Season 2025

[Tigerm]

Well I doubt there'd be too many other coaches who have players wanting to play for them to this degree....it's not everything that's needed to win but it sure doesn't hurt. Quite something to have these three talk ( quite genuinely) about coming to our wooden spoon club like it's the most exciting thing in their career.!

Good post.
The thing with Luai, imo, he comes across as a lot different to how the press painted him in the past.
He is going to be so good for us.
Still pinching myself how we managed to sign the talent we signed for this year, I'm not sure we could have got better players.
Pretty hard not to get excited about our prospects for the season. Not expecting to win the comp this year, but next year, our young kids will be another season older, who knows, hard to believe, but the future is bright.

 

[Tigerm]

Gallery: Back into training in 2025

The squad returns to training in 2025 as they prepare for the fast-approaching season.

www.weststigers.com.au

 

[Tigerm]

Interesting enigma, he certainly has the talent imo, but his discipline just lets him down.
Zero Tackle has him on $300k and in his last year with us.
Centre is arguably our weakest position, so he will get an opportunity at some stage.
He needs a big year to either stay or get a contract elsewhere in '26 and beyond.

 

[Ned Kelly]

Interesting enigma, he certainly has the talent imo, but his discipline just lets him down.
Zero Tackle has him on $300k and in his last year with us.
Centre is arguably our weakest position, so he will get an opportunity at some stage.
He needs a big year to either stay or get a contract elsewhere in '26 and beyond.

I know it might seem unlikely but I'm predicting Naden is going to have a big year for us on the wing with Taruva taking one centre position Doeuihi the other with Stains the other winger.

 

[Tigerm]

@Ned Kelly I can't seem to reply to your post?
Do you not think Olam will get a run?

 

[Tiger Ted]

@Ned Kelly I can't seem to reply to your post?
Do you not think Olam will get a run?

No doubt a fit Olam will b the 1st centre picked.Next best is a battle between a no. of useless lemons.Dont know about Turuva as a centre but we desperately need Makhasini to evolve into an NRL player quickly.

 

[Ned Kelly]

@Ned Kelly I can't seem to reply to your post?
Do you not think Olam will get a run?

Olam has his moments but he makes too many mistakes for me to have him as first or second choice.
Not that the others are exactly stand out players either.

 

[Vic Mackey]

I'm hopeful Olam will be much improved in 2025 after his surgery. He has needed his knee operated on for a couple of years now and finally had it done. In a training vid the other day he was running without strapping which would be the first time in a number of years.

On a side note Heino told a mate of mine that Josh Feledy has 'trained the house down' this pre season and thinks hes ready for full time first grade

 

[BrotherJim05]

Centre is our most hotly contested position for 2025. Realistically it's the only position in the 13 without a "shoe in". Olam maybe, but given his age and injuries who knows what will happen.

I do know however that Makasini is a fkn freak of nature and it's a matter of when not if.

Naden, Feledy, To'a, Makasini are all knocking on the door

 

[Tiger05]

Centre is our most hotly contested position for 2025. Realistically it's the only position in the 13 without a "shoe in". Olam maybe, but given his age and injuries who knows what will happen.

I do know however that Makasini is a fkn freak of nature and it's a matter of when not if.

Naden, Feledy, To'a, Makasini are all knocking on the door

I reckon lock isn't clear cut at all but I think we have options at lock and at centre. I'm expecting us to have a good season but that is more of a rational response than an emotional one.

I think this year is going to be make or break for Benji.

Who do you think plays lock ? I assume it's Bird but I don't think he has ever played there. Matamua, Sione Fainu, Seyfarth and even Pole may have a role at 13. I'd play Pole as a starting prop. I'd have Seyfarth somewhere in the team and I assume at this point he'll be on the right edge.

In the centres I reckon Doueihi could play there as well but I'd have basically every player in our squad ahead of him in that position including Faataape.

 

[Tigerm]

I reckon lock isn't clear cut at all but I think we have options at lock and at centre. I'm expecting us to have a good season but that is more of a rational response than an emotional one.

I think this year is going to be make or break for Benji.

