The Wests Tigers Lament Thread

[hobbo1]

Everyone is lamenting Momorovski, but what about the young 5/8-super sub playing for souths? He's tearing it up, how did we let him go?

🤦‍♂️

 

[Alex Seyfarth's #1 Fan]

Everyone is lamenting Momorovski, but what about the young 5/8-super sub playing for souths? He's tearing it up, how did we let him go?

I know you're trolling but let me take the bait. I do miss that player who 7 missed tackles on the weekend, had 4 errors and gave away a penalty. So far the decision has proven correct to let him go. His playmaking ability hasn't been missed. Douiehi is doing everything Benji did without getting in the way of other players. Similar attacking performances on the weekend for both of them, but Douiehi did it in 37 touches compared to 51 for Marshall.

 

[watersider]

Everyone is lamenting Momorovski, but what about the young 5/8-super sub playing for souths? He's tearing it up, how did we let him go?

I know you're trolling but let me take the bait. I do miss that player who 7 missed tackles on the weekend, had 4 errors and gave away a penalty. So far the decision has proven correct to let him go. His playmaking ability hasn't been missed. Douiehi is doing everything Benji did without getting in the way of other players. Similar attacking performances on the weekend for both of them, but Douiehi did it in 37 touches compared to 51 for Marshall.

I wanted us to keep him and still rate him but I understand why we didn't. As for stats, he's missed 6 tackles all season for 92.5% tackle efficiency according to nrl.com. I'd be guessing he'd be playing half back with Doueihi by now, not replacing Doueihi.

 

[diedpretty]

Boy the Daily Rag is putting the boot in today. Have a good laugh.

Story 1

The Wests Tigers are once again a club fighting for credibility with one win in seven matches in 2021 and a decade-long finals drought. Ahead of Sunday’s clash with St George-Illawarra, David Riccio turns the spotlight on the club’s polarising recruitment.

Revealed are the Test, State of Origin and Dally M medal winners who are among 25 players the Tigers developed, recruited and ultimately let go over the past eight years.



1. James Tedesco (Roosters)

Without doubt, the greatest recruitment blunder in the joint-venture’s history.

The Test full-back’s decision to quit the Tigers and join the Roosters on a four-year deal in 2018 was a bloodbath.

In a 2017 interview after ­announcing his decision, Tedesco said he may have remained a Tiger had coach Ivan Cleary not imposed a deadline on him to re-sign.

Tedesco also singled out Cleary for putting too much pressure on his contract extension too early in his coaching tenure after taking over from the sacked Jason Taylor in March.

“They made it public, too, which was a bit, I don’t know, I didn’t really think there was a need for that,” Tedesco said at the time.

“We told them before they put that out in the media that we needed to make a decision … We needed more time and they wanted the decision quickly.”

2. Josh Addo-Carr (Storm)

Joined the Tigers from Cronulla on a one-year deal ahead of the 2016 season, making his Tigers debut in round seven.

In nine appearances for the Tigers in 2016, he scored six tries. Addo-Carr wanted a three-year deal to stay, but the coaching staff baulked due to their fears over his ability to catch the high ball. They decided to offer him a 12-month extension.

By August that year, The Fox had signed a three-year deal with Melbourne.

3. Isaac Liu (Roosters)

A product of the Tigers’ 13-year relationship — which ceased this season — with Queensland rugby league school Keebra Park, Liu moved down to the Tigers in 2009.

He was overlooked for the Tigers’ under-20s team in 2011. Roosters recruitment scout Peter O’Sullivan couldn’t believe his luck and swooped on the future Kiwi international.

In his ninth season at the Roosters, Liu has won two premierships and played almost 200 NRL games.

4. Mitchell Moses (Eels)

A Balmain junior, Moses sits just below Tedesco as one of the most significant recruitment blunders for the Tigers.

Off-contract at the end of 2017, Moses’s future at the club quickly became front and back-page news alongside Tedesco, Aaron Woods and Luke Brooks. The drawn-out contract saga involving “the big four” resulted in the Tigers pulling their contract offer to Moses, triggering the five-eighth to demand an immediate release to join the Eels.

He played his final game for the Tigers in round 10 of the 2017 season and his first of 91 games for the Eels the next week.

5. Aaron Woods (Sharks)

A proud Leichhardt boy, the former Tigers captain was unable to commit to his beloved club during a tumultuous period where coach Jason Taylor was sacked in 2017.

Woods went on record at the time stating his wish to know who the next coach was going to be before re-signing a new long-term deal.

The coaching circus led to Woods’s ultimate departure to Canterbury, where he played 14 games before the salary-cap stricken Dogs granted him a release to join the Sharks ahead of round 16, 2018.

