Esan Marsters

[kh_canada]

I have been impressed with his development this year. Great when a young player is given a chance and takes it with both hands.

If we do not secure Rona and Kevin moves on why can't we go for a backline of

Lolohea
Nofoaluma
Marsters
Suli
Milne
Reynolds
Brooks

The backline might lack some pace but it would have some size about them and would help our forwards out from kick returns.

Happy for Marsters to play off the bench as I don't believe we should have a hooker on the bench.

As other Forum members have pointed out McQueen has undergone a serious neck operation and Lawrence has lost time through injuries so we may require Aloiai, Marsters, MCK to play second rower during the season. There is talk Taylor may sign with the Warriors.

Bench in 2018

Twal (prop and lock rotation)
Sue/Grant (prop rotation)
Aloiai (prop and second row rotation)
Marsters (backs and forwards)

Additional players

Michael Chee Kam (played well on the weekend)
J J Felise
Matt McIlwrick (if LIddle wins the hooker battle for 2018)

MWZ? I would say Milne will start on the bench first thing in 2018\. Nonetheless we should have great depth in the backline come next year.

We're not St George, we can't and shouldn't carry a centre on the bench, especially if we're taking an extra hooker too. MWZ has earned first crack with Kev gone, but for the first time in a while we've got legitimate competition for positions, Milne has a full pre-season to prove himself and I'd back Cleary's call either way.
FWIW, I'd love to see Esan playing on an edge off the bench with
1\. Lolohea
2\. Nofoaluma
3\. Suli
4\. Fonua
5\. Rona/MWZ

My mistake, I didn't necessarily mean on the bench. I meant in the extended team. As in probably not a starter until he gets a few games under his belt in reserves per say. Maybe he'll stun in pre season and start in FG, but I would say with the competition for positions he will have his work cut out for him.

 

[Love_the_WestsTigers]

Whatever the role, he is a performer and wont stick out

Far from a fringe first Grader

 

[jirskyr]

I'll say one thing - Marsters was all over Copley yesterday, to think that Copley was hot property a few years ago.

 

[Seantice]

Marsters should be playing in the 2nd row from next year. A couple years and hed be a top player. He has the build and committment. Just needs the experience.

 

[Tigerdon]

He was always seen as a 2nd rower however ATM he has been doing a great job in the centres. So why change things if they are working.
Suddenly our right hand defence has become a non issue.
He is making metres and scoring tries.
If things are working…why change them?

 

[swag_tiger]

He was always seen as a 2nd rower however ATM he has been doing a great job in the centres. So why change things if they are working.
Suddenly our right hand defence has become a non issue.
He is making metres and scoring tries.
If things are working…why change them?

True that. :master:

 

[Geo]

Why Marsters was born to win

Martin Gabor Wed 09 Aug, 2017, 9:30am

If his name is anything to go by then we can expect great things from Wests Tigers rookie Esan Marsters.

How so, you might be asking yourselves. Well, Esan's middle name is Nike, and in Greek mythology, she is the goddess of victory; a good trait for someone involved in professional sport.

Fittingly, the 20-year-old has been a revelation at right centre since he made his debut in Round 13, with the former NYC star scoring four tries from nine appearances to sit equal third on the club's try-scorer list in 2017.

While Greek mythology would provide a fun backstory to explain his cool middle name, there is a far simpler explanation as to how he was given the name Nike.

"When I was born, my aunty didn't get to choose a name for my older brother so she asked my mum – who's her twin sister – if she could choose a name for me, and my mum told her that she could give me my middle name," Marsters explained to NRL.com.

"At that time she really liked Nike sporting gear so she went from there and my mum agreed. She made nothing of it at the time but now it's a pretty cool story, I guess.

"I still get a few questions from people who can't believe that's my middle name so it's good ice breaker. At Holy Cross (his high school), they used my middle name and everyone got excited, but now that I'm a bit older I just use my two names."

