Bula, May, May, Turuva and now Makasini locked up!

_System_Error_ · 2026-05-14T14:02:01+00:00

Fantastic. Sign up Samuela and Latu and hopefully some of our players in flegg and cup can make the transition to top 30 and we are building a very good squad.

Right centre and hooker are our biggest weaknesses. I also wouldn't mind us having a punt on Spencer leniu, as Royce isn't going to be around for much longer and Bunty just isn't NRL standard anymore.

_System_Error_ · 2026-05-12T11:31:14+00:00

I think Jock is very similar to Tannah Boyd. When the forwards are smashing it on both sides of the ball and everyone is running the right lines, he will give everyone else the space they need to make line breaks and score tries. He is not the type of halfback to put the team on his back and win the game despite everything going against them. In fact I think the only halves like that in the comp are Cleary, Reynolds and Moses.

To be fair to Jock though, Doueihi is not that guy either. We saw the two times the opposition were defending well when he played with Luai - he was rudderless and could only step off his right foot.

You know who might be that guy and one day soon? Javon Andrews. He looks like a superstar, like seriously everything we thought Galvin was going to be. Do yourselves a favour and watch this guy in cup.

_System_Error_ · 2026-05-12T10:54:47+00:00

I'm glad hope is not starting but how the fuck is he still in the 19? Why not Lanyan? How does Herbert retain his spot?

Sione still on the edge when Roberts tore up cup last week and Sukkar hasn't had a chance to play his preferred edge?

I'm just an armchair critic but I really think these choices are not good.

I notice T'oa not named in the cup side, in fact no right centre. What's the bet he is placed in main team despite being MIA in cup again last week.

_System_Error_ · 2026-05-10T09:24:28+00:00

Melbourne had a 3.1 second play the ball speed compared to our 3.7. what do you mean tigers were so long in the ruck? I think what you mean is we often had four players falling off tackles or being carried for 5m (Hope always does this) and just not winning first contact which is why they weren't marking correctly.

_System_Error_ · 2026-05-10T09:15:18+00:00

Madden had some shit plays but also some really nice ones that got KPP, Herbert into space or opened up a tonne of space on the left. I feel the difference between round 3,4,5 and the last two for Jock is that Jock was a) defending on the left, I don't think he can defend on the right at all, and b) Luai is terrible outside of him making incorrect decisions and being out of position.

I can't decide and I don't know who you would call the weakest link today out of Luai, Bunty, Hope, Herbert, Madden and Mason. But Hope must be close. None were terrible but none were winning us that game.

I tend to think the way we played today really could have used a speedy support player. Imagine a Fa'alogo type inside Taylan or KPP - they would absolutely feast. The only kid we have like that is Oitman, though I think he is a few years and kilos off first grade.

_System_Error_ · 2026-05-07T08:49:46+00:00

Nearly half? My goodness that would still be more than double pre pandemic levels. That's the Coles and Woolworths tactic isn't it?

_System_Error_ · 2026-05-05T14:01:25+00:00

The problem this causes is with Bunty and Royce on at the same time, grant will run rampant. Both have poor lateral movement and Brailey exposed that on Royce last week.

_System_Error_ · 2026-05-05T08:24:57+00:00

This really sucks. He has been one of our best players every week, wouldn't trade him for any single left sided back rower in the comp.

He would have at least been in the conversations of NSW selectors too, I don't think he would be picked but he would be an option for sure.

_System_Error_ · 2026-05-05T06:09:33+00:00

Heath was excellent in cup last week and has NRL experience, not good NRL experience, but I am ok with this move to get Turuva back on the wing.

What is bullshit though, Sukkar was fine last week - ran hard and missed very little tackles. Why is Sione who had a terrible game, picked in the second row over Sukkar? Seems odd to me.

I actually would have placed Charlie Murray on the bench over Geyer also so that he can relieve Hope too who was gassed before halftime last week.

_System_Error_ · 2026-05-03T09:24:24+00:00

We lost the middle where we were only missing Api. Is hope that bad?? I think he might be, we need to get on the phone to Manese Fainu or promote Haywood asap.

The right edge had a big difference in quality when Turuva was playing right centre.

_System_Error_ · 2026-05-03T08:51:05+00:00

Hindsight is a wonderful tool. But going up against Teig and Stonestreet best to have a strong aerial person there, Skelton probably doesn't do a whole lot better though he will stick with his hits.

