Season 2025

[Tigerm]

Spoke to a mate of mine whos heavily involved with Balmain that went to the jersey launch. He said that Bula, Galvin, Rome and Api have been meeting regularly, also that Royce Hunt is the biggest human hes ever seen. In general good vibes around the joint.

Good to hear.
It’s hard to imagine that we will be successful again, but it will happen, so it may as well start in ‘25.
Our 20yr anniversary.

 

[Nutz]

Good to hear.
It’s hard to imagine that we will be successful again, but it will happen, so it may as well start in ‘25.
Our 20yr anniversary.

Well the similarity between our first premiership win and next year is the number 5. Could this number be our lucky one?

 

[Tigerm]

NRL 2025: Wests Tigers, Benji Marshall, Shane Richardson, Jarome Luai; Proof that Wests Tigers are on the rise | Wests Tigers

There is a new-found belief in the direction of Wests Tigers that is enticing players to sign, sponsors to get on board and members to join.

www.weststigers.com.au

"One of the best things about all of the guys we have signed is that they are all trying their hardest to come in as much as possible," Marshall said.

"Royce Hunt started three weeks early, Sunia Turuva is going to come in and he isn't required back until January, Jack Bird started a week early, Jeral Skelton started today, and he is not due back for another two weeks.

"We are talking about people who are buying into what we are doing and want to be a part of the solution and want to be in the fight to get us out of where we are so that reassures me that we have signed the right people."
-------------------------------
Notice how big Hunt is, with the picture of him and Twal talking.

 

[WA Tiger]

Twal: “shit these guys are scary keen. This is new.”

 

[Nutz]

"From Pyrmont to Picton"

I like it, it sounds a bit like Peter Allen's "I Still Call Australia Home"

 

[Nutz]

The roster is looking a tad better than last season.
The starting pack and their substitutes still look a bit disjointed mainly because of an aging Klemmer and who will kick when Api is off and Da Silva isn't in the 17.
Also the way in which we use Hunt will be interesting. It depends on how fit we can get this guy.
I mean if he was a player that could play big minutes the rotation would be to sub Hunt for Klemmer or Sione but it may not be the case due Hunt's fitness. Benji's problem.
I still think we need to trade Klemmer for a bigger, better player because I feel that the strength of a roster is based on the quality of it's bench.
Is Benji going to rotate Pole with Bird?
I would love to bring Makasini back from the future (2026) to play in the centres

 

[Tigerm]

The roster is looking a tad better than last season.
The starting pack and their substitutes still look a bit disjointed mainly because of an aging Klemmer and who will kick when Api is off and Da Silva isn't in the 17.
Also the way in which we use Hunt will be interesting. It depends on how fit we can get this guy.
I mean if he was a player that could play big minutes the rotation would be to sub Hunt for Klemmer or Sione but it may not be the case due Hunt's fitness. Benji's problem.
I still think we need to trade Klemmer for a bigger, better player because I feel that the strength of a roster is based on the quality of it's bench.
Is Benji going to rotate Pole with Bird?
I would love to bring Makasini back from the future (2026) to play in the centres

"A tad better"? I thought it looks a lot better. Though results are what we want.

 

[Tigerm]

Gallery: Pre-season Week 5

The summer portion of pre-season begins as we move into Week 5.

www.weststigers.com.au

 

[Nutz]

"A tad better"? I thought it looks a lot better. Though results are what we want.

Only for the reasons I've mentioned. The rotation concerns me. Mainly because we have a Rookie coach who may not be able to come up with a master plan.
Rotation of forwards and the roles that they play is worrying me.
Maybe I've been burnt by this club too many times that I've become a bit sceptical.
You see Tm, the fwd pack needs to gel and every player has to add to mechanic's of it, not detract from it.
Bateman is an example.
He really didn't know what his role in the team was and as such he had too many brain explosions, sins bins, slow play the balls. Papa also looked lost or lazy or both.
I want these new players to know their roles and what they need to do to achieve it.
I could go on but I'm sure you know where I'm coming from.

 

[Tigerm]

Only for the reasons I've mentioned. The rotation concerns me. Mainly because we have a Rookie coach who may not be able to come up with a master plan.
Rotation of forwards and the roles that they play is worrying me.
Maybe I've been burnt by this club too many times that I've become a bit sceptical.
You see Tm, the fwd pack needs to gel and every player has to add to mechanic's of it, not detract from it.
Bateman is an example.
He really didn't know what his role in the team was and as such he had too many brain explosions, sins bins, slow play the balls. Papa also looked lost or lazy or both.
I want these new players to know their roles and what they need to do to achieve it.
I could go on but I'm sure you know where I'm coming from.

I do, but worrying about what might happen at this stage, will give you ulcers.
We'll have a whole season, once it starts, to get them.
I agree the players we have gained, will need to gel, but they are pretty good to very good and the old heads are another season older, I don't think we can't use it as an excuse.
This is basically Benji's 3rd year, if he fails again, I don't see him lasting the season. But again, we won't know that until round 5, IMO.
I think there is plenty of reasons to be optimistic about next year.
I couldn't have dreamed for the roster they have given the team.
I put my $50 bet on yesterday, (paying $3.40, absolute shit, after 3 spoons) we are 5th from the bottom to not make the 8, the drags have that honor at this stage.

 

[Tigerm]

Forwards
Api
May
Hunt
Bird
Klemmer
Seyfarth
Twal
Sa Fainu
Pole
Bateman/Si Fainu

Halves
Luai
Galvin
L Fainu
Sulivan

Backs
Bula
Skelton
Olam
Turuva
To'a
Doueihi
Naden
Staines

Not too shabby.
Maybe a GK needed, shouldn’t expect Api to do it all.
Does Luai kick?

