Signings, Suggestions & Rumours Discussion

[diedpretty]

NRL 2021: Wests Tigers’ rebuilt pack to break ‘ninth place’ curse

Shawn Blore has read all the stories already writing off his club’s 2021 chances. But the rising Tigers forward says the club’s rebuilt pack can shut the naysayers up.Wests Tigers young gun Shawn Blore shudders at the memory of the pain that comes with tackling former Parramatta behemoth Stefano Utoikamanu.

It’s one of the reasons Blore is relieved Utoikamanu is now a teammate at Concord.

Penrith product Blore played against Utoikamanu all through the junior grades and has experienced the devastation of the prop’s power first hand.

“I grew up playing with Stefano and I hated tackling him,” Blore said.

“Every time I slipped on an opposition jersey against him I hated it because I knew he’d be running at me and he’s that hard to tackle.

“Bro, he’s massive and weighs like 116kg and is already the second-fittest forward in the team. He’s a freak.

“Wait until he finds his feet in the NRL — he is going to be something special.”


Blore believes the acquisition of Utoikamanu, Brisbane’s Joe Ofahengaue and former Penrith skipper and teammate James Tamou will transform the Tigers’ forward pack into one of the NRL’s most formidable in season 2021.

The kind of forward pack that can end the Tigers’ finals exile and end the “ninth place” taunts that Blore, 20, has had enough of reading on social media. The Concord club has finished 9th on the NRL ladder three times since last making a finals appearance in 2011.

“Once he (Utoikamanu) finds his feet in the NRL our forward pack is going to be pretty tough to stop,” Blore said.


“I know a lot of people on socials are saying ‘oh the Tigers and the ninth spot’ and stuff like that but I truly believe that we are on the rise.

“With Stefano and Joffa (Ofahengaue) and the guys we already have, we are going to have a great forward pack once we get some time in together.

“Reading that stuff about being written off is going to be good for us, we can really prove a point in 2021 because we have a lot of talent here.

“That talk motivates me and I hope it motivates the other boys.”


Blore, 20, made a memorable NRL debut back in round 11 against the Eels earlier this year.

Faced with the task of taking on Parramatta enforcer Nathan Brown, Blore refused to be intimidated by the more seasoned campaigner and delivered a rousing display of aggression and tenacity.

With five NRL games now under his belt, all off the bench, Blore has set himself a lofty goal of snaring a starting edge spot.

Luciano Leilua is expected to again start on the left edge and the inside word from Concord is that Blore, a Junior Kangaroo, is on course to snaring the second-row spot on the right spot as he continues to impress during the pre-season.



“In our annual coach’s meeting I spoke to Madge (Maguire) about what I want to do next year and about goals for myself. I want to put good consistent footy together because I know I have a lot more in the tank.

“This pre-season is about getting fit and nailing a starting spot.

“I’ll play wherever Madge wants me but I do love playing in the back row. I grew up playing there.”

 

[the_third]

Saw a photo of bj Leilua on twitter today, jesus christ the dude has changed so much, highly recommend everyone go have a lookie

Post it please dude?

Fit joey


The guy has dropped so much unnecessary fat its insane

Pity his brain is still the same.

Idk, if you work your ass off to offload that amount of kilo’s, dyu mentally think your going to do the same thing you did last year? ?

Just appreciate, his in his contract year, i hope the guy does big things!

Spot on and the beauty of his contract is we get 2 contract years due to the club option

 

[Tiger5150]

Saw a photo of bj Leilua on twitter today, jesus christ the dude has changed so much, highly recommend everyone go have a lookie

Post it please dude?

Fit joey


First time i have ever seen BJ look cut
Let's hope that gives him more confidence to trample over his opposition

I read in an article the exact same thing happened when he joined Canberra. His first year there he was unfit and struggled, came back the next year cut a heap of weight and got fit and was dally m centre. He’s such a damaging ball runner, hopefully fixing his weight and mobility fixes his defence too.

When do you say enough? Wouldn't it be preferable to put our long term option in the centre and stick with him?

I think he’ll be good for us next year and if he’s playing good enough he’s gotta be in the team. Hard to know if Roberts will play and Talau could play wing or centre.