In a world dominated by personal brands, Marsters admitted he had entertained the idea of being sponsored by the iconic company, and it seems a more than likely scenario given the fact Nike already supplies him with clothing apparel.

"I want to sort that out because my manager already gets me Nike gear for this season so it would make sense for them to hopefully sponsor me one day," he added.

Just to add further spice to the story, Esan's aunt has a son of her own who is on track to play NRL in the coming years.

Steven Marsters has been a shining light at fullback and on the wing for the Dragons in the Holden Cup this season and was rewarded for his enterprising play with a call-up to the Junior Kiwis squad for the mid-year Test in Canberra.

The pair are so close that Esan refers to him as his little brother, while it's also rumoured that Steven has a brilliant middle name of his own; although Esan's mum didn't play any part in it.

"If you talk to him you'll have to ask him about his middle name because I think it's Hawk," Esan said.

"I think he gets jealous of me sometimes because his mum named me, but he's playing really good footy at the moment so I'm really proud of him."

http://www.nrl.com/why-marsters-was-born-to-win/tabid/10874/newsid/110850/default.aspx

 

[tiger_one]

The more he plays, the more I really like him!
He's a natural footballer.

 

[Tacky]

His defense has been improving a lot since he debuted. He's progressed much quicker than I anticipated.

 

[earl]

He looks good doesn't he. I hope he ends up as an edge backrower.

 

[Guest]

Why Marsters was born to win

Wed 09 Aug, 2017, 9:30am
By Martin Gabor, National Correspondent‌‌, ‌‌‌NRL.com

If his name is anything to go by then we can expect great things from Wests Tigers rookie Esan Marsters.

How so, you might be asking yourselves. Well, Esan's middle name is Nike, and in Greek mythology, she is the goddess of victory; a good trait for someone involved in professional sport.

Fittingly, the 20-year-old has been a revelation at right centre since he made his debut in Round 13, with the former NYC star scoring four tries from nine appearances to sit equal third on the club's try-scorer list in 2017.

While Greek mythology would provide a fun backstory to explain his cool middle name, there is a far simpler explanation as to how he was given the name Nike.

"When I was born, my aunty didn't get to choose a name for my older brother so she asked my mum – who's her twin sister – if she could choose a name for me, and my mum told her that she could give me my middle name," Marsters explained to NRL.com.

"At that time she really liked Nike sporting gear so she went from there and my mum agreed. She made nothing of it at the time but now it's a pretty cool story, I guess.

"I still get a few questions from people who can't believe that's my middle name so it's good ice breaker. At Holy Cross (his high school), they used my middle name and everyone got excited, but now that I'm a bit older I just use my two names."

In a world dominated by personal brands, Marsters admitted he had entertained the idea of being sponsored by the iconic company, and it seems a more than likely scenario given the fact Nike already supplies him with clothing apparel.

"I want to sort that out because my manager already gets me Nike gear for this season so it would make sense for them to hopefully sponsor me one day," he added.

Just to add further spice to the story, Esan's aunt has a son of her own who is on track to play NRL in the coming years.

Steven Marsters has been a shining light at fullback and on the wing for the Dragons in the Holden Cup this season and was rewarded for his enterprising play with a call-up to the Junior Kiwis squad for the mid-year Test in Canberra.

The pair are so close that Esan refers to him as his little brother, while it's also rumoured that Steven has a brilliant middle name of his own; although Esan's mum didn't play any part in it.

"If you talk to him you'll have to ask him about his middle name because I think it's Hawk," Esan said.

"I think he gets jealous of me sometimes because his mum named me, but he's playing really good footy at the moment so I'm really proud of him."

 

[innsaneink]

Nice ad

 

[Cosimo_Zaretti]

Two days ago was a pic in the Tele of Tedesco giving a kid a pair of Nikes. It's almost as if a third party has reached some kind of agreement.

 

[stryker]

Scoring 4 tries makes him our third highest try scorer this year? Lol
He has been playing well.

 

[NT_Tiger]

I suppose he's lucky his aunty wasn't in to Dunlop Volleys.

