@happy tiger said:
Love to see every clubs best 17 lined up against our best 17 , see the comparisons
Fox will be doing that so you wont have long to wait..here is the article that accompanies the 17..
Wests Tigers best 17 for 2017 NRL season: Headaches for Jason Taylor as pressure mounts
Nathan Ryan
Source: FOX SPORTS
THEY’RE a year older and wiser.
With the bulk of the squad unchanged, the Wests Tigers are able to continue building on their hard work from last season.
While the loss of Dene Halatau is a big one due to his experience but more importantly his ability to cover a host of positions, they have made a couple of handy pick-ups.
Jamal Idris headlines their recruitment list.
The powerhouse centre has been out of the game for a year and ready to make an impact upon returning. With Idris training at right centre inside David Nofoaluma, it looks like the Tigers will need to shuffle around their backline. It’s a small tweak that will see Jordan Rankin, Kevin Naiqama or Tim Simona miss out on a place in the side but shouldn’t cause too much interruption.
The hooking role however is rather interesting.
With Robbie Farah out of the club, there’s three men vying for the role. Will Jason Taylor opt for an 80 minute man or split the role between two? That’s one of many questions that need to be answered.
The bench is another topic of conversation.
With Curtis Sironen now at Manly and a host of talented NYC forwards ready to make the next step, competition for spots up front and on the edge has never been better under Taylor’s watch. The likes of Esan Marsters, Wesley Lolo, Taniela Paseka, Junior Tatola and Bayley Sironen are all pushing for an NRL nod in what is a young but exciting squad.
But Will Taylor be a round long enough to see the hard yards pay off? As always, there will be some contentious decisions — and some unlucky omissions.
NB: These line ups don’t take into account current injuries (unless they’re season ending) or suspensions.
THE LOCK
James Tedesco - The fullback is a superstar. But you know that. At 24, Tedesco is set to become one of the most in-demand players in the game. As a NSW Origin representative, Tedesco is in career best form. Scoring 14 tries in 17 games last year, he averaged 132 running metres. With 92 tackle busts, he’s hard to handle and has speed to burn. With Tedesco in the side, the team is always a threat. He just needs to remain on the park all season. The poor bloke can find an injury.
THE BUBBLE
The hookers - Having pushed out Robbie Farah, the Tigers will likely run with Matt Ballin and Jacob Liddle at hooker this season. Liddle is a star in the making and as creative as they come. Throw Matt McIlwrick into the mix and you have some serious competition for the no.9 jersey. With Dene Halatau now retired, it’ll be interesting to see whether Jason Taylor carries two hookers or backs one man to do an 80 minute job. If the latter is the case, you’d have Ballin short odds to claim that role.
THE RISING STAR
Esan Marsters – A Junior Kiwis representative, the backrower is a beast. Weighing in at 110 kilos, Marsters is a graduate of the Tigers’ 20s side. Considered one of the most damaging second rowers in the Holden Cup, Marsters is a hard runner who can ball play. He’s also very familiar with the try line. Signed until the end of 2018, the Mount Albert junior had no shortage of interest in his services before re-signing last year and poised for an NRL start at some stage this year.
IT’S A BIG YEAR FOR…
The coach - Jason Taylor needs his team to succeed. Off-contract and not guaranteed of a new deal, there’s more pressure on the Tigers boss than ever before. Having successfully moved Robbie Farah to South Sydney, Taylor has the team he wants, ready to play the style of football he’s always envisioned. With a young and exciting spine, the Tigers decision makers will be expecting an immediate improvement. The players will too. With the club’s best players off-contract this year, the coach not only needs to win games but convince the talented youngsters like James Tedesco and Mitchell Moses to extend their deals.
OTHERS: Jordan Rankin, Matt McIlwrick, Michael Chee-Kam, Joel Edwards, Matt Eisenhuth, Jordan Grant, Rod Griffin, Watson Heleta, Justin Hunt, Ryland Jacobs, Jack Littlejohn, Wesley Lolo, Kyle Lovett, Esan Marsters, Taniela Paseka, Bayley Sironen, Junior Tatola.
http://www.foxsports.com.au/nrl/nrl-premiership/wests-tigers-best-17-for-2017-nrl-season-headaches-for-jason-taylor-as-pressure-mounts/news-story/5f4f79802a3ebe04e433459e5fa5ec06
