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Season 2025

Nutz

First Grade
Messages
5,282
The diabolical ineptitude in defense has been my biggest bugbear.Year in year out this concord shitshow display zero ability intelligence or improvement in defense.Its a huge reason y they’ve collected 3 consecutive spoons & will b favourites for a 4peat.Its farcical that the coach was a noted pissweak defender who until
he played under SuperCoach WB never understood the importance of playing with discipline & grinding out wins.The team in many ways r a mirror image of the coach in that they r unwilling to earn wins with a strong work ethic & a take no prisoners attitude for the full 80 mins each wk.
Well at this stage I'm not seeing a new WT defensive culture for 2025.
One area we continually stuff up in is defending against expansive plays. Our wingers are often sucked inwards leaving opposing winger a free run to the line. Noffa was a classic at this.
Last week we saw the same thing happen with Skelton.
If we don’t coach against this happening then he'll just carry on the tradition.
Defense, it should be priority Nº1 for 2025 regardless who is in the squad.
 

Das Hassler

Bench
Messages
3,288
Good way of looking at it Fordy and I agree.
Is the coach assistant coach an upgrade...lose Roɓie gain Hodgo? (that's if rumours are true)
It's quiet clear that our biggest downfall this year was in Defense. Have you got faith in Morris. Was he partly to blame and should he be replaced?
I think his job is safe but something has to change with our defense strategy.

The way I'm looking at it is it was more due to injuries and suspensions.... we wouldn't have had three consecutive games with the same combination of outside backs (reasons.. not excuses) thus there has never been enough time through most of this season for any bankable defensive combinations to be locked into muscle memory. We started out after training through the preseason with a couple of dominant wins then bam ...the sin bins...suspensions and multi game injuries took over and it became week to week trial and error(s) Of course other clubs handle it but when we give 13 or 14 players their nrl debut they can only bring talent...not experience
 

Nutz

First Grade
Messages
5,282
The way I'm looking at it is it was more due to injuries and suspensions.... we wouldn't have had three consecutive games with the same combination of outside backs (reasons.. not excuses) thus there has never been enough time through most of this season for any bankable defensive combinations to be locked into muscle memory. We started out after training through the preseason with a couple of dominant wins then bam ...the sin bins...suspensions and multi game injuries took over and it became week to week trial and error(s) Of course other clubs handle it but when we give 13 or 14 players their nrl debut they can only bring talent...not experience
I see it this way...there's more sand on Fraser Island than on Bondi Beach :)

Seriously, your point highlights the need for a club culture. Every player from NRL down to Matts need to know how and why it's done in a particular way so when the debuted or are called up due injuries they fit straight in. Our NRL coaches shouldn't have to teach but are there to reinforce the standard. Look at Melbourne, they always play the same Storm way.
 

Tigerm

Coach
Messages
10,760

Tigerm

Coach
Messages
10,760

Not sure if it was just a rumour before, but it’s a fact now apparently.
So, welcome back Brett, toughest gig in the NRL atm.
Confirmed on the WT site as well.
If he can instil the heart that he showed every game, we’ll be on a winner.
 
Last edited:

Tigerm

Coach
Messages
10,760

Not sure if it was just a rumour before, but it’s a fact now apparently.
So, welcome back Brett, toughest gig in the NRL atm.
Confirmed on the WT site as well.
If he can instil the heart that he showed every game, we’ll be on a winner.
Though, it might be a good time to come in, got some pretty handy players coming.
 

Tigerm

Coach
Messages
10,760
Well the season ‘24 has finished, let’s hope we have something to smile about in the coming season.

The signings we’ve made, make me believe that it will.

Though that happens at the beginning of most seasons, for me.

Hopefully we still have some more signings to come.
 

Tigerm

Coach
Messages
10,760


TIGERS



Off-contract 2024:
Aidan Sezer (Mutual Option for 2025), Brandon Tumeth (Player Option for 2025), Sione Fainu

Off-contract 2025: Adam Doueihi, Alex Seyfarth, Brent Naden, Charlie Staines, David Klemmer (Mutual Option for 2026), Fonua Pole, Josh Feledy, Justin Matamua


Sione Fainu is the only Tigers off contract at the end of 2024 without a new club or option to extend their deal. The 23-year-old was part of a promising core of young Tigers who showed flashes of their future brilliance this season, a group including his brothers Latu and Samuela. Expect him to be handed a new deal by the club. As for the group of players entering free agency on November 1, the club has much to think about as it manages its way through an already impressive roster rebuild. Adam Doueihi has been hindered by injuries this season, but still signed a one-year minimum wage deal mid-year to keep him at Concord next year. A full year of fitness could see the Lebanese international prove his importance to Benji Marshall’s side or equally be the subject of a poaching raid by rival clubs. Charlie Staines and Brent Naden both arrived with plenty of promise but the emergence of young outside backs, like Luke Laulilii, and new signings Sunia Turuva and Jeral Skelton, could see them deemed surplus to requirements moving forward. Alex Seyfarth, Justin Matamua and Fonua Pole are all local juniors the club will likely look to retain, with the latter given more minutes as a starting prop in the closing rounds of 2024, and impressing in this opportunity. Matamua too is highly rated, having featured in NSW’s Under 19s side in 2022 but has yet to break into Marshall’s 17. Given his junior pedigree there is a world where the 21-year-old attracts plenty of interest come November 1.

2025 gains: Jarome Luai (Panthers), Sunia Turuva (Panthers), Jeral Skelton (Bulldogs), Royce Hunt (Sharks), Jack Bird (Dragons)

2025 losses: Stefano Utoikamanu (Storm), Isaiah Papali’i (Panthers), Junior Tupou (Dolphins
 

Tiger05

First Grade
Messages
9,683
2025 gains: Jarome Luai (Panthers), Sunia Turuva (Panthers), Jeral Skelton (Bulldogs), Royce Hunt (Sharks), Jack Bird (Dragons)

2025 losses: Stefano Utoikamanu (Storm), Isaiah Papali’i (Panthers), Junior Tupou (Dolphins)

Some big gains and losses. We are way ahead in the backs including the halves but IP was playing really good footy in the middle for us. I don't think Hunt will be any better than Stefano performed for us last season but I don't think he'll be worse.
 

Tiger Ted

Bench
Messages
3,247
Some big gains and losses. We are way ahead in the backs including the halves but IP was playing really good footy in the middle for us. I don't think Hunt will be any better than Stefano performed for us last season but I don't think he'll be worse.
I have to reiterate what a ridiculous signing Bird is.It beggars belief as to why we signed the pathetic has-been.
 

Tiger05

First Grade
Messages
9,683
I have to reiterate what a ridiculous signing Bird is.It beggars belief as to why we signed the pathetic has-been.

I've accepted this signing but we need to piss off some players prior to the pre-season starting.

I think Doueihi, Tumeth, Bateman, Sullivan, Feledy, Saukuru, Naden & Staines are on the chopping board.

I wonder if Doueihi is as bad a signing as Bird. I think Bird may be a better player and offer more than Doueihi does right now. Feledy, Naden and Staines can all offer the team something. Doueihi may even offer the team something. Bateman and Sullivan are just too expensive for what they offer and that makes it hard retaining the right talent.

We need at least two of those players out of the top 30. I can't see any of them getting the same dollar contracts elsewhere. Staines might jag a contract.
 
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