 

[TCL]

He is playing well and has deserved and earnt the praise he has received.

Not a big thing but with such a big backline we will need to get further up the field to score try's. I'm not sure of the stats but in years gone by we were as dangourous in our own 20 than we were in the opposition 20\. We could put on an attacking play in our own half and score. I don't recall us scoring many long rage tries this year. Although I accept that this year is not the best to conduct those kind of reviews on.

 

[larrycorowa]

Our ability to score longs range tries departed with josh ado Carr and the Fijian who now plays rugby

 

[Tacky]

**<big>Esan Marsters a keeper for Wests Tigers after being cut by Sydney Roosters, turns down Cronulla Sharks</big>**

CHRISTIAN NICOLUSSI, The Daily Telegraph
August 12, 2017 12:05pm
Subscriber only
\
\
HE was cut by the Sydney Roosters, could have signed with Cronulla, but happily committed to the Wests Tigers.

And now Esan Marsters wants to continue giving Tigers fans a glimpse of the club’s future when he tries to get the better of fellow Manly rookie Brian Kelly at Leichhardt Oval.

Hailing from a family of 11 kids, Auckland-born Marsters has more than held his own at right centre since coach Ivan Cleary took a punt on him nine games ago. The baby-faced centre has a wonderful size and ball-playing skills, which he puts down to having spent time playing in the back row and at five-eighth.

It is those skills that have already been recognised by the Roosters and Cronulla — and will bring the Tigers faithful to their feet tomorrow ­afternoon at fortress Leichhardt.

“When I first moved to Australia I was 17 and signed a contract with the Roosters to train with their SG Ball team,’’ Marsters said. “That side ended up going on to win it and had some pretty good players like Latrell Mitchell, Joseph Manu, Connor Watson.

“I was training with them during the off-season, but I wasn’t performing well, and I also had a few issues off the field where I was homesick.

“I ended being cut, and the same day I was cut by the Roosters my mum (Ritia) moved over from Auckland.

“It was tough, but she told me she was always proud of me and not to worry about it. I was then scouted by Warren McDonnell who working was here at the Tigers.’’

Marsters quickly impressed in the Holden Cup, scoring 10 tries as a backrower, which led to a meeting with Sharks coach Shane Flanagan.

“I met with (Shane) Flanagan at the back end of last season, and it was very tempting,’’ he said. “But I really love the Tigers. I wanted to show loyalty after they gave me a second chance after the Roosters. I thought I owed them something.’’

Marsters is locked in until the end of 2018, but the Tigers will ensure he is locked away long term, which is already the case with their promising rookie left centre Moses Suli.

Marsters’ effort to draw two Penrith defenders and somehow sneak the ball out for David Nofoaluma last Sunday was pure class.

While Marsters and Kelly lock horns, the No.1 battle between James Tedesco and Tom Trbojevic will be outstanding, with Tedesco telling The Saturday Telegraph: “Their whole spine has been outstanding, and Tommy has been running a lot off that, he’s a big fella and hard to get down, and he’s been in great form.

“We were confident against them last time, we led 16-8, but let them come back. Our game management has been a struggle for us this year … a big focus for us this weekend is if we do get into a position to win, we need to complete, kick to corners and build pressure.’’
\
\
http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/nrl/teams/tigers/esan-marsters-a-keeper-for-wests-tigers-after-being-cut-by-sydney-roosters-turns-down-cronulla-sharks/news-story/7610416eeb42c031d489fd1c36ab09ce

 

[Cosimo_Zaretti]

If Rona joins the club, he might also end up in the centres potentially…

I think Rona might have some offers to stay in Super Rugby, and now that he's made the Wallabies I reckon he'd want to stay in Union.

 

[Spartan117]

If Rona joins the club, he might also end up in the centres potentially…

I think Rona might have some offers to stay in Super Rugby, and now that he's made the Wallabies I reckon he'd want to stay in Union.

More money in Rugby for less games.