him?

Great player but time for a new era.

When has this club succeeded outside of those 3 years? Let's get real, blaming Benji or Farah or anyone player for all the failures of the club misses a big point, except for 3 years we have always failed. Infact Benji and robbie where 2 of the best players on the planet in 2010/11 and you could argue that is what dragged us out of mediocrity. If always finishing below average is really mediocrity...I'd consider it worse...but be polite

You could also argue that both Benji and Robbie had ego's bigger than their talent, actually, you cannot! Truth is they were/are 2 brilliant players who needed to be metered by a controlling 3rd party. Neither able to move us down the park consistantly to be where we needed to be for them to be to take advantage. Both burdened us with horrible game management due to ego, believing they had to do it alone and consistantly overplaying their hands. The rare occurrences (and lets put it this way, rare is less than common, and winning commonly would have had us playing finals) where their individual brilliance won us games re-enforced their egos... it was a vicious cycle.

We didnt always have the cattle over the last 15 yrs to make the finals, though we had the quality across the roster to make it more than 3 times. whenever either was a domineering voice, we faltered.

 

[Mighty_Tiger]

Benji to the dogs apparently

Hope Reynolds goes as well

 

[Mighty_Tiger]

End of the day Benji and Robbie were largely responsible for all successes we've had in our entire club history so far. Hopefully time for new successes with new players!! 👍 Surely there is a thread to discuss your anger to him elsewhere. I just want to read juicy signing goss here. C'mon JAC come home baby

They were also responsible in part for the unsuccessful period as well.

The GF journey and memories they forever will be known for but that was 15yrs ago.

 

[TigerTownSFS]

Benji circa 2010/2011 is probably my favourite Benji and I will always love him for 2005 but at the end of the day Madge has a different coaching system based on consistency of effort which is just not his style. He doesn’t fit into the system that we will be playing over the next 1-3 years and so we need to find a 6 that does.

 

[Strider]

I hope we hear some signing news of someone before end of season 👍

 

[Needaname]

Absolutely correct about Benji. He deserves credit and respect for his efforts and his love of the Club. Agreed that the rocks and diamonds metaphor is appropriate but let's not lose sight of his achievements as a Tigers legend and celebrate it appropriately.

I think a lot of us do appreciate him but also dislike the show that comes with him.

He gets dropped after the Titans game...whispers come out that he may finish the season with the Warriors. He 'hears from the media' that he won't be offered a contract for 2021 and a furious storm of media allegations come out against us. You can be great without being precious. *And* aside from '05, '10 and '11, 3 seasons out of 12 ('04 - 12, 18-20) when has the team succeded with him?

Great player but time for a new era.

When has this club succeeded outside of those 3 years? Let's get real, blaming Benji or Farah or anyone player for all the failures of the club misses a big point, except for 3 years we have always failed. Infact Benji and robbie where 2 of the best players on the planet in 2010/11 and you could argue that is what dragged us out of mediocrity. If always finishing below average is really mediocrity...I'd consider it worse...but be polite

You could also argue that both Benji and Robbie had ego's bigger than their talent, actually, you cannot! Truth is they were/are 2 brilliant players who needed to be metered by a controlling 3rd party. Neither able to move us down the park consistantly to be where we needed to be for them to be to take advantage. Both burdened us with horrible game management due to ego, believing they had to do it alone and consistantly overplaying their hands. The rare occurrences (and lets put it this way, rare is less than common, and winning commonly would have had us playing finals) where their individual brilliance won us games re-enforced their egos... it was a vicious cycle.

We didnt always have the cattle over the last 15 yrs to make the finals, though we had the quality across the roster to make it more than 3 times. whenever either was a domineering voice, we faltered.

Ironically their personalities complemented each other’s games. But even still their egos as you mentioned just made it so difficult for others to go with them.
Farah is as introverted as they come. From the moment he stepped on the field it was all about him. He wore his heart on his sleeve and took everything in the game as a personal challenge with a will to win at all costs.
Benji the ultimate extrovert, doesn’t care what time, situation, play of the game. He just tries it. Also wanted to win at all costs but instead of getting so drawn into the result like Farah where it would consume him, he is completely unaffected and just brushed off anything like it’s not a big deal, with a luck of concern about the important moments it would often lead to a 50/50 result of coming off with the right or wrong play and as a result winning or losing a game.
The power plays he pulled off, would not come off if he did not have this competitive streak driven by his ego.
Unfortunately unlike some other great players in our game, team players is not an attribute I would associate either of them with.

 

[Strider]

Mods I think perhaps suggest a Benji discussion megathread 👍 It's derailing every thread.

 

[OzLuke]

Benji to the dogs apparently

Hope Reynolds goes as well

then benji can have a season with his brother....makes sense

 

[Cultured_Bogan]

Absolutely correct about Benji. He deserves credit and respect for his efforts and his love of the Club. Agreed that the rocks and diamonds metaphor is appropriate but let's not lose sight of his achievements as a Tigers legend and celebrate it appropriately.

I think a lot of us do appreciate him but also dislike the show that comes with him.

