Review of players by age & position at West Tigers

BlackWhiteGold

Well-known member
Since it's the time of midyear reviews, I've decided to do a bit of research and become the Club's recruitment manager for a week.

Here is a look at what players we have by position and age group in the Club right down to players that have been identified as talent in Harold Matthews. I believe it will help us see where gaps lie in our roster and where we need to prioritise our recruitment & development.

NOTE: I've made some assumptions in some ages and which position is each player's best position.
In brackets I have indicated their best position, # refers to being top quality, * refers to that being their main position, and bolded refers to being highly rated as the future in that position (again an assumption by me).

This table also includes players under contract for next season (i.e. Korisau) and still players coming off contract this season (Madden, Talau, Roberts).

Not sure how the table will look in this as I've copied from a spreadsheet so I'll also post a screengrab.

In my next post, I'll make some recommendations based on this table.

FULLBACKWINGCENTREHALVESLOCK2ND ROWPROPHOOKER
24+24+24+24+24+24+24+24+
David Nofoaluma (wing)Ken Maumolo #* (wing)Brent Naden * (centre)Jackson Hastings #* (halfback)Joe Ofahengaue * (lock)Isaiah Papali'i #* (2nd row)Alex Twal #* (prop)Api Korisau #* (hooker)
David Nofoaluma #* (wing)Adam Doueihi (five-eighth)Luke Brooks * (halfback)Isaiah Papali'I (2nd row)James Tamou * (prop)Jacob Liddle * (hooker)
James Roberts (centre)James Roberts * (centre)Adam Doueihi * (five-eighth)Adam Doueihi (five-eighth)Zane Musgrave * (prop)Fa'amanu Brown * (hooker)
Brent Naden (centre)Oliver Gildart * (centre)Tyrone Peachey (lock)Tyrone Peachey * (lock)Joe Ofahengaue (lock)
Tyrone Peachey (lock)Fa'amanu Brown (hooker)Fa'amanu Brown (hooker)
22-2322-2322-2322-2322-2322-2322-2322-23
Daine Laurie * (fullback)Starford T'oa (centre)Starford T'oa * (centre)Jock Madden * (halfback)Alex Seyfarth (prop)Shaun Blore * (2nd row)Stefano Utoikamanu #* (prop)
Starford T'oa (centre)Asu Kepaoa (centre)Asu Kepaoa * (centre)Daine Laurie (fullback)Alex Seyfarth (prop)Alex Seyfarth * (prop)
Tommy Talau * (centre)Tommy Talau (centre)
20-2120-2120-2120-2120-2120-2120-2120-21
Junior Tupou (wing)Junior Tupou * (wing)Junior Tupou (wing)Zane Camroux * (five-eighth)Rua Ngatikaura (hooker)Henry O’Kane * (2nd row)Sione Fainu * (prop)Jake Simpkin * (hooker)
Jahream Bula (wing)Liam Scolari * (wing)Livai Saukuru * (centre)Kade Hill * (halfback)Tukimihia Simpkins * (lock)Kitione Kautoga * (2nd row)Christian Ma’anaima * (prop)Rua Ngatikaura * (hooker)
Trey Peni (wing)Trey Peni * (wing)Trey Peni (wing)Jamie Lawler * (five-eighth)James Valevatu (hooker)Apisalome Saukuru * (2nd row)Tukimihia Simpkins (lock)James Valevatu * (hooker)
Jahream Bula * (wing)Kurt Picken * (centre)Tyrone Roberts * (halfback)Brandon Webster-Mansfield * (2nd row)Jaycob Anjoul * (hooker)
Jahream Bula (wing)Tukimihia Simpkins (lock)
18-1918-1918-1918-1918-1918-1918-1918-19
Cathane Hill * (fullback)Dudley Dotoi (centre)Dudley Dotoi * (centre)Mikey Tannous (hooker)Justin Matamua * (lock)Brandon Tumeth * (2nd row)Fonua Pole * (prop)Mikey Tannous * (hooker)
Bryce Wilson * (fullback)Joseph Delle * (wing)Josh Feledy * (centre)Justin Matamua (lock)Braydon Guyan * (lock)Justin Matamua (lock)Tray Lolesio * (prop)
Faaletino Tavana * (fullback)Ofele Lene * (wing)Sione Vaihu * (centre)Bryce Wilson (fullback)Brandon TumethBraydon Guyan (lock)Herman Tofaeono * (prop)
Faaletino Tavana (fullback)Chris Faagutu * (lock)Kiernan Tempest * (2nd row)Kaisara Tuimauga * (prop)
Cayne Nicholas * (lock)Chris Faagutu (lock)
16-1716-1716-1716-1716-1716-1716-1716-17
Luke Laulilii * (fullback)Tajh Colquhoun (fullback)William Craig * (centre)Luke Keppie * (halfback)Kit Laulilii * (lock)Lachlan Galvin * (2nd row)Jordan Miller * (prop)Tallyn Da Silva * (hooker)
Tajh Colquhoun * (fullback)Solomone Saukuru (2nd row)Heath Mason * (five-eighth)Patrick Young * (lock)Solomone Saukuru * (2nd row)Lipina Ata * (prop)
Cameron Kanaan * (fullback)Oscar Jorgenson * (centre)Alex Conti * (halfback)Lipina Ata (prop)Charlie O'Kane * (2nd row)
Noah McKenzie * (fullback)Sonny Edwards-Moeke * (halfback)Patrick Young (lock)
Kian Edmed * (five-eighth)Thomas Fisher * (2nd row)
 
REVIEW:

FULLBACK: Lack of experience at fullback. Big age gap in natural fullbacks from Laurie down to 18/19yos.
- Potential to recruit solid & experienced fullback (with ability to play wing) as depth OR fullback in the 20/21 age group with potential in another position.

