Watchful Tigers keen to snare Blair

[Chris]

Thanks for that Bug!

 

[hybrid_tiger]

come on people i'm going through our history and putting 2 and 2 together.
we are over the cap every year.
we paid big bucks to get galloway here as a kid.
paid big for ohara to come here and then nobody wanted to take on his contract when we wanted to ditch him
paid big for lote to play wing.
had to ship fulton overseas for a year,resign him and try to ship him off again and no takers.

blair came onto the market and the first report was his management wanted 500k a year.
every club has said they can't match our dollars.
going on our history i come to the conclusion we are paying at least 450k.
you really believe it isn't in this vicinity with our track record?

that kind of money requires game changer status.
blair isn't showing that.
i want to know why.
now i did just read an article on blair that probably shows why.
bellamy said since his injury during the anzac week has seen his ankle blow up after every game.

alot earlier in this thread i said i haven't watched alot of blair and i have never seen him play where i have gone wow we need him.
after reading alot here say he is a gun,i thought what is he showing in the games i don't see him.
went to check his stats for this year,and they are disappointing.
the reason why bellamy mentioned his ankle was because his form is down.

nothing added up,but now being reminded of his injury it helps explain the drop off.
one that i do believe is valid

but the way the signing period has gone this year it just screams of a tunnel vision signing.

hope i'm wrong and more signings start to flow and rhino stays of course.

The figures and dollars are all speculation at this stage. I have no doubt he will be paid big $$$ but whether its in the vicinity of $500K, I doubt it.

We have made plenty of mistakes in the past with recruitment, I agree. But although there have been plenty of dud buys like O'Hara, there has also been a few excellent ones, namely Tuqiri and Ellis. Plenty of people whinged about their signings and look how they both turned out. I believe Blair will fall into that category. Like Lote and Gareth he is simply an elite player.

IMO Blair excels at two key aspects of the game that we clearly struggle at: a) his defense wraps the ball up and prevents offloads and b) he is great at wrestling in the play the ball.

 

[bonstonker]

What a load of crap!!!!

Have you watched the man play? He never misses a tackle (or very rarely), he wraps up the ball so it cannot be offloaded (and he can offload very well). He plays 80 mins. He can play second row, front row or lock. He is an International of standing, (the current Kiwi vice captain) and he is only 25 years old and his penalty count is low. As far as I know he has never missed a game through injury.

So Heino. He is a good club man. Never gives up. Has represented for a couple of City/Country matches. Can play lock or second row. He is worth keeping and would be great off the bench or even starting. But to say that he is a better player than Blair is idiotic.

If the Kiwi's were available for selection in SOO, who do you think the selectors would pick first? Heino or Blair. Even taking into account your dodgy stats, I have a good idea who it would be.

If we get him he will be a great addition to our club.

I can remember when it was known that Ellis was joining us, the hue and cry that went up about an overrated pommy forward coming out here and stopping our juniors from getting a go. How did that work out?

Let's just wait and see. I believe that there will be more than Blair joining us next year.

2 things
learn how to comprehend what has been written and people need to stop this generalization crap.
just because other people complain about things this club does,doesn't mean we all do.
i was in favor and excited by the ellis signing.the same with lote.
so what the hell does your statement have to do with me.
\
\
\
as for crap
i said this year rhino has played better.
the first line of the post you responded to.
belleamy also said the form of blair has been down.
he explained why.
he didn't mention dodgy stats.

 

[hammertime]

Info From a Player agent known to me …..

He has been told Apparently Blair has not signed yet.

He is told Wests Tigers are his No.1 choice and that is where he wants to play.

He definately wants $500k. Negotiations with WT have not reached that price.

It is rumoured that that Roosters are keen on him as well and are believed to have said they will beat any WT offer and are releasing forwards for this.

UK offers are similar to NRL offers.

So it looks like it might be a little bit away from a done deal.

I couldn't believe that Humphreys and Sheens would offload Gibbs and Fifita without assurances of Blairs signature. It just doesn't make sense.

