Tukimihia Simpkins signs, Kane Bradley released

[balmain boy]

All this talk about the rule changes favouring smaller forwards is just assumtions at this stage.Storms big boppers killed it last year and as always big is better.

Storm and Panthers don't exactly have small packs....

Big is good, so long as they're agile. Tim Grant/Keith G types big boppers would struggle more defensively with the current rules.

 

[BAGNF05]

You can’t fault the recruitment. Hopefully all this potential uncovers a few hidden gems

I'm finding it hard to gauge recruitment, too many unknowns to fairly judge.

There is a clear strategy. I just think it’s a forced strategy rather than a chosen one because of our constant misses on established talent. Time will tell whether it’s hit or miss.

It is. We can't sign elite players in the prime. At least not without offering massive overs. So instead we're doing what the Storm does and are targeting the best 18-19 year olds and build a premiership team from within. It's more sustainable and allows for a balanced squad but in the short term it can take longer for the talent to establish themselves.

The Dogs on the other hand are going for the quick fix with big money contracts to as many big name players they can get their hands on. A couple of injuries or players out of form and they're done. Similar to the Titans of recent years.

I can’t compare us to the Storm. They have always had 3-5 genuine stars and a solid squad to bring their young ones along. They come in, they win and they want to stay. Can see us stumbling and bumbling along with this strategy until we land a couple of genuine established NRL proven game changers.

 

[sleeve]

welcome Tuki. all the reports coming out of NQ were that this kid was going to be a star, so fingers crossed that remains the case. will be interesting to see with the size of his frame whether he remains on an edge of moves into the middle, could potentially be our long term 13. regardless, good to have him on board!

We would be close to having one of the biggest packs in the comp now,with Steff,OJ,Tamou,etc. The sides looking good ,and have not lost a roster position.Well done Tigers,we are building nicely.

 

[Rowdy12]

All this talk about the rule changes favouring smaller forwards is just assumtions at this stage.Storms big boppers killed it last year and as always big is better.

Agree

The problem with this theory is people assume

Big = slow and unfit
Small = quick and fit

These days any full time squad member has to be fit or they won’t make it. Phil Gould recently said he believes 80% of NRL forwards can play 80 minutes without much concern. He also says ‘a good big man will always beat a good little man’

 

[balmain boy]

His stats appear a bit outdated. He was 192 cm at 17 years old. Grown a bit more since. Cows wanted to keep him, im guessing we offered good money, like with Stefano and they couldn't compete.

But big powerful guys with work ethic and ball skills don't grow on trees. We either pay a rookie like Tuki 350k or someone like Tino with a couple of games under their belt 650k, like Titans did. Both are gambles.

Thanks to Bradley leaving we also don't miss out on a squad spot for pacey backs.

 

[Cultured_Bogan]

Enthused by this signing. He comes with good wraps. Big lad too.

Hopefully one of our last three spots includes a quality second rower in addition to Tuki.

Aside from Lucy, we have Garner who is coming off a pretty average season, and two young fellas with a lot of potential in Tuki and Blore. Really need another good seasoned first grader to round it out.

 

[balmain boy]

You can’t fault the recruitment. Hopefully all this potential uncovers a few hidden gems

I'm finding it hard to gauge recruitment, too many unknowns to fairly judge.

There is a clear strategy. I just think it’s a forced strategy rather than a chosen one because of our constant misses on established talent. Time will tell whether it’s hit or miss.

It is. We can't sign elite players in the prime. At least not without offering massive overs. So instead we're doing what the Storm does and are targeting the best 18-19 year olds and build a premiership team from within. It's more sustainable and allows for a balanced squad but in the short term it can take longer for the talent to establish themselves.

The Dogs on the other hand are going for the quick fix with big money contracts to as many big name players they can get their hands on. A couple of injuries or players out of form and they're done. Similar to the Titans of recent years.

I can’t compare us to the Storm. They have always had 3-5 genuine stars and a solid squad to bring their young ones along. They come in, they win and they want to stay. Can see us stumbling and bumbling along with this strategy until we land a couple of genuine established NRL proven game changers.

They have had a couple of genuine stars at all times yes. But that's because they've signed them all at 18-19. Smith, Cronk, Slater, Pap, B Smith, Munster, NAS, Grant etc. It's a conveyor belt system.

hopefully thes youngsters combined with the likes of Brooks, Mbye, Tamou, the Leiluas can get us to a position to finish in the 8 and make it easier to nab the occasional star too.

 

[Red88_Tiger]

You can’t fault the recruitment. Hopefully all this potential uncovers a few hidden gems

I'm finding it hard to gauge recruitment, too many unknowns to fairly judge.

There is a clear strategy. I just think it’s a forced strategy rather than a chosen one because of our constant misses on established talent. Time will tell whether it’s hit or miss.

