My comments for each player so far.

[FinestTigers]

No team can say that their newly signed players are all good and perfect, but for the WT, Daine, AD, Luciano, Joe O, Shawn Blore, Stefano, have all been brilliant signings,
and we should learn from our past to know, to not be too finicky about our players because many many of them are now at other clubs and are known as superstars.

The only issue i see with the team currently is there are weaknesses in one or two key positions which the top teams keep reminding us and are relentless towards us when we play them.

 

[earl]

The way we are writing Talau off makes me laugh. **He's going to be so damn good soon**. If he was surrounded by other good players he already would be. Imagine how good he'd look at the Roosters. I hope we are one day the sort of club that can bring good young players through without expecting them to solve all our problems instantly.

We have some seriously good young talent with Talau, Kepaoa, Uto, Blore, Mikaele et al.

How long is soon?
He should be learning the game in reserves, he just seems to be content to be seen in FG, nothing else?
He will be gone next season when Gildart comes.

Can,t wait to Gildart comes, Talau gone. Just one more agressive forward, another strike centre, and a classy FB, and with our young pack improving we will be on the way to a big future.

That is 3 players that we require and they all need to be really good. Laurie may make it in the fullback spot but it's such a critical position and he needs a lot of work on his game.

It's not going to be easy to get those players. Plus that is dependent on Gidart being a quality NRL player.

I actually agree with you. It's just getting those players isn't easy. We aren't that far off. I hope we get TPJ because we need that strike factor. We still need some more signings though and it's not going to be easy. I really hope we are going hard after juniors as well.

 

[Thebird]

1. Daine Laurie - I think he is a bit over-rated on here but been very safe, good back-up player and speedy.
2. David Nofoaluma - excellent so far in attack. Every team would take him. Brings ball out so well. Defensively he still makes bad calls.
3. Adam Doueihi - surprisingly really good this year. Please bring back the spirals@@
4. Tommy Talau - Hasn't done enough. Sorry.
5. James Roberts - needs to come looking for the ball more, been a lot better lately. Keeper.
6. Moses Mbye - found his place at 5/8. Nowhere near his price tag but has shown glimpses of class lately. If we keep winning, keep him there. Later on I'd drop him and try others as he is leaving.
7. Luke Brooks - great last two games but long kicking game still awful and needs to stop dumping to Twal on penultimate play. Improved but!
8. James Tamou - I really don't know. Certainly not the rampaging prop he once was, but we knew he'd be like this. So um......good!
9. Jacob Liddle - Jury still out I reckon.
10. Alex Twal - workhorse but becoming too predictable/ boring in attack. Needs to find the offload more.
11. Luke Garner - Easy player to like. Runs good lines. Definite keeper.
12. Luciano Leilua - Still penetrating despite being marked heavily lately. Really like LL!
13. Alex Seyfarth - Becoming impossible to demote/drop. Big heart, big potential.
13. Joe Ofahengaue - A bit 1 dimensional but he does that dimension pretty well. Solid, without being great.

14. Stefano Utoikamanu - Dayum! This guy could be anything!
15. Shawn Blore - Needs more minutes
16. Tom Amone - Needs more minutes
17. Thomas Mikaele - Love this guy's aggression. Missing a certain something. Keeper but!.
18. Joey Leilua - Yeah Nahhh. You know you're out of form when Talau is beating you to a centre position.

I like the positivity in this and want to agree. It made me smile reading it. But I’ve got this nagging in my head when someone plays they are an asset, liability or neutral. A player that scores two tries and lets in one is an asset, a player who scores one and lets in two is a liability. A player who bombs a try but saves one is neutral. I still feel like most games we are carrying more liabilities and neutrals than assets and the assets don’t cancel out the other two.

 

[theraptor456]

The way we are writing Talau off makes me laugh. He's going to be so damn good soon. If he was surrounded by other good players he already would be. Imagine how good he'd look at the Roosters. I hope we are one day the sort of club that can bring good young players through without expecting them to solve all our problems instantly.

We have some seriously good young talent with Talau, Kepaoa, Uto, Blore, Mikaele et al.

He is garbage and would struggle to make NSW Cup at most other clubs.

Wow, give the kid a chance. I understand the frustration that is currently being felt, but like most good things in life; it is a long game and not short term.
We have been rubbish since Tim left & changing coaches every two years is no way to develop a culture or team.
We have Madge & if we are smart we will stick to me, bring the likes of Tim & Brett in to help will only make us better. We seem to be getting the back office in shape (forget what Fox is reporting, remember the media survive on bad news & shock value. As a old mate of mine (who was a sub editor at SMH) if it bleeds it leads.
I agree we have a lot of good YOUNG talent that will take time to mature, but thinking a 20 year old is rubbish at 20 is ridiculous, Talua will come good, talent is never lost.
I have been following the tigers since 68 (9 year old when Dad took me to Leichardt oval) & I always seem to have a great week when we win & the reverse when we lose, but remember it is only footy.

