Wests Tigers Trial Squad v Dragons

[TCL]

I doubt any teams will be fielding their best 17 this weekends trials

Your probably right Ink , but for the teams that came 9th -16th it is stupidity

I understand no Moses , but the rest of the side should be full strength

People said we did the same thing last season , yeah remind me , how did that work ??

As we saw last season we can't risk losing one game , you work on stuff during trials , not from Rd 1 onwards

I said he did the same thing last year but I didn't say it worked or it was wrong or right. That's just what JT appears to do and other coaches as well. Hey according to Sterlo we don't need trials anymore anyway?

TCL I wasn't having a shot , but I believe we are behind the 8 ball to begin with and to go into probably our most important season since 2012 not 100% right is plain stupidity

I agree Happy, but thats what JT is going to do. I would have thought he would do every thing possible to get the team on the same page come round one cause JT has a lot riding on this season. If I was JT I wouldn't want to be 3 losses from 3 games. If we get to round 6 and we are a poor show the knives will be out and it won't just be from the media and this forum.

 

[Geo]

Leave happy alone..

From memory we won the 1st 2 Rounds in 2016 after a similar trial schedule …unfortunately losing Robbie to injury out of the Sharks trial by the time he came back it was downhill from there losing 6 in a row...

 

[TCL]

Leave happy alone..

From memory we won the 1st 2 Rounds in 2016 after a similar trial schedule …unfortunately losing Robbie to injury out of the Sharks trial by the time he came back it was downhill from there losing 6 in a row...

Same start this year won't be good for JT or our prospects of re-signing key players.

 

[Tigerdon]

If we are close or over the salary cap for 2017…and have selected 24 players for this trail. Without Moses, Teddy, Simona, Woods. Some of these players have no shot at getting a NRL game in 2017, as they are outside the Top 25\. Im assuming that would be the two young NYC players, who are just there for experience.

 

[ricksen]

Leave happy alone..

From memory we won the 1st 2 Rounds in 2016 after a similar trial schedule …unfortunately losing Robbie to injury out of the Sharks trial by the time he came back it was downhill from there losing 6 in a row...

We've won our first two games in both of JT's seasons, in very different circumstances.
2015 - 19-18 over Titans with a last second FG, 22-4 over the Dragons. Solid if unspectacular attack, and very promising defence.
2016 - 34-26 over NZW and 36-22 over Manly. Crazy games which we tried hard to throw away.

Who knows how we'll start this year - hopefully more of the 2015 variety.

 

[Newtown]

Big step and opportunity for young Connelly. Anyone got any knowledge of him?

Could be a chance for first grade if he is good goal kicker.

Connelly Lemuelu
Date of Birth: 07-07-1998
Height: 190cm
Weight: 95kg
Position: Five-eighth, Fullback
Rep. Honours: NA
Junior Clubs: Papatoetoe (Rugby Union)

Connelly has joined Wests Tigers from the Keebra Park High School development program and looks to have a bright future ahead of him.

Playing his junior football with Rugby Union Club Papatoetoe in New Zealand, Connelly moved to the Gold Coast-based school and certainly made an impact on the field; kicking the match-winning field goal in the GIO Schoolboys Cup final in 2016.

With the ability to play five-eighth or fullback, look out for the Auckland product to have a big 2017 season in Wests Tigers colours.

 

[balmain boy]

Big step and opportunity for young Connelly. Anyone got any knowledge of him?

Could be a chance for first grade if he is good goal kicker.

Connelly Lemuelu
Date of Birth: 07-07-1998
Height: 190cm
Weight: 95kg
Position: Five-eighth, Fullback
Rep. Honours: NA
Junior Clubs: Papatoetoe (Rugby Union)

Connelly has joined Wests Tigers from the Keebra Park High School development program and looks to have a bright future ahead of him.

Playing his junior football with Rugby Union Club Papatoetoe in New Zealand, Connelly moved to the Gold Coast-based school and certainly made an impact on the field; kicking the match-winning field goal in the GIO Schoolboys Cup final in 2016.

