2027 half back and five eigth

[Tim Sheens]

If it led to AD’s frustration what was his excuse for refusing Noddy’s request to play out of the halves. AD just does what’s best for AD.
I liked AD as a versatile player, but never as a half
Sadly AD has not excelled at any position he has been given and has turned his back on two coaches. There has to be consequences, but I doubt there will be and there lies the Tigers problem.

Hear, hear!

 

[Tim Sheens]

He was our best attacker last year. I don't think we should throw the baby out with the bathwater.

If there is someone better, sure, they go in there. But at the moment, I think we might have potential, but not solid options.

Trouble is that the baby constantly blocks the drain and stops the water getting out to let those around him flourish, or sprays it out high hail Mary style.

He is a brat that detracts more from a team than he brings in the halves, with goal kicking his best attribute and I don’t want to see him in WT colours again

 

[Jolls]

6. Doueihi
7. Fainu

the most important thing for Wests Tigers at this moment in time is winning games. this halves pairing gives us the best chance of doing so.

Jock has some issues in his game, Javon isn’t ready for week to week grade and there’s no one else to call upon. ideally I’d have Doueihi at 13 or elsewhere but right now he’s our best option in the halves.

would like to see us sign another half, who that may be I’m not sure, but right now the above is the best option.

I get the reluctance to see Javon as a starter but I don't think we need to necessarily shield him because of his age. By the time the 2027 NRL season kicks off, Javon will be 20 (turning 21 in December 27).

If we look at the best playmakers in the game, debuting and locking down a spot at 19 or 20 is pretty common; it's the blueprint of superstars. If you look at the track record of a few halves who had their debut season or became primary starters at 19 or 20:

• Nathan Cleary: debuted at 19. At 20, he was steering Penrith into finals and steering NSW in State of Origin.
• Tom Dearden: Debut at 18. Brisbane's system failed him, but debuting at that age gave him the hard yards needed to be playing Origin by 21.
• Lachlan Galvin: Look right under our own noses. Galvin debuted at 18 and just finished as the Dogs Player of they year at 21.
• Sam Walker: Handed the keys to the Chooks attack at 19, has played SOO, just won a GF and has been named as the Kangaroo's half.

I'm certainly not saying that we shouldn't nurture Andrews either; but he isn't a regular grade rookie. He is an elite prospect who has dominated every level he's touched:

1. Under-19 State of Origin Man of the Match.
2. 2026 Reserve Grade 5/8th ofthe year. He tore up the NSW Cup for the Magpies, leading the competition with 26 try assists and 23 line-break assists. He has proved that his footy IQ is ready to take the step into first-grade standard.
3. Physical Readiness. At 190 cm and 98 kg, he already has the frame of a modern, big-bodied five-eighth (similar to Matt Burton). He is going to get targeted but I doubt he will be broken by the defensive load.
4. Resilience. He overcame a C4/C5 vertebrae fracture five years ago that doctors said would end his career. If he has the mental toughness to come back from that to debut in 2026, he has the temperament to handle NRL pressure.

He’s already contracted to our Top 30 for 2027 and 2028. With AD and Schuster there to shoulder pressure if he needs to be rested, 2027 is the perfect environment for a 20-year-old Andrews to play his natural, off-the-cuff touch footy style.

I don't think we heed to hold him back, get him in the 6 with pressure and support behind him, a full off season working on combinations and I think he will be ready to go. Will it be shaky, sure at times it will. Walker was dropped a couple of times for his development and we shouldn't be afriad of developing him in this manner either. If he is not ready for the grind he can rotate with Schuster, AD or someone we have yet to recruit.

We have to take the same approach with Latu, using Jock as his backstop if required. I agree that AD may be a safe option to start but we aren't making the 8 with the 6 on his back. We may with it on the back of Andrews.
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[Mighty_Tiger]

Play Latu on the left, if he roves that depends on who plays with him.
If he roves AD on right makes sense, if he doesn’t then Madden should be his partner in crime with Andrews coming in over the season.

 

[TurnStyle]

Tigers red zone attack has been an abomination forever.

What do they even have to lose by going all in on Latu and Andrews?

The only reason AD is ever the best/only attacking threat is because he doesn't f'ing pass the ball when he should.

It feels like the only reason not to play both is to have an experienced player to help them. But AD is no Andrew Johns, so what is the use in persisting with him?

I would put the faith in the young guys and give them a really decent opportunity to find their feet at nrl level.

Yes, there will be a lot of pain. But as long as you can see they're improving, I say dammit, we're Wests Tigers: we know nothing but pain!

