Maguire to narrow Round 1 focus in Warriors trial

[TheDaBoss]

Maguire to narrow Round 1 focus in Warriors trial
Author
Dan Talintyre
Timestamp
Mon 24 Feb 2020, 08:11 AM

Wests Tigers Coach Michael Maguire will take a squad of 23 players to New Zealand this Sunday for the club's second and final trial match as the focus continues to narrow for Round 1.

With just three weeks remaining until the team's season opener against St. George-Illawarra on March 15 and a number of positions still up for grabs, Sunday's trial against the New Zealand Warriors will form a vital selection tool for Maguire having watched a number of the extended NRL squad in action last weekend.

Josh Reynolds, Billy Walters, Zane Musgrove, Adam Doueihi and Luciano Leilua all looked solid against the Penrith Panthers in their first real hit-out for 2020 and are certainly in the running for a spot in the club's Round 1 team.

The likes of Moses Mbye, David Nofoaluma, Corey Thompson, Luke Brooks, Benji Marshall, Chris Lawrence and Joey Leilua were all rested from the first trial and will come in to contention for the squad to take on the Warriors, which will be named by Maguire early this week before the squad flies to Rotorua.

2020 Match Replays: Trial, Penrith Panthers vs. Wests Tigers
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Having played a near first-grade side in the first half against Penrith before ringing a number of changes in the second half, Maguire said he was pleased the way his side started the game to have the scores level at 4-4 at the break while also highlighting the need for an improved overall performance next week.

"I was pleased with the first half but there's still plenty to work on," Maguire said.

"I thought people like Zane Musgrove and Billy Walters performed at a high level for their first hit-out with the club.

Wests Tigers forward Zane Musgrove in action against the Penrith Panthers
Wests Tigers forward Zane Musgrove in action against the Penrith Panthers
©Wests Tigers
"The second half we were off by a fair way," he admitted.

"I was very purposely giving everyone at the club a run at this level and then next week I'll take a squad of 23 to Rotorua so I'll be narrowing it down."

Wests Tigers will kick off against the New Zealand Warriors at 12:00pm AEDT on Sunday, March 1 from Rotorua International Stadium. Free live coverage of the match is available via www.weststigers.com.au while the match will also be broadcast via FOX League in Australia and Sky Sport in New Zealand.

 

[jadtiger]

This bloke is on drugs if he thinks Josh Reynolds looked solid on the weekend

 

[Geo]

Oh gee..23 huh...narrowing down ..who'd of thought..

 

[TheDaBoss]

This bloke is on drugs if he thinks Josh Reynolds looked solid on the weekend

he never said that i dont think

the writer just said it generally

 

[851]

Hardly narrowing Geo is it, maybe 18 or 19 might be believable

 

[Geo]

Hardly narrowing Geo is it, maybe 18 or 19 might be believable

Reckon the starting 17 will be similar to the Rd 1 side...just a guess..

23 sounds about right for a trial game..

 

[Tiger_Steve]

Considering 21 will be named on the Tuesday before round 1, the 23 chosen this week gives us a pretty good idea of who’ll be picked then. As I said in another post, it’s interesting to see the fight for positions. Many combinations are available to Madge and all could work

 

[Blaze]

“Having played a near first-grade side in the first half against Penrith“
If that was a near first grade I’ll eat my foot.
“Josh Reynolds, Billy Walters, Zane Musgrove, Adam Doueihi and Luciano Leilua all looked solid” if Josh Reynolds looked solid I’ll eat my other foot.

 

[Newtown]

Josh Reynolds played like he was in dream land

 

[TheDaBoss]

Josh Reynolds played like he was in dream land

he made stupid mistakes as well


slapped a ball out of a players hand to slow down play, caused a penalty

 

[tigerbalm]

“Having played a near first-grade side in the first half against Penrith“
If that was a near first grade I’ll eat my foot.
“Josh Reynolds, Billy Walters, Zane Musgrove, Adam Doueihi and Luciano Leilua all looked solid” if Josh Reynolds looked solid I’ll eat my other foot.

Unfortunately, for Wests, it is a FG team and in a team of plodders JR probably looked solid.

