I don’t think these numbers are correct. He is not on $600k a season, he is on $600k for the next 2 seasons combined
@tigertownsfs I believe its around $300 for 2025 and $350 for 2026 but will be upgraded for both to $600 if he extends. $800+ for 2027 and beyond, sky is the limit.
@tigertownsfs I believe its around $300 for 2025 and $350 for 2026 but will be upgraded for both to $600 if he extends. $800+ for 2027 and beyond, sky is the limit.
he would be mad not to sign something like an upgraded 4 year deal.
@tigertownsfs I believe its around $300 for 2025 and $350 for 2026 but will be upgraded for both to $600 if he extends. $800+ for 2027 and beyond, sky is the limit.
he would be mad not to sign something like an upgraded 4 year deal.
Yes, his market value today is considerably more than what he’s on.
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@tigertownsfs I believe its around $300 for 2025 and $350 for 2026 but will be upgraded for both to $600 if he extends. $800+ for 2027 and beyond, sky is the limit.
he would be mad not to sign something like an upgraded 4 year deal.
Yes, his market value today is considerably more than what he’s on.
if he doesn’t extend over the summer he is gone. You don’t give up 2 years of pay just to see what is available in 2027
The money will be good anywhere in the NRL,
He will stay if there is the possibility of becoming a winning club.
Yep, you nailed it. Let's hope for a much more successful 2025 to start with.The money will be good anywhere in the NRL,
He will stay if there is the possibility of becoming a winning club.
Never a dull day in Tiger Town, even the good ones.
On Thursday the Tigers pulled out all the stops, their entire playing squad, staff marshalling proceedings wearing headsets and a slew of 2005 premiership-winners to announce the biggest sponsorship in club history.
A multi-million-dollar front-of-jersey deal with Pepper Money came with a song and dance at the Tigers’ Centre of Excellence, and an extensive media turnout for coach Benji Marshall and CEO Shane Richardson holding court.
Even with a club staffer attempting to steer questioning back toward the sponsorship deal at one point, talk of John Bateman’s impending exit, Terrell May’s looming arrival and training standards at the club were the real order of the day.
At times Marshall was terse, at others expansive, while Richardson was bullishly positive throughout.
The John Bateman saga
By the fourth question regarding Bateman’s future – or lack thereof – at the Tigers, Marshall was down to one-word answers.
“Yes,” he hopes the rolling drama around the English veteran is sorted as soon as possible, though he is “unsure” if that means Bateman returns to the club in 2025.
The 31-year-old has two years to run on a lucrative deal worth around $700,000 per season, and has been exploring options elsewhere with the Tigers’ blessing.
Marshall dismissed regular and widespread reports – including by this masthead – that he and Bateman had fallen out over a perception the coach was implementing double standards among his players. The Rugby League Players Association also intervened recently to determine the exact date Bateman is due to return to Tigers training in the new year, if at all.
“I’ve had honest discussions and in-house discussions around where John’s future is,” Marshall said.
“Those discussions will remain private but the things that have been reported are not true.”
Asked if Bateman actually wants to play for the Tigers, Richardson added: “That’s up to John Bateman, at the end of the day.
“I can’t answer for John Bateman. I’d like to but I can’t. John knows that he’s got a contract in place, his manager’s made it clear he’s got a contract in place.
“We honour every contract at the club, so if John wants to be here for the next two years, then he’ll be here for the next two years. That’s a decision between him and his manager.”
The training standards
Marshall, his players and coaching staff all trooped into Thursday’s sponsorship announcement fresh from the training paddock, assistant coach John Morris wearing his boots throughout the event.
From skipper Api Koroisau, to young gun Lachie Galvin and new recruits Jack Bird and Royce Hunt, Tigers players are reporting that this is the toughest pre-season they’ve ever known.
The summer slog began with youngsters Latu Fainu, Solomona Faataape and Solomone Saukuru being served breach notice because they failed to meet weight and skinfold criteria, as well as outlined time trials for a 1.6-kilometre run.
