WESTS Tigers Team V Titans...

[VanillaThunder]

With no Lovett in the NSW Cup team it looks like it'll be Buchanan, Lodge and Cherrington fighting it out for one spot, and after the Brooks-at-9 debacle last week, you wouldn't think Taylor would look much further than Manaia.
I'd prefer Lodge over Lovett for impact, but I agree he has some things in his game to work on and that could be best served down a grade.

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[Guest]

interesting bench

My thoughts exactly. I'd be dropping Lovett for Lodge personally.

 

[MAFIA]

Wats with the fascination with sirro in the 2nd row week in week out he is HOPELESS

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[MacDougall]

I dunno, I think he at his best is probably a gun, but the way the side is playing is just not really allowing anyone to show much brilliance aside from Tedesco and the wingers from time to time. In attack we have throw it out the back to Tedesco and see if he can throw the right cut out pass or barge over, and that's about it. Otherwise, hit ups and kick.

 

[Geo]

Wow never seen such angst in a Tuesday Team thread since well…well when Sheens use to have his obligatory Winger on the Bench...My guess is Galloway won't be ready and Lodge and Cherrington will come in with Buchanan dropping of as he did against the Cows...

Expect Changes,,, :wink:

 

[happy_tiger]

Our backline is beyond s*** without Simona, we need a proven FG right centre ASAP
- Nofo is a winger. He is a winger. He is a winger. I don't know how else to put it.
….
Sironen and Lawrence have potential to be very very good back rowers but still unproven.

It is clear that we need to sign the following for 2016:
1 Centre
2 Back rowers
1 Bench impact prop

I am not really concerned about props as I think we have a lot of them. I also think that our backrow may come good. Our outside backs though need a massive injection of speed. I think we need a new winger and centre on the left side. I think that is the massive priority and everything else is basically way down the list.

We could send them down the Cross for the speed , but I'm worried they might fail any drug tests

Its pretty unconventional Steve , but if you think it might help , well what the hell

 

[stevetiger]

Our backline is beyond s*** without Simona, we need a proven FG right centre ASAP
- Nofo is a winger. He is a winger. He is a winger. I don't know how else to put it.
….
Sironen and Lawrence have potential to be very very good back rowers but still unproven.

It is clear that we need to sign the following for 2016:
1 Centre
2 Back rowers
1 Bench impact prop

I am not really concerned about props as I think we have a lot of them. I also think that our backrow may come good. Our outside backs though need a massive injection of speed. I think we need a new winger and centre on the left side. I think that is the massive priority and everything else is basically way down the list.

We could send them down the Cross for the speed , but I'm worried they might fail any drug tests

Its pretty unconventional Steve , but if you think it might help , well what the hell

Put it this way - its not going to hurt is it.

 

[Cultured_Bogan]

I'm not averse to Keithy being named on the bench. It will stop our best three in the middle all being off the paddock at one time, which is usually when we get rolled in the middle stanza of the game.

What I'd have gone for:

1 James Tedesco
3 David Nofoaluma
2 Kevin Naiqama
4 Delouise Hoeter
5 Pat Richards
6 Mitchell Moses
7 Luke Brooks
13 Martin Taupau
8 Sauaso Sue
11 Curtis Sironen
19 Matthew Lodge
9 Dene Halatau
8 Aaron Woods

Interchange
12 Chris Lawrence
14 Ava Seumanufagai
15 Keith Galloway
18 Manaia Cherrington

 

[larrycorowa]

Nofo will make a good centre with a bit of playing experience.

 

[larrycorowa]

We need a backrower on the bench in case of injuries. Lawrence shifts to backline and need a new second rower, Lovett is the man and better suited to coming off the bench to provide some impact.

 

[supercoach]

We need a backrower on the bench in case of injuries. Lawrence shifts to backline and need a new second rower, Lovett is the man and better suited to coming off the bench to provide some impact.

I would never have thought the word of impact could be connected with Lovett, busy,hard working but never impact, well not at this stage of his footy career

 

[VanillaThunder]

We need a backrower on the bench in case of injuries. Lawrence shifts to backline and need a new second rower, Lovett is the man and better suited to coming off the bench to provide some impact.

Lovett could barely break out of a wet paper bag. We've got two perfectly good second rowers in Sue and Taupau, so more props on the bench could easily accommodate a reshuffle while keeping the punch.

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[Flippedy]

My take,

1 Tedesco
2 Nofoaluma
3 Naiqama
4 Hoeter
5 Richards
6 Moses
7 Brooks
8 Woods
9 Cherrington
19 Seumanufagai
11 Sue
12 Funaki
13 Santi

Interchange
14 Taupau
14 Lodge
15 Galloway
10 **Akuaola**

I haven't seen anything of the lower grades so far this season - how is Akaoula going? I had high hopes for him after his impressive runs with the first grade team last season, yet he hasn't been sighted this year. Has his form slipped or is he just being overlooked?

