Anyone Else Confident ?

[tsjonathan]

Previous years absolutely. This year no.

What has changed this year as opposed to last year? The kids have some more experience and Farah and Taylor and friends I guess. I don't really rate our buys except for perhaps Carr but really that's it.

 

[TrueTiger]

If Teddy,Noofa,Simona,Brooks and Moses stay uninjured for the season our back line will be scintillating ,they are the core,if our forwards complete their sets and have learned to shore up the middle solidly,then yeah,I'm confident that we will have a very good year…

We have a hell of a lot of talent in this team,its time they showed us what they have learnt and what they can do on the field to instill confidence within the fanbase and club ...
I'm willing to say that this team can improve and probably touch on making the 8...that would be a huge improvement on last year and I reckon they can do it if the injury train don't hit us...

 

[2041]

Nope, can't see us finishing outside the bottom four and it's only the Elgey injury which gives me any real confidence that we might not come last. The pack's weak, the halves are defensive liabilities, the outside backs have no depth, the coach is useless and the club is broke. It's going to be a long year.

 

[Icon]

I think it's going to be a tough year, imo the starting team is weaker than last year, and we have no depth. This can only lead to a bottom 4 finish, in fact if we finish with 8 wins I'll be satisfied.
So, there is little confidence from me, but the last time i thought we were no chance of making the 8 early in the the year, was after the round 1 loss to Parramatta in 2005.
Where there is life there is hope, at least.

 

[hobbo]

Nah , it'll be the same garbage as previous
Years .
The Sheens /Farah / marshall era . The Potter Farah dramas , The Farah /Taylor fiasco …
Poor management ... The list goes on .. Over it !
I'd like to be proven wrong though !

 

[tsjonathan]

Nah , it'll be the same garbage as previous
Years .
The Sheens /Farah / marshall era . The Potter Farah dramas , The Farah /Taylor fiasco …
Poor management ... The list goes on .. Over it !
I'd like to be proven wrong though !

Always starts from the top. Outside the football/sports field. Any successful franchise have a very solid foundations of a good organisation. The players and all staff are professional and well rounded people off the field. How has our club looked?

 

[TrueTiger]

Nah , it'll be the same garbage as previous
Years .
The Sheens /Farah / marshall era . The Potter Farah dramas , The Farah /Taylor fiasco …
Poor management ... The list goes on .. Over it !
I'd like to be proven wrong though !

Always starts from the top. Outside the football/sports field. Any successful franchise have a very solid foundations of a good organisation. The players and all staff are professional and well rounded people off the field. How has our club looked?

Think positive boys,this year could be the start of a new era…a winning one...small steps fellas small steps....

 

[Newtown]

I think it's going to be a tough year, imo the starting team is weaker than last year, and we have no depth. This can only lead to a bottom 4 finish, in fact if we finish with 8 wins I'll be satisfied.
So, there is little confidence from me, but the last time i thought we were no chance of making the 8 early in the the year, was after the round 1 loss to Parramatta in 2005.
Where there is life there is hope, at least.

I definitely disagree about your statement re no depth. Wests Tigers have done a magnificent job with recruitment which hasn't blown the budget. It will be this depth through recruitment which will be a stimulus to a quite competitive season from our club. So many good new players this year have a chance to play first grade and to make us smile. Players who have seemingly held a mortgage on a first grade spot, i.e. players like Lawrence, Farah and Sironen, know that, despite their reputations, they will have to play at that best week in and week out in order to hold their spot. If not, State Cup awaits them and Taylor will not be afraid to drop them.

 

[2041]

I think it's going to be a tough year, imo the starting team is weaker than last year, and we have no depth. This can only lead to a bottom 4 finish, in fact if we finish with 8 wins I'll be satisfied.
So, there is little confidence from me, but the last time i thought we were no chance of making the 8 early in the the year, was after the round 1 loss to Parramatta in 2005.
Where there is life there is hope, at least.

I definitely disagree about your statement re no depth. Wests Tigers have done a magnificent job with recruitment which hasn't blown the budget. It will be this depth through recruitment which will be a stimulus to a quite competitive season from our club. So many good new players this year have a chance to play first grade and to make us smile. Players who have seemingly held a mortgage on a first grade spot, i.e. players like Lawrence, Farah and Sironen, know that, despite their reputations, they will have to play at that best week in and week out in order to hold their spot. If not, State Cup awaits them and Taylor will not be afraid to drop them.

Counterpoint: we now have a larger number of players who aren't first-grade standard. This does not qualify as depth.

I'd like to add this: :wink: , but I'm not sure I'm joking.

 

[hobbo]

Nah , it'll be the same garbage as previous
Years .
The Sheens /Farah / marshall era . The Potter Farah dramas , The Farah /Taylor fiasco …
Poor management ... The list goes on .. Over it !
I'd like to be proven wrong though !

Always starts from the top. Outside the football/sports field. Any successful franchise have a very solid foundations of a good organisation. The players and all staff are professional and well rounded people off the field. How has our club looked?