6. Ryan Papenhuyzen (Storm)

Carving-up the under-20s competition for Balmain in 2016, the Dundas Shamrocks junior couldn’t see a path to the NRL with James Tedesco ahead of him at the time.

He made his decision — only weeks prior to Tedesco’s own call — to leave the Tigers to link with the Storm in 2018.

The question still haunts Tigers fans: would Paps have stayed had he known that Tedesco would be leaving to join the Roosters at the end of the 2017 season?

Tigers officials are adamant he would have.

Papenhuyzen has since won a premiership, a Clive Churchill Medal and is on the cusp of making his NSW Origin debut in 2021.

7. Marty Taupau (Sea Eagles)

The Kiwi Test prop quit the Bulldogs at the age of 24 to sign for three years for $180,000 at the Wests Tigers in 2014.

The hard-running prop had an immediate impact in his first two seasons, playing 24 then 21 games.

Athletic and powerful, it’s been suggested Taupau’s confident personality rubbed some of his Tigers teammates up the wrong way. He was released from the final year of his contract at the Tigers to join Manly on a monster four-year deal in 2016. He remains signed with Manly until the end of 2022.

8. Tevita “Junior” Tatola (Rabbitohs)

From the Tigers’ schoolboy nursery of Holy Cross, Ryde, Tatola was developed within the Tigers system from 2014, highlighted by his co-captaincy of the Wests Tigers NYC team in 2016.

Off-contract the same year, the Tigers’ NRL coaching staff didn’t think Tatola would progress to first grade and as such he was overlooked for an extension.

“I just didn’t hear anything from them,’’ Tatola said.

Former Rabbitohs coach Anthony Seibold offered Tatola a one-year deal in December 2017. One of South Sydney’s most consistent forwards has improved with every season and is tied up at Redfern until 2024.

9. Ryan Matterson (Eels)

Billed as a major signing for the Tigers, Matterson left the Roosters to ink a three-year $1m-plus deal in 2019.

It was short-lived.

Matterson lasted less than 12 months — granted a release from the final two years of his contract at the Tigers to join Parramatta.

Matterson said his issues with the Tigers were “personal”, but that didn’t stop the vitriol from Tigers supporters, including former captain Robbie Farah.

The 26-year-old has one year remaining on his contract at the Eels and, due to concussion issues, he has played just two games in 2021.

10. Ray Stone (Eels)

Similar story to Tatola with the belief from within the Tigers’ brains-trust Stone wouldn’t progress to the NRL.

Played SG Ball and Holden Cup (under-20s) for the Tigers and was also selected in the 2015 Australian Schoolboys team. The Eels pinched Stone in 2017 on a two-year deal.

Capable of playing hooker and lock, Stone has played 22 NRL games for the Eels and is off-contract this season.

11. Paul Momirovski (Panthers)

Scored eight tries in 11 appearances and kicked 21 from 28 goals for the Tigers in his short stay at the club in 2019.

Originally from the Roosters, the attacking wing, centre or fullback was traded in a swap deal with Harry Grant at the Storm in 2020.

When Grant finished his stint at the Tigers and returned to the Storm, Momirovski was due to return to the Tigers.

But he was then involved in a further swap that resulted in Penrith signing Momirovski so that fullback Daine Laurie could join the Tigers this year.

12. Sauaso Sue (Knights)

Was a mainstay of the Wests Magpies representative sides from the age of 13.

He progressed through the entire Wests Tigers system, culminating in a premiership with the 2012 under-20s team.

Played 116 NRL games for the Tigers from 2013-2018 before signing with the Bulldogs. Sue, 29, spent two seasons at the Dogs before joining the Knights this year. Off-contract in 2022.

13. Matt Lodge (Broncos)

Began his football development with Penrith’s under-20s NYC team in 2012.

Joined the Storm NYC Team in 2013 and 2014 before being released to join the Tigers on the promise of a first-grade debut under former coach Mick Potter the same year.

Played four games in 2014 and another eight under Jason Taylor in 2015 before being sacked after he was arrested after a violent night out in New York.

Lodge resurrected his footy career in the Queensland Cup before linking with the Broncos.

On contract until the end of 2022 with two more years as options, the Broncos are shopping Lodge to rival clubs.

14. Jeremy Marshall-King (Bulldogs)

The younger brother of Benji Marshall, Marshall-King was cut from the Tigers after one NRL game in 2017.

Canterbury signed the utility half for $15,000, who then played 23 first-grade games in 2018.

One of the most consistent selections for the Dogs in 2019 (23 games) and 2020 (20 games), Marshall-King is due back from a foot injury in round 10.

15. Taniela Paseka (Sea Eagles)

The Fairfield Patrician Brothers student played all of his junior footy at the Wests Tigers, including Harold Matthews and SG Ball.

