Round 1 team so far in 2026

[TSP]

Forget Bula his manager is just doing what managers do. The kid wants to stay, he will stay and he will take the offer.

My opinion of the kid is yes he is promising, hes 23 yrs old, but certainly hasn't played so far in his career as a $900k a year player. I would suggest $750 - $800k a year tops for 3 seasons.

I watched him play up here for Runaway Bay/ Keebra Park he was very good. Was brought up in the juniors nursery for the Wests Tigers up here. Was always going to make a good fist of playing 1sts which he finally did in 2023.

To my eye and based on his playing stats he probably isn't in the top 6 fullbacks currently running around. Just my views

His career underachievements is a good point.

Hes got that genuine ring of “buy on credit” about him. When you get him home, he is supposed to work as advertised.

In my experience, no matter what player or club, theres always a risk.

I think the terror ran a story on duds a few years ago. Horror story.

900 is more than two factories. It’s a bridge too far for a credit player who hasn’t really done anything in the game.

And he’s simply not robust enough for me to command that. You want your 900 to play most games and make an impact 90% of the time.

None of the stakeholders in the bidding war seem to want to cross the line.

 

[jodragon40]

His career underachievements is a good point.

Hes got that genuine ring of “buy on credit” about him. When you get him home, he is supposed to work as advertised.

In my experience, no matter what player or club, theres always a risk.

I think the terror ran a story on duds a few years ago. Horror story.

900 is more than two factories. It’s a bridge too far for a credit player who hasn’t really done anything in the game.

And he’s simply not robust enough for me to command that. You want your 900 to play most games and make an impact 90% of the time.

None of the stakeholders in the bidding war seem to want to cross the line.

You have good analogies and a good eye. I agree with you

 

[TSP]

You have good analogies and a good eye. I agree with you

Thanks.

I’m just offering an opinion based on my understanding of things.

If he turns out to be a Walsh with some early learning difficulties, I’ll just have to cop it. That’s fine lol.

 

[jodragon40]

Thanks.

I’m just offering an opinion based on my understanding of things.

If he turns out to be a Walsh with some early learning difficulties, I’ll just have to cop it. That’s fine lol.

Walsh is an enigma Bula is far from that. He won't leave

 

[Eric]

His career underachievements is a good point.

Hes got that genuine ring of “buy on credit” about him. When you get him home, he is supposed to work as advertised.

In my experience, no matter what player or club, theres always a risk.

I think the terror ran a story on duds a few years ago. Horror story.

900 is more than two factories. It’s a bridge too far for a credit player who hasn’t really done anything in the game.

And he’s simply not robust enough for me to command that. You want your 900 to play most games and make an impact 90% of the time.

None of the stakeholders in the bidding war seem to want to cross the line.

You have good analogies and a good eye. I agree with you

I saw him play a few times. Was very impressed. I remember the first time I saw him play and was thinking how much better than Sloan he is. For a 24 year-old fringe rep fullback, 900k a year is pretty standard, isn't it?

 

[jodragon40]

I saw him play a few times. Was very impressed. I remember the first time I saw him play and was thinking how much better than Sloan he is. For a 24 year-old fringe rep fullback, 900k a year is pretty standard, isn't it?

My understanding is if he was a rep player then that adds value to you yes, but he isnt, so no.

 

[TSP]

I saw him play a few times. Was very impressed. I remember the first time I saw him play and was thinking how much better than Sloan he is. For a 24 year-old fringe rep fullback, 900k a year is pretty standard, isn't it?

I posted up some examples and sent a link.

I think you can still buy some crackers for 900k.

I read somewhere it was Gutho who helped entice Lomax to the eels.

So an accidental meeting should be arranged, using the Lomax playbook.

Gutho is really good at making the right impression.

He’s a players player.

 

[Dragons Chris]

I posted up some examples and sent a link.

I think you can still buy some crackers for 900k.

I read somewhere it was Gutho who helped entice Lomax to the eels.

So an accidental meeting should be arranged, using the Lomax playbook.

Gutho is really good at making the right impression.

He’s a players player.

I think Bula is better than Lomax.

 

[TSP]

I think Bula is better than Lomax.

Gee, that’s quite a call Chris.

Is there anything in particular that brings you to this conclusion?

Curious, not setting you up for anything unkind or to argue.

I’d be interested in how and why.

