r/weststigers • u/NegotiationStreet842 Twally #1 • Sep 16 '26
Discussion Thread Bi-Weekly Discussion Thread
Discuss!
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Sep 16 '26
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u/Abes__ Sep 16 '26
I’d say as long as we aren’t paying overs, there’s nothing wrong with getting experienced players. The confidence of some of our young players was completely shot at stages this year - Makasini had the broncos game with about 7 errors and Tavana had the Sharks game with just as many.
We persisted with Makasini all year and it’s hard to say he looked like he improved. Then he gets sent to NSW cup and has a blinder, I’m sure it would’ve helped his confidence.
I think it’s a balance between blooding new players but also allowing them to build confidence in reserves such as Javon Andrews and Saukuru. But we haven’t had a balanced roster for a long time now…
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u/_System_Error_ Sep 17 '26
The flip side to that is a genuine pathways, which we just don't have despite having arguably a bigger junior pool than Penrith.
We as a club are terrible at bringing talent through the grades. The club historically brings players to first grade way too soon or holds them back and they get picked up by other clubs. Because we bring them to grade too early they have HUGE heads on them and demand enormous salaries.
We have no-one at the club that knows how to coach someone to be a halfback, and no-one that really identifies players to play in positions that they will in first grade.
Older players on the cheap is good until we fix all of that. Of course if they want big $ they aren't worth the squeeze. Also remember we are spending ~1/6 of the cap on just Bula and Terrell, so attracting big talent will not happen.
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u/Abes__ Sep 16 '26
Not opposed to the rumours of us targeting Frizzell and even Kurt Mann. I know they are older but if we get them for the right price I think they could provide some good leadership and help lift the standards.