With the ability to play five-eighth or fullback, look out for the Auckland product to have a big 2017 season in Wests Tigers colours.

I only saw him play twice in the GIO Cup last year but he certainly looked the goods. I'd say a Corey Norman type build and player. Very solid, good skills, good running game, kicked the field goal from 40m out in the dying seconds to win the QLD schoolboy final.

I wonder if we'd look to play him at centre? As an 18 year old he's going to fill out even more, and being in a professional environment can only help his development too.

 

[balmain boy]

On the schedule, i don't get why we only play 2 trials now. 3 would be much better.

One where the fringe players and kids who've had a really strong off season can get a half a game, and two which are practically full strength to work on combinations, match fitness etc. Even if you bring in kids for the last 20 mins at least the core group get additional time together. Especially with half the squad being away on 9s duty for a week and a bit.

Sure the season is long but i think the players association is going a bit overboard to limit player's preseasons

 

[clifferdSH]

On the schedule, i don't get why we only play 2 trials now. 3 would be much better.

One where the fringe players and kids who've had a really strong off season can get a half a game, and two which are practically full strength to work on combinations, match fitness etc. Even if you bring in kids for the last 20 mins at least the core group get additional time together. Especially with half the squad being away on 9s duty for a week and a bit.

Sure the season is long but i think the players association is going a bit overboard to limit player's preseasons

I'd say the reasoning for 2 these days is the 9's tournament basically being a trial for some of the younger kids of the squad, plus some players being on duty for the all stars. Don't really have an issue

What the coaches decide to do with the trials is up to them

 

[palms]

Is there any news on why Felise is not named? Did he pick up an injury?

 

[barra]

Big step and opportunity for young Connelly. Anyone got any knowledge of him?

Could be a chance for first grade if he is good goal kicker.

Connelly Lemuelu
Date of Birth: 07-07-1998
Height: 190cm
Weight: 95kg
Position: Five-eighth, Fullback
Rep. Honours: NA
Junior Clubs: Papatoetoe (Rugby Union)

Connelly has joined Wests Tigers from the Keebra Park High School development program and looks to have a bright future ahead of him.

Playing his junior football with Rugby Union Club Papatoetoe in New Zealand, Connelly moved to the Gold Coast-based school and certainly made an impact on the field; kicking the match-winning field goal in the GIO Schoolboys Cup final in 2016.

With the ability to play five-eighth or fullback, look out for the Auckland product to have a big 2017 season in Wests Tigers colours.

I only saw him play twice in the GIO Cup last year but he certainly looked the goods. I'd say a Corey Norman type build and player. Very solid, good skills, good running game, kicked the field goal from 40m out in the dying seconds to win the QLD schoolboy final.

I wonder if we'd look to play him at centre? As an 18 year old he's going to fill out even more, and being in a professional environment can only help his development too.

😛ray:

 

[Tim Sheens]

Big step and opportunity for young Connelly. Anyone got any knowledge of him?

Could be a chance for first grade if he is good goal kicker.

Connelly Lemuelu
Date of Birth: 07-07-1998
Height: 190cm
Weight: 95kg
Position: Five-eighth, Fullback
Rep. Honours: NA
Junior Clubs: Papatoetoe (Rugby Union)

Connelly has joined Wests Tigers from the Keebra Park High School development program and looks to have a bright future ahead of him.

Playing his junior football with Rugby Union Club Papatoetoe in New Zealand, Connelly moved to the Gold Coast-based school and certainly made an impact on the field; kicking the match-winning field goal in the GIO Schoolboys Cup final in 2016.

With the ability to play five-eighth or fullback, look out for the Auckland product to have a big 2017 season in Wests Tigers colours.

I only saw him play twice in the GIO Cup last year but he certainly looked the goods. I'd say a Corey Norman type build and player. Very solid, good skills, good running game, kicked the field goal from 40m out in the dying seconds to win the QLD schoolboy final.

I wonder if we'd look to play him at centre? As an 18 year old he's going to fill out even more, and being in a professional environment can only help his development too.

