If we're seriously hoping for this "Penrith kid" to replace Bula, then the club may as well give up. I surely will if Bula is not retained.
If we're seriously hoping for this "Penrith kid" to replace Bula, then the club may as well give up. I surely will if Bula is not retained.
turuva to fullback
wing makasini
wing skelton
we lost tedesco he aint no redesco and never will be we will survive bula leaving
Turuva was serviceable a fullback but he is a clear downgrade. What’s frustrating is we will probably have to develop another one like this kid from Penrith. We are just finishing Bulas development. Fullback is one of the top 3 most important t players on the field, arguably it is an essential position to have an elite player in that position to make the top 9. HBG and Moses strike again.
As far as I know there has been nothing announced regarding Jahream’s future. There have been rumours but that’s all. And there will always be rumours around players of Jahream’s quality if they are undergoing contract talks. There is very little NRL news over the Christmas period so rumours are generally a source of interest to many waiting to hear news of player movement etc. I remain hopeful that Jahream will stay as he has his best football in front of him but if he chooses to leave for another opportunity in 2027 then I am sure he will do all he can to help the club have success this season. And I’m very confident the club will be successful. But right now I will wait for an official announcement before looking at other options.
I do also think that the reason Jahream’s contract talks are taking a long time is that he is giving the Tigers every chance to review their offer and to match offers he might be receiving elsewhere. That could mean the amount of money, length of contract & any potential clauses that might be included. If he has been receiving offers from more than one other club, a very good chance one would think, then there would be a need for those clubs to adjust their Salary Cap planning depending upon the offers made and their desire to make him part of their plans. What is concerning to me is the Panthers CEO saying they only let Jack Attard leave once they knew the offer from the Tigers was greater than they were willing to give him. The Panthers were not going to let him leave simply for an opportunity elsewhere. That suggests the Tigers were very intent on a back up plan.
Progress of young players like the Fainu brothers, Jahream, Taylan, Masi etc. 2nd season for Luai at his position of 6, not 7. I expect no internal issues from players ala Galvin but there’s always a chance, Benji & his staff have another year under their belts and will improve. KPP will improve the right edge as we didn’t have an out & out right edge forward there last season. Players will be another year familiar with Benji & staff and each other. And stability amongst the group will be better and that is the most important factor at this club given the changes over the last several seasons. I think KPP & perhaps a middle will be the only additions to the top 20 of last season and those players will play the majority of games given no major injuries.And I’m very confident the club will be successful.
Serious question. Why?
And the left edge.
If you're confident @russtutty63 then I'm hopeful. But, in all honesty, if Jahream Bula is not retained then that's it for me. To me, it is so bleedingly obvious that he is the best position-specific talent we have in the squad. By comparison, all those points you made are conditional and possibilities at best.
Progress of young players like the Fainu brothers, Jahream, Taylan, Masi etc. 2nd season for Luai at his position of 6, not 7. I expect no internal issues from players ala Galvin but there’s always a chance, Benji & his staff have another year under their belts and will improve. KPP will improve the right edge as we didn’t have an out & out right edge forward there last season. Players will be another year familiar with Benji & staff and each other. And stability amongst the group will be better and that is the most important factor at this club given the changes over the last several seasons. I think KPP & perhaps a middle will be the only additions to the top 20 of last season and those players will play the majority of games given no major injuries.And I’m very confident the club will be successful.
Serious question. Why?
And the left edge.
Russ I pretty much totally agree with everything you have written here, but there is a massive element you have not included which is the reason I am not at all confident that this club will be successful. Basically its everything off the field.
The drums are beating that Jahream is going and the farce that HBG pulled prior to Christmas can not have helped these negotiations. Now Richo is no longer there and is replaced by a bloke who seems a good bloke but no RL experience in that role. Luai still has his clause to escape after this year and again, what would recent moves have said to him.
On top of that, every single player that you have listed as the ones that are going to pull this club up from the canvas are able to be signed by other clubs at the end of THIS year (except KPP). Nothing that you have said is going to happen or matter if we lose Bula and/or Luai and once the dam breaks I have almost no confidence of keeping the other names you have mentioned and then this club will be doomed. This club will not survive another 5 years at the bottom.
If the HBG coup didnt happen late last year, I might share your confidence, but I simply cant now.
