If we summarise what most supporters see as the problem and want in our number 7, we want someone who will be heavily involved regularly receiving the ball at first receiver, bringing our forwards onto the ball with the option to run, kick or play out the back when warranted.
We want someone who is a natural leader, very vocal who drives his team mates and wants to win at all costs.
We want someone who can make individual line breaks, score individual tries, but also be able to straighten the attack, dig deep into the line and cop a hit to create for his outside men when required.
We want someone who has a good long and short kicking game and have the playmaking skills required to have their fair share of line break assists and try assists.
We want someone who plays tough, defends aggressively and is not a liability when defending.
If they can be a 90% successful goal kicker that would help too.
If we are being honest does this player or anything close to this player exist ?
Nathan Cleary, Nicho Hynes and Adam Reynolds tick quite a few of the boxes, but nobody else comes close.
Of the ones not already regular starting at NRL level, I’d say it’s only Braydon Trindall or Jayden Sullivan who even have the potential to come close to the number 7 we want and need at Wests Tigers.