😛ray:

If he can catch a ball, run and tackle, then we need him in the side to kick some winning field goals for us. Golden Point is a true nightmare as a WT supporter.

 

[greatodensraven]

Good to have a couple of "dark horse" options for the wing in Connelly Lemuelu & Suli. Hope they play well & put the pressure on the likes of Kev & Rankin to perform consistently.

Can't see too many other spots up for grabs in the 17 at this stage besides left wing. If Woods, Ballin, Ava, Sue, Lawrence & ET are the starting pack, you'd think the bench spots would be fought out between the likes of T. Grant, Felise, Aloiai, Liddle & then maybe MCK, Edwards, Eisenhuth, etc.

 

[balmain boy]

On the schedule, i don't get why we only play 2 trials now. 3 would be much better.

One where the fringe players and kids who've had a really strong off season can get a half a game, and two which are practically full strength to work on combinations, match fitness etc. Even if you bring in kids for the last 20 mins at least the core group get additional time together. Especially with half the squad being away on 9s duty for a week and a bit.

Sure the season is long but i think the players association is going a bit overboard to limit player's preseasons

I'd say the reasoning for 2 these days is the 9's tournament basically being a trial for some of the younger kids of the squad, plus some players being on duty for the all stars. Don't really have an issue

What the coaches decide to do with the trials is up to them

Thing is, the 9s aren't even close to being a trial for anyone. Just a party tournament really. All stars is just a ridiculous waste of time. Neither are remotely close to trials. You need more than one game to implement what youve been working on in pre-season in match conditions

 

[Geo]

And if a lot of these combinations don't work or struggle what next

Your top side should play at least two games together , even if it means creating a separate trial for the younger players and fringe players

New hookers , new centre , different back row combination more than likely

I'm just scratching my head in bewilderment at the moment

I doubt any teams will be fielding their best 17 this weekends trials

Your probably right Ink , but for the teams that came 9th -16th it is stupidity

I understand no Moses , but the rest of the side should be full strength

People said we did the same thing last season , yeah remind me , how did that work ??

As we saw last season we can't risk losing one game , you work on stuff during trials , not from Rd 1 onwards

here's a link for all the trial teams this weekend… http://www.nrl.com/all-stars-trial-games-team-lists/tabid/10874/newsid/103597/default.aspx

They are all doing it wrong it seems in the World according to happy..

 

[ricksen]

I'd prefer another trial or two as well, but it's a bit tough with the calendar as it is.
We have the 9s, two weeks for two trials and then a week off leading into the big kickoff.

 

[fergiefurr]

i dont think Liddle is as sure a spot in our 17 as some think. one of my good mates is a coach at wyong (liddles juniour club) he said he'd been told by one of Liddle's best mates that he expected to play about 10-12 games of NRL this year.

 

[Nelson]

i dont think Liddle is as sure a spot in our 17 as some think. one of my good mates is a coach at wyong (liddles juniour club) he said he'd been told by one of Liddle's best mates that he expected to play about 10-12 games of NRL this year.

If he's in the 17 in round 1(which seems likely) and he plays well then I don't see why he wouldn't stay in the 17\. Playing him half a season would be arbitrary and stupid given he's not likely to be playing huge minutes.

 

[TrueTiger]

I wouldn't worry to much about the players named in the trials,Taylor has to try and give everyone in the top squad some sort of ago so he can assess his final 17…I read an article the other day that Teddy had to have an op on his knee in regards to a screw and pin annoying him during preseason..lets wait and see how we shape up for round 1 before we get carried away once again with SPECULATION...I honestly think that this year will be a stable and solid year allround for the team and club top 8 is not out of reach...

CONSISTENCY ALL SEASON IS WHATS NEEDED....hope they can find it.... :wink:

 

[Chainlink]

i dont think Liddle is as sure a spot in our 17 as some think. one of my good mates is a coach at wyong (liddles juniour club) he said he'd been told by one of Liddle's best mates that he expected to play about 10-12 games of NRL this year.

Yeah I reckon that will be about right. Would be pretty surprised to see him as a regular straight up.