Departing players

[Russell]

I wouldn’t be in any rush to bring Momo back. Can’t see where he fits in, especially if we get JAC

We’ve got a lot of guys who can play centre.

BUT none that play it really well at this stage.

 

[TheDaBoss]

Are Development players guaranteed the upgrade to NRL squad or can they be let go? I wonder who of the 4 we have this season we actually would keep if we had a choice.

On the tigers website it says they’re all contracted for next season so unless they’re let go from their contracts early they’ll be in the top 30


Thanks JC- just checked the Team list on the Tigers website, it lists Simpkins, Madden, Bradley, Cini, Hoffman all as Development signings and Smith as a full contract expiring this season.
Assuming Smith is not re-signed then we are making way for the 5 Development players plus Stefano and Tamou into our NRL squad. That is 7 spots we have to find correct??

With Tamou in we have 5 spots to fill for next season. Hoffman is still a development player next season but the other 4 are joining the top squad for next season.

If you count up all the players who are listed as contracted it adds up to 24 then adding Tamou it’s 25.

https://www.weststigers.com.au/news/2019/11/01/wests-tigers-2020-nrl-squad/

I would not assume all development players would move up.

They’re contracted to be in our top 30 for next season so I won’t assume otherwise until there’s an official announcement from the club saying they’ll be departing. In saying that it wouldn’t surprise me if not all of them stuck around next season.

That's the folly of counting numbers when you don't know.

I’d rather go off what the contracts say instead of guessing. It wouldn’t surprise me if MCK was let go or McIntyre was re-signed but I won’t assume until it’s official

Wasn't there some sort of announcement regarding the young centre Kei signing a top 30 contract recently?

Edit; maybe @pawsandclaws1 might know as he has been following his progress?

Kei is a fine player, so is Rizk and I believe Scolari has it as well. Kepaoa has the size and pace you cannot coach. If you watch the try where he had to sprint the look on the Storm fullback's face was disbelief how Kepaoa burnt him for pace. He is going to be very good for WTs.

AJ can't catch no matter how much spray they put on his hands and unless a player is directly in front of him he impersonates a turnstile

AJ is inexperienced but has demonstrated more promise in our backline than most. He will learn.

Agreed. Kid makes the switch mid-season, has to learn new structures and makes his FG debut. Most of his problems revolve around not knowing what Benji is going to do with the ball.

A lot of the time Benji doesn't know tat he's doing with the ball!!!!

Certain players over time have learnt to read Benji, Rowdy, Brooks and Nofo are probably the only two in the current side who have half an idea what he's going to come up with. I'll give AJ slack because he knows what to do in space, he just needs an off-season with us to fully learn the structures and he'll only get better.

Gonna be easy if he's outside brooks, get ready for that 5th tackle bomb

The problem with that bomb

Is that it's ordinary, it aint hard to catch, its just there lol
I would almost prefer if we just simply spread the ball to the edge and get someone to kick back on the inside with brooks onto it

 

[4jtigers]

If AJ Hands like feet Kepoa is our starting winger we are in trouble. He has blown 2 tries every week because he can't catch a pass.

My starting backline at this stage is
Mbye
JAC
BJ
Douehi
Nofa
Reynolds
Brooks

just get him in the basketball courts - he will be better at catching the ball... I remember the Broncos of old - Gene Miles made mention of it... this is how they improved their ball skills

 

[Magpie1969]

I can see so much upside with AJ as others have articulated. BJ a seasoned player is where I hold concerns about. Sticky obviously saw him as weak link at the Raiders and now he is our problem to solve.

 

[momo_amp_medo]

Tough 2021 on its way, make no mistake.

Yet there's light at the end of this tunnel that we haven't been seeing for years

A swag of hard working youngsters, an uncompromising coach and some $$$ (1.4 mil min) in 12 months time to continue addressing the gaps.

With minimal changes to the team for next season and a very average halves pairing we most likely won’t make finals

People will call for the coach’s head though. 2022 is the big year that should really be the end of our ‘rebuild’.

Well it would be a pretty dumb decision of this Club to have Madge complete a rebuild and then not to allow him to coach that group of players for at least a season.

