I think you started pointing out why most players believe they need managers. You suggested lawyers, accountants and secretaries do various minor roles for a player. Why have 3 people when one manager can do it. You highlighted many players have lost their fortunes, managers should be advising players how to future proof their income.
More importantly, how many players know their worth and would be comfortable negotiating to get their worth? Particularly as most these young blokes would have no experience in contract negotiations. How many would know how to reach out to 3rd parties to seek additional financial opportunities or even other clubs to explain why they should be interested in their services.
I certainly think there is a role for player managers. The issue however is there needs to be a bit of a culture shift. Managers are employed by the players though I have heard many players state they felt it was the other way around, especially early in their careers.
The NRL hold various education days for their young players, explaining behaviour and social media policies and generally the dangers that come with being in the public eye. They should be explaining the role of the manager and remind them who works for whom.

I don’t see how questioning the refs helps at all. One example was half given that there is an opportunity to educate fans of lesser known rules. Firstly, how often is it lesser known rules that is the cause of the controversial calls? Secondly, how many fans actually want to learn them? I think it would be a very small percentage at most.
For the overwhelming majority of controversial decisions that are just plain incorrect decisions. How does the ref admitting their mistakes help? The game is done, the result won’t change. It will only provide further motives for “we was robbed” and “so and so just hates our team” or the NRL conspiracy takes.

It was rumoured a while back that the Tigers saw Galvin’s career progression as similar to that of John Sutton. A lanky 6 who will progress to be a skillful ball playing back rower as he adds some muscle to his frame.
Galvin has said he doesn’t think the Tigers is the right place to develop him as a half going forward. If they plan to turn him into a forward then this statement would certainly ring true, regardless of his opinion of his coach’s abilities.
I don’t think this deal is all about money. Surely few other clubs would be putting forth the type of dollars as the Tigers were reported to offer. Additionally, Galvin has criticised Marshall at all just said he thinks another club will better develop him “as a half”.
Sure there were reports of his manager making listing grievances with regards to Marshall and concerns about his coaching ability. We don’t know if the grievances are justified or even if they relate directly to Galvin.
All we know is that Galvin doesn’t think Tigers is the right place to develop him. If he has concerns (justified or not) he is entitled to look elsewhere. I don’t really see the problem.

Not sure anyone can claim it was the ‘wrong’ decision based on what they showed. The angle was the wrong one to determine if their was seperation or not.
Only have to look back to the Jack Howarth no try in the Grand final for evidence that the bunker ref has more evidence than what we see at home.

Did you watch on fox or 9? I saw no evidence on fox to make a call one way or the other.

I’d be putting money on him retiring but not wanting to answer questions about retirement, so “not sure but won’t be at Manly” is the line.
He said a lot of “love for the game” or “not wanting to walk away from the game” perhaps indicating either super league or coaching as his next step.
Lots of reading between the lines and assumption making for those conclusions, but that is my prediction.

I remember back in 2022. Tigers had been falling down the ladder after their previous lofty heights of 9th place and Papallii and Api were signed for the following season with the promise of more to come after MaGuire had cap space to play with for the first time during his stint at the Tigers.
Then Madge was moved on, Sheens was brought back from purgatory and Marshall was announced as coach in waiting. It all seemed a terrible idea but Bateman and Klemmer were added and those 4 additions plus the ever improving Utoikamanu and Tigers soon to be player of the year Ofahengaue meant suddenly the Tigers had a pack capable of at least holding their own, if not beating opposition packs. Perhaps there was hope.

A year later Sheens is gone and the absurd plan has been fast tracked. Never fear Tigers fans as the problem all this time was Brooks, a natural 6, trying to play 7. Or so many a fan of the game would tell me.

Fast forward to today and not one of those players, with the possible exception of Api, delivered and we can only speculate that the coaching was a big part of the problem.
Furthermore Api is the only player of those (mostly former) representative forwards remaining at the club as all fled the sinking Tigers ship (or were chucked overboard for reportedly questioning the reasons for its sinking).

But now we’ve paid up for one the games best 6s to play 7 and there is cap space after Klemmer is released and Olam potentially being medically retired (glad Shawn Blore was swapped for him or the club would be in danger of having a competent backrower).
They look set to sign a reasonably good centre with questionable off field history with a plenty of cap space suggesting there is more signings to come.

Perhaps there is hope?

I’d have had Rauhihi in there for sure, about the only change I’d make. I was always a massive Glenn Morrison fan but don’t think I can find a spot for him.

Sort of, would be my answer. I think the greater achievement with the Storm and Hughes is the halfback he has become more so than the footballer he has become. It is not as simple as saying he was unwanted in Qld. I mean in a way he was but if you look at it deeper…
Zillman had not long signed a 5 year contract and was firmly established as the Titans fullback. Similarly Lachlan Coote was the established as the Cowboys fullback and had just won a comp. Remember the Cowboys held Coote in such high regard they prioritised him rather than get in a bidding war to retain Ponga. I don’t think either club simply didn’t want him, they just couldn’t offer a clear pathway.
Then look at Hughes achievements prior to arriving at the Storm. Shortly before turning 22 he was named the Qld Cup fullback of the year, for the 2nd time. The rise of Hughes should have come as a surprise to no one.
Similarly, Munster was outstanding in the QCup at 18. Sure the Dogs werent interested. Maybe they didn’t rate him, maybe they were backing Barba and Reynalds or maybe they simply had no roster spaces. But, few players stand out in the Q Cup at 18 and don’t go on to bigger and better things in the game.
Would they have become as good elsewhere? Truly we will never know, but i would suggest it simply comes down to where elsewhere is.

