Wests Tigers Deep Dive of the Week

[Rock Hopper Steve]

It’s not really any one player as they are all steady players individually.
The exceptions being possibly Taylan May if he can continue on his upward trajectory and I believe either Doueihi or Latu Fainu have the ability to be genuine attacking threats as our 7 or 6.
Makasini is our other wildcard, but I’m of the opinion he’s still another season away from potentially being a dominant NRL player.
So in my opinion we have too many steady players and not a pugh with explosive speed and genuine x-factor which I think will likely be a big part of the reason we will again be one of the lowest point scoring teams in the NRL in 2026.
Hopefully I am very wrong, time will tell.

You do have a good point we have been crying out for more speed for a long time now.
To add more pace to the outside backs you would probably have to find a new position for Skelton because if you look at the other 3, they aren't express but I wouldn't say they were slow either.

Interesting how we are utilizing Bunty so that we're back to 27 spots left this could be a sign of the possibility that a back could be added.

 

[innsaneink]

And attack.
Where are our points coming from ?

Hopefully they work on the red zone attack it was pretty diabolical this year....everyone on the same.page Luai and whoevers at 7 calling the shots ...knowing what theyll do before they get down there.
Over to you be Benji

 

[Leck]

@Tucker made a great point about why the Lions lost against us, it was poor defence.

It's the same for us. If we can keep teams under 18 points, we have enough points to win. It's our defence that's the main issue.

 

[Rock Hopper Steve]

Hopefully they work on the red zone attack it was pretty diabolical this year....everyone on the same.page Luai and whoevers at 7 calling the shots ...knowing what theyll do before they get down there.
Over to you be Benji

To be fair mate a lot of other team's attacks are having trouble scoring from this position now.
Coaches seemed to have the answer defending on goal lines, when a lot of tries are being scored it usually means the defending team is cooked our giving up because the games gone.

 

[Jolls]

I'm not overly concerned with our backline. I think there are plenty of points in them and they defed well enough. In addition KPP will bolster one edge.

The issue with points, certainly as I see it, starts and finishes with our spine plus, in our case 13.

The key supporting act is our pack.

If we start with the supporting act as long as they can maintain parity with the oppostion and dominate for short periods we will do IK. If we are being dominated in the middle the spine isn't going to do us much good.

However, the spine has where momentum shifts should be coming from. Kicks in behind/eraly shifts to counter up and in defences, 40/20s or kicks for touch to shift momentum or break an oppostions momentum when required and decisons to switch tempo all belong in that area. We lacked this sorely in 2025.

There are a few coordiantion issues with our spine - Bulas involvement being one, Api's/Luai's lack of smarts when addressing oppostion momentum is another but by far our biggest problem, is our halves.

It is not that the options we have are bad, but we have halves that play eyes up football. Eyes up footy requires the halves to have the time and space to play - not to be driving the play around the paddock to a system and kick to a corner.

Our problem has been our ability to generate momentum or create the space to enable that style of play. To create that type of space we either need to dominate in the forwards or create space using a third ball player - that being a ball playing or a link 13.

We haven't recruited a dominat pack so I don't expect us to be owning the momentum for significant periods. We also haven't recruited an experienced ball playing 13.

We don't possess a controlling half and with Benji as the coach I don't expect that we want one either. I think we can see where Benji is headed - a hybrid pack supporting a two 5/8th, a bit of bash/barge combined with workhorses to hold the middle and.... that is where the big hole is ... somone to provide the time and space to enable the halves to execute.

Without it - I can't see us winning too many games as regardless of how good our backs are unless Luai/Latu have space - they won't create - they will simply be stifled and we will look inept (yet again).

 

[Jolls]

Hopefully they work on the red zone attack it was pretty diabolical this year....everyone on the same.page Luai and whoevers at 7 calling the shots ...knowing what theyll do before they get down there.
Over to you be Benji

I think that is half the problem - the other is to provide the halves with and time to play - get that right and the points will come. If they are constantly under pressure the plays will continue to flounder.

Quick PTBs with the defence on the back foot combines with a link to provide time and space and we are on the way.

 

[Rock Hopper Steve]

I think that is half the problem - the other is to provide the halves with and time to play - get that right and the points will come. If they are constantly under pressure the plays will continue to flounder.

Quick PTBs with the defence on the back foot combines with a link to provide time and space and we are on the way.

Trouble is the opposition would rather give away a penalty/six again to prevent faster PTBs to the point of being in danger of being sent to the bin.

Trying to get one over the ref when he not looking moving fast off their goal line.

 

[Jolls]

Trouble is the opposition would rather give away a penalty/six again to prevent faster PTBs to the point of being in danger of being sent to the bin.

Trying to get one over the ref when he not looking moving fast off their goal line.

