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Wests Tigers 2014 squad - Outside Backs
Brock Corfe

Monday 30 September 2013 5:21 PM
Wests Tigers 2014 squad - Outside Backs

Over the coming days, Wests Tigers coach Mick Potter will take us through the top 33-squad for the 2014 season.

The series of four articles will be released in the following groups: outside backs, halves/hookers, back-row/lock and prop forwards. Potter will then provide an insight into each group and how it is shaping up for the season ahead.

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In the first announcement, we take a look at the outside backs – with 10 players out of the 33-man squad featured in this particular group.

Recruits Pat Richards and Keith Lulia will be new faces in the squad, with both players returning to the NRL following successful stints in Super League.

Richards will return “home” to the Wests Tigers and provides valuable experience to a youthful backline. During his time with Wigan, Richards won the 2010 Man of Steel Award and was the top point-scorer from 2007 through to 2010.

Lulia played under Potter at Bradford in 2012 and returns to the NRL after previously playing for St George-Illawarra and Newcastle.

There will be plenty of competition for the wing position, with Richards, Marika Koroibete and David Nofoaluma likely to fight it out for the two positions. Wests Tigers supporters can expect plenty of excitement down both edges with Tim Simona and Chris Lawrence forming a lethal backline with plenty of strike.

![](http://staticnrl.sportalhosting.com/site/_content/image/00053696-image.jpg)

Mick Potter talks 2014 outside backs:

“In the outside backs we now have Pat Richards who adds a fair bit of experience; combine that with young players such as David Nofoaluma, Tim Simona, Kurtis Rowe, James Tedesco and Marika Koroibete and we have a good mix. These players give us good strike and have plenty of potential to score tries,” Potter said.

“Chris Lawrence will be looking to bounce back from an ankle injury which had him sidelined for most of the 2013 season. He carried the injury throughout the year and after surgery I’m hoping he can get back to the form that we have seen from him in the past.

“Keith Lulia has that potential to set up and also score tries himself and will be valuable for us in 2014.

“We’ve got two young players in the mix; Kurtis Rowe and Taqele Naiyaravaro who have scored many tries in Under 20s and State Cup this year. Following another pre-season we are expecting them to be just that little bit more physical and will be able to handle the NRL. I’m looking forward to seeing them play.”

Stay tuned for the next announcement, which will feature the 2014 halves/hookers.
 
@Milky said:
Looks lilke Moltzen is gone or being considered as a 5/8 , Half or Hooker;

nope, i have it from a trusted source that he'll make an appearance in the last installment of this series, "Prop forwards."
 
I would imagine Moltzen will be considered in the halves with Tedesco showing very good form in the backend of the season despite having a broken bone in his leg, and he'll get better yet too. Rowe has potential but needs more size, he'll be destroyed at his current weight and I'd consider Nofoaluma or Richards as a backup fullback in the event of Teddy being injured.

Mr T has the potential to really shake things up. He was scoring with ease in State Cup this year prior to his ankle injury and if he can just continue to improve his workrate and aggression, he could be anything IMO.

The other issue to consider is that Simona won't be right for round 1 so the starting outside backs will probably look like:

1\. Tedesco
2\. Nofoaluma
3\. Lulia
4\. Lawrence
5\. Koroibete/Richards
 
@willow said:
I would imagine Moltzen will be considered in the halves with Tedesco showing very good form in the backend of the season despite having a broken bone in his leg, and he'll get better yet too. Rowe has potential but needs more size, he'll be destroyed at his current weight and I'd consider Nofoaluma or Richards as a backup fullback in the event of Teddy being injured.

Mr T has the potential to really shake things up. He was scoring with ease in State Cup this year prior to his ankle injury and if he can just continue to improve his workrate and aggression, he could be anything IMO.

The other issue to consider is that Simona won't be right for round 1 so the starting outside backs will probably look like:

1\. Tedesco
2\. Nofoaluma
3\. Lulia
4\. Lawrence
5\. Koroibete/Richards

I would much rather

1\. Tedesco
2\. Naiyavaro
3\. Lulia
4\. Nofoaluama
5\. Richards

Simona can come in for who ever is not performing once he is fit.

