Projecting the Wests Tigers Round 1 team

[Tigersman]

Written by: Peter Dickinson

So seven days from this point in time we'll be well in the midst of our first Team List Tuesday for 2014\. Two weeks of NRL trials are out of the way, and so are the Auckland Nines. All that's left now is the build up to our Round 1 fixture verses the Dragons on Sunday week.

With a host of players injured or on the rehab trail, it's hard to know what the Round 1 side will look like at this point. The side that beat Cronulla on Saturday night will probably closely resemble the Round 1 side to some degree.

Wests Tigers Side v Cronulla

James Tedesco, Marika Koroibete, Keith Lulia, Chris Lawrence, Pat Richards, Braith Anasta, Luke Brooks, Aaron Woods, Robbie Farah, Matin Taupau, Bodene Thompson, Cory Paterson, Adam Blair Interchange: Blake Austin, Ben Murdoch-Masila, Jack Buchanan, James Gavet.
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So far the only likely changes to the line up above appear to be the returns of both David Nofoaluma and Keith Galloway. Nofoaluma was originally named to face the Sharks last weekend but was withdrawn as precaution. The club statement also read that he was not in any doubt for Round 1\. Prop, Galloway, was not named initially but was said to be an outside chance of playing at the weekend. However it was expected that he should be okay for the Round 1 fixture,

Also listed to return in Round 1 according to the Wests Tigers Injury Report were Liam Fulton and Sauaso Sue. Fulton has not featured at all this season but would likely command a spot on the bench at the very least. Sue has had action this season making a very brief appearance a couple of weekend's back in a NSW Cup trial. Concussion meant he was ruled out of last weekend's final trial.

Centre Tim Simona is the only other player with a chance of making Round 1\. The prognosis back before Christmas was that he would be looking at maybe Round 3-4\. The rehab seems to have gone well and he is listed officially as due back in Round 1-2.

So without further delay, this is how i see us lining up next weekend.

Wests Tigers team v St George-Illawarra (Predicted)

1\. James Tedesco, 2\. David Nofoaluma, 3\. Keith Lulia, 4\. Chris Lawrence, 5\. Pat Richards, 6\. Braith Anasta, 7\. Luke Brooks, 8\. Aaron Woods, 9\. Robbie Farah, 10\. Martin Taupau, 11\. Bodene Thompson, 12\. Cory Paterson, 13\. Adam Blair. Interchange: 14\. Liam Fulton, 15\. Jack Buchanan, 16\. Keith Galloway, 17\. Ben Murdoch-Masila (18th man James Gavet)
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Regular starters Keith Galloway and Liam Fulton start from the bench due to zero match fitness. I'd expect they'll both get somewhere between 30-40 minutes game time in two, maybe three stints (Galloway).

Blake Austin misses out and that's unfortunate. He's had a decent pre season but coach Mick Potter has indicated on numerous occasions that the vastly experienced Anasta will partner Brooks in the halves. Sausao Sue misses out too and like Marika Koroibete, he'll need to impress from the NSW Cup side.

So will I be right??? Who knows! We'll find out about 5-6pm next Tuesday. Not long to go now fellow Tiger fans!

Link: http://tigernationnrl.blogspot.com.au/

 

[phil1986]

Written by: Peter Dickinson

So seven days from this point in time we'll be well in the midst of our first Team List Tuesday for 2014\. Two weeks of NRL trials are out of the way, and so are the Auckland Nines. All that's left now is the build up to our Round 1 fixture verses the Dragons on Sunday week.

With a host of players injured or on the rehab trail, it's hard to know what the Round 1 side will look like at this point. The side that beat Cronulla on Saturday night will probably closely resemble the Round 1 side to some degree.

Wests Tigers Side v Cronulla

James Tedesco, Marika Koroibete, Keith Lulia, Chris Lawrence, Pat Richards, Braith Anasta, Luke Brooks, Aaron Woods, Robbie Farah, Matin Taupau, Bodene Thompson, Cory Paterson, Adam Blair Interchange: Blake Austin, Ben Murdoch-Masila, Jack Buchanan, James Gavet.
\
\
So far the only likely changes to the line up above appear to be the returns of both David Nofoaluma and Keith Galloway. Nofoaluma was originally named to face the Sharks last weekend but was withdrawn as precaution. The club statement also read that he was not in any doubt for Round 1\. Prop, Galloway, was not named initially but was said to be an outside chance of playing at the weekend. However it was expected that he should be okay for the Round 1 fixture,

Also listed to return in Round 1 according to the Wests Tigers Injury Report were Liam Fulton and Sauaso Sue. Fulton has not featured at all this season but would likely command a spot on the bench at the very least. Sue has had action this season making a very brief appearance a couple of weekend's back in a NSW Cup trial. Concussion meant he was ruled out of last weekend's final trial.

Centre Tim Simona is the only other player with a chance of making Round 1\. The prognosis back before Christmas was that he would be looking at maybe Round 3-4\. The rehab seems to have gone well and he is listed officially as due back in Round 1-2.

So without further delay, this is how i see us lining up next weekend.

Wests Tigers team v St George-Illawarra (Predicted)

1\. James Tedesco, 2\. David Nofoaluma, 3\. Keith Lulia, 4\. Chris Lawrence, 5\. Pat Richards, 6\. Braith Anasta, 7\. Luke Brooks, 8\. Aaron Woods, 9\. Robbie Farah, 10\. Martin Taupau, 11\. Bodene Thompson, 12\. Cory Paterson, 13\. Adam Blair. Interchange: 14\. Liam Fulton, 15\. Jack Buchanan, 16\. Keith Galloway, 17\. Ben Murdoch-Masila (18th man James Gavet)
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Regular starters Keith Galloway and Liam Fulton start from the bench due to zero match fitness. I'd expect they'll both get somewhere between 30-40 minutes game time in two, maybe three stints (Galloway).

