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Team Talk: Wests Tigers 2023 overview, best 17, squad update​

Corey Rosser NRL Reporter
Sun 8 Jan 2023, 08:36 AM

Share on social media​

A new coach and a host of big-name recruits signal the start of a new era for the Wests Tigers in 2023, coming after a horror past season which ended in them collecting the wooden spoon.

Believing the answer to the future sits with figures from the past, the Wests Tigers have brought back their premiership-winning coach from 2005, Tim Sheens, with club legends Benji Marshall and Robbie Farah as his assistants.

The signing of six new players, five of whom have played in NRL Grand Finals previously, is a good start as they seek to bounce back from last year's 20-loss disaster.

Predicted Round 1 team​

  1. Daine Laurie
  2. David Nofoaluma
  3. Tommy Talau
  4. Brent Naden
  5. Ken Maumalo
  6. Adam Doueihi
  7. Luke Brooks
  8. Stefano Utoikamanu
  9. Api Koroisau
  10. David Klemmer
  11. Isaiah Papali’i
  12. John Bateman
  13. Joe Ofahengaue
  14. Jake Simpkin
  15. Alex Twal
  16. Fonua Pole
  17. Shawn Blore
Other: Alex Seyfarth, Apisalome Saukuru, Asu Kepaoa, Brandon Tumeth, Charlie Staines, Christian Ma’anaima (development), Justin Matamua, Josh Feledy (development), Junior Tupou, Kitione Kautoga (development), Rua Ngatikaura, Sione Fainu, Star To'a, Triston Reilly, Tukimihia Simpkins, Will Smith.

Squad watch​

Squad spots filled: 30/30

The club is loaded with talent in the forwards for 2023, with Stefano Utoikamanu - tipped by many as a future representative player - the only member of their likely starting pack who hasn't played either Origin or Test football for a tier one nation.

Aside from the new faces they have signed, the club will regain the services of forward Shawn Blore and versatile back Tommy Talau, who both failed to play a single minute of football last season due to serious injuries.

They have good depth in the backline, with Charlie Staines - who was a scorer in last year's Grand Final win for Penrith - and talented Kiwi Starford To'a likely to start the year outside the top 17, while in the pack it looks unlikely that 2022 NRL regular Alex Seyfarth or highly touted youngster Justin Matamua will be in the team for round one.

Despite losing a glut of talent to rival NRL clubs, including seven players who were regulars in their side last year, it's hard to argue that the Wests Tigers haven't improved their squad significantly for 2023.

Health watch
A tough run with injuries, which started in the pre-season with the loss of Blore and Talau for the year, really hurt the Wests Tigers in 2022, and they'll be relying on better fortune this coming season.

Talau and Blore are both on track to start the year, while Ken Maumalo is back in full training after having minor knee surgery.

Alex Seyfarth is back doing contact work after tearing a pectoral muscle late last season and is expected to be available for the start of the 2023 campaign.

Most contentious position
There wasn't a standout option at centre last year for the Wests Tigers, and again for 2023 it's hard to know who will emerge at the first-choice pairing.

Versatile back Star To'a started 14 games at centre last year in a season which saw him play a career-high 21 games, while Brent Naden impressed at the back end as a winger, and has plenty of centre experience under his belt.

The departure of Oliver Gildart (Dolphins) is offset by Talau's return from a season-long injury layoff, and if he can stay fit Sheens has indicated he's likely to be part of the 17 somewhere.

Biggest strength​

This forward pack will cause issues for plenty of sides in 2023.

The addition of Api Koroisau, Isaiah Papali'i and John Bateman, plus former Blues enforcer David Klemmer, to a group already featuring some quality veterans and promising forwards, means the engine room should hum.

In Koroisau they have a proven winner, with three-straight Grand Final appearances to his name, while Papali'i was one of the competition's best back-rowers last year, playing every game for the Eels and scoring 10 tries, with 140 average run metres per game.

Bateman too has shown he belongs in the competition's elite in his position, having been judged to be the NRL's best second-rower back in 2019 with the Raiders.

That talent on the edge should improve the Wests Tigers on both sides of the footy, while there will be no lack of punch through the middle, with the aggressive David Klemmer, who averaged 155 metres per game last year, joining Joe Ofahengaue, Alex Twal and Stefano Utoikamanu.

