Match Discussion: Round 13 vs North Qld @ Queensland Country Bank Stadium, Townsville / Wulgurukaba

[Nutz]

Heard that Heath Mason is going to play 5/8, interesting

I'd rather Heath play ⅝ that fullback. He's a natural half who can play direct. You'd know Vic, in pathways he was very good heh.
Eventually I'd like to see this backline have a run; Luai, Mason as our halves, To'a and Faataape in the centres, Turuva and Skelton on the wings, and Bula at the back.

Still, if Luai is jiggy with it, I'd like Mason at ½ and Jarome at ⅝. Could even mix it up.
Kicking is important so it would have a bearing on it. Mason has a nice
in-goal grubber but Luai has the better high ball.

 

[Tigerm]

Heard that Heath Mason is going to play 5/8, interesting

Will be interesting if he has a blinder.
And he's quite capable of doing that, as this is his preferred position.

 

[Das Hassler]

Heard that Heath Mason is going to play 5/8, interesting

I hope so....he is a half and will be jumping out of his skin at the opportunity

 

[Vic Mackey]

I hope so....he is a half and will be jumping out of his skin at the opportunity

I dont think hes anywhere near NRL ready in any position. Benji seems to love him, Cows are probably a decent team to try it against though as they aren't the fondest of defending.

 

[Nutz]

I'm reading that we are thinking about AD at ½.
OMG they can't be serious. Did they not watch his last effort at ½? He was horrendous!

 

[TheDefinitionOfMadness]

I'm reading that we are thinking about AD at ½.
OMG they can't be serious. Did they not watch his last effort at ½? He was horrendous!

If that happens then Marshall is dead to me as a coach.

 

[Tiger05]

Tigers tipped to overlook Galvin after Dogs defection​

By Adrian Proszenko​

May 27, 2025 — 12.55pm

​

Wests Tigers are expected to overlook Lachlan Galvin for Saturday’s clash with North Queensland despite the unavailability of his long-term replacement, Latu Fainu, for another week.
Galvin appears to have played his last game for the Tigers after informing Canterbury he is keen to switch to Belmore immediately. Given he still remains contracted to the Tigers - and the Bulldogs have the bye - Galvin remains available for selection in coach Benji Marshall’s team.

Tigers rising star Lachlan Galvin.Credit: Getty Images
However, Jarome Luai’s halves partner for the Cowboys clash is poised to come down to a choice between Adam Douehi and Apisai Koroisau.
If Koroisau gets the nod, Talyn Da Silva will move from the bench and start the game at dummy half.

The Tigers are prepared to let Galvin go in the belief Fainu will make the No.6 jersey his own. However, the teen playmaker remains sidelined with a hand injury, although he is expected to return next week.
Loading
As they prepare to part with Galvin, the Tigers are also in danger of losing Da Silva when his contract expires at the end of 2026. The teenage hooker is also considered one of the best young spine players in the game, but the club has been told he won’t re-sign if Koroisau’s contract is extended.
The Tigers want to keep them both, but are likely to prioritise Koroisau.

 

[Tiger05]

If that happens then Marshall is dead to me as a coach.

That article says it's a choice between AD and Api because Latu isn't available. I'm fine with either option. The option I don't like is playing Galvin.

 

[Nutz]

If that happens then Marshall is dead to me as a coach.

Me too, it's the most absurd thing I've read.
I could understand if Luai wanted it and we had no Mason or no fainu. I'd even give our hooker Hope a run at ½ before I'd entertain AD at ½ again.
Please, please Benji, DON'T DO IT!

 

[Tigerm]

Team List: NRL Round 13 vs Cowboys

Wests Tigers Head Coach Benji Marshall has named a 22-man squad to face the Cowboys in Townsville this Saturday evening.

www.weststigers.com.au

Team List:

1. Jahream Bula - sponsored by Sensory Gardens Australia

2. Sunia Turuva - sponsored by Ellis Consolidated

3. Adam Doueihi - sponsored by Murray Kennedy Real Estate

4. Starford To'a - sponsored by Z Wealth Group

5. Charlie Staines - sponsored by Exclusive Estate Agents

6. Heath Mason - sponsored by Retro Air

7. Jarome Luai (c) - sponsored by APN Compounding

8. Terrell May - sponsored by Z Realty Group

9. Api Koroisau (c) - sponsored by KwikFlo

10. Royce Hunt - sponsored by Club Menangle

11. Samuela Fainu - sponsored by Mars Forklifts

12. Alex Seyfarth - sponsored by Ultra Building Works

13. Alex Twal - sponsored by Endacom

Interchange:

14. Brent Naden - sponsored by One World Courier

15. Jack Bird - sponsored by Shane’s Waterproofing

16. Sione Fainu - sponsored by MJS Electrical Products & Supplies

17. Tony Sukkar - sponsored by Workplace Law

Reserves:

18. Tristan Hope - sponsored by Wests Tigers Empower

19. Luke Laulilii - sponsored by Wests Tigers Empower

20. Charlie Murray - sponsored by Wests Tigers Empower

21. Kit Laulilii - sponsored by Wests Tigers Empower

22. Tallyn Da Silva - sponsored by Wests Tigers Empower

Coach: Benji Marshall - sponsored by Pepper Money

Mason finally gets his crack.
Strange TDS is 22 in the squad?

