Tallyn Da Silva #270

Honestly I don't really know what your pitch is, apart from to complain. By all means, complain away.

Nobody is arguing that Tigers are doing well. We've got a long long history of signing ordinary players and losing our best players, well before Richo and Benji. The results aren't there and the most recent recruitment isn't making the impact we hoped.

We cleaned out the cupboards 1.5 years ago, got rid of all the old furniture, offloaded another bunch of contracts. So now we have to wait for the current people to have a decent crack at making a difference, before we shuffle the furniture again.

Specifically on TDS and Galvin however, the club clearly thought they were the right type of fit. Like you said, we offered contracts. But who knows with young men, they aren't even developed adults yet. Galvin proved himself to be a mercenary like so many others and he agitated for a release, so obviously he's not a good fit. TDS did the same, not willing to play behind one of the best hookers going around. So not a good fit.

The unfortunate reality is you have to get blokes in who are willing to play for a shit team, and make them better. If players only ever want to play for the top teams, then you get the Premier League where all the talent consolidates in half a dozen clubs.

I personally don't see alternatives to what Tigers are doing right now July 2025. You can keep the players to their contract, kicking and screaming, to make a point of it, but there's also no evidence this does you any better. Lots of clubs let players leave rather than spend a few hundred thousand to make a point. Even just the machinations of Galvin leaving have clearly disrupted the side.

There is a point of saving the Galvin and TDS money - you spend it anywhere you want. Lacking depth, as you note, isn't helped by paying players who don't want to be there. But money helps with your salary cap moving forward.

I don't think Stefano was the wrong type of player, I though he actually handled his time at Tigers OK.

So in terms of a specific critique of the overall recruitment strategy and who is in charge, I don't waste time speculating what they are doing behind the scenes. It's never interested me. I do think the recruitment since 2024 has been better - better calibre players and less dead weight on the books. I think it's fairly admirable that Richo was able to clear the plate of Klemmer, IP, Bateman, Alaimalo, Miller, Olam Sezer, Simpkin and Bud Sullivan all in one season.

There is a plan, it's plain to see. We lost TDS but we today upgraded Haywood. We dropped a large offer on Galvin, he rejected it, so we promote Latu. Keeping in mind these are not the Tigers' plans, these are the decisions forced upon the club by unsettled players and their managers. We retained Makasini despite enormous external interest. We wanted a centre and backrower for 2026 so we've signed Taylan and KPP. Not elite but reasonable risks.

To say Richo's experience is irrelevant is a silly comment, you can take that one back. It's the exact critique of Benji, that's he's not experienced enough. Tell me also how Trent Robinson's experience is irrelevant, or Shane Flanagan, despite their clubs being in average form.

BENJI SUX! Fine, replace him with Coach X, I'm not going to grumble too much. But we've changed everything, from the top to the bottom these past 2 years, I'm at a loss how another staff cut will help. I'd rather have them see out 3 years and see what happens.
The point is to discuss, not complain.

Just because we changed our board and CEO 18 months ago doesn't change we forget the history and neither should the new team. You learn from that, which doesn't seem to have happened.

The "type" of player we are going for and signing is "skill or talent based" and "potential based". Players who have the capacity to do something, but haven't done much yet. We are not signing players on attitude, culture or leadership. We are signing players that don't have their goals aligned to what we need. Do you think KPP or May help with that? No way. Why were they signed? Simply because we were short in the positions and they were available. They're both marketable players with a following which helps the $$ value but I doubt it's going to help much on the field.

The plan you are talking about is succession plan and hierarchical plan and depth. The plan I want to see is how are the players being developed. Who are the coaching directors, head of football, general manager of football etc? What is our non negotiable when hiring players? It seems like we are just looking at what position is required and hiring on talent, without a plan, just knee jerk reactions. Do you see a pattern? I definitely don't.

You said Richo got rid of all these players but most of them are doing better at their new club, something we are paying for. Mind you, these are players signed by the current coach. We've gotten rid of players before and had a "war chest", which was used to sign these players in the first place.

If I had a team of elite players, Robbos experience would be invaluable, if we had a team of no BS workers, Flanagan would be great. Flanagan by the way took a team to Top 8 last year in his first year in charge there until the last round of the season.

This isn't just about criticising the current team, this is saying that what they're doing is wrong and it's not working. There isn't a plan here. They're both in over their heads and they need help, something the owners or the Board doesn't seem to be willing to do.

