Rumours (signings, sackings & other NRL stuff)

[WA Tiger]

We have all graduated with a PhD on Luke Brooks. We know everything there is to know about him as a player - or should. We have watched him more closely and for longer than anyone including all 4 coaches, any suits floating around at WT, definitely more than anyone at Manly and much more than all the “expert” commentators, who still think his running game will fix everything. Ulterior motives aside, we don’t need to guess or hope. We know how he will present on the field for Manly. Surely?
That a player that has caused so much damage to WT in regards to losses and cap pressure for no return, for so long and then to be forgiven so easily for everything is bewildering.

 

[Wizardman]

Don't forget we let another young Tiger slip through 'our' fingers a couple of years ago who went to Souths.
Lachlan IIllias has done pretty well. Helps when you have good forwards and a 5/8 outside him who (love him or hate him) isn't to bad.

Have the Tigers actually signed Latu Fainu ?

Illias is deadset regressing....and he was not all that to start with. He is no loss to our system.

 

[Wizardman]

After hearing of Benjis rejection of shyster, I’m happy to go onto the record now and suggest he’s going to be one of the best players in the nrl within the next few years.

I’m also going to predict that Fulton isn’t going to last too long for his crime of pin pointing good players whom we will refuse to sign.

Have you seen Josh Schuster play a lot over the last 12 months? He has some decent skills but that is about it.

Halves in the modern era are superfit humans. Schuster is nowhere near fit enough to be an nrl 6. He is very lazy and when he does go okay, he cannot seem to put two halves of football together....once again, I feel its a fitness issue.

There seems to be a lot of Feliti Mateo in him.....and things did not turn out the way in which his potential told he could go.

Im stoked we didn't get Schuster.

 

[Exsilium]

I am a bit shocked Talau signed elsewhere. From what I've seen of him, he's a good player but change is necessary.

 

[Exsilium]

Have you seen Josh Schuster play a lot over the last 12 months? He has some decent skills but that is about it.

Halves in the modern era are superfit humans. Schuster is nowhere near fit enough to be an nrl 6. He is very lazy and when he does go okay, he cannot seem to put two halves of football together....once again, I feel its a fitness issue.

There seems to be a lot of Feliti Mateo in him.....and things did not turn out the way in which his potential told he could go.

Im stoked we didn't get Schuster.

I mentioned this somewhere else that he really does bring the Feleti Mateo vibes to his game.

For us, it was Bryce Cartwright in his early years but he's come a long way since then. Still has a moment or two in him but way less erratic than what he was.

Players like Schuster are always a gamble but my take is that it's not his ability, its his commitment to being a professional footballer. Talent only gets you so far.

 

[Tiger Ted]

I am a bit shocked Talau signed elsewhere. From what I've seen of him, he's a good player but change is necessary.

Talau is garbage.Great decision to move him on

 

[Wizardman]

I mentioned this somewhere else that he really does bring the Feleti Mateo vibes to his game.

For us, it was Bryce Cartwright in his early years but he's come a long way since then. Still has a moment or two in him but way less erratic than what he was.

Players like Schuster are always a gamble but my take is that it's not his ability, its his commitment to being a professional footballer. Talent only gets you so far.

800k a year.....no bloody way. Mateo al least would not have got the wage packet Schuster is getting.

 

[Wizardman]

Talau is garbage.Great decision to move him on

Agree 100% and he'll be garbage at Manly too. The guy should bulk up and have a go at back-row.

 

[Trollhammaren]

https://www.zerotackle.com/wests-tigers-express-interest-in-sharks-halfback-158553/

Wests Tigers express interest in Sharks halfback

It comes just day after Luke Brooks agreed to a four-year deal with Manly.

Following the departure of Luke Brooks for next season, the Wests Tigers are on the hunt for a new halfback.

Previously expressing interest in Manly Sea Eagles youngster Latu Fainu, Catalans Dragons veteran Mitchell Pearce and NSW Blues star Mitchell Moses, the club has now set their sights on Braydon Trindall.

Joining the Cronulla Sharks in 2018, the future looked bright for Trindall, who debuted for the club two seasons later.

The primary halfback for the backend of the 2021 season, he was unfortunately overtaken by Nicho Hynes the following year, which saw his minutes decrease as he moved to the interchange bench.

The Wests Tigers have already expressed interest in the 23-year-old, per the Sydney Morning Herald, and the race to sign him could pick up given Luke Brooks will depart the club at the end of the season.

While he isn't off-contract until the end of 2025, the Sharks are likely to offer him a release considering he won't overtake Hynes in the No.7 jersey.

Plus, the re-signing of Daniel Atkinson means he could easily enter the team if injuries occur to Hynes or Matt Moylan.

I personally reckon this is a good call. Trindall has looked very much up to it when given the opportunity.

 

[Tigerm]

Agree 100% and he'll be garbage at Manly too. The guy should bulk up and have a go at back-row.

They want Schuster in the back row, not sure where they see Talau fitting in?

 

[Tigerm]

Don't forget we let another young Tiger slip through 'our' fingers a couple of years ago who went to Souths.
Lachlan IIllias has done pretty well. Helps when you have good forwards and a 5/8 outside him who (love him or hate him) isn't to bad.

Have the Tigers actually signed Latu Fainu ?