 

[Nutz]

Team List: NRL Round 13 vs Cowboys

Wests Tigers Head Coach Benji Marshall has named a 22-man squad to face the Cowboys in Townsville this Saturday evening.

www.weststigers.com.au

Team List:

1. Jahream Bula - sponsored by Sensory Gardens Australia

2. Sunia Turuva - sponsored by Ellis Consolidated

3. Adam Doueihi - sponsored by Murray Kennedy Real Estate

4. Starford To'a - sponsored by Z Wealth Group

5. Charlie Staines - sponsored by Exclusive Estate Agents

6. Heath Mason - sponsored by Retro Air

7. Jarome Luai (c) - sponsored by APN Compounding

8. Terrell May - sponsored by Z Realty Group

9. Api Koroisau (c) - sponsored by KwikFlo

10. Royce Hunt - sponsored by Club Menangle

11. Samuela Fainu - sponsored by Mars Forklifts

12. Alex Seyfarth - sponsored by Ultra Building Works

13. Alex Twal - sponsored by Endacom

Interchange:

14. Brent Naden - sponsored by One World Courier

15. Jack Bird - sponsored by Shane’s Waterproofing

16. Sione Fainu - sponsored by MJS Electrical Products & Supplies

17. Tony Sukkar - sponsored by Workplace Law

Reserves:

18. Tristan Hope - sponsored by Wests Tigers Empower

19. Luke Laulilii - sponsored by Wests Tigers Empower

20. Charlie Murray - sponsored by Wests Tigers Empower

21. Kit Laulilii - sponsored by Wests Tigers Empower

22. Tallyn Da Silva - sponsored by Wests Tigers Empower

Coach: Benji Marshall - sponsored by Pepper Money

Mason finally gets his crack.
Strange TDS is 22 in the squad?

The power of the forum
Still, I'd prefer Hope instead of two blokes on the bench who has sus legs. Hope is a better defender too.

 

[Tigerm]

Team List: NRL Round 13 vs Cowboys

Wests Tigers Head Coach Benji Marshall has named a 22-man squad to face the Cowboys in Townsville this Saturday evening.

www.weststigers.com.au

Team List:

1. Jahream Bula - sponsored by Sensory Gardens Australia

2. Sunia Turuva - sponsored by Ellis Consolidated

3. Adam Doueihi - sponsored by Murray Kennedy Real Estate

4. Starford To'a - sponsored by Z Wealth Group

5. Charlie Staines - sponsored by Exclusive Estate Agents

6. Heath Mason - sponsored by Retro Air

7. Jarome Luai (c) - sponsored by APN Compounding

8. Terrell May - sponsored by Z Realty Group

9. Api Koroisau (c) - sponsored by KwikFlo

10. Royce Hunt - sponsored by Club Menangle

11. Samuela Fainu - sponsored by Mars Forklifts

12. Alex Seyfarth - sponsored by Ultra Building Works

13. Alex Twal - sponsored by Endacom

Interchange:

14. Brent Naden - sponsored by One World Courier

15. Jack Bird - sponsored by Shane’s Waterproofing

16. Sione Fainu - sponsored by MJS Electrical Products & Supplies

17. Tony Sukkar - sponsored by Workplace Law

Reserves:

18. Tristan Hope - sponsored by Wests Tigers Empower

19. Luke Laulilii - sponsored by Wests Tigers Empower

20. Charlie Murray - sponsored by Wests Tigers Empower

21. Kit Laulilii - sponsored by Wests Tigers Empower

22. Tallyn Da Silva - sponsored by Wests Tigers Empower

Coach: Benji Marshall - sponsored by Pepper Money

Mason finally gets his crack.
Strange TDS is 22 in the squad?

That's the best forward pack we've got, if they can't do the job, we're in trouble.
The backs are pretty good as well.
The halves, we'll find out.

 

[Tigerm]

The power of the forum
Still, I'd prefer Hope instead of two blokes on the bench who has sus legs. Hope is a better defender too.

Hope is down as 18th man, so not totally lost hope (pardon the pun).

