TEAM LIST Preseason Challenge v Eels

[Canadian Club]

My take always from the team announced:

Bula, Olam, Turuva and Luai all rested, as anyone who’s had any type of pre season injury should be. Makes zero sense to risk any player in a meaningless preseason game. Parra are also resting big names like Moses, Brown and Paulo.

Api and Klemmer are the two oldest in the squad, so I assume Benji is resting them for the long season ahead and rewarding the young guys with an opportunity to impress and maybe jab a bench spot.

The outside backs are in for big minutes with only Faataape named on the bench.

Twal at lock is interesting, and seems like it’s to do with the game plan. Looks like Benji wants to tighten up the middle defense for the first 25-30mins then bring Bird on as a ball player once the sting is out of the game.

 

[happy_tiger]

Not at penrith - they have had 2 mickey mouse teams for the trials

Hassett starting for anyone wanting to eee if the player matches the hype ....

 

[Tucker]

Guys, TDS is our 14 as Api needs a rest and no one else can provide adequate replacement for him. There are only three bench spots up for grabs.

 

[Jolls]

Push him to where?
- We just re-signed him for another 3 (4) years!!

Push him out of a walk up start as the right edge. Push him to the bench and get some decent competition going for that position. Push him to Ressies if he doesn't work hard.

Unless we can magic up another edge the competition for his spot from these young guys keen to "dethrone" him is our best optionto have them all perform.

 

[Rock Hopper Steve]

Maybe the plan RHS is for Twal to play the 1st 20 or so as a 3rd prop and lock down the middle defensively & then the Bird is unleashed once defences are a bit tired. Then Twal goes into prop rotation.

That's the way I read it, ball playing lock has been a problem for a while after the failure of Mata, surely when they bought Bird in, they were hoping he could help resolve the problem.

 

[Jolls]

TBH @Jolls I'd much rather Tristan Hope as our #14 in Round 1 given he can play hooker & lock. But he'd need to be promoted to Top 30 or Development list.

Good call. Lets see if he really wants the spot on Friday!

 

[Lestronge]

Push him to where?
- We just re-signed him for another 3 (4) years!!

Biased - how so, and to what end exactly?
I've no problem with Alex in the top 30 and he plays for my team.

His line running is improving - I don't get this - Ever!!
At what rate?
This is his 6th season in top grade - He came through as a Back Rower.
It'd be safe to assume he's been playing footy for 20 odd of his 26 years,
Professionally for the last six - and semi professionally for the 3-4 before that.

What am I missing?
He may well jump out of a box and shock me at some point in his NRL career....
But I'll bet my hump it's not at the Wests Tigers.

Hand on heart,
You telling me there's another team in the comp outside us in 2025 that has him starting Back Row based on what he's shown so far?
I don't see it.

They tried to turn him into a middle . Well the previous regime did . He had no future in the backrow . Whilst that may be true , I think he’s proven he’s not a middle either .
Plus Covid really has put a lot of players around his age group behind by not plying thier trade in the lower grades for a few years .
Of course he’s no Olakuatu , or Kikau , but I think he proved to be pretty serviceable toward the end of last year .
If he’s not up to it though , we will know pretty early doors . And hopefully the club will pivot real quick , and go to market .
I just don’t think he will let anyone down , and be able to play his role within the structure . Unlike Bateman and his crabbing across field ruining the previous play the ball and the next 2 after .

 

[Telltails]

Pretty sure Maguire was a fan of Seyfarth as well. It seems he may be they type of player/ human who represents the culture that the club wants to employ - not obvious to the fans.

 

[king_sirro]

Push him to where?
- We just re-signed him for another 3 (4) years!!

Biased - how so, and to what end exactly?
I've no problem with Alex in the top 30 and he plays for my team.

His line running is improving - I don't get this - Ever!!
At what rate?
This is his 6th season in top grade - He came through as a Back Rower.
It'd be safe to assume he's been playing footy for 20 odd of his 26 years,
Professionally for the last six - and semi professionally for the 3-4 before that.

What am I missing?
He may well jump out of a box and shock me at some point in his NRL career....
But I'll bet my hump it's not at the Wests Tigers.

Hand on heart,
You telling me there's another team in the comp outside us in 2025 that has him starting Back Row based on what he's shown so far?
I don't see it.

