Rumours and Stuff

[TheRam]

We actually have a few young forwards that I think the club are banking on as players who will give bang for their buck over the next couple of years.
- Wiremu
- Ogden
- Hopgood
- Momoisea
- Rodwell
- Moretti
- El-Zakhem
- Yates
- Mataele
Add these to Junior, RCG, Lane, Matto, Cartwright and Makatoa.

I reckon we need 1 more good edge forward with first grade experience and that would be 16 forwards (not including hookers) in the squad that whoever is coaching us in 2023 should be able to work with.

Do any of those look like they have Australian or at least SOO representative ability and class written all over them? Hardly. Solid 1st graders if we are lucky and if they have their best year may just sneak into SOO for a game or two. But we have no genuine star in the lower grades like we used to.

Sure one may surprise us all and just get better and better as they mature, but my point is we aren't producing real quality at the moment and haven't done so in a while. Something is broken. Hopefully Nathan Brown's new appointment will be able to see where our shortcomings are and fix them before we go to total sh*t.

Note: I know some of these players aren't eligible to play for Aus or SOO but my point is that calibre of player, not fringe rep as can be the case with other representative teams.

 

[TheRam]

So how come the Pennys were spewin ?

‘Entitled to something’: Panthers boss doubles down on compensation calls to grow game

‘Entitled to something’: Fuming Panthers boss doubles down over Dolphins poaching

www.foxsports.com.au

He would have been the perfect backup ffs.

 

[emjaycee]

Do any of those look like they have Australian or at least SOO representative ability and class written all over them? Hardly. Solid 1st graders if we are lucky and if they have their best year may just sneak into SOO for a game or two. But we have no genuine star in the lower grades like we used to.

Sure one may surprise us all and just get better and better as they mature, but my point is we aren't producing real quality at the moment and haven't done so in a while. Something is broken. Hopefully Nathan Brown's new appointment will be able to see where our shortcomings are and fix them before we go to total sh*t.

Note: I know some of these players aren't eligible to play for Aus or SOO but my point is that calibre of player, not fringe rep as can be the case with other representative teams.

Hopgood, Moimoise, Matele and possibly Moretti could push for rep selections.

I think all have played junior reps at SOO level (except Moretti). We also have a young buck who's name escapes me, who is a current u19 SOO rep.

I wonder how many people picked Safiti, Finucane, Paulo, etc. as Origin stars when they hadnt debuted in FG. Would be good to know.

 

[parra pete]

They've also lost Harrison Hasset who's meant to be a good second-rower

Will Harrison HASSET be as good as BRADMAN Best?

 

[Soren Lorenson]

We also have a young buck who's name escapes me, who is a current u19 SOO rep.

Larry ' the lounge lizard' Muagututia

 

[Gronk]

 

[TheRam]

Hopgood, Moimoise, Matele and possibly Moretti could push for rep selections.

I think all have played junior reps at SOO level (except Moretti). We also have a young buck who's name escapes me, who is a current u19 SOO rep.

I wonder how many people picked Safiti, Finucane, Paulo, etc. as Origin stars when they hadnt debuted in FG. Would be good to know.

Yeah like I said, they all look ok, but none are standout star type of players. We used to produce those types and Junior was probably the last one. He was always a standout. Also I remember watching Matterson and thinking that he was very impressive too. They were probably the last two.

D. Brown was good and you got a sense that he could become something of a standout but I kind of think of him as a Kiwi import that we brought out and nursed along well, but not a genuine Parra product so to speak. But we have produced him so technically he is ours and will be our one and only future mainstay tier one rep player if we can hold on to him.

Penisini was a class above many at lower grade level(weak in defense though) but the few times I saw him I was not that impressed with his pace, ok but not blistering. Same with Russell. Both Penisini and Russell should become great 1st grade players barring injuries, but I am talking about tier one rep players here, the type that cement their place in the best rep teams. Ones that you need to have if you want long term success and premierships. As an example many here compare Penisini to M. Jennings, but he isn't even close to Jennings class and speed at his best. Look at the Cronulla juniors coming through, already some are rep players and better then our backline boys.