 

[Tigerm]

Team List: NRL Round 13 vs Cowboys

Wests Tigers Head Coach Benji Marshall has named a 22-man squad to face the Cowboys in Townsville this Saturday evening.

www.weststigers.com.au

Team List:

1. Jahream Bula - sponsored by Sensory Gardens Australia

2. Sunia Turuva - sponsored by Ellis Consolidated

3. Adam Doueihi - sponsored by Murray Kennedy Real Estate

4. Starford To'a - sponsored by Z Wealth Group

5. Charlie Staines - sponsored by Exclusive Estate Agents

6. Heath Mason - sponsored by Retro Air

7. Jarome Luai (c) - sponsored by APN Compounding

8. Terrell May - sponsored by Z Realty Group

9. Api Koroisau (c) - sponsored by KwikFlo

10. Royce Hunt - sponsored by Club Menangle

11. Samuela Fainu - sponsored by Mars Forklifts

12. Alex Seyfarth - sponsored by Ultra Building Works

13. Alex Twal - sponsored by Endacom

Interchange:

14. Brent Naden - sponsored by One World Courier

15. Jack Bird - sponsored by Shane’s Waterproofing

16. Sione Fainu - sponsored by MJS Electrical Products & Supplies

17. Tony Sukkar - sponsored by Workplace Law

Reserves:

18. Tristan Hope - sponsored by Wests Tigers Empower

19. Luke Laulilii - sponsored by Wests Tigers Empower

20. Charlie Murray - sponsored by Wests Tigers Empower

21. Kit Laulilii - sponsored by Wests Tigers Empower

22. Tallyn Da Silva - sponsored by Wests Tigers Empower

Coach: Benji Marshall - sponsored by Pepper Money

Mason finally gets his crack.
Strange TDS is 22 in the squad?

Wests Tigers have made a decision to not select Lachlan Galvin in any grade. He has also been excused from training commitments this week.

 

[Pezz70]

Last injury report pushed Latu and Skelton back to round 14, however media reports had Latu back this week so who knows

If Skelton, Latu and Samuela are all out then we'll be really up against it with Pole already out and now Galvin gone.

Latu strained hamstring, after recovering from his hand is what I heard, not sure if it’s on the money though. Mason will go well in the halves. Naden on the bench is a waste of a forwards spot. He’s got Bird on the bench who can cover 5/8 or centres in a pinch, Toa who can take a wing spot, Mason or Staines who can move to fullback (not that either are ideal but as an example to show that Naden isn’t required).

It seems to me that Toa must still be carrying an injury he didn’t make it through the last game, and Naden is cover for him, I’d swap Doeuhi to the right centre and Bird to left if Toa goes down and have another middle on the bench.

This squad is really thin now with a couple of injuries, hate to say it but I think we’ll be lucky to win another game if this is the best we can offer. You can only do so much on enthusiasm you start to get this deep in the season that enthusiasm needs to be backed up with quality footy, we just don’t have the talent. Truely there are only 5 blokes in that squad who would be gauranteed a start in NRL at any other club

 

[Tiger05]

I'm fine with that team and the note about Galvin. What I'd like to see though is a couple of decent signings.

 

[Tigerm]

Latu strained hamstring, after recovering from his hand is what I heard, not sure if it’s on the money though. Mason will go well in the halves. Naden on the bench is a waste of a forwards spot. He’s got Bird on the bench who can cover 5/8 or centres in a pinch, Toa who can take a wing spot, Mason or Staines who can move to fullback (not that either are ideal but as an example to show that Naden isn’t required).

It seems to me that Toa must still be carrying an injury he didn’t make it through the last game, and Naden is cover for him, I’d swap Doeuhi to the right centre and Bird to left if Toa goes down and have another middle on the bench.

This squad is really thin now with a couple of injuries, hate to say it but I think we’ll be lucky to win another game if this is the best we can offer. You can only do so much on enthusiasm you start to get this deep in the season that enthusiasm needs to be backed up with quality footy, we just don’t have the talent. Truely there are only 5 blokes in that squad who would be gauranteed a start in NRL at any other club

Though Naden played in the halves last year in cup?

 

[Tigerm]

I'm fine with that team and the note about Galvin. What I'd like to see though is a couple of decent signings.

I'd like to get another middle for this year though, at least.

 

[chunk]

Average team. Naden on the bench just doesn't make ANY sense

Big step up for Mason, deserves a chance but not confident, hope I'm wrong and I hope he defends on Batemans side imagine Nanai and these giants running at him, Seyfarth and Fainu.

Huge effort required to win this game.

 

[BrotherJim05]

I just have this dreadful feeling that this week will be back to our regular scheduled programming with Tigers getting absolutely toweled up. I hope I'm wrong