 

[Tigersmurf]

What a load of crap!!!!

Have you watched the man play? He never misses a tackle (or very rarely), he wraps up the ball so it cannot be offloaded (and he can offload very well). He plays 80 mins. He can play second row, front row or lock. He is an International of standing, (the current Kiwi vice captain) and he is only 25 years old and his penalty count is low. As far as I know he has never missed a game through injury.

So Heino. He is a good club man. Never gives up. Has represented for a couple of City/Country matches. Can play lock or second row. He is worth keeping and would be great off the bench or even starting. But to say that he is a better player than Blair is idiotic.

If the Kiwi's were available for selection in SOO, who do you think the selectors would pick first? Heino or Blair. Even taking into account your dodgy stats, I have a good idea who it would be.

If we get him he will be a great addition to our club.

I can remember when it was known that Ellis was joining us, the hue and cry that went up about an overrated pommy forward coming out here and stopping our juniors from getting a go. How did that work out?

Let's just wait and see. I believe that there will be more than Blair joining us next year.

Yep, exactly what I think - I just couldn't be bothered typing that much!

 

[Tigersmurf]

Info From a Player agent known to me …..

He has been told Apparently Blair has not signed yet.

He is told Wests Tigers are his No.1 choice and that is where he wants to play.

He definately wants $500k. Negotiations with WT have not reached that price.

It is rumoured that that Roosters are keen on him as well and are believed to have said they will beat any WT offer and are releasing forwards for this.

UK offers are similar to NRL offers.

So it looks like it might be a little bit away from a done deal.

Is that the same agent that told you to have a flutter on the Doggies to be first point scorers with a penalty goal Bug???

 

[tigerbenji]

2041 i think you havent understood what i have said, i agree the seven players i named would more then cost us $500,000 a year & who else would we sign to replace some of them allowing for some of the young players contract upgrades.

 

[Spartan117]

Im starting to be happy that we are deadwooding some of the players including Gibbs.

With or without Blair.

All about attidude.

 

[tiger05]

Im starting to be happy that we are deadwooding some of the players including Gibbs.

With or without Blair.

All about attidude.

Yep.

 

[innsaneink]

Well I DO like surprises and persoanlly I like us chasing new players…but Sheens' record here aint too good either - since 2006 weve really only scored well 6 times.

Galloway
Tuiaki
Ayshford
Ellis
Tuquiri
and to a lesser extent Utai

Thats from 53 that've debuted at the club in the same period.

 

[galea_11]

Love the cleanout we will be ready for fresh talent

 

[tigers05]

Love the cleanout we will be ready for fresh talent

HERE HERE Bring it on

 

[Balmain_Bug]

I think Bryce Gibbs's defence is amazing. Especially near the line. Better defence than Blair in my opinion.

 

[tigers05]

I would prefer brutal, hard hitting snapping defence than AMAZING, yep somehow amazing doesnt work for me and in my opinion Blairs defence is brutal, hard hitting snapping . I'll agree with you bug that Bryce is amazing in defence

 

[tiger05]

Well I DO like surprises and persoanlly I like us chasing new players…but Sheens' record here aint too good either - since 2006 weve really only scored well 6 times.

Galloway
Tuiaki
Ayshford
Ellis
Tuquiri
and to a lesser extent Utai

Thats from 53 that've debuted at the club in the same period.

Yeah - but we won the comp in 05\. We've also upgraded players who might not have been worth what we have been paying them.

Plus Ellis is one of the best signings in the NRL in that period.

 

[happy_tiger]

Why are you so concerned with his form this year, when he is in the middle of contract negotiations sorting out his future?

Blair is better than any of our forwards bar Ellis - FACT. And even then he would probably be on par with Gareth. He is a quality, quality player.

are you serious?
a contract year should be your best,especially at his age.
considering we are willing to pay the big bucks i would like something more potent than what he has dished up.
not once every 6 weeks either.
for the big bucks you have to play a huge part every week.
he is not playing anywhere near what we are willing to pay.
and no other team thinks he is worth it either.FACT
rhino has out performed him this year.

on par with ellis?pffft

now if gallen was coming here for 500k,yes i would be excited,because his style is what we need more of.