Pretty much regardless of contracts and age whoever’s playing the best should be starting and I think it’ll be Joey combining well with Doueihi on that right edge

Physical fitness and pyschological makeup are the difference between an outstanding player and the weakest link. Why do WTs believe they are different to the **Raiders**, Newcastle or the Roosters?

I would take Joeys Raiders form. He had an awesome year 2016 when "Leipana" was born, got selected in Aus train on. 2016 Dally M Centre of the year.

2018 Raiders highest try scorer and again DallyM Centre of the Year.

Im happy not to be different to Raiders in that regard.

 

[Deleted member 3518]

So what’s the news ? The mansour Laurie rubbish ? And that’s it ?

 

[Tiger5150]

Is there any chance we will sign a goal kicker ?
Anyone in the know got any info???

Rankin used to be our goal kicker,



As if we needed a goal kicker playing "Taylor ball".


People keep talking about " Taylorball " as though we never scored any points. In fact under Taylor we did no worse in try scoring than we have with other coaches since Sheens. The whole point of it was going back to basics to eliminate mistakes and not have to expend all our energy in defence which was atrocious. The team actually had no problem scoring tries under Taylor - its just that they couldn't defend.

2013 - Potter 70 tries in 24 games ranked 14th
2014 - Potter 73 tries in 24 games ranked 14th
2015 - Taylor 86 tries in 24 games ranked 7th
2016 - Taylor 88 tries in 24 games ranked 10th
2017 - Taylor 7 tries in 3 games
2017 - Webster 3 tries in 2 games
2017 - Cleary 60 tries in 19 games
2018 = Cleary 61 tries in 25 games ranked 16th
2019 - Maguire 83 tries in 24 games ranked 8th
2020 - Maguire 80 tries in 20 games ranked 7th

Pretty impressive stats for Madge TBH

 

[Tiger5150]

NRL 2021: Wests Tigers’ rebuilt pack to break ‘ninth place’ curse

Shawn Blore has read all the stories already writing off his club’s 2021 chances. But the rising Tigers forward says the club’s rebuilt pack can shut the naysayers up.Wests Tigers young gun Shawn Blore shudders at the memory of the pain that comes with tackling former Parramatta behemoth Stefano Utoikamanu.

It’s one of the reasons Blore is relieved Utoikamanu is now a teammate at Concord.

Penrith product Blore played against Utoikamanu all through the junior grades and has experienced the devastation of the prop’s power first hand.

“I grew up playing with Stefano and I hated tackling him,” Blore said.

“Every time I slipped on an opposition jersey against him I hated it because I knew he’d be running at me and he’s that hard to tackle.

“Bro, he’s massive and weighs like 116kg and is already the second-fittest forward in the team. He’s a freak.

“Wait until he finds his feet in the NRL — he is going to be something special.”


Blore believes the acquisition of Utoikamanu, Brisbane’s Joe Ofahengaue and former Penrith skipper and teammate James Tamou will transform the Tigers’ forward pack into one of the NRL’s most formidable in season 2021.

The kind of forward pack that can end the Tigers’ finals exile and end the “ninth place” taunts that Blore, 20, has had enough of reading on social media. The Concord club has finished 9th on the NRL ladder three times since last making a finals appearance in 2011.

“Once he (Utoikamanu) finds his feet in the NRL our forward pack is going to be pretty tough to stop,” Blore said.


“I know a lot of people on socials are saying ‘oh the Tigers and the ninth spot’ and stuff like that but I truly believe that we are on the rise.

“With Stefano and Joffa (Ofahengaue) and the guys we already have, we are going to have a great forward pack once we get some time in together.

“Reading that stuff about being written off is going to be good for us, we can really prove a point in 2021 because we have a lot of talent here.

“That talk motivates me and I hope it motivates the other boys.”


Blore, 20, made a memorable NRL debut back in round 11 against the Eels earlier this year.

Faced with the task of taking on Parramatta enforcer Nathan Brown, Blore refused to be intimidated by the more seasoned campaigner and delivered a rousing display of aggression and tenacity.

With five NRL games now under his belt, all off the bench, Blore has set himself a lofty goal of snaring a starting edge spot.

