Reynolds article

[rustycage]

I don't get the lack of trust in him doing a job at 9. I think there's a lot of potential upside to him. Defence under fatigue is the main challenge but any first grader can get that sorted.

His service from dummy half was pretty bad. To be honest Reynolds would be the one I’d be most desperate to move on.

Passing from dummy half can be improved over the off season. He will need to be fit enough to play close to 80 minutes and defend well. He reads a game as well as any half running around and hopefully that can be translated in to reading the game from the number 9 position where you don't have as much time as a half to decide. He is still quick enough off the mark to cause problems around the ruck.


I really want Reynolds to be in the team somewhere, I think we play a lot better when he is there. I’m just not sure he is the right choice to play hooker though. He is 30 years old, his body struggles for fitness constantly and he has ongoing injuries. Hooker is the most demanding position on the field and I don’t think it would be wise to put a ‘busted’ player in such a crucial role.

I know this sounds mad and most won’t agree with me, but I would try Brooks at dummy half - he is younger, stronger, faster and fitter than Reynolds, he reads the game just as well and he has the right body type for the role also. I reckon he would be a revelation at hooker, his speed out of dummy half would awesome! That way Reynolds could play in his familiar position at 5/8 with Benji at half where I think both are more suitable and effective.

In any case, didn’t we buy Walters to play hooker?

I like it. I'd also prefer Reynolds at 6 but it's not going to happen. Him at 9 is definitely worth a shot imo. Or Benji - what's wrong with Marshall in the middle and Josh at 5/8? At least Benji's passes won't hit the grandstand from infield. It's all a little deckchair shuffling I suppose.

 

[2005magic]

Its a sad situation Reynolds finds himself in. He is still a NRL standard 5/8 and cross fingers his injuries seem to have let up but he is not our first choice 5/8, and to be truthful probably not the second choice either in terms of succession planning- that would be Talau or even Mbye. And, I'll give him credit that he still wants to contribute to the team and look at the hooker role, but apart from of course the $$$, I dont know why he hangs around, his playing days have a finite amount and I'd rather he go somewhere where he can play his natural game at 5/8 with of course WT kicking some $$$ into the pot at his next club than ''fill in'' at WT.

 

[2041]

Its a sad situation Reynolds finds himself in. He is still a NRL standard 5/8 and cross fingers his injuries seem to have let up but he is not our first choice 5/8, and to be truthful probably not the second choice either in terms of succession planning- that would be Talau or even Mbye. And, I'll give him credit that he still wants to contribute to the team and look at the hooker role, but apart from of course the $$$, I dont know why he hangs around, his playing days have a finite amount and I'd rather he go somewhere where he can play his natural game at 5/8 with of course WT kicking some $$$ into the pot at his next club than ''fill in'' at WT.

He "hangs around" because he was given a contract that runs for two more years that represents $1.5m he won't make anywhere else. He'd be crazy to walk away from that. Fair enough that you think he's still an NRL standard 5/8 but it's pretty clear that no NRL club thinks that, as we can tell from the apparent fact that none has made an offer for him.

This is all speculation but at this stage my guess is that the Tigers would let Reynolds walk to any club that would pay something close to half his contract. And my secondary guess is that no such offer has been forthcoming. Let's face it, this was a shocking signing from the off and will do nothing but hinder the club's roster development for the next two years.

 

[2041]

I don't get the lack of trust in him doing a job at 9. I think there's a lot of potential upside to him. Defence under fatigue is the main challenge but any first grader can get that sorted.

His service from dummy half was pretty bad. To be honest Reynolds would be the one I’d be most desperate to move on.

Passing from dummy half can be improved over the off season. He will need to be fit enough to play close to 80 minutes and defend well. He reads a game as well as any half running around and hopefully that can be translated in to reading the game from the number 9 position where you don't have as much time as a half to decide. He is still quick enough off the mark to cause problems around the ruck.


I really want Reynolds to be in the team somewhere, I think we play a lot better when he is there. I’m just not sure he is the right choice to play hooker though. He is 30 years old, his body struggles for fitness constantly and he has ongoing injuries. Hooker is the most demanding position on the field and I don’t think it would be wise to put a ‘busted’ player in such a crucial role.

