Plenty of props depth pleases Payten

[softlaw]

By Wayne Cousins
7/12/2010 2:04:15 PM

Experienced campaigner Todd Payten smiles when talk focuses on the front row depth the Wests Tigers will offer in 2011.

The evergreen prop blessed with ball skills of a half-back might be heading into his eighth season with the Wests Tigers but the 31-year-old remains the leader of the pack alongside ever improving props in Bryce Gibbs and Keith Galloway. Injuries halted the progress of Junior Moors and Jason Cayless in 2010.

Barking at their heels is the new breed of young props coming through in Andrew Fifita, Ben Murdoch-Masila, Neil Begovich, and Aaron Woods.
Payten said Gibbs is the type of player he enjoys packing down with in the ‘engine room’.

“Gibbo was outstanding for us this season,’’ Payten said.

“Bryce doesn’t take a backwards step and is always into someone. He is uncompromising, is a very good defender, and is quite skilful.

“Gibbo does plenty of things that trigger our defence. He gets us off the line and is revving blokes up around the ruck. And if our blokes don’t move up out wide, he lets them know.

“The thing I like about Gibbo is that you know he is going to be in the trenches with you.”

Payten said Galloway continues to impress with his physique and strength.

“It feels like Keith has been around forever but he is only 25\. He is getting bigger and stronger,’’ Payten said.

“ Keith has started to realise how dangerous he can be when he gets aggressive. I enjoy playing with him.

“I also hope Junior and Jason can have better runs with injuries. Junior offers plenty and can hit hard. I played with Jason at the Roosters and I know how good he was then.”

TOMORROW: Payten talks about the young guns coming through.

http://www.weststigers.com.au/default.aspx?s=article-display&id=32357&title=plenty-of-props-depth-pleases-payten" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

 

[cunno]

We missed Todd when he was injured during the finals series hope he is recovered and will be right to go from game one 2011\. Completely agree with his assessment of Gibbs who is a real plus for our pack. Sauce has shown what he is capable of just needs a good run with no injuries.

Will Jason Cayless play in 2011 remains to be seen what value he is to the club.

 

[softlaw]

I think Todd could do with being rested every now and again next season. Play 4, rest 1\. He's not young but is incredibly important and his body (esp. those hamstrings) could do with being rested every now & again I think.

 

[Spartan117]

Payto - My 1st fwd picked in the 17 each week

club Legend IMO

Up there with Buckets O'neil, and Skando

 

[Leroy_The_Tigers_Fan]

It's hard to imagine that back in the early 2000's Todd could have been lost to the game, an up and coming Raider from their production line via Temora, signed up by the Transit Lounge Roosters and plays in A Grand Final in his first season with the club, how good is this thinks young Todd!.
The 'Then' Super Coach Ricky Stuart who has won a Premiership in his first season uses his wisdom and decides that Todd is surplus to his requirements, he is after all a Super Coach winning a Premiership in his first season!.
Todd's a little non-plussed by all this, after all he was hand picked by Graeme Murray to spear head the Roosters to Premiership sucess but Little Artie has been given the Arse by a sucess starved club and up and coming Super coach doesn't see a future for the most creative forward since the Great Arthur.
Old coach from the Raiders days comes knocking on Todd's door, says Shifty, Todd you're the player to lead this young Rag Tag bunch of players to a Premiership, Todd to Shifty, Old coach You've lost it, nothing will ever win this club a Premiership, Shifty says trust me we can do it!.
A unwanted prop who signs on reluctantly and a coach sacked by the Cowboys, a nightmare in the making, a marriage made in hell, go out and buy 'Brothers Forever' and see how the fairy tale ends. :deadhorse:

 

[Spartan117]

theres a movie in that

 

[Leroy_The_Tigers_Fan]

theres a movie in that

my oath there is, think about Seabiscuit, Phar Lap, Raging Bull, all those come from the depths of despair!!!.
Read the book (I was lucky enough to win my copy) and then you'll notice the comparisons!. :wahoo:

 

[Fraze23]

theres a movie in that

Remember the Tigers :laughing:

 

[fergiefurr]

Ahh payten was injured and missed the grand final with the roosters

He was very highly rated bythe roosters but they had a lot of bak loaded contracts and had to let a prop go, payten had missed a lot of games due to injury so they decided reluctantly on him

Great team man though, vitally important to us

 

[redemption]

It's hard to imagine that back in the early 2000's Todd could have been lost to the game, an up and coming Raider from their production line via Temora, signed up by the Transit Lounge Roosters and plays in A Grand Final in his first season with the club, how good is this thinks young Todd!.
The 'Then' Super Coach Ricky Stuart who has won a Premiership in his first season uses his wisdom and decides that Todd is surplus to his requirements, he is after all a Super Coach winning a Premiership in his first season!.
Todd's a little non-plussed by all this, after all he was hand picked by Graeme Murray to spear head the Roosters to Premiership sucess but Little Artie has been given the Arse by a sucess starved club and up and coming Super coach doesn't see a future for the most creative forward since the Great Arthur.
Old coach from the Raiders days comes knocking on Todd's door, says Shifty, Todd you're the player to lead this young Rag Tag bunch of players to a Premiership, Todd to Shifty, Old coach You've lost it, nothing will ever win this club a Premiership, Shifty says trust me we can do it!.
A unwanted prop who signs on reluctantly and a coach sacked by the Cowboys, a nightmare in the making, a marriage made in hell, go out and buy 'Brothers Forever' and see how the fairy tale ends. :deadhorse:

Most of this is factually incorrect Leroy!