 

[avocadoontoast]

Tough 2021 on its way, make no mistake.

Yet there's light at the end of this tunnel that we haven't been seeing for years

A swag of hard working youngsters, an uncompromising coach and some $$$ (1.4 mil min) in 12 months time to continue addressing the gaps.

With minimal changes to the team for next season and a very average halves pairing we most likely won’t make finals

People will call for the coach’s head though. 2022 is the big year that should really be the end of our ‘rebuild’.

Didn’t you tip us in the preseason to make the 8 this year? Now we can’t make the 8 next year either? What happened?

 

[pawsandclaws1]

I can see so much upside with AJ as others have articulated. BJ a seasoned player is where I hold concerns about. Sticky obviously saw him as weak link at the Raiders and now he is our problem to solve.

He's 28? Move him on to the UK. I'd rather see Kepaoa at right centre making rookie mistakes than Leilua making the same dumb mistakes he has made all his career.

 

[JC99]

Tough 2021 on its way, make no mistake.

Yet there's light at the end of this tunnel that we haven't been seeing for years

A swag of hard working youngsters, an uncompromising coach and some $$$ (1.4 mil min) in 12 months time to continue addressing the gaps.

With minimal changes to the team for next season and a very average halves pairing we most likely won’t make finals

People will call for the coach’s head though. 2022 is the big year that should really be the end of our ‘rebuild’.

Didn’t you tip us in the preseason to make the 8 this year? Now we can’t make the 8 next year either? What happened?

With the original draw I thought maybe we coild but still wasnt holding my breath. With the new draw after covid I was expecting 9th-11th finish which seems like what will happen.

 

[avocadoontoast]

Tough 2021 on its way, make no mistake.

Yet there's light at the end of this tunnel that we haven't been seeing for years

A swag of hard working youngsters, an uncompromising coach and some $$$ (1.4 mil min) in 12 months time to continue addressing the gaps.

With minimal changes to the team for next season and a very average halves pairing we most likely won’t make finals

People will call for the coach’s head though. 2022 is the big year that should really be the end of our ‘rebuild’.

Didn’t you tip us in the preseason to make the 8 this year? Now we can’t make the 8 next year either? What happened?

With the original draw I thought maybe we coild but still wasnt holding my breath. With the new draw after covid I was expecting 9th-11th finish which seems like what will happen.

It’s been a very disappointing season. Madge needs to get some assistant coaches for attack and defence. He seems to struggle in those areas.

 

[Russell]

I can see so much upside with AJ as others have articulated. BJ a seasoned player is where I hold concerns about. Sticky obviously saw him as weak link at the Raiders and now he is our problem to solve.

He's 28? Move him on to the UK. I'd rather see Kepaoa at right centre making rookie mistakes than Leilua making the same dumb mistakes he has made all his career.

Maybe if that idiot "Ball player" we have, that won't have his contract renewed would actually give BJ some decent ball, in fact any ball, BJ might actually show you and a few others that he is worth having.

Maybe if that same guy actually tackled a few players, the people outside him would have to come in and cause an overlap.

Is it just because BJ is not a local junior or your love for Benji - causing you to dislike him so much and can't see what is going on Paws.

 

[CarltonDry]

Tough 2021 on its way, make no mistake.

Yet there's light at the end of this tunnel that we haven't been seeing for years

A swag of hard working youngsters, an uncompromising coach and some $$$ (1.4 mil min) in 12 months time to continue addressing the gaps.

With minimal changes to the team for next season and a very average halves pairing we most likely won’t make finals

People will call for the coach’s head though. 2022 is the big year that should really be the end of our ‘rebuild’.

Well it would be a pretty dumb decision of this Club to have Madge complete a rebuild and then not to allow him to coach that group of players for at least a season.

Newcastle did it and they're now in the 8 but under other people's theory it's not O'Brien's team

 

[JC99]

Tough 2021 on its way, make no mistake.

Yet there's light at the end of this tunnel that we haven't been seeing for years

A swag of hard working youngsters, an uncompromising coach and some $$$ (1.4 mil min) in 12 months time to continue addressing the gaps.