Who do you think plays lock ? I assume it's Bird but I don't think he has ever played there. Matamua, Sione Fainu, Seyfarth and even Pole may have a role at 13. I'd play Pole as a starting prop. I'd have Seyfarth somewhere in the team and I assume at this point he'll be on the right edge.

In the centres I reckon Doueihi could play there as well but I'd have basically every player in our squad ahead of him in that position including Faataape.

I think either Seyfarth or Pole

 

[Tiger05]

I think either Seyfarth or Pole

The problem I have with picking either of these two is I think you aren't doing the right thing by the players. I'd like to see them develop in their roles but they need a consistent spot. I think they've both earned that consistent spot as well.

 

[Tiger Ted]

Centre is our most hotly contested position for 2025. Realistically it's the only position in the 13 without a "shoe in". Olam maybe, but given his age and injuries who knows what will happen.

I do know however that Makasini is a fkn freak of nature and it's a matter of when not if.

Naden, Feledy, To'a, Makasini are all knocking on the door

Olams A-game is light yrs ahead of the other centre options at the club.The uncertainty with Olam is whether he can get anywhere near his best storm form
again.Hopefully he’s injury free coz Naden Feledy & Toa are all sub standard & shouldn’t b allowed near an NRL squad.The centre position is glaringly our weakest.

 

[Vic Mackey]

I think either Seyfarth or Pole

I reckon lock isn't clear cut at all but I think we have options at lock and at centre. I'm expecting us to have a good season but that is more of a rational response than an emotional one.

everything ive read so far says Bird is going to play 13

it wouldnt surprise me if someone like Pole starts there then Bird comes on after 20-25

As a guess I'll say our pack will look like this:

8. May
9. Korisau
10. Hunt
11. Sam Fainu
12. Seyfarth
13. Bird/Pole

14. Pole/Bird
15. Twal
16. Si Fainu/Klemmer/Matamua
17. TDS/ L Fainu

 

[Tiger05]

everything ive read so far says Bird is going to play 13

it wouldnt surprise me if someone like Pole starts there then Bird comes on after 20-25

As a guess I'll say our pack will look like this:

8. May
9. Korisau
10. Hunt
11. Sam Fainu
12. Seyfarth
13. Bird/Pole

14. Pole/Bird
15. Twal
16. Si Fainu/Klemmer/Matamua
17. TDS/ L Fainu

The thing with Bird is I don't think he has ever played there. Who knows if it will work. Your idea about Pole makes sense. Let's see how it goes but if that is the case I'd like to see Latu Fainu given a go at that role as well.

I reckon that is pretty close to our pack. I would have Hunt on the bench for impact but maybe he'll kill it there.

 

[Tiger05]

Olams A-game is light yrs ahead of the other centre options at the club.

Assuming he is fit he has to get the left hand centre spot. I assume it's the left side.

again.Hopefully he’s injury free coz Naden Feledy & Toa are all sub standard & shouldn’t b allowed near an NRL squad.The centre position is glaringly our weakest.

I don't consider To'a sub standard at all. He might be inconsistent but he might have just been injured. He has played well on the wing and at fullback. Naden is big and fast. His discipline is though as bad as it gets. You can't play him unless he is disciplined. I think it's way too early to write Feledy off.

Then we have Turuva if he doesn't play wing, Staines, Faataape and even Douehi.

I can't see how we can't get two good centres out of that group.

I don't see our squad as being the issue though. I think it's the coaching staff picking the right players and getting them playing well.

 

[Vic Mackey]

The thing with Bird is I don't think he has ever played there. Who knows if it will work. Your idea about Pole makes sense. Let's see how it goes but if that is the case I'd like to see Latu Fainu given a go at that role as well.

I reckon that is pretty close to our pack. I would have Hunt on the bench for impact but maybe he'll kill it there.

agree, I would have Twal starring with May and hunt off the bench, I think that’s the best balance for the pack

 

[Tiger05]

agree, I would have Twal starring with May and hunt off the bench, I think that’s the best balance for the pack

I'd start with Pole but Twal starting makes sense as well.