The Rumours Thread

[Parko1310]

and I have no doubt flannos coaching will bring out the best. if not flanno wouldnt be up for keeping him

Suli looks fit to me from the photos and videos I've seen of pre-season so far. Another player who returned early as well. Keen to see how he goes, he needs to learn to pass the ball a bit more often and vary his line-running too from trying to bulldoze over. Excited to see how he goes though, especially since Flanno pointed him out specifically as someone he wants to lift to origin standard.

 

[Hound of Dracula]

He has been less than impressive. Rarely finds the line and found wanting in defence more often than he should be. I love the idea of him - powerful dynamic player but hasn’t eventuated as yet. Happy to see how he goes this year but I tend to agree it means we just unable to attract anyone else.

B.J Leilua - MARK II

 

[TheRev]

and I have no doubt flannos coaching will bring out the best. if not flanno wouldnt be up for keeping him

Yep, and it will be interesting to see if Flanno and Young can get everybody defending better as a unit also.. that was really one of our biggest problems in 2023, even though we tended to blame the ctr/winger every time.. even though there was a 1 or 2 man overlap already.

It is certainly possible Suli won't work out also.. Flanno isnt Nostradamus.. it'll take 6-12mths to figure out if he can (and wants to) learn. But hes a weapon in some sort of position... and better than any of the available options.. Olam is the only centre I can think of off contract, but Suli is about on par and ours already.. huge bonus if he gets us AFB in the process...

 

[TheRev]

I know Dragons have been guilty in the past to some degree but Tigers habitually have overpaid average players in recent years

If Flanno lands (minimum) 1 of the 5 he's after.. then alls well that ends well.. but imo its a huge gamble.. its a method that would have been more successful a few years ago before the salary cap increase.

But if it was me i'd overpay by 200k for the first 1 or 2 no problems at all.. and then worry about tightening the purse strings.. the tigers landed Papalihi > Api/Bateman in that initial raid.. and its leapfrogged their roster.. theyve been able to get more players since then due to those star players, Api in particular as a captain/spine... combined with the best of their kids filtering up, I mean I hope Benji fails miserably (for our sake) but I think they are going to be a much tougher opposition this year.

 

[kit66]

Yep as a bulldozing edgie perhaps. Needs to develop a desire to pass tho and strengthen his defense, specially the reading part.

Suli isn't that bad a defender, it's our defensive structures and the fact he played all year with two absolute slugs in defence in Rava and Feagai outside him, both of whom spent the year racing up and in and leaving a saloon passage outside - exacerbated by their inability to chase anything. We got beat out wide so many times this year it was ridiculous and no-one, least of all Hook had any answers. Flanagan will you can bet your ass.
He needs to have better support inside and out - a winger who knows how to position himself in defence and attack to take advantage of a Suli bust or off-load, someone fast with smarts like Sloan, who can also chase down anyone who breaks our line out wide. Inside requires a better defensive line-up than he had for a good part of the year e.g. BMM/Hunt, Bird/Amone with Sloan chiming in. Get Sua/Flanagan or Luki/Hunt helping him out plus a coach who knows the game and we'll be better all round. If Lomax plays FB there's your defence improving 20-30% before a ball is even kicked.
Suli also has good hands and a good pass, he just lacked space, early ball and a competent wingman most of the year.
He'll be the beast we all knew he could be under Flanno.

 

[TheRev]

Suli might well end up @ right ctr (his preferred) if Bird is being honest that ctr is his ideal position for 2024.

 

[BLM01]

If Flanno lands (minimum) 1 of the 5 he's after.. then alls well that ends well.. but imo its a huge gamble.. its a method that would have been more successful a few years ago before the salary cap increase.

But if it was me i'd overpay by 200k for the first 1 or 2 no problems at all.. and then worry about tightening the purse strings.. the tigers landed Papalihi > Api/Bateman in that initial raid.. and its leapfrogged their roster.. theyve been able to get more players since then due to those star players, Api in particular as a captain/spine... combined with the best of their kids filtering up, I mean I hope Benji fails miserably (for our sake) but I think they are going to be a much tougher opposition this year.

