Rather back the younger wingers in the squad over signing Mansour

Wests Tigers are delighted to confirm the acquisition of Samoan international Joseph Leilua, who has agreed to terms for the coming three seasons.

The three-year deal will see the talented outside back join Wests Tigers effective immediately from the start of the 2020 season through to at least the end of the 2022 season.

Born in Sydney, the 28-year-old Leilua made his first-grade debut for the Sydney Roosters back in 2010 — quickly establishing himself as a regular in the side and earning himself a spot in the 2010 Grand Final side.

His attacking potency would see him soon catch the eye of representative coaches with selection in the 2010 New Zealand train-on squad and 2012 Emerging Blues, before eventually making his representative debut for City Origin.

After 59 games for the Roosters, the Hurstville United junior would join Newcastle in 2013 — going on to score 30 tries in 54 games for the Knights while also making his international debut for Samoa at the 2013 Rugby League World Cup.

Leilua would take his form to the next level in 2015 following a mid-year switch to the Canberra Raiders as he twice earned selection in the Dally M Team of the Year and helped the Raiders to their first Grand Final appearance in 25 years.

The 28-year-old will join Wests Tigers with an impressive try-scoring rate of 89 tries in 204 games and will add plenty of strike power to the club’s outside backs.

Wests Tigers CEO Justin Pascoe welcomed Leilua to the club.

“As a club, we’re delighted to have secured a talented player such as Joseph,” Pascoe said. “He is a player who is of the highest calibre and has already proven to be a remarkable contributor on and off the field to his club, state and country.

“I have no doubt that all Wests Tigers Members and fans will be tremendously excited by the addition of Joseph to the team Michael Maguire has built.

“This commitment from Joseph is a fantastic indication of the belief in the direction this club is heading in and the strength of Wests Tigers as an organisation overall.

“We’re excited to be able to welcome Joseph alongside his brother Luciano and we look forward to him continuing to grow in the years to come.”

Wests Tigers Head Coach Michael Maguire was delighted with the addition of Leilua.

“I’m extremely pleased to welcome Joseph to Wests Tigers and start working with him,” Maguire said. “He is without doubt one of the most dangerous attacking players in the competition and will take this team’s potency to a new level going forward.

“To secure a player of his class and talent for the season ahead is a huge boost for the club and one that will lift this team right across the park.

“I’m extremely confident that the best is also still to come for Joseph,” he added. “He brings a wealth of on-field experience to our team, and we’re extremely excited to watch him play in Wests Tigers colours for many years to come.”
https://www.weststigers.com.au/news/2020/01/27/joseph-leilua-joins-wests-tigers

@BalmainJnr said in Tiger troubles with player safety:

Written by Weedler… Not one quote from a concerned player, not one fact presented. Just a bunch of words and hearsay. The closest he came was to reference a hotline the club set up that has received one message in the past 12 months since its inception. I would agree that there is a culture problem though. That is that there are too many in and around the playing group that are soft between the ears. Look where that has gotten us.

Reads like it’s a jab or two from Matterson camp. Given the press last week as pro tiger stance on his situation. I could be wrong though.

Named at centre for PM’s XIII to take on Fiji on Friday October 11

https://www.weststigers.com.au/news/2019/09/30/paul-momirovski-named-in-prime-ministers-xiii/

Wests Tigers are pleased to announce that Luke Garner has signed a contract extension with the club — keeping him at Wests Tigers until the end of the 2022 NRL season.

A strong performer throughout the 2019 season, Garner’s two-year deal will see him continue his development under Coach Michael Maguire following an impressive start to his NRL career.

Originally joining the club’s Intrust Super Premiership side in 2017, the 24-year-old was made captain of the side in 2018 before earning promotion to the NRL squad before the June 30 deadline.

He would make his first-grade debut soon after against the St. George-Illawarra Dragons in Round 18 before establishing himself as a regular in the side soon after.

The Bilambil Jets junior has played 20 games in total for the club, having scored seven tries in his 14 games played for Wests Tigers during 2019.

Wests Tigers forward Luke Garner celebrates a try against the Sea Eagles
Wests Tigers forward Luke Garner celebrates a try against the Sea Eagles
Garner said he was extremely happy to remain with Wests Tigers.

“It’s very exciting for me to stay here,” Garner said.

“This is the club where I made my first-grade debut and where I’ve played for the last few years so I’m very excited to stay.

“We’re building something very nice here and it’s very exciting to see the development in our team. I’m focussed on working hard and pushing my teammates and seeing where we can go in the next few years.”

https://www.weststigers.com.au/news/2019/11/18/wests-tigers-re-sign-luke-garner

Well, tiger dads… That was a perfect gift for you all on this father’s day!

[Hooper Warning]
https://coupler.foxsports.com.au/api/v1/article/amp/nrl/nrl-premiership/teams/tigers/nrl-2020-wests-tigers-moses-mbye-hooker-michael-maguire-signings-transfers/news-story/bae09fa8ea8684d3855c588a2afa689d?__twitter_impression=true
Madge talking about recruitment approach
“We need to be clear about not making the same mistakes this club’s made in the past,” Maguire said.

“We’re in the process of making major changes but we need to be smart about how we make those changes.

