2016 Expectations

[madunit]

Look, we all have our differences of opinion, but I think we can all safely say that the club won't be in the finals this year (sure, anything is possible, but we're all realistic here)

knowing this, what are you all hoping to see this year

For me:
Brooks to regain some confidence. He looked lost at times. He has needed some direction at times from Farah, but Robbie has been forced to let them sink or swim, which I think is f**king stupid. Hopefully Brooks is mentally stronger and is given a more expansive game plan to work with this year.

Sironen to lift his game. He's been playing a lost sheep role for two and a half years. He needs to find his own unique way to bring something to the table. First of all, he can't go out and try and play like his old man, as much as we would all love that. The kid has the brain of a half. he needs to become a ball playing back rower. Let him have little shortside plays with the centres, like Wade Graham. Our coaches need to try and utilise some of the skills we know he possesses. He has a bloody good short pass. Its about time he gets allowed to use it. Run a few plays where he is between Brooks and Moses and they can choose whether to utilise him. If there's space, have Tedesco behind him. Those four could produce a lethal combination.

Lawrence to really kick on and become a great back rower. He has the power in his legs. He runs f**king awesome lines, his step now looks better when against other back rowers. He is now a fast backrower, as opposed to a slow centre. He needs to work on dominating tackles 1 on 1 more. He doesn't get bumped off in standing tackles as much anymore. He really needs to become a forward leader now.

Grant to have a big year. He's been quiet for a few seasons. He needs to see this as his last chance and really rip and tear.

Ipswich boys to get some game time

Cherrington to not suffer from Ballin's arrival. The club really needs to ensure Cherrington gets plenty of game time this year, he can't be allowed to go backwards, because he will get poached by another club.

 

[TiggaPlease]

2nd Row:

I want to see big improvements in the 2nd row.

As has been said on this thread and others it is really a make or break season for Sironen, I'm personally not convinced that he has what it takes to make the step up but would love to be proven wrong.

I feel that Chee-Kam has the potential to be brilliant for us, I just hope he gets some decent game time.

Joel Edwards is another that could be great, I'd like to see him protecting Brooks.

Lawrence will keep improving on 2014 as MU said. It's a real shame he wasn't transitioned into the role a few years ago as I think he'd be close to rep quality by now if that had happened.

The one thing I don't want to see in our 2nd row is Lawrence, Siro, Halatau - Not intimidating at all!

Backs:

All I can ask for here is an injury free year so some combinations can be built. Tedesco and Simona really need the other guys to step up. Naiqama probably deserves first shot at right centre based on form towards the end of last year, far from convinced that he is the long term solution though.

Happy that there will be good competition for the vacant left wing spot.

Front row:

Over the moon at the Grant signing, we potentially have the NSW starting front row all in WT colours. I feel like we will have an excellent prop rotation this year.

Very interested to see how Taylor handles the hooker position, especially with the reduced interchange. Again agree with MU that this must not have a negative effect on Cherrington's development.

Halves:

We need the 2nd row to step up here, get a roll on in attack and protect Brooks and Moses in defence. Without this happening it will be an uphill battle for the young halves.

Where we'll finish:

Realistically I don't expect us to finish higher that the bottom half of the bottom 8. 12th or better would be great.

Above all I'd just like to see some commitment. No rolling over when it gets tough out there.

 

[Magpies Forever]

More than anything I'd like to see some consistency, increased mental toughness and the clicking together of the players into a team getting rid of this not knowing what team is going to turn upon the day. Results can come after this but if they as a playing group can get these 3 components into place results will eventually come and we can be competitive. Being competitive is all I ask at this stage. I'll support the guys and team but if they can be consistently competitive I'll be rapt.

 

[Tigers Tale]

Above all I'd just like to see some commitment. No rolling over when it gets tough out there.

I think all of you have summed up quite well what we all think. Like you Tigga I want to see commitment, the same commitment at the beginning as at the end of a game.

I'd really like to see some imaginative game plans that work to our strengths, not what worked for other teams our current coach had links to....

 

[Tigers Tale]

Madunit, the comparison of Sironen to Wade Graham is interesting. Fact is Sironen could play very much like Graham, he is a big man with the ability to draw and pass. If Sironen can gain some confidence with a good start to the year and perhaps stay injury free he could be the second rower we have all been banging on about....

 

[simmo1]

Hope I'm wrong but don't see us making it higher than bottom four.

Will probably jag a few wins early on with a full strength squad, but as soon as we start getting a few injuries and lose Woods (maybe Tedesco?) to SOO, we'll struggle to win a game.

Basically, more of the same.

 

[magpie4ever]

None, anything better than the spoon will be acceptable.

 

[macnaz]

I think Sirro needs like MU said , the license to play to his strengths. So many games ive seem him put on plays that could have produced tries or breaks , only there has been absolutely no support to finnish the play. I dont know if the team was just slack or Sirro wasnt expected by JT to be offloading so nobody followed him.

My expectations ... firstly a truce between Farrah / players and Taylor so the side can work together without any exuses to under perform . Secondly im hoping to see some exciting football and not Taylor ball. And thirdly im hoping to see some new talent burst onto the scene and give us fans encouragement and confidence going forward .

 

[The Charlatan]

Compete every game. I could handle watching Balmain get pantsed in the 90's because the merkins had a go. If they are simply outclassed by a better side and give 110% I can accept that. We (Wests Tigers,) fold as soon as shit gets tough.

