Juniors - Pathways General Discussion

Just going to do the occasional note on some of the players who I've earmarked for bigger & better things next season.

Josese Lanyon

- 21 this year so will be ineligible for Flegg next season.
- Should be in calculations for a NSW Cup contract or even a NRL T&T in '26.
- Insta posts from his management earlier this season mentions his contract with WT includes 2026.
- Lock / Hooker
- Great season in Flegg and I reckon will be in the running for the POY.
- Best position is lock.
- Very good leg speed, excellent as a link man, ball player before the line & ball runner.
- Must have very good aerobic ability as he plays a large chunk of his 80 mins.
- Good passing game out of dummy-half.
- Generally good defence and cleaned up a lot behind the ruck with his defence.
- An area to improve is his contact in defence mainly due to his smaller size - more noticeable when he moved up to NSW Cup 2 weeks ago.

Summary: Has excellent potential to be that high workrate, link #13 or bench utility #14 to cover lock/hooker in future. Hopefully a big pre-season in the gym to work on his size & strength. I can see him as the bench utility in NSW Cup to start the season rotating with Charlie Murray & Tristan Hope. Our lock forward stocks are strong in the pathways with the likes of Lanyon, Havea Jr, Van Drie, Duncombe, Ta'ai, Cosgrave & young Ioane Sasulu coming into Harold Matts next season.
 
BlackWhiteGold said:
Just going to do the occasional note on some of the players who I've earmarked for bigger & better things next season.

Josese Lanyon

- 21 this year so will be ineligible for Flegg next season.
- Should be in calculations for a NSW Cup contract or even a NRL T&T in '26.
- Insta posts from his management earlier this season mentions his contract with WT includes 2026.
- Lock / Hooker
- Great season in Flegg and I reckon will be in the running for the POY.
- Best position is lock.
- Very good leg speed, excellent as a link man, ball player before the line & ball runner.
- Must have very good aerobic ability as he plays a large chunk of his 80 mins.
- Good passing game out of dummy-half.
- Generally good defence and cleaned up a lot behind the ruck with his defence.
- An area to improve is his contact in defence mainly due to his smaller size - more noticeable when he moved up to NSW Cup 2 weeks ago.

Summary: Has excellent potential to be that high workrate, link #13 or bench utility #14 to cover lock/hooker in future. Hopefully a big pre-season in the gym to work on his size & strength. I can see him as the bench utility in NSW Cup to start the season rotating with Charlie Murray & Tristan Hope. Our lock forward stocks are strong in the pathways with the likes of Lanyon, Havea Jr, Van Drie, Duncombe, Ta'ai, Cosgrave & young Ioane Sasulu coming into Harold Matts next season.
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Seemed to get better and better as the season went on. Was a big reason for the success of Flegg during the 2nd half of the season. I think he will feature off the bench in Cup for 2026 as that utility 14.

Haven't heard anything about that Ioane Sasulu. Anything you can share about him?
 
Tigers_Wests said:
Seemed to get better and better as the season went on. Was a big reason for the success of Flegg during the 2nd half of the season. I think he will feature off the bench in Cup for 2026 as that utility 14.

Haven't heard anything about that Ioane Sasulu. Anything you can share about him?
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He was awarded player's player for MWT in the U16s Andrew Johns Cup this season, big part of the team that made the semi-finals. Captain of the East Campbelltown team that won the GF last weekend in the U16 Macarthur comp - Monson Hopoate in that team as well.
 
BlackWhiteGold said:
He was awarded player's player for MWT in the U16s Andrew Johns Cup this season, big part of the team that made the semi-finals. Captain of the East Campbelltown team that won the GF last weekend in the U16 Macarthur comp - Monson Hopoate in that team as well.
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Thanks mate!

Monson Hopoate looks a special talent! Assume we will see him in HM's Next year.
 
Tigers_Wests said:
Thanks mate!

Monson Hopoate looks a special talent! Assume we will see him in HM's Next year.
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Hope so. I assume so too as I think he turns 16 next year.

