LIVE game discussion. Tigers Team Vs Penrith - Trial#2

ATown said:
Agreed. Awesome as Mak was, it was Javon that had me tossing and turning, dreaming of what could be.

You can tell he’s got genuine class just by the way he moves. He’s already a better ball player than Luai and AD and he looks physically ready.

I feel like we might need to find a spot for him sooner than later.
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Mate Javon is a good at kicking goals and did so in origin but just got to be careful with him he had a few injuries no need to rush him

But he is all class and the little things the way he turn inside held the ball drew in the defence then passed outside just half a second

And he has a big step on him and turn of speed

And the way he hit the winger for the try the vision
 
Mighty_Tiger said:
It wasn’t really a backs game but against the Panthers it never will be as they throttle the middle and grind.

Luai looked good, step but his crisp passing & choices I enjoyed seeing. If we keep the attacking structure on that edge alot of points will come through it.

The right edge is a worry. AD as a runner is great but he doesn’t give early ball. Multiple times Toa called for it and never got it - Turuva I don’t think touched the ball once whilst running onto it. It’s a trial so meh but the same signs from previous years are there with AD. Toa isn’t effective unless he has space to move so if he doesn’t get early ball we best use a different center.

Our attack in the red zone offered nothing unless AD runs or Luai shifted. But for the 23 other tackles just looked lack luster and at times unorganized.

Api passing from dummy half was ordinary to terrible at times. Hopefully that’s not a sign of things but something to watch as fatigue sets in. Haywood looks to have the best ball distribution in the club right now based on the trials.

Bula looked like he just woke up before the game or something. Urgency in anything he did was ordinary. It’s a trial so hopefully it’s cobwebs as alot of other fullbacks have started ordinary as well.

Bunty was impressive. He had a high work rate defensively and was a big part of the line speed. He looked fit.

Sione gets left out abit but both games he has hit hard and forced an error, his work rate is always high and minimal issues. Should be a lock like Bunty into the 19.

Maka just wow, has abit to do in defending & high ball but wow.

Laulilii was beast mode with his runs which isn’t a surprise but he looks to have had a growth spurt as well.

I was impressed by our fringe/reggie forwards the most they all ran direct and aggressively.

Sukkar, Broederlow, Murray, Geyer & Seyfarth.
Sukkar looked big, Broederlow could be anything, Murray is small but the late offloads create issues, Geyer has size and some spark when he moves sideways, Seyfarth needs to be a middle not an edge.

Hope when he moved to lock was interesting but added something was more link man but his darts with quick play the ball was good to see.

It’s a trial and the first hit out, positive and hopefully motivating to start the season hard. Some distinct changes in the forwards and with Luai side approach.

Fitness and directness look to be positives. I’m not buying finals tickets yet lets hope it carries over across all grades to start the season.

Benji’s bench makeup will be interesting think he has for once some tough decisions to make - which hasn’t been the case for a long time.
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Excellent observations and agree with everything except one point.,,,,GF tickets, get ‘em while they’re hot.
 
Leck said:
We're in a good position to win the preseason challenge -

Parramatta Eels15130Must win with all 3 bonus points AND maintain a higher PD (currently +34).
Canberra Raiders15130Must win with all 3 bonus points AND improve PD (currently +26) to > +30.
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Woohoo !!! ... the Craven Mild Cup will look great in the Wests Ashfield trophy cabinet 👍
 
bptiger 0 said:
He is a very average footballer, I hope I am wrong but after watching him at the panthers , not good
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Disagree. He had some very good flashes at the Panthers, and he was at least solid in limited minutes in last nights game. Given time he will be a handful in the back 3.
 
BlackWhiteGold said:
Great wrap up MT!

Loved the team's line speed & physicality in contact led by Twal & Bunty. Wow Twal is taking his game to the next level

How good is Hope's contact in D, he hits hard for a smaller guy.

Pole & Sione's late footwork at the line can't be underestimated.

Whilst no highlights reel for Tavana (almost one chasing the kick), his effort plays were impressive.