The issue is there is no talent with Talau. He has made it this far as a big kid playing with little kids and surname alone. Won't take him much further.

 

[kiwitiger]

All players: Must do better.

 

[oldschooltiger]

All players: Must do better.

It would be hard to pick a player of the year. So far no real stand out.

 

[punchpunchtiger]

I’d take Laurie over Walsh

This is very tough… you got a bloke who is super safe with a bomb and is ok as the last line of defence but seems to get lost in those moments where he was a split second away from throwing a slick pass or running through the line “laurie” vs a bloke who throws perfect cut out passes and looks to explode through a gap or chip kick/grubber on a tiny chance it will come off but drops bombs and couldn’t tackle a strong breeze.

 

[sleeve]

I said at the start of the year, that it would take time foe 8 new players to combine as a team. I forgot my own comments, and got caught up in the excitement. I also said i did not think AD is a 5/8, many on here disagree, but the purchase of Hastings shows the club thinks the same,-- time will tell.
We sometimes forget , you can't make a team overnight, especially when the forwards are so young. I have been to hard on Madge and the club, my expectations were to high for such a young side, with a lot of slow and under performing backline players. T he club is doing a good job recruiting in a difficult marketplace, at the same time not repeating the mistakes op the past.
It takes at least 13 players of quality to be competitive today. and we are 3/4 short. We will get those players, and roar again.

 

[Demps]

I said at the start of the year, that it would take time foe 8 new players to combine as a team. I forgot my own comments, and got caught up in the excitement. I also said i did not think AD is a 5/8, many on here disagree, but the purchase of Hastings shows the club thinks the same,-- time will tell.
We sometimes forget , you can't make a team overnight, especially when the forwards are so young. I have been to hard on Madge and the club, my expectations were to high for such a young side, with a lot of slow and under performing backline players. T he club is doing a good job recruiting in a difficult marketplace, at the same time not repeating the mistakes op the past.
It takes at least 13 players of quality to be competitive today. and we are 3/4 short. We will get those players, and roar again.

Maybe the purchase of Hastings shows the club might think Brooks isn't the answer?

🤔

Hastings said he's a fan of Douihei.
What if they strike up a good combo in the off season?

Can Brooks play 9?

🤔🔥

 

[sleeve]

Someone nailed it at the start of the season, trying to fit square pegs in round holes. We had no choice beccause or our roster . Hence AD at FB, Mbye at FB - a disaster. AD at 6, showed heart and some style, but choked the backline. Mbye back to 6 , showed more suitability but lacks effort and commitment. Laurie- a talented kid, not a FB but tries hard. I would try for another FB, as this position will hinder his career.
He is a natural 6 or 7 to me, and i would get KImmorley or others to give him specialised coaching, he could be anything.
I'm not knocking AD,he is a good footballer, but overated as a 5/8. Just my opinion, on whats best for the side , King Doueihi fans will not agree i imagine.

 

[sleeve]

The way we are writing Talau off makes me laugh. **He's going to be so damn good soon**. If he was surrounded by other good players he already would be. Imagine how good he'd look at the Roosters. I hope we are one day the sort of club that can bring good young players through without expecting them to solve all our problems instantly.

We have some seriously good young talent with Talau, Kepaoa, Uto, Blore, Mikaele et al.

How long is soon?
He should be learning the game in reserves, he just seems to be content to be seen in FG, nothing else?
He will be gone next season when Gildart comes.

Can,t wait to Gildart comes, Talau gone. Just one more agressive forward, another strike centre, and a classy FB, and with our young pack improving we will be on the way to a big future.

That is 3 players that we require and they all need to be really good. Laurie may make it in the fullback spot but it's such a critical position and he needs a lot of work on his game.

It's not going to be easy to get those players. Plus that is dependent on Gidart being a quality NRL player.

I actually agree with you. It's just getting those players isn't easy. We aren't that far off. I hope we get TPJ because we need that strike factor. We still need some more signings though and it's not going to be easy. I really hope we are going hard after juniors as well.

You summed that up well in a few lines Earl .

 

[earl]

Someone nailed it at the start of the season, trying to fit square pegs in round holes. We had no choice beccause or our roster . Hence AD at FB, Mbye at FB - a disaster. AD at 6, showed heart and some style, but choked the backline. Mbye back to 6 , showed more suitability but lacks effort and commitment. Laurie- a talented kid, not a FB but tries hard. I would try for another FB, as this position will hinder his career.
He is a natural 6 or 7 to me, and i would get KImmorley or others to give him specialised coaching, he could be anything.
I'm not knocking AD,he is a good footballer, but overated as a 5/8. Just my opinion, on whats best for the side , King Doueihi fans will not agree i imagine.

I am a massive Doueihi fan but I'm not sure where you put him. I reckon he is the best 6 and centre that we have at this point.

Your point on Laurie is interesting. I'm not sure where his best position is as well. I think he will be a massive target defending in the front line though.

There is also Hastings coming. It'll be interesting how the team develops over the next couple of seasons.

