Tallyn Da Silva #270

[Lestronge]

I would take the bird in the hand personally …seen too many of the 18 yr old “next big things “ that dont make it ..you can also have the younger kid playing second fiddle for a couple of years like TDS has been doing …

Yea maybe . I heard about Grant 2 years before he debuted with us . And Haywood has similar hype around him .
I’d love for him in ‘27 to get a loan to Salford or Catalan's for a season . That would benefit him massively , plus year sipping wines and hitting up French chicks in the south of France wouldn’t go astray as well .
Hopefully this nrl purchase of SL happens and that type of deal becomes more prevalent .
There’s Doo many kids over there who would benefit to come here and spend a year or 2 playing flegg/ KOE to understand the standards required to be elite , and there’s soo many gun kids , like Galvin to be honest , who you could , get them 1st team football at a high level . Even TDS would absolutely benefit right now with running circles around the poms this week in week out .
But not expose them to the shit storm that is the nrl . Both on field and off .

 

[The Chad]

Tricky one.

Api isn't finished & is a genuine team leader.

TDS is skillful and is probably ready for a greater body of work. He's been a long tern future plan for a number of seasons.

Haywood is very highly regarded & only a year or so behind TDS in age, and with the way he is going, is going to be in the conversation sooner than later.

If TDS isn't as highly regarded as Haywood, you let TDS explore his options & bring Haywood through at a monitored rate. Keep in mind, we also have Tristan Hope on the books to fill the void in time between Api starting & Haywood taking over.

I don't think you can just let Api go. And at 32, he isn't ancient. You could get 2-3 decent seasons out of him, you just have to expect he can't carry the load in defence (although Cam Smith disagrees).

And who knows? Those very, very mild suggestions about Manase Fainu once he's allowed back into the NRL... just gives Api more life in the NRL.

You cannot let team leaders go, if they are actually making the team better.

 

[Demps]

Tricky one.

Api isn't finished & is a genuine team leader.

TDS is skillful and is probably ready for a greater body of work. He's been a long tern future plan for a number of seasons.

Haywood is very highly regarded & only a year or so behind TDS in age, and with the way he is going, is going to be in the conversation sooner than later.

If TDS isn't as highly regarded as Haywood, you let TDS explore his options & bring Haywood through at a monitored rate. Keep in mind, we also have Tristan Hope on the books to fill the void in time between Api starting & Haywood taking over.

I don't think you can just let Api go. And at 32, he isn't ancient. You could get 2-3 decent seasons out of him, you just have to expect he can't carry the load in defence (although Cam Smith disagrees).

And who knows? Those very, very mild suggestions about Manase Fainu once he's allowed back into the NRL... just gives Api more life in the NRL.

You cannot let team leaders go, if they are actually making the team better.

Could we keep Api on, with TDS as bench hooker for 2026 and 2027.

With TDS moving to starting 9 in 2028 and Heywood moving to bench hooker.

 

[Tiger-ferret]

Could we keep Api on, with TDS as bench hooker for 2026 and 2027.

With TDS moving to starting 9 in 2028 and Heywood moving to bench hooker.

That’s what Melbourne would do

 

[crazycat]

Api vs TDS, Api is miles in front of him at the moment and surely he can see that.
This will change as they both get older and roles get closer to reversing but for the moment TDS is nowhere near showing he has the stamina for an 80-minute player and has shown only glimpses that he could be special with his pace.
Plus does he have the smarts at dummy half that Api has yet no, this has to be learnt into his game from Api over the next couple of seasons.
If it is true that he is impatient I've had a gutful of these players who rate themselves higher than what they are, he's only 20 and a lot to learn yet his time will come.

I think Blore kinda got be a bit on this.

We carried him for 3+ years with huge injuries. Then in fairness we limit his opportunities and he is off to Melbourne.

TDS probably won't be too different. Now that Galvin has left, doubt he has that much loyality to the place... He shows some step, but he isn't an 80 minute hooker and definately not the most physical...

We can do better.

 

[Rock Hopper Steve]

Unfortunately they need to make the decision 18 months in advance … that’s just the way the NRL works these days ..Come round 1 2027 ,TDS will be 22 with more than 50 NRL games under his belt… and Api will be 34 ..