Luciano Leilua is expected to again start on the left edge and the inside word from Concord is that Blore, a Junior Kangaroo, is on course to snaring the second-row spot on the right spot as he continues to impress during the pre-season.



“In our annual coach’s meeting I spoke to Madge (Maguire) about what I want to do next year and about goals for myself. I want to put good consistent footy together because I know I have a lot more in the tank.

“***This pre-season is about getting fit*** and nailing a starting spot.

“I’ll play wherever Madge wants me but I do love playing in the back row. I grew up playing there.”

One thing that give me confidence in Madge, is that many things that we as fans see clearly and discuss regularly, he is addressing. For years we have been pulling our hair out wondering how the coach cant see it but just about everything that we identify, Madge seems to address.

 

[851]

Luciano Leilua is expected to again start on the left edge and the inside word from Concord is that Blore, a Junior Kangaroo, is on course to snaring the second-row spot on the right spot as he continues to impress during the pre-season.

That would work for me

 

[bathursttiger1]

Question for people like @Everything-WT or @cochise who seem to be close to the club. What’s the mood inside? Quietly confident with a plan or are they getting frustrated at not landing the major signings they want?

Are you not seeing the plan? Our development over the last 18 months is impressive. We dont need a major signing. Look at the Storm. They grow there stars



Very true,melbourne dont buy stars.

This is such a fallacy. Melbourne just recruit their stars at a younger age. The most recent batch to blossom, the likes of Tino, B Smith, Kamikamika, Grant, Munster, were all identified as superstars in the making long before their NRL debuts.

Hopefully Scott Woodward will do the same for WT working with Hartigan.

 

[Krammy]

Saw Bj a couple of weeks ago at Blacktown and yes he is looking very fit,Kepaoa I think people are looking at only the mistakes in his game that most rookies have,what impressed me most was not only his speed but his ability to break the line,this guy is going to be a great player

I thought Kepaoa's speed caused oppositions difficulty towards the back end of the year. I think we are going OK for centres and wingers really.We are a little skinny in the halves, especially with Walters out for months at the start of next year. I don't know much about Madden or any other junior half coming through, but getting early injuries to Brooks and Douiaehi might expose us in the halves.

 

[Tiger5150]

Saw Bj a couple of weeks ago at Blacktown and yes he is looking very fit,Kepaoa I think people are looking at only the mistakes in his game that most rookies have,what impressed me most was not only his speed but his ability to break the line,this guy is going to be a great player

I thought Kepaoa's speed caused oppositions difficulty towards the back end of the year. I think we are going OK for centres and wingers really.We are a little skinny in the halves, especially with Walters out for months at the start of next year. I don't know much about Madden or any other junior half coming through, but getting early injuries to Brooks and Douiaehi might expose us in the halves.

I agree with you WRT to Kepaoa. IMO he is the most likely young'un and looks like he could be good on that left wing and maybe even potentially at centre in the future. At the risk of offending many here, he has shown a lot more than TT.

Im not sure we are skinny for depth in the halves. Yes we dont have a lot of depth but IMO this is the nature of halves. Every club simply has two go to halves and as a rule that is it. RARELY you have a situation like Penrith with proven players in reggies in the halves, because clubs with weak halves typically poach these kids. More regularly you have situations liek us or the roosters where you have no depth, but gun kids (Roosters Walker, Tigers Madden) waiting their turn.

 

[cochise]

Saw Bj a couple of weeks ago at Blacktown and yes he is looking very fit,Kepaoa I think people are looking at only the mistakes in his game that most rookies have,what impressed me most was not only his speed but his ability to break the line,this guy is going to be a great player

I thought Kepaoa's speed caused oppositions difficulty towards the back end of the year. I think we are going OK for centres and wingers really.We are a little skinny in the halves, especially with Walters out for months at the start of next year. I don't know much about Madden or any other junior half coming through, but getting early injuries to Brooks and Douiaehi might expose us in the halves.


I agree with you WRT to Kepaoa. IMO he is the most likely young'un and looks like he could be good on that left wing and maybe even potentially at centre in the future. At the risk of offending many here, he has shown a lot more than TT.

