Random Tigers articles from the media

[Tiger05]

I hate when people start blurring the lines between their roles.

If you aren't on the coaching staff then you have ZERO right to impose any changes to players preparations etc.

He should've been sacked for the Gluten free diet and then the hypocritical pizza night.

f**king hack. He's gone from being a bloke I'd respected to a f**king idiot who I no longer have any time for.

He has really damaged his reputation not that he probably gives a shit.

 

[Ron's_Mate]

Wests Tigers poach David Warwick as recruitment manager from St George Illawarra Dragons
Adam Pengilly
Published: January 4, 2017 - 6:00PM

The Wests Tigers have poached respected recruitment guru David Warwick to help tie down four of their highest profile stars as the scramble for the signatures of skipper Aaron Woods, NSW No.1 James Tedesco and boom halves Mitchell Moses and Luke Brooks heats up.

Warwick, who spent a decade at Manly helping build a formidable roster for Des Hasler and Geoff Toovey at the perennial finalists, will join the Tigers after just 12 months in the role of recruitment manager at the Dragons.

And one of his first priorities will be to help the Tigers' newly-appointed general manager of football, Kelly Egan, with negotiations to keep their superstar quartet at Concord beyond 2017.

Egan, formerly Hasler's right-hand man at the Bulldogs, only reverted to the off-field role after replacing Mark O'Neill in November.

It means Egan and Warwick will be charged with the responsibility of keeping together the nucleus of a roster which has shown promise and came within a win of making the finals last year under Jason Taylor.

But there are no shortage of suitors for the Tigers' top cubs. Woods and Tedesco are likely NSW regulars, while Blues legend Brad Fittler has urged Moses and Brooks to join them.

The protracted Collective Bargaining Agreement negotiations means Egan and Warwick will have their work cut out bedding down any deals in the immediate future, but Egan said it was "at the top end of his inbox" to tie down the Tigers' headline acts.

Warwick's appointment at the Tigers means he will replace Warren McDonnell, who has joined Hasler as part of a backroom shake-up at Belmore and a recruitment merry-go-round over summer.

The Dragons are in the process of bolstering their recruitment team given Warwick's exit, but are in no rush after director of rugby league pathways, Ian Millward, and Warwick inked almost all of their most promising young players to long-term deals as part of a renewed focus on their junior nursery.

Skipper Gareth Widdop and Australian and NSW representative Josh Dugan are their two biggest names off-contract at the end of 2017. Both returned to training with Paul McGregor's side on Wednesday after their Four Nations commitments.

Warwick's brief tenure at the Dragons came after St George Illawarra lost Peter Mulholland to the Canberra Raiders at the end of the 2015 season.

This story was found at: http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-league/...george-illawarra-dragons-20170104-gtlrfr.html

 

[Ron's_Mate]

Wests Tigers can re-sign all four stars says coach Jason Taylor
Matt Encarnacion
Published: January 6, 2017 - 3:15PM

Wests Tigers "absolutely" have a realistic chance of re-signing their quartet of off-contract stars on long-term NRL deals, according to coach Jason Taylor.

Captain Aaron Woods, together with fullback James Tedesco and halves Mitchell Moses and Luke Brooks, are set to become free agents when their deals expire at the end of the 2017 season.

With match-winners in hot demand across the league, and Woods now one of the premier props in the game, the club face a difficult task keeping their team core together.

However, Taylor is confident of retaining all four players.

"Absolutely, no doubt about that," he told Big Sports Breakfast.

The club arguably has more money in their salary cap than any other in the competition, with just six players of their projected top 17 committed next year.

Matt Ballin, Tim Grant, Jamal Idris, Kyle Lovett, Kevin Naiqama, David Nofoaluma, Ava Seumanufagai and Tim Simona are all without a club in 2018.

Taylor, who is also without a contract beyond November, said the club would endeavour to limit speculation over the future of his players to prevent it detracting from on-field efforts in 2017.

"I'm not going to allow it to be a situation where every time one of our players does media that they're going to asked those questions," he said.

"We'll update everybody when there's updates to be given. But otherwise, it's just something we don't need to be continually talking about.

"It's important, we want to get it done. But so is a performance this season.

"Everyone's worked hard to get our squad to the point that it's at right now."

The Tigers, who finished one spot out of the top eight last year, were one of the least active clubs in the player market this summer, and are at long odds with bookmakers to win the title.

Taylor revealed Idris, one of the few players they did sign, had dropped 10 kilograms since his arrival and was pencilled in to play in the backline.

"We didn't sign him for any reason than for him to play in the centres at this point in time, but I'm not saying that won't change," he said.