With minimal changes to the team for next season and a very average halves pairing we most likely won’t make finals

People will call for the coach’s head though. 2022 is the big year that should really be the end of our ‘rebuild’.

Didn’t you tip us in the preseason to make the 8 this year? Now we can’t make the 8 next year either? What happened?

With the original draw I thought maybe we coild but still wasnt holding my breath. With the new draw after covid I was expecting 9th-11th finish which seems like what will happen.

It’s been a very disappointing season. Madge needs to get some assistant coaches for attack and defence. He seems to struggle in those areas.

Attack is fine. As much as people seem to think it’s terrible we are scoring points, when we get inside the 20 we almost always score and our attack is top 8 worthy. We just struggle to get down field as our forwards struggle to make metres and our halves can’t control a game.

Defence is the issue and reports are that Webster won’t be around next season so hopefully someone decent is brought in to take his spot so at least Madge can identify what needs fixing not only in the squad but in the coaching staff. Better than being stubborn and not taking blame I guess

It has been disappointing as is every year we don’t make finals but at least we can see there is some method to what Madge is doing trying to strip us down to our bones and build us from the ground up.

 

[JC99]

Tough 2021 on its way, make no mistake.

Yet there's light at the end of this tunnel that we haven't been seeing for years

A swag of hard working youngsters, an uncompromising coach and some $$$ (1.4 mil min) in 12 months time to continue addressing the gaps.

With minimal changes to the team for next season and a very average halves pairing we most likely won’t make finals

People will call for the coach’s head though. 2022 is the big year that should really be the end of our ‘rebuild’.

Well it would be a pretty dumb decision of this Club to have Madge complete a rebuild and then not to allow him to coach that group of players for at least a season.

Wouldn’t put it past WT to do something silly like that though.

 

[avocadoontoast]

Tough 2021 on its way, make no mistake.

Yet there's light at the end of this tunnel that we haven't been seeing for years

A swag of hard working youngsters, an uncompromising coach and some $$$ (1.4 mil min) in 12 months time to continue addressing the gaps.

With minimal changes to the team for next season and a very average halves pairing we most likely won’t make finals

People will call for the coach’s head though. 2022 is the big year that should really be the end of our ‘rebuild’.

Didn’t you tip us in the preseason to make the 8 this year? Now we can’t make the 8 next year either? What happened?

With the original draw I thought maybe we coild but still wasnt holding my breath. With the new draw after covid I was expecting 9th-11th finish which seems like what will happen.

It’s been a very disappointing season. Madge needs to get some assistant coaches for attack and defence. He seems to struggle in those areas.

Attack is fine. As much as people seem to think it’s terrible we are scoring points, when we get inside the 20 we almost always score and our attack is top 8 worthy. We just struggle to get down field as our forwards struggle to make metres and our halves can’t control a game.

Defence is the issue and reports are that Webster won’t be around next season so hopefully someone decent is brought in to take his spot so at least Madge can identify what needs fixing not only in the squad but in the coaching staff. Better than being stubborn and not taking blame I guess

It has been disappointing as is every year we don’t make finals but at least we can see there is some method to what Madge is doing trying to strip us down to our bones and build us from the ground up.

I want Marshall gone as much as anyone but he’s been our primary playmaker all year. Not sure who’s going to play 6 next year but if it’s Reynolds we’ll finish lower down the ladder.

 

[Geo]

I can see so much upside with AJ as others have articulated. BJ a seasoned player is where I hold concerns about. Sticky obviously saw him as weak link at the Raiders and now he is our problem to solve.

He's 28? Move him on to the UK. I'd rather see Kepaoa at right centre making rookie mistakes than Leilua making the same dumb mistakes he has made all his career.

Do you think it is really that simple as punching a TRADE Rage button..simply move a player with a young family to an environment the UK in Covid times where even extra cash which use to be an incentive no longer exists..

Leilua was also a Maguire signing ..brought specifically by Maguire to strengthen a weakness on decent coin..not in the not his team category..

 

[JC99]

Tough 2021 on its way, make no mistake.

Yet there's light at the end of this tunnel that we haven't been seeing for years

A swag of hard working youngsters, an uncompromising coach and some $$$ (1.4 mil min) in 12 months time to continue addressing the gaps.