You say Tigers have landed more players since signing Api / Bateman & Papaali and leapfrogged their roster

They came last with those players and who have they signed of worth since?

 

[BLM01]

Suli looks fit to me from the photos and videos I've seen of pre-season so far. Another player who returned early as well. Keen to see how he goes, he needs to learn to pass the ball a bit more often and vary his line-running too from trying to bulldoze over. Excited to see how he goes though, especially since Flanno pointed him out specifically as someone he wants to lift to origin standard.

As does Lomax, lost a bit of weight in the body bulk so maybe doing heaps of km's.

 

[JohnnoMcJohnno]

You say Tigers have landed more players since signing Api / Bateman & Papaali and leapfrogged their roster

They came last with those players and who have they signed of worth since?

They unsigned Luke Brooks. That's gotta be worth something.

 

[RedVee_8]

They unsigned Luke Brooks. That's gotta be worth something.

I thought Brooks sacked the Tigers

 

[blacksafake]

They unsigned Luke Brooks. That's gotta be worth something.

Brooks will go ok as a running 6

 

[Gardenia]

OMG - we are looking to resign Suli. Clearly they cannot attract anyone else.
I was critical when we signed Suli and I'm happy to double down on his resigning.
He is a one dimensional player and if you are serious about wanting to win an NRL title you cannot afford to carry such players.
Shame.

True most of that
Is he the one that is friends with AFB? If so it could hopefully maybe be handy

 

[Gardenia]

No offense but if he was on the market at another club we would be all wanting to chase him .. Haaaa

Truth

 

[redv13]

Brooks will go ok as a running 6

I think Brooks will go to another level at Manly playing with DCE. The tigers are a basket case and all the pressure was on Brooks as there was no one else.

 

[Dragon Blood]

You say Tigers have landed more players since signing Api / Bateman & Papaali and leapfrogged their roster

They came last with those players and who have they signed of worth since?

Bud Sullivan from the Dragons

 

[Nutz]

I think Brooks will go to another level at Manly playing with DCE. The tigers are a basket case and all the pressure was on Brooks as there was no one else.

Brooks is a great little footballer, great d but shite ½.

 

[BLM01]

Bud Sullivan from the Dragons

Yeh..na. Proved nothing yet. He may..he may not. Jury still out on that one

 

[TheRev]

You say Tigers have landed more players since signing Api / Bateman & Papaali and leapfrogged their roster

They came last with those players and who have they signed of worth since?

The tigers are 'exactly' 2years in front of our rebuild 'if' we get a Dearden or AFB type signing.. their sequence went something like:

o Step 1: Nov 2021: Papali'i (announced for 2023) - huge speculation he would backflip
o Step 2: 2022: Players signed for 2023: Api, Klemmer, Bateman, Staines
o Step 3: 2022-2023: No big names I agree, but all their gun kids have been kept so far.. Bula, Staines (again), Talau, Tupou.. im sure there are a bunch of others in there.. they also pulled Sullivan from us in the process...
o Step 4: Dec 2023: Havent pulled this off yet.. but theyre in the box seat for Luai (and hopefully not AFB for our sake)

The Tigers roster is still bottom 4... but I really like the way they went about their rebuild (from rock bottom), Api was a masterstroke.. and their kids (Stefano and the backs) are in demand 1st grade near rep level kids.. versus ours that have all struggled.. there is a lot to like imo about the Tigers rebuild.. I just hope (for our sake) that Benji cant coach.

 

[Auntie.Gerald]

Tigers 2023 - Latu and Samuela Fainu and Bud Sullivan all 3 through to 2027

Fainu brothers join Wests Tigers

Wests Tigers have signed rising stars Latu and Samuela Fainu to long-term deals.

www.weststigers.com.au

 

[Dragon David]

Yep. I think the Tigers' trajectory for 2024 will be good. They definitely won't be wooded spooners next season and they will win a lot more than last season. The one player that will help again next year is Api. He has a great footy brain, he thinks ahead as a hooker should and did quite well in his first season this year at the Tigers.

If they did land Luai for 2025, they will be even much better going forward from there. The club is looking ahead and their rebuild will get them up there. Sheens gone now so Benji will make more of the decisions and just might surprise everyone with good results.