OFFICIAL Pathways - KOE General Discussion

[Tiger Stripes]

Forgotten ace emerges in Bulldogs halves puzzle; hidden Tigers X-factor — Ressies Wrap

Forgotten ace emerges in Bulldogs halves puzzle; hidden Tigers X-factor — Ressies Wrap

www.foxsports.com.au

THE HIDDEN TIGERS X-FACTOR

The Wests Tigers may have endured a tumultuous past couple of months, but their NSW Cup side continues to provide plenty of optimism with the club’s next generation of stars showing that the future remains bright.

That was on full display over the weekend as the Western Suburbs Magpies climbed to eighth on the reserve-grade ladder with a commanding 50-24 victory over the Parramatta Eels.

Headlined by recent NRL debutants Ethan Roberts (67 metres, 19 tackles), Josese Lanyon (84 run metres, 20 tackles) and Javon Andrews (two try assists, three line-break assists, 18 points), the Magpies once again put on an attacking masterclass.

But it was outside back Solomone Saukuru who stole the show at Lidcombe Oval, as he continued his standout 2026 NSW Cup campaign with another dominant display.

Knocking on the door of an NRL debut, the 21-year-old came up with three try assists, three line-break assists, two tackle busts, 90 running metres and a try.

The competition’s leading try-scorer with 20 four-pointers, Saukuru also sits atop the NSW Cup leaderboard in line-breaks (19) and intercepts (3), underlining his credentials as one of the most dangerous attacking weapons on the edge.

Thanks, BWG for your assessment. I always look forward to them.
Our trouble is, knocking on the door is not enough. NO ONE opens the door.
They will probably sign a couple of average players and cross their fingers.
They fell over backwards for Makasini who I was in favour of but mostly on his potential; But here is a proven winner [in KOE] and the rumour is he is off to the Eels. Are we their feeder club?
He appears a better try scorer in a position we need but Tupou and Tavana [their defence not up there either or their scoring] get a run in the NRL side.
His defence is suspect? Well, the ones selected aren't setting the world on fire IMO. That's where tries are currently scored against us. And we can't score any tries either.
But let's just persevere, they will come good one day. It's becoming a joke.
No accountability, just excuses.
It's frustrating. Rant of the day over.

 

[BlackWhiteGold]

Thanks, BWG for your assessment. I always look forward to them.
Our trouble is, knocking on the door is not enough. NO ONE opens the door.
They will probably sign a couple of average players and cross their fingers.
They fell over backwards for Makasini who I was in favour of but mostly on his potential; But here is a proven winner [in KOE] and the rumour is he is off to the Eels. Are we their feeder club?
He appears a better try scorer in a position we need but Tupou and Tavana [their defence not up there either or their scoring] get a run in the NRL side.
His defence is suspect? Well, the ones selected aren't setting the world on fire IMO. That's where tries are currently scored against us. And we can't score any tries either.
But let's just persevere, they will come good one day. It's becoming a joke.
No accountability, just excuses.
It's frustrating. Rant of the day over.

Yeah Saukuru will be a disappointing development loss if true.

I do think both Tupou & Tavana have potential even if Tupou has been more exposed to NRL in recent seasons. I think maturity & experience will enhance his game.

Tavana was thrown in too early off impressive pre-season form. He has exceptional natural ability but a few flaws in his game and his body is still developing as a medium-seized winger. Should have just been developed with a full season in NSW Cup this season and a big year in the gym - he is noticably putting on size through this year.

I do hope Benji & staff are seriously looking at Vaka Aho, Fio Fainga'a, Mitch Taotua & Bailey Hodges out of those outside our NRL system, as at the very least, pre-season Train & Trialists like Tino Tavana was last pre-season.

