TEAM LIST Round 2 Vs NQ Cowboys

[Lestronge]

He couldn't possibly have impressed in the offseason to justify having 10 games experience on that edge - with a kid with infinite potential in his 2nd game.
And - he was was let go to Perth.

Drinkwater would be licking his lips.

Seems like every year, We have some good signings - then the first team list comes out to be greeting with unanimous WTF's from the Fan base?
Does my head in.

Luke L has been a force this offseason apparently . And the trial games he played he was amazing out of yardage , and really strong defensively . It sounds like Benji is rewarding players for thier efforts . It’s up to him now , to put in a performance .
As for Makasini ? He was putting shots on in defence . I doubt drinkwater is licking his lips about being lined up by a kid I saw people comparing to Jonah Lomu . Unless he’s a masochist .

 

[Chunk]

I don’t understand that train of thought?
I get nothing is ever perfect, especially if you’re a tigers fan.

But surely we’re not picking our first choice halfback because he can fill in 2-3 other positions and then putting a bloke on the bench - just because he can fill in his position when he fills in on one of the other blokes positions…
It’s chaos!!

How many other teams are carrying a specialist 7 at first drop?
Waste of a spot.

Madden must be playing DH, otherwise what's the point of having him at 14? And the worry is that he's unproven there, hopefully he can have a good game.

If we are planning on replacing our halfback during the game we are in trouble, unless it's to give him a rest after we are twenty in front with five to go

 

[EllisFan]

Madden must be playing DH, otherwise what's the point of having him at 14? And the worry is that he's unproven there, hopefully he can have a good game.

If we are planning on replacing our halfback during the game we are in trouble.

We have Hope there.

Maybe Madden goes unused unless we pick up a halves injury.

Does the jersey number matter?

 

[Holman Barnes #1 Fan]

Luke L has been a force this offseason apparently . And the trial games he played he was amazing out of yardage , and really strong defensively . It sounds like Benji is rewarding players for thier efforts . It’s up to him now , to put in a performance .
As for Makasini ? He was putting shots on in defence . I doubt drinkwater is licking his lips about being lined up by a kid I saw people comparing to Jonah Lomu . Unless he’s a masochist .

Luke L has always had a crazy good yardage game. What I want to know is if he as done work on catching bombs, because he has been terrible under the high ball every game I have seen him. Not as bad as Mason but I think they had the same coach.

 

[SeanT]

Luke L has always had a crazy good yardage game. What I want to know is if he as done work on catching bombs, because he has been terrible under the high ball every game I have seen him. Not as bad as Mason but I think they had the same coach.

He gets rewarded for his offs season. Benji has harped on about all the time. The best train ers get a shot. We shall see. Don't like the fact he can't put leap his opposition.

 

[batboy]

Luke L has been a force this offseason apparently . And the trial games he played he was amazing out of yardage , and really strong defensively . It sounds like Benji is rewarding players for thier efforts . It’s up to him now , to put in a performance .
As for Makasini ? He was putting shots on in defence . I doubt drinkwater is licking his lips about being lined up by a kid I saw people comparing to Jonah Lomu . Unless he’s a masochist .

Luke has been a force
- or has been using the force?
I don’t see him getting taller and quicker!

Drinkwater has made plenty of more experienced players than Makasini look very stupid more than once
- I don’t think he’ll be concerned at all. unless, as I said - he gets him good.

On the other side of the pitch, Makasini is a kid with no experience, defending next to another kid - with no experience.

 

[Jolls]

I don’t understand that train of thought?
I get nothing is ever perfect, especially if you’re a tigers fan.

But surely we’re not picking our first choice halfback because he can fill in 2-3 other positions and then putting a bloke on the bench - just because he can fill in his position when he fills in on one of the other blokes positions…
It’s chaos!!

How many other teams are carrying a specialist 7 at first drop?
Waste of a spot.

It makes no sense for him to be first drop. I makes less sense to carry Skelton when we have the ability to cover backline issues. Madden can cover either of the halves and AD can cover centre if that became an issue. Skelton gives us no extra cover - what we are short is another middle/edge so we have a 4 man forward rotation. If Benji is going to run a two hooker rotation it makes a little more sense but we will have to wait until Saturday to find out I guess.

 

[HUNT 101]

Where is Bunty?

