Connor Watson

[phil1986]

http://www.5thtackle.com/wests-tigers-get-their-man/

Classic 5th tackle.

I just read 2 links under the article, it was brooks to dogs and teddy to backflip on roosters. Lol.

Hopefully they have a higher success rate with Watson.

 

[Needaname]

I don't understand why people bother themselves with salary figures, whether we are paying "overs" or not. A lot of fantasy football going on with a real-life roster.

I can understand people putting together future forecast team lists - not for me, I don't read them - but fair enough if you want to play around with the potential roster. But their salaries and trying to guess cap space / compliance? Who cares? If we have a decent roster who cares who is getting paid what? Roosters are apparently salary cap compliant but I'd struggle to find a regular Joe supporter who can figure out how they do it and who gets paid what.

You never know the salaries for certain, so IMO it's pointless speculation. Value is also relative, what a player is worth to one club is not the same as worth to another. E.g. Guerra is near worthless to Roosters when they already have Cordner, Aubusson, Matterson, Liu, Taukeiaho, Butcher, but valuable to Newcastle.

If we sign Watson, it adds to an already solid list of purchases than in my opinion vastly outstrip the losses this season, both in terms of ability and depth. I don't really care where Watson plays, speculation on my part has no impact on the Round 1 lineup. If he drops Brooks or Lolo to reggies, so be it.

2018 looks like being the first true season in a very long time that we have the ability to drop FG-level footballers who aren't producing FG-level football. Imagine being able to drop Luke Brooks and promote Connor Watson, being able to drop Nofo and promote Curtis Rona, based on form.

For too long we've had a roster that was safe from the hook because the depth was sorely lacking. No wonder guys like Curtis Sironen didn't really produce good football for so many years, then when he did get dropped because we had Aloiai, he asked for a release and we've moved on. Perfect result, drop non-performers and either they fight to get back into the team or they leave. Can't wait.

Great post. I care about how much these guys are getting paid and for how long but only because I want to see a much better roster.

I look at Benji at Brisbane. What a great reserve grade player to call on when injuries hit.

Absolutely it's not about individual salaries but the collective in general.
I guess some people are wondering if we spend this much here we may have this much for him or whatever and are getting concerned that our depth might be an issue.
At the end of the day as long as we are competitive and most of all compliant we'll that's all that matters.
But I'd be speaking for most when we say to ourselves I wonder how many more players Ivan can fit into this Bus before it's Gonna Blow!

 

[Needaname]

Why did Brooks set the world on fire playing with Marshall, yet hasn't done much since.

I looked at the way Brooks played, and he reminded me of Mitchell Pierce during origin. Has JT coached him into a Pierce form and that form does not suit his style?

Brooks has had a couple of really good games. It's not the Braith or Marshall somehow allowed him to play well. It's just that he has it in him to play a couple of really good games. You need a lot more from that out of your halfback. You need consistent good footy.

You must of been pretty fortunate to of seen Brooks and Marshall play in the halves together.
From memory they only played once in the same team in 2013 and Marshall was in the centres….

 

[Guest]

If we get Watson it's a bonus, put it that way. As for Brooks, well yeah we'd all like to see him play better but I'd also like to see how he goes behind a decent forward pack. Let's be honest, he's been defending alongside backrowers who are pretty weak, that's been one of the Tigers biggest problems in recent years.

Remember Rob Lui? His defence was just as bad, if not worse than Brooks, but once he had Gareth Ellis helping cover him, his defensive issues were nowhere near as bad. Plus it stands to reason Cleary will overhaul the Tigers defensive structure next season.

 

[everett8]

Hopefully with Watson on the bus we will now have competition for the halves roles.

I hope Tyson Gamble is ready to make his mark from the QLD cup like Daly Cherry-Evans did for Manly.

Still like a another front rower (Lawrence or Tagtese) to join the bus and a hard running, hard hitting second rower but they appear hard to come by.

 

[Tiger_Watto]

We will never know how good Brooks is until we get a Forward Pack that can compete for 80min… Until then, Brooks, Watson, Reynolds will more than likely all be 'duds'.

 

[Russell]

Why did Brooks set the world on fire playing with Marshall, yet hasn't done much since.

