BWG Pathways Prospects into 2027

[BlackWhiteGold]

Over the next 2 or 3 weeks, I am going to post a series in this thread showcasing our top pathways prospects heading into 2027. All purely my opinion from watching every Wests Tigers, Wests Magpies & Balmain Tigers game in NRL, NSW Cup, Jersey Flegg & SG Ball this season.

I am not going to give them a ranking as it's too hard comparing 18yos to 21yos in difference competitions however I'm going to break them down into the following batches ...

• NRL Top 30 & Contracted (Dev / T&T) in '27
• Jersey Flegg ineligible in '27 (the best of those turning 22 next year)
• 21yo NSW Cup prospects in '27 (likely candidates to move into Cup next year despite being JF eligible)
• 21yo Jersey Flegg best other top agers in '27
• 20yo Jersey Flegg best bottom agers in '27
• 19yo Jersey Flegg prospects in '27
• 18yo Blue Chip prospects in '27
• 17yos to watch in '27

FYI, I am basing these contributions on the age the player turns in 2027.

All up, I have 50+ players on my list and plenty of reasons for excitement if we can develop them properly and retain them.

The first post will be an easy one ... NRL Top 30 & Contracted (Dev / T&T) in '27.

 

[BlackWhiteGold]

NRL Top 30 & Contracted (Development / Train & Trial) in 2027

• Haemasi Makasini
• Jared Haywood
• Javon Andrews
• Christian Taupau-Moors
• Pheonix Godinet
• Jack Attard
• Siotame Havea Jr
• Blake Van Drie

There will be others that the Club announce on Development or T&T over the coming weeks - some speculation that Archie Duncombe & Glassie Glassie could find themselves on this list.

I'm not going into great detail on each player - just age next year, position, side preference, contract expiry, main strengths & main area/s to develop in their game imo.

Hopefully this table copies across ok!

NRL TOP 30

Haemasi Makasini - 20 - Wing/Centre - Left - 2029
-Tall, powerful & reasonably quick ball runner with strong right fend. Ideally next stage of development is left wing.
-Needs to continue to work on physical strength, aerial ability for a winger and defensive decision making.

Jared Haywood - 21 – Hooker - 2028
-Smart, deceptive & quick hooker with an excellent passing game, great vision & ability to bring forwards onto the ball. Can cover halves if required.
-Development in physical strength and 1-on-1 defensive contact.

Javon Andrews - 21 - Five-Eighth - Left - 2028
-High IQ 5/8 with superb vision and passing game in good ball, deceptive strength in running game & nice short kicking.
-Continued work on defensive decision making & tackle technique + more experience in game management long kicking.

NRL CONTRACTED (DEV / T&T)

Christian Taupau-Moors - 20 - Prop - 2028
-Tall & strong ball carrier with an offload. Strong & physical in defensive contact.
-Continued work on more explosive (than lumbering) carries.

Pheonix Godinet - 20 -2nd Row - Right - 2027
-Strong & skilful ball carrier who can break tackles & gain post contact metres. Can hit in defence.
-Physical strength in defence close to the line. Needs to work on involvement.

Jack Attard - 21 - Fullback - 2028
-Fast, agile & skilful with superb acceleration. Great support play in the middle and nice passing game to create attack.
-Physical strength and contact as last line in defence due to size.

Siotame Havea Jr - 19 - Lock/Hooker - 2027
-High IQ ball playing & ball running lock. Possesses good line speed, tackle technique & strong contact in defence. Rated for leadership qualities.
-Played predominantly at dummyhalf in '26 where he lacks deception atm. Hopefully reverts back to primarily lock in '27 & dummy half pinchhitter.

Blake Van Drie - 20 - Lock/Hooker - 2027
-High energy smaller-framed lock who can run strongly, link beautifully & ball play. Generates line speed in D & exceptional involvement rate.
-Continued development of his body - size, strength & power.

 

[Demps]

Great thread.

Siotame is an interesting prospect.
Seems a promising player but wasn't there reports recently saying he's keen to explore his options?

 

[BlackWhiteGold]

Great thread.

Siotame is an interesting prospect.
Seems a promising player but wasn't there reports recently saying he's keen to explore his options?

Haven't seen those reports @Demps , hope not hey.

