Marty Taupau Update

[Bazzinator]

WESTS Tigers coach Jason Taylor says prop Martin Taupau has no ongoing concerns from the neck injury he sustained playing for New Zealand in the World Cup final and will resume training with the rest of the club’s international representatives on January 5.

“Marty’s fine,” Taylor tells RLW. “He just ended up with a stiff neck. There were concerns at the time, but the actions they took on the field were just precautions to make sure there was nothing wrong. He came out of it with some stiffness but nothing else, which is great.

“He’s having some time off now and he’ll start training with the rest of the World Cup guys on January 5.”

Taupau starred for the victorious Kiwis while he was on the field against Australia in the final and Taylor is delighted to have him coming back for next season off that sort of form.

“I was impressed with the way he played in the Four Nations and I’ve since sat down and had a good chat with him,” Taylor said. “He’s really confident and very enthusiastic and I’m looking forward to him coming back and being one of the team leaders.”

Taylor said he would most likely continue with Taupau off the bench for the time being, due to his considerable impact value.

“He does bring a lot of impact,” Taylor says. “Marty starting isn’t something I’d rule out, but he’s pretty damaging off the bench. We’ve got Keith Galloway who is a good starter, along with Aaron Woods of course.”

- GREG PRICHARD

 

[king_sirro]

Looks like he isn't being considered as a back rower unfortunately.

 

[happy_tiger]

Looks like he isn't being considered as a back rower unfortunately.

Probably because he isn't a back rower KS 😕

 

[Milky]

Thhank god he is fine.

Akoula, Sue and Sironen should make a fine backrow. Akoula is also an impact player though.

_Posted using RoarFEED Android 1.1.6_

 

[tig_prmz]

Siro halatau and sue is the most likely backrow.

Taupau Ava lodge and aka off the bench maybe.

_Posted using RoarFEED 4.1.4_

 

[bp_tiger]

I would not rule out woods starting at lock next year, we have good prop deep, in keithy, ava, lodge and even dallas graham. woods would do the same job as merrin does for the drag queens, would give us a lot more size on the park.

 

[Guest]

Looks like he isn't being considered as a back rower unfortunately.

Nor should he be mate. He's a front rower plain and simple.

 

[Guest]

I would not rule out woods starting at lock next year, we have good prop deep, in keithy, ava, lodge and even dallas graham. woods would do the same job as merrin does for the drag queens, would give us a lot more size on the park.

I'd have Sirro at lock before Woods and instruct him to ball play on either side of the field.

 

[Guest]

Siro halatau and sue is the most likely backrow.

Taupau Ava lodge and aka off the bench maybe.

_Posted using RoarFEED 4.1.4_

Halatau should not be in the backrow at all. We need size and power, not midgets.

 

[magpiecol]

Siro halatau and sue is the most likely backrow.

Taupau Ava lodge and aka off the bench maybe.

_Posted using RoarFEED 4.1.4_

Halatau should not be in the backrow at all. We need size and power, not midgets.

But he can tackle really well and is mobile. Lock for him I think.

 

[bp_tiger]

I would not rule out woods starting at lock next year, we have good prop deep, in keithy, ava, lodge and even dallas graham. woods would do the same job as merrin does for the drag queens, would give us a lot more size on the park.

I'd have Sirro at lock before Woods and instruct him to ball play on either side of the field.

sirro on this years form would not get a start at all even after losing all that we have. he really needs to step up even to make the bench, his defence was soft and his hits ups were embarrassing.
my pack,

Galloway
Robbie
lodge
akaloka
sue
woods

marty
ava
dene
santi or sirro

 

[cqtiger]

I would not rule out woods starting at lock next year, we have good prop deep, in keithy, ava, lodge and even dallas graham. woods would do the same job as merrin does for the drag queens, would give us a lot more size on the park.

I'd have Sirro at lock before Woods and instruct him to ball play on either side of the field.

sirro on this years form would not get a start at all even after losing all that we have. he really needs to step up even to make the bench, his defence was soft and his hits ups were embarrassing.
my pack,

Galloway
Robbie
lodge
akaloka
sue
woods

marty
ava
dene
santi or sirro

Absolute sheenius

_Posted using RoarFEED 4.1.4_

 

[supercoach]

Siro was pretty average most of last season, but did show some good form in the last two games and of course he had that serious foot injury to come back from. I would like to see Santi in the backrow

 

[spearby]

Siro was pretty average most of last season, but did show some good form in the last two games and of course he had that serious foot injury to come back from. I would like to see Santi in the backrow

 

[The-moP]

We need a side this year that continues to go forward and be strong in defence. I like having Siro plaing at lock, that will give us another ball player option either side of the ruck. Im pretty sure that all the teams that did well last season had 4 big mobile forward on the bench. My starting forwards would be:

Keithy
Robbie
Woods
Ava
Sue
Siro

Marty
Lodge
Akalola
Graham / Brown / Santi / Dene … take a pick.

Would be nice to pick up another forward to strengthen the side.....ie: Merrin or Finucan...!!!

Let's Go Tigers ... !!!

 

[InBenjiWeTrust]

My take,

8 Woods
9 Farah
10 Seumanufagai
11 Santi
12 Sue
13 Sironen

Impact bench
14 Taupau
15 Lodge
16 Galloway
17 Akuaola

Re: Santi vs Halatau
Santi is bigger (187, 101 kg), faster, younger, 80 minutes player, tackles 30+ per game
Halatau is smaller (178, 95 kg), slower, older player

Go Tigers :sign:

 

[king_sirro]

Looks like he isn't being considered as a back rower unfortunately.

Probably because he isn't a back rower KS 😕

How do u know?

 

[king_sirro]

Looks like he isn't being considered as a back rower unfortunately.

Nor should he be mate. He's a front rower plain and simple.

That's being very narrow minded indeed Willow. You may well be right, but to say he is only a front rower when u have never seen him in the backrow is silly.

He is faster than every back rower we have beside Akaoula, he is fit, and he has ball skills. That all adds up to being a very damaging back rower.

But Taylor seems to see him as a front rower so that's that. I do like how he is going to put some pressure on him to be a leader.

 

[king_sirro]

Siro halatau and sue is the most likely backrow.

Taupau Ava lodge and aka off the bench maybe.

_Posted using RoarFEED 4.1.4_

Halatau should not be in the backrow at all. We need size and power, not midgets.

But he can tackle really well and is mobile. Lock for him I think.

Can he tackle? He leaks more points than any forward we have ever had. He is a lazy defender

 

[goldcoast_tiger]

Siro halatau and sue is the most likely backrow.

Taupau Ava lodge and aka off the bench maybe.

_Posted using RoarFEED 4.1.4_

I'll settle for Taupau and Lodge off the bench, ( will be even better than Taupau and Gavet last season imo ), although I would like to see Lodge starting instead of Galloway , as he gets a few more games under his belt. Now, if only Woodsie could find some mongrel, our front rotation would be looking better than a lot of teams.