The huge front-rower was named the Wests Tigers’ 2016 Holden Cup Player of the Year in the same season he was off contract.

The Tigers opted against matching a massive offer from Manly in 2017, where he remains contracted until the end of 2024.

16. Moses Suli (Sea Eagles)

Finally beginning to mature, but still hasn’t realised his potential.

After a series of off-field issues regarding his professionalism resulted in him being released by Ivan Cleary’s Tigers in 2018, the Bulldogs promptly snapped him up the next day on a three-year contract.

But the issues that plagued him at the Tigers weren’t resolved at Belmore, with former Bulldogs CEO Andrew Hill claiming Suli wasn’t able to reach the standards expected. Suli was offered a lifeline to join Manly’s SG Ball team. He’s now in his fourth season of NRL at the Sea Eagles.

17. Te Maire Martin (retired at Cowboys in 2020 due to head knocks)

Scouted from Keebra Park, Martin played in the 2014 and 2015 Tigers Holden Cup teams.

In both seasons, he was named Toyota Cup five-eighth of the year, yet with Luke Brooks and Mitchell Moses in front of him, the Tigers couldn’t compete with an offer from Penrith.

Martin spent two seasons at the Panthers before a mid-season switch to the Cowboys resulted in him playing in their 2017 grand final loss to Melbourne.

18. Benji Marshall (Rabbitohs)

The mercurial Marshall was let go by Tigers coach Michael Maguire at the end of the 2020 season.

Marshall had made it clear to the Tigers hierarchy that he wanted to keep playing beyond the age of 35, but with halves options Luke Brooks, Josh Reynolds, Adam Doueihi and Moses Mbye on their books, the Tigers wouldn’t commit to the club legend ahead of the 2021 season.

Remarkably, at 36, Marshall is within reach of a second premiership ring with South Sydney — 16 years after his first with the Tigers.

19. Curtis Sironen (Sea Eagles)

The son of Balmain legend Paul Sironen, Curtis was stunted by multiple shoulder injuries, a broken foot and hamstring issues during his development years at the Tigers between 2012 and 2016.

At the end of 2016, the opinions of the coaching staff were divided on whether to stay patient and re-sign Sironen on a 12-month contract or let him go. They chose the latter and he joined Manly in 2017.

Due back from a knee injury next week, Sironen has played just over 60 NRL games for the Sea Eagles.

20. Bayley Sironen (Warriors)

Brother of Curtis and son of Paul, Sironen is a NSW under-16, 18s and 20s representative player. He was named the best under-20s player in NSW in 2016.

Versatile with the ability to play backrow or centre, Sironen’s best position was five-eighth in the lower grades.

However, he was let go by the Tigers in 2019 to join Souths on a one-year deal.

He was then able to secure a three-year contract with the Warriors, where he’s scored two tries in five NRL games.

21. Ava Seumanufagai (Bulldogs)

Began with the Eels under-20s in 2010. Signed for $30,000 by the Tigers in 2012, making his NRL debut under Mick Potter the next year.

The hard-running prop played 105 NRL games from 2013 to 2018 before being let go to Cronulla.

He had a short stint with Leeds after the Sharks before linking with the Bulldogs this year.

22. Corey Thompson (Titans)

A departure the Tigers couldn’t control, with the underrated winger wanting to leave Sydney to be closer to family on the Gold Coast.

After two seasons at the Tigers from 2018-20, Thompson took less money to sign with the Titans. The 30-year-old has scored 10 tries in 19 games for the Titans.

23. Esan Marsters (Cowboys)

From Auckland, Marsters scored a training contract with the Roosters’ SG Ball team before being cut after 12 months.

He linked with the Tigers NYC team in 2015 and just three years later he was a shock selection for the New Zealand Test team under Kiwi coach Michael Maguire.

In October 2019, ahead of Maguire’s arrival at Concord, Marsters was released from the final year of his contract to join the Cowboys.

Marsters has managed just 15 games in two seasons for the Cowboys.

24. Josh Aloiai (Sea Eagles)

Arrived at the Tigers from the Eels in 2016 via a swap deal with little-known under-20s forward Matthew Woods.

While Woods failed to advance beyond NSW Cup for Parramatta, Aloiai had a boom first season for his new club, playing 24 games.

He remained at the Tigers until a bitter split at the end of 2020, where he famously declared; “I have no desire to put a Wests Tigers jersey on again” after contract talks broke down.

At Manly on a contract through until the end of 2022.

25. Matt Eisenhuth (Panthers)

Began his junior representative career at Parramatta in 2010 before shifting to the Wests Tigers.