I feel Siotame is a prodigious talent, still eligible for SG Ball next season and I think should start next season captaining that grade.

Just my opinion but my eye test tells me he plateaued this year by being played at hooker 80% of the time.

Not sure whether the club just wanted him to develop his dummy half game so he can be a viable lock/hooker utility or whether they see it as a permanent move.

Personally I hope it's not a permanent move as he is such a good lock forward on both sides of the ball. Pundits bring up his height/size but this kid is rock solid and very powerful so don't see it as such an issue.

Anyway he moves onto a FT Development contract next season so we'll wait'n see.

 

[Vicious]

Brillliant once again @BlackWhiteGold
Imagine someone from within our club provided something like this for our members and fans?
Maybe they could give you a paid role to do it as I don’t think anyone could do it any better.

 

[BlackWhiteGold]

Brillliant once again @BlackWhiteGold
Imagine someone from within our club provided something like this for our members and fans?
Maybe they could give you a paid role to do it as I don’t think anyone could do it any better.

Thanks @Vicious … mate we can only hope one day the club expands its content on pathways.

Unfortunately based on a reply from Shaun Mielekamp in the CEO thread, they are cautious about it not to inform other clubs who our top rated juniors are and to put too much pressure & expectation on our young stars.

I personally think that is naive & a poor attitude from the club. All clubs know who the top rated juniors are + acknowledgment of good performance by youngsters should be promoted, not kept quiet.

It looks like it’ll be up to posters like you & I and the other dozen or so regular contributors in the pathways threads, the WT Faithful lads & NBWT on Twitter to keep the pathways content flowing.

 

[king_sirro]

Thanks @Vicious … mate we can only hope one day the club expands its content on pathways.

Unfortunately based on a reply from Shaun Mielekamp in the CEO thread, they are cautious about it not to inform other clubs who our top rated juniors are and to put too much pressure & expectation on our young stars.

I personally think that is naive & a poor attitude from the club. All clubs know who the top rated juniors are + acknowledgment of good performance by youngsters should be promoted, not kept quiet.

It looks like it’ll be up to posters like you & I and the other dozen or so regular contributors in the pathways threads, the WT Faithful lads & NBWT on Twitter to keep the pathways content flowing.

Im of the other view mate. I think its important the club doesnt over inflate the egos of youngsters trying to make it. Far too often these kids think they have made it before they have. Best to keep them grounded and media low-key. I would rather hear feedback back from guys like you who will tell ut as it is and not over hype them.

 

[BlackWhiteGold]

Im of the other view mate. I think its important the club doesnt over inflate the egos of youngsters trying to make it. Far too often these kids think they have made it before they have. Best to keep them grounded and media low-key. I would rather hear feedback back from guys like you who will tell ut as it is and not over hype them.

Yeah I think there can be a happy medium though King. Content that doesn’t focus on one but multiple players and steers clear of hyperbole like ‘rising star’ etc. Plus it’s good early media training for players to do club content even from SG Ball up.

 

[BunganHead Tiger]

Keep up the great work BWG. I'm sure there are many of us on this forum that appreciate you investing the best part of your weekend watching and analysing our junior pathway games. The information and insight you and other pathways contributors provide us is invaluable to those of us who are more time poor.
I, for one would much rather trust your analysis and comments than those written by a paid journo who may be in the pocket of an unscrupulous player manager. Love your passion.

 

[Roar_Power]

Great work @BlackWhiteGold, always look forward to hearing your thoughts on the pathways.

 

[BlackWhiteGold]

NRL Top 30 & Contracted (Development / Train & Trial) in 2027

• Haemasi Makasini
• Jared Haywood
• Javon Andrews
• Christian Taupau-Moors
• Pheonix Godinet
• Jack Attard
• Siotame Havea Jr
• Blake Van Drie

There will be others that the Club announce on Development or T&T over the coming weeks - some speculation that Archie Duncombe & Glassie Glassie could find themselves on this list.

I'm not going into great detail on each player - just age next year, position, side preference, contract expiry, main strengths & main area/s to develop in their game imo.

Hopefully this table copies across ok!