According to TWT on instagram they are reporting the SMH have said Benji is meeting with him tomorrow?

 

[Das Hassler]

They want Schuster in the back row, not sure where they see Talau fitting in?

The "where will he fit" part is becoming less and less something to consider in today's game...the attrition rate across all clubs means depth and versatility are at least ( or more?) important than a club's best run on side which rarely combines in more than a few games through the regular season....Melbourne consistently being the best example

 

[Pezz70]

No.. It was just Brooks, and will always be, whoever he plays with.

Nah the tigers have been pretty shite, playing half back behind a pack of powder puffs is a hard job

 

[The Silverdale Phantom]

The "where will he fit" part is becoming less and less something to consider in today's game...the attrition rate across all clubs means depth and versatility are at least ( or more?) important than a club's best run on side which rarely combines in more than a few games through the regular season....Melbourne consistently being the best example

Some good points Das.

The exception being little to cheer about depth without the blessing of even factory halves to commence a season with.

Extraordinary that we didn’t seek to revitalise some key halves and backline positions last year.

This forum, the end of Brooks was touted 3 or even 4 years ago, before my epiphany too.

Sheensy holding out for the second coming of Brooks, injuries and a general depreciation of existing and new talent by substandard coaching has made your noble sentiments harder to subscribe to.

If our departing players do muster up some courage and play well in their new surrounds, we are in even more trouble than I think.

 

[Tigerm]

https://www.news.com.au/sport/nrl/madness-schusters-staggering-deal-baffles-in-manly-shakeup/news-story/6b457c41fd1089b3e9054854081c031f

Interesting article, seems Manly are doing what we used to do?

They have a fair amount of the cap, tied to only a few of there players?

I think AloiaI however is on bigger money than Brooks. Hahaha

 

[The Silverdale Phantom]

https://www.news.com.au/sport/nrl/madness-schusters-staggering-deal-baffles-in-manly-shakeup/news-story/6b457c41fd1089b3e9054854081c031f

Interesting article, seems Manly are doing what we used to do?

They have a fair amount of the cap, tied to only a few of there players?

I think AloiaI however is on bigger money than Brooks. Hahaha

Yes.

I think it’s a precarious position for them. Injuries and old age will creep up on them so shyster is pretty important if he stay can fit.

It’s a new start for Brooksy. I’m going to miss pounding him, but then again, I won’t miss his cost and rookie plays. I’m sure we all wish him well personally. His manager is a genius.

Where are the good young halves?

Years ago, we’d trip over them in the street…

I’d be happy with factory if we can get the other bits right.

I wonder what Jock will charge us. He’s semi factory, what are they worth these days $900?

The market is outta control for halves. Anyone who can pass a ball off the ground is an instant multi.

 

[BrotherJim05]

Trindall has just enough experience to handle being the game manager while also being young enough to be moulded how Benji needs him. I know he is contracted until 2025 but if we were able to offer someone in return (e.g. Blore) then we might be able to get him early. I'd actually like to keep Blore but apparently he is already on the outer?

Fainu looks extremely good and looks to be all but signed in a swap deal for Talau (for immediate release) . With enough time he will improve our attack by a country mile.

Trindall / Fainu combination would be f**king epic. We have the forward pack to lay the platform for them and our outside backs are all young enough to gel with a new halves combo.

Then we can keep Wakeham as a depth halfback, and bring Doeuihi back slowly through reserve grade until he's 100% fit.

Unfortunately this plan would actually improve our team, so knowing us we will go all in on Blake Austin and sign Wakeham on a 800k per year deal for 5 years.

 

[gordsy]

The only way I see us Improving in the short team is by ousting Lee, Justin and the other dopes on the board. If we had some one like Rusty backing us with a good coach, juniors and recruitment run right we could do great things. I don't see it happening and it would be a blood bath at first but provide a path for real change.

The issue for teams and for expansion in general is not the lack of players but the lack of halves. When the comp was at it's closest more team had a good half / five eight or both, now average players like Clearly look like world beaters because of the lack of average halves, let alone ones that are good or better.

 

[The Silverdale Phantom]

The only way I see us Improving in the short team is by ousting Lee, Justin and the other dopes on the board. If we had some one like Rusty backing us with a good coach, juniors and recruitment run right we could do great things. I don't see it happening but it would be a blood bath at first but provide a path for real change.

The issue for teams and for expansion in general is not the lack of players but the lack of halves. When the comp was at it's closest more team had a good half / five eight or both, now average players like Clearly look like world beaters because of the lack of average halves, let alone ones that are good or better.

It’s a blood bath now regrettably.

We seem to be linked with every player in the comp and some who aren’t even born yet.

 

[Nutz]

Trindall / Fainu combination.../

I agree that an entirely new halves combination is what is required to get us out of this rut.
Brooks is going, Wakemam is just a backup player and there's no banking on AD who's had reoccurring major knee injuries.
When the tigers choose either of their halves they have to consider the other one.
Both halves are important. History has repeated itself over and over that the main players are 9,7,6 and 1. If there is a dud in that lot then they'll be caught out.
Our forwards are nearly set, it's only weakness is depth.
I only wished that our halves were going to be set with Brooks and AD so that we could concentrate on getting some centres but now that's on the backburner because now our halves are a problem. DOH!