Squad Depth for Season 2023

Tom Shines said:
As far as halves go.. I remember getting into an off season argument with some dude here about letting Brooks go and keeping Hastings …

Was anyone on my side?
Click to expand...
It's funny how many have eyes that see and yet others are blinded by hype...
Same as this new coaching experiment,some are all in ,while many others have severe doubts.
 
Tucker said:
I’ve seen a few comments recently surrounding our depth for the coming year.
Some state it’s stronger whilst others maintained it’s still weak.
Here’s the rundown. Please feel free to correct any mistakes and/or make comments.

PROP
Front liners Klemmer, Twal, Utoikamanu, Pole
Backups Fainu, Seyfarth, Simpkins, Saukuru, Ma’anaima

HOOKER
Front liners Koroisau, Simpkin
Backups Ngatikaura

SECOND ROWER
Front liners Papali’i, Bateman, Blore,
Backups Seyfarth, Kautoga, Mansfield, Tumeth,

LOCK
Front liners Ofahengaue
Backups Papali’i, Matamua, Ngatikaura

HALFBACK
Front liners Brooks
Backups Simpkin, Smith*

FIVE EIGHTH
Front liners Doueihi
Backups Laurie, Smith*

CENTRE
Front liners Naden, Talau
Backups Feledy, To’a, Tupou, Kepaoa, Reilly

WING
Front liners Nofoaluma, Maumalo
Backups Staines, Kepaoa, Tupou, To’a

FULLBACK
Front liners Laurie
Backups Staines

* Smith unavailable for first 3rd of the season

For mine, depth will kill us this year.
Our front row stocks look strong with a great starting 4 however there is a drop off that has to be dealt with afterwards.
Our hookers are strong and is our best position depthwise.
Our backrowers and lock are fine with plenty of talent and depth as long as we keep most players healthy.
Our halves depth is a huge concern. Very light on for options after the starters, who have big question marks over them to begin with.
Our centres are also a big concern. Hopefully it gets stronger as the year moves forward with Feledy and Tupou standing up.
Our wingers aren’t bad with plenty of options
Our fullback stocks are pretty low, mainly due to all, including Laurie being makeshift at NRL level. A few options, but nothing too exciting yet.

I still envision this year seeing certain players playing multiple roles, especially in the backs.
Any thoughts on this?
Click to expand...
You raise a good point Re halfback backup in Simpkin. In think i heard during the off season that Simpkin was training at halfback as well as hooker. Wonder if this could be trialled over the coming weeks to give Brooks a spell?
 
Demps said:
Love these threads @Tucker
I'll sticky it.

Thanks for breaking it down like that.

Halves depth is close to non existent.
Click to expand...
And I 😍 the new and Fresh feeling this Forum has atm @Demps , particularly since you and @Lauren have joined the Forum Leader Team....... and 3 have been deleted from the Team.
I was made to feel guilty by one of those 3 just recently because I follow another Team other than Wests Tigers, with the same attitude from another one of those 3 about 18 months ago.
I had 3 or 4 posters blocked about 6 months ago due to the garbage that was being written, whereas I only have one blocked now as I was abused for asking genuinely RUOK after a very depressing post.

There's a whole new feeling of respectful comments between posters now, and great posts from @Tucker and others that are really well worth reading.
Keep up the Great work that you the current Forum Leader Team are doing in now keeping this place running smoothly and making it a Happy Place to be.
You've given me cause to see an eventual great future for Wests Tigers, just dunno if it will be before I fall off the perch though 🤔🤣 .....although I'm only 76 yoa 😱 so yuh never know, eh? 👍
 
Tucker said:
I’ve seen a few comments recently surrounding our depth for the coming year.
Some state it’s stronger whilst others maintained it’s still weak.
Here’s the rundown. Please feel free to correct any mistakes and/or make comments.