Id be ordering crutches

 

[Elderslie_Tiger]

“Having played a near first-grade side in the first half against Penrith“
If that was a near first grade I’ll eat my foot.
“Josh Reynolds, Billy Walters, Zane Musgrove, Adam Doueihi and Luciano Leilua all looked solid” if Josh Reynolds looked solid I’ll eat my other foot.

You have a leg to stand on🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🦽🦽🦽

 

[sleeve]

Ithink Walters will be a good 9 and with benji and Brooks both game controllers he will learn heaps.I would sit with current squad and wait for Simkins and Cini to mature in next 6 mths along with others.
It would be foolish at this stage to buy another 9 .Wait and see how the side pans out before we determin our priorities.

 

[Deleted member 3518]

“Having played a near first-grade side in the first half against Penrith“
If that was a near first grade I’ll eat my foot.
“Josh Reynolds, Billy Walters, Zane Musgrove, Adam Doueihi and Luciano Leilua all looked solid” if Josh Reynolds looked solid I’ll eat my other foot.

No I think they’re saying we played against a Near first grade side . Of which , it’s pretty accurate. They had thier starting backline bar aetkins (Edwards injury).Including Tyrone may 3 out of 4 of thier top halves and by my count at least 4 players who will be there round 1 of their forward pack . Just to reference , we had 1 backline player (Douehi) , no halves who will be there (Madden was good btw) and Musgrove and Leilua . The rest were very much reserve graders or u20s. Maybe Seyfarth is a Smokey as well and Eisenhuth. All of the tigers players mentioned bar Musgrove and Leilua were gone at half time.
I would be worried if I were a panthers supporter . I just don’t see it.

 

[Deleted member 3518]

Oh and Walters who was good . A real crisp pass off the deck , in both directions . Reynolds looks like u7s learning to pass the ball . It’s real strange how he got to 30 not knowing how to pass the ball .

 

[avocadoontoast]

Oh and Walters who was good . A real crisp pass off the deck , in both directions . Reynolds looks like u7s learning to pass the ball . It’s real strange how he got to 30 not knowing how to pass the ball .

Reynolds should be out of consideration for the dummy half spot. He was always terrible there but he seems to have regressed further. Walters was fine, I think he overplayed his hand a little bit which stifled the attack but otherwise seemed solid.

 

[Deleted member 3518]

Oh and Walters who was good . A real crisp pass off the deck , in both directions . Reynolds looks like u7s learning to pass the ball . It’s real strange how he got to 30 not knowing how to pass the ball .

Reynolds should be out of consideration for the dummy half spot. He was always terrible there but he seems to have regressed further. Walters was fine, I think he overplayed his hand a little bit which stifled the attack but otherwise seemed solid.

Yep . I agree ?. I hate bagging JR because I feel like he would be a real strong asset for the te with his energy and general knack to be involved all the time . Thats a skill in itself. But he has zero deception out of DH and doesn’t pass his runners onto the ball , and is generally bad . It’s fine for SOO 2 off the bench , but not day to day NRL . The thing I found most impressive was Walters kick out of DH. It was crisp , powerful and most importantly quick . JR was real clunky.
Unfortunately it’s really been a bad buy by Ivan .
The running five eighth who doesn’t have a solid passing game , has very quickly become outdated . Players like JR , Blake Austin ,etc.
reminds me of the big man in the NBA , all of sudden if you’re not athletic , you can’t be played .
I feel like it’s the same with JR types . It just moved past them quick , and now it’s about possession , game management and crisp passing

 

[JC99]

Oh and Walters who was good . A real crisp pass off the deck , in both directions . Reynolds looks like u7s learning to pass the ball . It’s real strange how he got to 30 not knowing how to pass the ball .

Reynolds should be out of consideration for the dummy half spot. He was always terrible there but he seems to have regressed further. Walters was fine, I think he overplayed his hand a little bit which stifled the attack but otherwise seemed solid.

I reckon with Brooks and Benji there Walters might not be able to jump out as much as he did against Penrith. They’ll be demanding the ball and will probably get mad if he doesn’t give it to them

 

[MtWarrigalTiger]

Reynolds is a reserve reserve back up 6.Benji is first choice 6 then Walters if they both out then Reynolds gets a game.Only way he sees Nrl this season in my opinion

 

[happy_tiger]

Oh gee..23 huh...narrowing down ..who'd of thought..

Wouldn't be hard ..some should never see the Leichhardt tunnel anytime soon I hope