Wests Tigers welcome new recruits

[tigersrule4life]

AJ Carr
Thursday 26 September 2013 4:36 PM

Wests Tigers today welcomed four of the Club's recruits for 2014 to Concord Oval to meet the squad and begin preparations for pre-season.

Dene Halatau, Corey Paterson, Keith Lulia and Martin Taupau were introduced to their new team mates and quickly put through their paces by the coaching staff.

The four new players underwent testing to give the high performance unit an in-depth knowledge of their current physical abilities as they plan the pre-season program.

2005 premiership winner Dene Halatau relished the opportunity to train under former team mate and current Strength and Conditioning Coach John Skandalis.

"It's just a bit of functional testing to see how we move and some heart rate stuff to get some base markers for when pre-season starts," said Halatau.

"I haven't done anything since the season finished for the Bulldogs so it's been good to blow some cobwebs out."

Corey Paterson was pleased to be back in the NRL after a stint with Hull KR and the big back rower enjoyed meeting his new team mates.

"It's been good. It's very exciting meeting the coaching staff and all the boys," said Paterson.

"They've all been very welcoming. Hopefully we can form a good friendship and work towards a common goal next year."

Cook Islands centre Keith Lulia has worked under coach Mick Potter at Bradford and praised the Club's coaching staff.

"We came in and met all the people, everyone was very friendly and easy going. It was pretty comfortable to come in here and start fresh," said Lulia.

"All the coaching staff seem very professional, they know what they're talking about."

Samoa front rower Martin Taupau will add plenty of size and aggression to the Wests Tigers pack and was quick to say he was ready to give his all for his new team mates.

"I'm just going to give my best for the Club and for the boys," said Taupau.

"It was a pretty bad season last year, so we want to turn that around."

http://www.weststigers.com.au/news-display/Wests-Tigers-welcome-new-recruits/85159

 

[PJ_]

Good to see the new guys starting at the Tiges.
Vid makes me pretty excited for '14.

 

[851]

Good to see,I think all 4 will be good buys,the only way is up in 2014.

 

[tigersrule4life]

Welcome to the Wests Tigers im so exctied for the 2014 season.

 

[Tigersman]

They are all very good speakers and their not shy which is good to see i hope they rip in next year.
People have probably seem the highlights of these players 101 times, but for anyone who hasn't seen them in action here are some highlights from every player.

Corey Paterson: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M_EXgHPdrkM
Keith Lulia: http: //[www.youtube.com/watch?v=syqjqcKtsbA](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=syqjqcKtsbA)
Pat Richards: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PVsZPqiwj9A
Dene Halatau : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jNpvo2PEp6A
Martin Taupau: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bsBMWB6cybY
Blake Austin: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1LfGnqD4Pak

Also if your wondering why Pat Richards and Blake Austin weren't there,their clubs (Wigan Warriors in the ESL and Windsor Wolves in the NSW cup) are still in the finals. therefore they still have club commitments.

 

[Guest]

Patterson is very tall. Looks like he could do with a bit of bulking up too.

 

[GNR4LIFE]

Correction, Wests Tigers welcome home Dene Halatau

 

[pHyR3]

Paterson looks the goods!

Those bargain buys you see never look any good until the season's underway. Hope these boys can deliver cause i reckon they will.

the eight beckons

 

[Justo]

Correction, Wests Tigers welcome home Dene Halatau

Yep, a very, very reliable utility who I more than welcome to cover Robbie over Iosefa during origin (and hopefully very few injuries).

I'm pumped for 2014\. But then again, I was pumped for 2013 too.

 

[fergiefurr]

Only something little, but I really like how taupau already said:

"It was a pretty bad season last year, so WE want to turn that around."

Just the mentality of it, he is already part of the team and wanting to improve on something he wasn't even a part of.

I think taupau will be an awesome signing, exactly what we are after

 

[Cultured_Bogan]

Paterson's got a better flick pass on him than Benji.

 

[Fraze23]

I'm excitedby how staunch Taupau and Patterson look. I can't wait to have them in the line up next year.
It'll be nice having some forwards who can bash and barge their way up the middle.

 

[happy_tiger]

They are all very good speakers and their not shy which is good to see i hope they rip in next year.
People have probably seem the highlights of these players 101 times, but for anyone who hasn't seen them in action here are some highlights from every player.

Corey Paterson: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M_EXgHPdrkM
Keith Lulia: http: //[www.youtube.com/watch?v=syqjqcKtsbA](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=syqjqcKtsbA)
Pat Richards: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PVsZPqiwj9A
Dene Halatau : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jNpvo2PEp6A
Martin Taupau: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bsBMWB6cybY
Blake Austin: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1LfGnqD4Pak

Also if your wondering why Pat Richards and Blake Austin weren't there,their clubs (Wigan Warriors in the ESL and Windsor Wolves in the NSW cup) are still in the finals. therefore they still have club commitments.