 

[426Tlgerland]

Forgotten ace emerges in Bulldogs halves puzzle; hidden Tigers X-factor — Ressies Wrap

Forgotten ace emerges in Bulldogs halves puzzle; hidden Tigers X-factor — Ressies Wrap

www.foxsports.com.au

THE HIDDEN TIGERS X-FACTOR

The Wests Tigers may have endured a tumultuous past couple of months, but their NSW Cup side continues to provide plenty of optimism with the club’s next generation of stars showing that the future remains bright.

That was on full display over the weekend as the Western Suburbs Magpies climbed to eighth on the reserve-grade ladder with a commanding 50-24 victory over the Parramatta Eels.

Headlined by recent NRL debutants Ethan Roberts (67 metres, 19 tackles), Josese Lanyon (84 run metres, 20 tackles) and Javon Andrews (two try assists, three line-break assists, 18 points), the Magpies once again put on an attacking masterclass.

But it was outside back Solomone Saukuru who stole the show at Lidcombe Oval, as he continued his standout 2026 NSW Cup campaign with another dominant display.

Knocking on the door of an NRL debut, the 21-year-old came up with three try assists, three line-break assists, two tackle busts, 90 running metres and a try.

The competition’s leading try-scorer with 20 four-pointers, Saukuru also sits atop the NSW Cup leaderboard in line-breaks (19) and intercepts (3), underlining his credentials as one of the most dangerous attacking weapons on the edge.

And we let him go to Parra , 😠well done to our champion group who can sniff out future nrl players

 

[tiger_one]

Game Day NSW Cup
North Sydney Bears vs Western Suburbs Magpies for the Jason Taylor Cup

Kick off is 3pm at North Sydney Oval

 

[Vicious]

Yeah Saukuru will be a disappointing development loss if true.

I do think both Tupou & Tavana have potential even if Tupou has been more exposed to NRL in recent seasons. I think maturity & experience will enhance his game.

Tavana was thrown in too early off impressive pre-season form. He has exceptional natural ability but a few flaws in his game and his body is still developing as a medium-seized winger. Should have just been developed with a full season in NSW Cup this season and a big year in the gym - he is noticably putting on size through this year.

I do hope Benji & staff are seriously looking at Vaka Aho, Fio Fainga'a, Mitch Taotua & Bailey Hodges out of those outside our NRL system, as at the very least, pre-season Train & Trialists like Tino Tavana was last pre-season.

Hey BWG as you know I love your knowledge and thoughts on our young and emerging players.
I am 💯 with you on Vaka Aho. I admit I wasn’t sold on him until recently, but he keeps improving and when watching quite a few NSW Cup games and keeping a close eye on stats from Qld Cup games, there are hardly any emerging props showing any more potential than Vaka has been displaying sporadically over the past 2 seasons and more consistently in recent weeks. A big test for him today against the Bears who have a big, imposing and aggressive prop in Phillip Makatoa who is an interesting proposition himself as I thought he had done enough to earn a lower tier contract with Perth Bears.
Peter Taateo is the other interesting player as when he is in an aggressive mindset, he runs the ball very powerfully and aggressive which gets his team well and truly on the front foot.
I’m far from sold on either Junior Tupou or Tino Tavana.
Tupou has the physical attributes, but seeems to struggle defensively and struggle with contested high balls. Unless he can rapidly improve these areas, I don’t think he has a good enough attacking game to overcome them.
Similarly Tavana struggles defensively and although he has above average talent in timing and contesting high balls, I’m not sure he has enough speed or size to overcome his lack of genuine speed.
When you consider there are players such as James Schiller, Hazyn Mellars, Sione Finau, Savelio Tamale just to name a few currently not part of their teams NRL squad when at full strength, they all appear to have much better attacking ability than either Tupou or Tavana.

 

[jirskyr]

If it's due to defensive shortcomings, that's as much on the coaching & development of him as a player than anything else.

Plenty of star NRL outside backs have had defensive shortcomings in their early 20s hey.

Yes but if you are defensively exposed in reserve grade, you will be torn to shreds in first grade. Surely they have to be decent in reserves first?

