“they sure didn’t have lots of money to buy lots of expensive players a few years ago.”
What i make of that is it is only logical that they then have lots of money to spend now, since they did not before.

They spent heavily (and poorly) some time ago. Got tied to some terrible contracts. Spent a couple years down the bottom of the latter due to those terrible contracts meaning no cap space for recruitment. Have those contracts end. Now have cap space for recruitment.

The key is when you get to last step of having cap space to spend you dont repeat the poor recruiting. It is the exact cycle that Tigers have been stuck in for 10 years. Hopefully the current batch of recruits don’t work out the same as the last few.

Im not sure if that worked. My phone not the best for this sort of stuff. Will sort out on the computer this evening.

I would have to disagree Albo. Ive only ever heard he is a very dedicated trainer. He managed to increase his work rate from that of a 6 to be able to do a very good job in the backrow in less than one season when he was injury free in 2021. Yes he was over-weight last year but he was battling leg injuries all season and on restricted duties at training when he was actually able to train.
Having said that, i dont see him in Origin this year.

Yeah, again like your ratings is your opinion these are just mine. And im sure many others would have many differing opinions.

You may not swap Moses for anyone, but he is obviously behind Cleary and I couldn’t rate him any better than Hynes, DCE, Hughes, Hunt. Probably have him on par with Reynalds.

Mahoney would be in the conversation for 5th in the past. But Grant, Cook, Korousau been well ahead for years. Smith has been better when he has played hooker consistently. I’d have Jayden Brailey ahead when he has been on the park the last few years. And on last years form Robson and Blayke Brailey are well ahead.

RCG and Paulo as a pair are behind the Panthers. Individually they are both Tapine, Tino, Haas, JFH, Cotter. Plenty of others about their level e.g. Leota, Klemmer, Lodge.

Lane was excellent last year. But last year so far is the only year he has been. And yet, any better than Crichton, Papalli’i, Kikau, Martin, Young, Nanai? I could see an argument to include him in the conversation for top 5, but equally i see an argument not too. Certainly not the best left backrower in the league last season (Kikau).

Pretty much agree with your comments regarding Niukore. But, i had him as your starting lock, not a 2nd bench forward that start at most other teams. So that still just leaves the one bench forward in Matto.

Having said all that. I was only just yesterday talking the Eels pack up last year as clearly the 2nd best pack in the comp (just ahead of Souths and Cowboys). Just short of a quality bench middle to really be able to match the Panthers pack. A very good pack collectively, but not as good as you have rated them individually.

As for Sivo, very good finisher. Possibly one of the best with using power to finish off a play. But one dimensional. Lacks the ability to step at pace inside covering defenders and not as acrobatic as other wingers. Plus, he does not offer enough involvement coming out of his own end.

Penisini looks to be a very good young centre. I do like that he already knows how to defend at such a young age. But who are you comparing him to in order to rate him one of the best? He is currently behind many centres a few years older and more experienced and yet to show more than the likes of Koula and Tago. I guess he is one of the best young centres if there are only about 5 players that fit the ‘young centre’ criteria. Also near impossible to know if he is any better than a stack of other young centres ready to break into the NRL. And no he wont play Origin within 3 years. Perhaps he will one day but he is currently behind a stack of good players who are all quite young themselves.

Again, just my opinion. And i havent said any of these players are in any way bad or that the team was no good. Clearly it was a strong side (though i would have backed any of Panthers, South, Roosters to have knocked you out had you met one of them in an elimination final). Just that not all of them are top 5… or one of the best …

i think you are massively over rating some of your players there. I’d probably agree with Brown the 2nd best 6, Matto a weapon off the bench and Papalli’i a top 5 backrower. The rest good players but nowhere near as good as you rate them in my opinion.

If Moses takes a one year extention and the Eels struggle, that big contract will not be there in 2025.
But I hope he stays at Eels. One of the most unlikable players in the comp, particularly for a Tigers fan.

The Panthers pathways at the moment are absolutely unrivalled. But to suggest that Storm have no pathways is wrong. No local pathways, sure, but their established systems in Qld are strong.

id disagree with a lot (not all) of your points there but kind of agree with it being a bit of chicken or egg topic.

Well, i did write this in January 2022.

“In what may be a sign of what’s to come, Nanai played in the Cowboys’ final four games of 2021, scoring a try in his first game, making a line break in each of his next two games before playing the full 80 minutes of the final game…”

And in January 2021 i also wrote
“Tom Gilbert has been earmarked for big things for a long time, having been a standout in the Cowboys academy program and having continued to impress with each step of his career…”

I’m with Albo. The coach plays a role but i firmly believe the talent makes the coach, not the coach makes the talent.

I dont like Gamble, nor Cobbo or Broncos for that matter but I dont think Gamble’s comments were sour grapes. I think he simply did a poor job of saying how revered Reynalds is and the role Reynalds has played in re-shaping their attacking structures.
As for Cobbo. I think the playing group believe Walters is a ‘man manger’ more so than a tactician or technical specialist (it certainly appears to be public opinion). I think this is openly discussed within the playing group eg “if you need help with this then go speak to Reyno he will know better than Kev”. And this is what Cobbo was (again very poorly) trying to say. I hardly think Cobbo would come to the conclusion that Walters isnt very good coach (for technical assistance) on his own.
I think he should certainly be more aware and think before he speaks. But i doubt there is more to it than that. I certainly do not believe his character should be questioned the way many have.

I don’t like Gamble, nor care about Cobbo or Broncos for that matter but i don’t think Gamble was sour grapes as much as doing a poor job of revealing how revered Reynolds is.