 

[Old Time Tiger]

My expectations are:

- that I expect the coach to take plenty of credit with they win a game, :?
- that the Chairwomen, to endorse the coach up to Round 4 and especially if they win any of those games,
- that one R Farah to guide the 6 & 7 around the field and whilst not the on field captain he will certainly be the on field leader,
- that wittyfan continues to praise his favourite player even when he has a shocker
- that at least 1 (I don't know which one) of the Ipswich boys to have a great year,
- that we beat the Storm at Leichhardt Oval,
- that the press will question the viability of playing out of Campbelltown due to dwindling crowd numbers,
- that Farah announces his move to the Super League in August.
- that come the end of August, I'm happier with the overall performance of the 'team' and their effort than I was in August 2015.

 

[rex2ce]

I would just like to see the team show some guts when needed and each player be proud of the teams' performance at the end of the game

 

[Ron's_Mate]

- that we get flogged by the Roosters
- that we flog the Sharks

 

[Tigerted]

- that the whole team applies nous & grit in defence for the whole season.
-that our kicking game is one where common sense & accuracy prevail.
-that the many bargain buys we've made are vindicated whereby the newcomers are able to make effective transition to NRL.
-that the trio from holy cross ( brooks Moses & siro)start consistently showing us that they are the real deal & put there stamp on numerous wins for us.
-that Taylor displays literacy skills & humility.
-that the injury gods r watching over us.

If the above were to come true we would walk into the top 4.
However methinks we will finish bottom 4 particularly coz our defence & kicking game have been substandard for yrs & I c the status quo remaining.

 

[BrotherJim05]

My expectations is purely to see a resemblance of a finals footy team starting to form. I'm not expecting us to play finals, but I expect our roster to start to show legitimate promise for 2017. This includes:

- To be able to say Brooks and Moses are first grade material.
- To see the formation of a tough forward pack that can match it with anyone in the comp. I don't expect to see them dominating every game, but I expect to see them having a dig and really giving it to the better teams. Hopefully by the end of the year we will have the bulk of our tough nuts locked in and can sign additional players for 2017 to fill in any gaps
- To see players picked purely on form. No more of this fairytale bullshit. If your form drops you play NSW cup until you get it back
- To play games to our strengths, not just the same repetitive bs.
- No more Robbie Farah drama.

 

[moller]

Honestly I have no idea - so many question marks over personnel and system.
The following are hopes rather than expectations -

* That we cover the halves in defence much better - this relies on better communication and the backrowers taking command of the situation.
* Further to the above, better defence in general. We started pretty well in this regard last year, but it really fell off after that first bye. Some of it was due to personnel (back rowers and centres of barely NSW Cup standard), some was attitude, some was system. For someone that preached defence so much, JT needs to improve it ten fold.
* Recruitment and retention to improve for 2017. We've cleared out a lot of deadwood, and I suspect more will go this year - time to actually sign some first graders who will make an impact from the off.

 

[Ned Kelly]

I'll keep this to expectations instead of wishful thinking.

I expect us to finish higher than the Titans given their loss of players and injury problems but then again we have Jason Taylor as coach so that balances things up. I expect it will be close.

I expect us to finish higher than the Knights given their roster but again we have Jason Taylor in charge so maybe not.

I expect Manly will take all season to get it together under a new coach with no NRL coaching experience but they will finish in front of us due to our coach not being able to help players develop their natural ability only to squash it.

I predict Siro will not go any where near his full potential due to Taylor insisting on mind blowingly predictable plays instead experimenting more.

I expect the Tigers will be one of the most boring teams to watch because of Taylor's lack of creativity.

I predict Taylor to say we are improving and on track "moving forward" no matter how abysmally we perform.

I predict 4th last will be the best we can manage.

Oh please may I be totally wrong about everything. I would love to be saying at years end that Jason Taylor is a genius and mean it.

 

[super_coach]

My heart says we could be the big improvers and maybe make the bottom of the eight, our recruitment has been good considering our lack of dollars and the kids a year older,smarter and bigger.

My brain says bottom three, when you compare our roster with any other club in the NRL, I am thinking we are slightly better than the Knights and the Titians. Also as good as we recruited, how many of our new recruits were being chased by other clubs???? Also the continual drama in the front office will always drag us down and there could be a fallout from Farahgate.

In saying the above Iam still optimistic we could go okay, i am one of the few people who think Taylor can coach especially now he has given the six and seven some freedom

 

[umina panther]

From an outsiders point of view I've never seen Sironen do anything and don't think he'd ever have played first grade with another last name.

 

[sensesmaybenumbed]

From an outsiders point of view I've never seen Sironen do anything and don't think he'd ever have played first grade with another last name.

If Dwyer hadn't done his shoulder sironen may well have had to look elsewhere to get a run, or would have spent far more time on the bench at least.

 

[Tigerted]

Sironen has been totally crap.Theres been a no. of excuses put forward for his poor form & they just don't wash.The unforgivable fact is he along with brooks just don't show any enthusiasm on the field.I think they are both very complacent as they are comfortably on massive overs.I just don't c things changing under a weak moronic inept coach like Taylor.Neither of these 2 have justified positions in 1st grade @ this stage of there careers.