CLASS GALORE IN WESTS TIGERS U20S SIDE
By Wayne Cousins
29/04/2010 6:13:43 PM
If there is one reason why members should arrive early at Campbelltown Sports Stadium this Sunday, it lies in the form of the exciting Wests Tigers U20s team.
Electrifying backs, classy halves and a strong and hard-working forward pack are just some of the ingredients that make up the Wests Tigers team in this year’s Toyota Cup competition.
Under the astute coaching of Grant Jones and his dedicated support team, the Wests Tigers are one of the real premiership forces after just seven rounds of the season. There may be a long way to go before the finals but this side is well on its way in tracing the footsteps of the brilliant 2009 team that was controversially beaten in the grand final.
This Sunday against the Sydney Roosters, captain Matt Hyland and his team will be shooting for their sixth straight victory in the Toyota Cup. Five wins from seven matches sees the team sitting in third place after a slow start to the season in their opening two matches.
Wherever you look, there is strength, speed and skills right across the park with this team.
Full-back Jake Mullaney has been on fire in recent weeks, recapturing the form of 2009 that saw him become the competition’s leading pointscorer. His form saw him earn a full-time NRL contract for 2010.
Judging by his recent form, Mullaney is knocking hard on the door of NRL coach Tim Sheens for selection. This kid can also play half – a position he originally trialled in at the start of the 2009 season.
Mullaney has scored nine tries and kicked 31 goals to record 98 points to be the competition’s top pointscorer.
Of his nine tries, Mullaney has recorded two hat-tricks – against Canberra in round four and the Bulldogs in round six. He goes into the Roosters match on the back of two tries against Penrith last weekend. Mullaney shares the top tryscorers list with Brisbane’s Dale Copley and his Wests Tigers team-mate in talented winger Faleula Finau.
As for the 31 goals, he kicked 8 from 10 against Parramatta in round 3, 5 from 7 against the Cowboys in round 5, and landed another seven against Penrith. Mullaney has kicked 31 goals from 46 attempts.
The closest opponent to Mullaney on the pointscorers ladder is Roosters’ half-back Brad Murray, who he lines up against on Sunday. Murray has kicked 37 from 44 goals but found the tryline just once for 79 points.
Like any back, Mullaney can only do his magic if the platform is laid by his forwards. And what a forward pack it is!
Prop Neil Begovich (the team’s strongest man) has been very impressive up front and has a hard working pack around him in Ethan Tafili, Shaun Spence, Matt Hyland, Joel Wisbey, Vaha Pulu, Mason Talolua, Junior Roqica and the powerful Ben Murdoch-Masila. Prop Aaron Woods – who enjoyed a superb 2009 season - is not far off from returning from injury too.
Yapping at the heels of his forwards are talented hookers Dean Parata and Pat Politoni who can slice through a tired defence in the blink of an eye. Sam Stamford did the job in the early rounds and will keep Parata and Politoni honest.
Wisbey has made a successful transition from grand final centre to second-rower while Hyland tackles himself to a standstill, averaging more than 40 tackles a game.
As for the backs, they are just lightning and possess endless amount of ability.
Finau knows how to find a tryline as done fellow winger Sama Sauvao, who coach Jones believes has the best hands in the game for a player of his age.
The centres in Limoni Kamuta and Jake Clarke have been in superb form and are very sound defensively as well. Both can lay tries on for their outside men.
Former centre Bodie Clarke is developing into a quality ball playing five-eighth and has formed a strong partnership with half-back Jay Florimo – an aggressive player who reads the play well and has a good short and long kicking game. The Tigers will also look to welcome back the craftiness of injured back Matt Brassington from a broken leg and tough winger Joel Jackson from a shoulder injury later in the season.
With Wests Tigers having a bye in round nine, a win over the Roosters on Sunday is essentially worth four points.
The scene is set for a cracking game between two classy teams. All that is needed now is for the army of Wests Tigers members and supporters to arrive early and cheer on their team. Kick-off is 11.45am.