AAP

This story was found at: http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-league/...-says-coach-jason-taylor-20170106-gtn4g7.html

 

[Leigh Howlett]

It's going to be a fun year!, everyone is playing for a contract for the real $$$ in 2018, of the 8 players mentioned 3 of them are going to have big 2017 seasons to be considered for new contracts, Kyle Lovett might be a junior but has shown little development, Naiqama is Rocks & Diamonds while Ballin needs to play every minute of every game, is there any room for improvement in Tim Grant or is he just a plodder?, when it comes to Tim Simona, Nofo & Ava, they are the fans favourite's while time will tell if big Jamal Idris becomes the next cult figure!.

 

[magpie guy]

It's going to be a fun year!, everyone is playing for a contract for the real $$$ in 2018, of the 8 players mentioned 3 of them are going to have big 2017 seasons to be considered for new contracts, Kyle Lovett might be a junior but has shown little development, Naiqama is Rocks & Diamonds while Ballin needs to play every minute of every game, is there any room for improvement in Tim Grant or is he just a plodder?, when it comes to Tim Simona, Nofo & Ava, they are the fans favourite's while time will tell if big Jamal Idris becomes the next cult figure!.

I don't see any of Matt Ballin, Tim Grant, Jamal Idris, Kyle Lovett, Kevin Naiqama, David Nofoaluma, Ava Seumanufagai and Tim Simona being absolute must signs for 2018.

Balin is in his last seasons and we have high hopes for Liddle being our future no.9.
Tim Grant is solid and had some strong games last year but as a standard first-grade prop is replaceable. Here's to hoping that he builds on last season.
Ava is in kinda the same boat. i like him and he is solid in the prop rotation but shouldn't command huge dollars.
Kyle Lovett is honestly not much more than a depth second rower and probably surplus to requirements.
Nofo I would really like to keep as he had some fantastic games at the end of 2016 and seemed to be back in form. However, he has to maintain that form.
Simona I really like but he did not have the impact in 2016 that we know he is capable of. Could be that he was starved of early ball from Brooks, which is possible more to do with Brooks not seeing or calling enough ball last season. If we don't sign him for 2018 we will need to sign or develop another centre so I don't see his salary being able to be used towards resigning the big 4.
Naiqama I honestly think is probably the weakest link in the back-line at present. It's yet to be seen where he will play in 2017 but I think most of us expect it to be left wing. If we signed another left centre then I would prefer that we keep Simona over Naiqama. Otherwise as a winger he is certainly not irreplaceable.
Idris will be the interesting one of these. There are a lot of question marks over good he is going to be with us. At his best he is origin class and an absolute game-breaker. It is yet to be seen whether centre is his best position with us or if he will be better suited to a wide-running backrower. If he does get back to his best form then we might actually struggle to keep him due to his potential asking price.

2017 is certainly going to be interesting if nothing else.

 

[Vic Mackey]

I don't see any of Matt Ballin, Tim Grant, Jamal Idris, Kyle Lovett, Kevin Naiqama, David Nofoaluma, Ava Seumanufagai and Tim Simona being absolute must signs for 2018.

Balin is in his last seasons and we have high hopes for Liddle being our future no.9.
Tim Grant is solid and had some strong games last year but as a standard first-grade prop is replaceable. Here's to hoping that he builds on last season.
Ava is in kinda the same boat. i like him and he is solid in the prop rotation but shouldn't command huge dollars.
Kyle Lovett is honestly not much more than a depth second rower and probably surplus to requirements.
Nofo I would really like to keep as he had some fantastic games at the end of 2016 and seemed to be back in form. However, he has to maintain that form.
Simona I really like but he did not have the impact in 2016 that we know he is capable of. Could be that he was starved of early ball from Brooks, which is possible more to do with Brooks not seeing or calling enough ball last season. If we don't sign him for 2018 we will need to sign or develop another centre so I don't see his salary being able to be used towards resigning the big 4.
Naiqama I honestly think is probably the weakest link in the back-line at present. It's yet to be seen where he will play in 2017 but I think most of us expect it to be left wing. If we signed another left centre then I would prefer that we keep Simona over Naiqama. Otherwise as a winger he is certainly not irreplaceable.
Idris will be the interesting one of these. There are a lot of question marks over good he is going to be with us. At his best he is origin class and an absolute game-breaker. It is yet to be seen whether centre is his best position with us or if he will be better suited to a wide-running backrower. If he does get back to his best form then we might actually struggle to keep him due to his potential asking price.

2017 is certainly going to be interesting if nothing else.

Agree with everything you say mate. TG was great for us but at the end of the day he's a solid first grade front rower. With Felisse and Paeska coming through I doubt he'll be kept. Ava probably has a bit more of an upside but same. You don't break the bank for bench props.

I think Nofo finished the season one of the form wingers of the game and to me from the above bunch he's the one I think we need to fight for. The way he gets our sets going is nearly irreplaceable.

