So Brooks, Laurie, Talau to Manly and Fainu brothers and Schuster to us?
let the insanity begin
Manly are going to have an interesting squad. A periodically injured Turbo (think he can only ever play at 80% now or risk injury), DCE in his final couple of years, brooks. Then they are going to lose Schuster and Fainu who have been groomed to be their long term halves pairing.
So Brooks, Laurie, Talau to Manly and Fainu brothers and Schuster to us?
let the insanity begin
I think Brooks would be the back up if Schuster leaves. Brooks and DCE would be great for a year or two before DCE retires.
Schuster is so inconcistent. But clearly talented. Plus he so young so it's understandable why Manly want to persist with him.
In saying that if I had to choose between a halves combo for us next year of Schuster and Fainu or Brooks and Fainu then I am going Brooks as a Fainu/Schuster pairing sounds like a disaster at this stage of their careers.
We did so well with Klemmer, Bateman, Api and Ice. Worth every penny.
From Danny Weidler:
Luke who’s in mix
The Sea Eagles have put a three-year deal in front of Josh Schuster, but they also have an interest in Luke Brooks.
Sea Eagles coach Anthony Seibold is said to be a fan of Brooks and there is a feeling he would work beautifully with Daly Cherry-Evans. It is unclear if Brooks is seen as a back-up plan should Schuster be lured to Brooks’ current club, Wests Tigers.
With Cherry-Evans such a dominant halfback, Brooks would be able to bounce around as a running player. The option is only in the planning phase at this point.
a halfback like DCE, Adam Reynolds, Cleary, etc is exactly what would complement Brooks. Pity we haven’t been able to match him with one over the last 6-7 years. Would have made a more than serviceable 6 paired with a dominant half.
@888 a shame we only ever played him as a 7 because I agree with you. The douhie recruitment and move in 6, the Hastings year where we played him as a 13 in defence and 7 in attack. A waste in hindsight. Hopefully he finds a good role at another club
Latu Fainu late withdrawal in todays KOE cup game…
Wests Tigers Podcast - Talking everything Wests Tigers!
From ‘The Forgotten Man’ on Facebook:
BREAKING NEWS!!
A halfback carousel is about to begin…..
Chad Townsend to Dragons
Ben Hunt to Brisbane
Latu Fainu to Tigers: On a side note, Daine Laurie/Tommy Talau could both be traded for both Fainu brothers as Turbo cover in the backline.
Sam Walker to Cowboys: this one is still up in the air, but if he was to leave Cowboys is where he’ll end up
Luke Brooks to Leeds: maybe Cowboys depending on the potential Walker deal
Been reading the forums I see
Sexton has been given permission to negotiate with rival clubs in a move that suggests the Titans are planning to enter the bidding war for Hunt’s services.
@kenny4517 this is who we should be after. Most titans fans are scratching their heads he’s not in the team. If it was the storm you’d ask what the issue is, but I just don’t trust the titans have the best eye for talent .
especially in the spine .
@kenny4517 this is who we should be after. Most titans fans are scratching their heads he’s not in the team. If it was the storm you’d ask what the issue is, but I just don’t trust the titans have the best eye for talent .
especially in the spine .
I totally agree, Sexton is a solid player, he just needs a bit of time put into him.
Future Wests Tigers head coach Benji Marshall has informed new recruitment boss Scott Fulton that he is not interested in making a bold play for rising Manly playmaker Josh Schuster.
It comes as Manly and the Wests Tigers finalise an immediate swap deal that will see Tommy Talau depart the Tigers midway through the final year of his deal to link up with the Sea Eagles.
In return, the Tigers will receive highly regarded young playmaker Latu Fainu, which the Tigers hope could also yield the signature of his older brother, Samuela.
While a deal is yet to be finalised, both Latu Fainu and Tommy Talau were rested from the lower grades this weekend in preparation for the likely swap.
Fulton, who was recently signed by the Tigers to oversee the club’s recruitment, has a close connection with Schuster having lured him to Manly as a teenager.
He had told club officials that he had the relationship with Schuster to entice him to the Tigers if they wanted to pursue his signature.
However, Marshall, who will take charge of the club as Tim Sheens’ successor in 2025, has told the club that Schuster is not the answer to the Tigers’ halves dilemma.
Meanwhile, Daine Laurie is set for an NRL recall when the Tigers head north to face the Cowboys on Saturday.
Laurie hasn’t played in the NRL since round four, losing his fullback spot to boom rookie Jahream Bula. He will now get a shot at the No.6 jersey in the absence of Luke Brooks.
Laurie has recently been offered deals to link up with Super League clubs Warrington and Leeds.
The 23-year-old has opted against taking them up and will be given the chance to prove his worth when the Tigers square off with the Cowboys in Townsville.
Laurie, who joined the club from the Panthers in 2020, is off contract at the end of the season and will now get a chance to prove he is worthy of a new deal.
He was meant to play for the Tigers in their last game however a concussion in NSW Cup prevented him from partnering Brandon Wakeham in the halves. The pair are expected to combine this weekend.
In memory of Geoff Chisholm (1965-2022)
