If we do sign him he would have to come through Cup first unless Star or AD’s form drops. And that would be another positive to sign him, real competition for those outside backs positions.Taylan is a good player, certainly good enough for our top17 if he plays to his panthers quality. Terrell is our best FRF in a decade or more and he is Taylans older brother from a tight family. Let’s not over think this. Look what Sione has done with the motivation to play with his brothers
In terms of forwards who might be available right now Ativalu Lisati at the Storm is someone that could be looked at. Just turned 24, was picked up from the Panthers system last year but stuck behind some very good forwards down there. He’s off contract after this year. Have to admit to not seeing him play but would come out of 2 great, successful systems & wouldn’t take up a great deal of cap space. And the Storm must’ve had an opinion of him. That’s an option. Another option is to look at picking up Kamikamica for next 2 seasons as he’s off contract as well. And maybe look at further developing Sukkar & possibly Sione (next off season) to back up what we have now as not many classy edges on the market anyway.
I drag this post back out because of the suggestion regarding Ativalu Lisati. I heard that his girlfriend is Christian Pio who has just re-signed for Wests Tigers NRLW
https://www.weststigers.com.au/news/2025/05/02/christian-pio-extends-stay-with-wests-tigers/
Lisati is stuck behind Blore and Katoa. He trains with Storm Monday to Friday and flies up to Sydney each weekend to play for the Bears.
Wests Tigers have 3 top 30 places to fill for 2025. I hope the club is making moves in the player market for the rest of this season. We are crying out for players in my view.
Yes, seen him on the Storm extended bench a fair bit lately. Not a huge chance of breaking into that pack in the near future unless injuries so could be keen for opportunity & return to Sydney. I’m like players who come from great systems. Also think Storm can’t keep all their players because have to upgrade their wingers, Wishart etc. Vaalepu is another worth looking at as well down there. I’d love Fonua Pole’s younger brother, Suli, but pretty sure Storm won’t want to lose him anytime soon.If we do sign him he would have to come through Cup first unless Star or AD’s form drops. And that would be another positive to sign him, real competition for those outside backs positions.Taylan is a good player, certainly good enough for our top17 if he plays to his panthers quality. Terrell is our best FRF in a decade or more and he is Taylans older brother from a tight family. Let’s not over think this. Look what Sione has done with the motivation to play with his brothers
In terms of forwards who might be available right now Ativalu Lisati at the Storm is someone that could be looked at. Just turned 24, was picked up from the Panthers system last year but stuck behind some very good forwards down there. He’s off contract after this year. Have to admit to not seeing him play but would come out of 2 great, successful systems & wouldn’t take up a great deal of cap space. And the Storm must’ve had an opinion of him. That’s an option. Another option is to look at picking up Kamikamica for next 2 seasons as he’s off contract as well. And maybe look at further developing Sukkar & possibly Sione (next off season) to back up what we have now as not many classy edges on the market anyway.
I drag this post back out because of the suggestion regarding Ativalu Lisati. I heard that his girlfriend is Christian Pio who has just re-signed for Wests Tigers NRLW
https://www.weststigers.com.au/news/2025/05/02/christian-pio-extends-stay-with-wests-tigers/
Lisati is stuck behind Blore and Katoa. He trains with Storm Monday to Friday and flies up to Sydney each weekend to play for the Bears.
Wests Tigers have 3 top 30 places to fill for 2025. I hope the club is making moves in the player market for the rest of this season. We are crying out for players in my view.
I know people won’t like this suggestion but I think it’s not too bad especially given our current circumstances. Ryan Matterson is available by all reports & could fill a hole we have at the moment. He can play a ball playing lock or cover 2nd row. If we were to offer him this year and next we might be able to front load his contract so we don’t use next year’s cap money. If you could bring in Taylan May as well then we’d surely still have plenty of cap to bring in a couple of top first grade players next year & maybe one or two others.
There’s a bit of talk around the socials that KPP is about to be cut loose by the Knights, enabling them to get Young back. Apparently the sticking point is salary cap space and if KPP is signing elsewhere for 2026 he might be able to leave imminently.
Wests Tigers Podcast - Talking everything Wests Tigers!
I know people won’t like this suggestion but I think it’s not too bad especially given our current circumstances. Ryan Matterson is available by all reports & could fill a hole we have at the moment. He can play a ball playing lock or cover 2nd row. If we were to offer him this year and next we might be able to front load his contract so we don’t use next year’s cap money. If you could bring in Taylan May as well then we’d surely still have plenty of cap to bring in a couple of top first grade players next year & maybe one or two others.
Cant see him finding a way back to Wests Tigers because he couldn't wait to leave us but I always rated him as a player.
He's actually in an interesting space because players in his position historically find their way to Super League but they cannot any more because of a change in the UK visa rules. Apparently for someone like Matterson to play SL in 2026 he needs to have played at least 50% of all eligible NRL games in the prior year. So for him to be languishing in reggies now he's probably going to have to stay there and collect his full $600k for this year and next.
There’s a bit of talk around the socials that KPP is about to be cut loose by the Knights, enabling them to get Young back. Apparently the sticking point is salary cap space and if KPP is signing elsewhere for 2026 he might be able to leave imminently.
https://www.smh.com.au/sport/nrl/round-11-around-the-clubs-20250511-p5ly7j.html
I think the two players would be on similar contracts so it might play out. I hope they also throw us a Frizell or Adam Elliot. I don't see a lot of maturity in the Terrell May vlogs and think we need some older heads desperately!