Think positive boys,this year could be the start of a new era…a winning one...small steps fellas small steps....

You may well be right TT ?!
But I'm even prepared to have another disastrous season just to see the likes of Farah and Pasty face get the arse !
They can both hold hands as they skip off into the sunset together …
I admire your positivity though !
Wish I could be the same ...

I really feel for the young supporters out their ( my young fella included )
Sick of lying to him every week .
"They'll come good mate "
"Just hang in their "
I no longer feel the highs or lows watching Wests Tigers :laughing:

 

[TrueTiger]

Nah , it'll be the same garbage as previous
Years .
The Sheens /Farah / marshall era . The Potter Farah dramas , The Farah /Taylor fiasco …
Poor management ... The list goes on .. Over it !
I'd like to be proven wrong though !

Always starts from the top. Outside the football/sports field. Any successful franchise have a very solid foundations of a good organisation. The players and all staff are professional and well rounded people off the field. How has our club looked?

Think positive boys,this year could be the start of a new era…a winning one...small steps fellas small steps....

You may well be right TT ?!
But I'm even prepared to have another disastrous season just to see the likes of Farah and Pasty face get the arse !
They can both hold hands as they skip off into the sunset together …
I admire your positivity though !
Wish I could be the same ...

I really feel for the young supporters out their ( my young fella included )
Sick of lying to him every week .
"They'll come good mate "
"Just hang in their "
I no longer feel the highs or lows watching Wests Tigers :laughing:

Completely understand your view Hobs,however,sometimes you have to go through a tough patch when your in a business,and our club and team are a business,to find how things can be done better..last year was woeful and you can't just point the finger at one person,there were many mitigating circumstances that came to a head and burst,hopefully that pain has gone and now we are in the healing and developing process…
An old wise coach told me once...things always get worse before they get better...let's keep positive and see if we can do much better this year,and not just on the field,the club as a whole...hang in there hobs old mate,there's plenty of passion left in us yet....

 

[Basil_Tiger]

Counterpoint: we now have a larger number of players who aren't first-grade standard. This does not qualify as depth.

Exactly,for the Tiges to finish in the top 8 a lot of players really have to lift,like Parra. in the Nines.
I can't see Taylor lasting the season,just my opinion but the sour atmosphere amongst the playing group won't help.

 

[TrueTiger]

Counterpoint: we now have a larger number of players who aren't first-grade standard. This does not qualify as depth.

Exactly,for the Tiges to finish in the top 8 a lot of players really have to lift,like Parra. in the Nines.
I can't see Taylor lasting the season,just my opinion but the sour atmosphere amongst the playing group won't help.

Basil,I thought everyone was over the spite and have decided to work together for the sake of the team and club…Someone must be lieing ,pretty sure the playing group have said they had a good off season and can't wait to play some very good football this year,especially that Farah said he is enjoying footy again....see Basil,I try and be positive,if I get let down then to bad,but at least I'm fair in giving EVERYONE a chance to prove themselves this year.....passion can be infectious,I'm infected badly.... :slight_smile:

 

[phil1986]

Yes I am, have a listen to the below.

Last season we struggled in 2 main areas on the field.

1-depth, when we had injuries, we were blooding players that weren't really up to NRL standard, and paid the price due to this.

2-structure that was put in place, to play safe football. This went against our playmakers natural game, and if anything stifled their natural playmaking abilities. Hence restricting our point scoring potential.

Last season we lost 9 games by 10 points or less. This included:
Round 4 dogs by 1, round 6 warriors by 10,round 7 raiders by 8, round 10 knights by 10, round 11 Cowboys by 8, round 13 Titans by 7, round 15 sea eagles by 10, round 23 Knights by 6, round 26 dragons by 2.

Whilst it is unlikely with the extra depth to cover injuries and a more attacking style would have won us all of these games, there would be a higher chance of us reversing the result on a few.

It is easy to say what if, however we were 6 wins away from 4th spot at the end of the season. Considering how poor everybody has said last season was from us, that stat doesn't seem that far off the pace, when we have lost 9 games by less then 10.

From what I can see, we have purchased depth, we have been training in a more attacking style and we have our young squad more experienced in the weekly ins and outs of first grade football.

I could see a lot more of those 50/50 games going our way this year, then In previous.

So overall whilst not confident, I am optimistic, and whilst looking at last years results, we aren't that far off the pace, remember our attack was restricted and we still out scored melb souths Cronulla and st George for total season points. I can only imagine us improving this year in this area.

Here's hoping!

 

[fergiefurr]

I'm quietly confident. We might not make the 8 but I think we'll improve fairly drastically on 2015\. The last few years we've been out of most people's 8 but been one of the teams people think could challenge for it. This year every single media outlet/journo/fan has us bottom 3\. There is zero expectation.