He signed for $20,000 to join the Tigers, making his first-grade debut in 2017, before extending his contract until 2020 after former coach Ivan Cleary described him as “a key member of the team”.

But in September 2020, the rangy forward was one of eight Tigers players released from the club. He signed a two-year deal with Penrith and has played seven NRL games with the competition frontrunners.

Story 2

Was all about the hopeful signing of Burgi - thankfully they didn'y put the boot in.

Story 3

Was about 2 girls going out to dinner in Leichhardt. Pic of Tedesco and Moses. Mentioned how the main talking point would be how we were going.

 

[diedpretty]

Oh and the list of 25 they didn't mention Nathan Brown. LOL great bit of research for this story.

 

[westTAHger]

Can't change the past, learn from it and move on.

At the moment doesn't look like this is happening.:face_with_rolling_eyes: :rage:

 

[dazza65]

Yep.. “let go”...

 

[tiger_one]

Strewth - short of readers again?

 

[gallagher]

The more negative stories the better IMO.

 

[2005magic]

Boy the Daily Rag is putting the boot in today. Have a good laugh.

Story 1

The Wests Tigers are once again a club fighting for credibility with one win in seven matches in 2021 and a decade-long finals drought. Ahead of Sunday’s clash with St George-Illawarra, David Riccio turns the spotlight on the club’s polarising recruitment.

Revealed are the Test, State of Origin and Dally M medal winners who are among 25 players the Tigers developed, recruited and ultimately let go over the past eight years.



1. James Tedesco (Roosters)

Without doubt, the greatest recruitment blunder in the joint-venture’s history.

The Test full-back’s decision to quit the Tigers and join the Roosters on a four-year deal in 2018 was a bloodbath.

In a 2017 interview after ­announcing his decision, Tedesco said he may have remained a Tiger had coach Ivan Cleary not imposed a deadline on him to re-sign.

Tedesco also singled out Cleary for putting too much pressure on his contract extension too early in his coaching tenure after taking over from the sacked Jason Taylor in March.

“They made it public, too, which was a bit, I don’t know, I didn’t really think there was a need for that,” Tedesco said at the time.

“We told them before they put that out in the media that we needed to make a decision … We needed more time and they wanted the decision quickly.”

2. Josh Addo-Carr (Storm)

Joined the Tigers from Cronulla on a one-year deal ahead of the 2016 season, making his Tigers debut in round seven.

In nine appearances for the Tigers in 2016, he scored six tries. Addo-Carr wanted a three-year deal to stay, but the coaching staff baulked due to their fears over his ability to catch the high ball. They decided to offer him a 12-month extension.

By August that year, The Fox had signed a three-year deal with Melbourne.

3. Isaac Liu (Roosters)

A product of the Tigers’ 13-year relationship — which ceased this season — with Queensland rugby league school Keebra Park, Liu moved down to the Tigers in 2009.

He was overlooked for the Tigers’ under-20s team in 2011. Roosters recruitment scout Peter O’Sullivan couldn’t believe his luck and swooped on the future Kiwi international.

In his ninth season at the Roosters, Liu has won two premierships and played almost 200 NRL games.

4. Mitchell Moses (Eels)

A Balmain junior, Moses sits just below Tedesco as one of the most significant recruitment blunders for the Tigers.

Off-contract at the end of 2017, Moses’s future at the club quickly became front and back-page news alongside Tedesco, Aaron Woods and Luke Brooks. The drawn-out contract saga involving “the big four” resulted in the Tigers pulling their contract offer to Moses, triggering the five-eighth to demand an immediate release to join the Eels.

He played his final game for the Tigers in round 10 of the 2017 season and his first of 91 games for the Eels the next week.

5. Aaron Woods (Sharks)

A proud Leichhardt boy, the former Tigers captain was unable to commit to his beloved club during a tumultuous period where coach Jason Taylor was sacked in 2017.

Woods went on record at the time stating his wish to know who the next coach was going to be before re-signing a new long-term deal.

The coaching circus led to Woods’s ultimate departure to Canterbury, where he played 14 games before the salary-cap stricken Dogs granted him a release to join the Sharks ahead of round 16, 2018.

6. Ryan Papenhuyzen (Storm)

Carving-up the under-20s competition for Balmain in 2016, the Dundas Shamrocks junior couldn’t see a path to the NRL with James Tedesco ahead of him at the time.

He made his decision — only weeks prior to Tedesco’s own call — to leave the Tigers to link with the Storm in 2018.

The question still haunts Tigers fans: would Paps have stayed had he known that Tedesco would be leaving to join the Roosters at the end of the 2017 season?

Tigers officials are adamant he would have.

Papenhuyzen has since won a premiership, a Clive Churchill Medal and is on the cusp of making his NSW Origin debut in 2021.