Simona I like but again isn't essential IMO. My main concern with losing him is that I don't see any young centers coming through who could take his spot so my worry is we'd pay for a like/like replacement or someone not as good.

Kev, happy to keep him but as backup only. He can play 1,2 or 3 so he's handy to have but I'd rather we go for a proper winger or trial young Papenhuyzen there.

 

[BrotherJim05]

Apart from Woods and Teddy, a lot will depend on how players perform next year.
Players like Tim Grant are replaceable but I'd rather we keep them and mould them into the players we need. If Idris regains form I hope we can keep him. He is the centre we have been praying for.
Nofa and Simona are fan favourites, although I preferred Simona on the wing (that game against Storm was the stuff of legends)
Brooks and Moses have the most to prove as they will ask for a lot. I won't be surprised if one leaves but will be if they both aren't retained.
If Ballin stays fit and shows any sort of form he had at Manly then hopefully he can get another year in 2018 to help Liddle transition

Big year for us

 

[Crazyperpman]

I won't be surprised if one leaves but will be if they both aren't retained.

If both aren't retained, doesn't that mean at least one has left and you are surprised?

 

[BrotherJim05]

If both aren't retained, doesn't that mean at least one has left and you are surprised?

Hahaha me speak bad english.

I meant to say I won't be surprised if one of them leaves, but will be if they both decide to leave

 

[macnaz]

I think the axing of Farah will have a significant effect on our ability to retain the likes of Teddy, Brookes and Moses.
The once old bargaining chip of please stay and be a loyal one club player has now become worthless .
The dollar will rule unfortunately

 

[Tigers Tale]

Couldn't agree more Macnaz.

 

[Vic Mackey]

I think the axing of Farah will have a significant effect on our ability to retain the likes of Teddy, Brookes and Moses.
The once old bargaining chip of please stay and be a loyal one club player has now become worthless .
The dollar will rule unfortunately

If anything I think it will increase the chances. I don't think you can bribe a 22 year old with loyalty, it will be more if they think they are going to be apart of something special.

The whispers were very loud that Moses was the main driving force behind the Farah shaft. He wanted to be the main man and couldn't do that with Farah there.

 

[Tigers Tale]

If that is the case with Moses the onus is now on him to prove his worth and ability. I have seen too many times a player say "I will leave negotiations in the hands on my manager, for the moment I just want to play good footy" and before the year is out sign a big contract with another team.

 

[Tigers Tale]

If Moses and Brooks are as tight as they want to portray you'd think Moses would be dragging Brooks along to enhance the team. Moses while a very good player has the potential to be another Benji, too hot and cold with the dreaded selfish play in him.

 

[Leigh Howlett]

Reported on the Wests Tigers fan forum that Kyle Lovett has been told to leave immediately to free up cap space as they are 200k over the cap, I thought it wold have been nice of them to 'ask' him to go!.

 

[BrotherJim05]

Reported on the Wests Tigers fan forum that Kyle Lovett has been told to leave immediately to free up cap space as they are 200k over the cap, I thought it wold have been nice of them to 'ask' him to go!.

source?

 

[Tigers Tale]

Source....Jim Wilson 7 News.

 

[Vic Mackey]

Reported on the Wests Tigers fan forum that Kyle Lovett has been told to leave immediately to free up cap space as they are 200k over the cap, I thought it wold have been nice of them to 'ask' him to go!.

Surely it's not just that easy 'cya Kyle we don't want you anymore.'

To me he is no loss but I can't see anyone else picking him up so don't know how we will go getting rid of him

 

[Old Time Tiger]

This is my first visit to the site since the end of the last season (I think), I got on to see what people had to say about Lovett as I heard it on the Ch 7 news last night.

https://au.sports.yahoo.com/league/...axe-kyle-lovett-amid-salary-cap-dramas/#page1

A sensational piece of journalism last night as he did say that he was asked to leave immediately, my first thought was, 'I wonder what he did' but then Wilson went onto mention the salary cap.

So have things improved in Tiger town?
Like did they just realise that they would be over the cap?
Interesting that (to me) it's Lovett as it certainly appeared as though he was one of Taylor's favorites but perhaps someone has told Taylor the facts regarding Lovett's ability.

As Vic said above though, "Surely it's not just that easy 'cya Kyle we don't want you anymore.'"
A contract is a contract except in the NRL it appears and so, if no one else offers him a life line (perhaps Newcastle) can he say, I do not want to leave, I'm under contract?

As magpie guy said at post #145 above

2017 is certainly going to be interesting if nothing else.

 

[Tigers1986]

It's a BS agenda being pushed by the rat Ayoub who is still bitter that Farah got canned.

Lovett isn't going anywhere at this stage. Massoud needs to go and do one.