Wests Tigers Team V Storm

[Geo]

Cant wait to get ailoia and liddle back and full fitness. I know lawrence wont be dropped but a forward pack of this would be lethal.

8.packer
9\. liddle
10\. matulino
11\. Ailoia
12\. rochow
13\. ET

Cant drop rochow after last weeks performance. Thought he was our best actually. Didnt realise how big he was too.

What are your thoughts on Cleary still selecting Naiqama at centre..?

 

[momo_amp_medo]

:righton:

Naiqama out, mck to centre, aloiai to bench?

:righton:

 

[momo_amp_medo]

Cant wait to get ailoia and liddle back and full fitness. I know lawrence wont be dropped but a forward pack of this would be lethal.

8.packer
9\. liddle
10\. matulino
11\. Ailoia
12\. rochow
13\. ET

Cant drop rochow after last weeks performance. Thought he was our best actually. Didnt realise how big he was too.

What are your thoughts on Cleary still selecting Naiqama at centre..?

:bash

 

[avocadoontoast]

Cant wait to get ailoia and liddle back and full fitness. I know lawrence wont be dropped but a forward pack of this would be lethal.

8.packer
9\. liddle
10\. matulino
11\. Ailoia
12\. rochow
13\. ET

Cant drop rochow after last weeks performance. Thought he was our best actually. Didnt realise how big he was too.

Agree, that is easily our strongest pack and would be competitive against just about anyone.

 

[GNR4LIFE]

No surprises with that squad although hopefully Aloiai gets a run. I thought starting with Packer and Eiso worked well, with Matulino and Twal off the bench. I would prefer to go that way for the balance of experience but nothing seems to bother Eiso and Twal so hopefully we don't lose out with that bench rotation.

Pretty sure Chee-Kam has trained exclusively in the backrow this offseason so I can't see Ivan dropping Kev to make way for him in the centres. Hopefully Taane Milne has a red hot crack in ISP this week.

Our biggest challenge this week will be the mental challenge of being "up" for the Storm.

I also prefer the front row combinations from last week but maybe he wants us to go out there and bruise them early this week, try to put them off their game with some intimidation.

Interchange: 11 Boyd Cordner ©, 14 Dylan Napa, 15 Zane Tetevano, 17 Victor Radley - Roosters Bench Round 1

Interchange: 14 Tim Glasby, 15 Kenny Bromwich, 16 Christian Welch, 17 Sam Kasiano - Storm Bench Round 2

In Round 1, we needed to combat the effect of the Rooster's bench otherwise they might've gained a momentum up the middle, hiving more time and space for Teddy, Cronk, Mitchell etc. This could've resulted in Roosters scoring a few quick tries giving the upper hand. However, with Matulino coming on for us - I thought he played great and with lots of aggressive runs and effective tackled. https://www.weststigers.com.au/news/2018/03/12/vb-hard-earned-effort-of-the-week/

The Storm bench isn't as strong as the Roosters but they do have 4 forwards compared to our 3 + McIllwrick. The Storm will keep coming at us through the forwards this week, more so than the Roosters. If we don't stop the forwards than we are no chance with the backs that they possess. I would like to see Aloiai in for McIllwrick. McIllwrick isn't going to offer anything from the bench. If we do decide to go with a utility; Gamble would definitely be the best option.

I suspect it's going to a long, long season of people expecting Gamble to be chosen.

(no offence to Gamble or his fans. I just think Ivan might have him a little lower in the pecking order.)

Hear hear. Reminds me of the John Grant hype.

 

[barra]

Cant wait to get ailoia and liddle back and full fitness. I know lawrence wont be dropped but a forward pack of this would be lethal.

8.packer
9\. liddle
10\. matulino
11\. Ailoia
12\. rochow
13\. ET

Cant drop rochow after last weeks performance. Thought he was our best actually. Didnt realise how big he was too.

Agreed. Rochow certainly made me eat my words.
And don't discount McQueen either… if he can return to form he will be hard to leave out. If that happens we'll have a very strong starting side and very strong bench backing it up.

Anyway, back to this weekend lol

 

[Fibros]

I was really hoping with ivans standards
Naiqama would have been dropped, you can guarantee Melbourne will will get points though him.

Ivan has kept Kev in the side….that seems to be Ivans standard....why change a winning team because some supporters dislike Kev in the team...If Ivan who we all respect as a good coach,keeps Kev in the side,then he must have his reasons...