7. Marty Taupau (Sea Eagles)

The Kiwi Test prop quit the Bulldogs at the age of 24 to sign for three years for $180,000 at the Wests Tigers in 2014.

The hard-running prop had an immediate impact in his first two seasons, playing 24 then 21 games.

Athletic and powerful, it’s been suggested Taupau’s confident personality rubbed some of his Tigers teammates up the wrong way. He was released from the final year of his contract at the Tigers to join Manly on a monster four-year deal in 2016. He remains signed with Manly until the end of 2022.

8. Tevita “Junior” Tatola (Rabbitohs)

From the Tigers’ schoolboy nursery of Holy Cross, Ryde, Tatola was developed within the Tigers system from 2014, highlighted by his co-captaincy of the Wests Tigers NYC team in 2016.

Off-contract the same year, the Tigers’ NRL coaching staff didn’t think Tatola would progress to first grade and as such he was overlooked for an extension.

“I just didn’t hear anything from them,’’ Tatola said.

Former Rabbitohs coach Anthony Seibold offered Tatola a one-year deal in December 2017. One of South Sydney’s most consistent forwards has improved with every season and is tied up at Redfern until 2024.

9. Ryan Matterson (Eels)

Billed as a major signing for the Tigers, Matterson left the Roosters to ink a three-year $1m-plus deal in 2019.

It was short-lived.

Matterson lasted less than 12 months — granted a release from the final two years of his contract at the Tigers to join Parramatta.

Matterson said his issues with the Tigers were “personal”, but that didn’t stop the vitriol from Tigers supporters, including former captain Robbie Farah.

The 26-year-old has one year remaining on his contract at the Eels and, due to concussion issues, he has played just two games in 2021.

10. Ray Stone (Eels)

Similar story to Tatola with the belief from within the Tigers’ brains-trust Stone wouldn’t progress to the NRL.

Played SG Ball and Holden Cup (under-20s) for the Tigers and was also selected in the 2015 Australian Schoolboys team. The Eels pinched Stone in 2017 on a two-year deal.

Capable of playing hooker and lock, Stone has played 22 NRL games for the Eels and is off-contract this season.

11. Paul Momirovski (Panthers)

Scored eight tries in 11 appearances and kicked 21 from 28 goals for the Tigers in his short stay at the club in 2019.

Originally from the Roosters, the attacking wing, centre or fullback was traded in a swap deal with Harry Grant at the Storm in 2020.

When Grant finished his stint at the Tigers and returned to the Storm, Momirovski was due to return to the Tigers.

But he was then involved in a further swap that resulted in Penrith signing Momirovski so that fullback Daine Laurie could join the Tigers this year.

12. Sauaso Sue (Knights)

Was a mainstay of the Wests Magpies representative sides from the age of 13.

He progressed through the entire Wests Tigers system, culminating in a premiership with the 2012 under-20s team.

Played 116 NRL games for the Tigers from 2013-2018 before signing with the Bulldogs. Sue, 29, spent two seasons at the Dogs before joining the Knights this year. Off-contract in 2022.

13. Matt Lodge (Broncos)

Began his football development with Penrith’s under-20s NYC team in 2012.

Joined the Storm NYC Team in 2013 and 2014 before being released to join the Tigers on the promise of a first-grade debut under former coach Mick Potter the same year.

Played four games in 2014 and another eight under Jason Taylor in 2015 before being sacked after he was arrested after a violent night out in New York.

Lodge resurrected his footy career in the Queensland Cup before linking with the Broncos.

On contract until the end of 2022 with two more years as options, the Broncos are shopping Lodge to rival clubs.

14. Jeremy Marshall-King (Bulldogs)

The younger brother of Benji Marshall, Marshall-King was cut from the Tigers after one NRL game in 2017.

Canterbury signed the utility half for $15,000, who then played 23 first-grade games in 2018.

One of the most consistent selections for the Dogs in 2019 (23 games) and 2020 (20 games), Marshall-King is due back from a foot injury in round 10.

15. Taniela Paseka (Sea Eagles)

The Fairfield Patrician Brothers student played all of his junior footy at the Wests Tigers, including Harold Matthews and SG Ball.

The huge front-rower was named the Wests Tigers’ 2016 Holden Cup Player of the Year in the same season he was off contract.

The Tigers opted against matching a massive offer from Manly in 2017, where he remains contracted until the end of 2024.

16. Moses Suli (Sea Eagles)

Finally beginning to mature, but still hasn’t realised his potential.

After a series of off-field issues regarding his professionalism resulted in him being released by Ivan Cleary’s Tigers in 2018, the Bulldogs promptly snapped him up the next day on a three-year contract.

