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Tigers Movements

Clifferd

Clifferd

Coach
Messages
10,805
He will be our future hooker slowly but surely. I've got no doubt behind a dominant forward pack he will shine. His scoots from dummy half are his best asset

Timing with his passing is a bit off but that'll come with more experience under his belt
 
Ron's_Mate

Ron's_Mate

Bench
Messages
4,045
Wests Tigers sign two outside backs

Wests Tigers are pleased to announce the signing of outside backs Mahe Fonua and Corey Thompson for the coming two seasons.

The new two-year deal will see both players who are currently playing in the English Super League join Wests Tigers until at least the end of the 2019 season.

A Tongan international in 2013 and 2015, Fonua will join Wests Tigers after spending the last two seasons at Hull FC. Named as part of the 2016 Super League Dream Team, Fonua also helped Hull FC win the 2016 Challenge Cup Final, scoring a try in the win.

Prior to his stint in England, the Southern Eastern Titans junior played 50 games for the Melbourne Storm between 2012 and 2015 — scoring 24 tries in that time — as well as helping Melbourne to the 2013 World Club Challenge title with a win over Leeds.

Thompson has played a total of 74 professional rugby league matches in his career, playing 35 games for the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs between 2013 and 2015, before linking up with Widnes Vikings in 2016 where he made a further 39 appearances.

In his two seasons with the Vikings, Thompson scored an impressive 28 tries in 39 games, and finished the 2016 season as the second-highest try-scorer in Super League.

Wests Tigers Head Coach Ivan Cleary said he looked forward to welcoming both players to the club.

“Both Mahe and Corey have had strong careers in the English Super League and we look forward to them bringing that experience back to Wests Tigers,” said Cleary. “We’re confident that their overseas experience coupled with their previous successful stints in the NRL will be a positive addition to our playing squad.”

Wests Tigers CEO Justin Pascoe said that the pair had proven themselves overseas and that the club looked forward to welcoming them back to the NRL.

“Mahe and Corey have had success in the UK and we’re keen to see them bring this form to our club over the coming two years,” said Pascoe.

Both players will join Wests Tigers for pre-season training ahead of the 2018 NRL season.

PLAYER PROFILE: MAHE FONUA
Date of Birth — 24th December, 1992 (24 years old)
Position — Centre, Wing
Junior Club — South Eastern Tigers
NRL Debut — Melbourne v Gold Coast, AAMI Park, 10/8/12 (Rd.23)
Previous Clubs — Melbourne Storm (2012-15), Hull FC (2016-17)
Rep. Honours — 4 Tests for Tonga (2013,15)

PLAYER PROFILE: COREY THOMPSON
Date of Birth — 15th May, 1990 (27 years old)
Position — Wing, Fullback
Junior Club — Easts Mount Gravatt
NRL Debut — Canterbury-Bankstown v Brisbane, ANZ Stadium, 7/3/14 (Rd.1)
Previous Clubs — Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs (2013-15), Widnes Vikings (2016-17)
 
magpie_man

magpie_man

Juniors
Messages
1,973
I remember Mahe Fonua being a solid first-grader during his time at the Storm - no game-breaker but not a slouch either; I have no memory of Corey Thompson.
 
Vic Mackey

Vic Mackey

Referee
Messages
24,590
magpie_man said:
I remember Mahe Fonua being a solid first-grader during his time at the Storm - no game-breaker but not a slouch either; I have no memory of Corey Thompson.
Click to expand...

my brief summation/opinions:

Fonua - matt utai like build, very powerful runner. when at center was difficult to bring down so the opposition winger had to come in to help out, he then had a good ability to offload to his winger

thompson - very quick and good finisher. dogs fans liked him alot and said he was extremely under rated. played wing in canterburys 2014 grand final team

neither are stars but given the chance will likley be decent first graders and are a hell of a lot better options then the likes of milone, hoeter, rankin, hunt, rowe, naquima (center), mck (center) have been over the past couple of years
 
madunit

madunit

Super Moderator
Staff member
Messages
62,358
Thompson has become a reliable back up fullback and goal kicker too
 
madunit

madunit

Super Moderator
Staff member
Messages
62,358
Also Rankin and Littlejohn are all but out of the club at seasons end as worst case scenarios according to my sources
 
The Charlatan

The Charlatan

Coach
Messages
14,796
Milne confirmed, two years.

http://www.weststigers.com.au/news/2017/06/09/wests_tigers_sign_ta.html

Wests Tigers are pleased to confirm the signing of talented outside back Taane Milne for the coming two seasons.

The new deal will see the 22-year-old Milne join Wests Tigers until at least the end of the 2019 season.