In some way I can understand the likes of Cameron Kanaan & Tom Goodfield moving on with our depth in outside backs - Tino Tavana, Max Taotua, Callum McMenemy, Logan Brookes, Xavier Tauaifaiga, Jack Nicholas, Aaron Paea, James Lanyon, Glassie Glassie, Josh Vella, Tom Aroyan, Monson Hopoate, Kingston Finau & more. Not to mention Makasini & Laulilii both teenagers lol
 
BlackWhiteGold said:
Hope so. I assume so too as I think he turns 16 next year.

In some way I can understand the likes of Cameron Kanaan & Tom Goodfield moving on with our depth in outside backs - Tino Tavana, Max Taotua, Callum McMenemy, Logan Brookes, Xavier Tauaifaiga, Jack Nicholas, Aaron Paea, James Lanyon, Glassie Glassie, Josh Vella, Tom Aroyan, Monson Hopoate, Kingston Finau & more. Not to mention Makasini & Laulilii both teenagers lol
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Yeah there will always be movement of juniors around between the clubs. Those involved in recruitment/pathways have to make a call. Sometimes they will get it right, sometimes they will get it wrong. You just need to hope we identify and keep the absolute guns.

Pretty happy with where we are placed in terms of outside backs In our pathways. Another name I would like to see us retain is Oitmann for Flegg too. I thought he was a standout for Wests SG Ball this year.
 
Bellend said:
We need the potential to start to mature and progress next season. Selecting the right Flegg and Koe coach is a very decision West Tigers need to make the right proactive coach and we will see progression.
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Definitely. Flegg is already determined with Shane Sultana (he posted it on his Linkedin this week). Now just for NSW Cup / NRL Transition coach. Will it be Aaron Payne again? Or the 'connecting the dots' option could be ex Brisbane Tigers (Richo link) coach Matt Church??
 
Tigers_Wests said:
Yeah there will always be movement of juniors around between the clubs. Those involved in recruitment/pathways have to make a call. Sometimes they will get it right, sometimes they will get it wrong. You just need to hope we identify and keep the absolute guns.

Pretty happy with where we are placed in terms of outside backs In our pathways. Another name I would like to see us retain is Oitmann for Flegg too. I thought he was a standout for Wests SG Ball this year.
Click to expand...
Yes very true. I was surprised he was ousted for SG Ball POY by Godinet & Duncombe actually. Oitmann is lightning fast with some special skills, it's just his size & handling errors in his game holding him back atm. Hopefully gets a spot in the Camden Rams A grade team in the GF next week (was on the wing last week in their Major Semi win)
 
Demps said:
Part time?
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Was the role P/T previously? Surely wasn't to lure Aaron Payne down from NQ.

Unless there is a slight restructure going on & we're bringing on an additional Assistant Coach for Benji (as Payne was a NRL game day assistant & transition coach as well as NSW Cup).
 
BlackWhiteGold said:
Was the role P/T previously? Surely wasn't to lure Aaron Payne down from NQ.

Unless there is a slight restructure going on & we're bringing on an additional Assistant Coach for Benji (as Payne was a NRL game day assistant & transition coach as well as NSW Cup).
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As much as the results have not been good enough and I can’t say I have agreed with a few of his team selections, I don’t think it would make things any better by changing too much at the moment, so I hope we keep Aaron Payne with us in some capacity,
 
has anyone kept an eye on pole’s brother suli down at melbourne in flegg ? wonder if we’re planning on bringing him here eventually
 
BlackWhiteGold said:
Just going to do the occasional note on some of the players who I've earmarked for bigger & better things next season.

Josese Lanyon

- 21 this year so will be ineligible for Flegg next season.
- Should be in calculations for a NSW Cup contract or even a NRL T&T in '26.
- Insta posts from his management earlier this season mentions his contract with WT includes 2026.
- Lock / Hooker
- Great season in Flegg and I reckon will be in the running for the POY.
- Best position is lock.
- Very good leg speed, excellent as a link man, ball player before the line & ball runner.
- Must have very good aerobic ability as he plays a large chunk of his 80 mins.
- Good passing game out of dummy-half.
- Generally good defence and cleaned up a lot behind the ruck with his defence.
- An area to improve is his contact in defence mainly due to his smaller size - more noticeable when he moved up to NSW Cup 2 weeks ago.

