WTF – Wests Tigers Faithful Podcast

Thanks Guys, another great wrap on the win and our pathways. Interesting feedback on the KoE team and competition. Perhaps it is time for some of our cup guys to drop back down to elegiable grades to continue their development as they have clearly stalled.

I agree that, on paper, we should beat the Phins on Saturday. I just don't have that feeling deep down though; probably too many dissapointments over the last decade. If we trot out the fist 25 minutes again we will struggle. I trust that we focus on getting our start right.

The drive to start Hunt has some merit; however, if we start him against fresh legs he will be less effective and that leaves us without a momentum changer if we need it. I think it is a gamble either way. I think this is our critical vulnerability - we need one more that can really bend the line!
 
Last edited:
Jolls said:
Thanks Guys, another great wrap on the win and our pathways. Interesting feedback on the KoE team and competition. Perhaps it is time for some of our cup guys to drop back down to elegiable grades to continue their development as they have clearly stalled.

I agree that, on paper, we should beat the Phins on Saturday. I just don't have that feeling deep down though; probably too many dissapointments over the last decade. If we trot out the fist 25 minutes again we will struggle. I trust that we focus on getting our start right.

The drive to start Hunt has some merit; however, if we start him againt fresh legs he will be less effective and that leaves us without a momentum changer if we need it. I think it is a gamle either way. I think this is our critical vulnerability - we need one more that can really bend the line!
Click to expand...

With you here Jolls - we do appear one strong front rower short, especially if we suffer any injuries. Question is whether the edge or lock positions are more of a priority right now, as we have no serviceable replacement for Sam F or Seyfarth/ Bird.
 
orange&black said:
With you here Jolls - we do appear one strong front rower short, especially if we suffer any injuries. Question is whether the edge or lock positions are more of a priority right now, as we have no serviceable replacement for Sam F or Seyfarth/ Bird.
Click to expand...
I am with you, another wrecking ball in the front rower is on my list of wants for 2025 but isn't a priority. I think we need another edge as a priority, a centre MAYbe (haha) and then a middle.
 
Jolls said:
I am with you, another wrecking ball in the front rower is on my list of wants for 2025 but isn't a priority. I think we need another edge as a priority, a centre MAYbe (haha) and then a middle.
Click to expand...
Is there a chance Richo could be clearing the decks (Bateman, Klem, Olam, Bud) to score Benji an elite second rower? He’s got form with signing guys like Burgess and Inglis. Hopefully he’s got another ace up his sleeve.
 
Jolls said:
Thanks Guys, another great wrap on the win and our pathways. Interesting feedback on the KoE team and competition. Perhaps it is time for some of our cup guys to drop back down to elegiable grades to continue their development as they have clearly stalled.

I agree that, on paper, we should beat the Phins on Saturday. I just don't have that feeling deep down though; probably too many dissapointments over the last decade. If we trot out the fist 25 minutes again we will struggle. I trust that we focus on getting our start right.

The drive to start Hunt has some merit; however, if we start him against fresh legs he will be less effective and that leaves us without a momentum changer if we need it. I think it is a gamble either way. I think this is our critical vulnerability - we need one more that can really bend the line!
Click to expand...
Start Hunt and May....

Then push Pole/Baby Giraffe in at the same time around the 25 minute mark.


I also totally agree, we should win vs the fins... history makes me worry.
 
cochise said:
I think you lose a lot of Hunt's impact by doing that.
Click to expand...
That really is the balance Benji has to get right. We either have to start strong or swing momentum; we don't have the impact players to do both. I currently think that using May, Pole and Twal to hold the fort for the first 20 and then having Hunt and Bird on provides us with the ability to shift the momentum of the game. It is critical for us to hold them for the first 20. Twal and Pole should be under no illusions that when they leave the park after 20 they should be almost crawling off the paddock to be rejuvinated.
 
Always an interesting listen. I really agree with the Aaron Payne take.

Is it really that easy for Hayward, X and Makasini to just move to Cup from SG Ball and fit in, as you made it seem? Also don't see how by watching two games of Cup you know that Feledy is down and out like you made it sound...what does that look like? He tried his guts out. Was he ever that talented? Has he just peaked physically?
 
rihannafan1 said:
Always an interesting listen. I really agree with the Aaron Payne take.