I looked at the way Brooks played, and he reminded me of Mitchell Pierce during origin. Has JT coached him into a Pierce form and that form does not suit his style?

Brooks has had a couple of really good games. It's not the Braith or Marshall somehow allowed him to play well. It's just that he has it in him to play a couple of really good games. You need a lot more from that out of your halfback. You need consistent good footy.

You must of been pretty fortunate to of seen Brooks and Marshall play in the halves together.
From memory they only played once in the same team in 2013 and Marshall was in the centres….

Exactly Needaname only played together once in the St. George game with Benji in the centre - both had decent games.

 

[Guest]

We will never know how good Brooks is until we get a Forward Pack that can compete for 80min… Until then, Brooks, Watson, Reynolds will more than likely all be 'duds'.

Exactly right Watto. We have one of the weakest packs. Next year''s looks stronger but we need another couple of signings. I like the look of Morgan Boyle, he's a big unit and at 20 he has a heap of improvement left in him. I'd be happy if we sign him.

 

[Seantice]

Our bench is still the worst in the comp..

 

[bp_tiger]

We will never know how good Brooks is until we get a Forward Pack that can compete for 80min… Until then, Brooks, Watson, Reynolds will more than likely all be 'duds'.

Exactly right Watto. We have one of the weakest packs. Next year''s looks stronger but we need another couple of signings. I like the look of Morgan Boyle, he's a big unit and at 20 he has a heap of improvement left in him. I'd be happy if we sign him.

iam with u williow, boyle is one we need in the back row big and fast, would be a great signing.

 

[Russell]

We will never know how good Brooks is until we get a Forward Pack that can compete for 80min… Until then, Brooks, Watson, Reynolds will more than likely all be 'duds'.

I agree Watto, whilst we have a few good signings in Matulino, Packer and McQueen and have Taylor and Liddle/McIlwick - it leaves a few spots over an entire game that are suspect. Everyman and his dog have identified the second row and prop as the problem areas.

I would assume Grant will be let go and Chee-Kam, Lovett and Edwards will also be let go or just kept for reserve grade.

With Lawrence, Sue, Aloiai, Eisenhuth, Masters, Felise, Twal, Lolo and Tatola in the wings for these spots - it is possible the first two may fill a hole and some of these younger guys look they could turn out ok but I think we need a few more older heads to complete a full bus.

Who that is the question? Lawrence from Manly as a Prop is one possibly - an experienced off contract second rower is much more difficult - anybody got any suggestions apart from the ESL.

 

[Cultured_Bogan]

We will never know how good Brooks is until we get a Forward Pack that can compete for 80min… Until then, Brooks, Watson, Reynolds will more than likely all be 'duds'.

Agreed. Benji is one of the very few halves I've seen who could regularly compete behind a beaten pack.

 

[Needaname]

We will never know how good Brooks is until we get a Forward Pack that can compete for 80min… Until then, Brooks, Watson, Reynolds will more than likely all be 'duds'.

I agree Watto, whilst we have a few good signings in Matulino, Packer and McQueen and have Taylor and Liddle/McIlwick - it leaves a few spots over an entire game that are suspect. Everyman and his dog have identified the second row and prop as the problem areas.

I would assume Grant will be let go and Chee-Kam, Lovett and Edwards will also be let go or just kept for reserve grade.

With Lawrence, Sue, Aloiai, Eisenhuth, Masters, Felise, Twal, Lolo and Tatola in the wings for these spots - it is possible the first two may fill a hole and some of these younger guys look they could turn out ok but I think we need a few more older heads to complete a full bus.

Who that is the question? Lawrence from Manly as a Prop is one possibly - an experienced off contract second rower is much more difficult - anybody got any suggestions apart from the ESL.

Eastwood will be one; despite the denials there is too much smoke for this fire, and he would be recruited for his toughness, positional and experience in the middle, to play most likely off the bench.
I'm not sure about grant.
He has an option for next year so it's up to him. But making that descision easier is the fact the club would, like us, probably be questioning his worth/value to the roster after 2018 concludes and thus probably not offering a further extension.
With that in mind Grant is still young enough to secure a long term deal with another club and would most likely be looking for one to finish his career on.
I could be wrong and he may just be that other prop the other side of 30 that adds to the club but I just see Eastwood being possibly a middle / edge player that fills the role and replaces his spot on the bench as we already have signed a solid over 25yr prop in Matolino who offers more.

