LOL Tigers

[Dion Johnson]

Its ok to lol at the Tigpies but at least they have recruited better than us thats for sure

They have done well with a couple of very good players, the best signing so far for Manly would be Onitoni Large and at best 2026 sometime would be the earliest he could debut.

The Storm getting Stefano makes them a better squad in 2025 along with the Sharks getting AFB, those two clubs finished above us and have improved their squads to have a crack at the Panthers next season.

 

[lsz]

It does actually spin me out - for the past 10 years we've averaged around 10th - 11th, but have always been cap strapped? There's always been periods where bottom tier clubs have a large amount of cap space to spend to turn things around (see Bulldogs).

Our recruitment has been diabolical. We're bringing in players 33, 33 & 30 next season. Do we NEED more experienced pre-retirement players? We've already got many, many veterans (which is a good thing btw).Or was it the time to add young, bustling, fit, mobile, explosive bucks ready to unleash? Players like May, JFH (older, but fits the mould), AFB (see JFH) and many others that have moved around this off season - I won't list them all to prove a point many were available.

One of the guys brought in at 33 has played 10 games in 2 years guys !! Horrible !! Or is that just me? Am I clearly missing something, and am wrong? I got one forum poster literally ignoring me for criticizing our recruitment like this.

I hope I'm wrong, but I see quite a few teams around us improving, and think we might come circa 14th, particularly if we get a few injuries in the forwards.

The NRL are speeding the game up, while we keep slowing our team down (see Lawton to Tevaga).

It is certainly something how we are still stuck on the big 3 approach to retention much like the storm were with their big three but now seem to have moved on from

 

[master blaster]

They finished bottom... again. They needed to recruit better than us

I agree with you but either we are not chasing anyone or we cant attract any decent signings

 

[Tragic Eagle]

I hope we get Bateman to partner Big O in the backrow.

 

[Phobia]

It does actually spin me out - for the past 10 years we've averaged around 10th - 11th, but have always been cap strapped? There's always been periods where bottom tier clubs have a large amount of cap space to spend to turn things around (see Bulldogs).

Our recruitment has been diabolical. We're bringing in players 33, 33 & 30 next season. Do we NEED more experienced pre-retirement players? We've already got many, many veterans (which is a good thing btw).Or was it the time to add young, bustling, fit, mobile, explosive bucks ready to unleash? Players like May, JFH (older, but fits the mould), AFB (see JFH) and many others that have moved around this off season - I won't list them all to prove a point many were available.

One of the guys brought in at 33 has played 10 games in 2 years guys !! Horrible !! Or is that just me? Am I clearly missing something, and am wrong? I got one forum poster literally ignoring me for criticizing our recruitment like this.

I hope I'm wrong, but I see quite a few teams around us improving, and think we might come circa 14th, particularly if we get a few injuries in the forwards.

The NRL are speeding the game up, while we keep slowing our team down (see Lawton to Tevaga).

We're still paying Jake for who he was in 2019. That's what has hamstrung us. For all the people who say "it's for his leadership", or "off the ball", his attitude to those things hasn't changed since 2019. Instead, compare his on-the-ball numbers from when we resigned him to his numbers now. It's clear we have stuffed up. We are paying him for who he was with the ball. Not for the off-the-ball stuff

Personally I think Turbo and DCE's contracts are very good, and have paid off. I blame the club itself for Turbo's injuries. It's no coincidence that the year Jon Clarke gets here, we get 20 games out of him. That external physio also said that the previous physios diagnosed his hamstring injuries incorrectly... You don't get that if you invest in your physiotherapy staff, which we haven't cared to do for a long time.

In comparison, Jake has been in perpetual decline, and I feel like I'm going crazy that it isn't mentioned by anyone. He started the season well enough, but returned to his long-term average again. Everyone gives Taumalolo ****, but at least he showed he's still capable of performing for Tonga. Jake simply can't perform anymore.

Jake and Schuster basically occupy / occupied marquee spots #3 and #5. Neither of them have performed for their money. The club can't make massive changes while they are still on the payroll. The club has done well to get rid of Tuilagi, and some of the other high paid dead weight, but the agendas of the incompetent management of the past still remain, which forced us to resign Aloiai. If we didnt resign him, Olakau'atu, Koula, Laiafi, and the heavily Christian island contingent who see him as their leader would revolt.

This club has had pathetic management for a long time. We can't let Mestrov go.

 

[Wombat Junior]

It does actually spin me out - for the past 10 years we've averaged around 10th - 11th, but have always been cap strapped? There's always been periods where bottom tier clubs have a large amount of cap space to spend to turn things around (see Bulldogs).

Our recruitment has been diabolical. We're bringing in players 33, 33 & 30 next season. Do we NEED more experienced pre-retirement players? We've already got many, many veterans (which is a good thing btw).Or was it the time to add young, bustling, fit, mobile, explosive bucks ready to unleash? Players like May, JFH (older, but fits the mould), AFB (see JFH) and many others that have moved around this off season - I won't list them all to prove a point many were available.

One of the guys brought in at 33 has played 10 games in 2 years guys !! Horrible !! Or is that just me? Am I clearly missing something, and am wrong? I got one forum poster literally ignoring me for criticizing our recruitment like this.

I hope I'm wrong, but I see quite a few teams around us improving, and think we might come circa 14th, particularly if we get a few injuries in the forwards.