Biggest question mark​

How long will it take this new-look coaching setup to find their feet, and will their relative lack of experience as modern-day NRL coaches matter?

Sheens is a premiership-winning coach and a club legend. But it's also been 11 years since he did it at NRL level, and in that time the game has changed drastically.

In Benji Marshall and Robbie Farah he has two assistants with recent playing experience, but next to no experience as top-flight coaches.

How they manage this roster and make the adjustments needed throughout a grueling NRL campaign will be crucial to deciding where the Wests Tigers land this coming season.

Trial information​

February 9: Warriors v Wests Tigers at Mt Smart Stadium
February 19: Wests Tigers v Raiders at Belmore Sports Ground, Sydney


Note: reporting error as @KingRobbie has already confirmed, in other thread, that squad is currently only at 29/30 positions filled.
 
Tigerwould said:
They mention Staines but dont have him in the 17.
Click to expand...
Yeah honestly not sure why Nofo and Muamolo are guaranteed spots.

I would like stains in the 17 to be honest.

Does anyone know what Talaus weight is these days? Is he training in the 2nd row or centre?
 
SeanT said:
Who knows but that's the best side they have predicted so far.

Still don't like Offa at lock. Rather him in the prop rotation.
Click to expand...
I agree.
I've been watching a lot of Bateman's highlights and games since we showed interest in him and he's actually got footy smarts with the ball....he would be my lock and rotate Offa at prop.
 
Stains not in,and Talau who was ordinary to be generous,and looks more likely to play in the pigs, I doubt this would be the round one side.
 
Core Rosser, would not have a clue about the starting side. Sheens also. The trials will be the guide to who starts. Stains is a cut above nearly all of the journos picks in the backs. Just a guess, but i think they will run Laurie in the cup side partnering Smith in the halve, to give him actual experience, before trying him in the top grade as a 5/8. AD and Brooks, the brothers Grim, will be given the earlier games, because that's the only option. The rest ?
 
sleeve said:
Core Rosser, would not have a clue about the starting side. Sheens also. The trials will be the guide to who starts. Stains is a cut above nearly all of the journos picks in the backs. Just a guess, but i think they will run Laurie in the cup side partnering Smith in the halve, to give him actual experience, before trying him in the top grade as a 5/8. AD and Brooks, the brothers Grim, will be given the earlier games, because that's the only option. The rest ?
Click to expand...
To be fair he did say "Predicted" starting side
 
sleeve said:
Core Rosser, would not have a clue about the starting side. Sheens also. The trials will be the guide to who starts. Stains is a cut above nearly all of the journos picks in the backs. Just a guess, but i think they will run Laurie in the cup side partnering Smith in the halve, to give him actual experience, before trying him in the top grade as a 5/8. AD and Brooks, the brothers Grim, will be given the earlier games, because that's the only option. The rest ?
Click to expand...
I don't mind that actually. I think Laurie could be good at 5/8th assuming he has a kicking game.

I wouldn't mind Stains starting to be honest.
 
Lauren said:

View attachment 3990​

Team Talk: Wests Tigers 2023 overview, best 17, squad update​

Corey Rosser NRL Reporter
Sun 8 Jan 2023, 08:36 AM

Share on social media​

A new coach and a host of big-name recruits signal the start of a new era for the Wests Tigers in 2023, coming after a horror past season which ended in them collecting the wooden spoon.

Believing the answer to the future sits with figures from the past, the Wests Tigers have brought back their premiership-winning coach from 2005, Tim Sheens, with club legends Benji Marshall and Robbie Farah as his assistants.

The signing of six new players, five of whom have played in NRL Grand Finals previously, is a good start as they seek to bounce back from last year's 20-loss disaster.

