Backrowers for 2018

Tigerdon

New member
As our Edge defence is the worst in the comp. we need to look outside the club for talent.
Changing coaches won't do much without the cattle.
We have had decent backrowers that are now playing at other clubs.
Recently we have been active in the market and it will probably come down to who the new coach wants. However Penriff have a few. This guy killed it against us.

From NRL.com
For Viliame Kikau, the hardest thing about training is having to drive past the smorgasbord of fast food eateries that serve as an unwanted temptation for Panthers players as they come in and out of Penrith's Rugby League Academy.

The self-confessed biggest eater at the club said he had to block his face when he went past the 'golden arches' and the 'colonel' just opposite Panthers HQ, with the 21-year-old opting for steak during the week before switching to carbs on game day.

It's that disciplined approach that has the 195cm giant playing at his ideal weight of 117kg and now a regular in coach Anthony Griffin's side.

Kikau burst onto the scene in Round 2 when he poleaxed Wests Tigers fullback James Tedesco, with the big man also scoring untouched late in the first half to cap a memorable NRL debut.

"I don't know when it's going to feel real for me. It was really good to do that on my debut and I didn't expect to score a try," Kikau said.

His game time has been limited so far in 2017, but his impact has been telling with Kikau running for 144 metres from just 43 minutes of action.

Kikau's form should come as no surprise given how destructive he was in the NYC, with the Fijian representative scoring 21 tries from as many appearances in 2015 when he was named the RLPA Holden Cup player of the year.

Big things were expected from Kikau when he made the move from North Queensland to Penrith at the start of last season, but injuries and a few defensive deficiencies saw him kept in reserve grade for all of 2016.

Kikau admitted he felt frustrated at times last year, but revealed the arrival of former Cowboy James Tamou at the foot of the mountains helped him take his game to new heights.

"It was a bit frustrating for me. It was a big challenge and I had to go through it to do my rehab and tick all the boxes. To get back this year and do a full pre-season with the boys and to be playing this early is surreal," Kikau said of his injuries.

"I did it a little bit of training with him (Tamou) when I was playing 20s up at the Cowboys.

"He had a really big impact on my game just telling me what to do, especially through the middle and working hard under fatigue. I'm really thankful for him coming down here to work with him again."

 
Kikau won't help us with edge defence, his minutes are v short right now. Don't we already have this type of player in the ranks, Paseka?

I'd be more after all-around backrowers, blokes who can defend a line, run some good lines, take some dirty hitups. Then you can bring the beasts on to punch into the opposition.

Boyd Cordner is the archetype for me, but you'll never get him away from the Roosters. Wade Graham, Luke Lewis, Proctor, Alex Glenn, Matt Gillett, blokes like that. I know they aren't all off contract.

If I was eyeing off Panthers players I'd be after James F-Harris.
 
I like Ryan Matterson from the Roosters. Was watching him last night big strapping young bloke. Good defender with good ball skills and runs good lines. Not sure if he is off contract but would be a big step up from what we have and would get him pretty cheap. Playing from the bench at the moment and may be looking for a starting spot.
 
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I like Ryan Matterson from the Roosters. Was watching him last night big strapping young bloke. Good defender with good ball skills and runs good lines. Not sure if he is off contract but would be a big step up from what we have and would get him pretty cheap. Playing from the bench at the moment and may be looking for a starting spot.

I think he's one of the reasons Kane Evans is on the outer.
 
Matterson looks to have put on about 85kg over the off-season, he's enormous. We need to hire his S&C mentor.

But yeah, we need an experienced, well rounded, 80 min edge forward. They don't come cheap unfortunately. I'm definitely on board with the McQueen pursuit.
I'd also defo take Lewis on a one year deal for 2018, with the hope that one of the kids is ready to take over in 2019.
 