A two-time Junior Kiwi, Milne has played a total of 14 first-grade games for the St. George-Illawarra Dragons since making his NRL debut in Round 8, 2016, and made his senior representative debut for Fiji earlier this year in the Pacific Test against Tonga.

Wests Tigers Head Coach Ivan Cleary said he looked forward to Milne coming to Wests Tigers.

“Taane is a talented player who will add strike power to Wests Tigers,” said Cleary.

“He will be a valued member of the team as we continue to grow into the future.”

Wests Tigers CEO Justin Pascoe welcomed Milne to the club.

“Taane is clearly a talented young player and I’m sure will quickly become a fan favourite here at Wests Tigers,” said Pascoe. “We look forward to having him join us for the next two seasons.”

Milne will join Wests Tigers for pre-season training ahead of the 2018 NRL season.



PLAYER PROFILE: TAANE MILNE

Date of Birth — 19th May, 1995 (22 years old)

Position — Centre, Wing

Junior Club — Clovelly Crocodiles

NRL Debut — St. George-Illawarra v Sydney Roosters, Allianz Stadium, 25/4/16 (Rd.8)

Previous Clubs — St. George-Illawarra Dragons (2016-17)

Rep. Honours — 1 Test for Fiji (2017), Junior Kiwis (2014-15)
 
Clifferd

Clifferd

Coach
Messages
10,805
The Charlatan said:
Milne confirmed, two years.

http://www.weststigers.com.au/news/2017/06/09/wests_tigers_sign_ta.html

Wests Tigers are pleased to confirm the signing of talented outside back Taane Milne for the coming two seasons.

The new deal will see the 22-year-old Milne join Wests Tigers until at least the end of the 2019 season.

A two-time Junior Kiwi, Milne has played a total of 14 first-grade games for the St. George-Illawarra Dragons since making his NRL debut in Round 8, 2016, and made his senior representative debut for Fiji earlier this year in the Pacific Test against Tonga.

Wests Tigers Head Coach Ivan Cleary said he looked forward to Milne coming to Wests Tigers.

“Taane is a talented player who will add strike power to Wests Tigers,” said Cleary.

“He will be a valued member of the team as we continue to grow into the future.”

Wests Tigers CEO Justin Pascoe welcomed Milne to the club.

“Taane is clearly a talented young player and I’m sure will quickly become a fan favourite here at Wests Tigers,” said Pascoe. “We look forward to having him join us for the next two seasons.”

Milne will join Wests Tigers for pre-season training ahead of the 2018 NRL season.



PLAYER PROFILE: TAANE MILNE

Date of Birth — 19th May, 1995 (22 years old)

Position — Centre, Wing

Junior Club — Clovelly Crocodiles

NRL Debut — St. George-Illawarra v Sydney Roosters, Allianz Stadium, 25/4/16 (Rd.8)

Previous Clubs — St. George-Illawarra Dragons (2016-17)

Rep. Honours — 1 Test for Fiji (2017), Junior Kiwis (2014-15)
Click to expand...

Very impressed with this signing. He's huge and has already shown a lot of promise at a young age, Milne/Suli centre combo next year could be lethal
 
Shredder

Shredder

Juniors
Messages
1,525
Thats the backline sorted then I imagine:

1 Loloheio
2 Nofo
3 Suli
4 Milne
5 Zelesniac / Fonua / Thompson
6 Reynolds
7 Brookes

Nice cleanout.

:)

By my count we still have 5 squad spots left to
 
Clifferd

Clifferd

Coach
Messages
10,805
Shredder said:
Thats the backline sorted then I imagine:

1 Loloheio
2 Nofo
3 Suli
4 Milne
5 Zelesniac / Fonua / Thompson
6 Reynolds
7 Brookes

Nice cleanout.

:)

By my count we still have 5 squad spots left to
Click to expand...

That's a really good backline tbh

I'm concerned little by Lolohea at the back, but Cleary should get him firing

I reckon Fonua has the other wing spot for sure. A complete wrecking ball
 
Shredder

Shredder

Juniors
Messages
1,525
Yeah Cliff, FB is the only position Im worried about, but I see it this way:
Lolo was cheap and if he doesnt go well, we can enter the player market next year.

Ivan has completely turned over the entire backline in a year - In happy with that.
Also, these guys will play better across their positions that what we have now, so we wont need a superstar 1 anymore. If 2 - 7 play 10% better than what we have already, even 50% of a star FB makes the team better.
 
Clifferd

Clifferd

Coach
Messages
10,805
Yeah exactly, and another thing is with signing Thompson/MWZ/Rona ( if we get him) is there all more than capable of filling in at a high standard. Rona to me could even be our fullback option considering he's a decent goal kicker
 
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