@pHyR3 said:
@Milky said:
Looks lilke Moltzen is gone or being considered as a 5/8 , Half or Hooker;

nope, i have it from a trusted source that he'll make an appearance in the last installment of this series, "Prop forwards."

Your funny.
 
We are going to be that blessed for talent in 2014 that Moltzen will be the Captain for the Magpies in the Ron Massey Cup and as much as I admire Pat Richards I'm afraid it will be Burwood-North Ryde United for him.
 
@willow said:
I would imagine Moltzen will be considered in the halves with Tedesco showing very good form in the backend of the season despite having a broken bone in his leg, and he'll get better yet too. Rowe has potential but needs more size, he'll be destroyed at his current weight and I'd consider Nofoaluma or Richards as a backup fullback in the event of Teddy being injured.

Mr T has the potential to really shake things up. He was scoring with ease in State Cup this year prior to his ankle injury and if he can just continue to improve his workrate and aggression, he could be anything IMO.

The other issue to consider is that Simona won't be right for round 1 so the starting outside backs will probably look like:

1\. Tedesco
2\. Nofoaluma
3\. Lulia
4\. Lawrence
5\. Koroibete/Richards

Is Lulia really a walking to our starting side even without simona? I would have thought richards would play 3 and lulia to start off in NSW Cup or something…
 
@pHyR3 said:
@willow said:
I would imagine Moltzen will be considered in the halves with Tedesco showing very good form in the backend of the season despite having a broken bone in his leg, and he'll get better yet too. Rowe has potential but needs more size, he'll be destroyed at his current weight and I'd consider Nofoaluma or Richards as a backup fullback in the event of Teddy being injured.

Mr T has the potential to really shake things up. He was scoring with ease in State Cup this year prior to his ankle injury and if he can just continue to improve his workrate and aggression, he could be anything IMO.

The other issue to consider is that Simona won't be right for round 1 so the starting outside backs will probably look like:

1\. Tedesco
2\. Nofoaluma
3\. Lulia
4\. Lawrence
5\. Koroibete/Richards

Is Lulia really a walking to our starting side even without simona? I would have thought richards would play 3 and lulia to start off in NSW Cup or something…

Why do people keep suggesting this? Richards at center was tried and failed in England.
Winger only.
 
Never heard that before majere…. that sucks.... too many wingers, someone will either have to go centre or NSW Cup.
 
In his second last game of NRL he played centre against Gasnier who was the best centre in the world at the time and utterly whooped him all game long.
 
I really hope that Mr T. recovers from his ankle injury (that was caused by showboating I understand) in the NSW V Qld Residents game, I really want to see him in the NRL and not be compared to TNT, gone but not forgotten!.
 
@GoldXR50Leroy said:
We are going to be that blessed for talent in 2014 that Moltzen will be the Captain for the Magpies in the Ron Massey Cup and as much as I admire Pat Richards I'm afraid it will be Burwood-North Ryde United for him.

I think you're underestimating Richards' immense talent, Leroy - he's gonna surprise quite a few on here.
 
@willow said:
I would imagine Moltzen will be considered in the halves with Tedesco showing very good form in the backend of the season despite having a broken bone in his leg, and he'll get better yet too.

It's funny how Tedesco with a broken leg is better than Moltzen :roll
 
@alex said:
@willow said:
I would imagine Moltzen will be considered in the halves with Tedesco showing very good form in the backend of the season despite having a broken bone in his leg, and he'll get better yet too.

It's funny how Tedesco with a broken leg is better than Moltzen :roll

x2
 
When all are fit, I'd say our best is:

1\. Teddy
2\. Nofo
3\. Simona
4\. Lawrence
5\. Koro

People are quick to forget how much of a beast Koro is, I have so much love for Richards as do most of us… but it's just too hard to find a spot for everyone.

Also, someone said they'd have Nofo as backup fullback, for mine I'd have Simona way ahead of him for fullback. I'll never forget how well he's played there in the past when he's had to fill in. He also has more characteristics of a fullback than Nofo, who is a very good winger.
 
1) Tedesco
2) Nofo/Koribete (most contentious)
3) Lawrence
4) Simona
5) Richards (goal kicker)

Leluia will have to earn his strips first or wait for injuries.
 
It will be refreshing to know our complete squad before Xmas.

Small changes but good impact
 

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