 

[Tiger Ted]

Forwards
Api
May
Hunt
Bird
Klemmer
Seyfarth
Twal
Sa Fainu
Pole
Bateman/Si Fainu

Halves
Luai
Galvin
L Fainu
Sulivan

Backs
Bula
Skelton
Olam
Turuva
To'a
Doueihi
Naden
Staines

Not too shabby.
Maybe a GK needed, shouldn’t expect Api to do it all.
Does Luai kick?

I dread looking at the squad as my confidence diminishes further each time I look at it.Im not convinced our forwards will cut it plus we need quality centres plus I still have a Q mark re Bula at fullback.Additionally & crucially our coaching staff are sub standard.Hag Pascoe & sheens put us in this deplorable position of having a coach on L plates.

 

[Vic Mackey]

Maybe a GK needed, shouldn’t expect Api to do it all.
Does Luai kick?

The club has completely over looked a recognized goal kicker since Pat Richards retired in 2015. Its gone:

2016 - Moses/Rankin
17 - Lolohea
18- Marsters
19 - Marsters/Momirovski
20 -Mbye/Marshall/Douihi
21 -Doeuihi
22- Hastings/Doeuihi
23 -Wakeham/Api
24 - Api/ Sezer

All part time kickers, none have been first choice kicker any of their other clubs, Api was 4th choice at Penrtih, is out first choice!!

The amount of close games we've lost due to goal kicking is ridiculous, it cost us a finals spot in 2019.

In 2025 I assume Api is still going to be our first choice. Da Silva is probably the best goal kicker in the Top 30, my assumption is the plan will be to have him on bench and increasingly take minutes off Api. So assume he will kick when he replaces him.

The good news is that Makasani is a genuine sharp shooter, believe he was kicking at around 79% in Matts which is pretty nuts for a 16 year old. Hopefully he can continue and b the time hes our starting centre (likely start of 2026) he will be an 80%+ NRL kicker.

 

[Tiger05]

I dread looking at the squad as my confidence diminishes further each time I look at it.

Ted - it looks pretty good to me

Im not convinced our forwards will cut it plus we need quality centres plus I still have a Q mark re Bula at fullback.

Our forwards are good. We have heaps of options in the centres. I get the question mark on Bula but I think he is an athlete and I think with a better team around him there is a chance he kicks on. Worse case with Bula we can play Turuva there.

Additionally & crucially our coaching staff are sub standard.

This to me is the biggest issue.

I can see us making the 8 this season. We have a good squad. To me the risk is the coaching staff.

When it comes to our squad AD was one of the guys we used to rely on for some attack. He shouldn't be anywhere near first grade this season unless he has a massive turnaround in his attitude in general and particularly defensively.

 

[Tiger Ted]

Ted - it looks pretty good to me



Our forwards are good. We have heaps of options in the centres. I get the question mark on Bula but I think he is an athlete and I think with a better team around him there is a chance he kicks on. Worse case with Bula we can play Turuva there.



This to me is the biggest issue.

I can see us making the 8 this season. We have a good squad. To me the risk is the coaching staff.

When it comes to our squad AD was one of the guys we used to rely on for some attack. He shouldn't be anywhere near first grade this season unless he has a massive turnaround in his attitude in general and particularly defensively.

No doubt our squad looks better than recent yrs albeit due to constantly feeling deflated in the past im not getting my hopes up.Wont get a reasonable guage on this squad till at the very earliest rd 6.Oddly enough I believe we r contenders for both the spoon & the 8.

 

[Tigerm]

No doubt our squad looks better than recent yrs albeit due to constantly feeling deflated in the past im not getting my hopes up.Wont get a reasonable guage on this squad till at the very earliest rd 6.Oddly enough I believe we r contenders for both the spoon & the 8.

I realise we are all gun shy about success, but it has to happen sometime, I believe we have a squad that can get it started.

 

[Tigerm]

 

[Tiger05]

I think I'd play him ahead of Klemmer.

Starting Pops:- May & Pole
Edge backrowers:- Samuela Fainu & Seyfarth
Lock:- Jack Bird

Bench:-
Latu Fainu - I keep swapping between him and TDS.
Bench forwards:- Hunt, Twal & Sione Fainu

Guys pushing for a middle forward spot:- Klemmer, Matamua, Kit Laulilii & Johannssen. That is a good bunch of back-up middle forwards. Porter could come in as well. I suppose Sukkar, AD and Porter are also options for an edge backrow spot.

Every time I mention AD I feel I have to add that the guy is really suited to an edge backrow spot. He can throw a good pass, he can put in a nice kick at times and he can run it back hard and with some pace. The problem is his attitude especially defensively.

 

[Tigerm]

I think I'd play him ahead of Klemmer.

Starting Pops:- May & Pole
Edge backrowers:- Samuela Fainu & Seyfarth
Lock:- Jack Bird

Bench:-
Latu Fainu - I keep swapping between him and TDS.
Bench forwards:- Hunt, Twal & Sione Fainu

Guys pushing for a middle forward spot:- Klemmer, Matamua, Kit Laulilii & Johannssen. That is a good bunch of back-up middle forwards. Porter could come in as well. I suppose Sukkar, AD and Porter are also options for an edge backrow spot.

Every time I mention AD I feel I have to add that the guy is really suited to an edge backrow spot. He can throw a good pass, he can put in a nice kick at times and he can run it back hard and with some pace. The problem is his attitude especially defensively.

I just wished he had a bit more mongrel & venom in him.