Strength in depth the key for Wests Tigers (Great read)

T

Tigersman

New member
The way forward for the Wests Tigers in 2014 is simple, don’t get injured. In 2013, over 110 games were missed through injury from the club’s Top 25 contracted players. This led to the club giving 10 players their NRL debuts and also using 5 players who were eligible for the U20’s competition.

Even with Marshall, Ayshford, Reddy and co departing at the end of 2013, the club has built depth for the new season at a level it has never seen before. There has never really been a strong “pressure to perform” at the club, as it has only ever had 20-23 players who are ready and capable to play in the NRL.

In 2014, we have over 40 players who have either played in the NRL or are graduating from the Holden Cup with potential to break into the side this year or next. With 19 of the preseason NRL squad being 22 years of age or younger, the club’s future is secure. But as usual, it’s an expectation that teams must perform ‘here and now’.

Possible NRL 17: James Tedesco, David Nofoaluma, Chris Lawrence, Tim Simona, Pat Richards, BraithAnasta, Luke Brooks, Aaron Woods, Robbie Farah ©, Keith Galloway, Curtis Sironen, Liam Fulton, Sauaso Sue; Adam Blair, Marty Taupau, Ava Seumanufagai, Ben Murdoch-Masila.

Possible NSW Cup 17: Kurtis Rowe, TaqeleNaiyaravaro, Keith Lulia, Corey Brown, Marika Koroibete, Blake Austin, Tim Moltzen (pending fitness), Jack Buchanan, Joel Luani, Nathan Brown, Bodene Thompson, Cory Paterson, Dene Halatau; Mitchell Moses, James Gavet, Andrew Vela, Yileen Gordon.

As illustrated above, Wests Tigers’ depth is second to none. Last year, our NSW Cup side once again made the Top 8\. Not only did they suffer a number of key injuries, but also lost a number of players to top grade throughout the year. Even with the possible NRL and NSW Cup sides selected, the calibre of player who is left over is outstanding.

Jarred Farlow, SitalekiAkaoula, Asipeli Fine, Sam Hollis, Nathan Waters, Jack Madden, Kyle Lovett, Andrew Fiagatusa,Michael Bullock, InnoInosesio, Jy Hitchcox could all possibly start the year in the Ron Massey Cup. Their position in the side has nothing to do with their talent. All players are rated highly and rightly so, but it’s the strength in depth in 2014 that has created this headache.

The unbelievable injury toll that, at times last season ruled 30 players through all 3 grades out per week, has been a blessing in disguise. Tedesco, Simona, Nofoaluma and the like all started the season in NSW Cup/Holden Cup, but have now established themselves as first graders.

Now is not the time for fans to be nervous or negative. What lies ahead for the club is something that Wests, Balmain and Wests Tigers fans have never witnessed before. This side will bring success, the key to this is patience. All young players are inconsistent. That is universal, in all sports, in all levels of sport.

From a statistical stand point there really wasn’t much to write home about in 2013.

NRL/NSW Cup Player Movements:

GAINS: Sam Hollis, Blake Austin (Panthers), Marty Taupau, Dene Halatau (Bulldogs), Cory Paterson (Hull KR), Pat Richards (Wigan), Corey Brown (Western Force), Yileen Gordon (Newtown), Nathan Waters ( Illawarra Cutters), Andy Fiagatuse, Kyle Lovett, Luke Brooks, Nathan Brown, Mitch Moses, Kurtis Rowe, Andrew Vela (WT Holden Cup).

LOSSES: Benji Marshall (Rugby Union), Blake Ayshford (Sharks), Joel Reddy (Rabbitohs), Shaun Spence (Panthers), Eddy Pettybourne (Wigan), Matt Bell (Burleigh Bears), MosesePangai (Raiders), LoteTuqiri (Rugby Union), Matt Groat (Dragons), Masada Iosefa, Sean Meaney, Matt Utai (released)
 
We do have depth , but the problem is the quality of the replacements is about the same as the players in the top side

At least the performance shouldn't drop too far when replacements are required , but will it be high enough with our top side are performing
 
exactly, dont get injured!

lets see if the change in staff has any effect on how we train and the levels of injuries. surely we can't go through anotherr year of injuries, right?
 
Keith Lulia and Corey Paterson were purchased to tighten up our defence and provide some aggression. I am not sure whom you drop from the above side, but pending trial form I believe they will be there somewhere. The younger guys from last year might go back to state cup for experience.
 
The way I see it our improved depth will help us close the gap on the top four teams and make us very completive with most of the other sides but I don't know if it is going to translate into a lot of wins. It will be very interesting to see if we are heading in the right direction. Time will tell, but my guess the effort will be better in 2014, but the results only marginally better
 
There is **NOT** one of these losses I regret letting go…

Excellent article whoever wrote it....we could very well surprise in 2014 is we don't suffer the injuries of 2013
 
There's no doubting our side last year was very raw. We had 10 debutants, and guys like Tedesco, Sironen, Koroibete, Simona and Miller who all only had a handful of games under their belt. What we get this year is all these same players now with 20-30 games of experience.

Our forwards depth looks mighty strong. Ava, Sue and Buchanan all had strong first seasons, and with the addition of Taupau and Patterson, we're well covered there.

I'm still a little uncertain about our depth in the backs. The starting side looks most likely to have Teddy, Nofa, Lawrence, Simona and Richards, but that only leaves Koro and Lulia as experienced replacements.
 
i think one of the positives of having depth (besides the obvious ones) is that we have a great chance to unearth even more gems. Like maybe Taupau, Buchanan, Moses, Brown, Paterson, Lawrence (not really unearthing but you know what i mean) and even Richards could be a revelation for us with his kicking game which has been lacking in recent years.
 