Isn't Bunty on a train and trial.. only

 

[EllisFan]

It makes no sense for him to be first drop. I makes less sense to carry Skelton when we have the ability to cover backline issues. Madden can cover either of the halves and AD can cover centre if that became an issue. Skelton gives us no extra cover - what we are short is another middle/edge so we have a 4 man forward rotation. If Benji is going to run a two hooker rotation it makes a little more sense but we will have to wait until Saturday to find out I guess.

I don’t think the jersey order represents anything does it?

Hope could be the 14 in Benji’s eyes.

Madden comes in if there’s a halves injury.

Skelton covers an OB.

3 forwards probably get a run.

 

[batboy]

It makes no sense for him to be first drop. I makes less sense to carry Skelton when we have the ability to cover backline issues. Madden can cover either of the halves and AD can cover centre if that became an issue. Skelton gives us no extra cover - what we are short is another middle/edge so we have a 4 man forward rotation. If Benji is going to run a two hooker rotation it makes a little more sense but we will have to wait until Saturday to find out I guess.

Agree - Trying to write cheques our smarts can’t cash.
If you’re running 2 hookers, why pick a 7.
Pick a utility or a middle that can fill in at 9 (like basically every other team)

If you’re don’t have one - buy one, or make one… Murray could do a job there with some work - he did a half decent job there without any work.

Good opportunity for 2 points here could be lost to ego, playing favourites and dumb bench decisions.
We had more than enough of the latter last year

 

[Vicious]

We have Hope there.

Maybe Madden goes unused unless we pick up a halves injury.

Does the jersey number matter?

My prediction is it will come down to how much defending we have to do in the first half and how Api is going with his energy levels.
If Api is struggling and clearly needs a rest I reckon Tristan Hope will come on to replace him.
Alternatively if Api is looking strong, we will use Jock Madden as a 1st receiver playmaking 13.

 

[HUNT 101]

Why is she in NZ?

So the baby is born a Kiwi 🥝 😉

 

[EllisFan]

My prediction is it will come down to how much defending we have to do in the first half and how Api is going with his energy levels.
If Api is struggling and clearly needs a rest I reckon Tristan Hope will come on to replace him.
Alternatively if Api is looking strong, we will use Jock Madden as a 1st receiver playmaking 13.

Agree that we have additional flexibility with Api under the new rules.

It would be good to get to a few big leads this year and not have Api trying to do everything.

 

[EllisFan]

Thought the Bunty hype was a bit premature.

Probably Murray too.

Eels showed trial form can be taken with a grain of salt.

Hope those fellas go well in Reggie’s and earn a jersey later in the year.

 

[Lestronge]

Luke has been a force
- or has been using the force?
I don’t see him getting taller and quicker!

Drinkwater has made plenty of more experienced players than Makasini look very stupid more than once
- I don’t think he’ll be concerned at all. unless, as I said - he gets him good.

On the other side of the pitch, Makasini is a kid with no experience, defending next to another kid - with no experience.

They’re not going to be next to each other . Makasini has been training at left centre . And who knows where and how they’ve been training for 5 months . Ie. who has been with the 1sts team the majority of the time and on what edge. I heard Luke L was leading the way in the backs a long time ago . He was on the field for long periods , Including a shutout against the panthers whilst he was on the wing .
He’s 20 now , who’s been around the nrl team for 2 whole years . You’re just whinging for the sake of it . It’s round 1 ffs. Chill out seriously .
I really liked what he did in the trials. He was our strongest back out of yardage by a long way . You don’t have a clue about anything . None of us do .
It’s gonna be a long year if your cutting your wrists before a ball has been kicked ..

 

[TCL]

We are back in business baby, finally I can get excited about the season starting.

Interesting team list, not fussed on the selections the coaches know best. I’m keen to see what attitude the team display on the park. Hope they all rip in and get off to a good start.

 

[TigerNeddyK]

So the baby is born a Kiwi 🥝 😉

Hectic

 

[happy_tiger]

Massive defence weakness out wide with 2 kids..hope Im wrong,but

Worried me enough to change my tip this weekend

 

[HUNT 101]

Wests Tigers win this by 13+..💥🐯☝️
Why ? Because I garentee we will be hungrier for the full 80 min ,with a massive home crowd after missing the opening round with the bye there is no other option but victory.

 

[EllisFan]

Wests Tigers win this by 13+..💥🐯☝️
Why ? Because I garentee we will be hungrier for the full 80 min ,with a massive home crowd after missing the opening round with the bye there is no other option but victory.

I always find the Leichhardt crowd can take a bit to warm up. Particularly if we have a slow start or the ref refuses to blow penalties to us. Hopefully it’s rocking from early on Saturday.