As for Cobbo, again i don’t believe he knew exactly what he was saying and how it would be taken. I think in some respects he was trying to reiterate the Walters is a man manager moreso than technical coach. I believe this is an opinion held by most the Broncos team (it certainly is the general consensus amongst fans). If so, i think there would be a bit of chat amongst the playing group if you need help with x, then go and ask y as Walters isn’t really the guy for that. I doubt Cobbo has come to the opinion of “Kevie isn’t a good coach [for technical issues]” on his own.
Cobbo certainly needs to be better, and think before he speaks, but I think that is about where this issue should end. Not sure he deserves the attack on his character that he is getting from some.

You can scratch Doorey, Rodwell and Makatoa off that list. None were produced by the Eels system.
Additionally, not sure how you try to claim the likes of Lane, Gutherson and Brown as well as Moses and Matterson. Surely at best it’s either one or the other?

Agree Soni Luke at 14. If Peachey earns a bench spot i think it will be at the expesnse of Salmon.

like others have said, cant see Sorrenson on the edge. Not sure who starts there, my guess would be Garner but i would prefer Hastings or even Chris Smith. Whomever it is will need to do well to hold the spot. I think by the end of the season it will be Geyer’s position.

You sound like a Storm fan listing those players as other clubs reject. Opacic is probably the only one that would fit that description and it is not as though he hit any great heights at the Eels.
Noone was (or should have been) saying who’s Isaiah Papali’i? In 2016 he was probably NZ most sought after junior in both Rugby League and Rugby Union. In 2018 he played a test for Samoa and was part of the NZ squad. He had played about 60 games before being picked up by Para. Yes, his career got a little off track in his last two years at Warriors but noone was questioning his ability, yet alone who he is. Gutherson, Brown and Lane were all quality first graders recruited by the Eels rather than moved on by their club (which is fine, every club recruits, just don’t claim them as rejects) whilst Simonsson and Sivo are performing more or less the same as they did at their previous club where their path to first grade was blocked by established players. Simmonson had even played in a Grand Final before arriving at the Eels.

The few standout Tigers halves in the lower grades are still years off being first graders. I actually believe Brooks is a very good halfback in a very poor team but if the Tigers do decide to look to replace him it wont be with one of their own juniors any time soon. With some of the rumours coming out of Tigers, It would not shock me to see Laurie end up at 6 and Doueihi playing elsewhere.

Apologies, i could have been more clear re. rep/rep level.
I dont see Brown joining. Tigers only have one spot left in their top 30. Would expect them to leave it open to promote an injury coverage player later in the season.
Point re Utoikamanu and Pole is that most clubs have a similar aged front row who is equally hyped up. But very few young forwards produce consistent high quality big minute games or have yet got the body to withstand the physical demands of such a role. The clubs with better depth can gradually increase the role of a young forward as they improve rather than rely upon them to be an exception to the general rule that forwards typically develop slowly.
The Tigers needing these two, plus probably Blore, to remain on the park and producing quality, consistent footy shows they do not have the depth of other forward packs.

I think you missed the words “Current” and “middle”.

Klemmer last played rep footy in 2019.
Ofahengaue last played rep footy in 2021.
Brown is currently not a part of the team.
Papallii and Bateman are backrowers.
Pole and Utoikamanu are promising young forwards, no doubt. Though most clubs have one or two players of similar age and ability. The difference is these players are pushing the established first graders for a position, rather than being relied upon as weekly contributors to the forward rotation.
The remaining forwards in the ‘other squad members’ section wouldn’t have 10 games experience between them.

Whilst most people who passionately follow the sport would not base their opinions off social media, my point was that it appears many people appear to be rating the Tigers pack highly. More casual fans might see overwhelming praise of the Tigers pack and believe in the hype.

Based upon various social media commentary i think a lot of people are overrating the new look pack. Yes, it is much improved, but they still have no current rep level middle forwards and very little depth to call upon.

i think they should target Weaver from the Titans

I believe the Salary Floor (minimum amount of total cap you are allowed to spend) is a much higher percentage of the total cap in NRL then what it is in ESL.

This was an engrossing article but it felt like it ended as soon as it started.
I understand they are operating on a reduced budget but i don’t see what are they really doing differently to be successful?
Due diligence before signing and only signing players that are also quality people? Every club believes they do this.

Tedesco had the same two immediate premierships in his first 2 years at the Roosters.

The 3 players I’m disappointed to see go are Clifford, Masters and Mikaele.

Clifford was a superstar coming through and has shown glimpses of it in the NRL. Just yet to get it done consistently. Injuries and equally inconsistent teammates looks to be holding him back as much as any of his own issues.
Not sure what happened to Masters. He was sensational in his time at the Tigers. Was a first choice centre for NZ in that time. Just couldn’t replicate that elsewhere. Would question if he has the right attitude to become the player he could be but on raw talent alone he should be a star.
Mikaele has an error or two in his game and needs to work harder from inside out in defence but he bends the line with every run and still young enough to fix his deficiencies with a bit of hard work and experience.

“No reason for the players association to oppose it” except:
1) it limits earning capacity for the better players, even if the pay rate is scaled by draft position.
1B) The NRL has real competition from Rugby Union in signing talented players. A limited rookie contract would not look as attractive as an uncapped Union contract.
2) it risks players being picked by teams they do not wish to play for.
3) currently clubs kick in the majority of funds for junior development. Who will be doing this if the clubs decide there is no point continuing contributing if they lose first chance of retaining those players.
4) Rugby League fans and media love the narrative of the local junior come good. This will be largely lost as rookies get drafted by non-local teams.
5) any draft would likely be post season. This would be in direct conflict with the RLPA main gripe that there is little time between post and pre seasons to organise the life changes that go along with changing clubs.
I’m sure there is plenty more issues that others could think of.