We're missing a ball playing forward

Wests Tigers attack could do with a ball-playing forward​


Eric Kontos | May 17, 2023

justinmatamuaxx-1.jpg


Wests Tigers weren’t disgraced in the 20-0 loss to Souths last Saturday. But the inability of the Tim Sheens side to disturb the scoreboard attendants stood out like the proverbial.

The Wests Tigers haven’t got a problem getting to their opponent’s red zone inside the 20m.

But even with a repeat set the side just can’t find a way to score too many points.

It’s partly to do with all of the spine combinations being new.

In the halves, Luke Brooks, who will be running out for his 200th game for the Wests Tigers in Saturday’s clash against the Cowboys at Leichhardt, is still getting to know his new partner Brandon Wakeham.

Same goes for the hooker, Api Koroisau, who is slowly getting back to his best but is not quite there yet.

The final piece of the spine is fullback Jahream Bula, the least experienced member of the band.

He is an exciting prospect, no doubt about it, and while his contribution in defence has been absolutely brilliant, Bula’s attacking prowess is rather limited.

Given time, this spine could become one of the best around. But does the club have time, in the sense of sacrificing another season with finals footy?

Probably not, which is why coach Sheens needs to look around for another attacking weapon to boost what the spine is offering at the moment.

One suggestion would be a ball playing forward, something the side is lacking right now.

There is one young player in the squad, Justin Matamua, who fits the bill according to his mentors through the club pathways.

Every week though young Matamua, pictured above, is named in the extended squad but just misses out being in the 17 that end up with game time.

The forward pack has done a great job this season, especially the past four or five matches, but there isn’t a genuine ball playing one among them.

Tim Sheens will need to throw caution to the wind at some stage and give Matamua a run – after all, the coach has nothing to lose at this stage of the season.

Matamua has been named at 20 in the extended squad for Saturday’s Indigenous Round match against North Queensland Cowboys at Leichhardt Oval.

The only change is prop forward Aitasi James coming into the extended squad. The New Zealand-born 22-year-old joined Wests Tigers last season and has been playing in the Knock-On Effect NSW Cup for Western Suburbs Magpies.

TEAM LIST:

1. Jahream Bula

2. David Nofoaluma

3. Starford To’a

4. Tommy Talau

5. Junior Tupou

6. Brandon Wakeham

7. Luke Brooks

8. Stefano Utoikamanu

9. Api Koroisau (c)

10. David Klemmer

11. Isaiah Papali’i

12. John Bateman

13. Fonua Pole

INTERCHANGE:

14. Jake Simpkin

15. Joe Ofahengaue

16. Alex Twal

17. Asu Kepaoa

18. Alex Seyfarth

19. Shawn Blore

20. Justin Matamua

21. Daine Laurie

22. Aitasi James
 
upthetigers said:
What should be a priority besides getting a new halfback?
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New CEO, major sponsor, board, sort out the identity/home ground factor, pathways. On the field - besides Bula and Tupou we need a 3-7, a genuine 13, a better 14 and a better impact forward on the bench.

None of that matters without a real halfback in our team steering the team to victories and success.
 
Demps said:
Bula, good - will only get better.

Think we need some strike in the centres, some halves with some smarts and a ball playing 13 (not a prop playing lock)
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Tass is the obvious one with Wighton to Souths. Upgrade on Naden no doubt but feel like we still need more...
 
BAGNF05 said:
Could probably get Tubby from Manly but he thinks he’s a half. We had another bloke who thought he was a six but his knees cooked.
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Tubby from Manly could do the job if he actually wants to be a professional footy player. Matamua does appear to have the right attitude and some skills as well. I'm just not sure he is ready yet. Ideally he would be dominating cup before getting his shot.
 
BAGNF05 said:
Could probably get Tubby from Manly but he thinks he’s a half. We had another bloke who thought he was a six but his knees cooked.
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I don't think Schuster is all that suited to 13 he lacks the workrate needed, his best position is second rower imo

Matamua is a smokey to debut after the bye since it would give us 2 weeks to work on the plan with him in the team
 
Dino said:
I don't think Schuster is all that suited to 13 he lacks the workrate needed, his best position is second rower imo
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Are you saying backrowers don’t have high work rates?
He wouldn’t last there at all.
 
We need a half and centre to complete our team , but experienced ones , our juniors are 2 to 3 years off , our reserves like Reilly don’t seem to be getting a crack so obviously they don’t rate , last weeks game in the reserves , Blore , Reilly , Laurie , all played well but they can’t get a start , mind boggles
 
We may already have ball playing forwards in the team , just seems none of them are even trying (coached) to offload and there is even less effort to support them should they actually make an offload.
 
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