Todd went to the Roosters in 2003 - and was actually recruited by his former Raiders team-mate Stuart (Graham Murray had left in 2001)! He was no longer a kid at the Roosters having played top grade with the Raiders for 7 years since debuting in 1996 (as a 17 y.o.)! And he did not play in the GF for the Roosters due to a leg injury sustained in RD 23 (as has been mentioned)!

He was released by the Raiders at the end of 2002 despite having two years remaining on his contract - and when he was subsequently released by the Roosters - both the Raiders & Easts were liable for 80% of his contract while he played for the Tigers in 2004!

Tim did not call Todd - when the decision was made to release Todd - Ricky called Tim and asked if the Tigers were interested in taking Payten off their hands! The bloke was never out of contract - but was released from both clubs due to salary-cap constraints and recurring injuries! How you suggest that he could have been lost to the game is beyond me!!??

It is true he did not want to come to the Tigers initially - but Easts only wanted to release him to a weak side so that he would not come back to haunt them - and that is why we were the beneficiaries!

In 2010 Payten played his 7th season in Tigers colours (equalling his 7 years at Canberra)! The big difference is in that time he played just 90 games for Canberra (primarily due to injury) and 139 for the Tigers! In 15 years of top grade he has rarely played reserve grade - hardly a player who was in danger of being lost to the game!!

 

[Knuckles]

What a wonderful signing Toddie has been.

 

[Mrs_T]

I can't even imagine the team without Todd in it. I hope we resign him for one more year (at a time) every time

his contract expires. My "game day stress level" is always much higher when Todd isn't playing.

Leader of the pack, love ya work, Todd! :sign:

 

[magpie_mania]

i can't even imagine the team without todd in it. I hope we resign him for one more year (at a time) every time

his contract expires. My "game day stress level" is always much higher when todd isn't playing.

Leader of the pack, love ya work, todd! :sign:

heres a story for you mrs t about todd payten.the night that we beat canberra in the semi down in canberra my friend whos a saints fan i will add sees todd payten at canberra casino and says to todd payten do those balance wrist bands work and he says here take it no lie.the next training session he rolls his ankle and misses the saints semi and we lose by 1 point no doubt with todd in the team we win and then win the grand final.his name is clarkey and he cost us the grand final.

 

[magpie_mania]

i think todd could do with being rested every now and again next season. Play 4, rest 1\. He's not young but is incredibly important and his body (esp. Those hamstrings) could do with being rested every now & again i think.

i think this is a very good point i would like to see every forward rested for a minimum of two games throughout the year so that we are fresh at the business end of the season and it would mean no excuses fgor being off through staleness.

 

[Mrs_T]

i can't even imagine the team without todd in it. I hope we resign him for one more year (at a time) every time

his contract expires. My "game day stress level" is always much higher when todd isn't playing.

Leader of the pack, love ya work, todd! :sign:

heres a story for you mrs t about todd payten.the night that we beat canberra in the semi down in canberra my friend whos a saints fan i will add sees todd payten at canberra casino and says to todd payten do those balance wrist bands work and he says here take it no lie.the next training session he rolls his ankle and misses the saints semi and we lose by 1 point no doubt with todd in the team we win and then win the grand final.his name is clarkey and he cost us the grand final.

Somebody else to blame besides the refs. Damn you clarkey!

 

[cunno]

Can the club ensure Todd wears a number of balance wrist bands up each arm from now on or will that make him unbalanced??

 

[Captain_Awesome]

Can the club ensure Todd wears a number of balance wrist bands up each arm from now on or will that make him unbalanced??

I once wore two at the same time, one on each arm. I couldn't lay down

 

[jirskyr]

i can't even imagine the team without todd in it. I hope we resign him for one more year (at a time) every time

his contract expires. My "game day stress level" is always much higher when todd isn't playing.

Leader of the pack, love ya work, todd! :sign:

heres a story for you mrs t about todd payten.the night that we beat canberra in the semi down in canberra my friend whos a saints fan i will add sees todd payten at canberra casino and says to todd payten do those balance wrist bands work and he says here take it no lie.the next training session he rolls his ankle and misses the saints semi and we lose by 1 point no doubt with todd in the team we win and then win the grand final.his name is clarkey and he cost us the grand final.

Somebody else to blame besides the refs. Damn you clarkey!

No unfortunately it was Steve Clarke, so you are still blaming a ref.

 

[Mrs_T]

Geez, there's no getting away from them, on or off the field! :unamused: