Lock and Edge Options for 2025

The Chad said:
Certainly some excellent points made.

I'm concerned about Bird holding up in the middle, not in terms of injury etc, but just physicality. I think he is better served on the edge. If he is to play in the forwards, I'd much rather see him in the second row.

Someone suggested a Wade Graham style player (who played Second Row) & I can see that. I also can see that in Galvin down the road. Thing is- most people see the Yeo style #13 & think that is what is needed. Wade Graham is a fairly recent example of how to add an extra playmaker while not having to play that guy as a middle.

Tigers have been pretty weak in the middle in defence. I'd be willing to sacrifice some ball playing in order to toughen up the middle. I think Twal might very well be the best option at #13, despite his lack of flair. Bird could simply inject himself in the middle as required, or run a good line (Liam Fulton anyone?) to set up his outside runners on the edge.

Unlike a lot of current NRL teams we have possibly the craftiest #9, 2 good creative runners at #6 & #7 (3, if you include Latu) & one of the silkiest runners at #1. I'm not convinced the club needs an additional ball player through the middle to succeed.
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Twal is so fit and strong, but he hasn't got any ball skills or movement to confuse the defence.

I think a variation that may work to the players strengths is Pole and Bird swapping in attack and defence.

Bird plays 2nd row in defence and 13 in attack. Pole becomes the edge backrower in attack and defends at 13.

Then same thing when Seyfarth comes on.

I'm no coach though. Just a fan with an imagination.
 
weststigers said:
Twal is so fit and strong, but he hasn't got any ball skills or movement to confuse the defence.

I think a variation that may work to the players strengths is Pole and Bird swapping in attack and defence.

Bird plays 2nd row in defence and 13 in attack. Pole becomes the edge backrower in attack and defends at 13.

Then same thing when Seyfarth comes on.

I'm no coach though. Just a fan with an imagination.
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Not that difficult WT, it is simply executing the defensive plan and the offensive plan. As long as it is the standard it shouldn't be a poblem; that is until you have injuries and bringing players in from KOE who are using a different pattern.
 
Red88_Tiger said:
Twal not bird
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I won't Labor the point and agree that
Twal, Klemmer, Seyfarth, Bateman, Toa, AD, Naden, Staines and many others NEED to harden up and tackle damn hard.

Seriously I want our players more vicious then a 12 year old on Monday morning who doesn't want to go to school.
 
crazycat said:
I won't Labor the point and agree that
Twal, Klemmer, Seyfarth, Bateman, Toa, AD, Naden, Staines and many others NEED to harden up and tackle damn hard.

Seriously I want our players more vicious then a 12 year old on Monday morning who doesn't want to go to school.
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And they dont want to go to school cause the poor kids follow Wests Tigers.
 
Possibly the biggest weakness in the squad is the second row/lock position, particularly in a long term type view.

Unless.

Benji & Richo's biggest challenge is to find a way to make Galvin, Luai & Latu Fainu fit into the squad. The club needs to play it's best players, and these 3 are in the top 13 or so players in the club.

Benji & Richo need to find a way to convince Galvin that the backrow is in his best interests. It's also in the clubs. It puts an immediate star player into a position of weakness, while getting the 3 best organising players in the club on the field.

The club currently doesn't have a 'ball playing lock'.

With some constructive thinking, Galvin could man the right, Luai the left & Latu attack through the middle, removing the need for the ball playing lock. Play a tackling specialist in the middle instead.

If Fainu isn't in the starting squad by the end of 2025, I'm pretty sure we can all see an off season where there is a push for him to move. And that could result in his brothers looking to go with him.

Benji & Richo have to sell the backrow idea to Galvin. Even if it means we don't play him in a traditional second row role. This is your Wade Graham player out wide.
 
In 2025 I’m not to concerned about our attack with the incoming players. However we have a long way to go defensively. The positions of lock and edge we need to find very strong defenders. Particularly if we are looking to recruit.
 
Tigerwould said:
In 2025 I’m not to concerned about our attack with the incoming players. However we have a long way to go defensively. The positions of lock and edge we need to find very strong defenders. Particularly if we are looking to recruit.
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I agree that lock and backrower is something we need to, I really hope Richo has a ace up his sleeve, because if we don’t strengthen the pack all that hard work getting a good backline will mean nothing
 
The Chad said:
Possibly the biggest weakness in the squad is the second row/lock position, particularly in a long term type view.

Unless.

Benji & Richo's biggest challenge is to find a way to make Galvin, Luai & Latu Fainu fit into the squad. The club needs to play it's best players, and these 3 are in the top 13 or so players in the club.

Benji & Richo need to find a way to convince Galvin that the backrow is in his best interests. It's also in the clubs. It puts an immediate star player into a position of weakness, while getting the 3 best organising players in the club on the field.

The club currently doesn't have a 'ball playing lock'.

With some constructive thinking, Galvin could man the right, Luai the left & Latu attack through the middle, removing the need for the ball playing lock. Play a tackling specialist in the middle instead.

If Fainu isn't in the starting squad by the end of 2025, I'm pretty sure we can all see an off season where there is a push for him to move. And that could result in his brothers looking to go with him.

Benji & Richo have to sell the backrow idea to Galvin. Even if it means we don't play him in a traditional second row role. This is your Wade Graham player out wide.
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Galvin wont be going to our backrow.

I expect he has named some conditions to stay and being 5/8 is one of them. Ok 5 years down the track, who knows. Right now, Galvin is 85kg and needs to work on backrow muscle. There is no way our club or him want his body wrecked in our front row.

Look, I get it. Galvin is fit. He could end up being the next Damien Cook kind of fit. But that's something he needs to train for and prepare his body for. Don't break him.

Looking at our team page (I know it's kinda dodge) I see 5 Props and 3 Locks. Only Tumeth, Laulili and Bateman are listed as 2RF and Bateman is gone. I don't see any of those guys really ready for first grade...


Kinda glad if Bird plays at Center. The whole Turuva playing Center to me seems like a mistake, he should go on the wing and learn to adapt to our team/style first. Bird + Olam as a center pairing is IMHO incredibly strong.
 
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