2026 signings

[Tiger05]

I’d like to see Hunt shed the excess and get himself to 80 mins.

I can tell you know - that isn't happening. I'd like to see 20 quality impact minutes from him with no defensive issues.

 

[Nutz]

Id like to see AD play all year at 13. Gives us another ball playing option if Latu goes down and we then have a goal kicker on the field for the full game. This means to me, Jock Madden needs to start at 7 next year. I honestly think we brought him back specifically to cover Latu injuries. For mine, Madden is not a first choice 7, but hes great depth.

Excellent Sheds.
This point really sits well with me. Even when AD played in a couple of great games late in the season at ½, he didn't really play a traditional ½ back role. In a lot of those games he did play like a 13. The big difference is that he stayed out of the middle-edge corridors in D so didn't have to make those tough tackles, one after another.
One of the hardest things a running centre has to get accustomed to when moving to the backrow is D. Backs can tackle but usually its just 1 tackle a set, sometimes not at all but in the forwards, you have to be capable of making 1-3 tackles in a row. This doesn't happen too often but when your team is on the back foot the attack will find out who's struggling and target you.

 

[Nutz]

I can tell you know - that isn't happening. I'd like to see 20 quality impact minutes from him with no defensive issues.

Agree
He played 70min in a MOM performance in reserves. I watched that game on tv and he was awesome....but that was in reserves.
His front on D is solid as. Not many players will barrel him over one on one...I watched him at the Sharks when I had him in supercoach. BUT once he's gassed he is as useful as teets on a bull.
I also think a lot of his problem is attitude. He can push himself. So it could be more than just a fitness or laziness issue. Could be a bit of head in the clouds stuff too. He needs to stay in the game.

 

[Nutz]

I always liked his name

Yeh, you wouldn't want to be tipsy with a mouth full of food and call out his name.

 

[The Silverdale Phantom]

I can tell you know - that isn't happening. I'd like to see 20 quality impact minutes from him with no defensive issues.

Get a hypnotist in to convince him that instead of the third triple cheese and bacon heart attack burger, he can satisfy his hunger with a lentil and watercress frappe.

 

[Tigerm]

Get a hypnotist in to convince him that instead of the third triple cheese and bacon heart attack burger, he can satisfy his hunger with a lentil and watercress frappe.

I think he has shown, he has got the game we need form him, he just has to produce more consistently. I think 10-15 spells each half and hive the starters a good break is what is needed, now we have three options, Hunt, Twal & Afoa, with May & Pole, pretty good line up.

 

[The Silverdale Phantom]

I think he has shown, he has got the game we need form him, he just has to produce more consistently. I think 10-15 spells each half and hive the starters a good break is what is needed, now we have three options, Hunt, Twal & Afoa, with May & Pole, pretty good line up.

Yeah, there’s a pretty good footy player in Royce somewhere.

I don’t want to him to end up like Dave Taylor. The fruits of the vine snipped too early.

The average NRL career is only about 48 games.

 

[Tigerm]

Yeah, there’s a pretty good footy player in Royce somewhere.

I don’t want to him to end up like Dave Taylor. The fruits of the vine snipped too early.

The average NRL career is only about 48 games.

The good thing about this, is we basically have our team lineup ready for the preseason, except for a few newbies, which doesn't happen to much with us.

 

[The Silverdale Phantom]

The good thing about this, is we basically have our team lineup ready for the preseason, except for a few newbies, which doesn't happen to much with us.

That’s true.

Bunty is a bit left field I thought,local hero thrown to the wolves.

His value at the warriors is relative to their pack and planning.

I said to the warriors forum that he’s not going to find a better club to host him in Australia and he’d have a point to prove.

The warriors are a roller coaster of a club. I admire the loyalty of their fans. We share that with them.

 

[Tigerm]

That’s true.

Bunty is a bit left field I thought,local hero thrown to the wolves.

His value at the warriors is relative to their pack and planning.

I said to the warriors forum that he’s not going to find a better club to host him in Australia and he’d have a point to prove.

The Wahs, Cows and the Slimes are the teams I most won't victory over.
Saying that, I'd take a victory over anyone, with the same enthusiasm. Hahaha

 

[The Silverdale Phantom]

The Wahs, Cows and the Slimes are the teams I most won't victory over.
Saying that, I'd take a victory over anyone, with the same enthusiasm. Hahaha

I dont have any kill preferences. But It’s always good to beat the dogs these days to prove that we shopped better at the smug superbarn.

It’s just taking us longer to start the motors.

Having most of the side settled into preseason, gives us more time with them and working on combinations.

And hopefully, to work on individual skills.

I say it every year, but I get tired of the predictability of our forwards and am very keen for them to put variety into their attack.

 

[Nutz]

Yeah, there’s a pretty good footy player in Royce somewhere.

I don’t want to him to end up like Dave Taylor. The fruits of the vine snipped too early.

The average NRL career is only about 48 games.

Your figure stacks up TSP at present day.
The article below, which was written a few years ago stated the figure could get lower due to the incredible workload on players both physically and mentally. But I have another take on it too.
Added to injuries, it also could be due to increased participation in the sport and those who do make it are not only the players who are more professional and fitter but have a unique talent. This means the turn over of players coming thru pathways just sit in the backroom waiting for an injury or a drop in form of a first grader. Reserves don't get much of a look in, in a team loaded with better than average NRL players.
The more players who finish in pathways may get into a development squad and if they dont perform in their debut its back down and wait again. Players step up every year from pathways and if they miss the boat their options are limited.
You see it with players like Matamua who captain and star in pathways then after debut they hit the brick wall.
A bit like basketball in Australia. With 5 players plus subs it's hard to even get on the court let alone make a career in the code.
You basically have to play for the boomers to make a living out of the sport.
So I see it similar to our code. The more people who play the game and push hard for selection the harder it is to make first grade. Well that's how it appears to me.