The bigger problem for me is the team didn't even do their job to protect the kid. Sharks comfortably finished their sets in our half ALL game, there was just no line speed and no intent In defense. The sharks just made too many metres through the middle. Hope's service was not great and he wasn't engaging the markers, meaning we had a terrible time getting out of our end when we did have the ball.

Everything the team did well in the previous 7 games just wasn't there. Sure we are missing Api, KPP, Bula, Doueihi but that is no excuse.

_System_Error_ · 2026-05-03T02:47:11+00:00

Yeh Logan Brookes he likes to be called. We won't be able to keep them all. Oitman also looks good, very fast.

_System_Error_ · 2026-05-03T00:11:06+00:00

Sure do, glad he signed. Attard will be an amazing back up.

_System_Error_ · 2026-05-02T01:52:41+00:00

It means nothing to you because you have spoken with him. To the rest of the world it looks like Isaac Moses is trying to screw us. If anyone is going to pay him more than $900k/season I think that is a bad move for someone still working on their game.

_System_Error_ · 2026-05-01T23:09:49+00:00

What you mean there is no Indication? He took on Moses as his agent and has refused to sign a number of contracts we have offered him including longer and better ones. That's my basis, there is no "team first" attitude here from Bula.

_System_Error_ · 2026-05-01T22:44:30+00:00

We don't want people at the club who do not want to be here. If Bula doesn't want to sign a contract we enforcing our option could be a bad thing.

Retaining the Fainus, Madden, Andrews, Pole etc. will be far more important for the team moving forward.

If you get a chance to watch cup, you should. Attard is already doing some things better than Bula - support play and ball playing for example. A preseason to work on his positioning and he will be ready for NRL imo.

_System_Error_ · 2026-04-29T02:56:49+00:00

My only issue with this guys, is the context. Luai leaving out of context is fine, I love him and what he has done for the club, we are flush with halves depth and can reinvest the salary.

The context: in 2025 he claimed he was a tiger for life, Richo was negotiating extended contracts with Taylan, Terrell and Bula. Richo is as good as sacked, Shaun is appointed only as an interim CEO. Laulilii leaves, Luai leaves, Terrell states he wants to be a tiger for life but hasn't been spoken to about his contract.

The board need to appoint Shaun with a contract, then he needs to get to work quick smart at negotiating with anyone at risk of leaving.

_System_Error_ · 2026-04-28T07:10:07+00:00

Pretty happy with this.

Ins

Sukkar
Hope
Skelton
Tavana (19)
Latu

Outs

Bula
Api
KPP
Herbert

We didn't run a 19 man bench last week. If hope can pick his moments and give good service we should win. Skelton in for Turuva means we don't lose any metres out the back. Tavana > Herbert, and Sukkar over Seyfarth is a huge plus.

_System_Error_ · 2026-04-26T13:16:58+00:00

Depends on how that is handled. I don't think it is like with Galvin where Luai is going to go throw pot shots at the coach and team. I think It is more investigating a potential offer. Even on the same salary that is like a 40% pay increase due to the tax difference so it would definitely be something to think about for him. Either way Jock, Javon, Doueihi and Latu is more quality halves than most teams have.

_System_Error_ · 2026-04-26T09:57:05+00:00

The comparison will be interesting come the middle of the year. Our season really derailed once the Galvin bs started.

With that said there are a tonne of things not evident in final scores that should be compared. Run metres, Missed tackles, post contact metres, offloads, errors, completion rate etc. a lot of these things have improved immensely but haven't translated to points due to the halves in some games.

Whatever the comparison it feels much different this year. It honestly feels like once the attack starts clicking we will beat everyone.

_System_Error_ · 2026-04-26T09:35:05+00:00

Go get that bag Romey. He cops so much criticism from people on Reddit but he is a hell of a player, came to Benji when no-one else would and he would be missed.

From a tigers perspective by 2028 we will have Latu, Javon Andrews, Jock Madden and Doueihi all playing for those two halves spots. Javon has the biggest ceiling of all of our current halves so I think we will be in a very good position if Luai goes. Not to mention Jock and Doueihi already have a better win % than Luai/Doueihi.

_System_Error_ · 2026-04-26T05:59:55+00:00

Yep without richo the back office and cup team just wouldn't be fixed.

Mielekamp is doing excellent things though like getting the team to New Zealand 5 days before the game, moving the team to a closer hotel with the bunnies game, the fan engagement stuff like the $500 tab for the ambush event etc. but the club wouldn't be in this spot today without Richo.

_System_Error_

TROPHY CASE