 

[jstigers]

Yes but if you are defensively exposed in reserve grade, you will be torn to shreds in first grade. Surely they have to be decent in reserves first?

They play makasini every week, and he is legit the worst centre defender in the NRL, couldn't be any worse.

 

[pawsandclaws1]

They play makasini every week, and he is legit the worst centre defender in the NRL, couldn't be any worse.

Part of learning for young players especially with centre being a difficult position from which to defend. I believe he will be a very good player for us with greater experience.

 

[jstigers]

Part of learning for young players especially with centre being a difficult position from which to defend. I believe he will be a very good player for us with greater experience.

Send him to the reserves first and get Saukuru in for the rest of the year, brain-dead, leaving someone who can't defend in first grade yet and continuing with the failed experiment.

 

[BlackWhiteGold]

Western Suburbs Magpies: Round 23 vs Bears

1. Heath Mason
2. Fiohiva Fainga’a
3. Brenden Naicori
4. Solomone Saukuru
5. Tino Tavana
6. Max Liles
7. Javon Andrews
8. Vaka Aho
9. Tristan Hope
10. Bunty Afoa
11. Ethan Roberts
12. Lachlan Broederlow
13. Mavrik Geyer

Interchange:

14. Josese Lanyon
15. Charlie Murray
16. Ieti Samuelu
17. Peter Taateo

Reserves:

Bailey Hodges

Team as named for today except Luke Jack now the 18th man.

 

[diedpretty]

Wests lead 16 - 12 at HT

 

[terriaa]

Wests lead 16 - 12 at HT

Entertaining game. Heath playing well, Solomone looks good.

 

[Vicious]

Entertaining game. Heath playing well, Solomone looks good.

Very good quality half of NSW Cup.
Plenty of crisp ball movement and good physicality from both teams.
Without doing anything spectacular, Andrews again just oozing class. I love the way he turns players back inside if the space out wide gets closed down.
It should be simple, but how many playmakers lack the time and class to do it.

 

[boonboon]

Bears up 30-16 after 68 mins

Been all Bears in 2nd half after Magpies led at halftime

 

[TV Ted Ellery]

Great first half. Absolutely horrendous second half. Wests have dropped the ball almost every set. Just a shocking performance all round.

 

[terriaa]

Great first half. Absolutely horrendous second half. Wests have dropped the ball almost every set. Just a shocking performance all round.

Disappointing. What happened? Bears showing why they're 2nd

 

[Vicious]

A Jake Toby masterclass.
A very small fullback who has been carving up the NSW Cup for many years and one of the best players to never play NRL.

 

[terriaa]

A Jake Toby masterclass.
A very small fullback who has been carving up the NSW Cup for many years and one of the best players to never play NRL.

 

[wstigers11]

Damn got dusted can see why they’re 2nd

 

[BlackWhiteGold]

Great first half. Absolutely horrendous second half. Wests have dropped the ball almost every set. Just a shocking performance all round.

Dreadful 2nd half, 0-36. That performance ends our top 5 hopes. Lack of professionalism, discipline & concentration compared to a Bears team full of desire, effort & structure.

Handling errors on 1st tackles, at the scrum & from high kicks summed it up.

Something needs to change with our defensive structure at our club. Nearly every time the opposition runs a deep backline with the fullback adding the extra man, they create an overlap. Our left side particularly the connection between Ethan Roberts, Javon Andrews & Solo Saukuru was abysmal in the 2nd half.

Just looking at the 1st half, Bunty Afoa put in a huge 1st stint, Solo Saukuru made 3 or 4 tackle-busting runs, Faingaa was strong, Mason was dangerous & Hope was all-effort in defence.

But once things went against us in the end half, we capitulated. Lack of connection, discipline & concentration - club wide issue. Hope lost his head late & was binned. Mason was terrible on the last line.

Just dreadul 40 mins. Maybe can give a point to Afoa, Broederlow & Fainga'a, that's about it.