Summary: Has excellent potential to be that high workrate, link #13 or bench utility #14 to cover lock/hooker in future. Hopefully a big pre-season in the gym to work on his size & strength. I can see him as the bench utility in NSW Cup to start the season rotating with Charlie Murray & Tristan Hope. Our lock forward stocks are strong in the pathways with the likes of Lanyon, Havea Jr, Van Drie, Duncombe, Ta'ai, Cosgrave & young Ioane Sasulu coming into Harold Matts next season.
Click to expand...
Max Taotua

- 20 this year so is eligible again for Jersey Flegg next season but IMO will be promoted to NSW Cup.
- 192cm & 95kg. Twin brother is dynamic backrower Mitch.
- A Manly junior who played SG Ball there in '23 with Latu Fainu & Lehi Hopoate (and Leni Plati)
- Had a very consistent season in Flegg playing a majority of the WT games and solidified right centre.
- Formed a good combination on that right edge with Tino Tavana.
- Scored 13 tries this season in Flegg & had 9 try assists probably most setting up Tavana.
- Strong, powerful, tackle-breaking right centre with good footwork and very slick hands.
- Good in defence, strong in contact, did make the odd poor decision in defence but who doesn't at centre at that age except Robert Toia.
- Is quick enough for a powerful centre, did get run down a couple of times when he broke away.
- Just knows how to finish when he had 1 even 2 to beat close to the line with footwork, fend & strength.
- Played 2 full games in NSW Cup this season & held his own on both occasions, arguably had the better of Junior Tupou in the last round.
- Was one of only a few JF players given the opportunity to train with NSW Cup team last pre-season so is held in high regard at the club (others included Liles & Tavana).

Summary: I have no doubt if this kid has a big pre-season, he can nail down right centre in the NSW Cup team (and hopefully with Tavana outside him to keep that combo going) and if he continues to progress could be a big NRL bolter next season IMO (especially given the injury history of To'a). I reckon some specific sprint training in the off-season will help him because he is only going to get bigger & stronger in his frame so needs to keep his speed up.
 
BlackWhiteGold said:
Max Taotua

- 20 this year so is eligible again for Jersey Flegg next season but IMO will be promoted to NSW Cup.
- 192cm & 95kg. Twin brother is dynamic backrower Mitch.
- A Manly junior who played SG Ball there in '23 with Latu Fainu & Lehi Hopoate (and Leni Plati)
- Had a very consistent season in Flegg playing a majority of the WT games and solidified right centre.
- Formed a good combination on that right edge with Tino Tavana.
- Scored 13 tries this season in Flegg & had 9 try assists probably most setting up Tavana.
- Strong, powerful, tackle-breaking right centre with good footwork and very slick hands.
- Good in defence, strong in contact, did make the odd poor decision in defence but who doesn't at centre at that age except Robert Toia.
- Is quick enough for a powerful centre, did get run down a couple of times when he broke away.
- Just knows how to finish when he had 1 even 2 to beat close to the line with footwork, fend & strength.
- Played 2 full games in NSW Cup this season & held his own on both occasions, arguably had the better of Junior Tupou in the last round.
- Was one of only a few JF players given the opportunity to train with NSW Cup team last pre-season so is held in high regard at the club (others included Liles & Tavana).

Summary: I have no doubt if this kid has a big pre-season, he can nail down right centre in the NSW Cup team (and hopefully with Tavana outside him to keep that combo going) and if he continues to progress could be a big NRL bolter next season IMO (especially given the injury history of To'a). I reckon some specific sprint training in the off-season will help him because he is only going to get bigger & stronger in his frame so needs to keep his speed up.
Click to expand...
Big things ahead for Max! One of my favourites coming through from that Flegg side!
 
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