Signings, Suggestions & Rumours Discussion

NRL in 2025 is a game based on speed flair and power. Look at the Phins and Raiders, they back themselves from anywhere on the field but they also build a platform through fast and energetic forwards. We simply can’t play this style of football because we don’t have a roster capable of. So Benji has them playing a very basic game plan with the hope they will stay in the contest and than fluke a bomb or get a repeat set. Sadly unless we get close to 70% of possession it’s doomed to failure.
 

SPOTTED III

A Hyundai SUV bearing the number plates of Wests Tigers five-eighth Jarome Luai parked at a McDonald’s




How is Buzz Rothfield making a story out of Luai eating at McDonalds 😭😭😭😭😭😭
Top shelf mastheadery right here.

I was at that Maccas, I met JL there for breakfast to re-ink my hat. Buzz was hiding inside the Maccas bin at the carpark exit with a metre long lens and a brown paper bag. I asked him why he wasn’t in a bin closer to the action? He motioned to the brown paper bag and said the Maccas kids kicked him off the premises for drinking alcohol.

Cheers Buzz, keep up the good work.
 
No you are not the only one unimpressed. Most the forum seem unimpressed.
I don't think the nothing available excuse that some offer up really flies given the club should have known in February that the side needed forwards, though it is only more recently that available cap space would have been known.
I think it isn't as simple as blaming Benji, Richo or anyone else for not getting anyone over the line. I simply think it is just a massive challenge to convince outside talent to come here.
It's a vicious circle that curses the club. We are burdened with too many 2nd rate players, and that keeps us low on the ladder. Makes the club unattractive for better players to come.

Even when we get a top player, like Luai, he struggles to achieve the heights and the influence that he had at the top club.
 
I would bring back Royce if he has that same level of fitness as earlier in the year ..
He's looked better in Cup his past 2 games but his issue is when we are on the back foot in defence, he seems to gas getting back into line and then we can't use him in attack as it's our outside backs then used for yardage. We may have to adapt when to bring him on in this period, i.e. when we have the ball in decent position not in our own 20.
 
Need Royce on the bench too for 10 mins either side of HT, his instruction 'hunt & destroy'!
I reckon May and Hunt are the perfect complement. Playing 80min is starting to burn him out. But give him a solid 30, then bring on Hunt for the last 10 mins of half time, running hard. Then sub May back on 5 or 10 mins after half time for the remainder. It makes sense, keeps both fresh and focused on what they do best. Twal and Pole to share the other prop role.
 
He's looked better in Cup his past 2 games but his issue is when we are on the back foot in defence, he seems to gas getting back into line and then we can't use him in attack as it's our outside backs then used for yardage. We may have to adapt when to bring him on in this period, i.e. when we have the ball in decent position not in our own 20.
Maybe we can send him to the NFL ?
 
Imo, I'm telling Hodgo thanks but time to leave, bring Cronk in to work on our attack, then bringing in Matty Johns. The guy is a clown but has on of the best football I.q running around. If I can't get him in to help the halves I'm calling his brother in. Joey has done some really good work with developing halves and their games.
Pretty obvious Cronk hates Luai. I think the attack is stuttering because we are not playing off the front foot, our halves are often getting monstered and have no space to work in. When we do dominate in the forwards (rarely) our attack actually looks ok.
 
Mpap in for toa
Hunt back in for Bird

I'd out Turuva to Skeltons wing with Bula at the back. Turuva and Tu'itupou on the wings.
I second that.
And simple plan to execute out of yardage, 5th tackle high kick to Tuala on the left wing with KMapz & Turuva to contest or pressure. The kick may drop 30m out but Tuala either a) aint going anywhere or b) we get lucky and he spills it or we win the contest.
 
The distance was not the problem, it was actually good for a change. You simply can't have kicks being caught on the full at the 20-30m line. That's absolute suicide.
The problem was the kicks aren't high enough for our chasers to get through. Why do our kickers have the lowest kicking game in the comp? Get pat Richards to show them how to put some height into it. Our kickoffs and general field kicks are atrocious, worst in the comp by a long long way.
Most of our kicks on the weekend were kicked from well within our half, so 2 things...does not matter where you kick it the FB will be in position to catch and return, also your chasers are never getting there in time to minimise the return metres, add to that the fact our kick chasers seem to be running in concrete. I was quite surprised by the distance Luai was getting, he actually kicked better and further than AD.
 
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