By this way of thinking MCK on the bench and Aloiai in reggies.

 

[happy_tiger]

We create a problem if we replace Naiqama with MCK , we lose lateral speed out wide

Playing Melbourne with Vunivalu and JAC out wide lacking lateral movement is a massive risk defensively , remember the Penrith game when Lawrence was moved to centres and we got annihilated out wide

So Cleary has to weigh up this , keep Naiqama and hope he can make the right calls defensively or bring in MCK and hope he doesn't get caught out laterally

Just remember who we are playing , one C Smith

He will be looking at this either way and thinking win / win for the Storm .

For me I take the risk that Kev gets it right , because if Naiqama makes bad calls or Vunivalu or JAC get on our outside we are defensively screwed

 

[Geo]

Cant wait to get ailoia and liddle back and full fitness. I know lawrence wont be dropped but a forward pack of this would be lethal.

8.packer
9\. liddle
10\. matulino
11\. Ailoia
12\. rochow
13\. ET

Cant drop rochow after last weeks performance. Thought he was our best actually. Didnt realise how big he was too.

Agree, that is easily our strongest pack and would be competitive against just about anyone.

Very similar to the Pack that gave it to the Rorters..

 

[Pawsandclaws]

Cant wait to get ailoia and liddle back and full fitness. I know lawrence wont be dropped but a forward pack of this would be lethal.

8.packer
9\. liddle
10\. matulino
11\. Ailoia
12\. rochow
13\. ET

Cant drop rochow after last weeks performance. Thought he was our best actually. Didnt realise how big he was too.

Agree, that is easily our strongest pack and would be competitive against just about anyone.

Very similar to the Pack that gave it to the Rorters..

Bring Aloia on after the sting has gone out of the defence and run him at their smaller players once isolated.

 

[WestsBenTigers]

Cant wait to get ailoia and liddle back and full fitness. I know lawrence wont be dropped but a forward pack of this would be lethal.

8.packer
9\. liddle
10\. matulino
11\. Ailoia
12\. rochow
13\. ET

Cant drop rochow after last weeks performance. Thought he was our best actually. Didnt realise how big he was too.

Agree, that is easily our strongest pack and would be competitive against just about anyone.

Very similar to the Pack that gave it to the Rorters..

Bring Aloia on after the sting has gone out of the defence and run him at their smaller players once isolated.

1\. Lolohea
2\. Nofoaluma
3\. Marsters
4\. Milne/Fonua
5\. Thompson
6\. Reynolds
7\. Brooks
8\. Twal
9\. Liddle
10\. Packer
11\. Aloiai
12\. Rochow
13\. ET

14\. Benji/Gamble
15\. MCK
16\. Matulino
17\. Eisenhuth

 

[Geo]

Welcome back Nofoaluma..

 

[bbobb]

We create a problem if we replace Naiqama with MCK , we lose lateral speed out wide

Playing Melbourne with Vunivalu and JAC out wide lacking lateral movement is a massive risk defensively , remember the Penrith game when Lawrence was moved to centres and we got annihilated out wide

So Cleary has to weigh up this , keep Naiqama and hope he can make the right calls defensively or bring in MCK and hope he doesn't get caught out laterally

Just remember who we are playing , one C Smith

He will be looking at this either way and thinking win / win for the Storm .

For me I take the risk that Kev gets it right , because if Naiqama makes bad calls or Vunivalu or JAC get on our outside we are defensively screwed

Agree with the sentiment of what saying but wasn’t it Lovett who got burnt by the Panthers?

 

[THE_POM]

Lolohea out (Knee)
Thompson Fullback
Nofoaluma Wing

 

[Nelson]

Lolohea out (Knee)
Thompson Fullback
Nofoaluma Wing

Cheers.

Marsters to kick?

 

[NT_Tiger]

What's up with Tui's knee?

 

[Geo]

What's up with Tui's knee?

Connected to his speed bone…

 

[THE_POM]

What's up with Tui's knee?

Twinged at training today, not thought as serious waiting I results, if a miricale happens he might still play but 99.9% out. Marsters or Marshall to kick.

 

[NT_Tiger]

What's up with Tui's knee?

Twinged at training today, not thought as serious waiting I results, if a miricale happens he might still play but 99.9% out. Marsters or Marshall to kick.

Thanks. Interesting development

 

[will1999]

another injury whats happening are our training fields bad