We need a recruitment 'win'...

[Telltails]

We have only had cap money in recent times. We have no history of competeing in the market for "quality" players. And anywayn a quality player does not always deliver and then can becomes a ball and chain- Milford, Bird ,Moylan, Taylor, Hunt etc etc etc

 

[ElleryHanley]

We have only had cap money in recent times. We have no history of competeing in the market for "quality" players. And anywayn a quality player does not always deliver and then can becomes a ball and chain- Milford, Bird ,Moylan, Taylor, Hunt etc etc etc

True, but the right signings can turn a club around and lead to a strong few seasons. We need to add strike and class, and you can wait years for kids to come through who have both (and then lose them anyway)

The list available right now for 2021 is very strong. 3-4 top liners from Canberra alone. Fifita. Multiple Origin level players.

Souths, Sharks and the Rorters all turned their clubs around with one or two really strong signings. Fittler...Inglis...Burgess....Tedesco....Fifita....Cronk...all high profile signings who led their new teams to a premiership.

If Souths do add LM and Arrow they will have possibly done it again.

Not trying to be negative, just realistic. We have not signed a current NSW player or Kangaroo for how long? Forever...?

 

[avocadoontoast]

There really hasn’t been any top quality players leave or join any Club. Good players maybe but top quality not so much.. Dogs picking up Stimson is akin to us picking up Leilua ...as an example

That list of elite players haven’t come here sure but they haven’t gone anywhere else either

I’d class Arrow as top quality.

That’s your opinion.. is that official ..isn’t he at the Titans next year...?

So 1 player out of how many big list

From all reports Arrow isn't staying at the Titans. But anyway, without going into a long winded email the long and the short of it is that we released our best player from last year (with nothing in return), a NZ representative centre and our hooker who had played over 300 NRL games retired.

To replace these guys we have signed guy who has played about 40 NRL games, a guy that hasn't played in 2 years (and only played one full season in his career) and a guy who has played 1 NRL game. Even the most positive Tigers supporter couldn't see that as an upgrade. I have no issue releasing players if we had replacements lined up, but we didn't. And now we're starting 2020 with a weaker squad than last year and a stack of cash we literally can't spend.

Really struggling to find the positives.

 

[Geo]

There really hasn’t been any top quality players leave or join any Club. Good players maybe but top quality not so much.. Dogs picking up Stimson is akin to us picking up Leilua ...as an example

That list of elite players haven’t come here sure but they haven’t gone anywhere else either

What about that Matterson bloke to the Eels

Good player but not in the elite class...

 

[earl]

Really struggling to find the positives.

Luciano Leilua is a good signing. Matterson is a loss. Marsters was pretty poor last year and letting him go was probably the right decision but he could turn it around. Robbie isn't really a loss but we do need a hooker desperately.

We are down from last year for sure. Matterson would have been a perfect lock for us but that didn't happen.

At least we haven't bought any terrible signings yet. That is a positive based on our history.

 

[hsvjones]

There really hasn’t been any top quality players leave or join any Club. Good players maybe but top quality not so much.. Dogs picking up Stimson is akin to us picking up Leilua ...as an example

That list of elite players haven’t come here sure but they haven’t gone anywhere else either

I’d class Arrow as top quality.

That’s your opinion.. is that official ..isn’t he at the Titans next year...?

So 1 player out of how many big list

From all reports Arrow isn't staying at the Titans. But anyway, without going into a long winded email the long and the short of it is that we released our best player from last year (with nothing in return), a NZ representative centre and a hooker who had played over 300 NRL games.

To replace these guys we have signed guy who has played about 40 NRL games, a guy that hasn't played in 2 years (and only played one full season in his career) and a guy who has played 1 NRL game. Even the most positive Tigers supporter couldn't see that as an upgrade. I have no issue releasing players if we had replacements lined up, but we didn't. And now we're starting 2020 with a weaker squad than last year and a stack of cash we literally can't spend.

Really struggling to find the positives.

Agree 100% ... Its very concerning to me

I can see it now.. End of Feb the club announce that we have upgraded 2 development players to the top squad as they have really impressed over the off season but we ALL know its because we could not sign a player of quality and have to fill the numbers...

Something needs to change big time and I am even prepared to pay overs for a top player if it means we actually spend some money..

 

[avocadoontoast]

Really struggling to find the positives.

Luciano Leilua is a good signing. Matterson is a loss. Marsters was pretty poor last year and letting him go was probably the right decision but he could turn it around. Robbie isn't really a loss but we do need a hooker desperately.

We are down from last year for sure. Matterson would have been a perfect lock for us but that didn't happen.

At least we haven't bought any terrible signings yet. That is a positive based on our history.

Leilua is a fine signing in isolation, but he doesn’t do what Matterson did. He would have been a good player to sign in addition to having Matterson. Farah is a loss to the extent that he was a full time hooker who could play 80. It was very short sighted to put all our eggs in one basket with Liddle. Not questioning his ability but his body is just not up to the rigours of NRL.

 

[bythebeardofzeus]

There really hasn’t been any top quality players leave or join any Club. Good players maybe but top quality not so much.. Dogs picking up Stimson is akin to us picking up Leilua ...as an example

That list of elite players haven’t come here sure but they haven’t gone anywhere else either

Yep, the last time was probably Cronkesco to the roosters. And they go on to win 2 in a row. Go figure.