It is. We can't sign elite players in the prime. At least not without offering massive overs. So instead we're doing what the Storm does and are targeting the best 18-19 year olds and build a premiership team from within. It's more sustainable and allows for a balanced squad but in the short term it can take longer for the talent to establish themselves.

The Dogs on the other hand are going for the quick fix with big money contracts to as many big name players they can get their hands on. A couple of injuries or players out of form and they're done. Similar to the Titans of recent years.

I can’t compare us to the Storm. They have always had 3-5 genuine stars and a solid squad to bring their young ones along. They come in, they win and they want to stay. Can see us stumbling and bumbling along with this strategy until we land a couple of genuine established NRL proven game changers.

All stars they developed within or picked up prior to being totally proven

 

[sleeve]

I also wonder what effect our new training and development staff will have on our players.I think we lagged behind other sides previously.

 

[happy_tiger]

His stats appear a bit outdated. He was 192 cm at 17 years old. Grown a bit more since. Cows wanted to keep him, im guessing we offered good money, like with Stefano and they couldn't compete.

But big powerful guys with work ethic and ball skills don't grow on trees. We either pay a rookie like Tuki 350k or someone like Tino with a couple of games under their belt 650k, like Titans did. Both are gambles.

Thanks to Bradley leaving we also don't miss out on a squad spot for pacey backs.

Tino played SOO and coped pretty well with it ...hardly a comparison ...lets hope he fast tracks as quick as Tino

 

[innsaneink]

Great business from us.... awful business from cowboys ?

Just be thankful for Wests tigers coming of age.

Time will tell

 

[WT2K]

Nice bit of business by the club. Welcome to WT, Tukimihia.

 

[Nelson]

His stats appear a bit outdated. He was 192 cm at 17 years old. Grown a bit more since. Cows wanted to keep him, im guessing we offered good money, like with Stefano and they couldn't compete.

But big powerful guys with work ethic and ball skills don't grow on trees. We either pay a rookie like Tuki 350k or someone like Tino with a couple of games under their belt 650k, like Titans did. Both are gambles.

Thanks to Bradley leaving we also don't miss out on a squad spot for pacey backs.

Tino played SOO and coped pretty well with it ...hardly a comparison ...lets hope he fast tracks as quick as Tino

...and they signed him well before he played SOO so how is that relevant to the comparison?

 

[Jedi_Tiger]

we are red hot with the young signings
Simpkins Simpkin Stefano

 

[hammertime]

Maybe toddy helping out his old club?

Next up - Packer for Taumalolo

 

[happy_tiger]

His stats appear a bit outdated. He was 192 cm at 17 years old. Grown a bit more since. Cows wanted to keep him, im guessing we offered good money, like with Stefano and they couldn't compete.

But big powerful guys with work ethic and ball skills don't grow on trees. We either pay a rookie like Tuki 350k or someone like Tino with a couple of games under their belt 650k, like Titans did. Both are gambles.

Thanks to Bradley leaving we also don't miss out on a squad spot for pacey backs.

Tino played SOO and coped pretty well with it ...hardly a comparison ...lets hope he fast tracks as quick as Tino

...and they signed him well before he played SOO so how is that relevant to the comparison?

Probably because he had played about 10 games of NRL and you could see he was coping even without having a big engine ...you put another NRL pre season into him he should go to another level again ...will be interesting to see how he copes without the Melbourne influence though

 

[Alex Seyfarth's #1 Fan]

My problem is why would the cowboys let a young backrower go When there forwards are average besides Taumalolo

I would think we had signed him from 2022 so there wasn't much point keeping him for 2021 if they could get a player long term in a swap deal.

What I’m saying is if he was any good don’t you think the cowboys would have kept Him . besides Taumalolo there forwards are average

If Papenhuyzen was any good don't you think we would have kept him?
If Addo-Carr was any good don't you think we would have kept him?
If Koroibete was any good don't you think we would have kept him?
If Taupau was any good don't you think we would have kept him?

 

[sleeve]

I havnt heard of him, has he played much first grade?

Hartigan is really going chips in on guys who impressed at school boy level isn’t he.

Not really,i think its value for money mostly.JO and Tamou solid with experience,JTJ very cheap and worth the risk for low$.Steff and TUK the future.I expect we will nail another big signing or two for 2022.For this year theres not much around and we hope to get a Laurie release.Hartigan has obviously been working very hard behind the scenes,and i expect more to come.

 

[WT2K]

Maybe toddy helping out his old club?

Next up - Packer for Taumalolo

Fair swap if you ask me

 

[Guest]

Excellent news! I was quietly hopeful something would happen with getting the big fella. The cornerstone of a very formidable forward pack is coming together now.