Look I want to put these signings another way

Would you put your house on the fact they will have a positive effect on our performances and improve the side

I wouldn't , and the other question I would ask is this

How many of these players are automatic selections over our current players ??

None in my opinion

Patterson and Richards at their best would be , but is their best still within their reach ??

 

[Fraze23]

They are all very good speakers and their not shy which is good to see i hope they rip in next year.
People have probably seem the highlights of these players 101 times, but for anyone who hasn't seen them in action here are some highlights from every player.

Corey Paterson: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M_EXgHPdrkM
Keith Lulia: http: //[www.youtube.com/watch?v=syqjqcKtsbA](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=syqjqcKtsbA)
Pat Richards: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PVsZPqiwj9A
Dene Halatau : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jNpvo2PEp6A
Martin Taupau: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bsBMWB6cybY
Blake Austin: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1LfGnqD4Pak

Also if your wondering why Pat Richards and Blake Austin weren't there,their clubs (Wigan Warriors in the ESL and Windsor Wolves in the NSW cup) are still in the finals. therefore they still have club commitments.

Look I want to put these signings another way

Would you put your house on the fact they will have a positive effect on our performances and improve the side

I wouldn't , and the other question I would ask is this

How many of these players are automatic selections over our current players ??

None in my opinion

Patterson and Richards at their best would be , but is their best still within their reach ??

Richards would be ahead of Koroibete IMO. He showed in the limited appearances he had this year that he is still very raw, another year in state cup, with NRL appearances through injury will do him the world of good.
Taupau should get a start ahead of Buchanan. Jack was great this year, but he just doesn't have the impact to bend the line back, for me Taupau will be picked ahead of Buchanan.
Given SImona's shoulder reconstruction you'd imagine Lulia will most likely start the year in the centres if Simona isn't fit to start.
In the scheme of things I'm not sure where Halatau and Patterson fit into Potters plans. But I'm certain they weren't signed to play reserve grade. I wouldn't be surprised to see one of or both picked ahead of Sue.
It certainly makes for an interesting off season.

 

[happy_tiger]

They are all very good speakers and their not shy which is good to see i hope they rip in next year.
People have probably seem the highlights of these players 101 times, but for anyone who hasn't seen them in action here are some highlights from every player.

Corey Paterson: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M_EXgHPdrkM
Keith Lulia: http: //[www.youtube.com/watch?v=syqjqcKtsbA](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=syqjqcKtsbA)
Pat Richards: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PVsZPqiwj9A
Dene Halatau : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jNpvo2PEp6A
Martin Taupau: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bsBMWB6cybY
Blake Austin: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1LfGnqD4Pak

Also if your wondering why Pat Richards and Blake Austin weren't there,their clubs (Wigan Warriors in the ESL and Windsor Wolves in the NSW cup) are still in the finals. therefore they still have club commitments.

Look I want to put these signings another way

Would you put your house on the fact they will have a positive effect on our performances and improve the side

I wouldn't , and the other question I would ask is this

How many of these players are automatic selections over our current players ??

None in my opinion

Patterson and Richards at their best would be , but is their best still within their reach ??

Richards would be ahead of Koroibete IMO. He showed in the limited appearances he had this year that he is still very raw, another year in state cup, with NRL appearances through injury will do him the world of good.
Taupau should get a start ahead of Buchanan. Jack was great this year, but he just doesn't have the impact to bend the line back, for me Taupau will be picked ahead of Buchanan.
Given SImona's shoulder reconstruction you'd imagine Lulia will most likely start the year in the centres if Simona isn't fit to start.
In the scheme of things I'm not sure where Halatau and Patterson fit into Potters plans. But I'm certain they weren't signed to play reserve grade. I wouldn't be surprised to see one of or both picked ahead of Sue.
It certainly makes for an interesting off season.

Look I love Pat for what he did for the Tigers , but you are asking a guy who will be 32 by the start of the 2014 season who hasn't played NRL for 8 seasons to step up a play a role The week in week out intensity of the NRL will be a struggle for all the ESL players

I hope Richards can , but in my opinion I wouldn't put my house on it Taupau and Austin have been released by their own clubs so they don't see the potential Halatau has been here before and is only older Lulia was released by his NRL club previously to join a lesser comp which he has been ok to good in , definitely not a stand out

Brett Hodgson doesn't have a club now , lets get him back as well and lets talk Benny Galea out of retirement as well

I'm trying to be positive , but experience tells me otherwise

 

[Newtown]

They are all very good speakers and their not shy which is good to see i hope they rip in next year.
People have probably seem the highlights of these players 101 times, but for anyone who hasn't seen them in action here are some highlights from every player.