PROP
Front liners Klemmer, Twal, Utoikamanu, Pole
Backups Fainu, Seyfarth, Simpkins, Saukuru, Ma’anaima

HOOKER
Front liners Koroisau, Simpkin
Backups Ngatikaura

SECOND ROWER
Front liners Papali’i, Bateman, Blore,
Backups Seyfarth, Kautoga, Mansfield, Tumeth,

LOCK
Front liners Ofahengaue
Backups Papali’i, Matamua, Ngatikaura

HALFBACK
Front liners Brooks
Backups Simpkin, Smith*

FIVE EIGHTH
Front liners Doueihi
Backups Laurie, Smith*

CENTRE
Front liners Naden, Talau
Backups Feledy, To’a, Tupou, Kepaoa, Reilly

WING
Front liners Nofoaluma, Maumalo
Backups Staines, Kepaoa, Tupou, To’a

FULLBACK
Front liners Laurie
Backups Staines

* Smith unavailable for first 3rd of the season

For mine, depth will kill us this year.
Our front row stocks look strong with a great starting 4 however there is a drop off that has to be dealt with afterwards.
Our hookers are strong and is our best position depthwise.
Our backrowers and lock are fine with plenty of talent and depth as long as we keep most players healthy.
Our halves depth is a huge concern. Very light on for options after the starters, who have big question marks over them to begin with.
Our centres are also a big concern. Hopefully it gets stronger as the year moves forward with Feledy and Tupou standing up.
Our wingers aren’t bad with plenty of options
Our fullback stocks are pretty low, mainly due to all, including Laurie being makeshift at NRL level. A few options, but nothing too exciting yet.

I still envision this year seeing certain players playing multiple roles, especially in the backs.
Any thoughts on this?
Click to expand...
Who's the half Smith?
 
I've wanted to have a look at our club & pathways depth for each position to try and see what Sheens/Benji are planning and where the holes are in our roster for recruitment over the next 1-2 seasons.

I whipped up a spreadsheet last week for shits & giggles.

I'll do a post for each position in this thread over the next day or so and would appreciate your comments/opinions on how I rank the players especially @balmain boy @KingRobbie & those who see a fair few of our junior reps.
 
LOCK

Bold - those who should be earmarked as long-term options in this position.

agesLOCK
22+Ofahengaue
Bateman
Seyfarth
Blore
Twal
Ngatikaura
20-21Pole
Matamua
Nicholas
Valevatu
18-19K Laulilii
Faagutu (likely to be viewed as a prop)
Ibrahim
Ata
16-17Schaafhausen-Mino
Bunt
Ta'ai
 
2ND ROW

Bold - those who should be earmarked as long-term options in this position.

ages2ND ROW
22+Papali'i
Bateman
Blore
Mansfield
Kepaoa
Seyfarth
20-21Tumeth
Pole
Matamua
Vaihu
A Saukuru
Tempest
Nielsen
18-19S Saukuru
Clarke
Sukkar
Galvin
Lawandos
16-17NIL
 
PROP

Bold - those who should be earmarked as long-term options in this position.

agesPROP
22+Klemmer
Utoikamanu
Ofahengaue
Twal
Seyfarth
James
Simpkins
Fainu
Ma’anaima
20-21Pole
Matamua
A Saukuru
Tuipulotu
Tofaeono
Lolesio
18-19Miller
Faagutu
Sukkar
Ata
16-17French
Tuala
Langi
 
HOOKER

Bold - those who should be earmarked as long-term options in this position.

agesHOOKER
22+Koroisau
Simpkin
Ngatikaura
Smith
Wakeham
Laurie
20-21Mikey Tannous
Anjoul
Valevatu
18-19Da Silva
Pritchard
16-17A Large
A Keppie
 
BlackWhiteGold said:
WING

Bold - those who should be earmarked as long-term options in this position.

agesWING
22+Staines
Nofoaluma
Naden
T'oa
Kepaoa
Ngutlik
20-21Tupou
Bula
Peni
18-19Tavana
Lene
Waqa
Willett
16-17Karnib
Oitmann
Johnson
Click to expand...
Israel Ogden... I know some aren't keen on him but he's a good athlete and has potential IMHO.
 
I think your long term options at prop are the ones most likely to be wrong remember unlike other positions it takes more time for most forwards to get their body ready for first grade
 
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