With minimal changes to the team for next season and a very average halves pairing we most likely won’t make finals

People will call for the coach’s head though. 2022 is the big year that should really be the end of our ‘rebuild’.

Didn’t you tip us in the preseason to make the 8 this year? Now we can’t make the 8 next year either? What happened?

With the original draw I thought maybe we coild but still wasnt holding my breath. With the new draw after covid I was expecting 9th-11th finish which seems like what will happen.

It’s been a very disappointing season. Madge needs to get some assistant coaches for attack and defence. He seems to struggle in those areas.

Attack is fine. As much as people seem to think it’s terrible we are scoring points, when we get inside the 20 we almost always score and our attack is top 8 worthy. We just struggle to get down field as our forwards struggle to make metres and our halves can’t control a game.

Defence is the issue and reports are that Webster won’t be around next season so hopefully someone decent is brought in to take his spot so at least Madge can identify what needs fixing not only in the squad but in the coaching staff. Better than being stubborn and not taking blame I guess

It has been disappointing as is every year we don’t make finals but at least we can see there is some method to what Madge is doing trying to strip us down to our bones and build us from the ground up.

I want Marshall gone as much as anyone but he’s been our primary playmaker all year. Not sure who’s going to play 6 next year but if it’s Reynolds we’ll finish lower down the ladder.

Halves are such a major issue for next season but with the cap as it is and the amount of halves we have it might not get fixed next season

Please go to England Reynolds ?

 

[pawsandclaws1]

I can see so much upside with AJ as others have articulated. BJ a seasoned player is where I hold concerns about. Sticky obviously saw him as weak link at the Raiders and now he is our problem to solve.

He's 28? Move him on to the UK. I'd rather see Kepaoa at right centre making rookie mistakes than Leilua making the same dumb mistakes he has made all his career.

Maybe if that idiot "Ball player" we have, that won't have his contract renewed would actually give BJ some decent ball, in fact any ball, BJ might actually show you and a few others that he is worth having.

Maybe if that same guy actually tackled a few players, the people outside him would have to come in and cause an overlap.

Is it just because BJ is not a local junior or your love for Benji - causing you to dislike him so much and can't see what is going on Paws.

Leilua is a lazy player very happy to let other players do the work for him. He doesn't want to, or is simply incapable of learning from past mistakes. This is in addition to those willing to tolerate his 'brain explosions' which are more akin to those babies learning to walk in a walker. Ricky got rid of him and just because we are WTs he should be tolerated?

 

[pawsandclaws1]

I can see so much upside with AJ as others have articulated. BJ a seasoned player is where I hold concerns about. Sticky obviously saw him as weak link at the Raiders and now he is our problem to solve.

He's 28? Move him on to the UK. I'd rather see Kepaoa at right centre making rookie mistakes than Leilua making the same dumb mistakes he has made all his career.


Do you think it is really that simple as punching a TRADE Rage button..simply move a player with a young family to an environment the UK in Covid times where even extra cash which use to be an incentive no longer exists..

Leilua was also a Maguire signing ..brought specifically by Maguire to strengthen a weakness on decent coin..not in the not his team category..

Doesn't it concern you we have a player who makes the same mistakes repeatedly? He has been an absolutely disastrous buy! Would you rather have his contract money spent on Staines or Burton?

 

[Geo]

I can see so much upside with AJ as others have articulated. BJ a seasoned player is where I hold concerns about. Sticky obviously saw him as weak link at the Raiders and now he is our problem to solve.

He's 28? Move him on to the UK. I'd rather see Kepaoa at right centre making rookie mistakes than Leilua making the same dumb mistakes he has made all his career.


Do you think it is really that simple as punching a TRADE Rage button..simply move a player with a young family to an environment the UK in Covid times where even extra cash which use to be an incentive no longer exists..

Leilua was also a Maguire signing ..brought specifically by Maguire to strengthen a weakness on decent coin..not in the not his team category..

Doesn't it concern you we have a player who makes the same mistakes repeatedly? He has been an absolutely disastrous buy? Would you rather have his contract money spent on Staines it Burton?

It does and was mentioned at the time of signing..

But I'm not Maguire who recruited Leilua