Who Improves in 2018

@ said:
@ said:
Twal - He looks likely to continue improving & this could sure up our bench somewhat.

Brooks - This will be a vital factor if the Tigers are going to improve as a team in 2018\. Cleary needs to ensure he is running the team and tell Reynolds to stay out of it.

Liddle - Another important factor if the Tigers are going to improve. Liddle & Brooks need to strike up a strong combination in 2018.

Felise - The forgotten man. It is important for his career to grow and up to Cleary to set him straight with what is expected. He is a very good domestic who will do whats asked of him. He also needs to be more committed in defence & improve on his concentration levels.

Suli - Moses just needs to keep learning. I'm not expecting him to light up the competition, but I will be very happy if we continue to see improvement. 2019 is the year this kid will be a key factor!

Brooks has repeatedly demonstrated that he is not a brash, confident, lead-from-the-front type of player. He will need as much help as he can get from Reynolds in running the team. That is obvious IMO.

I'm not too worried about Brooks to be honest. He will have a job to do, and I don't think he is quite up to it, but that's okay. He will be given the best chance he's ever had, the best support, and we are in a rebuilding phase so if he doesn't step up to our requirements he can move on and so will we. We have options now.

We will be much better positioned to slot in a new halfback in a year or so anyway, once our reputation for sucking is (hopefully) gone, we had no chance this year.
 
Agree with most of what's said, and thinking the way Cleary has structured team it's all about giving Brooks as much space and defensive back up as possible.
Also really like Milne,watched him closely through WC and he looks a classy player with little subtle changes in pace and direction which will create time for players inside and outside of him.
That's what I think Cleary has done with his retention and recruitment. It's all about depth, go forward, time and space team culture and toughness.
Thinking we're in for a big year.
 
backline and halves. our backline is one of the weakest in the comps and our halves need to step up big time.

every single person in the backline from 1-7 would need to have the best year of their lives for us to be a chance tbh.
 
@ said:
If Brooks doesn't improve 100% we're no hope.

If Brooks does not improve, Benji returns to the NR7 and Marsters or Kevie take the Bench reserve spot. Likewise if Reynolds does not fit at 5-8, Marshall plays with Brooks. If we loose both Brooks and Reynolds…. 😢

The only player I am worried about is Tui Lolohea transitioning to fullback. Corey Thompson would be the next option there and I don't know if he would be up to the task. I like Lolohea and I think he is a boon for us. But I want to see how he goes at FB. Particularly with defense it is hard to read the oppositions game and being at the right place at the right time.
 
@ said:
backline and halves. our backline is one of the weakest in the comps and our halves need to step up big time.

every single person in the backline from 1-7 would need to have the best year of their lives for us to be a chance tbh.

I think our outside backs are good to very good. Suli, Fonua, Nofo, Milne, Masters, MWZ and Kev give us heaps of options. Our problem is our spine but Liddle, Tui, Brooks and Reynolds may go well.
 
Given we had one of the weakest attacks in the competetion the last few years and the 3 blokes contributing to most of it are now gone,I think scoring points will be a very real issue for WT.Sure weve got replacements,but not quite at the same level in attack
Throw in the fact we have a weak spine,a slow(but big)backline who arent gonna score runaway tries,and a struggling goalkicker Im just not sure where the points are going to come from to win games against the better defending sides
Think thats why we maybe bought Benji….if Brooks and Reylolds cant fire.
But given the above,strong defence and minimal silly errors/penalties are going to be more important than ever
 
Twal and Nofo

Twal has showed improvement every time he has played, played brilliant for Lebanon in the World Cup and will take himself to another level this year,can see him starting at some stage and forcing Packer/Ben to come off the bench

NOFO was playing injured last year, scary thought as he still put in 100% every time he played
 
Mahe Fonua.

I think he is going to become such a wrecking ball for us this year. Kick returns from Lolo, Nofo/Fonua, then second tackle options Nofo/Fonua, Milne, Marsters are going to put us on the front foot so often this year.

Only issue is high kick defence, I expect us to be targeted.
 
We have little x factor, little pace, and little ball playing ability. We need our backs to suddenly learn these skills and then we might surprise a few people
 
I’m looking for a big improvement from Sue. This is his big opportunity to step up. Only hope the concussion issues are behind him. If not he’ll have to give it away.
 
Hopefully everyone improves but especially.

Brooks
Liddle
Lolohea
If these 3 don't improve a lot!!!! we're in for a long year.

Suli
Marsters
Hopefully there's plenty of improvement coming from these pair.

Twal
Eisenhuth
These pair improved out of sight last year so im not expecting huge improvement in 2018 but im sure they will improve further.

I'll add the new recruits too.

Reynolds, really needs to get back to his best,
Reeks of Anasta signing for me for some reason.

McQueen, Also be nice if he got back near his barnstorming best. Really can't see it happening though.

Matulino, Didn't impress much from the few games i watched of his last season.
Im sure he's much better than what i saw.
 
@ said:
Hopefully everyone improves but especially.

Brooks
Liddle
Lolohea
If these 3 don't improve a lot!!!! we're in for a long year.

Suli
Marsters
Hopefully there's plenty of improvement coming from these pair.

Twal
Eisenhuth
These pair improved out of sight last year so im not expecting huge improvement in 2018 but im sure they will improve further.

I'll add the new recruits too.

Reynolds, really needs to get back to his best,
Reeks of Anasta signing for me for some reason.

McQueen, Also be nice if he got back near his barnstorming best. Really can't see it happening though.

Matulino, Didn't impress much from the few games i watched of his last season.
Im sure he's much better than what i saw.

I don't want Suli to improve now..
 
@ said:
Hopefully everyone improves but especially.

Brooks
Liddle
Lolohea
If these 3 don't improve a lot!!!! we're in for a long year.

Suli
Marsters
Hopefully there's plenty of improvement coming from these pair.

Twal
Eisenhuth
These pair improved out of sight last year so im not expecting huge improvement in 2018 but im sure they will improve further.

I'll add the new recruits too.

Reynolds, really needs to get back to his best,
Reeks of Anasta signing for me for some reason.

McQueen, Also be nice if he got back near his barnstorming best. Really can't see it happening though.

Matulino, Didn't impress much from the few games i watched of his last season.
Im sure he's much better than what i saw.

You need to keep up Tiger - Suli is a Bulldog - so who cares if he improves.
 
@ said:
Hopefully everyone improves but especially.

Brooks
Liddle
Lolohea
If these 3 don't improve a lot!!!! we're in for a long year.

Suli
Marsters
Hopefully there's plenty of improvement coming from these pair.

Twal
Eisenhuth
These pair improved out of sight last year so im not expecting huge improvement in 2018 but im sure they will improve further.

I'll add the new recruits too.

Reynolds, really needs to get back to his best,
Reeks of Anasta signing for me for some reason.

McQueen, Also be nice if he got back near his barnstorming best. Really can't see it happening though.

Matulino, Didn't impress much from the few games i watched of his last season.
Im sure he's much better than what i saw.

Hey there Tiger. 2 things mate . . . .
1/ cheer up ! It's not all doom and gloom. I hope !
2/ Suli is gone
 
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