WING: Good wing depth & speed coming through in the 20/21 age group.
- Add a wing to the Development squad for 2023.

CENTRE: Good future depth in centres in 20/21, 18/19, 16/17 age groups.
- Roberts/T'oa/Kepaoa have remainder of 2022 to nail down a centre position with Naden.

HALVES: Arguably 1 main half too many in our current 22-23, 24+ groups if Douehi is seen as a 5/8 (and with Camroux/Hill possibly the next Madden coming through). Quality halves in 16/17 age group.
- 1 of Brooks/Madden to be released or Doeuhi permanently shifted to lock to address over-supply.

LOCK: Lack of out-and-out locks until 18-19, 16-17 groups (those locks look to be quality).
- A permanent move of Doeuhi to lock could address this void with Ofahengaue in for another 1-2 seasons.

2ND ROW: Lack of experience depth in the 2nd row but absolute quality emerging in 20/21, 18-19, 16-17 groups.
- Need to recruit an experiended 1st team 2nd rower (does not need to be a star) to fill void until emerging backrowers are ready, may need another depth player if Talua isn't moved to backrow.

PROP: Lack an experienced prop enforcer/leader with Mikaele gone & Tamou likely. Rookie depth is good at prop in 20/21, 18/19, 16/17 groups.
- Must recruit an experienced prop (ideally enforcer) with leadership qualities who has at least 2 seasons in him.

HOOKER: Hooker is now well set up for the future if Liddle moved on & can maintain quality through the age groups.

SKILLS/QUALITIES: Our 1st team lacks an x-factor speed player in spine (unless Laurie goes to next level), elite field kicking game, middle forward strike/leg speed.
- We need to ensure we contract players in development squad with these attributes & any elite players we can recruit for 2024.

NEXT POST ... recruitment suggestions
 
Recruitment:

This strategy is based on developing talent from within & recruiting players that fill a void over a period of time until our exceptional juniors reach 1st team age.

- Currently we have 7 players to depart this season assuming Liddle & Tuki Simpkins are released (Mikaele, Leilua, Liddle, Tuilagi, Simpkins, Kei & Garner)
- Currently we have 5 players coming in (Papalii, Korisau, Pole, Faini, Ngatikaura)
- Potential for 4 more players to depart (Tamou, Madden, Talau, Roberts)

So the 2 priority spots to fill:

2nd Row: (from) Angus Crichton, Raymond Faitala-Mariner, Jack Hetherington, Jack Murchie, Curtis Sironen
Fullback (backup to Laurie): (from) Kade Dykes, Tex Hoy, Will Smith

And if any of the other 4 depart:

Prop (if Tamou departs): (from) Joseph Tapine, Jordan McLean, Jarrod Wallace
Half (if Madden departs): (from) Kade Dykes, Tex Hoy, Will Smith, Nu Brown
Centre (if Roberts departs): (from) Tesi Niu *, Tom Opacic *, Isaiah Tass *, Trey Peni, Jahream Bula
* recruit a 1st team centre if 2 of Naden, T’oa, Kepaoa, Gildart don’t secure spots in 2022
2nd Row (if Talau departs): (from)
Henry O'Kane, Kitione Kautoga, Apisalome Saukuru, Brandon Tumeth
 
Recruitment:

This strategy is based on developing talent from within & recruiting players that fill a void over a period of time until our exceptional juniors reach 1st team age.

- Currently we have 7 players to depart this season assuming Liddle & Tuki Simpkins are released (Mikaele, Leilua, Liddle, Tuilagi, Simpkins, Kei & Garner)
- Currently we have 5 players coming in (Papalii, Korisau, Pole, Faini, Ngatikaura)
- Potential for 4 more players to depart (Tamou, Madden, Talau, Roberts)

So the 2 priority spots to fill:

2nd Row: (from) Angus Crichton, Raymond Faitala-Mariner, Jack Hetherington, Jack Murchie, Curtis Sironen
Fullback (backup to Laurie): (from) Kade Dykes, Tex Hoy, Will Smith

And if any of the other 4 depart:

Prop (if Tamou departs): (from) Joseph Tapine, Jordan McLean, Jarrod Wallace
Half (if Madden departs): (from) Kade Dykes, Tex Hoy, Will Smith, Nu Brown
Centre (if Roberts departs): (from) Tesi Niu *, Tom Opacic *, Isaiah Tass *, Trey Peni, Jahream Bula
* recruit a 1st team centre if 2 of Naden, T’oa, Kepaoa, Gildart don’t secure spots in 2022
2nd Row (if Talau departs): (from)
Henry O'Kane, Kitione Kautoga, Apisalome Saukuru, Brandon Tumeth
Gee the future looks so bright doesn’t it ?
 
Mate it is a great piece of work 👍
Thanks I’ll keep updating it from time to time and if others have juniors they think fit in a positional age category I’ll add in.

What it has shown me is what Sheens is talking about - we have some great junior talent to try to retain. The club just needs to manage the top 30 roster to enable the right juniors to be promoted at the right time.

That’s why strategically I can understand The POM saying a few weeks ago we were talking with Raymond Faitala-Mariner as he provides an experienced solid backrower for 2 seasons to give us 3 good current options in Papalii, Blore & RFM, then in 2 seasons, the likes of O’Kane, Tumeth, Kautoga are at the age to excel in 1st grade & replace RFM.
 
We can’t solely rely on development of juniors.
We need to bring a couple of hard hitters in, especially in the forwards.
Great work by the way @BlackWhiteGold, this is a great effort and will be a good resource to reflect on when talking recruitment.
👍🏼
 
This is great.

It's good to see where our Junior development is going and what's out there.
Man lots of Tyrone Roberts in Rugby League.
 
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