Review of Season 2024

[Wizardman]

Bula: B-. While I don't think Bula has really built much on his rookie year, he has still been steady for us at the back. I do think he suffered from the lack of attack from around him. Im expecting a step forward in his development next season.
Doueihi: D He did give some standing in attack......but his defence has been as woeful as its ever been. Hope he just there for depth reasons in 2025.
Sezer: D Pretty good very early into the season but his effectiveness wore off pretty quick. He let us down in defence and discipline numerous times and just had no zip to trouble opposition sides.
Lobb: E Not a first grader and doubt he will be.
Naden: E If Naden's football brain matched his athletic ability, he'd be rep football quality. Sadly, he is just not a first grade footballer between the ears.
Staines: D+ = Did the odd good thing in attack but he is not a first grader.
Casey: E He actually played this year which is a reflection of our injury ward.
Mason: D+ Youngster with some holes in his game but seems to have a good attitude.
Sullivan: E = Pascoe's parting gift to us.....bastard!
Feledy: E = Not seen much of him but a lot have been picked in front of him this year which does not look too good for him.
Tupou: C Decent when he played....injury wrecked year though. No real loss to the club.
Olam: D = Very sad to give Olam that rating but for various reasons, he has simply not delivered this year. His first game at Leichardt was A class though.
Galvin: B+ Such a positive player for a team like ours. Always has a dig and will be better for the year.
Latu Fainu: D =For various reasons, we are still waiting to see how good this kid is. Some promise here and there but the verdict is out with him.
Luke Lauilil: D Raw as tough steak...but willing. Definitely worth keeping him around.
Alaimalo: D = Not really impressed with him. I think a few WT pundits have overrated the bloke.
Faatape: C- = A tough guy to rate. He certainly has his defensive faults but has some good attacking ability and his attitude is spot on. Im very keen to see how he goes after a full off-season with us.
To'a: E = Injury hit year, but had his form struggles late last year as well.
Seyfarth: C+ = I did not have much hope for the bloke at the start of the year. He really looks like he could be a very solid first grader next year. Very happy with his development this year.
Twal: D- = Twal is Twal. Honest defender but we need more punch in attack.
Koroisau: A = Excellent player and leader.
Tumeth: E
Klemmer: E = Sad to give him that rating but he is no longer starting first grade quality. Our number two salary cap problem behind Sullivan.
Pole: C+ = A man with good potential. A good season which he can hopefully build on.
Papilii: D = He was meant to give us explosive punch as a wide running backrower.......failed miserably. Playing ok as a middle forward now but failed in doing the role he was paid to do.
Bateman: D = Pretty much a copy and paste of Papilii. He did defend well and tried hard....but nowhere near the player he was at Canberra. Hopefully, he doesn't come back.
Miller: E = He has a LOT of work to do.
Matamua: E Touted by most as a guy who would push for first grade impact. It just hasn't happened for him.
Porter: D Good decent NSW Cup player....not a first grader.
Samuela Fainu: B+ A man that has surprised most of us. He has it all! A guy we simply must lock up longterm.
Sione Fainu: D Solid forward but not a regular first grade prospect.
Stefano Ute: E He had the odd game that was definitely higher than an E. But, when you take into account the drawn out contract dealings and him basically taking the piss after a month, it has been a shit of a year for a bloke that should have played so much better. If he truly put in, we are likely not fighting to avoid the spoon next weekend.
Da Silva: C = I like the look of him. I think even a man like Api needs a rest and he is perfect to come on when players are tired.
Johannsesn: D Worth persevering with.

Coach: C+ It is a bit of an odd mark for a guy who is fighting to avoid the spoon. But, considering the squad he has been given, he definitely deserves a pass mark.

*The team do seem to play for him and fight hard. I think the only game where they really caved in was the St George game at Woolongong.
*Their defence was damn good in the first ten weeks.....while I've not seen a better attacking Wests Tigers side since Moses and Tedesco were at the club over the last part of the season. We have not put the complete game together all year.....part parts of our game are developing.
*Benji is getting some performance from the young guys who are buying in.

He has definitely done enough to see what he can do with better players around him.

CEO: A+ = Richo has been the star of the organisation this year. In terms of governance, Richo has been extremely strong this year. Let it continue!

 

[Fordy20]

In Richo we trust.

Hopefully Barry gets extended, the shareholder agreement gets adopted and we start to see these independent directors come on board.

The work Richo has done off field and the signings since he's come on board have been fantastic.

 

[Tiger Ted]

In Richo we trust.

Hopefully Barry gets extended, the shareholder agreement gets adopted and we start to see these independent directors come on board.

The work Richo has done off field and the signings since he's come on board have been fantastic.

Without Richo running the show we’d b well & truly FKD.He gives me much hope & we r certainly & finally on an upwards trajectory.Hes one of only 2 people who could turn this shithole around.The other is super coach WB.

 

[Nutz]

Without Richo running the show we’d b well & truly FKD.He gives me much hope & we r certainly & finally on an upwards trajectory.Hes one of only 2 people who could turn this shithole around.The other is super coach WB.

Could you imagine how Benji would've gone with the previous administration. Not good.
I think Richo is the only CEO who could actually make the Benji move work.
He's just added one of the best impact middles going around in Hunt. I'm hoping this works out because if it does our fwd pack of Pole, Hunt and even Seyfarth, who is improving every year, can be one of the best go fwd packs in the comp....fingers crossed.
The next piece of the puzzle, apart from another top signing, is to get Marshall an experienced assistant who Benji can work with, take advice from if necessary and be comfortable with.
Any suggestions?
Bring Steve Georgallis back? No thought put into that suggestion

 

[TheDefinitionOfMadness]

Could you imagine how Benji would've gone with the previous administration. Not good.
I think Richo is the only CEO who could actually make the Benji move work.
He's just added one of the best impact middles going around in Hunt. I'm hoping this works out because if it does our fwd pack of Pole, Hunt and even Seyfarth, who is improving every year, can be one of the best go fwd packs in the comp....fingers crossed.
The next piece of the puzzle, apart from another top signing, is to get Marshall an experienced assistant who Benji can work with, take advice from if necessary and be comfortable with.
Any suggestions?
Bring Steve Georgallis back?