Im not sure we are skinny for depth in the halves. Yes we dont have a lot of depth but IMO this is the nature of halves. Every club simply has two go to halves and as a rule that is it. RARELY you have a situation like Penrith with proven players in reggies in the halves, because clubs with weak halves typically poach these kids. More regularly you have situations liek us or the roosters where you have no depth, but gun kids (Roosters Walker, Tigers Madden) waiting their turn.

Our issue in the halves is that we are going into the season with a gamble in the halves. Hopefully it pays off lie the rest of our gambles for 2021, if the majority pay off we are in a good spot to make the finals.

 

[Tiger5150]

Saw Bj a couple of weeks ago at Blacktown and yes he is looking very fit,Kepaoa I think people are looking at only the mistakes in his game that most rookies have,what impressed me most was not only his speed but his ability to break the line,this guy is going to be a great player

I thought Kepaoa's speed caused oppositions difficulty towards the back end of the year. I think we are going OK for centres and wingers really.We are a little skinny in the halves, especially with Walters out for months at the start of next year. I don't know much about Madden or any other junior half coming through, but getting early injuries to Brooks and Douiaehi might expose us in the halves.


I agree with you WRT to Kepaoa. IMO he is the most likely young'un and looks like he could be good on that left wing and maybe even potentially at centre in the future. At the risk of offending many here, he has shown a lot more than TT.

Im not sure we are skinny for depth in the halves. Yes we dont have a lot of depth but IMO this is the nature of halves. Every club simply has two go to halves and as a rule that is it. RARELY you have a situation like Penrith with proven players in reggies in the halves, because clubs with weak halves typically poach these kids. More regularly you have situations liek us or the roosters where you have no depth, but gun kids (Roosters Walker, Tigers Madden) waiting their turn.

Our issue in the halves is that we are going into the season with a gamble in the halves. Hopefully it pays off lie the rest of our gambles for 2021, if the majority pay off we are in a good spot to make the finals.

Agree. Also back onto the "depth" discussion, for me Im glad to ahve Mbye around as reasonable cover for 1, 3, 4, 6, 9

 

[cochise]

Saw Bj a couple of weeks ago at Blacktown and yes he is looking very fit,Kepaoa I think people are looking at only the mistakes in his game that most rookies have,what impressed me most was not only his speed but his ability to break the line,this guy is going to be a great player

I thought Kepaoa's speed caused oppositions difficulty towards the back end of the year. I think we are going OK for centres and wingers really.We are a little skinny in the halves, especially with Walters out for months at the start of next year. I don't know much about Madden or any other junior half coming through, but getting early injuries to Brooks and Douiaehi might expose us in the halves.


I agree with you WRT to Kepaoa. IMO he is the most likely young'un and looks like he could be good on that left wing and maybe even potentially at centre in the future. At the risk of offending many here, he has shown a lot more than TT.

Im not sure we are skinny for depth in the halves. Yes we dont have a lot of depth but IMO this is the nature of halves. Every club simply has two go to halves and as a rule that is it. RARELY you have a situation like Penrith with proven players in reggies in the halves, because clubs with weak halves typically poach these kids. More regularly you have situations liek us or the roosters where you have no depth, but gun kids (Roosters Walker, Tigers Madden) waiting their turn.

Our issue in the halves is that we are going into the season with a gamble in the halves. Hopefully it pays off lie the rest of our gambles for 2021, if the majority pay off we are in a good spot to make the finals.


Agree. Also back onto the "depth" discussion, for me Im glad to ahve Mbye around as reasonable cover for 1, 3, 4, 6, 9

I agree, if he was to leave now we would be very short at 1 and 6.

 

[jadtiger]

Question for people like @Everything-WT or @cochise who seem to be close to the club. What’s the mood inside? Quietly confident with a plan or are they getting frustrated at not landing the major signings they want?

Are you not seeing the plan? Our development over the last 18 months is impressive. We dont need a major signing. Look at the Storm. They grow there stars



Very true,melbourne dont buy stars.

This is such a fallacy. Melbourne just recruit their stars at a younger age. The most recent batch to blossom, the likes of Tino, B Smith, Kamikamika, Grant, Munster, were all identified as superstars in the making long before their NRL debuts.