Shows how tight the comp is really.

 

[earl]

It was very short sighted to put all our eggs in one basket with Liddle. Not questioning his ability but his body is just not up to the rigours of NRL.

He may still make it. He still has a contract. We have also bought the kid from Queensland plus there is Walters and Reynolds. It doesn't look good but who else was available ? I think we really need a couple of quality signings in the outside backs firstly even though hooker is a problem.

 

[bythebeardofzeus]

Really struggling to find the positives.

Luciano Leilua is a good signing. Matterson is a loss. Marsters was pretty poor last year and letting him go was probably the right decision but he could turn it around. Robbie isn't really a loss but we do need a hooker desperately.

We are down from last year for sure. Matterson would have been a perfect lock for us but that didn't happen.

At least we haven't bought any terrible signings yet. That is a positive based on our history.

Leilua is a fine signing in isolation, but he doesn’t do what Matterson did. He would have been a good player to sign in addition to having Matterson. Farah is a loss to the extent that he was a full time hooker who could play 80. It was very short sighted to put all our eggs in one basket with Liddle. Not questioning his ability but his body is just not up to the rigours of NRL.

Hoping Jacob is over the injuries now & kicks on for us, Benji style. As for Robbie, no doubt he was a champion for us on the field but his time had certainly come.

 

[avocadoontoast]

It was very short sighted to put all our eggs in one basket with Liddle. Not questioning his ability but his body is just not up to the rigours of NRL.

He may still make it. He still has a contract. We have also bought the kid from Queensland plus there is Walters and Reynolds. It doesn't look good but who else was available ? I think we really need a couple of quality signings in the outside backs firstly even though hooker is a problem.

Hooker and Fullback are the big issues for me Earl.

 

[Blocker1963]

I don’t agree with Liddles body not being up to it, that accidental hit by our own player to his knee, no player would have not got a serious knee injury, and he was rushed before he had developed. He will be a top line player, just needs time on the paddock.

 

[mike]

I don’t agree with Liddles body not being up to it, that accidental hit by our own player to his knee, no player would have not got a serious knee injury, and he was rushed before he had developed. He will be a top line player, just needs time on the paddock.

Gee I hope so. I would love to see him have a full season.

 

[beachtiger]

At this stage I don’t think we have a stronger team but I don’t necessarily think it is weaker either. Matterson for Luci isn’t like for like in regards to how they play and Matterson is clearly the better player as it stands right now but I think Luci definitely has the potential to be as good as Matterson. Comparing them isn’t realistic as they are different styles of player but Luci has a high ceiling of growth and I think he will add a lot to our team next season as did Matterson last season just in a different way.

The loss of Marsters isn’t that drastic considering his form and MOMO can definitely fill that void and some I think with a solid offseason and more first grade confidence.

Of course hooker is a concern but I’m confident Madge will put a plan in place to cover Faff.

The biggest upside and advantage we have is cap space and the ability to react quickly to opportunities that come along before the start of the season and also before June 1. That in itself leaves us in a very strong position and with the ability to put the 2020 team well in front of last season.

 

[twentyforty]

On form I think Marsters will struggle to hold his spot in the Cowboys.

 

[Tim Sheens]

Leilua is a fine signing in isolation, but he doesn’t do what Matterson did.

And that is the best thing about him for mine, as a bit here and there from the other middle players will make up the shortfall, whereas Lucy brings genuine strike.

Not fussed at all that he is gone now and will be happy if his dollars go to a good back, whilst one with pace will have me ecstatic.

 

[Demps]

On form I think Marsters will struggle to hold his spot in the Cowboys.

Yeah he sux

 

[jirskyr]

We have only had cap money in recent times. We have no history of competeing in the market for "quality" players. And anywayn a quality player does not always deliver and then can becomes a ball and chain- Milford, Bird ,Moylan, Taylor, Hunt etc etc etc

Precisely. Our cap space has literally been available for about 8 weeks, and people are getting all weird about not spending it yet, or not being able "to entice big-name players" in that 8 week space.

Last time we had money we recruited big. It happens every ~4 years for us, about same as everyone else, when a whole bulk of contracts expire.

It's debatable, with hindsight, whether or not the 2017 money was well spent, but certainly we didn't have trouble signing up players when Cleary joined. Now you've got Jonesy a few posts above saying he'd be willing to spend overs on a top player, at least to spend some money.

Money burns a hole in some folks' pockets?

 

[happy_tiger]

There really hasn’t been any top quality players leave or join any Club. Good players maybe but top quality not so much.. Dogs picking up Stimson is akin to us picking up Leilua ...as an example

That list of elite players haven’t come here sure but they haven’t gone anywhere else either

What about that Matterson bloke to the Eels

Good player but not in the elite class...

So even our former best player who walked out on us isn't elite .....and you admitted in another thread we haven't replaced him or the 300 game hooker .....and we will make the 8 .....you know Geo I have always thought you didn't have a sense of humour ....boy I was wrong

 

[HabboTiger]

Matto wasn’t our best player by a long shot. He was good for about 8 games then average at best.

Not elite