But the issues that plagued him at the Tigers weren’t resolved at Belmore, with former Bulldogs CEO Andrew Hill claiming Suli wasn’t able to reach the standards expected. Suli was offered a lifeline to join Manly’s SG Ball team. He’s now in his fourth season of NRL at the Sea Eagles.

17. Te Maire Martin (retired at Cowboys in 2020 due to head knocks)

Scouted from Keebra Park, Martin played in the 2014 and 2015 Tigers Holden Cup teams.

In both seasons, he was named Toyota Cup five-eighth of the year, yet with Luke Brooks and Mitchell Moses in front of him, the Tigers couldn’t compete with an offer from Penrith.

Martin spent two seasons at the Panthers before a mid-season switch to the Cowboys resulted in him playing in their 2017 grand final loss to Melbourne.

18. Benji Marshall (Rabbitohs)

The mercurial Marshall was let go by Tigers coach Michael Maguire at the end of the 2020 season.

Marshall had made it clear to the Tigers hierarchy that he wanted to keep playing beyond the age of 35, but with halves options Luke Brooks, Josh Reynolds, Adam Doueihi and Moses Mbye on their books, the Tigers wouldn’t commit to the club legend ahead of the 2021 season.

Remarkably, at 36, Marshall is within reach of a second premiership ring with South Sydney — 16 years after his first with the Tigers.

19. Curtis Sironen (Sea Eagles)

The son of Balmain legend Paul Sironen, Curtis was stunted by multiple shoulder injuries, a broken foot and hamstring issues during his development years at the Tigers between 2012 and 2016.

At the end of 2016, the opinions of the coaching staff were divided on whether to stay patient and re-sign Sironen on a 12-month contract or let him go. They chose the latter and he joined Manly in 2017.

Due back from a knee injury next week, Sironen has played just over 60 NRL games for the Sea Eagles.

20. Bayley Sironen (Warriors)

Brother of Curtis and son of Paul, Sironen is a NSW under-16, 18s and 20s representative player. He was named the best under-20s player in NSW in 2016.

Versatile with the ability to play backrow or centre, Sironen’s best position was five-eighth in the lower grades.

However, he was let go by the Tigers in 2019 to join Souths on a one-year deal.

He was then able to secure a three-year contract with the Warriors, where he’s scored two tries in five NRL games.

21. Ava Seumanufagai (Bulldogs)

Began with the Eels under-20s in 2010. Signed for $30,000 by the Tigers in 2012, making his NRL debut under Mick Potter the next year.

The hard-running prop played 105 NRL games from 2013 to 2018 before being let go to Cronulla.

He had a short stint with Leeds after the Sharks before linking with the Bulldogs this year.

22. Corey Thompson (Titans)

A departure the Tigers couldn’t control, with the underrated winger wanting to leave Sydney to be closer to family on the Gold Coast.

After two seasons at the Tigers from 2018-20, Thompson took less money to sign with the Titans. The 30-year-old has scored 10 tries in 19 games for the Titans.

23. Esan Marsters (Cowboys)

From Auckland, Marsters scored a training contract with the Roosters’ SG Ball team before being cut after 12 months.

He linked with the Tigers NYC team in 2015 and just three years later he was a shock selection for the New Zealand Test team under Kiwi coach Michael Maguire.

In October 2019, ahead of Maguire’s arrival at Concord, Marsters was released from the final year of his contract to join the Cowboys.

Marsters has managed just 15 games in two seasons for the Cowboys.

24. Josh Aloiai (Sea Eagles)

Arrived at the Tigers from the Eels in 2016 via a swap deal with little-known under-20s forward Matthew Woods.

While Woods failed to advance beyond NSW Cup for Parramatta, Aloiai had a boom first season for his new club, playing 24 games.

He remained at the Tigers until a bitter split at the end of 2020, where he famously declared; “I have no desire to put a Wests Tigers jersey on again” after contract talks broke down.

At Manly on a contract through until the end of 2022.

25. Matt Eisenhuth (Panthers)

Began his junior representative career at Parramatta in 2010 before shifting to the Wests Tigers.

He signed for $20,000 to join the Tigers, making his first-grade debut in 2017, before extending his contract until 2020 after former coach Ivan Cleary described him as “a key member of the team”.

But in September 2020, the rangy forward was one of eight Tigers players released from the club. He signed a two-year deal with Penrith and has played seven NRL games with the competition frontrunners.

Story 2

Was all about the hopeful signing of Burgi - thankfully they didn'y put the boot in.

Story 3

Was about 2 girls going out to dinner in Leichhardt. Pic of Tedesco and Moses. Mentioned how the main talking point would be how we were going.

