Wests Tigers sign Rugby winger John Grant

[black_and_white_tige]

Remember Tuiaki played 2nd row for us from time to time

Grant could not be used in the forwards as a battering ram Col

That is what the hell I'm talking about

I've never spoken about Love and his signing as I wasn't a part of the Forum then

Your views on current wingers is outdated sorry Col Wingers these days have to be able to get us on a roll at the start of sets of six ,deal with the high ball , grubbers and chips as well as finish tries

The bomb was rarely used as an attacking weapon in Ken Irvines day (So I have been told from others ) John Peard was the one who began using the bomb as an attacking weapon

There was no bigger fan of Mr T than myself. However, if you remember, he had a problem turning and chasing a ball that was kicked through. All I am saying is that what I have seen of Grant, (not just on you tube) he can catch a ball, high or low, can turn and chase with his acceleration, he is big enough to play in the forwards, he can tackle, and finish (leading try scorer in union last year). As stated earlier, he is also faster than anyone playing in the NRL at the moment. What more do you want?

Another PS. There is not a team in the NRL that would not have Ken Irvine in their team today before any other winger currently playing.

Col all of this doesn't answer one question I have continually raised with Grant is this

If he is such a great union player why did they hand him to rugby league on a platter for next to nothing ??

Happy, no body is saying that he is such a great rugby union player. From my understanding he believed in his own ability as any professional footy player should and was not getting the opportunities in union he wanted. He therefore thought that he would give rugby league a go and take the opportunity offered to him by Tim Sheens.
I also have not read anywhere that the tigers contract was the only contract put forward to him, for all we know he could have had several contracts offered to him. But then again I'm not in the know.
As I've said before Tim sheens sees something in him so I'm willing to wait and hope Tim is right

 

[Fraze23]

I don't have any sources to back this up, so don't take it as gospel or crucify me if its wrong but i heard Souths were interested as well, and he joined the Tigers to follow in the footsteps of his uncle. On the day or in the days after signing with us he recieved calls from the Force and Brumbies asking him to join their train on squad.

I think i've said enough about Grant before, and there are convincing arguments on both sides. Its only early days tiger fans. I'm waiting until he takes the field before I make any further comments on him.
I urge you all do to the same. Don't write him off til he takes the field.

 

[Cultured_Bogan]

My only fear with Grant is that if he does live up to all that expectation and more, Super 15 franchises will be bashing the door down and waving the cash under his nose to lure him away. I wouldn't begrudge him for it, after all he is a rugger boy and he was obviously aiming to represent the Wallabies over the Kangaroos, but it would be disappointing for us.

He wasn't being looked at in the Shute Shield so he crosses over to League for a shot in the premier competition. If it pays off, he'll be looking at big bucks in the NRL or even bigger bucks to go back to rugger. It's a very clever career move on his part, he has nothing to lose and everything to gain.

 

[black_and_white_tige]

I don't have any sources to back this up, so don't take it as gospel or crucify me if its wrong but i heard Souths were interested as well, and he joined the Tigers to follow in the footsteps of his uncle. On the day or in the days after signing with us he recieved calls from the Force and Brumbies asking him to join their train on squad.

I think i've said enough about Grant before, and there are convincing arguments on both sides. Its only early days tiger fans. I'm waiting until he takes the field before I make any further comments on him.
I urge you all do to the same. Don't write him off til he takes the field.

Now that you mention it Fraz, I do remember hearing about the Force and Brumbies offer.
And I agree, there is arguments for both sides, but we have so much to gain if he works out and if he doesn't well so be it. We've spent more money on players in the past and got less from them eg. Cayless, Arana Taumata.
Risk versus reward. I think the reward is much greater than the risk.

As you said lets wait and see. And hope !!!

 

[cktiger]

Maybe we should wait until he has played at least a few games before we make statements that he is hopeless or suggest he is the new Tuiaki - at this stage NOBODY knows for sure how he'll go.
Here's hoping with his size and speed he turns out to be a good one.

 

[Joel Helmes]

Maybe we should wait until he has played at least a few games before we make statements that he is hopeless or suggest he is the new Tuiaki - at this stage NOBODY knows for sure how he'll go.
Here's hoping with his size and speed he turns out to be a good one.

Nicely put.

 

[tigerduffy68]

Was born with Black,Gold and White in his blood. One side of family tigs, otherside maggies. Always dreamt of playing for tigers all life. WELCOME HOME CHAMPION. BRING ON SEASON 12

 

[clontarfkid]

My only fear with Grant is that if he does live up to all that expectation and more, Super 15 franchises will be bashing the door down and waving the cash under his nose to lure him away. I wouldn't begrudge him for it, after all he is a rugger boy and he was obviously aiming to represent the Wallabies over the Kangaroos, but it would be disappointing for us.

