Wests Tigers team (official list page 4)

[Balmain_Bug]

I am amazed that players have been picked in their natural positions. Good stuff Fonz.

I am also amazed that Mullaney, Pritchard, Davis, Fifita etc are not there instead of a couple of guys who are. Mullaney, Pritchard, Davis, Fifita are a squillion times better players than 4 guys picked in that 17\. A zillion times better. Donz Fonz have a Anti-Western Suburbs Magpies thing happening ??

I watched them train today. This is before I saw the side. Moltzen trained at fullback and halfback. Lui trained halfback and 5/8\. He looked good at 5/8\. They were doing some neat blind side plays.

The Fonz is a stubborn guy. He bought Daniella and Brown and it looks like he is gonna play them. The same two players that Pritchard and Davis ran circles around last year.

Unbelievable.

 

[Geo]

So if Pritchard, Davis and Fafita are added then Sheens has done all you ask Bug…...hallelujah......

Ooops that means Mullaney will be left to carve up in NYC........

One question though would Pritchard be better than a 119 game vet. in Fitzhenry?

 

[Spartan117]

No Shame in NYC for another year - If eligable let em do the apprenticeship.

Patience this is a game for men….

 

[bbobb]

Lui i going to be a very classy player. He has what cannot be easily taught - vision. That said I don't believe he is a natural half back. In the 20s he has much more time but in the top grade I think he would be better served in the 5/8 role.

He does not strike me as the general who will lead the team around the park. I am not sure Moltzen is either (although at this stage he a far more complete player than Lui)

 

[TimmyB]

I just can't believe he picked Fitzy again. Incredible. Speechless. I'll leave it at that.

I'm the opposite about Brown to cnx; I think people will be pleasantly surprised about how he goes at fullback. He's been variously behind Simmons & Kearney for the fullback spot. He's absolutely clueless on the wing, but he's a big powerful runner and he won't clog the time of the ball players like Moltzen can be guilty of. He's positional play can need work, but it's a damn side better than Moltzen's (who I'm a big fan of mind you). If you are worried about his performance under Stuart, don't be. Here's some info: Bryson Goodwin played 9 games of FG under Ricky Stuart. At age 24 he played a full season with the Dogs and represented NZ. Mitch Brown is a young 22.

 

[Balmain_Bug]

So if Pritchard, Davis and Fafita are added then Sheens has done all you ask Bug…...hallelujah......

Ooops that means Mullaney will be left to carve up in NYC........

Fonz knows and recognises that Mullaney is an immense talent. The issue though is Fonz (I think) wants a fullback that can plow into the line and play before and after the line.

I think Tuqiri needs a long time back on the wing to find his feet and any talk of having him at fullback earlier on is silly.

It could well be the fact that Brown is the Fullback picked for Round 1.

 

[TimmyB]

Mate, stop calling him Fonz. It's not funny and you look foolish.

 

[alex]

If Sheens was keen on having
6\. Marshall
7\. Lui

he would have put Taumata or Moltzen at 6 for the time being. Getting Moltzen to play at 7 and shifting Lui out of halfback means he isnt 100% committed to Lui being the 7 yet. Still some hope there that Moltzen will play 7 for some time this year

 

[simonthetiger]

Mate, stop calling him Fonz. It's not funny and you look foolish.

Mate ease up on ol Buggy…...English isnt his first language and you are just not understanding him correctly.

:laughing:

 

[crouching_tiger]

2\. Fitzhenry

Great to see the current Australian coach agrees with me.. :sunglasses:

 

[Colonel]

I just have visions of the Jason Moody thing. Like others I would have thought this was a good chance to try another player on the wing, Like Sheens we all know what Fitzy can do so why not try a player we are not so sure of at this level.

**I get the feeling a team like manly will expose Fitzys lack of pace come round one.Having him against Covell will tell us nothing.**

Fitzhenry won't be on the wing come round one. Sheens has just put a tried and tested player there as a placeholder until Tuqiri gets here:

Things could get better for the Tigers with dual international Lote Tuqiri all-but given the blessing to cut short his rugby deal with Leicester to return home for the Tigers' opening-round clash with Manly.

http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/nrl/benji-marshall-signs-long-term-deal-with-wests-tigers/story-e6frexnr-1225834068374" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

 

[Glennb]

With the teams that Sheens has been selecting in the trials so far as well as looking at his recruitment, I think we are going to see a shift in his strategy/tactics this year. I think Sheens has a new focus and that focus can be summed up in one word…..BIG.

I think he is looking at getting a back 3 that are big, ultimately Brown, Tuqiri, Tuiaki. I can see a lot of merit in this in kick return strength and therefore metres eaten. Additionally I dont think that we will lose any pace (with the exception of Gallants pace last year) in doing so. I think Sheens is looking at fast skillful half/threequarters feeding massive wings & fullback.

Glenn

 

[Balmain_Bug]

Mate, stop calling him Fonz. It's not funny and you look foolish.

I will.
\
\
\
\
\
\
When Fonz admits he was wrong, I will.

 

[Raptor]

At least it's only a trial I very much doubt fitz will be in 1st grade come round 1.. The rest of the team isn't too bad bit puzzled by having Lui at 6 but he does need the experience very happy he's put Moltz where he belongs adn thats at 7..

 

[Tigerpete]

At least it's only a trial I very much doubt fitz will be in 1st grade come round 1.. The rest of the team isn't too bad bit puzzled by having Lui at 6 but he does need the experience very happy he's put Moltz where he belongs adn thats at 7..

It's just another chance for Lui to get more minutes under his belt in top grade. Sheens has already indicated he probably won't start there in round one. The fact he's shifted to 5/8 here probably backs up that suggestion too. As for Fitzy, well it's a trial as you said.

 

[Novocastrian_Tiger]

Ha ha, looks like Fitzhenry is going to have another Moodie style cameo. In a months time Fitzhenry will probably be joining the Fire brigade as well (at least there he could do some good).

 

[AndTheKungFoSing]

Moltz into the halves is great!

I think we see Moltzen start the season there and Brown start at FB, ofcrouse depending on his game…

 

[The_Tooth]

The backline is far from our best, but will be very simlar to round 1\. Fitzy was always a big chance of playing wing with Tuiaki out. If Moltzen in the hlaves then I reckon Fitzy is a sure thing for the wing until Lote plays. Really interested to see how Moltzen steers the team without Benji.

Would love to see Taumata at fullback for this trial and A.Fafita on the bench. Still in hope they might get a run.

 

[hammertime]

That backline would look so much better with some of these names in there…

Tuqiri
Marshall
Tuiaki
Taumata
Mullany

 

[bonstonker]

good to see mataka get a run.was hoping he would have a good off season,but haven't really heard anything about him lately.

should be good to see both lui and moltzen together behind the same pack.
did the pack last week set a great platform .didn't sound like it to me.

i'm not 100% sold on moltzen as a half yet.
with benji out you should get a much better look at him in the role.
but i wouldn't be surprised if the number on their back doesn't end up meaning a hell of alot.