Rate the new signings so far

[Magpies Forever]

Wests Tigers 2010
Gains:

Geoff Daniela (Panthers): remains a fringe first grader unable to break into the main squad.
Mitch Brown (Sharks): remains a fringe first grader unable to break into the main squad despite be given a couple of opportunities.
Tame Tupou (Bradford): waste of a position, remains out with indefinite timeframe injury. Hope he can recover and vie for a position but I doubt it. Just hope WT are not paying anything for his signature. ( I had heard $500 plus match payments)
Arana Taumata (Melbourne Storm): suffered injury but is recovering and injuries in key positions seem to be creating an opportunity for him to show his worth.
Liam Ayoub, (Panthers): who?
Junior Moors (Panthers): remains a fringe first grader unable to break into the main squad despite be given a couple of opportunities. At best an interchange player.
Mark Flanagan (Wigan): provides good interchange options and with expected injuries I suspect he will be in the main 13 sooner rather than later.
Jason Cayless (St Helens): faded, jaded shadow of his former self so far. Unless he lifts his game remains a fringe first grader unable to break into the main squad despite be given a couple of opportunities. At best an interchange player.
Liam Fulton (Huddersfield Giants): provides good defense and work rate. A fixture in the 17 squad.
Daniel Fitzhenry (Hull KR): signed as a utility, whilst not setting the world on fire he provides experience and stability but at best an interchange player.
Lote Tuqiri (union): has been great for WT, has blown away my reservations about him. The pick of the newbies.

Losses:
Dean Collis (Sharks),
John Morris (Sharks),
Shannon Gallant (Cowboys),
Peni Tagive (Dragons),
Dene Halatau (Bulldogs),
Daine Laurie (Panthers),
John Skandalis (Retired),
Danny Galea (Canberra Raiders),
Rhys Hanbury, (released)
Rocky Trimarchi (released)
Wayde Dunley (released).

I don’t think any of the players lost for 2010 were essential. I’d have liked to have seen Gallant given a reasonable offer to remain but Beau Ryan has stepped up to the opportunity given to him as fullback making up for the loss of Gallant.

Your thoughts?

 

[gronkathon]

Again with Gallant.

He has shown at the Cowboys how shaky his game is. I do not doubt his courage or effort. Ryan averages more metres per game anyway.

Moors has been getting better each game. I do not know why his game time is being limitied.

Ayoub is a player of the future of NYC age. He is currently playing JB Cup with Campbelltown to harden him up

 

[Magpies Forever]

Again with Gallant.

He has shown at the Cowboys how shaky his game is. I do not doubt his courage or effort. Ryan averages more metres per game anyway.

Moors has been getting better each game. I do not know why his game time is being limitied.

Ayoub is a player of the future of NYC age. He is currently playing JB Cup with Campbelltown to harden him up

Gronkathon I agree Ryan has been great, taking the opportunity at fullback- gone from a very average winger to a damn good fullback. I hope Teflon does not tinker wth that. Its working. As I said, events have proved WT had a fullback solution in their hands but didnt know it. Go Ryan. Now for a goal kicker- wouldnt it be great if Ryan could kick too??

 

[gronkathon]

It would be very good if Ryan were a kicker as well.

I think if we got rid of Taylor and bought Johns back that Marshalls kicking would be much better

 

[macnaz]

Apart from his one on one defence issues close to the line Gallant has it all over Ryan, altho Ryan is doing a fair job.
Hanbury would have been worth keeping, he always did a good job when picked and would offer more stabilty than Fitzuseless or brown.
Galea also was a good player for us and adds more than those we bought.
Lote, well thank f**k at least 1 buy was worth while.. He has been great .

 

[gronkathon]

So apart from defending on the goal line, one of the most impotant jobs a fullback can do Gallant is superior?

However he makes less metres, has a lower work rate and is far more nervous under the high ball than Ryan plus is unable to take a scooting hitup without getting dominated.

 

[Magpies Forever]

Apart from his one on one defence issues close to the line Gallant has it all over Ryan, altho Ryan is doing a fair job.
Hanbury would have been worth keeping, he always did a good job when picked and would offer more stabilty than Fitzuseless or brown.
Galea also was a good player for us and adds more than those we bought.
Lote, well thank f**k at least 1 buy was worth while.. He has been great .

I agree on Galea- I'd have rather kept him than signing Brown / Daniela but having said that his loss is not essential as was any of the others.

 

[Tigers_are_Pro]

I'm not sure we really need Galea anyway:

Our backrow has Flanagan + Fulton + Heighington + Ellis, I don't think we need much more along with Moors + Mataka + Dwyer as back ups.

