Rumoured Targets 3

[Rod]

I would agree we don't need a full rebuild, it's more like targeting key positions for improvement while moving on the deadwood.

Yeah. We are over-paying Jacko, but we were over-paying Klemmer worse.

The sad thing is every other “bottom dweller” team has something to look forward to next year. They are all improving. Some like the Tigers should take a huge leap. Others are obviously improving as a good coach gets them playing their way (Titans, Dragons) or have a good coach arriving (Souths).

Even the Eels have the excitement of a new coach, although are also in roster hell.

I see another spoon incoming.

Gee you're more optimistic than most Tigers fans. I think the hard times are far from over there yet. They're essentially going through what we did in the Brown era.

 

[Mr_Knightside]

Yeah the situation isn’t that bad. If we could get rid of a couple of contracts that we’re getting poor value from (DSaf & Brailey spring to mind) and at least replace them with guys who will give the same or better output but for cheaper this would free up room elsewhere to possibly go for a big name.

 

[Apey]

I would love to be able to see actual salaries. It's difficult to know down to a man who is earning their pay cheques outside of obvious candidates. This is just my own guesswork, but if I had to split our first grade regulars/fill-ins into three categories: performing above salary, performing at salary, performing below salary with no grey areas.

Performing above salary (i.e next contract will be an upgrade)
Dylan Lucas
Leo Thompson

Performing at salary
Adam Elliot - probably borderline at/below
Brodie Jones - could probably be in the category above since he's moved to prop
Bradman Best - unpopular opinion: his 700k next year is a lot of money. needs to keep it up
Dane Gagai - borderline at/below, not getting any younger, maybe recency bias from a few stinkers
Enari Tuala - hopefully anyway
Fletcher Sharpe
Kalyn Ponga - well, based on last year, hard to rate him on 2024
Krystian Mapapalangi - assuming he's on minimum wage
Mat Croker - admittedly no idea what he'd be on
Phoenix Crossland
Tyson Frizell
Tyson Gamble

Performing below salary
Daniel Saifiti - biggest culprit
Greg Marzhew - admittedly no idea what he would be on, his level has dropped though
Jacob Saifiti - not nearly as egregious as his brother but still probably overpaid
Jack Cogger
Jayden Brailey - third place
Jackson Hastings - second biggest culprit
Jack Hetherington
Kai Pearce-Paul - not entirely his fault, we don't seem to know how to use him
Thomas Jenkins - even with wishful thinking that he didn't cost much
Will Pryce - probably. no idea what he's on, 400k was reported next year

~

Feel free to point out any glaringly wrong categorisations. Few players from the top 29? missing but they've rarely played first grade if at all and/or are leaving eg. Armstrong

After going through the players one by one, the problem to me does indeed centre around the few big names that have been mentioned in the media. In a perfect world: I'd move on the three biggest problems in DSaf, Brailey & Hastings without hesitation. Hetherington would be next on the list, and even though they're presumably (and hopefully) cheap, I'd want to piss Cogger and Jenkins off too - they're hopeless even as back-ups and have reached their very limited ceilings. KPP/Pryce you'd give more time which just leaves Marzhew. No idea what to make of him, he was great last year with the occasional stinker, this year his overall level is lower and the stinkers feel a bit more common.

Of course, this is all just under imaginary conditions, I think we will seriously struggle to get rid of Brailey and Hastings and as noted there are a lack of options to replace them anyway. We know we've signed Schiller which might have implications on Gagai/Tuala/Marzhew's place in the team. Wouldn't be surprised if Gagai retires after 2025, if he continues to decline, the club shouldn't be going for that 2026 option.

 

[Dr Dr Gimedanews]

I would love to be able to see actual salaries. It's difficult to know down to a man who is earning their pay cheques outside of obvious candidates. This is just my own guesswork, but if I had to split our first grade regulars/fill-ins into three categories: performing above salary, performing at salary, performing below salary with no grey areas.

