Wests Tigers 2010 - Contenders or Pretenders?

[innsaneink]

We are definetely Contenders.
For one reason and this is thought by most clubs,
If we do manage to get into the top 8 we are very unpredictable.
If our attack clicks we can destroy any team in the comp.
The only problem is if our forwards don't muscle up we will get rolled by most clubs.
So IMO the season relies heavily on the success of the forward pack and the injury toll we sustain.

Seems like a lot of 'ifs' dependant on us being contenders.

Too soon to call.
At this stage Im not that impressed with our recruitment, overall I think were in the red there.

Downtown rule from what i can gather may help us (or teams with crap kicking game) only teams with good kicking will suffer.

Morris made a stack of tackles, Tuiaki a heap of tries - both not there now.

Im not convinced yet

 

[NEDKELLY]

I think INK has nailed it in respect of missing Morris's tackling (not talking about his attack) and also the loss in metres and intimidation Tuiaki provided throughout each game.

Daniella, Brown, Flanagan, Fitzhenry, Tupou, Moors would not necessarily make it into any NRL first grade team so the question has to be asked early whether the recruitment is sending shivers down opposition coaches and their teams?

Yes Cayless, Tuquiri, Fulton and possibly Arana Tumata (spelling?) could bring something to the squad but will it be enough to move the Tiges into the Play-offs amd also provide greater depth?

I am starting to think that the X factor (besides Marshall, Farah & Tuquiri) IN 2010 may come from a few of the 2009 Under 20 squad in Mullaney, Dwyer & Fifita. Maybe I was a bit tough on Junior Moors as he is only 22 years of age and is a big unit.

 

[Peaches]

We could soo easily be both, not only for the year but during the same game.

 

[clontarfkid]

I think INK has nailed it in respect of missing Morris's tackling (not talking about his attack) and also the loss in metres and intimidation Tuiaki provided throughout each game.

Daniella, Brown, Flanagan, Fitzhenry, Tupou, Moors would not necessarily make it into any NRL first grade team so the question has to be asked early whether the recruitment is sending shivers down opposition coaches and their teams?

Yes Cayless, Tuquiri, Fulton and possibly Arana Tumata (spelling?) could bring something to the squad but will it be enough to move the Tiges into the Play-offs amd also provide greater depth?

I am starting to think that the X factor (besides Marshall, Farah & Tuquiri) IN 2010 may come from a few of the 2009 Under 20 squad in Mullaney, Dwyer & Fifita. Maybe I was a bit tough on Junior Moors as he is only 22 years of age and is a big unit.

Spot on.
We lost a large number of regular 1st graders at end 09,none of whom individually will be missed but collectively thats a lot of talent exiting,& weve replaced them with a large number of regular reserve graders + injury ridden ex 1st graders(plus Lote).Not sure how this makes sense,unless Bellamy is coaching…& he aint
Key is how many of the promising juniors can step up into 1sts this yr & make a real impact
Were already struggling for full back options

 

[Wildcat777]

LOL….in 2005 after Round 1 I put money on the Tigers for wooden spoon. We should review this topic after Round 20\. Also in that year we had a number of players that had been moved on from other clubs because of injury. Also looking at the team a few of the teams would not have been playing first grade at many other cluns. So 2010 has a lot of similarities as 2005\. Only difference is, in 2010 not making the 8 will be a failure. This has not been the feeling in any other year. If you cant notice the difference, the energy this year. Then its no fault of your own. No one is perfect!

 

[tiger_sean]

We are definetely Contenders.
For one reason and this is thought by most clubs,
If we do manage to get into the top 8 we are very unpredictable.
If our attack clicks we can destroy any team in the comp.
The only problem is if our forwards don't muscle up we will get rolled by most clubs.
So IMO the season relies heavily on the success of the forward pack and the injury toll we sustain.

Seems like a lot of 'ifs' dependant on us being contenders.