I know this sounds mad and most won’t agree with me, but I would try Brooks at dummy half - he is younger, stronger, faster and fitter than Reynolds, he reads the game just as well and he has the right body type for the role also. I reckon he would be a revelation at hooker, his speed out of dummy half would awesome! That way Reynolds could play in his familiar position at 5/8 with Benji at half where I think both are more suitable and effective.

In any case, didn’t we buy Walters to play hooker?

I like it. I'd also prefer Reynolds at 6 but it's not going to happen. Him at 9 is definitely worth a shot imo. Or Benji - what's wrong with Marshall in the middle and Josh at 5/8? At least Benji's passes won't hit the grandstand from infield. It's all a little deckchair shuffling I suppose.

So you want to play your 5/8 at hooker because the other option to play hooker can't pass. But you want to play *that* guy at 5/8. Passing of course not really being a relevant skill for a 5/8...

 

[OzLuke]

one thing is that the guy will put in 150% every week...would you rather have someone with all the ability and no heart to do the dirty work, or a guy who plays his guts out and makes a mistake or two?

I think Reynolds playing is better for us than being in reserve grade

 

[2041]

one thing is that the guy will put in 150% every week...would you rather have someone with all the ability and no heart to do the dirty work, or a guy who plays his guts out and makes a mistake or two?

I think Reynolds playing is better for us than being in reserve grade

I'd like to have someone competent, injury free and not costing nearly 10% of our salary cap. I'd have preferred that in 2018 and 2019, as I will continue to do in 2020 and 2021. I'm sure Reynolds is a great bloke and I don't doubt he gives it his best, but the contract was a disaster and if Maguire doesn't think he's worth picking I'm fine with that.

 

[TillLindemann]

Maybe I'm the only one, but I thought Reynolds was really good in the last few rounds.

 

[Spartan117]

I really like this guys attitude.

 

[2041]

Maybe I'm the only one, but I thought Reynolds was really good in the last few rounds.

I'm genuinely baffled at how willing people are to give Reynolds a pass. Well, not him as such - he seems to be a good guy and I certainly don't blame him for taking the contract he was offered - but the ludicrous deal he was given. The guy has played 12 games in two years (most of them for significantly less than 80 minutes), very obviously isn't part of the coach's plans for first grade as anything more than a fill in or backup and is either the best paid player on the roster or close to it. Yet people continue to queue up to defend him.

 

[newtiger]

I'm not Reynolds biggest fan , but you have to love his passion ......he just wants to play footy and get the best out of his body in whatever position needed

I agree, just a pity IC panicked and paid way overs.

 

[Cultured_Bogan]

Maybe I'm the only one, but I thought Reynolds was really good in the last few rounds.

I'm genuinely baffled at how willing people are to give Reynolds a pass. Well, not him as such - he seems to be a good guy and I certainly don't blame him for taking the contract he was offered - but the ludicrous deal he was given. The guy has played 12 games in two years (most of them for significantly less than 80 minutes), very obviously isn't part of the coach's plans for first grade as anything more than a fill in or backup and is either the best paid player on the roster or close to it. Yet people continue to queue up to defend him.

I think it all comes down to the fact he's been crippled by injury. It's not through lack of effort, ability etc. A fair bit of leeway is given to Liddle for the same reason. He (Grub,) has not been value for money by any stretch for on-field output.

I certainly would not re-sign Grub on his output this contract, and if Liddle falls again to a serious long term injury it's time to cut that rope also. If the right offer came along and Grub was able to take it without WT carrying a substantial amount of freight I would also support him moving on.

I'm at the point with the player merry-go-round where if they're happy to treat themselves as a commodity now, I'm OK with the clubs also doing it.

 

[Telltails]

Maybe I'm the only one, but I thought Reynolds was really good in the last few rounds.

I'm genuinely baffled at how willing people are to give Reynolds a pass. Well, not him as such - he seems to be a good guy and I certainly don't blame him for taking the contract he was offered - but the ludicrous deal he was given. The guy has played 12 games in two years (most of them for significantly less than 80 minutes), very obviously isn't part of the coach's plans for first grade as anything more than a fill in or backup and is either the best paid player on the roster or close to it. Yet people continue to queue up to defend him.