The fact that people actually believe Heighington is as good as Blair is a joke. Once again, some of our players are so overrated its not funny. Chris is an honest toiler who has been very good this year, but his overall level of performance since he debuted have been very hit and miss. There is a reason he has not played rep football. He is also 28 years old, and turns 29 next January. You do realise he is at the back end of his career, right? I don't think it is criminal that he would be considered a bench player next season. I have never believed he is an 80 minute player and as others have stated he is very one dimensional and has little variery in his game.

I have seen what Blair is capable of. No other team thinks he is worth it? Four other NRL clubs were rumoured to be after him. He is also 25 years old and has his best years ahead of him. He is the best forward off contract by a country mile and there is a good reason we are chasing him. People have whinged for years that we don't sign quality players now we do and there is an uproar because some average players might be leaving. The same average players who have helped us to one semi-final appearance in six seasons since we won the comp.

At the moment Hybrid they are on par with each other . I keep saying that my major issue is Dwyer over Rhino . I have also seen was Blair is capable of but we are seeing it less and less

 

[redemption]

What a load of crap!!!!

Have you watched the man play? He never misses a tackle (or very rarely), he wraps up the ball so it cannot be offloaded (and he can offload very well). He plays 80 mins. He can play second row, front row or lock. He is an International of standing, (the current Kiwi vice captain) and he is only 25 years old and his penalty count is low. **As far as I know he has never missed a game through injury.**

So Heino. He is a good club man. Never gives up. Has represented for a couple of City/Country matches. Can play lock or second row. He is worth keeping and would be great off the bench or even starting. But to say that he is a better player than Blair is idiotic.

If the Kiwi's were available for selection in SOO, who do you think the selectors would pick first? Heino or Blair. Even taking into account your dodgy stats, I have a good idea who it would be.

If we get him he will be a great addition to our club.

I can remember when it was known that Ellis was joining us, the hue and cry that went up about an overrated pommy forward coming out here and stopping our juniors from getting a go. How did that work out?

Let's just wait and see. I believe that there will be more than Blair joining us next year.

That is laughable ts!!!

I'm not bagging Blair - but a statement like him never missing a game with injury is ridiculous! He debuted in 2006 & played in the losing GF against the Broncos - but then went on to miss the first half of 2007 with injury & subsequently miss the cut (despite being fit) for the 2007 GF!!
\
He has improved since - but is far from bullet-proof!!

 

[happy_tiger]

Info From a Player agent known to me …..

He has been told Apparently Blair has not signed yet.

He is told Wests Tigers are his No.1 choice and that is where he wants to play.

He definately wants $500k. Negotiations with WT have not reached that price.

It is rumoured that that Roosters are keen on him as well and are believed to have said they will beat any WT offer and are releasing forwards for this.

UK offers are similar to NRL offers.

So it looks like it might be a little bit away from a done deal.

Interesting Bug my source from the Roosters told me a few weeks ago That they were unofficially officially out of the rumming for Blair

 

[tiger05]

Well he'll either sign or he won't and the only way it will turn to vomit will be if we pay him too much. So long as that doesn't happen I don't see any problems.

We can always attract another player.

 

[crouching_tiger]

Well I DO like surprises and persoanlly I like us chasing new players…but Sheens' record here aint too good either - since 2006 weve really only scored well 6 times.

Galloway
Tuiaki
Ayshford
Ellis
Tuquiri
and to a lesser extent Utai

Thats from 53 that've debuted at the club in the same period.

I'm pretty sure Tigers acquired Tuiaki before 2006\. Because i recall him and McDonnell training with the 2005 squad and was close to playing in the 2005 GF to cover for Big Patty.
I would also regard Lewis Brown as a good acquisition to the club too, but the current international first grader simply wasn't good enough for Mr. 48%…