I don't think having a 2 tier comp would fix it either. We would probably end up with more players who only played a handful of NRL games.
Hopefully we will see less players being medically retired now that the NRL have starting to crackdown on head contact.

Is 30 the new 20?

Cameron Smith is unlikely to be the last of league's 'forever men', writes Ed Carmine 👇

www.zerotackle.com

 

[The Silverdale Phantom]

Your figure stacks up TSP at present day.
The article below, which was written a few years ago stated the figure could get lower due to the incredible workload on players both physically and mentally. But I have another take on it too.
Added to injuries, it also could be due to increased participation in the sport and those who do make it are not only the players who are more professional and fitter but have a unique talent. This means the turn over of players coming thru pathways just sit in the backroom waiting for an injury or a drop in form of a first grader. Reserves don't get much of a look in, in a team loaded with better than average NRL players.
The more players who finish in pathways may get into a development squad and if they dont perform in their debut its back down and wait again. Players step up every year from pathways and if they miss the boat their options are limited.
You see it with players like Matamua who captain and star in pathways then after debut they hit the brick wall.
A bit like basketball in Australia. With 5 players plus subs it's hard to even get on the court let alone make a career in the code.
You basically have to play for the boomers to make a living out of the sport.
So I see it similar to our code. The more people who play the game and push hard for selection the harder it is to make first grade. Well that's how it appears to me.

I don't think having a 2 tier comp would fix it either. We would probably end up with more players who only played a handful of NRL games.
Hopefully we will see less players being medically retired now that the NRL have starting to crackdown on head contact.

Is 30 the new 20?

Cameron Smith is unlikely to be the last of league's 'forever men', writes Ed Carmine 👇

www.zerotackle.com

Yeah, you raise many good points and I read what was quite a long article.

And then got distracted by the team selections for the internationals on zt.

I like zt, but sometimes they aren’t quick to update.

2 seasons worth of games for your average player, isn’t that great for a professional sport. It really goes to show how connected you have to be to follow it properly.

I hope all our released ex players find good gigs. We are usually pretty good with releasing players. Not too many turn things around and kick on and play better with new clubs. A few here and there.

 

[The Silverdale Phantom]

Im already over this bullshit called the off season.

We need a summer comp played in air conditioned stadiums.

I’ll even take a 7s or 9s at this point.

it’s inhumane to keep us waiting for months to get flogged. Just give it to us now!

 

[Nutz]

Im already over this bullshit called the off season.

We need a summer comp played in air conditioned stadiums.

I’ll even take a 7s or 9s at this point.

it’s inhumane to keep us waiting for months to get flogged. Just give it to us now!

I said that ages ago and got laughed at ha ha.
Another option is instead of having a promotion - relegation comps is to have conferences, northern and southern. Northern play in winter and southern play in summer.
At seasons end the Top 4 of each conference/division play in the mid-year finals series. The make up of the 8 would be based on pts diff and final series be played in the same way as it is now.
Probably have to be all night games too due to heat.
Or as you said, just have 4 super stadiums LO being one) that are enclosed and fully air conditioned. The whole of the outside of the dome would be completely made from solar electricity panels appropriately shaped to pay fir the power bill.
All NRL players have to forfeit holidays except for Easter, Christmas Day and ANZAC Day.
I think I'm Nutz.

 

[The Silverdale Phantom]

I said that ages ago and got laughed at ha ha.
Another option is instead of having a promotion - relegation comps is to have conferences, northern and southern. Northern play in winter and southern play in summer.
At seasons end the Top 4 of each conference/division play in the mid-year finals series. The make up of the 8 would be based on pts diff and final series be played in the same way as it is now.
Probably have to be all night games too due to heat.
Or as you said, just have 4 super stadiums LO being one) that are enclosed and fully air conditioned. The whole of the outside of the dome would be completely made from solar electricity panels appropriately shaped to pay fir the power bill.
All NRL players have to forfeit holidays except for Easter, Christmas Day and ANZAC Day.
I think I'm Nutz.

And instead of the mud on the hill at LO, we could have manicured lawn and maybe a water feature.

Although give or take another 40 years, I’m thinking the game might be played with robots or holograms.

And if Artificial Intelligence takes over, it’s going to need to work out if rugby league is an intelligent activity.

Alas, we already know the answer.

 

[Nutz]

And instead of the mud on the hill at LO, we could have manicured lawn and maybe a water feature.

Although give or take another 40 years, I’m thinking the game might be played with robots or holograms.

And if Artificial Intelligence takes over, it’s going to need to work out if rugby league is an intelligent activity.

Alas, we already know the answer.

The air-conditioned dome is gaining momentum as it will be needed to keep the giant ice-scultures of Laurie Nichols, Wayne Pearce and Tommy Raudonikis from melting on top of the hill's scoreboard

 

[Tigerm]

Looks like he's gone, good luck to him, good luck for us.

 

[Tigerm]

It would easier to predict the lotto numbers, than the numbers in our top 30?

 

[Tigerm]

Wests Tigers sign young Queensland playmaker

He played ten matches in the QLD Cup in 2025.

www.zerotackle.com