Is it really that easy for Hayward, X and Makasini to just move to Cup from SG Ball and fit in, as you made it seem? Also don't see how by watching two games of Cup you know that Feledy is down and out like you made it sound...what does that look like? He tried his guts out. Was he ever that talented? Has he just peaked physically?
Click to expand...
Nah it's not that I think it'd be easy. The way I look at it is that you can only spend so long trying to develop a player before you move on to giving that same resources (time) to the next kid up. Feledy has not kicked on and is off contract so we move on to Masi or Tauafaiga.

As for the down and out question it's a matter of body language and intuition. I could be wrong but to me the way he reacts to errors and the way he carries himself is not of someone high on confidence. And without a requisite amount of self belief he's not going to go up a level.

That said I always leave room to be wrong. Maybe he's just reserved. Maybe he's totally fine mentally and that's just him.
 
crazycat said:
Start Hunt and May....

Then push Pole/Baby Giraffe in at the same time around the 25 minute mark.


I also totally agree, we should win vs the fins... history makes me worry.
Click to expand...
You don't weaken your strengths to strengthen your weaknesses.

The current rotation with Bird, Tallyn and Royce coming on is proving exceptional to start the season.

If our starting props need a little more punch, may be that we need another starting prop in lieu of Pole, and push him to the bench.

Though I don't see it that way and I see a few more holes to fill before a new prop can and should be added.
 
Rock Hopper Steve said:
The team just won so you don't change anything in the forwards until they start losing, you know the saying, don't fix it if............
Click to expand...
I don't agree with the sentiment. It's like saying just wait to fail to improve. If you can improve do it. Who cares if we just beat a bad team. We were dogshit for half an hour.
 
Rock Hopper Steve said:
That's a fair point, I still think we need another big middle as well as 2 2RF 's would you agree.
Click to expand...

Probably yes though I think our pack is good enough to be competitive if the whole team contributes.

Samuela is progressive enough to be one of those three but I think he ends up a middle. At the club we lack genuine sizey players who can bend the line. The NSW cup middles are good but I don't think there's an NRL starter in the group. Not yet anyway.

Think we could see Twal/May as starting props with Hunt/Pole as impact props if we can unearth a genuine 13.

Can see the difference Hunt and May make. Just sign a couple more hard runners with good size from good clubs.
 
poopy_diaper said:
Probably yes though I think our pack is good enough to be competitive if the whole team contributes.

Samuela is progressive enough to be one of those three but I think he ends up a middle. At the club we lack genuine sizey players who can bend the line. The NSW cup middles are good but I don't think there's an NRL starter in the group. Not yet anyway.

Think we could see Twal/May as starting props with Hunt/Pole as impact props if we can unearth a genuine 13.

Can see the difference Hunt and May make. Just sign a couple more hard runners with good size from good clubs.
Click to expand...
You check out the storm game tonight the size of their pack, it will make you envious.
 
poopy_diaper said:
I don't agree with the sentiment. It's like saying just wait to fail to improve. If you can improve do it. Who cares if we just beat a bad team. We were dogshit for half an hour.
Click to expand...
re when your winning so you don't change anything...


It's not a bad idea.


Infact its the best business advice when taking over a well running company. Stop and observe what is happening. As you say we beat a Parra side without Moses, a dogshit team.

Fins will be interesting because we are going to face a pretty beefy pack.
 
poopy_diaper said:
Nah it's not that I think it'd be easy. The way I look at it is that you can only spend so long trying to develop a player before you move on to giving that same resources (time) to the next kid up. Feledy has not kicked on and is off contract so we move on to Masi or Tauafaiga.

As for the down and out question it's a matter of body language and intuition. I could be wrong but to me the way he reacts to errors and the way he carries himself is not of someone high on confidence. And without a requisite amount of self belief he's not going to go up a level.

That said I always leave room to be wrong. Maybe he's just reserved. Maybe he's totally fine mentally and that's just him.
Click to expand...
Yeah, right, I see where you're coming from.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Latest posts

Members online

Total: 647 (members: 16, guests: 631)
Back
Top