Which positions are crucial

crazycat

crazycat

Well-known member
Just some thoughts I have been thinking about positions and where Wests Tigers have ended on the ladder.

Forwards/Props/etc: ignoring this for now. But you need a forward pack that can hold their own.

Hooker: Usually we have had a pretty top class hooker. Be that Robbie Farah or Api Koroisau. The only time we did not was under Jason Taylor/Ivan Cleary (Ok Farah sent to bench), where we went 14th/9th/15th -- big 4 implosion.

Halfback: A good halfback and we make the finals. 2004/6 Scott Prince and 2005 happens. 2010/2011 were 3rd and 4th with Robert Lui. I won't put Luke Brooks as a good halfback.. But I will say this. Scott Prince left the club and we did not historically have a halfback that could help train the players coming in.
__ Halfback is key (duh).

5/8: We have usually had good 5/8's Benji Marshall filing the position most of the time. Josh Reynolds would fill it under Cleary, then a year later Madge moved him to other positions where he sucked. Lately it's Galvin/Luai

Centers: The main center that comes to mind is Chris Lawrence. Ben Gacia comes to mind as his main partner till 2007... Then Blake Aysford has 1-2 good years and nothing... but in 2010 /2011 we get 3rd and 4th.
We then Splurge and sign James Roberts/BJ Leulua which were both on big $$ from memory, and both rather meh/past their prime.
Since Lawrence, I am honestly struggling to remember who we had at Center till recently bar the two above.

Wing: we have near always had a speedy winger. Tunela Tukali, Pat Richards, Nofo, Koroibete, Taquiri, Beau Ryan. Nearly always a speedy winger if we come last or top 4.

Fullback: Hodson for ages. Then Loki Tiquiri then Moltzen ... Then Tedesco.
Fullback makes some difference, but not as much as people think.



My point:
The two positions that make the most difference are-
Halfback
and
Center.
 
Every position is important.
Need all cylinders firing to be a cohesive unit and get the job done.

As for what we need to be prioritising;

Lock - always been an issue. There's a thread about it. We have capable players but not necessarily a genuine specialist.

Depth - we've got some decent Depth moving forward but I think we are weak in the centres and front row. We need to continue to build this.
 
10, 13, and as always we need an NRL 7. Hopefully Latu can become a 7 and we only need 2 NRL players.
And that’s just to make the 8.
 
In the modern game I think it's (in order of importance)-
9- Dummy halves control speed
8/10/13- Middles give momentum shifts
7- The half controls the flow of general play
1- Starts every new set & adds extra attack numbers
2/5- Like the #1, starts every set & is vital in momentum building
 
I think right edge backrow/ a general down the right who has that edge in sync is something we have missed more than anything . Namely because that’s the strong side for most teams , and for years it’s our weak side .
If KPP and AD either inside KPP at lock or outside him at 7 , can get in sync , then I think that will go along way to a relaxed edge . For me the best defences in the edge always seem the most relaxed. For me that’s our holy grail . We’ve been searching the whole lifetime of the club. Which is ironic considering , from memory our original coach in Wayne Pearce , the big wrap on him was how good defensively he was .
 
Demps said:
Every position is important.
Need all cylinders firing to be a cohesive unit and get the job done.

As for what we need to be prioritising;

Lock - always been an issue. There's a thread about it. We have capable players but not necessarily a genuine specialist.

Depth - we've got some decent Depth moving forward but I think we are weak in the centres and front row. We need to continue to build this.
Click to expand...
Lock has really changed... A lot.

I left lock out because I don't think we saw much of the 2nd hooker element in the older sides. But maybe we did. I remember Ryan hinchcliff?? from Melbourne almost making hooker for NSW (as Cameron Smith ofcourse was the QLD hooker). Robbie Roccow seemed to play some kind of similar role in defense when he was briefly here.

Either way, Lock now is really more of a second hooker/ball passer role as well as a gutsy middle defense roll. Clearly Twal isn't up to the task and is better starting at Prop.

It's harder to predict success looking at Lock because lock has changed so much. Yes we do need a good lock.
 
Rock Hopper Steve said:
For me the whole team needs to be competent and in sync, any weak links get exposed in the modern game and that includes the bench.
Click to expand...
Particularly in the Big D Defense.
100% right though.

Coaches identify who can't defend in the line. They will then be targetted, the stats are there and all layed out.

Momentum too has been a big focus of Benji. He knows we drop the ball and loose an attacking set.