He gets dropped after the Titans game...whispers come out that he may finish the season with the Warriors. He 'hears from the media' that he won't be offered a contract for 2021 and a furious storm of media allegations come out against us. You can be great without being precious. *And* aside from '05, '10 and '11, 3 seasons out of 12 ('04 - 12, 18-20) when has the team succeded with him?

Great player but time for a new era.

The "club legend/great/hero" proponents must have forgot when he signed for another club and code and appeared in their colours while still under contract to us because he got benched and spent four years elsewhere after saying he'd never play against us.

He never signed with another team because he was benched. He thought he had agreed a contract with the club for 4 years but then a new ceo came in. I hate the benchie thing as I remember he had a 4 week injury (that weird one where only himself and kg have ever had)came back after 2 weeks for the dogs and sharks games as we had a heap of injuries. After being rushed back was placed on the bench because our coach thought he would tighten up the defense with Fulton at 5/8. 10 minutes later we were 12 points behind and Benji was thrown on as we had to chase the game.
Benchie was for 10 whole minutes. Tactics from potter.

So instead of nutting it out he signed with Auckland and parades around in their jumper. Says he won't play against us and then does so because his talent couldn't cash the cheques his ego wrote.

He thought he could have standards because he thought options were there. His ego cheated him.

Again he was a phenomenal player and a generational talent. He did things other greats would only dream of. But it doesn't excuse the fact that the game has two major facets and he can't compete at all in one anymore. The modern game relies on halves being able to fend for themselves in defence. Not perfect, but not a witches hat either. His ability with the ball doesn't nullify it anymore.

 

[Fletch]

Sounds like the Saab and Garrick swap is on. Seems like we pulled out of the race for Saab, probably because dragons wanted a replacement for him.

Club has turned its attention towards Staines, more up side and a potential long term fullback solution. Will cost a bit more than Saab though.

Would be surprised if they got both JAC and Staines - would mean JAC would be on the wing and offering him fullback might be our best shot at signing him. Would be very happy with both though

Staines is the cousin of an old mate of mine. I’ve known about him for some time and been following his development for a couple years now. He’s a prodigious talent and it makes sense for the club to identify a long term fullback specialist - we’re the obvious club without a bonafide fullback and there isn’t another Tedesco or Papenhuyzen coming through our junior system at the moment. With Grub finishing next year the club will have some spine money freed up in the cap for 2022.

From what I’ve heard the club is offering JAC good winger money and opportunities to play fullback with bonuses built into the contract that’ll reward him if he nails it.

The club can offer Staines the opportunity to have a shot at becoming the long term fullback and we’ll be able to reward him well in due course if he delivers on his potential. If he’s good enough he’ll have JAC as his wingman and it’ll change the whole dynamic of our backline with much needed speed.

 

[Fraze23]

Benji to the dogs apparently

Hope Reynolds goes as well

Would have made more sense for the Dogs to sign Reynolds instead of Green.

 

[avocadoontoast]

Sounds like the Saab and Garrick swap is on. Seems like we pulled out of the race for Saab, probably because dragons wanted a replacement for him.

Club has turned its attention towards Staines, more up side and a potential long term fullback solution. Will cost a bit more than Saab though.

Would be surprised if they got both JAC and Staines - would mean JAC would be on the wing and offering him fullback might be our best shot at signing him. Would be very happy with both though

Staines is the cousin of an old mate of mine. I’ve known about him for some time and been following his development for a couple years now. He’s a prodigious talent and it makes sense for the club to identify a long term fullback specialist - we’re the obvious club without a bonafide fullback and there isn’t another Tedesco or Papenhuyzen coming through our junior system at the moment. With Grub finishing next year the club will have some spine money freed up in the cap for 2022.

From what I’ve heard the club is offering JAC good winger money and opportunities to play fullback with bonuses built into the contract that’ll reward him if he nails it.

The club can offer Staines the opportunity to have a shot at becoming the long term fullback and we’ll be able to reward him well in due course if he delivers on his potential. If he’s good enough he’ll have JAC as his wingman and it’ll change the whole dynamic of our backline with much needed speed.

If we somehow get JAC and Staines it will be pretty exciting.

 

[Cairnstigers]

Can some one clear something up? Who is Michael Caryannis and who is Michael Chammas. I get the two confused all the time.
Which one is the one the club has a relationship with?

Michael

 

[TigerLouis]

So based on the rumours from the Pom we could possibly line up like this for 2021
Addo-Carr
Nofoaluma
Leilua
Douiehi
Staines
Mbye
Brooks
Twal
Leilua
Garner
Aloiai
Liddle
Tamou
Bench
Reynolds
Hetherington
Mikaele
Musgrove
Reserves
Kepaoa
Cini
Talau
Momorovski
Bradley
Walters
Madden
Blore
McIntyre
Chee Kam
Packer
Simpkin
Utoukamanu
& that’s our top 30 squad for 2021 is this squad capable of making the semifinals next year

 

[Strider]

We can hope!! May it come to be!