MacDougall
New member
It's almost here Tigers. The long wait is almost over and the Tigers are back in their usual position as the underdog that nobody rates. Well GOOD, let nobody rate us. How many people rated the Bulldogs last year? We know the Tigers thrive on this.
The fact of the matter is that this roster is still full of talent. We've a new coach and some new faces but the captain and the chief are still the same, one is coming off a career defining year, the other needs to have one.
On their day Robbie Farah and Benji Marshall can beat teams by themselves. The problem has been that their days don't come often enough. You can put it down to poor team selections, poor performances by teammates, injury, illness, tragedy, misfortune but they know there are no excuses. You go out there for 80 minutes and you forget the rest of the world exists and you play to win, it's that simple. These guys are old heads now. It's now or never. Benji has been called the world's best player before and is at risk of losing his place in the history books if he doesn't rise. Farah can take his game one step further this year and play a pivotal role in the Origin series and rival Cam Smith as he has finally left comparisons with Michael Ennis long in his shadow. They are at the age where they should be peaking. It's time to do it.
Mick Potter has said the right things. He's claimed to be instilling in our players just what we as fans have so desperately craved. We've had our ups and our downs but the Tigers have always lacked commitment and Potter is hell bent on instilling commitment in defense, and commitment to each other into our players. If he can do this, there is no reason why we won't fly high this season.
Some of our old favourites have left, but their shoes have been filled by admirable replacements. We have the right mix of youth and experience. Braith Anasta, long our arch nemesis and much maligned player that he is, is here to offer guidance and tenacity sorely needed. Marika Koroibete, answers our prayers by providing blinding speed and bullocking strength on the flank in a Nadruku meets Tuiaki package that will take the game by storm. Jacob Miller's time has come. He has to step up now or risk joining the long procession of never weres that have worn the Wests Tigers number 7 jersey. Eddy Pettybourne offers heart and consistency, Bodene Thompson, strength and x-factor. Jack Buchanan, like our homegrown Aaron Woods is a toiler, a workhorse with a huge tank.
There are question marks. Will Chris Lawrence and Blake Ayshford recapture the form that saw them spoken of as a future Origin centre pairing? Is Utai going to be able to handle another season of first grade on the wing, when his opposition are getting taller and faster. Will Tim Moltzen reach the dizzying heights that some evidently expected of him? Lote Tuqiri? Who knows, but these are questions few, and every club has them.
At the end of the day we have a team full of stars still and the likes of Lawrence, Blair, Galloway, Farah, Marshall, Woods, Moltzen, Miller and Anasta have so much to prove for so many different reasons I cannot fathom a world in which they don't come out from the first second on Monday night with newfound determination. Some want to have their names mentioned in rep calculations again. Some have points to prove to doubters. Some need to prove things to themselves. Most want to make amends for a poor 2012\. And they will all be doing it for a fallen comrade.
What more inspiration does a team require? :sign:
The fact of the matter is that this roster is still full of talent. We've a new coach and some new faces but the captain and the chief are still the same, one is coming off a career defining year, the other needs to have one.
On their day Robbie Farah and Benji Marshall can beat teams by themselves. The problem has been that their days don't come often enough. You can put it down to poor team selections, poor performances by teammates, injury, illness, tragedy, misfortune but they know there are no excuses. You go out there for 80 minutes and you forget the rest of the world exists and you play to win, it's that simple. These guys are old heads now. It's now or never. Benji has been called the world's best player before and is at risk of losing his place in the history books if he doesn't rise. Farah can take his game one step further this year and play a pivotal role in the Origin series and rival Cam Smith as he has finally left comparisons with Michael Ennis long in his shadow. They are at the age where they should be peaking. It's time to do it.
Mick Potter has said the right things. He's claimed to be instilling in our players just what we as fans have so desperately craved. We've had our ups and our downs but the Tigers have always lacked commitment and Potter is hell bent on instilling commitment in defense, and commitment to each other into our players. If he can do this, there is no reason why we won't fly high this season.
Some of our old favourites have left, but their shoes have been filled by admirable replacements. We have the right mix of youth and experience. Braith Anasta, long our arch nemesis and much maligned player that he is, is here to offer guidance and tenacity sorely needed. Marika Koroibete, answers our prayers by providing blinding speed and bullocking strength on the flank in a Nadruku meets Tuiaki package that will take the game by storm. Jacob Miller's time has come. He has to step up now or risk joining the long procession of never weres that have worn the Wests Tigers number 7 jersey. Eddy Pettybourne offers heart and consistency, Bodene Thompson, strength and x-factor. Jack Buchanan, like our homegrown Aaron Woods is a toiler, a workhorse with a huge tank.
There are question marks. Will Chris Lawrence and Blake Ayshford recapture the form that saw them spoken of as a future Origin centre pairing? Is Utai going to be able to handle another season of first grade on the wing, when his opposition are getting taller and faster. Will Tim Moltzen reach the dizzying heights that some evidently expected of him? Lote Tuqiri? Who knows, but these are questions few, and every club has them.
At the end of the day we have a team full of stars still and the likes of Lawrence, Blair, Galloway, Farah, Marshall, Woods, Moltzen, Miller and Anasta have so much to prove for so many different reasons I cannot fathom a world in which they don't come out from the first second on Monday night with newfound determination. Some want to have their names mentioned in rep calculations again. Some have points to prove to doubters. Some need to prove things to themselves. Most want to make amends for a poor 2012\. And they will all be doing it for a fallen comrade.
What more inspiration does a team require? :sign:
