@jedi-tiger I still think it doesn’t hold the prestige you might think it does .
There’s a reason the last “great” rugby league/ Rugby prodigy who has picked RL then gone back was Berrick Barnes , or Ryan Cross .
There’s been an infinite amount who have chosen not to . Because the wallabies suck.
And Rugby is no longer won with creative play . It’s won by attrition , kicking and field position . Created mainly by having elite forwards who can control the ruck and win scrums/ line outs .
mod which the wallabies don’t have 1 single elite forward in the country.
I don’t see Sualiii , large even Ponga making a lick of difference .
It’s why they are willing to give Angus Chricton 1.5 mil . So he can play flanker and hopefully get an athlete at the breakdown .Like I said it’s not really a selling point unless you’re knee deep in the rah rah community/cult .
I mean hey the large boys very well might be . But the pull of RL is just too strong is this country .RU simply don't have the funds to compete with League right now and after the WC debacle and general average performance of the "domestic" comp, it's not shaping up for RU to be any more competitive over the next 4-5 years.
Wallabies can afford maybe 2-3 players tops, i.e. pay the kind of salary to pull them over to union. Most of that fad of trying to sign League players ended with the Mark Gasnier experiment after Rogers / Tuqiri / Sailor. Folau has really been the only major signing since.
if wallabies are smart they make Nathan cleary an offer he can't refuse to play number 10 for wallabies.
it would put bums back on seats and create interest from the league fan tuning in to see how he goes.
The guy has mow one 3 comps played for nsw and Australia maybe he might be open to a move
@jedi-tiger what’s an offer he can’t refuse that he can’t get in league? He’d be making a fair amount from league and is playing with his mates in a game he enjoys.
https://www.weststigers.com.au/news/2023/10/05/toa-adds-two-more-years-at-wests-tigers/
Personally would have been happy to see him moved on.
https://www.weststigers.com.au/news/2023/10/05/toa-adds-two-more-years-at-wests-tigers/
Personally would have been happy to see him moved on.
Not a fan of this at all, takes up a valuable top 30 spot. Bad signing.
https://www.weststigers.com.au/news/2023/10/05/toa-adds-two-more-years-at-wests-tigers/
Personally would have been happy to see him moved on.
Not a fan of this at all, takes up a valuable top 30 spot. Bad signing.
Im still hopeful for him. Definitely saw some good signs for him halfway through the year but then seemed to regress. Maybe an injury? Or maybe just rubbish halves?
@tiger5150 I thought he had a couple of good games but he is too inconsistent. I think for us to get off the bottom we need to massively upgrade our backline. He's not good enough imo.
Hopefully some decent coaching can get the best out of him.@tiger5150 I thought he had a couple of good games but he is too inconsistent. I think for us to get off the bottom we need to massively upgrade our backline. He's not good enough imo.
Here's hoping. He looked like a star (excuse the pun) in a couple of games during the season, but he fell off badly toward the end of the season. Benji sees something in him presumably, let's hope he's right.Hopefully some decent coaching can get the best out of him.@tiger5150 I thought he had a couple of good games but he is too inconsistent. I think for us to get off the bottom we need to massively upgrade our backline. He's not good enough imo.
@tiger5150 I thought he had a couple of good games but he is too inconsistent.
I agree with you, but unlike most of our backs (bar Bula and maybe Tupou) has has at least shown that he is capable of high levels of play, suitable for a first grade centre. No one else has even shown that. Once we know he is capable, we need to get it consistently.
https://www.weststigers.com.au/news/2023/10/05/toa-adds-two-more-years-at-wests-tigers/
Personally would have been happy to see him moved on.
Not a fan of this at all, takes up a valuable top 30 spot. Bad signing.
Legitimate question - is To'a currently the best centre at the club? If yes, and that is what I think, then it's sensible to have him Top 30. Even if he becomes a backup, you still need to fill 2 centre spots every week.
https://www.weststigers.com.au/news/2023/10/05/toa-adds-two-more-years-at-wests-tigers/
Personally would have been happy to see him moved on.
Not a fan of this at all, takes up a valuable top 30 spot. Bad signing.
Legitimate question - is To'a currently the best centre at the club? If yes, and that is what I think, then it's sensible to have him Top 30. Even if he becomes a backup, you still need to fill 2 centre spots every week.
I agree. Like many signings $$$ matters.
I think Junior Tupou is the best centre at the club. I'd be going to market to fill the other centre spot. I'd have Staines on one wing and go to market for the other wing spot.https://www.weststigers.com.au/news/2023/10/05/toa-adds-two-more-years-at-wests-tigers/
Personally would have been happy to see him moved on.
Not a fan of this at all, takes up a valuable top 30 spot. Bad signing.
Legitimate question - is To'a currently the best centre at the club? If yes, and that is what I think, then it's sensible to have him Top 30. Even if he becomes a backup, you still need to fill 2 centre spots every week.
Legitimate question - is To'a currently the best centre at the club? If yes, and that is what I think, then it's sensible to have him Top 30. Even if he becomes a backup, you still need to fill 2 centre spots every week.
I would take Naden ahead of him. Neither are remotely consistent enough though, and I'd upgrade either in a heartbeat given the opportunity.
No issue with him seeing out his contract for 24, but extending him for another two years on top of that is a huge call.
I don’t mind the To’a extension. It’s for 2025/6 so a number of spots still to fill. He can do a job for us and wouldn’t be on big money.
@dirty-reds I do not rate any of them , second tier the lot of them . If the club wants to move up the ladder get the Chq book out !