Predicted Round 1 team​

  1. Daine Laurie
  2. David Nofoaluma
  3. Tommy Talau
  4. Brent Naden
  5. Ken Maumalo
  6. Adam Doueihi
  7. Luke Brooks
  8. Stefano Utoikamanu
  9. Api Koroisau
  10. David Klemmer
  11. Isaiah Papali’i
  12. John Bateman
  13. Joe Ofahengaue
  14. Jake Simpkin
  15. Alex Twal
  16. Fonua Pole
  17. Shawn Blore
Other: Alex Seyfarth, Apisalome Saukuru, Asu Kepaoa, Brandon Tumeth, Charlie Staines, Christian Ma’anaima (development), Justin Matamua, Josh Feledy (development), Junior Tupou, Kitione Kautoga (development), Rua Ngatikaura, Sione Fainu, Star To'a, Triston Reilly, Tukimihia Simpkins, Will Smith.

Squad watch​

Squad spots filled: 30/30

The club is loaded with talent in the forwards for 2023, with Stefano Utoikamanu - tipped by many as a future representative player - the only member of their likely starting pack who hasn't played either Origin or Test football for a tier one nation.

Aside from the new faces they have signed, the club will regain the services of forward Shawn Blore and versatile back Tommy Talau, who both failed to play a single minute of football last season due to serious injuries.

They have good depth in the backline, with Charlie Staines - who was a scorer in last year's Grand Final win for Penrith - and talented Kiwi Starford To'a likely to start the year outside the top 17, while in the pack it looks unlikely that 2022 NRL regular Alex Seyfarth or highly touted youngster Justin Matamua will be in the team for round one.

Despite losing a glut of talent to rival NRL clubs, including seven players who were regulars in their side last year, it's hard to argue that the Wests Tigers haven't improved their squad significantly for 2023.

Health watch
A tough run with injuries, which started in the pre-season with the loss of Blore and Talau for the year, really hurt the Wests Tigers in 2022, and they'll be relying on better fortune this coming season.

Talau and Blore are both on track to start the year, while Ken Maumalo is back in full training after having minor knee surgery.

Alex Seyfarth is back doing contact work after tearing a pectoral muscle late last season and is expected to be available for the start of the 2023 campaign.

Most contentious position
There wasn't a standout option at centre last year for the Wests Tigers, and again for 2023 it's hard to know who will emerge at the first-choice pairing.

Versatile back Star To'a started 14 games at centre last year in a season which saw him play a career-high 21 games, while Brent Naden impressed at the back end as a winger, and has plenty of centre experience under his belt.

The departure of Oliver Gildart (Dolphins) is offset by Talau's return from a season-long injury layoff, and if he can stay fit Sheens has indicated he's likely to be part of the 17 somewhere.

Biggest strength​

This forward pack will cause issues for plenty of sides in 2023.

The addition of Api Koroisau, Isaiah Papali'i and John Bateman, plus former Blues enforcer David Klemmer, to a group already featuring some quality veterans and promising forwards, means the engine room should hum.

In Koroisau they have a proven winner, with three-straight Grand Final appearances to his name, while Papali'i was one of the competition's best back-rowers last year, playing every game for the Eels and scoring 10 tries, with 140 average run metres per game.

Bateman too has shown he belongs in the competition's elite in his position, having been judged to be the NRL's best second-rower back in 2019 with the Raiders.

That talent on the edge should improve the Wests Tigers on both sides of the footy, while there will be no lack of punch through the middle, with the aggressive David Klemmer, who averaged 155 metres per game last year, joining Joe Ofahengaue, Alex Twal and Stefano Utoikamanu.

Biggest question mark​

How long will it take this new-look coaching setup to find their feet, and will their relative lack of experience as modern-day NRL coaches matter?

Sheens is a premiership-winning coach and a club legend. But it's also been 11 years since he did it at NRL level, and in that time the game has changed drastically.

In Benji Marshall and Robbie Farah he has two assistants with recent playing experience, but next to no experience as top-flight coaches.

How they manage this roster and make the adjustments needed throughout a grueling NRL campaign will be crucial to deciding where the Wests Tigers land this coming season.

Trial information​

February 9: Warriors v Wests Tigers at Mt Smart Stadium
February 19: Wests Tigers v Raiders at Belmore Sports Ground, Sydney


Note: reporting error as @KingRobbie has already confirmed, in other thread, that squad is currently only at 29/30 positions filled.
Click to expand...
Nice try Lauren, but looks like the only thing that will cheer up the masses is a couple of wins, even the trials...😂
 
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