Fellow youngsters Heath Mason and Brandon Tumeth also failed to meet their time trial expectations, but were only served warnings.
The club’s response put the players on notice, with newly signed prop Royce Hunt returning to training three weeks early to ensure he hits the standards expected of him.
Marshall declined to go in depth on the matter, but said he is impressed with the response of his players to his new, tougher regime, where they are not allowed to complain about heat and a ‘one-in, all-in’ policy rules.
“We’ve made really clear the standards of where we’re going and to see the players buy into that, off the back of three wooden spoons as a club, we need to be better,” he said.
“The players have really attacked it, I’m really happy with where we’re at, the fitness levels at training and the buy-in from the players.”
Terrell May: the misunderstood marquee signing
Amongst the off-season drama, the Tigers were struck by a recruitment rainbow.
Rising Samoan prop Terrell May inked a three-year, $2.1 million deal two weeks ago after being surprisingly put on the open market by the Roosters.
Conjecture around May’s off-field fit at the Roosters followed, with elements of a candid interview with this masthead cited as cause for concern about his commitment to a full-time NRL career.
May’s concession that “Sometimes I just get, ‘I don’t want to be there and don’t want to play’,” was said to have raised eyebrows.
But Marshall himself has raised a similar perspective as a player and made no apologies for prioritising his young family as a coach, and weighed up May as a signing accordingly.
“I like his aggression and the way he carries the footy. He creates a lot of second phase [play] with offloads,” Marshall said of May.
“He’s a big body. He commands a lot of respect from the defensive line. And on top of that, after meeting him … I think what he said was misinterpreted.
“He’s actually a guy that has normal feelings like everyone else. He says ‘sometimes, it’s hard’. Which I admire him for. But when I sat down with him, he was fully committed to getting us out of where we are and wanted to be a part of it.”
SMH
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Yet more words from Marshall and Richo, but that's all they are; words. Marshall has about the first 9 rounds of season 2025 to prove that he can inspire, teach, develop, manage, and lead the revival of WT as an NRL club and squad that can be taken seriously. Here's hoping.
Something to watch - Cam Murray is expected to miss a chunk of 2025 and Bennett is reportedly looking to sign a forward or two, especially one with a bit of mongrel.
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I thought they were hopeful he’d be ok for rd 1 or 2? If he’s missing more than that then Bennett might have a look at JB. And Richo & Wayne go back a bit. JB would do well under Bennett too, has previously, and at around that $350,000-400,000 would be a good deal for them. Would be paying average salary for a player with experience & a point to prove.Something to watch - Cam Murray is expected to miss a chunk of 2025 and Bennett is reportedly looking to sign a forward or two, especially one with a bit of mongrel.
https://www.zerotackle.com/wests-tigers-to-enter-talks-with-forward-217430/amp/
this would imply Benji seems him in the starting 17
https://www.zerotackle.com/wests-tigers-to-enter-talks-with-forward-217430/amp/
this would imply Benji seems him in the starting 17
I’d say Benji has him penciled in on that right edge.
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He seems to improve each year as many do. Will be 26 next year & has played 70 games now so would expect him to be peaking now. If he can nail down a spot, train all preseason in that position & get used to the one role it might also help him. Playing outside the halves we have won’t do him any harm either. Also think he would’ve grown in confidence after being picked in that PM’s team.https://www.zerotackle.com/wests-tigers-to-enter-talks-with-forward-217430/amp/
this would imply Benji seems him in the starting 17
I’d say Benji has him penciled in on that right edge.
https://www.zerotackle.com/wests-tigers-to-enter-talks-with-forward-217430/amp/
this would imply Benji seems him in the starting 17
I’d say Benji has him penciled in on that right edge.
He is not a second rower for me, I would have him as bench prop.
In memory of Geoff Chisholm (1965-2022)