Whoever the defensive coach is at Melbourne, Penrith, or Canterbury.

 

[Nutz]

Whoever the defensive coach is at Melbourne, Penrith, or Canterbury.

Sounds good to me. And the winner is........

 

[Vic Mackey]

Was mentioned elsehwere but think the only guys who can hold their head high after the year are Bula, Galvin, Api, Samuela Fainu and Pole. Even Bula and Galvin had some poor periods but that's to be expected at their age.

Seyfarth went ok. Sezer, Papalii, Olam and Staines had moments but overall below average seasons.

Guys like the other Fainus, Tallyn etc showed promise in limited opportunites. Fataape and Alaimalo had some nice moments as rookies mixed in with plenty of mistakes.

Sullivan, Bateman, Stef, Naden all disastrous. I’d have Doeuihi in this list too if he wasn’t fresh off his 3rd ACL. Still signs not good.

 

[Nutz]

Was mentioned elsehwere but think the only guys who can hold their head high after the year are Bula, Galvin, Api, Samuela Fainu and Pole. Even Bula and Galvin had some poor periods but that's to be expected at their age.

Seyfarth went ok. Sezer, Papalii, Olam and Staines had moments but overall below average seasons.

Guys like the other Fainus, Tallyn etc showed promise in limited opportunites.

Sullivan, Bateman, Stef all disastrous

I think big red is improving each game as he's getting more time on the field.
I'm looking forward to seeing him play next year in a better team.
Samuela Fainu is the player of the year imo because he's a fwd doing the hard yards but also is an attacking gem who will benefit having Luai and Galvin running around creating more room for him.
This is the most anticipated season coming up since 05 was unfolding.
I don't think we've finished signing yet and an assistant coach too.
As long as we shore up our talent I'll be more than happy.

 

[TheDefinitionOfMadness]

Putting aside the soul crushing disappointment of last night I'd have to say tigers exceeded my expectations in 2024.

Looking at the roster at the start of the year I was fearful we wouldn't win a game. To win 6, which is a couple more than we've won in the last couple of spoon years was a major surprise.

The positives to come out of the year is the emergence of Galvin as a possible superstar of the game. Bottom line, he's not finished developing as a man yet, only 19, and in his first season, and he's already ahead of what Brooks produced for 10 years. This is in attack, not defence. The other positive is the recruitment of Luai, who I think most of us thought was a bit of a worry re attitude. He's put that to bed this year showing he's a natural leader and game manager, on top of his individual brilliance which we all knew about. Sam Finau and Pole are the pick of the young brigade coming through, but shit they need to work on their defence. We've recruited 2 wingers who should help with the go forward out of trouble. We've also got some role playing forwards who should do a job for us.

The negatives of the year can be summed up in defence and discipline. After a good defensive start to the year we fell into a complete hole, to the point where our defensive structures would barely pass reserve grade standard, let alone first grade. This needs to be fixed with the correct structures and coaching because if we can't make major leaps forward here we'll be anchored to the bottom of the table well into the future. Look at Canterbury as an example of a team that applies a defensive structure that works for them, and everyone buys into its execution. Look at what it's done for them. Penrith are the yardstick, and so are Melbourne. It's no surprise they've won the last 4 GF's between them, and one of them will win this year.

We need to be squeaky clean with our discipline. Almost like a released prisoner who's on parole. It's just been shit house all year and it's also obvious the refs and bunker have this engrained in the mind (fairly or unfairly) and look to bin us, and penalise us.

I don't think we have a coaching staff that is going to see us improve, especially in defence. Any head coach that is suggested by Phil Rothfield should never have been employed. If he told me it was sunny day, the first thing I'd do is pack an umbrella. It's really hard to see any good structure in attack or defence. everything good we do seems to come off the cuff for the most part. This is the responsibility of the coaches.

 

[Tigerm]

Bluntly, we sucked for 90% of the season, it’s not good enough.
Benji has next year to turn it around imo.

 

[Nutz]

Bluntly, we sucked for 90% of the season, it’s not good enough.
Benji has next year to turn it around imo.

I hope we have a mid season review next year. Keep it behind closed doors. We need to keep things running at 110% and short term goals need to be set and attained.
Everyone in the football department need to be part of the review.
Players need to attain goals of fitness and performance.
For example...allowing certain players to arm grab in D week in week out proves that they are not learning, coached poorly or someone doesn't give a shitster.

 

[Nutz]

Benji said we debuted 12 players this year and were forced to use 38 in total, including six players from the 2022 HM side.
This indicates several things like injuries to senior players and desperation on Benji's behalf.
It's been positive knowing where we are at with the younger players development....which is underdone.
Several players need another year in lower grades imo.

 

[Tigerm]

Imo, most of the blame rests on the senior players, they were rubbish, Api an exception, though had his moments as well.

 

[Perth Tiger]

We won 50% more games than the last 2 years and doing it while looking like a Jersey Flegg/NSW Cup team I. Talent and performance for most of the year.

If the coaching and recruitment can get us performing at a first grade level, meaning having players that could realistically make other teams across the park and not have glaring problems in our game, then we should be able to be I. The fight for the 8 next year.

that is a pretty big if though and 35 years of history suggests that we won’t