Too soon to call.
At this stage Im not that impressed with our recruitment, overall I think were in the red there.

Downtown rule from what i can gather may help us (or teams with crap kicking game) only teams with good kicking will suffer.

There are a lot of "if's" but I guess that's what it's like for all teams.

Morris made a stack of tackles, Tuiaki a heap of tries - both not there now.

Im not convinced yet

 

[senexx]

Too soon to tell.

It's that simple.

 

[bonstonker]

pretenders at the moment.

i need to see our props in action before i start feeling confident.

forget the sheens selections,forget who you want in the halves.

what we need is props who can step up if galloway is out with injury or simply taking a breather.
until i see it,i'm not going to acknowledge we are contenders.

if our props are consistent all year then i do believe the results will follow.

after seeing fifita put in a solid month of first grade the tigers credentials of contender have certainly firmed.
just need cayless to find fitness and form and we can be very confident in our chances with a deep prop rotation.

 

[westTAHger]

it all depends on the far too familiar mid season slump.
if it occurs, pretenders.
can wests-tigers grind out close games and win, then contenders.
alot will have to do with rep season, as a few key players maybe missing from the squad.
what the heck, will nominate contenders.

 

[Year_of_the_Tiger]

We are definetely Contenders.
For one reason and this is thought by most clubs,
If we do manage to get into the top 8 we are very unpredictable.
If our attack clicks we can destroy any team in the comp.
The only problem is if our forwards don't muscle up we will get rolled by most clubs.
So IMO the season relies heavily on the success of the forward pack and the injury toll we sustain.

Seems like a lot of 'ifs' dependant on us being contenders.

Too soon to call.
At this stage Im not that impressed with our recruitment, overall I think were in the red there.

Downtown rule from what i can gather may help us (or teams with crap kicking game) only teams with good kicking will suffer.

Morris made a stack of tackles, Tuiaki a heap of tries - both not there now.

Im not convinced yet

in the red? we picked up two starters (if not SOO players) in Tuquiri & Fulton and lost stinker Morris and our reserve hooker? Not to mention Folksey …

 

[Jazza]

Pretenders for me.

I think we're getting a bit ahead of ourselves.

Obviously if we're say 8-3 around the halfway stage of the season then yeah we're contenders.

But at the moment its only round 5 and I'm not convinced about our defence which has obviously been our problem for many years.

But then again maybe I'm being pessimistic because normally when I'm optimistic the side lets us down.

 

[TIGER]

Defence and controling the ruck still a worry.

 

[triserratops]

Too soon to tell.

It's that simple.

IDEM - aka AGREED

 

[tigersnumberone]

A win against the cowboys at dairy farmers this week (round 5) and against the under performing dogs at the SFS (round 6) is sure to boost the confidence. It would also mean 4 wins on the trot and a 5/1 start to the season.

Considering we play panthers and roosters after that, all winnable (and then the bye) it could be a 7 wins 1 loss start to the season (of course given we can field our best or close to our best team).

That would see us on 16 points heading in to round 10\. At about this point i think most people would be expecting to see Taniela Tuiaki come back in to the side, at which point our team would be even stronger.

While its hopeful thinking, taking into calculation other results for the teams we are playing against and their performances, i think its realistic to consider this scenario (7-1) a possibility. We are going to improve as a team each week, and with the amount of new players it was always going to take a few weeks to find our feet - we have done it better than i expected, better than most expected, by starting 3-1.

Realistically, the draw at the start of the season for us is better than at the end, where we face Melbourne, Eels and Titans in successive weeks. We need to take advantage of that.

But as previously mentioned, until we reach the half way point of the season, it might be a bit early to tell.

Having said that though, Melbourne and St George already stand out.

 

[MGB]

Realistically we will be pretenders until that right side defence is fixed, good sides like Melb, St George will put us to the sword much like Canberra did for twentry minutes on Sunday. Our attack is as good as anyones though, maybe better.