 

[Eddie]

You can't sugercoat It really, the team is plain ordinary. its like the mid week horses you send around at Warwick farm every week. With right run, and the right conditions it could lob but 9 times out of 10 it will be outclassed.

A lot of plodders going around every week. The kids were worth getting excited about however there confidence looks shot to bits at the minute. The Titans at 2.20 look the bet of the season to be honest.

 

[larrycorowa]

We need a backrower on the bench in case of injuries. Lawrence shifts to backline and need a new second rower, Lovett is the man and better suited to coming off the bench to provide some impact.

Lovett could barely break out of a wet paper bag. We've got two perfectly good second rowers in Sue and Taupau, so more props on the bench could easily accommodate a reshuffle while keeping the punch.

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Well Sue is a starting prop and Taupau is lock. Taupau is not suited to big minutes, so if you lose a back early, Lawrence moves to backline, Sue moves to cover for Lawrence, which means you may need a bench prop to play large minutes (Ava, Lodge who are not accustomed to playing big minutes or Galloway off a month break). I reckon a 3 prop bench with Cherrington would lack flexibility IMHO.

 

[VanillaThunder]

We need a backrower on the bench in case of injuries. Lawrence shifts to backline and need a new second rower, Lovett is the man and better suited to coming off the bench to provide some impact.

Lovett could barely break out of a wet paper bag. We've got two perfectly good second rowers in Sue and Taupau, so more props on the bench could easily accommodate a reshuffle while keeping the punch.

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Well Sue is a starting prop and Taupau is lock. Taupau is not suited to big minutes, so if you lose a back early, Lawrence moves to backline, Sue moves to cover for Lawrence, which means you may need a bench prop to play large minutes (Ava, Lodge who are not accustomed to playing big minutes or Galloway off a month break). I reckon a 3 prop bench with Cherrington would lack flexibility IMHO.

It wouldn't be the most versatile option, you're right, but I feel like it'd be the best for us given our options. Lodge can play lock if Taupau struggles, Halatau will play a bit of backrow anyway, and I think Ava is very underrated in terms of work rate.
To throw up another option, Halatau straight to back row for Lawrence, and Cherrington on to play the rest of the game. Sue and Marty would both stay and by and large the forward rotation wouldn't be effected. If Manaia struggles with fitness then Halatau can go back to hooker.
I see Lodge as more of a 13 anyway, he's much more effective on the 3rd or 4th hit up of the set rather than being our main go-forward. The sooner we start playing him like one, the more we'll see from Taupau I think.

 

[larrycorowa]

We could play a big bench and hope for the best. Not sure that Lawrence will get through a full game in the backrow. Maybe Halatau shifts from 9 to backrow to give him a break if needed, but Halatau would need to play 80.

Isn't Lodge giving Marty a rest now?

 

[Pierre_M7]

LATE MAIL: @WestsTigers pair @curtis_sironen (neck) and @DNofoaluma (knee) to miss #NRLTigersTitans. @7NewsSydney @7Sport

 

[fergiefurr]

interesting to see how this changes the team. guessing lawrence back to center, lovett and sue in the back row with lodge and mania on the bench

 

[marzie]

http://www.fansunite.com.au/2015/06/04/12169/sironen-nofoaluma-in-doubt-for-tigers

Sironen, Nofoaluma in doubt for Tigers

Wests Tigers second-rower Curtis Sironen is in doubt for Friday night's clash against Gold Coast at Leichhardt Oval after complaining of a neck issue.

Centre David Nofoaluma has also been struggling with a virus all week, with a decision to be made after Thursday's captain's run.

But it's the injury to Sironen that is of major concern to coach Jason Taylor, who revealed the 21-year-old could be sidelined for some time.

"Yeah, it could be something that'll keep him out for a few weeks," Taylor said on Thursday.

"The doctor's not concerned if he plays this week but at the same time it'll be one where we'll have to make the smart decisions.

"It's just something that's come on in the last couple of weeks.

"There wasn't an incident [against North Queensland].

"It's just a bit of weakness that's developing in his arm that's neck related."

The Titans were pipped 19-18 in their season-opener on the Gold Coast, when key men Greg Bird, David Taylor and Beau Falloon were stood down after being slapped with court notices relating to drug offences.

Now they travel to Sydney just one day after Daly Cherry-Evans' dramatic backflip has left them without a marquee player for 2016.

But Taylor insisted the Titans were in good enough form to overcome their off-field woes.

"It's not as though it's somebody at their club already," he said.

"Last time we played the Titans it was off the back of their issues pre-season which we were really confident was going to boost their intensity and it did.

"It was a really tough game for us.

"This one's probably a little bit different but regardless, they're playing well.

"They were really unlucky not to take Souths into extra time last week.

"It doesn't matter what it does, they're playing well."

Taylor said two Titans in particular posed a huge threat to the two points on offer Friday night.

Both sides currently sit a win outside the top eight.

"Ryan James really caused us some problems when we played them first in round one," he said.

"And James Roberts, I thought his performance last week was really special.

"So they've got some key players that we're ready for."