Rumours (signings, sackings & other NRL stuff)

[Nutz]

Well done Tigers. Let's hope he turns into a quality NRL player.

He's a gun and has that look about him that makes you stand up and notice.
We've been trying to lock him up for a while now, so good on ya fellas.
It's a pity he's not ready now as we could do with a good centre.

 

[Ron's_Mate]

Teen sensation commits to league after beating New Zealand in rugby
By Jonathan Drennan
Updated October 8, 2024 — 8.46amfirst published at 5.49am

One day after starring on the wing for the Australian Under-18s in their first win over New Zealand Schools since 2019, Heamasi Makasini has signed a three-year deal to remain at the Wests Tigers in a blow for Rugby Australia’s future plans.

Makasini scored a try in Hamilton and celebrated with his teammates after the hard-fought 38-31 victory, before pledging his future to rugby league.

In a statement, Wests Tigers coach Benji Marshall spoke highly of Makasini, who has starred for Newington College in rugby while also playing for Wests Magpies Harold Matthews Cup team in rugby league. There he finished as the side’s leading try-scorer with 10 tries from as many games.

“He is one of the best young talents that we have who has progressed his way through our development programs,” Marshall said.

“He is very humble, respectful and is a good young man. Being able to secure Heamasi’s signature for the next three seasons is a massive boost for our club and the direction we are heading.”

RA will now face a nervous wait on the future decisions of Penrith junior Heinz Lemoto, who starred at No.8 for Australia in New Zealand, and his teammate, fullback Rex Bassingthwaighte, who has played for the Roosters.

The last Australian Under-18 team to beat New Zealand in 2019 included Manly’s Tolu Koula and Joseph Suaalii. After spending the last three years with the Roosters in NRL, Suaalii is now back in rugby and expected to join the Wallabies’ spring tour in November.

Speaking to this masthead just before the news of Makasini’s contract with the Tigers broke, Australian Under-18s coach Shannon Fraser spoke of the challenge RA faces in keeping its talented squads together into senior rugby.

“It’s going to be player choice, and we can’t kid ourselves that these kids don’t have other options,” Fraser said.
“I think we’ve got an ability to provide meaningful competitions, we provide exposure to regular international rugby, we compete around the world. You can play for your country on an international stage and [with] some of the greatest sporting events in the world, that’s not insignificant.
“We’ve just got to create a healthy experience for our young players that challenges them but also rewards them with these life experiences of playing at the top and playing around the world.”

Fraser formerly worked with St George Illawarra as a skills coach and believes that Lemoto, Makasini and Bassingthwaighte represent key talents.

“They’re hugely talented players, all slightly different ... and I think that comes with a level of confidence,” Fraser said.

“They’re well prepared in relation to their training and their recovery and getting up to speed on their knowledge [of the game] ... they’re confident, they back themselves. They’re very self-assured of their abilities and you sort of see that in the way that they play.”

Teen sensation commits to league after beating New Zealand in rugby

One day after helping Australia Under-18s to their first win over New Zealand in five years, Heamasi Makasini has pledged his future to the NRL.

www.smh.com.au

 

[TheDefinitionOfMadness]

That PNG team is a cluster f**k waiting to happen.

Yeah I can't see how that's going to be a success. Even if their wages are tax free, they'll have to live in an enclave with 24 hour guards. Family men won't want that as their partners will be stuck in a resort type setting which would wear thin after about 4 weeks. The kids schooling would suffer.

Single blokes wouldn't be able to go chasing tail or party in general like they'd do in Australia. They won't want that restriction.

Adding a team to your comp for the sole reason that it helps Australia's national security objectives is a bad idea. Even if the Australian Govt. pays for it.

If there was no Nth Qld Cowboys you could just base them out of Cairns or Townsville and fly them into Port Moresby for games, but there's already a well established presence there, and this idea doesn't appear to be in the NRL's plans anyway.

You can see a team with PNG locals and players who either play 1st grade there, or not at all.

At least it will keep us off the bottom of the ladder.