 

[jrtiger]

I get the reluctance to see Javon as a starter but I don't think we need to necessarily shield him because of his age. By the time the 2027 NRL season kicks off, Javon will be 20 (turning 21 in December 27).

If we look at the best playmakers in the game, debuting and locking down a spot at 19 or 20 is pretty common; it's the blueprint of superstars. If you look at the track record of a few halves who had their debut season or became primary starters at 19 or 20:

• Nathan Cleary: debuted at 19. At 20, he was steering Penrith into finals and steering NSW in State of Origin.
• Tom Dearden: Debut at 18. Brisbane's system failed him, but debuting at that age gave him the hard yards needed to be playing Origin by 21.
• Lachlan Galvin: Look right under our own noses. Galvin debuted at 18 and just finished as the Dogs Player of they year at 21.
• Sam Walker: Handed the keys to the Chooks attack at 19, has played SOO, just won a GF and has been named as the Kangaroo's half.

I'm certainly not saying that we shouldn't nurture Andrews either; but he isn't a regular grade rookie. He is an elite prospect who has dominated every level he's touched:

1. Under-19 State of Origin Man of the Match.
2. 2026 Reserve Grade 5/8th ofthe year. He tore up the NSW Cup for the Magpies, leading the competition with 26 try assists and 23 line-break assists. He has proved that his footy IQ is ready to take the step into first-grade standard.
3. Physical Readiness. At 190 cm and 98 kg, he already has the frame of a modern, big-bodied five-eighth (similar to Matt Burton). He is going to get targeted but I doubt he will be broken by the defensive load.
4. Resilience. He overcame a C4/C5 vertebrae fracture five years ago that doctors said would end his career. If he has the mental toughness to come back from that to debut in 2026, he has the temperament to handle NRL pressure.

He’s already contracted to our Top 30 for 2027 and 2028. With AD and Schuster there to shoulder pressure if he needs to be rested, 2027 is the perfect environment for a 20-year-old Andrews to play his natural, off-the-cuff touch footy style.

I don't think we heed to hold him back, get him in the 6 with pressure and support behind him, a full off season working on combinations and I think he will be ready to go. Will it be shaky, sure at times it will. Walker was dropped a couple of times for his development and we shouldn't be afriad of developing him in this manner either. If he is not ready for the grind he can rotate with Schuster, AD or someone we have yet to recruit.

We have to take the same approach with Latu, using Jock as his backstop if required. I agree that AD may be a safe option to start but we aren't making the 8 with the 6 on his back. We may with it on the back of Andrews.
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I love the thinking and absolutely agree that he will be our long-term 6, but I still think he’s a little ways off, simply because of his defence.

players of Javon’s talent can mature quickly and I’d be delighted if I’m wrong, but I know what I saw against Canberra and that wasn’t reserve grade calibre defensive work, let alone first grade.

fix that over the summer and he’s ready to go, but I think it’s a bridge too far for him to be there in Vegas. for that reason I’ve got AD there, as much as it might pain me to say it.

 

[Tim Sheens]

The only reason AD is ever the best/only attacking threat is because he doesn't f'ing pass the ball when he should.

Yep, and apart from that, some may rightly worry about Latu not being able to play many matches in the halves, but he plays wherever his coach wants and Doueihi has only been available for selection in about half of the games since coming to WT.

 

[Jolls]

I love the thinking and absolutely agree that he will be our long-term 6, but I still think he’s a little ways off, simply because of his defence.

players of Javon’s talent can mature quickly and I’d be delighted if I’m wrong, but I know what I saw against Canberra and that wasn’t reserve grade calibre defensive work, let alone first grade.

fix that over the summer and he’s ready to go, but I think it’s a bridge too far for him to be there in Vegas. for that reason I’ve got AD there, as much as it might pain me to say it.

I was at that game and had a chat with him afterwards; he was pretty disappointed. Having said that he wasn't the only one who didn't turn up in defence - and not just the NRL side. Aour cup side was woeful that night. In addition AD and Romey missed some clangers during their time playing at 6 so I'm prepared to give him the off season with a new defensive coach and a lot of reps to see where he is at.

The great unknown is where Schuster is at; he has plenty of time to work on both fitness and ball skills with limited exposure. Any word around him from your neck of the woods? The ship may have sailed on him as a 6 from a speed perspective but I expect his ball handling and defence would be up there given some reps over the off season.

I understand the safety of having AD there to start the season - but at some point in time we need to take the bandaid off. I want to see the Latu/Javron/AD ans Shuchster combinations in the pre season before writing Andrews off as a starter. I think his preformance in Cup should mean he has the opportunity to prove that he can cut it.