crazycat
Well-known member
Just some thoughts I have been thinking about positions and where Wests Tigers have ended on the ladder.
Forwards/Props/etc: ignoring this for now. But you need a forward pack that can hold their own.
Hooker: Usually we have had a pretty top class hooker. Be that Robbie Farah or Api Koroisau. The only time we did not was under Jason Taylor/Ivan Cleary (Ok Farah sent to bench), where we went 14th/9th/15th -- big 4 implosion.
Halfback: A good halfback and we make the finals. 2004/6 Scott Prince and 2005 happens. 2010/2011 were 3rd and 4th with Robert Lui. I won't put Luke Brooks as a good halfback.. But I will say this. Scott Prince left the club and we did not historically have a halfback that could help train the players coming in.
__ Halfback is key (duh).
5/8: We have usually had good 5/8's Benji Marshall filing the position most of the time. Josh Reynolds would fill it under Cleary, then a year later Madge moved him to other positions where he sucked. Lately it's Galvin/Luai
Centers: The main center that comes to mind is Chris Lawrence. Ben Gacia comes to mind as his main partner till 2007... Then Blake Aysford has 1-2 good years and nothing... but in 2010 /2011 we get 3rd and 4th.
We then Splurge and sign James Roberts/BJ Leulua which were both on big $$ from memory, and both rather meh/past their prime.
Since Lawrence, I am honestly struggling to remember who we had at Center till recently bar the two above.
Wing: we have near always had a speedy winger. Tunela Tukali, Pat Richards, Nofo, Koroibete, Taquiri, Beau Ryan. Nearly always a speedy winger if we come last or top 4.
Fullback: Hodson for ages. Then Loki Tiquiri then Moltzen ... Then Tedesco.
Fullback makes some difference, but not as much as people think.
My point:
The two positions that make the most difference are-
Halfback
and
Center.
Forwards/Props/etc: ignoring this for now. But you need a forward pack that can hold their own.
Hooker: Usually we have had a pretty top class hooker. Be that Robbie Farah or Api Koroisau. The only time we did not was under Jason Taylor/Ivan Cleary (Ok Farah sent to bench), where we went 14th/9th/15th -- big 4 implosion.
Halfback: A good halfback and we make the finals. 2004/6 Scott Prince and 2005 happens. 2010/2011 were 3rd and 4th with Robert Lui. I won't put Luke Brooks as a good halfback.. But I will say this. Scott Prince left the club and we did not historically have a halfback that could help train the players coming in.
__ Halfback is key (duh).
5/8: We have usually had good 5/8's Benji Marshall filing the position most of the time. Josh Reynolds would fill it under Cleary, then a year later Madge moved him to other positions where he sucked. Lately it's Galvin/Luai
Centers: The main center that comes to mind is Chris Lawrence. Ben Gacia comes to mind as his main partner till 2007... Then Blake Aysford has 1-2 good years and nothing... but in 2010 /2011 we get 3rd and 4th.
We then Splurge and sign James Roberts/BJ Leulua which were both on big $$ from memory, and both rather meh/past their prime.
Since Lawrence, I am honestly struggling to remember who we had at Center till recently bar the two above.
Wing: we have near always had a speedy winger. Tunela Tukali, Pat Richards, Nofo, Koroibete, Taquiri, Beau Ryan. Nearly always a speedy winger if we come last or top 4.
Fullback: Hodson for ages. Then Loki Tiquiri then Moltzen ... Then Tedesco.
Fullback makes some difference, but not as much as people think.
My point:
The two positions that make the most difference are-
Halfback
and
Center.