I really think Brooks will come into his own this year. He is finally looking like a man and just in the highlight video from the storm trial he looked quick and enthusiastic. The last 2 years he has looked a frustrated and at times uninterested footballer. Potters plan of having him strictly on the left didn't suit. Taylor's plan of playing boring structured didn't suit. I know it's just highlights but on Saturday he was playing fast and direct, just how he looked in his debut v the dragons.

I still think he have some glaring weaknesses, right centre, left wing and edge forwards in particular need to be stronger for us to challenge for the 8.

I know we came 15th but realistically it was only the 2 roosters games and the Broncos game that we weren't close to winning. The Sharks ended up beating us well but we were coming home until Holmes scooped up a loose ball and went the length, then a few late tries blew the score out. With a more experienced spine we should be in a better position to close out games.
As others have mentioned there's a lot more depth this year. With any luck guys like Buchanan, Milone, Lovett and Hoeter ( I know he's gone but I mean his standard) won't be regulars in the 17.

Losing streaks need to be avoided. A young group who's used to losing can lose confidence very quickly. 3 losses in a row can turn to 5/6 very quickly and all of a sudden it's season over.

 

[Chadman_s_Ghost]

Yes I am, have a listen to the below.

Last season we struggled in 2 main areas on the field.

1-depth, when we had injuries, we were blooding players that weren't really up to NRL standard, and paid the price due to this.

2-structure that was put in place, to play safe football. This went against our playmakers natural game, and if anything stifled their natural playmaking abilities. Hence restricting our point scoring potential.

Last season we lost 9 games by 10 points or less. This included:
Round 4 dogs by 1, round 6 warriors by 10,round 7 raiders by 8, round 10 knights by 10, round 11 Cowboys by 8, round 13 Titans by 7, round 15 sea eagles by 10, round 23 Knights by 6, round 26 dragons by 2.

Whilst it is unlikely with the extra depth to cover injuries and a more attacking style would have won us all of these games, there would be a higher chance of us reversing the result on a few.

It is easy to say what if, however we were 6 wins away from 4th spot at the end of the season. Considering how poor everybody has said last season was from us, that stat doesn't seem that far off the pace, when we have lost 9 games by less then 10.

From what I can see, we have purchased depth, we have been training in a more attacking style and we have our young squad more experienced in the weekly ins and outs of first grade football.

I could see a lot more of those 50/50 games going our way this year, then In previous.

So overall whilst not confident, I am optimistic, and whilst looking at last years results, we aren't that far off the pace, remember our attack was restricted and we still out scored melb souths Cronulla and st George for total season points. I can only imagine us improving this year in this area.

Here's hoping!

Couldn't agree more.

The Tigers, last season, despite the overall win/loss column, were MUCH more competitive over the course of the season than they had been for a number of seasons. A lot less games where they were blown away by big scores- put it that way. Far fewer games decided by half time.

Like I've said, this team wasn't THAT far away last season. And they had a revolving door in the outside backs as far as player availability.

A bunch of young guys were thrown in last season, learning on the run.

The team is still young, and there are still a lot of questions to be answered. But if they can show as much determination in defence as they did last year, stay somewhat healthy in important positions & there is some natural development from our more important youngsters, then they could be far more competitive than we give them credit for.

Edwards, Rankin, Grant & Chee Kam are important additions. If they can produce 1st grade standard football, then the team is strengthened on last season. Aloili could be an interesting wildcard too.

As has been mentioned, there seems to be more depth in the whole squad now, which should serve 2 purposes, keeps a certain standard of quality across the season to deal with injury, but also serves as an option if a young player starts to get the wobbles through the year.

When injury or poor form hit last season, it didn't take long before the Tigers were scratching about for the Milone's & Santi's of the world. Imagine if now, the Lovett's, Ballin's & Halatau's become the guys you bring in for injured players, and consider the difference that will have on the quality of the team's play throughout a season.

 

[TopTiger]

Not confident but very hopeful on an improved performance from last year. Have depth this year so can cover to some extent injuries but can never replace the likes of Teddy, Simona and co!!

 

[Guest]

We have very good players in key positions, namely 1,6,7,9 but our success is going to come down to how well we defend and control the ball. There's been plenty of talk that Brooks and Moses will be allowed to play their natural game - which is attack and this will suit Farah/Cherrington/Tedesco/Simona/Nofoaluma but our shortcoming has always been our defence. If we don't improve on our defence from last year, we won't make the 8\. If we aim up and the tackles stick, well I think we do have the attack to make the 8.

 

[foreveratiger]

Yeah the defence is the biggest issue no doubt, we know we have the points in us, just need to show a commitment in defence.

 

[Tiger_Watto]

I believe we have the cattle to to be in the Top 8 and be very competitive. However, I dont believe we have the game plan or structure to make this a reality.

1\. We need to throw out past reputations and service to the club.
2\. We need to pick the right players in the right positions.
3\. We need to allow the people who have jobs to do their jobs regardless of the outcomes.
4\. We need to not accept poor performances and discipline those who fail.
5\. We need to be a professional operation from the CEO to the Water Boy.