Performing above salary (i.e next contract will be an upgrade)
Dylan Lucas
Leo Thompson

Performing at salary
Adam Elliot - probably borderline at/below
Brodie Jones - could probably be in the category above since he's moved to prop
Bradman Best - unpopular opinion: his 700k next year is a lot of money. needs to keep it up
Dane Gagai - borderline at/below, not getting any younger, maybe recency bias from a few stinkers
Enari Tuala - hopefully anyway
Fletcher Sharpe
Kalyn Ponga - well, based on last year, hard to rate him on 2024
Krystian Mapapalangi - assuming he's on minimum wage
Mat Croker - admittedly no idea what he'd be on
Phoenix Crossland
Tyson Frizell
Tyson Gamble

Performing below salary
Daniel Saifiti - biggest culprit
Greg Marzhew - admittedly no idea what he would be on, his level has dropped though
Jacob Saifiti - not nearly as egregious as his brother but still probably overpaid
Jack Cogger
Jayden Brailey - third place
Jackson Hastings - second biggest culprit
Jack Hetherington
Kai Pearce-Paul - not entirely his fault, we don't seem to know how to use him
Thomas Jenkins - even with wishful thinking that he didn't cost much
Will Pryce - probably. no idea what he's on, 400k was reported next year

~

Feel free to point out any glaringly wrong categorisations. Few players from the top 29? missing but they've rarely played first grade if at all and/or are leaving eg. Armstrong

After going through the players one by one, the problem to me does indeed centre around the few big names that have been mentioned in the media. In a perfect world: I'd move on the three biggest problems in DSaf, Brailey & Hastings without hesitation. Hetherington would be next on the list, and even though they're presumably (and hopefully) cheap, I'd want to piss Cogger and Jenkins off too - they're hopeless even as back-ups and have reached their very limited ceilings. KPP/Pryce you'd give more time which just leaves Marzhew. No idea what to make of him, he was great last year with the occasional stinker, this year his overall level is lower and the stinkers feel a bit more common.

Of course, this is all just under imaginary conditions, I think we will seriously struggle to get rid of Brailey and Hastings and as noted there are a lack of options to replace them anyway. We know we've signed Schiller which might have implications on Gagai/Tuala/Marzhew's place in the team. Wouldn't be surprised if Gagai retires after 2025, if he continues to decline, the club shouldn't be going for that 2026 option.

Marzhew considering he was a swap for a hooker who's name escapes me is probably worth his money and considering our attack is puss he's going ok I think.

Wingers stats
Runs - 6th
Run Mtrs - 4th
Tackle Breaks - 3rd
Kick return mtrs - 9th
Errors 18th

The rest in your over paid list I agree with.

*KPP could be in the future and maybe would be in a better team ( worth the money)
*Crossland I'd think isnt on much and provides good bang for buck as a hooker ( pun intended ) /14, and I'm hopeful will continue to improve. The kid bleeds red and blue.

 

[macavity]

I would agree we don't need a full rebuild, it's more like targeting key positions for improvement while moving on the deadwood.



Gee you're more optimistic than most Tigers fans. I think the hard times are far from over there yet. They're essentially going through what we did in the Brown era.

Luai is an absolute top shelf half. They are very rare.

a spine of
Bula
Galvin
Luai
Api

Will win a decent whack of games.

 

[Dr Dr Gimedanews]

Luai is an absolute top shelf half. They are very rare.

a spine of
Bula
Galvin
Luai
Api

Will win a decent whack of games.

Better than our spine

 

[ryan.a87]

Just a thought

With how much Crossland has improved, is it worth giving him a crack at no7?

I know he has played there already, but that was back when he was bad at everything.

again, it’s just a thought, but like we have been saying a lot around here….cant be worse than Hastings

 

[perverse]

Better than our spine

WAY better. Like a long long way better. The Tigers have a much better chance at success in the short-mid term than we do.

 

[slotmachine]

With how much Crossland has improved, is it worth giving him a crack at no7?

Definitely not. Despite what he brings to the team now at hooker the reasons he was a poor half are still very evident, namely his decision making and composure. Can't tell you how frustrated I get seeing him get into dummy half when we've made a break/won a quick play the ball because I know he's taking the wrong option.

There were a few key ones that come to mind against the Broncs but especially against Manly, Pryce made two or three half breaks in consecutive sets, lightning quick play the ball on the attacking 20 and crossland picks up the ball and looks like a headless chook.

 

[Dr Dr Gimedanews]

WAY better. Like a long long way better. The Tigers have a much better chance at success in the short-mid term than we do.

been many times I've read club X has signed some successful young player to develop him and not one mention of the Knights in the picture to do so.

Frustrating

Instead the Knights MO is to recruit some journeyman mid to late 20's that has reached their ceiling of average. ( Hastings, Cogger, Gamble, Hetherington, Elliot etc )

 

[aqua_duck]

Just a thought

With how much Crossland has improved, is it worth giving him a crack at no7?