It is the sensible way to build a strong club and i am glad to see Madge is taking that approach

 

[sleeve]

Saw Bj a couple of weeks ago at Blacktown and yes he is looking very fit,Kepaoa I think people are looking at only the mistakes in his game that most rookies have,what impressed me most was not only his speed but his ability to break the line,this guy is going to be a great player

I thought Kepaoa's speed caused oppositions difficulty towards the back end of the year. I think we are going OK for centres and wingers really.We are a little skinny in the halves, especially with Walters out for months at the start of next year. I don't know much about Madden or any other junior half coming through, but getting early injuries to Brooks and Douiaehi might expose us in the halves.


I agree with you WRT to Kepaoa. IMO he is the most likely young'un and looks like he could be good on that left wing and maybe even potentially at centre in the future. At the risk of offending many here, he has shown a lot more than TT.

Im not sure we are skinny for depth in the halves. Yes we dont have a lot of depth but IMO this is the nature of halves. Every club simply has two go to halves and as a rule that is it. RARELY you have a situation like Penrith with proven players in reggies in the halves, because clubs with weak halves typically poach these kids. More regularly you have situations liek us or the roosters where you have no depth, but gun kids (Roosters Walker, Tigers Madden) waiting their turn.

Our issue in the halves is that we are going into the season with a gamble in the halves. Hopefully it pays off lie the rest of our gambles for 2021, if the majority pay off we are in a good spot to make the finals.


Agree. Also back onto the "depth" discussion, for me Im glad to ahve Mbye around as reasonable cover for 1, 3, 4, 6, 9

Madden and tannous coming through we are in good hands.

 

[BZN]

Saw a photo of bj Leilua on twitter today, jesus christ the dude has changed so much, highly recommend everyone go have a lookie

Post it please dude?

Fit joey


First time i have ever seen BJ look cut
Let's hope that gives him more confidence to trample over his opposition

I read in an article the exact same thing happened when he joined Canberra. His first year there he was unfit and struggled, came back the next year cut a heap of weight and got fit and was dally m centre. He’s such a damaging ball runner, hopefully fixing his weight and mobility fixes his defence too.

When do you say enough? Wouldn't it be preferable to put our long term option in the centre and stick with him?

I think he’ll be good for us next year and if he’s playing good enough he’s gotta be in the team. Hard to know if Roberts will play and Talau could play wing or centre.

Pretty much regardless of contracts and age whoever’s playing the best should be starting and I think it’ll be Joey combining well with Doueihi on that right edge

Physical fitness and pyschological makeup are the difference between an outstanding player and the weakest link. Why do WTs believe they are different to the Raiders, Newcastle or the Roosters?

Covid is not going away. While overseas arrivals continue, the risk of the infection into the community is real. We may not see our families at Christmas and I would not be surprised if a bubble is not being planned for next season. So what will change?

None of what you said made sense. Literally nothing. Like what dyu even mean here?

"Physical fitness and pyschological makeup are the difference between an outstanding player and the weakest link. Why do WTs believe they are different to the Raiders, Newcastle or the Roosters?"

Lmao

It's pretty clear and one poster has responded. Like what don't you understand?

Paws, I rate you cos you seem very sure of yourself. But read the last few posts. The translations getting lost a bit.
Something I noticed about you, your hell bent on hating players immediately. Nofa, Bj, Luciano.

Also look at the rating on your last few posts, cos they are in the negatives mate, "specially the post in question"

regardless lets banter, I'll always be down.

I can't recall ever writing a negative post about Luciano.

Leilua J has been an extremely poor buy, so against the youth approach we have adopted.

My view on Nofoaluma is clear so I don't need to repeat it.

As for recruitment, I like to read Sir Alex Fergusons approach and note the synergies between him having little money and investing what he did have in youth and the WTs' approach.

https://www.opustalentsolutions.com/blog-news-and-social/sir-alex-fergusons-talent-strategy-how-to-build-a-successful-team

Usually , I am fairly positive towards the Club but this is a forum so views will differ. As for negative reps, who cares.

[/QUOTE]

He was obviously a great man manager re..."Fergie would reserve the 'hairdryer' for players he knew could take it, treating others differently, perhaps offering a few quiet words of encouragement"
I would love to be a fly on the wall at Madge's team meetings to see how he handles various players in Our Team.

