TEAM LIST Round 2 vs. Knights

Team List
This will be another tough game for us. Things just aren’t going our way. The Titans gave us the ball for 8 mins and the best we could do is boot a penalty from in front after showing a lack of respect for possession.
While Klemmer and Papali’i looked ready to play, our other two prized recruits, Api and Bateman are unfit and not ready.
Klemmer should be playing like a middle not a half and surprisingly Papali’i, who had second thoughts about coming after we sacked our coach was impressive.
I think Sheens should not be giving Benji so much authority so soon. A better approach would be season one look and learn, season two move into the coaches seat with Sheens mentoring.
 
We have the better forwards,but Hastings and Ponga will both be VERY motivated and I expect Young to score at least 2 tries from kicks to Nofa/Laurie...someone cld get embarrassed
On paper ,with a decent coach(which neither team has),Knights backline is 10-12 pts better than ours at minimum
Sure hope Im wrong
 
KingRobbie said:
Telstra Premiership - Round 2 vs. Knights

Sunday, March 12 - 4:05 p.m. AEDT
Leichhardt Oval, Sydney

WESTS TIGERS
1. Daine Laurie
2. David Nofoaluma
3. Brent Naden
4. Tommy Talau
5. Charlie Staines
6. Adam Doueihi
7. Luke Brooks
8. Stefano Utoikamanu
9. Apisai Koroisau (c)
10. David Klemmer
11. Isaiah Papali'i
12. Shawn Blore
13. Joe Ofahengaue

14. Jake Simpkin
15. Asu Kepaoa
16. Alex Seyfarth
17. Alex Twal

18. Starford To’a
19. Junior Tupou
20. Tukimihia Simpkins
21. Justin Matamua
22. Brandon Tumeth
Coach: Tim Sheens
Click to expand...
IMHO, I would chuck Starford in the bench, take out Kepaoa or Seyfarth. If there is a game were going to play Starford this would be it. That said our errors are way to high and moving Starford in will boost that.

Talau has to prove himself this game or be banished.

How does Simpkin work as a bench hooker with Koroisau as captain? Who's captain when Api comes off?
 
twentyforty said:
This will be another tough game for us. Things just aren’t going our way. The Titans gave us the ball for 8 mins and the best we could do is boot a penalty from in front after showing a lack of respect for possession.
While Klemmer and Papali’i looked ready to play, our other two prized recruits, Api and Bateman are unfit and not ready.
Klemmer should be playing like a middle not a half and surprisingly Papali’i, who had second thoughts about coming after we sacked our coach was impressive.
I think Sheens should not be giving Benji so much authority so soon. A better approach would be season one look and learn, season two move into the coaches seat with Sheens mentoring.
Click to expand...
YEs exactly. Have Benji watch this season then take control with Sheens guiding next season.
 
crazycat said:
IMHO, I would chuck Starford in the bench, take out Kepaoa or Seyfarth. If there is a game were going to play Starford this would be it. That said our errors are way to high and moving Starford in will boost that.

Talau has to prove himself this game or be banished.

How does Simpkin work as a bench hooker with Koroisau as captain? Who's captain when Api comes off?
Click to expand...
Starford isn't even playing NSW Cup. Must be injured.
 
crazycat said:
YEs exactly. Have Benji watch this season then take control with Sheens guiding next season.
Click to expand...
Crazy, it’s interesting that whenever we score, the camera pans to the coaches box to find everyone laughing, everyone except Benji. Read into that what you will.
I’m all for Sheens style of coaching, it encourages responsibility for individual performance, but at the same time, there are limitations, and I wonder if he is allowing some of his own decisions to be overruled for the sake of Benji’s growth?
 
sparci said:
18th months since a win with luke is really a damning stat for him..
Click to expand...
Yep there are 50 coaches and admin staff, 30 odd players. Brooks had his first game since mid July last year, but it really makes a lot of sense to blame the little guy for our losses.
 
clontarfkid said:
We have the better forwards,but Hastings and Ponga will both be VERY motivated and I expect Young to score at least 2 tries from kicks to Nofa/Laurie...someone cld get embarrassed
On paper ,with a decent coach(which neither team has),Knights backline is 10-12 pts better than ours at minimum
Sure hope Im wrong
Click to expand...
Best, Young and Gagai all scored tries in our loss to Knights round 2 last year.
For sure they will target Nofa who refuses to leave the ground and Laurie who sometimes likes to see the ball bounce.
 
twentyforty said:
Crazy, it’s interesting that whenever we score, the camera pans to the coaches box to find everyone laughing, everyone except Benji. Read into that what you will.
I’m all for Sheens style of coaching, it encourages responsibility for individual performance, but at the same time, there are limitations, and I wonder if he is allowing some of his own decisions to be overruled for the sake of Benji’s growth?
Click to expand...
It looks like Benji is the coach and Sheens is the media rep.
 
crazycat said:
IMHO, I would chuck Starford in the bench, take out Kepaoa or Seyfarth. If there is a game were going to play Starford this would be it. That said our errors are way to high and moving Starford in will boost that.

Talau has to prove himself this game or be banished.

How does Simpkin work as a bench hooker with Koroisau as captain? Who's captain when Api comes off?
Click to expand...
Sheens spoke about this on the BTR podcast. There were three or four others who were polled highly by the playing group. They are an unofficial leadership group and he is not going to name them. He did state that the deputy would most likely be one of the halves or fullback. I expect he was saying AD, but it could well have been Brooks. Will just have to see when he comes from the field.
 
crazycat said:
IMHO, I would chuck Starford in the bench, take out Kepaoa or Seyfarth. If there is a game were going to play Starford this would be it. That said our errors are way to high and moving Starford in will boost that.

Talau has to prove himself this game or be banished.

How does Simpkin work as a bench hooker with Koroisau as captain? Who's captain when Api comes off?
Click to expand...
99% sure Doueihi led them onto the field during the weekend's game.
 
twentyforty said:
This will be another tough game for us. Things just aren’t going our way. The Titans gave us the ball for 8 mins and the best we could do is boot a penalty from in front after showing a lack of respect for possession.
While Klemmer and Papali’i looked ready to play, our other two prized recruits, Api and Bateman are unfit and not ready.
Klemmer should be playing like a middle not a half and surprisingly Papali’i, who had second thoughts about coming after we sacked our coach was impressive.
I think Sheens should not be giving Benji so much authority so soon. A better approach would be season one look and learn, season two move into the coaches seat with Sheens mentoring.
Click to expand...
Am I the only one who wasn't really impressed with Papali'i?

He looked like his mind was elsewhere if I am being honest. Sure, he made 150 metres which was great, but he dropped a few balls and didn't seem to have a huge impact/dent the line that often compared to what I am used to seeing from him.

It's early days and things will improve, as will the new recruits.

I thought Klem was excellent. Need more from Stef.
 
Fingers83 said:
Am I the only one who wasn't really impressed with Papali'i?

He looked like his mind was elsewhere if I am being honest. Sure, he made 150 metres which was great, but he dropped a few balls and didn't seem to have a huge impact/dent the line that often compared to what I am used to seeing from him.

It's early days and things will improve, as will the new recruits.

I thought Klem was excellent. Need more from Stef.
Click to expand...
Brooks not creating any space for him to be damaging.... had some nice late offloads to get some second phase play going
 
Last edited:
WesternSuburbsBoy said:
Brooks not creating any space for him to be damaging.... had some nice late offloads to get some second phase play going.
Click to expand...
Yeah he did. There was one offload where he had 3 defenders on him, Brooks got it and crabbed his way to the sideline giving his outside backs no room to work with
 
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