It looks like at long last we have DEPTH and tough decisions for Benji on the bench make-up as you say.

There will even be some tough decisions for the NSW Cup top 17!
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I have seen Twal abit different to others over the years and think he is a must to start for us. So didn’t mention him as thought that was a standard Twal performance.

He is using his body better. He direct runs make an impact and his offloads have a knack of leading to significant field gains or points.

I actually can see Benji squad forming but also with like for like players potential on the park for the full game.

Bunty & Hunt, Pole & Sione, May is the exception.
Twal and Seyfarth as the rovers. With young brigade to come in as injuries hit.

Basically the forward momentum should last alot longer this season than ones before.
 
Odessa said:
Mate Javon is a good at kicking goals and did so in origin but just got to be careful with him he had a few injuries no need to rush him

But he is all class and the little things the way he turn inside held the ball drew in the defence then passed outside just half a second

And he has a big step on him and turn of speed

And the way he hit the winger for the try the vision
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That’s what I loved about that pass. Most playmakers in the NRL have already premeditated whether they’re going short to the centre or cutting out to the winger, you could tell Javon made up his mind after seeing the defences reactions. You can’t teach that stuff.

Additionally, because of the shape he holds and the softness of his hands it’s impossible for the defence to tell which option he’s going to take. Contrast that to watching someone like Galvin throwing a cut out, he winds up from his hip and it’s so obvious what’s coming, akin to a boxer throwing a wild haymaker their opponent can see from a mile away.

Red zone attack is still our biggest offensive weakness and that seems to be his biggest strength.
 
ATown said:
That’s what I loved about that pass. Most playmakers in the NRL have already premeditated whether they’re going short to the centre or cutting out to the winger, you could tell Javon made up his mind after seeing the defences reactions. You can’t teach that stuff.

Additionally, because of the shape he holds and the softness of his hands it’s impossible for the defence to tell which option he’s going to take. Contrast that to watching someone like Galvin throwing a cut out, he winds up from his hip and it’s so obvious what’s coming, akin to a boxer throwing a wild haymaker their opponent can see from a mile away.

Red zone attack is still our biggest offensive weakness and that seems to be his biggest strength.
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The key to the pass success was Mason leaving it.

The passer gets a huge amount of praise but Mason actually pulled himself out of the pass and deserves some awareness credit also. Especially that close to the line.
 
Skelton is the one who runs out end of 2026
we rightly so have not extended him know owing what we have in big Makasini and others coming through
 
Leck said:
Great tradition. Wests and Balmain have only one that cup once since its inception.

Hopefully Wests Tigers continue the tradition.
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Yeah, hopefully 👍

Balmain previously won it twice (1967, 1976) and were runners up three times (1963, 1979, 1980)
Wests were also runners up on three occasions (1962, 1965, 1969)
 
Tiger_Yoshi said:
I think a key points to come out of the 2 trial games .

1.the players are playing for each other and Benji
2. The players seem to have a belief that we have not had for years..
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. . . . . . and it appears that this has filtered right through all the grades.

Looks like a very tight group.
 
ATown said:
That’s what I loved about that pass. Most playmakers in the NRL have already premeditated whether they’re going short to the centre or cutting out to the winger, you could tell Javon made up his mind after seeing the defences reactions. You can’t teach that stuff.

Additionally, because of the shape he holds and the softness of his hands it’s impossible for the defence to tell which option he’s going to take. Contrast that to watching someone like Galvin throwing a cut out, he winds up from his hip and it’s so obvious what’s coming, akin to a boxer throwing a wild haymaker their opponent can see from a mile away.

Red zone attack is still our biggest offensive weakness and that seems to be his biggest strength.
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I think he will end up at 7 for the Tigers or another club
 
Makasini obviously waltzes into the side on the wing on ability.
Benji will be making a decision on whether he feels Makasini needs more time to develop is confidence and maturity and the mental side of things in Reggies for a few games or half a season. He is ready physically but you want to make sure he is ready mentally before he moves into first grade.
 
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