.

 

[Speed2burn]

NRL 2021: Wests Tigers’ rebuilt pack to break ‘ninth place’ curse

Shawn Blore has read all the stories already writing off his club’s 2021 chances. But the rising Tigers forward says the club’s rebuilt pack can shut the naysayers up.Wests Tigers young gun Shawn Blore shudders at the memory of the pain that comes with tackling former Parramatta behemoth Stefano Utoikamanu.

It’s one of the reasons Blore is relieved Utoikamanu is now a teammate at Concord.

Penrith product Blore played against Utoikamanu all through the junior grades and has experienced the devastation of the prop’s power first hand.

“I grew up playing with Stefano and I hated tackling him,” Blore said.

“Every time I slipped on an opposition jersey against him I hated it because I knew he’d be running at me and he’s that hard to tackle.

“Bro, he’s massive and weighs like 116kg and is already the second-fittest forward in the team. He’s a freak.

“Wait until he finds his feet in the NRL — he is going to be something special.”


Blore believes the acquisition of Utoikamanu, Brisbane’s Joe Ofahengaue and former Penrith skipper and teammate James Tamou will transform the Tigers’ forward pack into one of the NRL’s most formidable in season 2021.

The kind of forward pack that can end the Tigers’ finals exile and end the “ninth place” taunts that Blore, 20, has had enough of reading on social media. The Concord club has finished 9th on the NRL ladder three times since last making a finals appearance in 2011.

“Once he (Utoikamanu) finds his feet in the NRL our forward pack is going to be pretty tough to stop,” Blore said.


“I know a lot of people on socials are saying ‘oh the Tigers and the ninth spot’ and stuff like that but I truly believe that we are on the rise.

“With Stefano and Joffa (Ofahengaue) and the guys we already have, we are going to have a great forward pack once we get some time in together.

“Reading that stuff about being written off is going to be good for us, we can really prove a point in 2021 because we have a lot of talent here.

“That talk motivates me and I hope it motivates the other boys.”


Blore, 20, made a memorable NRL debut back in round 11 against the Eels earlier this year.

Faced with the task of taking on Parramatta enforcer Nathan Brown, Blore refused to be intimidated by the more seasoned campaigner and delivered a rousing display of aggression and tenacity.

With five NRL games now under his belt, all off the bench, Blore has set himself a lofty goal of snaring a starting edge spot.

Luciano Leilua is expected to again start on the left edge and the inside word from Concord is that Blore, a Junior Kangaroo, is on course to snaring the second-row spot on the right spot as he continues to impress during the pre-season.



“In our annual coach’s meeting I spoke to Madge (Maguire) about what I want to do next year and about goals for myself. I want to put good consistent footy together because I know I have a lot more in the tank.

“This pre-season is about getting fit and nailing a starting spot.

“I’ll play wherever Madge wants me but I do love playing in the back row. I grew up playing there.”

Blore is really impressive, love his attitude towards the club. I just pray the inevitable doesn’t happen where he becomes one of the elite back rowers in the comp and signs elsewhere

 

[CocaCola]

Everything Wests Tigers
@EverythingWests
Zac Cini and Daine Laurie have been both training with the Penrith Panthers. Very interesting. Hope we haven’t released Cini regardless, would be a complete waste

He posts on the forum here.. probably not a Tigers supporter.. 15 year old wanting to get a Instagram following and supports players not coming to the Wests Tigers.

What a stupid thing to say hahahaha

Probably is, wont speak the mind next time.

other then that, can anyone provide any information on the camp that the team went to over the last 3 days? Wonder if they smashed it while doing so.. personally i'd be putting them into another camp during Jan-Feb.

Camp????

Boys went on a 3 day intensive army camp and just got back today. Seems most clubs do it these days tbh

Would be cool if they show exclusive content of the camp. I know penrith did it last pre season

That worked well for the Adelaide Crows lol..
Aslong as it was all about the fitness and mental toughness & nothing to do with 'honesty sessions'.