The Ballin mentality" It's what he offers off the field." Does my head in too.
The lack of on interest in Reynolds pretty much shows that clubs don't want to add a player to the roster who offers more off the field than on. Hope we have learned our lesson in that dept.

 

[TillLindemann]

@2041

I'm not defending his contract at all. The contract isn't his fault, it's the club. None of what's happened is his fault.

And at least if you're paying overs for someone it's good to have that person be someone who WANTS to play and to play his best, who's happy to shift positions if it means he can contribute, and who talks up the club.

It sounds like Madge has had plenty of hard talks with him over the last year or so - you're welcome to leave if you want, I'll probably pick Benji over you even if you're fit - and to his credit he's taken that better than 99% of other players would.

 

[2005magic]

Dont get me wrong guys, Reynolds contract was and is a disaster for WT- panic buying and way, way too much $$$ involved. Yes, no doubt he is hanging around because of that, I was just alluding to waste of his limited time and opportunity to play at the high level of NRL / ESL by hanging around at WT as a second / third string option. No doubt he is over-priced and everyone is gun shy with his injury record and price- except stupid WT a couple of seasons ago.

PS- there is no way, he should be the first option at hooker with Liddle out, Walters first.

 

[cqtiger]

Re- Reynolds: all I know is that for the few times he has actually played in the 6 jersey in the top grade he was named Man of the Match in at least 3 of them.

Anyway, I think Benji will miss quite a few games next year so hopefully Josh gets a shot as his replacement.

I like the enthusiasm he brings to the team.

 

[Tweed_Tiger]

One of the Man of matches he was on the losing team. https://www.foxsports.com.au/nrl/nrl-premiership/teams/tigers/michael-maguires-huge-headache-after-josh-reynolds-man-of-the-match-performance/news-story/b884fbf83e231e96e6eef43208e8d701

He is usually a top 3 player every game he played for us this season. If he stays like @cqtiger said we know we will get some use out of him. Benji wont be able to play every game and that hooking combination at the end of the year worked better than expected!

Josh would be a good pickup for a team because Tigers would chip in $$$. He has the ability to lift a team and a solid skill set. He would of played more games this year if he wasn't up against Benji here.

If he stays here it will be hard for him to keep Benji on the pine but its the Wests Tigers strange things seem to happen.

Good luck to him.

 

[TIGER]

This position is our Achilles heel, unless we sign a decent 9 we will go nowhere and liddle isn't it either, if we're waiting around thinking we'll be right when liddle is back we're dreaming.

Then I'm Dreamin'!

Time to wake up then

 

[851]

Maybe I'm the only one, but I thought Reynolds was really good in the last few rounds.

I'm genuinely baffled at how willing people are to give Reynolds a pass. Well, not him as such - he seems to be a good guy and I certainly don't blame him for taking the contract he was offered - but the ludicrous deal he was given. The guy has played 12 games in two years (most of them for significantly less than 80 minutes), very obviously isn't part of the coach's plans for first grade as anything more than a fill in or backup and is either the best paid player on the roster or close to it. Yet people continue to queue up to defend him.

We should be playing him, and playing him at 5/8th, that is why we bought him for, not his fault the coach won't put him in at 6

 

[2041]

Maybe I'm the only one, but I thought Reynolds was really good in the last few rounds.

I'm genuinely baffled at how willing people are to give Reynolds a pass. Well, not him as such - he seems to be a good guy and I certainly don't blame him for taking the contract he was offered - but the ludicrous deal he was given. The guy has played 12 games in two years (most of them for significantly less than 80 minutes), very obviously isn't part of the coach's plans for first grade as anything more than a fill in or backup and is either the best paid player on the roster or close to it. Yet people continue to queue up to defend him.

We should be playing him, and playing him at 5/8th, that is why we bought him for, not his fault the coach won't put him in at 6

Here are some people who don't think Josh Reynolds is worth a starting place as a 5/8 in the NRL:
- The head coach of the Wests Tigers.
- Every other club in the NRL.

On that basis I'm fine with the decision.

 

[earl]

the ludicrous deal he was given. The guy has played 12 games in two years (most of them for significantly less than 80 minutes), very obviously isn’t part of the coach’s plans for first grade as anything more than a fill in or backup and is either the best paid player on the roster or close to it.

I can't think of a contract as bad as this one has been for us.