Blake Austin misses out and that's unfortunate. He's had a decent pre season but coach Mick Potter has indicated on numerous occasions that the vastly experienced Anasta will partner Brooks in the halves. Sausao Sue misses out too and like Marika Koroibete, he'll need to impress from the NSW Cup side.

So will I be right??? Who knows! We'll find out about 5-6pm next Tuesday. Not long to go now fellow Tiger fans!

Link: http://tigernationnrl.blogspot.com.au/

I would be surprised if BMM and Buchanan was given a spot ahead of gavet based on trial forms.

They should be replaced by sue and gavet.

I hope this is what we will see round one.

_Posted using RoarFEED 2013_

 

[Spartan117]

Good little article.

I have now bookmarked the blog as well as there is some good objective content there.

Thx

 

[happy_tiger]

I would start with Fulton and just run him til he is buggered and then bring impact off the bench

 

[alexaki]

Now that the 9’s and trials are over and we have a clear(er) picture of who will be available my RD1 17 is:

1. Tedesco
2. Richards
3. Lawrence
4. Lulia
5. Nofoluma
6. Anasta
7. Brooks
8. Woods
9. Farah
10. Tapau
11. Paterson
12. Fulton
13. Blair
14. Gavet
15. Galloway
16. Austin
17. Thompson
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Not available: Simona, Halatau, Sirronen

I think Sue could push Thompson out eventually and I would keep Simona fresh until RD3.

 

[Goose]

I think the article will be close to accurate.

Id have a different back row, and would try and find away to fit all of Noffa, Koro and Richards in at the expense of Lulia, but suspect it wont happen.

 

[Tiger_Watto]

Good Post!!!

I reckon the OP is 94% correct with the only difference being Buchanan missing out for either Gavet or Sue.

 

[Tigersman]

Good little article.

I have now bookmarked the blog as well as there is some good objective content there.

Thx

No problem at all mate :slight_smile:

 

[Tim Sheens]

They players already know if they have made the side for the season opener. If the club really wants to to promote itself, get on the good side of supporters and encourage them to sign up, they should be giving us a bit more profile by having the team list in tomorrow's sport news, rather than just one of many on Tuesday.

No need.for smoke and mirrors BS, get our brand out there and give its supporters another thing to talk about over the weekend. I fail to see how it could be anything other than good for the club.

 

[supercoach]

I think most peoples teams are very close to the money. Although I think Austen will get a bench spot. Early season games tend to be high scoring affairs and I think Austen offers Potter insurance for the 6 and 7, but would also offer a lot of attacking options late in both halves when teams are low on petrol

 

[LaT]

Yeah, Gavet should get a run on the bench for R1, he has fired for the trials.

 

[Tigersman]

Good Post!!!

I reckon the OP is 94% correct with the only difference being Buchanan missing out for either Gavet or Sue.

I was thinking the exact same thing mate,I reckon Gavet deserves a bench spot over Buchanan but other than that i reckon the team is spot on.

 

[Gray]

Agree with Happy to start Fulton. And definitely bring in Gavet or Sue for Buchanan. Good game for Gavet to make his debut, our debutants like playing against stg.

Good too see we are strong enough this year to have players such as sue not in the 17.

How had Buchanan gone in the trials btw?

_Posted using RoarFEED 2013_

 

[Tigersman]

Agree with Happy to start Fulton. And definitely bring in Gavet or Sue for Buchanan. Good game for Gavet to make his debut, our debutants like playing against stg.

Good too see we are strong enough this year to have players such as sue not in the 17.

How had Buchanan gone in the trials btw?

_Posted using RoarFEED 2013_

He has been Injured all Pre-Season i think…well I didn't see him play in any of the trials so i assume so.

 

[happy_tiger]

It might be me , but does anyone find it strange that Fulton injury and / or what it is hasn't been made public

Any chance Liam is being pushed out ??

 

[Milky]

It might be me , but does anyone find it strange that Fulton injury and / or what it is hasn't been made public

Any chance Liam is being pushed out ??

According to the Wests Tigers site he has picked up a pectoral injury, may just be some chest pains and they don't want to risk him. I doubt he is being pushed out as Potter re-signed him last year, it wasn't sheens who resigned him. Stupid move by the club if he is released.

 

[Milky]

I would go with:

1\. James Tedesco
2\. David Nofoaluama
3\. Keith Lulia
4.Chris Lawrence
5\. Pat RIchards

6\. Braith Anasta
7\. Luke Brooks

8\. Aaron Woods
9\. Robbie Farah
10\. Martin Tapau
11\. Corey Paterson
12\. Bodene Thomson
13\. Liam Fulton

14\. Blake Austin
15\. Keith Galloway
16\. Adam Blair
17\. Sauso Sue

 

[mtd]

What's the plan with Blair? Is he goin to go back to his days as a workhorse up the middle or be replaced a lot by Fulton?

_Posted using RoarFEED 2013_

 

[littletiger]

My money is once simona back I reckon lulia grabs a bench spot.. I must admit I feel safe with lulia defence in the centres. or it might be other way around.

 

[Tigerpete]

Thanks guys, i didn't realize my blog had made it on to here. Been good to read your thoughts on the team. I think there's a few certainties. One is James Gavet would not be considered lucky if he made the 17\. He's done well in the pre-season and on that merit should be there.

The only possible change to that backline would hinge on Tim Simona's return. I'm only guessing but i would suspect the club will be cautious with him and hold him back. He's too important to rush back. A few of you have Blake Austin on the bench? Presumably to play lock off the bench. Could well happen but i reckon Potter goes with a bigger guy.