It seems a strange decision to me that you would keep Api. who no doubt has been a great player ..but Father Time catches up with the greatest ….having said all that ..it does appear from my read on what’s unfolding , that seems to be the way they are headed …to expect TDS to continue to stay longer and be second fiddle is a bit of a pipe dream in my view ..he will be in demand ..even if from just the new clubs ..

I can only assume that they are keen on the next new guy coming through the ranks and think Api can last until he is ready to take over ..it’s another gutsy recruitment call…

If TDS has a big next preseason, he could prove ready to be on parity with Api's minutes, then in 27 ahead of him and getting closer to owning the hooker position but only when proven to be ready.

He will get there it shouldn't be a him or me situation if that's in fact what's unfolding.
I would be keeping Api around he can help with Haywood as well.

 

[Needaname]

That’s what Melbourne would do

No it’s not. Smith played on until he was ready to retire. He didn’t play off the bench and help slowly blood Grant in. They played the Cheese at lock unless Smith was unavailable and they played Harry in cup.
It’s not what Melbourne would do. Melbourne backed the veteran all day every day.

 

[Tiger-ferret]

No it’s not. Smith played on until he was ready to retire. He didn’t play off the bench and help slowly blood Grant in. They played the Cheese at lock unless Smith was unavailable and they played Harry in cup.
It’s not what Melbourne would do. Melbourne backed the veteran all day every day.

Fair enough. If I can articulate better….the next kid on the block is managed/bides their time until the club is ready. Hughes, Grant come to mind.

 

[Odessa]

'If that happens' as in they poach TDS

And ?

 

[Lestronge]

Could we keep Api on, with TDS as bench hooker for 2026 and 2027.

With TDS moving to starting 9 in 2028 and Heywood moving to bench hooker.

That would be the ideal scenario . I guess it ultimately comes down to TDS and his patience .
In saying that though , you don’t want to like those number 9s at Melbourne who kept being promised they were the 1 , as Cam smith kept playing from 35 on . You’re just getting screwed around

 

[SwervinMervin]

No it’s not. Smith played on until he was ready to retire. He didn’t play off the bench and help slowly blood Grant in. They played the Cheese at lock unless Smith was unavailable and they played Harry in cup.
It’s not what Melbourne would do. Melbourne backed the veteran all day every day.

Melbourne just pick the best player and make sure the next man up is ready to do the job when called upon. One of their greatest strengths as an organization is the ability to retain first grade quality players across the whole Top 30 and convince 13 of these guys every week that playing cup for a feeder team is a better option for them than a walk up start in another club’s top 17. They obviously get massive player buy in down there.

 

[Mighty_Tiger]

Mason, Naden and Hope all named in-front of him this week.

 

[hsvjones]

Mason, Naden and Hope all named in-front of him this week.

Strange tbh
We are missing a few and this is when you want players that have played a few games. Wonder if it's because he intends to leave and knocked back an extension?

 

[tigahhh]

he is on the outer guys. more likely to see him at belmore than on our TLT barring injuries.

 

[LeichhardtTiger]

Could we keep Api on, with TDS as bench hooker for 2026 and 2027.

With TDS moving to starting 9 in 2028 and Heywood moving to bench hooker.

You'd like to think that Richo and Benji have had this discussion with the hookers as part of the Pathway Plan? But then I woke up... 😴😴🙄🙄😢😢🤣🤣

 

[Tom Shines]

'If that happens' as in they poach TDS

It’s not a “poach “ if the Tigers are letting him go

 

[ezybro]

I think @Tigers_Wests made a good observation in the team list post and we RL fans are overreacting a bit. IMO

 

[Demps]

Is TDS down to learn, work & contribute?
Or is he a sook like his best mate.

 

[jadtiger]

Is TDS down to learn, work & contribute?
Or is he a sook like his best mate.

I have always had a greater regard for TDS being part of our future than some others who get hyped up.I hope it is still justified.

 

[ezybro]

Is TDS down to learn, work & contribute?
Or is he a sook like his best mate.

“The talk is silenced soon”