Rumours and Stuff

[Poupou Escobar]

Its a miracle were 24hrs after the game and there hasnt been 1 post in the game day thread.

I already know there’s going to be far too much dumb scapegoating bullshit in there. Zero credit to Souths for their awesome scramble. Just blame.

Yet goes and runs around circles trying to defend BA's legacy.

BA did a good job at our club. Best Eels coach since Smith.

 

[Poupou Escobar]

View attachment 105383

Loyalty

Turns out he was only loyal to the old coach. We’re well shot of him.

 

[Grimmace]

I don't think the squad Is meh but like most squads it has holes in it.

The Tigers have improved a tonne on last year but they've paid heavily to do it. Luai, Skelton, Turuva, May x 2, Bird , Hunt , re-signed a 33 year old hooker . It's something they've had to do off 3 consecutive spoons. Their attack was abysmal today in a 20 odd point win but they've bought proven competitors and genuine first grade level players that can help them get over the line. What the ceiling is on that I don't know but they're a better team than the last 3 years so it gets a bit of heat off them and some of their fans are probably happy. A lot of their recruitment seemed to focus on getting better players in than what they've had and figuring it out. Decisions more for the short term success of the club and not necessarily the long term but maybe they felt thats what's needed from the hole they were in.

We've tried to improve by developing a new playing style and recruiting and playing a different type of player. We have a tonne of cap room, blokes who are still learning and have their best football ahead of them and have been pretty competitive over the last 8 weeks. 2 different approaches to improvement but im happy with how we've gone about it. I think the rewards from our approach will be more evident over the next 4 years than this year and we have the ability to spend on high quality recruits in areas we need. We seem to have set up the approach of recruiting who we need long term rather than who improves us now.

The trajectory of us , wests and the Dragons will be interesting over the next few seasons but as it stands the way we're doing it is how I would've done it.

 

[Poupou Escobar]

Very much of a meh squad .. look at how the Roosters have already transformed their squad this year...

And their rebuild has come at a cost, only winning three finals matches since the 2019 grand final.

 

[Tiger5150]

I don't think the squad Is meh but like most squads it has holes in it.

The Tigers have improved a tonne on last year but they've paid heavily to do it. Luai, Skelton, Turuva, May x 2, Bird , Hunt , re-signed a 33 year old hooker .

Really? How much did Tigers pay to sign Skelton from Dogs reserve grade? How much to sign Terrell May unwanted by Roosters? Taylan may is train & trial and doesnt have a Contract. Jack Bird told to leave at St George, same with Hunt at Cronulla. Cool story in the absence of facts.

 

[Poupou Escobar]

After winning three straight spoons, do you reckon merkins were taking pay cuts to come to the Tigers?

 

[Grimmace]

Really? How much did Tigers pay to sign Skelton from Dogs reserve grade? How much to sign Terrell May unwanted by Roosters? Taylan may is train & trial and doesnt have a Contract. Jack Bird told to leave at St George, same with Hunt at Cronulla. Cool story in the absence of facts.

Yeah I don’t think any of them came for unders . I’m not saying it’s the wrong way to go especially after 3 years of being a laughing stock but that offseason spending was designed to get immediate improvement / get some wins for the club and coach. The coach wants to keep his job and reportedly is making the recruitment decisions at the same time there . Maybe becoming more competitive will create some belief in the place and help the club attract and keep better talent. It’s just a different way of doing things to what Parra have done and jtll
Be interesting to see how it plays out .
The Dragons have a middle of the road team and bought in experience and competitors and shock horror they’re a competitive side. Guys like Gutho , Klemmer , Cook , Val have probably played their best footy already as well so will be interesting how they look at the back end of their deals.
I’m happy that parra have taken the route they did but at this stage the jury is still out which will be the right one . There’s a lot of improvement in many of these Parra players and they’re laying strong foundations .. I think this season will be the worst version of them for a while and if they’re astute with how they fill out the roster they’re on a good track .

 

[85 Baby]

Really? How much did Tigers pay to sign Skelton from Dogs reserve grade? How much to sign Terrell May unwanted by Roosters? Taylan may is train & trial and doesnt have a Contract. Jack Bird told to leave at St George, same with Hunt at Cronulla. Cool story in the absence of facts.

And it cost you Galvin so there’s that

 

[Glenneel]

The f**ken useless merkins think Luca Moretti is better than Tino Fa’asuamaleaui ffs!!!

Jury still out for me on him, runs hard but doesn't dominate. Same with Tuivaiti, has size but doesn't use it well but has age on his side, hopefully will improve.