@alexaki said:
There is **NOT** one of these losses I regret letting go…
Click to expand...

I think Benji could be a big loss however I looked at the gains and losses and thought it looks pretty good for us this year.
 
@formerguest said:
Indeed it was a good read. If you put that together yourself, great stuff Tigersman.
Click to expand...

I wish i did lol,I stumbled upon this website on twitter and found these great posts all about the Wests Tigers and they are very up to date and well written here is the LINK: http://tigernationnrl.blogspot.com.au/
 
I like the look of the top 17 chosen. Good size on the bench too. It all comes back to injuries though doesn't it! If we get a kind run here, we could challenge the 8\. If we are crippled like last year, we'll be near the bottom once again.
 
Towards the end of the year, we might really shake the tree - With percieved top rated teams such as the Rabbits, Bulldogs, Manly, and The Roosters to some degree suffering from losses to their depth, If we can maintain some better fortune than years gone by we might cause some surprises.

I might go and put a sly 20 on the NSW cup team to win the comp though - no one offering on NSW cup futures yet though.
 
@Tigersman said:
The way forward for the Wests Tigers in 2014 is simple, don’t get injured. In 2013, over 110 games were missed through injury from the club’s Top 25 contracted players. This led to the club giving 10 players their NRL debuts and also using 5 players who were eligible for the U20’s competition.

Even with Marshall, Ayshford, Reddy and co departing at the end of 2013, the club has built depth for the new season at a level it has never seen before. There has never really been a strong “pressure to perform” at the club, as it has only ever had 20-23 players who are ready and capable to play in the NRL.

In 2014, we have over 40 players who have either played in the NRL or are graduating from the Holden Cup with potential to break into the side this year or next. With 19 of the preseason NRL squad being 22 years of age or younger, the club’s future is secure. But as usual, it’s an expectation that teams must perform ‘here and now’.

Possible NRL 17: James Tedesco, David Nofoaluma, Chris Lawrence, Tim Simona, Pat Richards, BraithAnasta, Luke Brooks, Aaron Woods, Robbie Farah ©, Keith Galloway, Curtis Sironen, Liam Fulton, Sauaso Sue; Adam Blair, Marty Taupau, Ava Seumanufagai, Ben Murdoch-Masila.

Possible NSW Cup 17: Kurtis Rowe, TaqeleNaiyaravaro, Keith Lulia, Corey Brown, Marika Koroibete, Blake Austin, Tim Moltzen (pending fitness), Jack Buchanan, Joel Luani, Nathan Brown, Bodene Thompson, Cory Paterson, Dene Halatau; Mitchell Moses, James Gavet, Andrew Vela, Yileen Gordon.

As illustrated above, Wests Tigers’ depth is second to none. Last year, our NSW Cup side once again made the Top 8\. Not only did they suffer a number of key injuries, but also lost a number of players to top grade throughout the year. Even with the possible NRL and NSW Cup sides selected, the calibre of player who is left over is outstanding.

Jarred Farlow, SitalekiAkaoula, Asipeli Fine, Sam Hollis, Nathan Waters, Jack Madden, Kyle Lovett, Andrew Fiagatusa,Michael Bullock, InnoInosesio, Jy Hitchcox could all possibly start the year in the Ron Massey Cup. Their position in the side has nothing to do with their talent. All players are rated highly and rightly so, but it’s the strength in depth in 2014 that has created this headache.

The unbelievable injury toll that, at times last season ruled 30 players through all 3 grades out per week, has been a blessing in disguise. Tedesco, Simona, Nofoaluma and the like all started the season in NSW Cup/Holden Cup, but have now established themselves as first graders.

Now is not the time for fans to be nervous or negative. What lies ahead for the club is something that Wests, Balmain and Wests Tigers fans have never witnessed before. This side will bring success, the key to this is patience. All young players are inconsistent. That is universal, in all sports, in all levels of sport.

From a statistical stand point there really wasn’t much to write home about in 2013.

NRL/NSW Cup Player Movements:

GAINS: Sam Hollis, Blake Austin (Panthers), Marty Taupau, Dene Halatau (Bulldogs), Cory Paterson (Hull KR), Pat Richards (Wigan), Corey Brown (Western Force), Yileen Gordon (Newtown), Nathan Waters ( Illawarra Cutters), Andy Fiagatuse, Kyle Lovett, Luke Brooks, Nathan Brown, Mitch Moses, Kurtis Rowe, Andrew Vela (WT Holden Cup).

LOSSES: Benji Marshall (Rugby Union), Blake Ayshford (Sharks), Joel Reddy (Rabbitohs), Shaun Spence (Panthers), Eddy Pettybourne (Wigan), Matt Bell (Burleigh Bears), MosesePangai (Raiders), LoteTuqiri (Rugby Union), Matt Groat (Dragons), Masada Iosefa, Sean Meaney, Matt Utai (released)
Click to expand...

I like it tigerman but lets not get carried away …

_Posted using RoarFEED 2013_
 
A good read, and all true. However, it's a shame the depth doesn't extend to the halves.

I was surprised to Sam Hollis listed as a gain. Looks like he's played three years NYC at Panthers. Anyone know anything more?
 
Halutau and Patterson will be in the top 17.

I reckon BMM will be pushed out to NSW Cup, and Galloway will miss first round due to injury.

So essentially the bench will look like:

Tupau
Ava
Halutau
Patterson

With Blair taking Galloways spot
 
Really hoping halatau isn't a shoe-in for the 17\. At their best, BMM is a much better option and provides impact in attack and defence. Halatau is a Fulton clone, why would we need both in the team?

_Posted using RoarFEED 2013_
 
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