Not many teams win premierships without those types of players in their team and producing them is way better then trying to buy them unless you have a Politis type as your benefactor.

We are lucky at the moment that we have at least 3 SOO level players in Junior, RCG and Matterson, no matter what is going on with the 2 that were dropped after one game this series. They could and should have been given another chance, especially RCG. But it is what it is. The point though is we have 3 and at least Gutho and Moses on the fringe and Dylan also getting to that quality and at a pinch Papalii could do what Talakai can do in the forwards for a 20 min stint at SOO level if he was eligible.

So we have quality players at the moment, but I can't see any standout rep players coming through. Sure second tier level reps, but SOO and Aus rep standard? We need those types coming through or our team will only get weaker as time goes on. And like I said, the best way to get them is the Penrith way and produce them.

 

[Happy MEel]

Paywalled. Can you access the article?

 

[eels_fan]

Wests Tigers star recruit Isaiah Papali’i is having cold feet about joining the club next season in the wake of Michael Maguire’s axing.
The Eels back-rower has been billed as a club changing signature for the struggling Tigers after Papali’i agreed to a three year deal worth about $1.9million last November.

But Papali’i has told those close to him he is now having second thoughts about making the move and would like to remain at the Eels.


Papali’i was close with Maguire and reunited with the former Tigers coach in the Kiwis camp last week.

Uncertainty over who will coach the Tigers has led to Papali’i growing increasing apprehensive about making the move.

While Tim Sheens is expected to take over as head coach, it’s uncertain whether that will be enough to satisfy Papali’i.


The Wests Tigers were contacted by The Daily Telegraph last month about Papali’i’s concerns. They said in their most recent dialogue he had remained committed to the club.

Papali’i does have a relationship with Tigers assistant coaches Ben Gardiner and Nathan Cayless from time spent working together within the Kiwis squad.

No official release has been requested by Papali’i, but he has made it clear to friends and family that he is loath to join the Tigers.

The Eels are also aware and have the salary cap space to retain him.

The Tigers will feel frustrated by the issue going public, but it is one that has been developing for several months.

The Tigers will rightfully stand their ground on the deal.

A player-swap from Parramatta could develop into a potential solution.

In February, Papali’i and fellow departing Eel Marata Niukore defended the NRL’s current transfer system that allowed them to sign with rivals 12 months out.

The Tigers can’t afford to entertain releasing Papali’i after losing a host back-rowers including Luke Garner (Penrith), Luciano Leilua (Cowboys) and Kelma Tuilagi (Manly).

The Tigers are banking on Papali’i and NSW hooker Api Koroisau to help turn the club’s fortunes around next season.

The reigning Dally M has played 102 top grade games since making his debut for the Warriors in 2017. He has established himself as one of the game’s most damaging forwards after joining the Eels on a cut-price deal last season.

No Cookies | Daily Telegraph

No Cookies

www.dailytelegraph.com.au

 

[lucablight]

Wests Tigers star recruit Isaiah Papali’i is having cold feet about joining the club next season in the wake of Michael Maguire’s axing.

The Eels back-rower has been billed as a club changing signature for the struggling Tigers after Papali’i agreed to a three year deal worth about $1.9million last November.

But Papali’i has told those close to him he is now having second thoughts about making the move and would like to remain at the Eels.

Papali’i was close with Maguire and reunited with the former Tigers coach in the Kiwis camp last week.

Uncertainty over who will coach the Tigers has led to Papali’i growing increasing apprehensive about making the move.

While Tim Sheens is expected to take over as head coach, it’s uncertain whether that will be enough to satisfy Papali’i.

The Wests Tigers were contacted by The Daily Telegraph last month about Papali’i’s concerns. They said in their most recent dialogue he had remained committed to the club.

Papali’i does have a relationship with Tigers assistant coaches Ben Gardiner and Nathan Cayless from time spent working together within the Kiwis squad.

No official release has been requested by Papali’i, but he has made it clear to friends and family that he is loath to join the Tigers.

The Eels are also aware and have the salary cap space to retain him.