“The position our salary cap is in at the moment, we need to get players’ values spot on.

“We want to give players the best opportunity to build something here at Wests Tigers that hasn’t been here at the club for some time.

“We’ve got a great young squad, now we just need to be patient about making the right decisions around who we bring into the club next.

“We won’t be just spending money for the sake of spending it.

“I’d rather take my time and focus on building the club from the ground up. We’ll be diligent about making the right decisions.”

Born and raised in Balmain. Tigers are in my blood. Remember running up after my own game at Blackmore Oval in Leichhardt as a young kid to watch the tigers play.

Then came the merger. Didn’t bother me when it happened. Was there for our first game at Campelltown.

If we were relocated it would definitely hurt but I’d still be watching and supporting. Love the game and love the Wests Tigers.

@happy_tiger said in Soccer talk and Banter , keep it all here:

Leicester jump back to the top again …looking like this season is going to be one of the tightest for years …

Another team I’ve enjoyed watching since Rodgers became coach.

Great stuff.

@JC99 said in Signing Suggestions & Rumours:

@Mighty_Tiger said in Signing Suggestions & Rumours:

This thread is going to get boring now.
Who is the next player to take another 100 pages ?

Who else if off contract? Not really anyone of note. We need to get linked to a good player again

We need another backrower. Who that is can be spent talking about for the next 100 pages

Glad it’s resolved.

@gallagher said in David Nofoaluma:

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@JC99 said in David Nofoaluma:

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@BAGNF05 said in David Nofoaluma:

@cochise said in David Nofoaluma:

@BAGNF05 said in David Nofoaluma:

@cochise said in David Nofoaluma:

@BAGNF05 said in David Nofoaluma:

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@avocadoontoast said in David Nofoaluma:

No great loss if he goes, the $500k could be better spent imo.

But top line players are off us Avo, losing Nofa is just another example if it happens. no use having a truck load of money/space when your image with the best players is mud.

I don’t believe Nofa leaving would be a sign top line players are off us. It would be a sign he thought he was worth more than the club was willing to pay.

It ain’t just money mate, you’ve said it yourself it’s about winning footy games.

That is not why Nofa would be leaving though, he actually has an overinflated belief in his ability. He believes he is worth more than we are offering and also is of the the belief he should have made the SOO team based on his form.

I would argue that if Nofa goes to a Souths team that we know uses its wingers well in attack, he’d be playing well in a top 4 side and would in all likelihood be picked for rep duties. He is probably right, his star would rise at those clubs. Look, I love WT but if we’re honest about our plot, we’re still miles off where we want to be.

His defence is not strong enough to play SOO.

Put him in a side that’s not constantly under the pump because if it’s own ineptitude and see how he does.

He make poor decisions in defense, yes he is more likely to make them under pressure, but the pressure he will face in origin is greater than anything he faced. He would be a disaster at origin, very similar to the disaster Merrett was at that level.

I doubt that he ever gets picked for Origin no matter who he plays for.

We will see, I haven’t seen him play with an origin level centre or second rower before, I’m sure you know defence on the edges is about teamwork.

Of course it is, but on to many occasions I have seen him make poor decisions regardless of what people inside him have done. He often ends up between players in no mans land when the centre is covered. He also goes for the intercept far too often.

Let’s be honest, teams still hide their weaker defenders on the wings. I’ve also cursed him plenty of times but I was cursing the big unit from the Roosters in origin too. I don’t think Nof is perfect but he’s one of the guys on our side who often outperforms his opponent. In my mind we can’t keep letting these ones leave.

Don’t have much of a choice if they are asking well above their value.

But the teams taking these guys up on their offers are better than us. So I come back to the burning question, what’s wrong with us?

They are willing to overpay and we are not.

I don’t think we can say it’s just about money. Obviously it’s a big factor, but he’s been pretty vocal about wanting to make finals and making rep teams and a team like Souths or eels would provide that to him, I dare say that will be part of his thought process too.

You didn’t read my other posts?

I know he’s after better money, and I’ve got the feeling he’s sensed that he thinks he’s a better player than he is too, but he thinks he deserves to be playing finals and making rep teams too. It’s all part of his decision making, not one or the other I feel.

Which is exactly what I said lol. He has an overinflated opinion of his ability, this is being shown through his overpricing himself, the fact that he believes he deserved to play origin in 2020 and his failure to accept responsibility for his part in out failure to make the finals.

Fair enough haha, I only saw your posts saying it’s about the money. He’s definitely got a big head - winning dally m winger of the year hasn’t helped. He’s a good footballer but he’s not that level

No I agree the other stuff is as big a factor, if not larger, than the $$ issue. He definitely has an overinflated opinion on himself in regards to these issues and for once it seems that that belief is not manager induced.

Great to hear we’re not budging on our offer.

Refreshing approach compared to years gone by

@hammertime said in Tukimihia Simpkins signs, Kane Bradley released:

Maybe toddy helping out his old club?

Next up - Packer for Taumalolo

Fair swap if you ask me

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

Yes to McInnes. No to Pearce. Next.

Plenty to name… Here’s a few

Overrated; Gutherson, Mitch Moses, Felise Kaufusi

Underrated: Brimson, Luai, Kenny Bromwhich