NRL TOP 30

Haemasi Makasini - 20 - Wing/Centre - Left - 2029
-Tall, powerful & reasonably quick ball runner with strong right fend. Ideally next stage of development is left wing.
-Needs to continue to work on physical strength, aerial ability for a winger and defensive decision making.

Jared Haywood - 21 – Hooker - 2028
-Smart, deceptive & quick hooker with an excellent passing game, great vision & ability to bring forwards onto the ball. Can cover halves if required.
-Development in physical strength and 1-on-1 defensive contact.

Javon Andrews - 21 - Five-Eighth - Left - 2028
-High IQ 5/8 with superb vision and passing game in good ball, deceptive strength in running game & nice short kicking.
-Continued work on defensive decision making & tackle technique + more experience in game management long kicking.

NRL CONTRACTED (DEV / T&T)

Christian Taupau-Moors - 20 - Prop - 2028
-Tall & strong ball carrier with an offload. Strong & physical in defensive contact.
-Continued work on more explosive (than lumbering) carries.

Pheonix Godinet - 20 -2nd Row - Right - 2027
-Strong & skilful ball carrier who can break tackles & gain post contact metres. Can hit in defence.
-Physical strength in defence close to the line. Needs to work on involvement.

Jack Attard - 21 - Fullback - 2028
-Fast, agile & skilful with superb acceleration. Great support play in the middle and nice passing game to create attack.
-Physical strength and contact as last line in defence due to size.

Siotame Havea Jr - 19 - Lock/Hooker - 2027
-High IQ ball playing & ball running lock. Possesses good line speed, tackle technique & strong contact in defence. Rated for leadership qualities.
-Played predominantly at dummyhalf in '26 where he lacks deception atm. Hopefully reverts back to primarily lock in '27 & dummy half pinchhitter.

Blake Van Drie - 20 - Lock/Hooker - 2027
-High energy smaller-framed lock who can run strongly, link beautifully & ball play. Generates line speed in D & exceptional involvement rate.
-Continued development of his body - size, strength & power.

This week for my series on my best 50-60 pathways prospects heading into 2027, I'm focused on those players who turn 22 next year thus have to move into open grade football.

I have 7 players from our Jersey Flegg side this year who I would look to retain on NSW Cup contracts.

(age next year - position - side preference, contract expiry (if known) - main strengths & main area/s to develop in their game imo)

JERSEY FLEGG INELIGIBLE in 2027

Max Taotua – 22 – Centre – Right - 2027
-Strong & skilful right centre, good in yardage carries & great left-to-right pass to his winger. Has a fulltime NRL contract in '27 likely T&T.
-Plateaued in JF this season. Needs to work on defence especially speed & decision making in covering a wrapping/sweeping fullback.

Mitch Taotua – 22 - 2nd Row - Left
-Powerful, tackle-busting & skilful backrower. Strong in post-contact & good defensively.
-Prone to struggle against bigger edge forwards. Needs to continue to work on concentration & intent for longer periods.

Jeriko Filipi-Talisau – 22 - Lock/Hooker
-Versatile lock/hooker utility with great workrate. Good service from dummy-half. Strong running game & middle defence.
-No genuine weakness, just continued work on all aspects of his game.

Heith Pritchard – 22 - Half/Hooker
-Small but tough and versatile, best suited to 5/8 imo but can cover dummyhalf. Solid game management, passing game & support play.
-Continued work on his physical strength as he moves into open grade.

Ryder Huth – 22 - Five-Eighth
-Tall, reasonably quick half with great vision, bit of x-factor & ability to sniff out a try with his running game or support play.
-Physical development & acceleration as a running half.

Lenny Plati – 22 – Prop - 2028
-Small, powerful middle forward with quick leg speed. Provided impact & energy off the bench in Flegg in 2026.
-Size is arguably his weakness atm. Good ball carrier but will need to work on physical development into open grade.

Jack Biles – 22 - 2nd Row
-Rangy & skilful backrower with good work ethic on both sides of the ball. Ex Dolphins U20 player in 2025.
-Can work on physical development to become stronger in defensive contact.

Next week I will do my top 21yo prospects (turning 21 in 2027) who don't have an NRL deal that I'm aware of but could find themselves with NSW Cup contracts but still play a bit of Flegg as top-agers. I have 5 identified, one being our man Archie Duncombe (am confident will get a NRL dev or T&T though).