 

[TigerWest]

NRL 2021: Wests Tigers’ rebuilt pack to break ‘ninth place’ curse

Shawn Blore has read all the stories already writing off his club’s 2021 chances. But the rising Tigers forward says the club’s rebuilt pack can shut the naysayers up.Wests Tigers young gun Shawn Blore shudders at the memory of the pain that comes with tackling former Parramatta behemoth Stefano Utoikamanu.

It’s one of the reasons Blore is relieved Utoikamanu is now a teammate at Concord.

Penrith product Blore played against Utoikamanu all through the junior grades and has experienced the devastation of the prop’s power first hand.

“I grew up playing with Stefano and I hated tackling him,” Blore said.

“Every time I slipped on an opposition jersey against him I hated it because I knew he’d be running at me and he’s that hard to tackle.

“Bro, he’s massive and weighs like 116kg and is already the second-fittest forward in the team. He’s a freak.

“Wait until he finds his feet in the NRL — he is going to be something special.”


Blore believes the acquisition of Utoikamanu, Brisbane’s Joe Ofahengaue and former Penrith skipper and teammate James Tamou will transform the Tigers’ forward pack into one of the NRL’s most formidable in season 2021.

The kind of forward pack that can end the Tigers’ finals exile and end the “ninth place” taunts that Blore, 20, has had enough of reading on social media. The Concord club has finished 9th on the NRL ladder three times since last making a finals appearance in 2011.

“Once he (Utoikamanu) finds his feet in the NRL our forward pack is going to be pretty tough to stop,” Blore said.


“I know a lot of people on socials are saying ‘oh the Tigers and the ninth spot’ and stuff like that but I truly believe that we are on the rise.

“With Stefano and Joffa (Ofahengaue) and the guys we already have, we are going to have a great forward pack once we get some time in together.

“Reading that stuff about being written off is going to be good for us, we can really prove a point in 2021 because we have a lot of talent here.

“That talk motivates me and I hope it motivates the other boys.”


Blore, 20, made a memorable NRL debut back in round 11 against the Eels earlier this year.

Faced with the task of taking on Parramatta enforcer Nathan Brown, Blore refused to be intimidated by the more seasoned campaigner and delivered a rousing display of aggression and tenacity.

With five NRL games now under his belt, all off the bench, Blore has set himself a lofty goal of snaring a starting edge spot.

Luciano Leilua is expected to again start on the left edge and the inside word from Concord is that Blore, a Junior Kangaroo, is on course to snaring the second-row spot on the right spot as he continues to impress during the pre-season.



“In our annual coach’s meeting I spoke to Madge (Maguire) about what I want to do next year and about goals for myself. I want to put good consistent footy together because I know I have a lot more in the tank.

“This pre-season is about getting fit and nailing a starting spot.

“I’ll play wherever Madge wants me but I do love playing in the back row. I grew up playing there.”

Blore is really impressive, love his attitude towards the club. I just pray the inevitable doesn’t happen where he becomes one of the elite back rowers in the comp and signs elsewhere

I agree with your thoughts on Blore, surely a possible future captain.

I think we have smarter people running the place now, so hopefully won’t be a club issue if he does.

 

[Speed2burn]

Everything Wests Tigers
@EverythingWests
Zac Cini and Daine Laurie have been both training with the Penrith Panthers. Very interesting. Hope we haven’t released Cini regardless, would be a complete waste

He posts on the forum here.. probably not a Tigers supporter.. 15 year old wanting to get a Instagram following and supports players not coming to the Wests Tigers.

What a stupid thing to say hahahaha

Probably is, wont speak the mind next time.

other then that, can anyone provide any information on the camp that the team went to over the last 3 days? Wonder if they smashed it while doing so.. personally i'd be putting them into another camp during Jan-Feb.

Camp????

Boys went on a 3 day intensive army camp and just got back today. Seems most clubs do it these days tbh

Would be cool if they show exclusive content of the camp. I know penrith did it last pre season

That worked well for the Adelaide Crows lol..
Aslong as it was all about the fitness and mental toughness & nothing to do with 'honesty sessions'.

Penrith did it last year and nearly won the comp. Tbh I’m not sure it’ll make or break a season, but it will probably weed out the weak and show the coach what he needs to work on with certain players