Corey Paterson: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M_EXgHPdrkM
Keith Lulia: http: //[www.youtube.com/watch?v=syqjqcKtsbA](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=syqjqcKtsbA)
Pat Richards: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PVsZPqiwj9A
Dene Halatau : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jNpvo2PEp6A
Martin Taupau: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bsBMWB6cybY
Blake Austin: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1LfGnqD4Pak

Also if your wondering why Pat Richards and Blake Austin weren't there,their clubs (Wigan Warriors in the ESL and Windsor Wolves in the NSW cup) are still in the finals. therefore they still have club commitments.

Look I want to put these signings another way

Would you put your house on the fact they will have a positive effect on our performances and improve the side

I wouldn't , and the other question I would ask is this

How many of these players are automatic selections over our current players ??

None in my opinion

Patterson and Richards at their best would be , but is their best still within their reach ??

I wouldn't put my house on a 20 to 1 on bet at the races so how could anyone put their house on a rugby league team even if they recruited players like Inglis, Cronk and Slater to their side. As we found out last year the big X factors are;

(I) Injuries including season ending ones (we certainly had a fair share during the past season) and
(ii) Loss of form (as in Benji Marshall etc).
(iii) How the team gels together under a new coach (a process which we are still in the middle of).

 

[Jim_Nantz]

They are all very good speakers and their not shy which is good to see i hope they rip in next year.
People have probably seem the highlights of these players 101 times, but for anyone who hasn't seen them in action here are some highlights from every player.

Corey Paterson: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M_EXgHPdrkM
Keith Lulia: http: //[www.youtube.com/watch?v=syqjqcKtsbA](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=syqjqcKtsbA)
Pat Richards: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PVsZPqiwj9A
Dene Halatau : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jNpvo2PEp6A
Martin Taupau: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bsBMWB6cybY
Blake Austin: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1LfGnqD4Pak

Also if your wondering why Pat Richards and Blake Austin weren't there,their clubs (Wigan Warriors in the ESL and Windsor Wolves in the NSW cup) are still in the finals. therefore they still have club commitments.

Look I want to put these signings another way

Would you put your house on the fact they will have a positive effect on our performances and improve the side

I wouldn't , and the other question I would ask is this

How many of these players are automatic selections over our current players ??

None in my opinion

Patterson and Richards at their best would be , but is their best still within their reach ??

Richards would be ahead of Koroibete IMO. He showed in the limited appearances he had this year that he is still very raw, another year in state cup, with NRL appearances through injury will do him the world of good.
Taupau should get a start ahead of Buchanan. Jack was great this year, but he just doesn't have the impact to bend the line back, for me Taupau will be picked ahead of Buchanan.
Given SImona's shoulder reconstruction you'd imagine Lulia will most likely start the year in the centres if Simona isn't fit to start.
In the scheme of things I'm not sure where Halatau and Patterson fit into Potters plans. But I'm certain they weren't signed to play reserve grade. I wouldn't be surprised to see one of or both picked ahead of Sue.
It certainly makes for an interesting off season.

Look I love Pat for what he did for the Tigers , but you are asking a guy who will be 32 by the start of the 2014 season who hasn't played NRL for 8 seasons to step up a play a role The week in week out intensity of the NRL will be a struggle for all the ESL players

I hope Richards can , but in my opinion I wouldn't put my house on it Taupau and Austin have been released by their own clubs so they don't see the potential Halatau has been here before and is only older Lulia was released by his NRL club previously to join a lesser comp which he has been ok to good in , definitely not a stand out

Brett Hodgson doesn't have a club now , lets get him back as well and lets talk Benny Galea out of retirement as well

I'm trying to be positive , but experience tells me otherwise

I'd hate to see you at Christmas time, mate. Unbelievable.

 

[Fraze23]

Happy we're not talking about a fringe first grader here or someone who would be a huge gamble. Richards has been playing consistently good footy since the time he landed over there and hasn't suffered any major injuries. in 155 games the bloke has scored 933 points 105 tries and kicked 255 goals. He's been the leading pointscorer 4 years in a row and the leading try scorer once and won the Man of Steel Award.
I realise there is a huge difference in the quality of the ESL and the NRL but when it comes to finishing off tries and playing on the wing the difference isn't that big. The balls the same shape and the fields the same length. The way you're carrying on you'd think it was the 3rd coming of Jason Moodie. Might have to change your name from Happy Tiger to Grumpy Cat :laughing:

 

[king_sirro]

Im really hopeful about Patterson. The guy can be a manace on the edges with his size, mobility and offload. He also hits very hard. At just 26 he has his best in front of him. The trick will be getting him to consistantly play at an intense level.

 

[underdog]

I wandered over to Schifoske's other videos on youtube with his other talent.

I found this one - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OcNXXEgtDpQ chock full of "highlights"- and couldn't resist commenting….

Lets just say I'm glad he has gone to the dragons.