We need to get these basics right. 2024 these basics were not found in the first grade team.
2025 were doing better. Some of the basics are in us, some games we were still woeful.
2026 lets get 1-17 defending solid and hopefully some depth defenders.
 
we need a prop with boarder line defectiveness for 55 min's and a reputable old head center ,which is only worth a contract for 2 years , willing to spend majority of that in Reggies depending on Makasini find his feet comfortably in 1sts,a few have ants in pants about a lock , think that /hope it will just sort it self out over time
 
Merlot said:
our 2nd rowers going above their calling is the key
Click to expand...
Look, I would like to get more out of them and having KPP will be interesting. Prove yourself on the field, please KPP.

Yet I keep thinking back to 2023 and we had a fairly good forward pack, and came last.
Ofcourse we still need a good forward pack, of all the years we came last 2022 was the worst.


Just really thinking back. When we:
Had a good halfback, be that Prince or Lui
Had some kind of center pairing worked out. i.e. Lawrence/Ashford or Gacia/Whatuira so we don't get owned in the middle
and
a forward pack that can at least hold their own. Heck having Ellis, Heighington, Galloway, with Fifita and Woods coming into the ranks was insanely good.

we go to the finals.


2026, we kinda have a pack that are OK. Terrell May is awesome and our recruits seem to be good.
Our center pairing is, better. Well it's better till Taylan goes crazy.

Yet no halfback, yet. I don't think we will make the 8, but if we do it will be due to Luai.
 
Jedi_Tiger said:
a competent and professional board
Click to expand...
Cmon.

Manly won a premiership while their board was trying to sack Des. Des kept the rumblings quiet so they could raise the trophy while they kicked him out.

Parramatta constantly tried to fire Brad Arthur and he got within 1 game of winning a premiership.

Now there are clubs like Easts and Sharks which do seem well managed at that board level. ... But that ain't their secret source.


Culture is!
Culture will not come from the Board. No one is going to hear Barry O'Farrell and commit to our club. Culture has to come from our club, in our club.. not just the coaching staff but the entire place. CEO can help set it. The board, far less so.
 
crazycat said:
Just some thoughts I have been thinking about positions and where Wests Tigers have ended on the ladder.

Forwards/Props/etc: ignoring this for now. But you need a forward pack that can hold their own.

Hooker: Usually we have had a pretty top class hooker. Be that Robbie Farah or Api Koroisau. The only time we did not was under Jason Taylor/Ivan Cleary (Ok Farah sent to bench), where we went 14th/9th/15th -- big 4 implosion.

Halfback: A good halfback and we make the finals. 2004/6 Scott Prince and 2005 happens. 2010/2011 were 3rd and 4th with Robert Lui. I won't put Luke Brooks as a good halfback.. But I will say this. Scott Prince left the club and we did not historically have a halfback that could help train the players coming in.
__ Halfback is key (duh).

5/8: We have usually had good 5/8's Benji Marshall filing the position most of the time. Josh Reynolds would fill it under Cleary, then a year later Madge moved him to other positions where he sucked. Lately it's Galvin/Luai

Centers: The main center that comes to mind is Chris Lawrence. Ben Gacia comes to mind as his main partner till 2007... Then Blake Aysford has 1-2 good years and nothing... but in 2010 /2011 we get 3rd and 4th.
We then Splurge and sign James Roberts/BJ Leulua which were both on big $$ from memory, and both rather meh/past their prime.
Since Lawrence, I am honestly struggling to remember who we had at Center till recently bar the two above.

Wing: we have near always had a speedy winger. Tunela Tukali, Pat Richards, Nofo, Koroibete, Taquiri, Beau Ryan. Nearly always a speedy winger if we come last or top 4.

Fullback: Hodson for ages. Then Loki Tiquiri then Moltzen ... Then Tedesco.
Fullback makes some difference, but not as much as people think.



My point:
The two positions that make the most difference are-
Halfback
and
Center.
Click to expand...
 
crazycat said:
Cmon.

Manly won a premiership while their board was trying to sack Des. Des kept the rumblings quiet so they could raise the trophy while they kicked him out.

Parramatta constantly tried to fire Brad Arthur and he got within 1 game of winning a premiership.

Now there are clubs like Easts and Sharks which do seem well managed at that board level. ... But that ain't their secret source.


Culture is!
Culture will not come from the Board. No one is going to hear Barry O'Farrell and commit to our club. Culture has to come from our club, in our club.. not just the coaching staff but the entire place. CEO can help set it. The board, far less so.
Click to expand...
Lol it's such a cop-out as if the players give a flying f about the board
 
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