I know he has played there already, but that was back when he was bad at everything.

again, it’s just a thought, but like we have been saying a lot around here….cant be worse than Hastings

There’s absolutely nothing in his game that screams first grade halfback, at best he’s a 5/8th who complements a dominant half but even in juniors he was always more of a 5/8th with Jock Madden the natural halfback. I’m not sure where we find a top shelf halfback but the biggest prerequisite should be a high level kicking game which definitely isn’t Crossland

 

[aqua_duck]

Big money players and who was in charge when they signed current deals

Best - Parr
Brailey - Zammit
Elliott - Zammit
Frizell - Parr
Gagai - current deal Zammit, next year Parr
Hastings - Parr
Hetherington - Zammit
KPP - Zammit
Ponga - reported that Gardner handled the negotiations himself
Pryce - Zammit
D Saifiti - Zammit
J Saifiti - Parr

I think it’s easy to blame one guy but most clubs don’t operate that way, they operate by committee where recruitment and retention decisions are made by typically 3-4 people being the recruitment manager, general manager, salary cap manager/CFO and the head coach.
I think a lot of people underestimate how much input the head coach is afforded in these decisions

 

[perverse]

I think it’s easy to blame one guy but most clubs don’t operate that way, they operate by committee where recruitment and retention decisions are made by typically 3-4 people being the recruitment manager, general manager, salary cap manager/CFO and the head coach.
I think a lot of people underestimate how much input the head coach is afforded in these decisions

Any club not giving their head coach a huge say in recruitment and retention is a completely dysfunctional club. Who would agree to coach a squad they have no say in? It's ridiculous when people try to blame-shift rosters away from the head coach. Yes, there are other people involved and other voices, but there's no NRL coaches out there that have been at their clubs for multiple years coaching squads they didn't have a huge hand in building.

 

[Dr Dr Gimedanews]

I think it’s easy to blame one guy but most clubs don’t operate that way, they operate by committee where recruitment and retention decisions are made by typically 3-4 people being the recruitment manager, general manager, salary cap manager/CFO and the head coach.
I think a lot of people underestimate how much input the head coach is afforded in these decisions

I think so, but.......there must be 1 "expert" that advises or convinces the committee of the value/cap wise decision to employ PLAYER X - that's the dude that's got to go.

 

[Mr_Knightside]

Luai is an absolute top shelf half. They are very rare.

a spine of
Bula
Galvin
Luai
Api

Will win a decent whack of games.

They’ve put together a good spine, but they are fairly lacking in other positions especially outside backs, and their depth is horrendous.

We sort of have the opposite problem. We’re looking pretty good in positions like outside backs and second row but our key playmakers (outside of KP) are bog average.

But yeah depth continues to be an issue for us too. Players like Cogger & Jenkins are both good examples…

 

[Yosh]

With all that news about rumbling and grumbling going on at Newy, the media are making it sound like it's a negative. If we were one of the top teams and there was trouble inside the club I'd be worried. Might mess things up and hurt our good form or whatever.

We suck and have sucked for a while. I'm happy to hear there is teou Le brewing. Let it blow up and rebuild from there. Kayln looks a different player compared to 2 seasons ago and I believe has matured into a great club captain. Give him the team and bring in a head coach who can build a game plan around Ponga.

I'm personally glad there is all this negative press. Hopefully it pushes the club to make some big tough decisions.

 

[Dr Dr Gimedanews]

https://www.foxsports.com.au/nrl/nr...n/news-story/2a0c73d24edde7b64ff56cbc18216e3f

Slothfield quotes in the "story"

1) “What this has done is formed a disgruntled playing group and I don’t think they’re putting in to the best of their ability,” he added.

2) “The players, I’m told, have turned on the coach a little bit in that he hasn’t had more to say in the recruitment area."

3) I’m not suggesting for one minute that Adam O’Brien’s job is under pressure. What I am saying is the dressing room is a little bit off him at the moment.”

1= his opinion
2= a garbled nonsensical statement + a quote from no one
3= his opinion

The story is nothing more than the usual cancer from Murdoch hacks

 

[Burwood]

Does ChatGPT write all the articles these days? There’s never a journalist’s name attached to an article.

 

[mozza91]

Does ChatGPT write all the articles these days? There’s never a journalist’s name attached to an article.

It’s a lot easier to just blatantly make up shit and attribute it to staff writers.

 

[Rod]

They’ve put together a good spine, but they are fairly lacking in other positions especially outside backs, and their depth is horrendous.

We sort of have the opposite problem. We’re looking pretty good in positions like outside backs and second row but our key playmakers (outside of KP) are bog average.

But yeah depth continues to be an issue for us too. Players like Cogger & Jenkins are both good examples…

Pretty much what I was going to say. It's a nice spine and a good place to build from but there is almost nothing else there, especially if they lose Utoikamanu.

So yeah, opposite problem to us haha, but I think it will be at least another year of pain for the Tigs.