That article, whilst accurate in saying these players left the club is so full of holes , half stories and blatant anti club bias. So much more can / should be said about almost each player quoted. If I were WT I would seek a rebuttal in the newspaper or at least put something up on our website countering the article inc naming what happened from the clubs oiint of view with each player named.

We have to fight these bad impressions others put out against us.

 

[TIGERPOWER]

I’ve never read those comments about Tedesco and the deadline put by Cleary being one of the reasons he left. Another wonderful gift by Cleary before he deserted the ship.

 

[2005magic]

I’ve never read those comments about Tedesco and the deadline put by Cleary being one of the reasons he left. Another wonderful gift by Cleary before he deserted the ship.

I dont think its anywhere near the whole story. If I recall correctly Tedesco was stooging around with WT but all the time he had apparently agreed to terms with Roosters. Remember Tedesco had already before signed with Canberra but reneged at the last minute to remain with WT. The bloke was always going to go somewhere else as soon as he felt he had developed to a degree he could get a good price. Tedesco was never a WT player beyond the guernsey on the day.

Thats why I think WT have to fight these negative, biased articles either with a rebuttal or their own piece in their website. The negative view of the club by outside players will never be quelled unless we fight this type of rubbish.

 

[nrlsurvivor]

I’ve never read those comments about Tedesco and the deadline put by Cleary being one of the reasons he left. Another wonderful gift by Cleary before he deserted the ship.

I dont think its anywhere near the whole story. If I recall correctly Tedesco was stooging around with WT but all the time he had apparently agreed to terms with Roosters. Remember Tedesco had already before signed with Canberra but reneged at the last minute to remain with WT. The bloke was always going to go somewhere else as soon as he felt he had developed to a degree he could get a good price. Tedesco was never a WT player beyond the guernsey on the day.

Thats why I think WT have to fight these negative, biased articles either with a rebuttal or their own piece in their website. The negative view of the club by outside players will never be quelled unless we fight this type of rubbish.

The best way to fight these articles is to start winning. It’s not just us, all teams get slammed in the media when they’re underperforming.

 

[2005magic]

I’ve never read those comments about Tedesco and the deadline put by Cleary being one of the reasons he left. Another wonderful gift by Cleary before he deserted the ship.

I dont think its anywhere near the whole story. If I recall correctly Tedesco was stooging around with WT but all the time he had apparently agreed to terms with Roosters. Remember Tedesco had already before signed with Canberra but reneged at the last minute to remain with WT. The bloke was always going to go somewhere else as soon as he felt he had developed to a degree he could get a good price. Tedesco was never a WT player beyond the guernsey on the day.

Thats why I think WT have to fight these negative, biased articles either with a rebuttal or their own piece in their website. The negative view of the club by outside players will never be quelled unless we fight this type of rubbish.

The best way to fight these articles is to start winning. It’s not just us, all teams get slammed in the media when they’re underperforming.

I dont disagree with starting to win, but here is also the fight for impression before and during winning.

 

[Pbulk]

Oh and the list of 25 they didn't mention Nathan Brown. LOL great bit of research for this story.

But managed to mention Masters who has gone backwards since leaving. I'm sure Madge and Hartigan are super bummed they let him go.

 

[glebe tiger]

The Tedesco story is crap the guy was always heading east. Him and the whole family are roosters diehard supporters so with their deep pockets and superstar roster it was inevitable. We could of offered $2m a year and he'd still have gone to them. The thing that drives me up the wall the most are the wingers and speed men we've lost to Bellamy and the storm over the years.

 

[BAGNF05]

Beat Dragons today and they have to write a nice article about us.everything is within the club’s control they just need to fix all the holes in the Titanic.

 

[Tiger5150]

To put the dogs decision into some perspective. Brent Sherwin was absolutely flying in the years of 2003-2004. He was the controller of the side not too dissimilar to adam Reynolds of the Rabbitohs today.
Not signing Thurston and resigning Sherwin would be like the Rabbitohs resigning Reynolds and not having the money to sign Walker the following year, the only difference between the two scenarios is the Rabbitohs unlike the dogs know exactly what they are getting out of their current players as they are both in their prime.
For the dogs it would of been risking one proven very good halfback for an a relative unknown.
Funny how it’s easy to look back on something and lament when you know what the outcome ended up being.

There may have been other off field factors involved in the decision to let JT go as well.

 

[Tiger5150]

The Tedesco story is crap the guy was always heading east. Him ***and the whole family are roosters diehard supporters*** so with their deep pockets and superstar roster it was inevitable. We could of offered $2m a year and he'd still have gone to them. The thing that drives me up the wall the most are the wingers and speed men we've lost to Bellamy and the storm over the years.

Actually to accurate Teddy's whole family, with the exception of him and his Dad are diehard, put your hand in your pocket Balmain and now WT supporters.