The NRL are speeding the game up, while we keep slowing our team down (see Lawton to Tevaga).

I agree, I feel like we are the retirement village team, it’s like our requirement is that you have to be over a certain age, at the end of your career or unwanted by your club.

 

[SeaEagleRock8]

Our recruitment has been diabolical. We're bringing in players 33, 33 & 30 next season.

I wouldn't worry too much about that, because we do have youth in the squad.

We've also added young forwards Pua'avase from Cows and Patolo from Dogs. We still have Aitasi James who is young, and Jake Simpkin and Gordie are both young. Navale is young. Even Burbo and Bull are still young. Joey Walsh is 18. Lehi is still a teen.

Anyhow don't discount the value of NRL experience. The Test side is always made up of guys closer to 30 than 20. This year Dearden (23) and Smith (25) were the 2 'youngsters'. Mitch Barnett is 30 and having his best year.

 

[47MVEagle]

Just read an article saying Sione Fainu isn’t guaranteed a spot in the top 30 next year & Tartak was asking for a please explain when they signed May as he assumed Sione was getting the last top 30 spot.

Went on to say Richardson wasn’t going to be pressured by player managers trying to use other players (read: Samuela & Latu) under his management to force him to sign Sione to keep them happy.

Glad to see other clubs getting wise to the dirty underhanded tactics used by player managers & this is further proof that it is indeed a “thing” & not just a media beat up as some would have you believe.

 

[HoldenV8]

Did anyone else notice that NRL coaches ranking list that's come out?

Benji was listed 17th out of 17. There are two ahead of him (Ryles and Woolf) who have never coached full time in the NRL before. Woolf has at least coached St Helens in 80 games (winning 3 SL Grand Final's and a Challenge Cup Final) and has coached Tonga in 24 tests. But Ryles has never worked as a head coach, just an assistant.

And they were ranked above Benji.

 

[The '47ers]

Did anyone else notice that NRL coaches ranking list that's come out?

Benji was listed 17th out of 17. There are two ahead of him (Ryles and Woolf) who have never coached full time in the NRL before. Woolf has at least coached St Helens in 80 games (winning 3 SL Grand Final's and a Challenge Cup Final) and has coached Tonga in 24 tests. But Ryles has never worked as a head coach, just an assistant.

And they were ranked above Benji.

Ryles did go through a fairly heavy apprenticeship though, but yeah you are right, no time as the Gaffer.

 

[jbb/james]

Did anyone else notice that NRL coaches ranking list that's come out?

Benji was listed 17th out of 17. There are two ahead of him (Ryles and Woolf) who have never coached full time in the NRL before. Woolf has at least coached St Helens in 80 games (winning 3 SL Grand Final's and a Challenge Cup Final) and has coached Tonga in 24 tests. But Ryles has never worked as a head coach, just an assistant.

And they were ranked above Benji.

I think both Ryles and Woolf have better chances of seeing out 2025 than benji

 

[mickqld]

Latu Fainu and 2 others to front the Tigers board for failing pre season fitness levels. Seems that Manly might have had good reasons not to re-sign.

 

[SeaEagleRock8]

Latu Fainu and 2 others to front the Tigers board for failing pre season fitness levels. Seems that Manly might have had good reasons not to re-sign.

Yeah there was a red flag or something according to some posters here. Hopefully he sorts himself out asap.

Meanwhile for a little light off-season diversion, here is the tale of this guy, one of the most mega-talented youngsters coming through, hence he was given a chance at a multitude of top clubs. Had a couple of off-field issues, apparently.

My favourite line .."Taumata finished his NRL career as one of the least successful players in the history of the game"

Arana Taumata - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

 

[LeonardCohen]

It is certainly something how we are still stuck on the big 3 approach to retention much like the storm were with their big three but now seem to have moved on from

The Storm currently have a big four - Hughes, Munster, Grant and Pappy. All command around the million dollar mark and are considered the premier spine in the NRL.

 

[NYEagle]

Are we still all riddlerd with regret that we let Latu Fainu go?

I mean really, enough is enough. Need to move on.

NYEagle

 

[mave]

Are we still all riddlerd with regret that we let Latu Fainu go?

I mean really, enough is enough. Need to move on.

NYEagle

Nope.

Samuela will prove to be the biggest loss of this current generation.

Not entirely our fault though.

 

[Mark from Brisbane]

Are we still all riddlerd with regret that we let Latu Fainu go?

I mean really, enough is enough. Need to move on.

NYEagle

Honestly , pleased to see them go, may be talented but they just seem like trouble and just because ones very talented they’ll only going it’s a package deal.

No thanks , let’s move on

 

[mickqld]

Honestly , pleased to see them go, may be talented but they just seem like trouble and just because ones very talented they’ll only going it’s a package deal.

No thanks , let’s move on

Talent means nothing if you've got no brains.

 

[manly al]

As much as it would have been appealing to still have Sam Fainu at Manly , really could not justify that 500 K that he is now apparently getting at the Tigers and apart from the package [ brother ] arrangement for the Tigers move
Sione could well have been a better proposition then Taukeiaho but may be expecting a bit more then a train and trial deal

 

[Tragic Eagle]

We need to move forward not backwards. Benji was never happy with the Fainu signings that was Brett Fulton’s work. Benji has a big Ego.