LIVE GAME Team v Roosters trial..LIVE game discussion

Live Game Discussion
I loved it. The first twenty I thought we were in deep trouble but all we needed was a share of the ball to get some rhythm. The young lads backed themselves and showed plenty of skill and commitment. Ordinary opposition but never the less plenty to like. Seeing props breaking the advantage line in WTs colours - they came to play.
 
OK, I know it's one trial, and our boys came out on top.
But the score hides that white elephant that follows us.
It's easy to bash the refs but yesterday gave more ammo to the refs just being wrong (we had our first
2 captain challenges overturned by the bunker).
I hope that we get a fair go as the season moves forward.
 
The leg speed, sharpness and offloading ability demonstrated by almost all our players was a breath of fresh air and it created time and space for our spine to put on a clinic.
We were still guilty of waiting and lack of defensive line speed, particularly in the first 20mins, but a few of our smaller forwards including a few who started on the bench demonstrated good defensive line speed which makes a big difference in nullifying our opponents momentum.
I know it’s only a trial and we cannot get carried away with the result, but it’s the growing confidence you could noticeably see from almost all our players as the game went on which should prove very beneficial to our depth quality during the 2026 season.
 
I was at the game, the energy was high.

Madden is a proper leader.
His chat was there throughout and he really led us around the park well, kicked strong, did the majority of it also.

Everyone played their parts.
It was just great to see how everyone had each other's back and when the other team knocked on or something the whole team fired up together.

Loved that big hit Sione put on in the first half to knock the ball free....

Tavana was very exciting to watch.

Our old mate Jnr Tupou just continues to look like he wishes he was somewhere else.
 
It was "only a trial" but AD will be looking over his shoulders at Jock this season he managed the game very well something we struggled with Andrews was good too.
Makasini looks like everything we hoped he would be it was like men vs boys between him and Talau the boy manhandled the man 🤣
We seem to have some good kids coming through Hayward is miles better than hope already but his frame isn't up to NRL footy at this point imo. Letting TDS go knowing the potential of Hayward looks like a solid decision. Theres really seems to be something to work with coming through which is positive, i think if we keep hold of some of these kids and keep our good players we already have in a couple of years we could be a force. The try from Tavana was on another level sort of reminds me of the Coats try a bit, hope he kicks on lots have big wraps on him.
 
Rock Hopper Steve said:
Yes if Adam isn't on his game next week it's a toss up for the 7 jersey first game, he needs to show the smarts to let the ball sing when shape and depth presents itself, not hog and run.

Jock will definitely make the 18/19.
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The last two Maka tries saw Madden's structure allow Andrews time to propel Maka to the line 20 metres out. We haven't scored red zone tries like that since 2005. (Well, not since Lote T at least)
 
HUNT 101 said:
Yeah getting the ball through the hands , holding pass up and putting the body on the line to draw players in created some nice gaps . The back line set up beautifully .non of this zig zag nobody knows what's happening sh..t..
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Seeing Attard running from one side of the field to link up and add the extra man to get maka over the line excited me. Dream have a look.
 
Make room for Maka? Now that's a big elephant! He started at left centre and looked dangerous every time, scoring a beauty through sheer strength. Then, as a left winger, he motored to the line with pace on 2 occasions, thanks to the rare structured backline play from a Wests Tigers team, thanks to Madden & Andrews.

He is unlikely to replace Tiny May in the centres, but the Left Wing spot is his for mine. Turuva to the Right wing which he looked OK last year scoring a few in the first part of the season. Maybe a battle between Toa & Skelton for the Right centre spot. Both a bit injury prone tho. One in from the fence Skelton's defence as a known bone crusher could work. Two big bodies on the edge with KPP & Jeral tightens up our perennial right edge problem.
 
tiger_one said:
OK, I know it's one trial, and our boys came out on top.
But the score hides that white elephant that follows us.
It's easy to bash the refs but yesterday gave more ammo to the refs just being wrong (we had our first
2 captain challenges overturned by the bunker).
I hope that we get a fair go as the season moves forward.
Click to expand...
The most pleasing feature of the game for me was how full of enthusiasm the players returned for the 2nd half. Was that good coach Benji?
 
Demps said:
I was at the game, the energy was high.

Madden is a proper leader.
His chat was there throughout and he really led us around the park well, kicked strong, did the majority of it also.

Everyone played their parts.
It was just great to see how everyone had each other's back and when the other team knocked on or something the whole team fired up together.

Loved that big hit Sione put on in the first half to knock the ball free....

Tavana was very exciting to watch.

Our old mate Jnr Tupou just continues to look like he wishes he was somewhere else.
Click to expand...
I jumped out of my chair and screamed when Sione put on that big hit. It was only a trial they say 😂
 
TurnStyle said:
Totally agree on all points there.

Interestingly (to me, that is...), is when Attard dropped that kick I instantly thought what a better fullback he is than Mason.

If I were a coach, I would WAY prefer the fullback having a "let it bounce as a last resort" approach at his age.

Knowing when you have to let it bounce will come with experience, but a young fb, i.e., Mason, lacking certainty and trying harder to not make a mistake than making the right call is just too unreliable for that position.

If he's not a fullback what is he? Utility? Don't mean to be too harsh, but he's just so... Vanilla...

Hope he proves me wrong to doubt his potential, but in my book he is a very early hot favourite for this year's Faataape award.

It's a nice trophy (comparable to the Summons Provan one): it immortalises the classic "play the ball to your closest team mate 30m behind you" that he perfected.
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There is a footy player in Heath. He is all effort. Yesterday made me think he reads this forum. The amount of shit people on this forum give him is disgracefull. He is a Wests Tiger and pulls that jumper on give the kid a break.
 
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