I believe it is your last few words that are the key point, they decided they preferred the Storm. Not every young player will simply progress to play for their local club. They may be persuaded to change at a young age for all sorts of reasons, money, pathways, sales pitch, professional relationships to name a few. In most scenarios it is not a matter of simply being overlooked or not wanted by their local club. In fact it is usually the opposite, they have been so well regarded they have had interest from talent scouts looking to bring the best of the best to their club. Inglis and Folau are the best examples of this. They were 2 of the most highly sought after teens ever. It would be like claiming Souths didn’t rate Suallii and it was the Roosters that made him a first grader, when the reality is the whole Rugby League community was aware of his abilities when he was still a high school kid (due to media coverage).

Brisbane never knocked back Slater. Slater never played any junior rep partially due to his size and partially because there was few opportunities to be seen at Innisfail. As such Brisbane wouldnt even have seen him play before he signed with Norths at 17.
Norths being a feeder club for Storm meant they were first in the race to sign him. It was part way through his 1st season there that Storm ultimately did.

No he wasn’t. He was an inside centre as an Aussie Schoolboys Rugby rep. He was a halfback at Brisbane Norths pretty much right from the start of his league career after bouncing around a few positions in his first year waiting for a halfback spot to be available.

A few more premierships or a few less elite players in their best 17?

How many players were under-performing at other clubs and then suddenly they are stars ?
Objectively none, unless you are very loose with the term star. Meaney for example is not a star. He is a handy outside back but no star. At Newcastle he looked like he would develop into a pretty handy outside back. At Dogs he was still establishing himself in first grade and finding it’s a tough gig being a smaller outside back in a weak team.
JAC was never a reject, not sure how you could try to claim he was? He bounced around as junior due to off field incidents. Storm signed him after he showed what he could do in first grade. He has other offers, including from his current club. He was not rejected.
Smith was wanted and had an offer from Broncos. He chose Storm as there was a clearer path to first grade with less talent ahead of him than the Broncos. Ive shared links here multiple times confirming this but every Storm article someone roles out the false Broncos didn’t want him narrative.
Slater is a more unique story but hardly went down as you say.

This is objectively not true and that is not meant to be a slight on the club. Elite recruitment and development can not and should not be dismissed. They just buy the best of the best at a younger age than others because they (rightfully) back their development team to turn the best juniors into the best players.

Only obvious omission for mine is Scott Hill. I’d have him in contention for the 13 and definitely the 14 if he missed out on the 13. Aside from that could debate the bench forwards but they are all pretty much evenly regarded.
Don’t think we will find a better best 17 than this one.

The last few seasons I’ve always considered Sharks over rated and no chance when it gets to the business end. I think that changes this year. Not backing them to win the comp but this year I think they are a genuine chance.

Tim Sheens recently.
I think also Brian McLennan at Warriors a while back

Amongst those players you’ve never heard of is a backline that has a former Australian captain, 2 other premiership winners, a Wallaby, and an England rep and forward pack that has 4 current Origin players and 2 other premiership winners.
After Finishing 3rd last year I don’t think there is any immediate pressure on him. A poor season this year into a 6 poor rounds next year and then there should be some noise.

At this far too early stage I’ve Howarth pencilled in for a centre spot. Holmes if he regains some form next in line for either centre or wing.

Wests definitely are majority owner with Tigers a junior owner. Balmain have been unable to pay their share for years and have been forfeiting parts of their ownership to Wests in exchange for Wests paying the Tigers debts.
As for conditions specified around the licence I couldn’t tell you but as I said we’ve seen a merger fold before with the majority owner simply taking over. We’ve also seen teams change their name e.g Eastern Suburbs/Sydney City/Sydney Roosters so does not appear a requirement to trade under a certain name.
It’s not in Wests interest to simply kick out the Tigers. The club is (Majority) owned by Wests Ashfield. The leagues club is about 6kms from Leichhardt but a long way from Campbelltown. They benefit from maintaining the inner west fanbase. They only stand to lose financially if they alienate the old Balmain supporters and have no more home games at Leichhardt.

But the club would not be defunct, the joint venture would be, not the club itself. The majority owner, Wests, would still hold their assets, including the NRL licence. I don’t see what grounds the NRL would have to take it (although perhaps on your earlier bringing the game into disrepute argument). We’ve literally seen this before with Manly and Norths.

In an era where so many teams have been chasing a classy half the fact that Jack Ahearn hasn’t played any first grade is mystifying.
Outside of him you could count on one hand the names I recognise and still have a finger spare.

And another vote here Tony. If Albert’s pre NRL career is included then i might lean towards him. I’d also punt Uate, move MacDougall to the wing and bring in Hughes (or maybe Gagai). Finally, id bring Perry onto the bench in place of Saifiti.

i tend to agree that his discipline was average but i dont think any of those stats comparisons mean a whole lot. Fainu is somewhat comparable as the other edge backrower but he is a very different player. He is a tuck it under the arm and charge forward type whereas Bateman is more footwork and use the ball. You would expect given their play styles Fainu would average more running metres, yet Bateman actually averaged a few more. Bateman also had double his offloads from half the games (creates more but more errors, again different styles) and 1 more tackle per game at significantly better efficiency (and arguably on the more difficult side). Furthermore on the comparisons Sezer did absolutely no favours to Bateman offereing nothing in attack and a spot defender next to him unlike Galvin for Fainu on the other side.
Pole as a middle should average more running metres (he did 12m more) and less errors and penalties. He should also be missing less tackles given he should rarely be isolated in the middle. His defence was never good but by midseason he wouldnt even put his body in front of opposition runners. He was one i was disappointed in but do acknowledge his impactful running game.