 

[TSP]

Bird is now available and I hear Dufty is keen for NRL

Probably doesn’t deserve a post…!

 

[Mailroomsgi]

Gee, that’s quite a call Chris.

Is there anything in particular that brings you to this conclusion?

Curious, not setting you up for anything unkind or to argue.

I’d be interested in how and why.

Based on positional value.

I’d take Bula over Lomax in a heartbeat, without any bias and removing Lomax off field issues

Bula much younger too.

 

[Dragons Chris]

Gee, that’s quite a call Chris.

Is there anything in particular that brings you to this conclusion?

Curious, not setting you up for anything unkind or to argue.

I’d be interested in how and why.

Lomax is a very good winger. I'd rate Bula a fullack just a bit below Lomax as a winger. So a 7 out of 10 fullback is better than an 8 out of 10 winger.

 

[TheRev]

Almost any outside back can play wing to a pretty decent level, but good fullbacks are much harder to find.. they are responsible for so much in both attack and defence.

I think Bula is being very much undervalued on here, just coming into his prime years, all the hard work is done... but if he wants to stay there so be it.. just hope we can come up with an alternative that is close that standard.. there are a few out there but none of them are on the market.. NRL clubs lock them all up.

 

[TSP]

Lomax is a kangaroo.

It’s the hardest side to get into on planet earth.

As for position, I’d probably still take Lomax over Bula at fullback.

 

[GCRV]

Lomax is a kangaroo.

It’s the hardest side to get into on planet earth.

As for position, I’d probably still take Lomax over Bula at fullback.

I think without really good centres, Lomax is average. He runs hard and makes metres but he doesn't beat a lot of players one on one, if ever. Bula does.

Don't think we'll get him anyway.

 

[GCRV]

I think Bula is being very much undervalued on here, just coming into his prime years, all the hard work is done... but if he wants to stay there so be it.. just hope we can come up with an alternative that is close that standard.. there are a few out there but none of them are on the market.. NRL clubs lock them all up.

Analysis = true

 

[Frank Facer]

How and why are you privvy to the salary cap and general opinion of Wests Tigers insiders? As far as publicly available information goes, Wests Tigers desperately want to keep him.

I am not "privy" to any of West Salary cap. Right now Bula has the 800K option, while Wests have the 900K option if they want to keep him. As I say, if Wests really want him, I think they will find the extra 100K a season.
I also say if Bula was "that good" there would be numerous others clubs lining up to pay him 900K or more. Canterbury are still in the market for a marquee fullback. If they want him, I think he goes there. Teddy is nearing the end of his career and if Easts want him, they would be a great chance to get him, probably only second to Canterbury. Souths now have Gray at fullback. If they see Bula as marquee they would be interested. Cronulla are also interested in upgrading from Kennedy. I think Drinkwater is on the last year of his contract at Nth Qld and there is talk he was given permission to look around, so to speak. Melbourne just lost Papps and Fa'alogo hasn't cemented the fullback spot at Melbourne and they could go for him if they think he is marquee. WA has money to burn for a marquee fullback and could offer him over's. Warriors could even be in the market for him if they see him as marquee.

I am not saying he is bad, I am just questioning if he is "that good"

 

[TheRev]

Doesn't rly matter which player we think is better given their playing in different positions... and we may well still be chasing a winger (the rumours of taulagi seem to have gone cold though).

But we 100% 'are' chasing a fullback, we obviously have realised that ryles was right around the need for speed @1... And the dogs did chase bula... But bula and/or his manager want maximum coin... so the guses of this world won't be paying anything like that for anything but a sure fire rep star..and even then there is a limit to marquees you can keep... otherwise they will want value for money given the amount of stars they need to retain.

We however are still desperate for talent.. And the 2027 targets are already starting to dry up.. Bula and koula the only 2 I can think of that are left.. Drinkwater a distant 3rd option but he'll be post 30 already...

 

[Dragsters]

I would pay more for Koula than I would for Bula...

 

[TheRev]

I would pay more for Koula than I would for Bula...

100% if it was supercoach, but we've been linked to koula for >6mths, maybe he just isn't interested.. And we need a backup plan in any case, can't put all our eggs in 1 basket that might be a 20% chance.

Koula could be a 1mill risk mind you.. I've never seen him actually play fullback week to week.. But I love him also... In the end though maybe we will end up with a Tracey or a Kennedy.. But I like that we r chasing higher level fish first.