 

[macnaz]

Yeah perhaps not essential but still a demonstration of pointless player purchasing, when they buy less quality then they release.

As for metres gained from Gallant,, look at the side he is playing with, they are going backwards . When he played with thurston in the side he had a blinder.
Imo he offers more in kick returns , positioning and hole running than Ryan does. Yep i know u can talk of defence but i suppose its a personal preference, Benji offers little in defence but adds plenty in other areas as we know. Gallant can score a 100 metre try could Beu ?

 

[gronkathon]

In his best game for the Cows. His best game in the NRl Ryan still made more metres than him that week.

Apart from last week I thought Benji has been great in defence. In fact he is a far more complete player.

It does come down to preference but I think one 100m try every month is outweighed for me by knowing that your fullback can shut down 90% of breaks and do it in a way that also allows for the defensive line to retreat.

It all comes down to preference. I would have agreed with you had Moltzen still been fullback but Ryan has been the revelation this year

 

[macnaz]

Fair enuf, but i think he is and will only be just solid..no more no less, and dont get me wrong thats fine by me considering our options.

 

[JustinL]

Moors and Daniela spent more time in NSW Cup than they did in FG, just never got the chance to cement a spot at the Panthers

 

[macnaz]

daniela? He's not bad is he, from the little ive seen of him he was ok. Any other opinions out there.

 

[Packy]

I thought Moors was your most dangerous forward on Friday night.

Can anyone tell me why Hanbury was let go? From what little I did see of him, he appeared to have enough to atleast persevere with.

 

[macnaz]

Can anyone tell me why Hanbury was let go? From what little I did see of him, he appeared to have enough to atleast persevere with.

He did more good things for us than bad things, But in their wisdom they thought we needed Putzhenry back.

 

[gronkathon]

Hanbury was only in the Top 25 last season because on internal manipulating of contracts to keep a forward on contract at Balmain they otherwise could not fit under their cap.

That said he performed well whenever called upon

 

[Magpies Forever]

I thought Moors was your most dangerous forward on Friday night.

Can anyone tell me why Hanbury was let go? From what little I did see of him, he appeared to have enough to atleast persevere with.

No reasons given that I'm aware of just listed as released. He went to ESL if memory serves me right along with Trimarchi. I heard a rumour some time ago now that he and Trimarchi were in conflict with Sheens and to be fair to Sheens he is the coach and has to run things. Whether it had anything to do with the released bit I dont know.

 

[gronkathon]

Rocky cost himself a real shot at the NRL when he got done for DUI. Because he was not high profile it was never publicised.

Rocky didn't like the clubs punishment

 

[37916319]

Happy with Ryan thus far.

Not many would have made that try saver on Ryan. Stronger than he looks thats for sure. His dummy half runs dont set the world on fire but hardly gets driven back. Good start to the set when he and lote are the first 2 runs from a kick return.

There was a thread about he being the first to run in and hug a try scorer, whilst i did comment on that post u cant question his enthusiasm. That brings alot to a team that can sometimes look flat (in past seasons anyway)

 

[hybrid_tiger]

Geoff Daniela (Panthers): Yet to be given a proper chance, so I will reserve my judgement.
Mitch Brown (Sharks): Average at best, very shaky under the high ball. Has a bit of size and can get us on the front foot in sets out of dummy half, but from what I've seen Pritchard in the NSW Cup would do a better job.
Tame Tupou (Bradford): Still injured, hoping he comes back soon. Could be an X-Factor off the bench, and apparently Sheens will play him as a prop. Will be very handy if we get a few injuries.
Arana Taumata (Melbourne Storm): Ask me in two weeks, can't wait to see how he goes.
Junior Moors (Panthers): I have been impressed with his work, but he should be used as a wide-running second rower and NOT a prop. He's got some size, has a handy offload and is quite quick for his build too.
Mark Flanagan (Wigan): Going very well. Is not huge but is quite skillful with ball in hand and defensively he is solid as a rock.
Jason Cayless (St Helens): Will reserve judgement until he plays FG again. But looked well underdone and unfit in his appearances so far. I still hold some hope he may turn out to be a decent buy.
Liam Fulton (Huddersfield Giants): Has been one of our best this season. A rock in defence and although not the biggest player he is making good impact in attack.
Daniel Fitzhenry (Hull KR): What needs to be said. Complete waste of money, should not be in FG. THe coaches pet.
Lote Tuqiri (union): Absolutely outstanding, and will only get better.