This what your missing in my humble opinion mate. He hasn't spent those 6 seasons on an edge. Whenever he has had a reasonable run at the right edge he improved each game. Unfortunately he has only had 2 small consistent goes there in 6 years. So the 6 year argument is irrelevant to him playing right edge.

And no, I don't believe he would start at another club, and like I said, jury is most certainly out on him. No doubt we need better if we are to be a top team. I just pointed out that he does have a good pass on him and can run good lines, or at least showing signs of it. 2 things you said he can't do. That's all mate.

 

[Lestronge]

This what your missing in my humble opinion mate. He hasn't spent those 6 seasons on an edge. Whenever he has had a reasonable run at the right edge he improved each game. Unfortunately he has only had 2 small consistent goes there in 6 years. So the 6 year argument is irrelevant to him playing right edge.

And no, I don't believe he would start at another club, and like I said, jury is most certainly out on him. No doubt we need better if we are to be a top team. I just pointed out that he does have a good pass on him and can run good lines, or at least showing signs of it. 2 things you said he can't do. That's all mate.

The problem is everyone’s watched him get crumbled in the middle for the past X amount of years , and really only last year did he start to show leg drive and fight for yardage .
Plus all the penalties and agro , really had polluted everyone’s mind .
It’s gonna be a hard sell I think for a lot of fans . I’m like you , I’m hoping his pedigree in the juniors shines through in the seniors .
And if it does , which I admit is not real likely , I guess the real question then will be , whose bright idea was it to move him into the middle and waste all those years .
I also think the sudden outbreak of putting your best athletic forwards , on the edge of, which is a pretty new thing , may have played into his favour.
I mean for every frank pritchard there was 2 Tony Williams , so it’s been a bit of a journey to most teams having monsters wearing the 11 and 12 jersey .
Years ago they would have put that player in at prop , or maybe even the wing . It’s a nice little evolution .. you could maybe say Siro as well , but he wasn’t used in the same way . It was a different game .

 

[Tired Tiger]

That is truly a horribly depressing team that they have named, I'm expecting a completely puss performance from them. Douhie, Toa FML............ our depth is truly crap house !!!

 

[user118245]

Shouldn’t have spent $140 for tickets to watch this, should have watched at home on fox

Kayo prices climbing close to the tickets

 

[hank37w]

Doobie biggest strength is his running game. He doesn't pass the ball playing him at 7 seems is ridiculous. I am kinda thinking of not going to the game now, so disappointing.

Doueihi won't get a chance to pass the ball, could be lucky to see it at all with Galvin out there. 🤣

 

[Jedi_Tiger]

Doobie biggest strength is his running game. He doesn't pass the ball playing him at 7 seems is ridiculous. I am kinda thinking of not going to the game now, so disappointing.

AD might be halfback and captain of the magpies this year perhaps

 

[hank37w]

@GNR4LIFE told you champ it’s joever 😔

That's a joke right?

Please tell me it's a joke.

 

[Jedi_Tiger]

Don't understand the logic of Doueihi at 7 and Fainu on the bench.... AD isn't and never has been a halfback.

Hate seeing Twal at lock too. I don't mind him as a middle but he does not have the passing ability to play there

Benji is 5 years behind on moving the footy in the middle of the field. Lock is a position we massively lack

Latu Fainu probably will be bench round 1 so why not see what he does when he gets on the field

 

[Odessa]

AD might be halfback and captain of the magpies this year perhaps

Or shopping him to the Dragons as a number 7

 

[Tim Sheens]

TBH @Jolls I'd much rather Tristan Hope as our #14 in Round 1 given he can play hooker & lock. But he'd need to be promoted to Top 30 or Development list.

Hope looked promising on Sunday, though that was against much lesser opposition and particularly so after halftime when he played.

 

[hank37w]

The coach is in love with him. For Seyfarth’s sake, he’d wanna hope Benji sticks around. A new coach may not be as fond of him.

You'll be eating those words when he smashes the opposition in defense and runs elite lines earning himself the man of the match award.

 

[Tigerwould]

I look forward to a Peter Moussa update on Thursday on Luai, Turuva, Bula, Olam, Laulilii, Klemmer, Porter & Tumeth.

Is the Peter Moussa Thursday update on the club website or social media?