If you've kept up to date recently with the drama at the Wests Tigers, you'd know that the club is in complete turmoil, tearing itself apart from within. Board members being sacked , the CEO being investigated for family contracts, possibly gone by weekends end. Good Players have been leaving, think Galvin, Papalii, Da Silva, which brings me to Luai.
The NSW rep has more get out clauses from his 5 year, 6million dollar contract. Its being reported by Fox, Code sports and Luai himself that he has get out clauses throughout his 5 year Tigers deal. Luai is being quoted by Fox as saying "that's why I have get out clauses" The obvious question raises itself is Luai someone that the Eels could target for 2027, when Pezet leaves for the Broncos.
The pairing of Luai and Moses at state level worked a treat, imagine that partnership at club level. Not sure we have that type of coin, but then again maybe we do have close to it.
What are peoples thoughts, is this something powerbrokers may look at or will Joash or another junior be the clubs answer.
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He never said "that's why I have get out clauses". It was braith anasta speculating on the situation and saying Luai would be thinking "that's why I have get out clauses".
Your right Eel Boy. It was Anasta saying Laui was thinking that's why I have get out clauses. 👍
Good blog, Bluey.
I like Luai, and he could cover 6-7. My queries are on the fit, value and/or timing.
Would Ryles go all in for Luai, and be prepared to lose talent we're developing in our pathways? Lorenzo, Risati, or even Paps.
Why would he come? He's 29 next month. Moses is 31. Is it for a pay day? Would he be okay to be the bridesmaid to Moses for 4 years at this stage of his career? How far north of $1m, overs, would he settle for? Would he accept no POs? Is that really a value proposition for us?
It's probably worth a chat or coffee to see where his head is at, and network, even if we make it on the "media" list of players we're hot for (and don't sign). The Black List. But I'd be surprised if Ryles jumped quickly and not give the young guys a chance.
I don't see it yet, but who knows.
We went all in for Galvin, we had Fletcher and Lorenzo and still went for Galvin. So if a great player is a chance and Ryles likes them they will go for them.
It's not just that, LB. Luai will cost more than Galvin. Then, if he demands POs, it's game over. Can't see it happening. Poor value, potentially.
We gush over the big names, but do we want to look like the Titans? They have lifestyle advantages too.
Lots of unrealistic ideas are floating around (not referring to this blog). More the idea of being the Roosters, Broncos, Dogs, Souths without their sugar daddies. Nope. Refer to the Panthers. Four-peat and all...
HOE do you think the Eels believe they can do big names, or are you suggesting they release their interest in big names to perhaps attempt to keep fans / members happy to a degree, believing they are out of their depth so to speak. Or we are simply completely not interested in a big name.
It's a very interesting point. Do we , ie the club see ourselves as second class and not in the same league to attract big names.
To me I'm not so sure anymore. Listening to you and Super i am trying to understand your take on our recruitment, recruitment targets and or if we are even interested in first choice players at all.
What some of us call missed targets perhaps what I'm hearing from yourself and others is that we weren't really interested in them in the first place. I did read where our CEO said we havnt had a discussion with Nelson. This fits with your suggestion perhaps.?
Bluey, This "second rate" idea because we don't buy big names...Mmm. Dunno. Panthers don't buy big names, are they "second rate"? Titans do, are they better than us, first rate?
I love big names, but they also aren't enough. It's awfully naive to assume that's going to win you a title. It's another naivety to assume that you can buy big names like Broncos, Roosters, Dogs, Souths do without sugar daddies with deep pockets; ready to throw away millions. Basically, rorting the cap. But, there's more than one way to skin a cat; not just buying your way to a premiership.
On NAS. Sure, he's made your & Wiz's Long List of Failures. The Big Black List. But I'm not sure how extensive our chats with Nelson were. Ryles and him chat. NAS respects him. So surely, they would've known exactly where NAS stand early on? NAS admitted he told half a dozen clubs he wasn't sure what he was going to do. There probably wasn't a great need to spend late nights moonlighting, wining and dining. Is that a failure? And so what? What's wrong with chatting with players and building relationships? For me, it's a successful failure. If I were Ryles, I'd be building relationships with as many players as possible too. Stuff the Big Black List or disgruntled punters. Fall down seven times, get up eight. NAS obviously needs a break from the game. Like Paps. Like Lomax. Maybe they'll be back, maybe not. Who knows.
I think it's also naively assumptive to think the club is ignorant, dumb, or dumber than we are, or that somehow some woo-ing and sexy bedroom eyes and some James Bond suave sales-glibity-glab will co-erce players. Look at Jim Jones the long-time Panthers Head of Recruitment. He gets teary in interviews and is a salt of the earth type. Not some suave Sean Connery with a gilted tongue. When I left my long-term career, no-one was ever going to change my mind. Anyone who tried was going to fail. Lomax. Flanagan. Ryles. Experience. Inexperienced. Doesn't matter.
Essentially, I'm trying to be as realistic as possible; regardless of what it's labelled.
With cautious optimism, I think the club is moving in a better direction that they were. From post-2020 we were in free-fall defensively and attitude wise. Off-field we're also sound as a $200m organization. We'd love some sugar daddies, but they don't grow on trees. Spags isn't the answer. I think there's better chemistry and like-mindedness up top than there was. Ryles has shown promise, and alleviated my concerns about the rookie aspect. They respect each other and trust each other, even if some here or there don't. That's enough for me. And I'll give it time. Could it fail? Absolutely. If they lose that alignment, they're stuffed. If they believe they're second rate as per your theory and Wiz's, they're also stuffed.
Genuinely aligned systems generally beat talent. You need to be on the same bus. Committed to the cause. Bigger name or smaller name. Penrith and the Storm epitomize that.
Ryles has a very clear vision of the type of player he wants which helps R&R. I don't think he's as fixated on a single "first choice" as we might be. He seems more adaptable and curious than BA ever was, and importantly Club-First. They'd be a list of players that could potentially fit. Some might need more qualification, but you need to be on your toes as the landscape changes quickly.
Iongi, Williams, the Fox, Lomax (for a while), Pap, Walker, Kautoga, aren't crap recruits, or are they? TDS might be a good one. And Ryles seems to have got the best out of Junior. He played a career high minutes per game last year. He's also improved Russell. Ryley Smith, nabbed from the Panthers, and Big Sam have shown promise under Ryles. On-field and off-field attitude is improving. So too the leadership. They just need to keep improving, chipping away at the systems.
You're right, though. I'd agree with you about the constant reviews, checks, and surgical changes that are required to how we can become a better environment to bring out the best in players. Constant improvement is a big theme. A must.
You nailed it right there - the idea of being like other clubs. I think the word I'm looking for is to covet. Everyone on here wants what someone else has got and they think if we get it (a player, an administrator, a coach etc) we are instantly going to become like them. That isn't how it works for us, we can't do that. We don't have those advantages other clubs have so we have to find our own through other means.
A loyal fan base that goes back several generations, a huge junior nursery of kids who's dad's are rusted on eels fans, facilities that are world class, a clear pathway for kids to make it into the top grade as an Eel. This is our advantage, we need to use it. Not getting caught up on some "star" who is off contract (because that's worked out so well for us in the past) which completely derails the process. We are 12 months in, it's just going to take a bit of time.
Though still we went hard for Galvin despite having Fletcher and Lorenzo.
Exactly , LB. But don't ruin their fantasy mate, we were going to bench Galvin next year when these future immortals were ready.
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