 

[Gary_Bakerloo]

Good signing and the reason it's good is because his existing club wants him to stay.

 

[Toowoomba_Tiger]

A couple of things.

I love the idea of having Watson in the squad. We need depth and options.
Remember the Roosters have him as well as Pearce and Keary. They also had/have Hastings, Cornish, Matterson, Nikorima and probably a couple of others all capable of playing in the halves in their squad.

On Brooks needing a quality forward pack, his forwards get him in good field position for his grubbers, yet he hasn't been delivering. Don't know how better forwards would improve that part of his game.

 

[TigerSJ]

Who'd want to be Brooks??
I'd like to see any half in the NRL play much better coming off a few ongoing injuries in a team that is struggling for form and spirit, behind a pack of nuffers, with a fullback like Kev and 5/8 like tui, and without a dummy half that can kick or get the team rolling. Tough job - and he's getting bagged left right and centre!!
Anyone here played half in a team that plays like the Tigers week in week out for years?
The guy is trying hard, no-one can deny that. His short kicking game needs plenty of work as does his management of the team but some of the expectations on him on this forum are grossly unfair considering what he's working with.

 

[Telltails]

Who'd want to be Brooks??
I'd like to see any half in the NRL play much better coming off a few ongoing injuries in a team that is struggling for form and spirit, behind a pack of nuffers, with a fullback like Kev and 5/8 like tui, and without a dummy half that can kick or get the team rolling. Tough job - and he's getting bagged left right and centre!!
Anyone here played half in a team that plays like the Tigers week in week out for years?
The guy is trying hard, no-one can deny that. His short kicking game needs plenty of work as does his management of the team but some of the expectations on him on this forum are grossly unfair considering what he's working with.

Hard to argue - seen enough ex WTs players performimg better than they ever did with our club once surrounded by
a decent roster.

 

[Joel Helmes]

Who'd want to be Brooks??
I'd like to see any half in the NRL play much better coming off a few ongoing injuries in a team that is struggling for form and spirit, behind a pack of nuffers, with a fullback like Kev and 5/8 like tui, and without a dummy half that can kick or get the team rolling. Tough job - and he's getting bagged left right and centre!!
Anyone here played half in a team that plays like the Tigers week in week out for years?
The guy is trying hard, no-one can deny that. His short kicking game needs plenty of work as does his management of the team but some of the expectations on him on this forum are grossly unfair considering what he's working with.

Hard to argue - seen enough ex WTs players performimg better than they ever did with our club once surrounded by
a decent roster.

True, but I think the frustration with him comes out of the little things that he should be doing right regardless of the team around him.

 

[Telltails]

Who'd want to be Brooks??
I'd like to see any half in the NRL play much better coming off a few ongoing injuries in a team that is struggling for form and spirit, behind a pack of nuffers, with a fullback like Kev and 5/8 like tui, and without a dummy half that can kick or get the team rolling. Tough job - and he's getting bagged left right and centre!!
Anyone here played half in a team that plays like the Tigers week in week out for years?
The guy is trying hard, no-one can deny that. His short kicking game needs plenty of work as does his management of the team but some of the expectations on him on this forum are grossly unfair considering what he's working with.

Hard to argue - seen enough ex WTs players performimg better than they ever did with our club once surrounded by
a decent roster.

True, but I think the frustration with him comes out of the little things that he should be doing right regardless of the team around him.

Constantly under pressure without opportunity to build/sustain pressure.
I too thought his game would have reached another level by now, but our recruitment and the players we have let go over the past two years certainly have contributed to stalling his progress. In saying that I doubt that he will ever reach the heights that were placed on him when first introduced to FG.

 

[balmain boy]

If you get the ball on the last, 10m out from your opponents line and repeatedly kick the ball straight into the legs of the person standing in-front of you or 10m past the dead ball line then thats nothing to do with the forwards. That's on the half's ability to read a game and execute an appropriate kick. Brooks for whatever reason has never improved on this skill whatsoever thus far in his career.

Does Watson have a kicking game?