The Tigers will feel frustrated by the issue going public, but it is one that has been developing for several months.

The Tigers will rightfully stand their ground on the deal.

A player-swap from Parramatta could develop into a potential solution.

In February, Papali’i and fellow departing Eel Marata Niukore defended the NRL’s current transfer system that allowed them to sign with rivals 12 months out.

The Tigers can’t afford to entertain releasing Papali’i after losing a host back-rowers including Luke Garner (Penrith), Luciano Leilua (Cowboys) and Kelma Tuilagi (Manly).

The Tigers are banking on Papali’i and NSW hooker Api Koroisau to help turn the club’s fortunes around next season.

The reigning Dally M has played 102 top grade games since making his debut for the Warriors in 2017. He has established himself as one of the game’s most damaging forwards after joining the Eels on a cut-price deal last season.

 

[eels_fan]

If they want a player swap, give them Nathan Brown and Makatoa.

 

[Gronk]

The Eels are also aware and have the salary cap space to retain him.

 

[Gronk]

If they want a player swap, give them Nathan Brown and Makatoa.

I think you've uncovered our cunning plan....

 

[Stevie]

 

[SneakyEel]

I reckon that's why we wanted to flick Brown in the first place. So we can keep Papa

 

[eel01s]

What is interesting is that there is no mention of a coach clause in the contract, yet the rest of the article implies that Papa can actually get out of the contract.

Happy to offload Nrown to keep Ice.

 

[TheRam]

Wests Tigers star recruit Isaiah Papali’i is having cold feet about joining the club next season in the wake of Michael Maguire’s axing.
The Eels back-rower has been billed as a club changing signature for the struggling Tigers after Papali’i agreed to a three year deal worth about $1.9million last November.

But Papali’i has told those close to him he is now having second thoughts about making the move and would like to remain at the Eels.


Papali’i was close with Maguire and reunited with the former Tigers coach in the Kiwis camp last week.

Uncertainty over who will coach the Tigers has led to Papali’i growing increasing apprehensive about making the move.

While Tim Sheens is expected to take over as head coach, it’s uncertain whether that will be enough to satisfy Papali’i.


The Wests Tigers were contacted by The Daily Telegraph last month about Papali’i’s concerns. They said in their most recent dialogue he had remained committed to the club.

Papali’i does have a relationship with Tigers assistant coaches Ben Gardiner and Nathan Cayless from time spent working together within the Kiwis squad.

No official release has been requested by Papali’i, but he has made it clear to friends and family that he is loath to join the Tigers.

The Eels are also aware and have the salary cap space to retain him.

The Tigers will feel frustrated by the issue going public, but it is one that has been developing for several months.

The Tigers will rightfully stand their ground on the deal.

A player-swap from Parramatta could develop into a potential solution.

In February, Papali’i and fellow departing Eel Marata Niukore defended the NRL’s current transfer system that allowed them to sign with rivals 12 months out.

The Tigers can’t afford to entertain releasing Papali’i after losing a host back-rowers including Luke Garner (Penrith), Luciano Leilua (Cowboys) and Kelma Tuilagi (Manly).

The Tigers are banking on Papali’i and NSW hooker Api Koroisau to help turn the club’s fortunes around next season.

The reigning Dally M has played 102 top grade games since making his debut for the Warriors in 2017. He has established himself as one of the game’s most damaging forwards after joining the Eels on a cut-price deal last season.

No Cookies | Daily Telegraph

No Cookies

www.dailytelegraph.com.au

Lets give them Nathan Brown as a swap. Win win...

 

[JokerEel]

I was speaking to a friend of mine earlier today, who played some lower grades footy for the Sea Eagles, didn't make it to First Grade, and became a player manager (before getting tired of that, and joining the Air Force), and he tells me are close to signing a disgruntled edge forward from another club.

The prick wouldn't give me any more information.

So it is ICE...

 

[Poupou Escobar]

He would have been the perfect backup ffs.

He’s hardly the perfect backup if he’s gone ffs

 

[TheRam]

He’s hardly the perfect backup if he’s gone ffs

Alexander is angry because he would have been the perfect backup ffs!