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Rumours (signings, sackings & other NRL stuff)

Nutz

First Grade
Messages
5,155
To be fair to the club they've only released that info to members and I figure they've done it as quickly as they can.
I reckon it's virtually impossible these days to keep things under wrap. You have the player, players friends and relatives, managers, at least two clubs with all their infrastructure.

Anyway, I am stoked with this news. Our fwd pack is solid and our spine is too.
Now to get our centre pairing and wings sorted.
 

Nutz

First Grade
Messages
5,155
I'm not even worried.

Turuva, Olam, To’a, Skelton, Luke Laulilii, Staines & Makasini. We have Feledy, Naden and Doueihi as back-ups to those guys.

The risks to me are it's the first year of the team playing together and Benji.
I meant more of the make up Tiger. Who will partner who etc.
I would love to see our best team play in all the trials games to build combos. You have to get off to a good start these days.
I'm not in favour of giving a guy a shot who deep down they know will be a reserve grader.
Luckily this time around we have at least 2-3 quality players for each position so they must trial. Centre is one position that I'm not comfortable as far as depth goes.
Makasini is probably a year away, To'a picked up injuries and Feledy seems destined to play reserve grade.
Naden is too erratic and frustrates me. I'm sure he's one that's already be tapped on the shoulder.
 

Tigerm

Coach
Messages
10,661
I meant more of the make up Tiger. Who will partner who etc.
I would love to see our best team play in all the trials games to build combos. You have to get off to a good start these days.
I'm not in favour of giving a guy a shot who deep down they know will be a reserve grader.
Luckily this time around we have at least 2-3 quality players for each position so they must trial. Centre is one position that I'm not comfortable as far as depth goes.
Makasini is probably a year away, To'a picked up injuries and Feledy seems destined to play reserve grade.
Naden is too erratic and frustrates me. I'm sure he's one that's already be tapped on the shoulder.
I think Makasini will end up partnering Olam in the centres sooner rather later, if what we hear is anywhere near correct.
If you’re good enough, you’re old enough.
Geoff Starling was an 18yo centre who played for Australia.
 

Tiger05

First Grade
Messages
9,633
I think Makasini will end up partnering Olam in the centres sooner rather later, if what we hear is anywhere near correct.
If you’re good enough, you’re old enough.
Geoff Starling was an 18yo centre who played for Australia.

The only thing is I think both Makasini and Olam play on the left.

I think they might start off like this:-

1. Jahream Bula
2. Sunia Turuva
3. Justin Olam
4. Starford To’a
5. Jeral Skelton

or something like this:-

1. Jahream Bula
2. Luke Laulilii
3. Justin Olam
4. Sunia Turuva
5. Jeral Skelton

It's going to be hard fitting them in and I bet we'll want to play Makasini soon. Assuming we don't get too many injuries there is plenty of pressure on the outside backs.

I'm starting to get pumped for next season and maybe this season there is even some logical reason to be positive.
 

Nutz

First Grade
Messages
5,155
The only thing is I think both Makasini and Olam play on the left.

I think they might start off like this:-

1. Jahream Bula
2. Sunia Turuva
3. Justin Olam
4. Starford To’a
5. Jeral Skelton

or something like this:-

1. Jahream Bula
2. Luke Laulilii
3. Justin Olam
4. Sunia Turuva
5. Jeral Skelton

It's going to be hard fitting them in and I bet we'll want to play Makasini soon. Assuming we don't get too many injuries there is plenty of pressure on the outside backs.

I'm starting to get pumped for next season and maybe this season there is even some logical reason to be positive.
Your first list is my list.
I think in 2026, Makasini will replace a back out of sorts...could even be for a release of Olam to go and play for PNG.
 
Messages
16,967
$2m for 3 seasons, about the mark.

He comes from good systems.

It is a very interesting proposition having a large number of players who haven’t played together. I’m not too unhappy
about it because we needed an overhaul.

Superb signing and I think great for the morale of the retained side after some rough seasons.

Fedora off for Richo for being patient and preserving some cash for a freak opportunity like this.
 

Nutz

First Grade
Messages
5,155
A few things in our favour re signing May are....
We are the last the speak with him...usually this is a huge contributing factor.
2. Luai is Samoan too and could have some sway in this.
3. Big fwds like to have good ball players to run off, whether it's a crash ball, gap running, or hitting an edge. Enter Luai, Galvin and API!
You all must have seen how Samuela Fainu works well with Galvin. May will benefit from Luai and Api.
May, Hunt and Pole. Mmmm, I doubt if those three will be going backwards.
If we do land May I'm predicting Api to have a huge year.
 
Messages
16,967
Yes, we spoke about the power of the panthera connection, not so long ago.

I don’t think May will want to let Jerome or Api down by not playing.

The roosters might have been too clinical for him in some ways. We would like to be I suppose!

Adds a bit to our prospects. I wonder if one could put a dollar figure on Jerome’s recruitment efforts?

It’s a massive scalp, Gus must be fuming.
 

Nutz

First Grade
Messages
5,155
Yes, we spoke about the power of the panthera connection, not so long ago.

I don’t think May will want to let Jerome or Api down by not playing.

The roosters might have been too clinical for him in some ways. We would like to be I suppose!

Adds a bit to our prospects. I wonder if one could put a dollar figure on Jerome’s recruitment efforts?

It’s a massive scalp, Gus must be fuming.
Exactly, and if Jerome nails it, which he will, his influence maybe felt for a long time regarding recruitment.
 

gordsy

Juniors
Messages
2,117
So good players in a position most clubs want or need to Improve at and it came down to us and the Drags. Seems odd to me....
The comments on him not having his heart in playing footy aren't great either.
Still it's done so let's hope he kills it,
 

Nutz

First Grade
Messages
5,155
So good players in a position most clubs want or need to Improve at and it came down to us and the Drags. Seems odd to me....
The comments on him not having his heart in playing footy aren't great either.
Still it's done so let's hope he kills it,
May played for western suburbs and also had connection with Api who apparently made the call of destiny.
If May didn't have his heart in it why then did he play every game for the rorters who played thru to September.
He hasn't reached his full potential and I think we'll see him hitting a lot of holes with Api's guile.
For crash plays in particular, Api will now have several players to run at holes....May, Big Red, Pole and even Hunt or cut out to Fainu.
Stop it, I need to settle down ;)
 

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