That is true - so we shouldn't put our eggs in one basket. The link/ball playing 13 plus Bunty/Royce and the May/KPP off load are the keys. We need to move away from a couple to get there a set up play, Twal on the 4th and a kick to the corner

 

[Rock Hopper Steve]

That is true - so we shouldn't put our eggs in one basket. The link/ball playing 13 plus Bunty/Royce and the May/KPP off load are the keys. We need to move away from a couple to get there a set up play, Twal on the 4th and a kick to the corner

If they show they're hungry this summer, do you want Royce and Bunty both on the bench, that's what I want.

 

[Jolls]

If they show they're hungry this summer, do you want Royce and Bunty both on the bench, that's what I want.

That is what I would like to see - along with AD at 13 (unless we can recruit an NRL 13 in)

 

[Rock Hopper Steve]

That is what I would like to see - along with AD at 13 (unless we can recruit an NRL 13 in)

Lol you're really pushing for Adam at 13, It's obvious that's his end goal but I still think he will play 7 early rounds, Latu will not be ready at 7 for a few rounds that's provided he doesn't break down again, always a worry.

 

[TheEnz]

That is what I would like to see - along with AD at 13 (unless we can recruit an NRL 13 in)

We need to take advantage of the fact we now have 2 backrowers who can play 80mins and a prop who in a pinch can do the same....we should carry a bench of 20min bash and barge players, bunty & hunt, sione to provide impact and forward cover and a 14 utility player. Start with May and either sione or Pole, with the other on the bench. Would love to fit twal in, however he stifles us in attack and does not dominate/hurt the opposition in defence.

 

[Jolls]

Lol you're really pushing for Adam at 13, It's obvious that's his end goal but I still think he will play 7 early rounds, Latu will not be ready at 7 for a few rounds that's provided he doesn't break down again, always a worry.

I'm pushig for a ball paying 13. I would prefer AD is not the 13; however, as shown in the Deep Dive - he is our best internal option. If he is seriously being considered as the 13 we need to bite the bullet and train him as one - the next man up them becomes Madden. He is serviceable, has a good kicking game and with the right game plan could be a good fit while Latu gets fit/develops.

 

[TheEnz]

I'm pushig for a ball paying 13. I would prefer AD is not the 13; however, as shown in the Deep Dive - he is our best internal option. If he is seriously being considered as the 13 we need to bite the bullet and train him as one - the next man up them becomes Madden. He is serviceable, has a good kicking game and with the right game plan could be a good fit while Latu gets fit/develops.

Saw Adam on the weekend, has not noticably bulked up...although in saying that he is a big unit already.

 

[Rock Hopper Steve]

I'm pushig for a ball paying 13. I would prefer AD is not the 13; however, as shown in the Deep Dive - he is our best internal option. If he is seriously being considered as the 13 we need to bite the bullet and train him as one - the next man up them becomes Madden. He is serviceable, has a good kicking game and with the right game plan could be a good fit while Latu gets fit/develops.

Interesting we have 3 spots left now would you consider Elliot coming across to lock or does he not have the smarts for the ball playing type you want.

 

[Vicious]

If they show they're hungry this summer, do you want Royce and Bunty both on the bench, that's what I want.

If we have Royce and Bunty defending in the middle for too long we will need to be scoring 30 points per game due to them both being lazy defenders.
In saying that it might be our best chance of winning more games due to them both being able to get us in the front foot with their strong ball carries.

 

[Jolls]

Interesting we have 3 spots left now would you consider Elliot coming across to lock or does he not have the smarts for the ball playing type you want.

Elliott is starting to get on (32 in 2026). He would probably bring soe NRL maturity but I don't think he could be a “third-playmaker”. What we need is a lock who can steers the play, acts as a link, and is creative in attack.

He could provide an experienced stop-gap but not much more so could do a jub; but, for me, he is a pass so we can focus on the type of player we need.

 

[Rock Hopper Steve]

If we have Royce and Bunty defending in the middle for too long we will need to be scoring 30 points per game due to them both being lazy defenders.
In saying that it might be our best chance of winning more games due to them both being able to get us in the front foot with their strong ball carries.

You would have to stagger them I wouldn't have them both on the park at the same time, but hoping new season brings new attitudes, it's a good start by Royce haven't seen him look that fit in seasons.

 

[Rock Hopper Steve]

Elliott is starting to get on (32 in 2026). He would probably bring soe NRL maturity but I don't think he could be a “third-playmaker”. What we need is a lock who can steers the play, acts as a link, and is creative in attack.

He could provide an experienced stop-gap but not much more so could do a jub; but, for me, he is a pass so we can focus on the type of player we need.

Well, that doesn't leave many outside possibilities

 

[Jolls]

Well, that doesn't leave many outside possibilities

Exactly, so unless a contracted player is released by a new coach or is seen as excess or on the outer then we need to be looking internally. I think we could grow one or two over a few years but we have one in house option that, lets face it, is adequate in several postions he can play but not great at any of them.