The more I think about Galvin the more I think he will go to the Bulldogs. I just read that on 360 they discussed Gould & comments re Sexton. They certainly aren’t in any hurry to extend him. Given Galvin s camp are saying it’s about his development & coaching, all the issues Gould has been alluding to, it makes more sense Galvin will go there. He also has a previous mentor & a very good mate there. And they are now successful again. If this is the case I hope we can look at Kikau or Preston in return should they want Galvin early (2026).
The more I think about Galvin the more I think he will go to the Bulldogs. I just read that on 360 they discussed Gould & comments re Sexton. They certainly aren’t in any hurry to extend him. Given Galvin s camp are saying it’s about his development & coaching, all the issues Gould has been alluding to, it makes more sense Galvin will go there. He also has a previous mentor & a very good mate there. And they are now successful again. If this is the case I hope we can look at Kikau or Preston in return should they want Galvin early (2026).
as much as I hate the bulldogs I hate the eels more. Plus as you point out the bulldogs might have some cards that we will want. I doubt they will let Preston leave but I can see kikau being allowed to leave. He is a LHS player though so you will need to move Sam to the RHS.
Unfortunately for Richo & the Tigers there doesn’t appear to be much “falling out of trees” at present, Taylan May being the exception I suppose. I can only assume when he talked of 2 or 3 new signings one to be May (hopefully) and others stuck in Cup looking for opportunities. Ryan Matterson is probably the only one who I know for sure is looking around. Guess we’ll see soon who he meant.
They aren't cup level players.
In memory of Geoff Chisholm (1965-2022)
The more I think about Galvin the more I think he will go to the Bulldogs. I just read that on 360 they discussed Gould & comments re Sexton. They certainly aren’t in any hurry to extend him. Given Galvin s camp are saying it’s about his development & coaching, all the issues Gould has been alluding to, it makes more sense Galvin will go there. He also has a previous mentor & a very good mate there. And they are now successful again. If this is the case I hope we can look at Kikau or Preston in return should they want Galvin early (2026).
Concerning as the Bulldogs are also on the lookout for a hooker...
It’s all speculation but I do tend to agree. If it does go this way then Kikau could be our best hope of a player swap. He does also have a connection with the Fijian boys & Jarome.The more I think about Galvin the more I think he will go to the Bulldogs. I just read that on 360 they discussed Gould & comments re Sexton. They certainly aren’t in any hurry to extend him. Given Galvin s camp are saying it’s about his development & coaching, all the issues Gould has been alluding to, it makes more sense Galvin will go there. He also has a previous mentor & a very good mate there. And they are now successful again. If this is the case I hope we can look at Kikau or Preston in return should they want Galvin early (2026).
as much as I hate the bulldogs I hate the eels more. Plus as you point out the bulldogs might have some cards that we will want. I doubt they will let Preston leave but I can see kikau being allowed to leave. He is a LHS player though so you will need to move Sam to the RHS.
I, like most here, think TDS is a terrific young hooker but we do have Jared Haywood also coming through and he is as good if not better imo. Different types of players, I see Jared as more of a patient & smarter player than TDS but not quite as dynamic.The more I think about Galvin the more I think he will go to the Bulldogs. I just read that on 360 they discussed Gould & comments re Sexton. They certainly aren’t in any hurry to extend him. Given Galvin s camp are saying it’s about his development & coaching, all the issues Gould has been alluding to, it makes more sense Galvin will go there. He also has a previous mentor & a very good mate there. And they are now successful again. If this is the case I hope we can look at Kikau or Preston in return should they want Galvin early (2026).
Concerning as the Bulldogs are also on the lookout for a hooker...
I, like most here, think TDS is a terrific young hooker but we do have Jared Haywood also coming through and he is as good if not better imo. Different types of players, I see Jared as more of a patient & smarter player than TDS but not quite as dynamic.The more I think about Galvin the more I think he will go to the Bulldogs. I just read that on 360 they discussed Gould & comments re Sexton. They certainly aren’t in any hurry to extend him. Given Galvin s camp are saying it’s about his development & coaching, all the issues Gould has been alluding to, it makes more sense Galvin will go there. He also has a previous mentor & a very good mate there. And they are now successful again. If this is the case I hope we can look at Kikau or Preston in return should they want Galvin early (2026).
Concerning as the Bulldogs are also on the lookout for a hooker...
Who would you compare him to? I haven't seen anything of him.
That’s a bit of a tough one. Maybe Wade Egan.I, like most here, think TDS is a terrific young hooker but we do have Jared Haywood also coming through and he is as good if not better imo. Different types of players, I see Jared as more of a patient & smarter player than TDS but not quite as dynamic.The more I think about Galvin the more I think he will go to the Bulldogs. I just read that on 360 they discussed Gould & comments re Sexton. They certainly aren’t in any hurry to extend him. Given Galvin s camp are saying it’s about his development & coaching, all the issues Gould has been alluding to, it makes more sense Galvin will go there. He also has a previous mentor & a very good mate there. And they are now successful again. If this is the case I hope we can look at Kikau or Preston in return should they want Galvin early (2026).
Concerning as the Bulldogs are also on the lookout for a hooker...
Who would you compare him to? I haven't seen anything of him.
Just read elsewhere that Adam Reynolds may be linked to a move to WT. Interesting. Apparently Richos son has connections to him 🤔.