I can’t deny that the HBG shenanigans could have some effect upon the playing group but I believe in the leadership group, Luai, Api, AD, Terrell etc. And more importantly I see Benji as key to how they react. Benji loves this club, he knows this club & the players understand that. They see him as their leader, not HBG. I’m sure Benji & the playing group will be just as determined to succeed and as long as they stay connected they will be ok. As for Jahream he is here this year at least as far as I know. The players believe in him and he won’t let them down but if a better offer than what the Tigers can provide comes and he takes it then that’s football and they all understand that. As for the rest being able to talk to clubs Nov 2026 then there’s plenty that could happen between now & then. Let’s look at the first 10 rounds and see how we’re going before making judgements on the on field stuff.Progress of young players like the Fainu brothers, Jahream, Taylan, Masi etc. 2nd season for Luai at his position of 6, not 7. I expect no internal issues from players ala Galvin but there’s always a chance, Benji & his staff have another year under their belts and will improve. KPP will improve the right edge as we didn’t have an out & out right edge forward there last season. Players will be another year familiar with Benji & staff and each other. And stability amongst the group will be better and that is the most important factor at this club given the changes over the last several seasons. I think KPP & perhaps a middle will be the only additions to the top 20 of last season and those players will play the majority of games given no major injuries.And I’m very confident the club will be successful.
Serious question. Why?
And the left edge.
Russ I pretty much totally agree with everything you have written here, but there is a massive element you have not included which is the reason I am not at all confident that this club will be successful. Basically its everything off the field.
The drums are beating that Jahream is going and the farce that HBG pulled prior to Christmas can not have helped these negotiations. Now Richo is no longer there and is replaced by a bloke who seems a good bloke but no RL experience in that role. Luai still has his clause to escape after this year and again, what would recent moves have said to him.
On top of that, every single player that you have listed as the ones that are going to pull this club up from the canvas are able to be signed by other clubs at the end of THIS year (except KPP). Nothing that you have said is going to happen or matter if we lose Bula and/or Luai and once the dam breaks I have almost no confidence of keeping the other names you have mentioned and then this club will be doomed. This club will not survive another 5 years at the bottom.
If the HBG coup didnt happen late last year, I might share your confidence, but I simply cant now.
Jahream is a very good fullback and will get better so if he goes it will suck but there will be options to look at & we’ll look at that if it happens. I don’t think there’s too much conditional on a few of the points I raised, KPP is an edge backrower and Seyfarth & Sione were filling in on that edge but are more suited to the middle. Tony Sukkar, another young player who played on that edge is still learning what it’s about so KPP will be a better option. Combinations do improve the more reps they do and games they play. Players understand their roles and the roles of those around them better as well as their strength’s & weaknesses. Not all young players will improve but most do over time and if 75% of ours do then we will be better off. And you’re right these are all possibilities but very little is certain in football except the Storm, Penrith & Rorters playing finals footy. The Broncos could be added to that category as well now that they’ve broken through.If you're confident @russtutty63 then I'm hopeful. But, in all honesty, if Jahream Bula is not retained then that's it for me. To me, it is so bleedingly obvious that he is the best position-specific talent we have in the squad. By comparison, all those points you made are conditional and possibilities at best.
Nice work Russ.I like your observations and perspective.Most of all I love the fact that you maintain a sense of optimism and faith in what is at play with our much maligned, but still beloved Wests Tigers.I agree that the whole fiasco of HBG and governance is an ongoing millstone,but like you I believe there is so much to be genuinely optimistic as to Benji and this squad,and how it translates to the ultimate team we field.A real work in progress and by no means the basket case that some would have you believe.
Thanks, I understand how difficult it can be sometimes to see the positives as social media provides a very convenient platform to vent frustration and mainstream tends to feed of it to a large degree thereby exacerbating the issue. That’s not to say there aren’t problems that need to be solved, there always is and will be. And HBG have a shocking record at running a football club, no denying it. That could change but seems unlikely. But winning on field is down to the coaching staff, the backroom staff, players & leaders within that playing group. If that group is mentally strong enough to deal with the noise surrounding the club, and there has always been noise around this club so it’s not something they weren’t aware of before deciding to play here, then they will cope ok. They might even be able to use it to their advantage, the backs against the wall type of motivation some teams have used previously to succeed. I could all go pear shaped but if Benji and his leadership group are strong enough they will be ok in my opinion.Nice work Russ.I like your observations and perspective.Most of all I love the fact that you maintain a sense of optimism and faith in what is at play with our much maligned, but still beloved Wests Tigers.I agree that the whole fiasco of HBG and governance is an ongoing millstone,but like you I believe there is so much to be genuinely optimistic as to Benji and this squad,and how it translates to the ultimate team we field.A real work in progress and by no means the basket case that some would have you believe.
Of course this is in direct contrast to the popular mantra that a winning club starts in the front office. It is, after all, the CEO who negotiates new and prospective contracts and our new CEO could be a breath of fresh air in that regard. I hope so. Securing Bula's signature to remain a Tiger is his first big test.But winning on field is down to the coaching staff, the backroom staff, players & leaders within that playing group.
The difference between winning and losing is very small in today’s NRL. For example our decision to play across 5 home grounds some years has cost us wins, spoons or top 8 births. It’s not right to say that it’s just the the NRL team environment that matters. It’s everything from the ball boys to the owners. This is why we are destined to stay an also ran in this competition.