 

[LeichhardtTiger]

Im of the other view mate. I think its important the club doesnt over inflate the egos of youngsters trying to make it. Far too often these kids think they have made it before they have. Best to keep them grounded and media low-key. I would rather hear feedback back from guys like you who will tell ut as it is and not over hype them.

Jordan Miller, Tumeth, Matamua, etc.

 

[Tiger_heart]

Looking back to the "promising" juniors that never made the big time:

Chris Sironen
Manaia Cherrington
Jake Mullaney
Jason Schirnack
Dane Chisholm
Nathan Malone...

Our club is famous for letting superstars go (like James Tedesco and Mitchell Moses), but our modern history is also littered with highly touted junior prodigies, SG Ball/Harold Matthews stars, and Holden Cup (Under 20s) standouts who never cracked the NRL or failed to sustain a career in the "big time"
These players were heralded as the absolute future of the club during their teenage years but structural issues, injuries, or off-field hurdles stopped them from fulfilling their massive billing.

I am with the King on this on this one ;-)

 

[BlackWhiteGold]

Looking back to the "promising" juniors that never made the big time:

Chris Sironen
Manaia Cherrington
Jake Mullaney
Jason Schirnack
Dane Chisholm
Nathan Malone...

Our club is famous for letting superstars go (like James Tedesco and Mitchell Moses), but our modern history is also littered with highly touted junior prodigies, SG Ball/Harold Matthews stars, and Holden Cup (Under 20s) standouts who never cracked the NRL or failed to sustain a career in the "big time"
These players were heralded as the absolute future of the club during their teenage years but structural issues, injuries, or off-field hurdles stopped them from fulfilling their massive billing.

I am with the King on this on this one ;-)

Yep the club has to get every part of pathways development right ... talent identification, good coaching, strength & conditioning, specific skills development & progression at the appropriate rate for the individual.

Amongst all of this is getting the right coaches in, developing those coaches, facilities for training and gym and much more.

We've arguably had many talented juniors over the decades who didn't make it because of the resourcing & coaching the club has provided (or should I say not provided).

I think Mielekamp is taking a holistic view but it will take a few more years before all the support & resourcing around our juniors is at a level befitting our vast catchment imo.

 

[Lestronge]

Looking back to the "promising" juniors that never made the big time:

Chris Sironen
Manaia Cherrington
Jake Mullaney
Jason Schirnack
Dane Chisholm
Nathan Malone...

Our club is famous for letting superstars go (like James Tedesco and Mitchell Moses), but our modern history is also littered with highly touted junior prodigies, SG Ball/Harold Matthews stars, and Holden Cup (Under 20s) standouts who never cracked the NRL or failed to sustain a career in the "big time"
These players were heralded as the absolute future of the club during their teenage years but structural issues, injuries, or off-field hurdles stopped them from fulfilling their massive billing.

I am with the King on this on this one ;-)

Curtis Sironen played like 150 nrl games. Cherrington made nrl and bounced around . Chi#holm had a reasonable sl career if im not mistaken. The schirnak boys retired to concentrate on their finance business im pretty sure , and millone and mullaney were considered long shots despite playing well in the gf winning Holden cup team . They were both at the eels a couple years later . I’m pretty sure mullaney had 10 or so games in nrl for the eels.
M

 

[Lestronge]

Yep the club has to get every part of pathways development right ... talent identification, good coaching, strength & conditioning, specific skills development & progression at the appropriate rate for the individual.

Amongst all of this is getting the right coaches in, developing those coaches, facilities for training and gym and much more.

We've arguably had many talented juniors over the decades who didn't make it because of the resourcing & coaching the club has provided (or should I say not provided).

I think Mielekamp is taking a holistic view but it will take a few more years before all the support & resourcing around our juniors is at a level befitting our vast catchment imo.

The only way this happens is if everything pathways all comes under the same resource pool, both in name , wests tigers - south west , wests tigers-inner west . Players are shared ie. if the MacArthur boys have a very deep forward pack ,and the inner west boys are deep in spine players , resources are pooled to strengthen both teams. Coaching clinics and constant zoom meetings to align programs , standards and execution to implement continuous systems throughout all grades etc.
simply the club is too siloed .