The guy the Tigers need most and please watch him hes one of my favorite players Isaah Yeo champion to be …...Second row center hes also played wing center and fullback just a great young player and does the dirty work
 
**Ryan Matterson**
Height: 193cm
Weight: 103 kg
Positions: 5/8, Halfback, Centre, 2nd Row (all the positions we need)
Rep Honours:
U20's NSW SOO
Junior Kangaroos (2014)
City Origin 2016
 
Now that it looks like Cleary is the man, it makes you wonder what will become of our interest in McQueen. Once Cleary is appointed and presumably given free reign over retention/recruitment, he could put the kibosh on it, the way JT kiboshed Takairangi after he was appointed.
 
@ said:
**Ryan Matterson**
Height: 193cm
Weight: 103 kg
Positions: 5/8, Halfback, Centre, 2nd Row (all the positions we need)
Rep Honours:
U20's NSW SOO
Junior Kangaroos (2014)
City Origin 2016

Yeah for sure ..get him in….I duuno why people even bother to see that he's contracted to the Rorters until the end of 2019...

Maybe look at a guy like Zane Tetevano...
 
No need to worry about when bench or depth players are contracted till, their clubs will release them unless they have that Superstar Quality like Boyd Cordner as a kid.

Players I like are:

Tim Glasby [currently playing tight, but is better on an edge]
Elliot Whitehead
Coen Hess
Kenny Edwards

I reckon we could get any of these if we have the right people in the front office.

But if I was the Tigers, I'd move heaven and earth and go after Boyd Cordner!
 
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No need to worry about when bench or depth players are contracted till, their clubs will release them unless they have that Superstar Quality like Boyd Cordner as a kid.

Players I like are:

Tim Glasby [currently playing tight, but is better on an edge]
Elliot Whitehead
Coen Hess
Kenny Edwards

I reckon we could get any of these if we have the right people in the front office.

But if I was the Tigers, I'd move heaven and earth and go after Boyd Cordner!

:brick: :brick: :brick:
 
@ said:
@ said:
No need to worry about when bench or depth players are contracted till, their clubs will release them unless they have that Superstar Quality like Boyd Cordner as a kid.

Players I like are:

Tim Glasby [currently playing tight, but is better on an edge]
Elliot Whitehead
Coen Hess
Kenny Edwards

I reckon we could get any of these if we have the right people in the front office.

But if I was the Tigers, I'd move heaven and earth and go after Boyd Cordner!

:brick: :brick: :brick:

What's wrong with Watto's comment Geo?
 
@ said:
@ said:
@ said:
No need to worry about when bench or depth players are contracted till, their clubs will release them unless they have that Superstar Quality like Boyd Cordner as a kid.

Players I like are:

Tim Glasby [currently playing tight, but is better on an edge]
Elliot Whitehead
Coen Hess
Kenny Edwards

I reckon we could get any of these if we have the right people in the front office.

But if I was the Tigers, I'd move heaven and earth and go after Boyd Cordner!

:brick: :brick: :brick:

What's wrong with Watto's comment Geo?

Oh I duuno..

Can you see the Cowboys releasing Hess or the Raiders releasing Whitehead or the Roosters releasing Cordner or even the Storm releasing Glasby to come to the Mighty Wests Tigers…? All these players are contracted to their current Clubs beyond this year..

And do we want Bench players from other Clubs we will more than likely pay overs to get

Edwards is trash..
 
@ said:
@ said:
@ said:
@ said:
No need to worry about when bench or depth players are contracted till, their clubs will release them unless they have that Superstar Quality like Boyd Cordner as a kid.

Players I like are:

Tim Glasby [currently playing tight, but is better on an edge]
Elliot Whitehead
Coen Hess
Kenny Edwards

I reckon we could get any of these if we have the right people in the front office.

But if I was the Tigers, I'd move heaven and earth and go after Boyd Cordner!

:brick: :brick: :brick:

What's wrong with Watto's comment Geo?

Oh I duuno..

Can you see the Cowboys releasing Hess or the Raiders releasing Whitehead or the Roosters releasing Cordner or even the Storm releasing Glasby to come to the Mighty Wests Tigers…? All these players are contracted to their current Clubs beyond this year..

And do we want Bench players from other Clubs we will more than likely pay overs to get

Edwards is trash..

