I tend to agree, Joel. After the dismal effort and impact of an "elite" signing in Luai, WT can only go shopping in the second or third tier of players like Brailey, Averillo, Mann, Frizelle etc, that is, those who are surplus to requirements where they are.So, in the year that the genuine marquee signing (Luai) jumps ship a year early, WT are supposedly considering signing the likes of Kurt Mann, Sean O'Sullivan and Tyson Frizelle? That pretty much sums up this club. Just as with the Sheens appointment, in manager land, WT are the club that just keeps on giving to top up post-retirement income for has beens. Farcical.
I think the issue is that our mistakes compound our situation. Like, Luai was way overpaid (but had to to get him), then we are stuck paying him big dollars to play elsewhere which limits our ability to afford better quality fringe type players.
That’s why we have to be so careful in the future with spending huge money on a guy to save us.
If, say, Bellamy was the coach we could expect that they could even improve upon their current level of play and could help "save us", as you put it. Bellamy has done that repeatedly with his recruits. Sadly, WT are stuck with BQ Marshall, who seems to have the happy knack of turning players of talent and potential into underperforming, inconsistent, unaccountable plodders; albeit, happy plodders because Benji is such a great guy.
Season 2027 looks horrendous.
There’s some talk around that Blaize Talagi might be coming our way.
i would imagine that scenario would/could only happen if one of Doueihi, Madden or Schuster departed.
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There’s some talk around that Blaize Talagi might be coming our way.
i would imagine that scenario would/could only happen if one of Doueihi, Madden or Schuster departed.
we have needed a genuine 7 since 2011
There’s some talk around that Blaize Talagi might be coming our way.
i would imagine that scenario would/could only happen if one of Doueihi, Madden or Schuster departed.
we have needed a genuine 7 since 2011
I agree. Reckon though the halves for 2027 have twists and turns before being sorted.
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I think the only person who thinks Doueihi is a genuine 7, is Doueihi himself. If anyone should be punted to make room for a better halves option, it's Doueihi.There’s some talk around that Blaize Talagi might be coming our way.
i would imagine that scenario would/could only happen if one of Doueihi, Madden or Schuster departed.
we have needed a genuine 7 since 2011
Not sure what gap Talagi would fill. We already have two good young #6s
Not sure what gap Talagi would fill. We already have two good young #6s
Talagi is really a fullback
We have a lot of young, inexperienced yet talented younger players. We need a few solid veterans to compliment them as well as boosting the depth. Just need to make sure they can still contribute on as well as off the pitch.
I agree with you on this mate. It's clear Benji does as well. He made some comments about this in the post game press conference this week. Players 18-30 in the Top NRL squad are going to be rolled over in great numbers this summer.
The 6 man bench is really worth understanding a bit more when looking at veteran signings. This year we often kept Charlie Murray and Tristan Hope (by way of example) on the bench. This is a huge problem because those players because
a) they don't have much NRL experience; and
b) are not match fit when they are suddenly thrown in (like they were against Penrith in Round 14)
Therefore its clear that you cannot keep inexperienced battlers on the bench and not play them. Nor can you keep a Javon Andrews on the 6 man NRL bench and not use him. It hampers his development.
We had rookies cost us multiple games this year with individual errors. Makasini vs Brisbane and Tavana vs Cronulla come to mind.
This highlights the need for more experience in my view.
I know its 15 years since we made finals and that is a long time. But I thought it was worth comparing (with the help of AI) the differences between the 2011 squad and the 2026 squad.
In 2011, we used 14 players that year who had LESS THAN 50 games NRL experience and we played finals.
In 2026, we played 21 players who had less than 50 games NRL experience.
2026 - Under 50 games (21 players):
Vaka Aho, Javon Andrews, Latu Fainu (23), Sione Fainu (37), Mavrik Geyer (14), Jared Haywood, Tristan Hope (5), Josese Lanyon, Luke Laulilii (10), Jock Madden (32), Heamasi Makasini, Heath Mason (14), Taylan May (37), Charlie Murray (5), Kai Pearce-Paul (44 NRL), Ethan Roberts, Solomone Saukuru, Jeral Skelton (24), Tony Sukkar (8), Faaletino Tavana, Junior Tupou (38).
WT need to ensure this list of guys plays less games not more in 2027.
I would offer Doueihi to Canterbury if they accept his full salary and I think they would take him. They are crying out for halves. I don't really have an opinion on whether he can steer a team around or what his best position is, these are irrelevant issues. He burned his bridges at WT by refusing to play. it's best for both parties if he takes his business elsewhere.
@mickb don’t think getting rid of an experienced player in Adam is what the club needs. No matter how you think things went down after his controversy. He must be 125 games in, we can’t let that experience go. No matter what we think Latu can bring.
@mickb don’t think getting rid of an experienced player in Adam is what the club needs. No matter how you think things went down after his controversy. He must be 125 games in, we can’t let that experience go. No matter what we think Latu can bring.
The only way you’d let Doueihi go as things stand now would be if we had someone coming in with similar experience but was a traditional halfback type, or someone with blistering speed.
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The ultimatum to Doueihi should be along the lines of: if you want to play in the halves, then you are free to explore options elsewhere. If you stay at WT you will be used in what ever team and in what ever position the coaching staff decide.
But after his dummy spit and refusing to play, I wonder how many NRL clubs would be interested in him.
He really has no bargaining power at all with WT, IMO.
The ultimatum to Doueihi should be along the lines of: if you want to play in the halves, then you are free to explore options elsewhere. If you stay at WT you will be used in what ever team and in what ever position the coaching staff decide.
But after his dummy spit and refusing to play, I wonder how many NRL clubs would be interested in him.
He really has no bargaining power at all with WT, IMO.
Never should have given him that long contract.
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