 

[earl]

I said at the start of the year, that it would take time foe 8 new players to combine as a team. I forgot my own comments, and got caught up in the excitement. I also said i did not think AD is a 5/8, many on here disagree, but the purchase of Hastings shows the club thinks the same,-- time will tell.
We sometimes forget , you can't make a team overnight, especially when the forwards are so young. I have been to hard on Madge and the club, my expectations were to high for such a young side, with a lot of slow and under performing backline players. T he club is doing a good job recruiting in a difficult marketplace, at the same time not repeating the mistakes op the past.
It takes at least 13 players of quality to be competitive today. and we are 3/4 short. We will get those players, and roar again.

Maybe the purchase of Hastings shows the club might think Brooks isn't the answer?

?

Hastings said he's a fan of Douihei.
What if they strike up a good combo in the off season?

Can Brooks play 9?

??

It all seriousness I think Brooks is probably our most consistent player. Doueihi is up there as well. He had a couple of shocking moments in games earlier this season but most halves do something stupid every so often.

I can't see us moving Brooks.

 

[TheDaBoss]

I’d take Laurie over Walsh

This is very tough… you got a bloke who is super safe with a bomb and is ok as the last line of defence but seems to get lost in those moments where he was a split second away from throwing a slick pass or running through the line “laurie” vs a bloke who throws perfect cut out passes and looks to explode through a gap or chip kick/grubber on a tiny chance it will come off but drops bombs and couldn’t tackle a strong breeze.

Walsh throws all his passes forward

 

[TheDaBoss]

Hey

At least we can rejoice

Qe have some good goal kickers.... douehi ices them and brooks is a good backup

 

[bigsiro]

I admire your courage in putting your assessment of players in 2021 on the forum, as you have.

I'd agree with about 50% of what you've offered. That's it.

I'll take that. :smiley: I'm a glass half full kinda guy.

 

[balmain boy]

Have to agree on Laurie. While he’s definitely good, if you read the forum without watching our games, you’d be forgiven for thinking he’s in the class of Walker and Walsh.

Out of curiosity, why are you surprised about Doueihi? The guy is a gun.


You have been listening to the media too much - Walker and Walsh are media darlings - good players no doubt but certainly overhyped at this stage. I'm surprised you didn't throw Suaalii in there as well.

Walsh is already twice the player Laurie is.

 

[balmain boy]

1. Daine Laurie - I think he is a bit over-rated on here but been very safe, good back-up player and speedy.
2. David Nofoaluma - excellent so far in attack. Every team would take him. Brings ball out so well. Defensively he still makes bad calls.
3. Adam Doueihi - surprisingly really good this year. Please bring back the spirals@@
4. Tommy Talau - Hasn't done enough. Sorry.
5. James Roberts - needs to come looking for the ball more, been a lot better lately. Keeper.
6. Moses Mbye - found his place at 5/8. Nowhere near his price tag but has shown glimpses of class lately. If we keep winning, keep him there. Later on I'd drop him and try others as he is leaving.
7. Luke Brooks - great last two games but long kicking game still awful and needs to stop dumping to Twal on penultimate play. Improved but!
8. James Tamou - I really don't know. Certainly not the rampaging prop he once was, but we knew he'd be like this. So um......good!
9. Jacob Liddle - Jury still out I reckon.
10. Alex Twal - workhorse but becoming too predictable/ boring in attack. Needs to find the offload more.
11. Luke Garner - Easy player to like. Runs good lines. Definite keeper.
12. Luciano Leilua - Still penetrating despite being marked heavily lately. Really like LL!
13. Alex Seyfarth - Becoming impossible to demote/drop. Big heart, big potential.
13. Joe Ofahengaue - A bit 1 dimensional but he does that dimension pretty well. Solid, without being great.

14. Stefano Utoikamanu - Dayum! This guy could be anything!
15. Shawn Blore - Needs more minutes
16. Tom Amone - Needs more minutes
17. Thomas Mikaele - Love this guy's aggression. Missing a certain something. Keeper but!.
18. Joey Leilua - Yeah Nahhh. You know you're out of form when Talau is beating you to a centre position.

Our backs are pathetic, can't understand how you could rate them so positively. Need to offload all of our outside backs and start again!

 

[clontarfkid]

Laurie is anything BUT safe at fullback!!Hes looking increasingly brittle under the high ball...his defence is flimsy..and his positional play is poor
He needs to bulk up a little and improve his technique,because atm hes nowhere near Walsh...and nowhere near NRL standard
Nofa well chronicled re defensive issues,but he does have a crack and has care factor
Douhi useful but too slow to play in centres..think hes a 6 or 13
Talau is terriblly slow...and with poor hands.Hate the way he gives up after a mistake
Roberts needs to get more involved
Mbye is symptomatic of quite a few in this team...does what he thinks is just enough to get by but no more.We dont need these sort of "leaders"..been doiung that his entire career
Brooks lacks leadership and vision,but does have a crack to be fair.Definitely not a must keep...see how Hastings fares
None of them really are must keeps..but appreciate u cant lose em all and theres not much available