This whole thing is reflected in how we are playing. It's erratic, unplanned, no pattern, no structure to anything.

Benjis 3 years will be up next year and let's be honest, theyve given up on this year. Do you see much changing next year?
 
Spot on. Case in point, Galvin.

Ethan strange is killing it week in week out for the raiders who are leading the comp, but we hear nothing about him. Correct me if I am wrong, but I am pretty sure Ethan was picked in all the rep teams and Galvin wasn't?

Galvin transferred to the other team at the top of the ladder and has had minimal impact - yet they keep blowing smoke up his ass.
He is 2 years older.
 
I actually think the issue is a wests jrl one at its core . And really ties in with the fact wests tigers has failed to capture the hearts and minds of the south west. This compiled with an idea that west Sydney, particularly the southwest, is somewhere to “escape”, means kids in the area don’t have the same , I want to say loyalty , but I don’t think that’s the right word , but it’s more maybe desire and loyalty , to stick with the club.
Even though really the club is 50km up the road.
I know growing up around Liverpool , all I ever need to do was escape . And the idea of spending my life in west Sydney was depressing to the point , that there was. Erp chance is ever going to do it .
And that idea occupied many conversations growing up with people around me . It may be anecdotal and unique to myself . But I don’t think so .
I think it all ties into it. Kids in the shire will ride the bench and wait their turn , because they’re going home to mum and dad’s house 10 minutes from the beach .
Penrith has done an amazing job , galvanising the area and team to take pride not only in the jersey and club , but the area itself , and it being an attractive place to set up your life . As much as I personally disagree . I’m not from there , so I’m not the one to ask.
The viewing of wests and by extension wests tigers as a stepping stone to somewhere else , has to be the elephant in the room .
This is the mindset we need to break . And unfortunately both wests and Balmain and HBG have been amateur hour and obviously haven’t given off the aura of professionally run clubs , so it’s hard to to disagree with kids and family members having these bias.
After we won the premiership , I was hoping that that would have been a springboard for change , but 20 years on , only now are we starting push out fossils with old allegiances to a time when being the underdog was cool. Kids don’t want that anymore , they want to train in adidas gear provided by the club , n perfect facilities , where they can have a sauna and ice bath after , and get driven home in either their club assigned car if old enough , or the clubs courtesy bus of choice .
We are extremely late to the party. And these kids heads have been turned. No surprise to me TDS has left .
I just also in saying all that , don’t think he was worth swapping api for . Not even a little bit .
 
What possible benefit do they have by releasing TDS before June 30 other than lower costs?
End disruption.

No cap advantage, unless we can FRONTLOAD someone. Which would be a really great idea you know with that cap space free... But no cap advantage.


But team focus, there is an advantage. Don't want to be here, fine. GO!
 
TDS acted like a decent man should do,i can't say the same for others in the past who have acted like prima donna's.They will always be beneath contempt in my eyes.
I’ve said previously that years ago teams would not stand in front of a player that could likely play first grade elsewhere. It’s a gentleman’s act and fair
But times have changed

How he’s handled it is a reflection of his character and I commend him for it

I don’t wish others ill but I do hope karma bites them. Much like Aaron woods- lost rep jumper and drifted to a non starter at every team he moved to
 
It has probably been discussed in the last 50 odd pages, but did Parra gives up any cash for getting TDS 18 months before his contract expired. Because if we did not get any cash and we obviously did not get a player, why would we open the door, pat him on the back and say thanks mate. I don’t buy Richo’s quote that he had made a promise to the family. You wonder why the spoon is never far away, than these things happen
 
End disruption.

No cap advantage, unless we can FRONTLOAD someone. Which would be a really great idea you know with that cap space free... But no cap advantage.


But team focus, there is an advantage. Don't want to be here, fine. GO!
I actually think it was around Tartak , and how much players he has at our club , as well as others. This felt like a you scratch my back I’ll scratch yours scenario .
That’s my opinion . I can see some big re-signings coming up , as well as maybe some “left field” disgruntled players whose manager is Tartak … coincidentally
 
The Da Silva Family are great people honest and very hard working, have put a lot of work into football in Campbelltown. Phil 1986 is correct in what he says about the other issues.

Do not make promises you can't or will not keep.
Were these promises made before our current staff/administration?
 
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