Great news, I think he is underrated.
Tigers_Wests
Well-known member
Max Taotua and Pheonix Godinet the 2 real shining lights in todays game for me. Pheonix in a couple of runs showed just what he is capable of. Unfortunately didn't see a heap of ball after that point. Super positive sign to see a 17/18 year old backrower produce that in NSW Cup.
Max Taotua handled the step up with ease and looked very dangerous.
Plenty of ups and downs for a lot of the other boys.
Kit looked incredible with ball in hand and has made huge developments in his game in this area. His job over the pre-season is to now work on his defensive aspect and the 1% stuff.
Solo looked comfortable with ball in hand and ran well. But laziness/unwilling to put his body on the line at times in defence in the last 15 minutes hurt (and has been the question mark over him moving forward). Coming off contract at end of 26' and with Benji recruiting the likes of Roberts and Geyer (along with the emergence of Pheonix), Saukuru will need to show he is willing to put his body on the line and work on the stuff off the ball. I never doubt his attacking ability and I rate him highly. I really hope he succeeds...but it is a huge 6 to 12 months ahead for him.
After 55 minutes I thought we were looking on top and I was starting to think "by how many" in our favour. Unfortunately the shift in momentum and lack of defensive resolve today determined our fate.
Not end of the world stuff and the roster doesn't need to be fully blown up (yes some changes...but not everyone!). Plenty of young blokes got some valuable experience today and this year. The loss doesn't cover over cracks that may have happened had we potentially won the match and it certainly gives the boys who are here next year areas to work on.
Last year these Cup boys were getting pumped like this every game and it was not a pleasure to watch. There have been improvements in 2025 and we had a stretch this year where finals weren't totally out of the question. They were actually great to watch!
Some tweaks to the roster, some more experience for the younger lads and a big pre-season should see us continue on an upward trajectory.
Max Taotua handled the step up with ease and looked very dangerous.
Plenty of ups and downs for a lot of the other boys.
Kit looked incredible with ball in hand and has made huge developments in his game in this area. His job over the pre-season is to now work on his defensive aspect and the 1% stuff.
Solo looked comfortable with ball in hand and ran well. But laziness/unwilling to put his body on the line at times in defence in the last 15 minutes hurt (and has been the question mark over him moving forward). Coming off contract at end of 26' and with Benji recruiting the likes of Roberts and Geyer (along with the emergence of Pheonix), Saukuru will need to show he is willing to put his body on the line and work on the stuff off the ball. I never doubt his attacking ability and I rate him highly. I really hope he succeeds...but it is a huge 6 to 12 months ahead for him.
After 55 minutes I thought we were looking on top and I was starting to think "by how many" in our favour. Unfortunately the shift in momentum and lack of defensive resolve today determined our fate.
Not end of the world stuff and the roster doesn't need to be fully blown up (yes some changes...but not everyone!). Plenty of young blokes got some valuable experience today and this year. The loss doesn't cover over cracks that may have happened had we potentially won the match and it certainly gives the boys who are here next year areas to work on.
Last year these Cup boys were getting pumped like this every game and it was not a pleasure to watch. There have been improvements in 2025 and we had a stretch this year where finals weren't totally out of the question. They were actually great to watch!
Some tweaks to the roster, some more experience for the younger lads and a big pre-season should see us continue on an upward trajectory.
BlackWhiteGold
Well-known member
Most of the boys just didn't turn up with the defensive resolve & attitude backed up by the stats of 49 missed tackles to 14. Roosters had 11 line breaks to our 2. Pretty damning those 2 team stats right there.
In my previous post, I mentioned the middles let us down ...
Peter Taateo 7 missed 2 ineffective
Kit Laulilii 5 missed 1 ineffective
Jaxson Rahme 5 missed 1 ineffective
plus on the left edge Mapapalangi 3 missed 4 ineffective & Saukuru 5 missed 1 ineffective.
One thing we need to turn around in the pre-season is the defensive resolve & intent of players right through our roster. It is no good being damaging on one side of the ball when the opposition punches through you on the other.
I'm p*ssed & disappointed particularly in Taateo & Mapapalangi as I've seen the talent they have with the ball and to be on the fringe of the NRL. Their defence is just not good enough!
Now let's have a look at 3 hungry young players getting an opportunity
Pheonix Godinet 1 missed 1 ineffective 90% efficiency in 51 mins
Elijah Mataale 0 missed 1 ineffective 94% efficiency in 36 mins
Max Taotua 2 missed 0 ineffective 86% efficiency in 80 mins
Yes! Sack, sack, and more sack. It's the Wests Tigers way afterall. And how has it progressed this club?
How about fixing the system these guys need to operate within, because that is what is clearly broken in the joint I reckon.
A GM Football and and Director of Development/Coaching would be two positions to employ and start with.
Have mentioned this a quite a bit recently myself. The middles in this team are nowhere near NRL standard unfortunately. There is no height in any of them when compared to Makatoa and Sal Va'a yesterday.
Taateo can't be retained on a T&T. He has a top 30 deal in Canberra for 2026, and I'd say they're desperately hoping Wests Tigers take it on. Surely not even this club will do that.
Buttface
Well-known member
Those D stats are alarming to say the least.
I’m sick of this ineffective tackle stat; if your tackle is poor enough to put your team under pressure then it’s a miss.
For me D shows how much you want it.
I am interested to know the age of each of those players you mentioned. Is it also the younger ones out performing the older players? Bcoz that’s the vibe I was getting.
Kit Laulilli his stats there are disappointing, it seems to me that those two brothers have been highly regarded and looked after a bit, and I would think if he was showing more attitude and ability in defence he would be getting a run in NRL?
Anyway, thanks love ya work.
BlackWhiteGold
Well-known member
I suspect we have guaranteed him something for next season given he had a contract at the Raiders. From what I have seen imo, it should be no more than a NSW Cup deal.
BlackWhiteGold
Well-known member
So true Bf.
In fairness, we were still in the game with 20 mins to go so there was some intent there, mainly moments of class from Hope, Naden & Lobb with good go-forward by our forwards. Just that last 20 mins in defence was diabolical. Maybe we are being harsh on the team in general but the efforts of KMapz & Taateo in recent weeks has told a story of where they are at (and it's not NRL level imo).
tigahhh
Well-known member
you can see why Sukkar & Murray for all their faults are the ones being picked over these guys. they obviously do the 1%ers benji wants. maybe they aren’t being retained by the club and checked out early.
Payne and Kimmorley have deplorable coaching records. Nobody in their right mind would suggest keeping them on another year. You might be right about adding support, I won't argue that.
Tiger_Yoshi
Well-known member
BWG...just want to say i appreciate the insights you bring to this forum, especially our pathways
Betterdays22
Well-known member
Agreed. Provides lots of hope but also very measured and realistic about players in the pathways. Really value the contributions of BWG and others here
BlackWhiteGold
Well-known member
I think so @tigahhh , almost like Benji has defensive &effort parameters this season that have to be met before playing NRL.
BlackWhiteGold
Well-known member
Thanks guys. Will do a season wrap for both NSW Cup & Jersey Flegg over the next couple of weeks.
Tiger Stripes
Well-known member
I was at the game yesterday.
My overall impression was;
1. A lot of new faces and not much time to gel
2. They were shell shocked in the 1st 10 min. of the speed of the game
3. They regrouped and gave as as good as they got.
4. The pack just ran out of puff towards the end. Their fitness or smaller size just caught up with them.
5. Great experience for the young guys with what's needed for next year. Up another gear or two.
Life is not meant to be easy.