You loved him last year .
No bad boys policy ?
 
@ said:
@ said:
@ said:
@ said:
No need to worry about when bench or depth players are contracted till, their clubs will release them unless they have that Superstar Quality like Boyd Cordner as a kid.

Players I like are:

Tim Glasby [currently playing tight, but is better on an edge]
Elliot Whitehead
Coen Hess
Kenny Edwards

I reckon we could get any of these if we have the right people in the front office.

But if I was the Tigers, I'd move heaven and earth and go after Boyd Cordner!

:brick: :brick: :brick:

What's wrong with Watto's comment Geo?

Oh I duuno..

Can you see the Cowboys releasing Hess or the Raiders releasing Whitehead or the Roosters releasing Cordner or even the Storm releasing Glasby to come to the Mighty Wests Tigers…? All these players are contracted to their current Clubs beyond this year..

And do we want Bench players from other Clubs we will more than likely pay overs to get

Edwards is trash..

Yeah fair enough, you're probably right, but I guess while we're all dreaming there is still hope and salary cap pressures could mean that some of the good players might have to move on before their contracts are up - you never know.
 
One day we will realise we need to splash some cash… Maybe then we can be a real NRL Franchise.

I figure Cleary will consolidate on some of the depth already at the club, and splash some cash in other areas. He wont be coming to Tigerland if he doesnt control a cheque book! Our Depth in the Tight Forwards looks most likely to deliver, so I suggest Cleary will go out and buy 2 Backrowers and a Centre. Cleary also knows the best Backrowers run wider lines, so he will need to go after 1 good one, and one up-and-comer who can execute this aspect of the game.

I can see a player like Glasby being very much like Ellis on the edge. He has the mongrel, size and speed we are lacking on the edge.
 
@ said:
@ said:
@ said:
@ said:
No need to worry about when bench or depth players are contracted till, their clubs will release them unless they have that Superstar Quality like Boyd Cordner as a kid.

Players I like are:

Tim Glasby [currently playing tight, but is better on an edge]
Elliot Whitehead
Coen Hess
Kenny Edwards

I reckon we could get any of these if we have the right people in the front office.

But if I was the Tigers, I'd move heaven and earth and go after Boyd Cordner!

:brick: :brick: :brick:

What's wrong with Watto's comment Geo?

Oh I duuno..

Can you see the Cowboys releasing Hess or the Raiders releasing Whitehead or the Roosters releasing Cordner or even the Storm releasing Glasby to come to the Mighty Wests Tigers…? All these players are contracted to their current Clubs beyond this year..

And do we want Bench players from other Clubs we will more than likely pay overs to get

Edwards is trash..

That's why I think McQueen isn't a bad option, he is actually available and Gold Coast are a club we could actually pull off a raid on. That or paying a bit to get Kurt Capewell off the Sharks, or trying to lure an England second rower like Farrell or Currie across with the opportunity to play NRL.
 
There are some interesting options But no game breakers. in no real order I would target McQueen, F Kafusi, Bodene Thompson, on the edge.We need a CTW and a centre badly DWZ, Chambers, Whare would be the best options. Front row Matulino, K Evans Paasi.
 
Alex Glenn, Gerard Beale, Sam Tagatese, Jorge Taufua, Aaron Gray, SKD, Daniel Tupou, Chris McQueen - all off contract at the end of this season and some of the more realistic options for us, imo. Surely we could snare 2 or 3 players from that lot? I wouldn't say no to any of them, as they would be better than what we have right now.
 
@ said:
Alex Glenn, Gerard Beale, Sam Tagatese, Jorge Taufua, Aaron Gray, SKD, Daniel Tupou, Chris McQueen - all off contract at the end of this season and some of the more realistic options for us, imo. Surely we could snare 2 or 3 players from that lot? I wouldn't say no to any of them, as they would be better than what we have right now.

Much more realistic ..well done…add Whare Chambers Ottio Kaufusi Tanginoa and Matulino ..

there are options ..time to be pro-active rather than reactive..
 
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