He wasn't being looked at in the Shute Shield so he crosses over to League for a shot in the premier competition. If it pays off, he'll be looking at big bucks in the NRL or even bigger bucks to go back to rugger. It's a very clever career move on his part, he has nothing to lose and everything to gain.

Unless youre a marquee player(eg Cipriani),theres little money in Super 15 contracts(ie siginicantly below $200k)..its all about getting an ARU contract,& frankly they have at least 4 established test class wingers.
I never quite underssood why the seasons leading tryscorer in the Sydney premiers, & one of the biigest & quickest wingers in club Rugby wasnt pursued aggressively a little earlier by one of the 5 super rugby franchises..he was a standout finisher.
Thier loss,our gain hopefully

 

[DonnyBrasco]

It might take him a year to come good, but he has the athleticism to do well if he applies himself and he has the best coach in the game.

i hope he burns up the field!

GO JOHNNIEEEEEEEEEEE!!

 

[Cos_Borg]

Looking forward to seeing him out sprint some of the league speeders next year!!!

 

[Goose]

I spoke to a waratah official at the end of 2010 about why he wasnt offered a contract, non ARU contracts are 2 year maximums, they would not use him much in that 2 years, as they had other outsidebacks ahead of him (mitchell, turner etc), at the end of the contract he would be too expensive and would head else where anyway, so they wanted to purchase someone younger who would stay in the waratah system for 4 years at least…..
Fraze, you are correct in saying that he was offered a full brumbies contract at the same time as the tigers contract.

 

[clontarfkid]

I spoke to a waratah official at the end of 2010 about why he wasnt offered a contract, non ARU contracts are 2 year maximums, they would not use him much in that 2 years, as they had other outsidebacks ahead of him (mitchell, turner etc), at the end of the contract he would be too expensive and would head else where anyway, so they wanted to purchase someone younger who would stay in the waratah system for 4 years at least…..
Fraze, you are correct in saying that he was offered a full brumbies contract at the same time as the tigers contract.

Thats the sort of "logic" from the blazer brigade that explains why the tahs never win anything!He might be a success so lets not sign him…?
Grants only 22,Turner and Mitchell(who can both play fullback btw) were both out for large chunks of last season & Tahs were forced to play several back-up wingers who frankly had nowhere near the potential & ability of Grant,so to rationalise that he may have "done so well as to be too expensive" in years to come....I just dont buy it.
Successful development of talent is what its all about.
Nup,I just think he was one who somehow slipped thru the cracks in Rugby

 

[Goose]

I spoke to a waratah official at the end of 2010 about why he wasnt offered a contract, non ARU contracts are 2 year maximums, they would not use him much in that 2 years, as they had other outsidebacks ahead of him (mitchell, turner etc), at the end of the contract he would be too expensive and would head else where anyway, so they wanted to purchase someone younger who would stay in the waratah system for 4 years at least…..
Fraze, you are correct in saying that he was offered a full brumbies contract at the same time as the tigers contract.

Thats the sort of "logic" from the blazer brigade that explains why the tahs never win anything!He might be a success so lets not sign him…?
Grants only 22,Turner and Mitchell(who can both play fullback btw) were both out for large chunks of last season & Tahs were forced to play several back-up wingers who frankly had nowhere near the potential & ability of Grant,so to rationalise that he may have "done so well as to be too expensive" in years to come....I just dont buy it.
Successful development of talent is what its all about.
Nup,I just think he was one who somehow slipped thru the cracks in Rugby

At this point he was still available, I agree with you, dumb, sadly this is not the most ridiculous line of thinking ive heard from NSWRU.

 

[fergiefurr]

just watched the highlights of him on youtube. he does have a bit of pat richards about him, the build and stride are nearly identical, however some of the defence he was against was worse the nyc stuff…i do think his body is going to be in for a bit of shock

he is extremely impressive under the high ball though, if he does make first grade i would love to see us bombing to his wing, he would no doubt score a motza of tries that way.

also i do remember brett papworth (ceo of eastwood RU) saying that numerous NRL clubs were chasing him after we had signed him, when asked why he wasnt contracted to the waratahs he said theres a lot of politics involved. you dont know with union, maybe he didnt go to the right school..

 

[Snake]

My only fear with Grant is that if he does live up to all that expectation and more, Super 15 franchises will be bashing the door down and waving the cash under his nose to lure him away. I wouldn't begrudge him for it, after all he is a rugger boy and he was obviously aiming to represent the Wallabies over the Kangaroos, but it would be disappointing for us.

He wasn't being looked at in the Shute Shield so he crosses over to League for a shot in the premier competition. If it pays off, he'll be looking at big bucks in the NRL or even bigger bucks to go back to rugger. It's a very clever career move on his part, he has nothing to lose and everything to gain.

Great post never thought of it that way but yes smart thinking as his career had stalled in union.