 

[King-Gutho94]

Yeah I don’t think any of them came for unders . I’m not saying it’s the wrong way to go especially after 3 years of being a laughing stock but that offseason spending was designed to get immediate improvement / get some wins for the club and coach. The coach wants to keep his job and reportedly is making the recruitment decisions at the same time there . Maybe becoming more competitive will create some belief in the place and help the club attract and keep better talent. It’s just a different way of doing things to what Parra have done and jtll
Be interesting to see how it plays out .
The Dragons have a middle of the road team and bought in experience and competitors and shock horror they’re a competitive side. Guys like Gutho , Klemmer , Cook , Val have probably played their best footy already as well so will be interesting how they look at the back end of their deals.
I’m happy that parra have taken the route they did but at this stage the jury is still out which will be the right one . There’s a lot of improvement in many of these Parra players and they’re laying strong foundations .. I think this season will be the worst version of them for a while and if they’re astute with how they fill out the roster they’re on a good track .

Dragons are going to need a real uplift in there young talent coming through i think to get out of the cycle there in atm.

Gutho & Cook probably don't have much left to squeeze out of themselves.

Flanno as a coach prefers older/seasoned players then developing youth.

Tigers really should be in the finals next year. They will probably finish with 10-11 wins for the year which has them on the cuff.

They should be better with a more settled spine and less distractions moving forward.

If they miss the finals again i can't see how Benji survives.

 

[Twizzle]

did we just lose 10 games on the trot ?

 

[Soren Lorenson]

did we just lose 10 games on the trot ?

First day in here Twiz? Welcome. This is what we do.

 

[King-Gutho94]

Jury still out for me on him, runs hard but doesn't dominate. Same with Tuivaiti, has size but doesn't use it well but has age on his side, hopefully will improve.

Luca copped a knock first tackle of the game.

Trainers had him ready to come off in the first 40 seconds but he stayed on and fought it out.

 

[Twizzle]

First day in here Twiz? Welcome. This is what we do.

over react ?

nah, not this place

 

[King-Gutho94]

Zero Tackle has Tolu Koula with a PO option for 2027 at Manly.

I assume that could mean that he is available on November 1 for rival clubs to officially place him an offer.

If thats the case i hope MON/Ryles are all over this.

I would be prying Koula out of Manly tomorrow if i could.

His the only spark in that soulless side atm and you basically will get a Centre with his prime years ahead of him into the backline who can also play FB/Wing if required.

Now would be time to pounce with the Seibold effect in full swing over there and the carcass that awaits in the next 12-18 months.

Tolutau Koula

Tolutau Koula of Manly Sea Eagles player profile including contract information, NRL news, stats and rumours.

www.zerotackle.com

 

[Soren Lorenson]

over react ?

nah, not this place

I noticed that Papalii made 30 tackles and missed none. Would I risk being called a Poupsicle if I pointed that out as a positive?

 

[Twizzle]

I noticed that Papalii made 30 tackles and missed none. Would I risk being called a Poupsicle if I pointed that out as a positive?

yep, you might even get a glug too

 

[Joshuatheeel]

Dragons are going to need a real uplift in there young talent coming through i think to get out of the cycle there in atm.

Gutho & Cook probably don't have much left to squeeze out of themselves.

Flanno as a coach prefers older/seasoned players then developing youth.

Tigers really should be in the finals next year. They will probably finish with 10-11 wins for the year which has them on the cuff.

They should be better with a more settled spine and less distractions moving forward.

If they miss the finals again i can't see how Benji survives.

Dragons have some pretty good talent coming through. Got a lot of talented kids in the 19 to 22 age range who have already played NRL:

Buchanan 19
King-Togia 20
Tonga 20
Stewart 21
Egan 21
Couchman twins 22
Tonga 20
Halangahu 19

There is also a bunch that have not played NRL, that are 21 or younger but have played NSW cup this year (Lui, Treweeh, Moananui, Saifiti, Williams, Heidke, Alhazim, Stanley-Traill, Weatheral and soon Reed)

unfortunately they did lose one of their best Latu to the dogs this year.

 

[piggysmalls]

Zero Tackle has Tolu Koula with a PO option for 2027 at Manly.

I assume that could mean that he is available on November 1 for rival clubs to officially place him an offer.

If thats the case i hope MON/Ryles are all over this.

I would be prying Koula out of Manly tomorrow if i could.

His the only spark in that soulless side atm and you basically will get a Centre with his prime years ahead of him into the backline who can also play FB/Wing if required.

Now would be time to pounce with the Seibold effect in full swing over there and the carcass that awaits in the next 12-18 months.

View attachment 105391

Tolutau Koula

Tolutau Koula of Manly Sea Eagles player profile including contract information, NRL news, stats and rumours.

www.zerotackle.com

I'd love this guy, he is a gun ... be interesting to see what happens over at Manly in the next few months. Now, that place is a mess - much rather be in the spot we are right now than where they are, that is for sure. F*ck them.

 

[emjaycee]

I noticed that Papalii made 30 tackles and missed none. Would I risk being called a Poupsicle if I pointed that out as a positive?

I can assure you that you will be.