 

[Tigerdave]

Boy the Daily Rag is putting the boot in today. Have a good laugh.

Story 1

The Wests Tigers are once again a club fighting for credibility with one win in seven matches in 2021 and a decade-long finals drought. Ahead of Sunday’s clash with St George-Illawarra, David Riccio turns the spotlight on the club’s polarising recruitment.

Revealed are the Test, State of Origin and Dally M medal winners who are among 25 players the Tigers developed, recruited and ultimately let go over the past eight years.



1. James Tedesco (Roosters)
2. Josh Addo-Carr (Storm)
3. Isaac Liu (Roosters)
4. Mitchell Moses (Eels)
5. Aaron Woods (Sharks)
6. Ryan Papenhuyzen (Storm)
7. Marty Taupau (Sea Eagles)
8. Tevita “Junior” Tatola (Rabbitohs)
9. Ryan Matterson (Eels)
10. Ray Stone (Eels)
11. Paul Momirovski (Panthers)
12. Sauaso Sue (Knights)
13. Matt Lodge (Broncos)
14. Jeremy Marshall-King (Bulldogs)
15. Taniela Paseka (Sea Eagles)
16. Moses Suli (Sea Eagles)
17. Te Maire Martin (retired at Cowboys in 2020 due to head knocks)
18. Benji Marshall (Rabbitohs)
19. Curtis Sironen (Sea Eagles)
20. Bayley Sironen (Warriors)
21. Ava Seumanufagai (Bulldogs)
22. Corey Thompson (Titans)
23. Esan Marsters (Cowboys)
24. Josh Aloiai (Sea Eagles)
25. Matt Eisenhuth (Panthers)

They are really reaching with a lot of these....

1: Teddy had a contract on the table for months, MONTHS, but he Moses, Woods and Brooks wanted to hold the club to ransom for more money..............now, they won't exactly winning games for us, we didn't make any finals with these 4 players......
2: Yeah no argument about JAC, it was dumb of the club, but how about having a go at the Sharks for letting him go first?
3: Who? seriously, how many other clubs lose juniors to other clubs?? You crapped on about JAC yet he was with the Sharks and they didn't want him.
4: Moses, this clown tanked it, literally tanked it in his last couple of games for us and it was blatantly obvious too
5: See Teddy, Woods wanted more money............how many times after leaving us did he play for NSW and Australia? Pretty quiet on that front eh?
6: Hard to pin Pap on the club. The club thought Teddy would have signed and it wasn't fair to Pap to have him languishing in lower grades if he could get a better deal.
7: Marty, again...........I mean seriously, he left the Dogs, so why aren't they in the spotlight over this? I was disappointed to see him go.
8: Again, another junior which happens to every single other club. You've mentioned several players who started at clubs other than the Tigers......
9: Matterson, see above, left the Roosters......and we didn't just let him go, he wanted out.
10: Ray Stone..lol seriously?? how does this guy get a mention at all?
11: Momo and as stated, originally from the Roosters.......but that's fine apparently, grind that axe against the Tigers....again, would have been fine with Momo staying, but we needed a fullback this year............are you going to do an article on the Panthers now losing Laurie?
12: Sue.........come on seriously?
13: Lodge........former Storm player and yet they get a green light letting him go.........however, he did himself in, it wasn't the club.
14: Marshall-King.........really? he's hardly set the world on fire.
15: Paseka, again another junior, because apparently this doesn't happen to other clubs
16: Suli, oh come on that's just laughable. Parra junior, sacked, indiscretions with us, sacked, Dogs, sacked.........are we seeing a pattern here?
17: Te Maire, you just stated why he was let go in the article..........no club (bar the Roosters) can keep them all.
18: Benji................*sigh* sick of seeing this crap on Facebook "waah why did the club let him go?"...........if you actually watched how he played last year, you'd get your answer
19: Young Siro wasn't cutting the mustard with us, it just wasn't working for him or the club here.
20: Even younger Siro, he wasn't setting the world on fire and hasn't been since he left.
21: Ava, former Eel......Sharks let him go as well...
22: Corey, yeah I would have preferred Corey to stay, but as stated, he wanted to go to be closer to his family, pretty harsh to pin this one on the club. Also, originally a Dogs player.
23: Esan................if credibility in this article wasn't well and truly gone before.............it's gone now
24: Josh, former Eel, something happened, big dispute, he didn't want to stay.
25: The Huth! He wasn't setting the world on fire for us either and a former Eel

So, in this list we have 1 original Shark player, 3 Eels, 2 Dogs, 1 Storm and 2 Roosters........so 9 players out of your "let's put crap on the Tigers" article all came from other clubs, but they get a free pass apparently letting these players go.