Season 2026

[The Silverdale Phantom]

At least 6
Interesting too dare I say it between Api and Hope. I don’t know enough to suggest hopes good enough to take APIs place but APIs slow pass is killing me..

I’m not expecting anything special from API this year. We should have grabbed TDS, but that might have disturbed the players liberation army.

 

[Tiger05]

Some slickness from JL at the line I enjoyed. Flexing of some of his marquee muscle.

I’m glad he played with some of his dominant mindset, making his point.

Hopefully he can continue to inebriate himself with this confidence this season.

Our spine which didn't perform last year were in my opinion pretty poor as well. I think as stated by others Hope over Api and Madden over Doueihi might improve the team. Api and Doueihi can really create but they are inconsistent. Bula was exceptionally poor and I am a fan. If he continues to play like that I won't be a fan for long.

Luai though was awesome.

 

[The Silverdale Phantom]

Our spine which didn't perform last year were in my opinion pretty poor as well. I think as stated by others Hope over Api and Madden over Doueihi might improve the team. Api and Doueihi can really create but they are inconsistent. Bula was exceptionally poor and I am a fan. If he continues to play like that I won't be a fan for long.

Luai though was awesome.

It’s only a rough guide.

Because of the nature of the game, trial, we only get to see maybe 50% of attributes required for a regular first grade game.

Players are instructed to preserve themselves and get into trouble if they over extend.

Because Benji and Ivan are also noting who is listening and who isn’t.

But the little moments of skill are enjoyable within these restrictions.

The other benefit is the muscle memory, decision making, fitness.

It’s like a heavy training run and the score is pointless.

Bula has decided to be a mercenary when we have desperate youngsters who are thrilled to be out there.

As Benji said, a conga line of players outside his office begging to get a run.

Nate’s stupidity was breathtaking. He’s better than that. I’d bench him for the first few rounds as punishment. To risk even a minute of one of the world’s best players for something so mindless is horrifying.

It was the rugby league version of Prince Andrew’s bbc interview. Unnecessary and self harming.

Nate has kept his composure in far more stressful moments. Deary me 05!

 

[WA Tiger]

As Benji said “they took their best team off at half time” ..we wernt looking flash to that point. Mistakes !

 

[Wizardman]

I liked a lot about our trial last night. I liked our enthusiasm, middle of the field defence, go forward and parts of our attack.

I really hope Benji gives spots to players this season on form and not reputation. There are various younger players in the two trials that have shown extremely good touches that have rivaled some senior players. Two trials is nowhere near enough to unseat a senior player......but if they are ploughing ahead in NSW Cup, Benji may need to pull the trigger.

 

[The Silverdale Phantom]

I liked a lot about our trial last night. I liked our enthusiasm, middle of the field defence, go forward and parts of our attack.

I really hope Benji gives spots to players this season on form and not reputation. There are various younger players in the two trials that have shown extremely good touches that have rivaled some senior players. Two trials is nowhere near enough to unseat a senior player......but if they are ploughing ahead in NSW Cup, Benji may need to pull the trigger.

Bula looks exhausted already.

He really should have been in the zone.

He’s supposed to be playing for next years Lamborghini, golden toilet or whatever hideous material goods he plans to lose money on.

An early choke against a side that was holding back, except for the leagues village idiot Nate. iQ of a gnat.

I was coming around to Nate in recent years, but my gut instincts about his stupidity were right.

 

[Wizardman]

Bula looks exhausted already.

He really should have been in the zone.

He’s supposed to be playing for next years Lamborghini, golden toilet or whatever hideous material goods he plans to lose money on.

An early choke against a side that was holding back, except for the leagues village idiot Nate. iQ of a gnat.

I was coming around to Nate in recent years, but my gut instincts about his stupidity were right.

The worst case scenario is if he plays shit. If he plays shit early, other clubs will drop off. The bad part of that is that he'll probably sign on for the $800 000 clause.

 

[Pezz70]

Our spine which didn't perform last year were in my opinion pretty poor as well. I think as stated by others Hope over Api and Madden over Doueihi might improve the team. Api and Doueihi can really create but they are inconsistent. Bula was exceptionally poor and I am a fan. If he continues to play like that I won't be a fan for long.

Luai though was awesome.

Really liked what I seen from Madden during the trials. Really composed, looks a lot stronger body now and no doubt probably a lot wiser after playing around a quality half. He might be key to this season.

Young blokes have gone pretty well, Andrews looks like he has that touch of class, still green and will probably put another 5-10kg of man muscle on before he hits the NRL.

Makasini - his actions tell the story.

Team wise our edge defence needs a lot of work, our wingers have been caught out quite a bit, obviously the machine needs some oil. Given trial matches probably aren’t the place to judge defensive systems cause blokes are playing out of positions a bit, first couple of rounds will be a big tell.

My prediction is that we will win more than half our games this year and should make the bottom half of the eight

 

[chunk]

Great performance and especially for depth.

Agree on Bula, needs to show more ummph, seems a little soft, a bit like this last year, needsd to go to another level.

I think we need to settle down on Madden, he has played well but against two reserve grade teams, not saying he can't do it but AD for me.

Yes Api does seem a little slow, especially his service, hope this doesn't become a problem, there were signs last year. However, I though Hope looked quite good.

 

[Vic Mackey]

Surprised Api is copping some flack. He didn’t seem slow to me but I probably didn’t watch the game overly closely. I also think Haywood jumps Hope fairly quickly and will play NRL by the end of the year.

 

[Tiger05]

Surprised Api is copping some flack.

He does some really poor passes and his discipline at times was awful last season. At the same time he is one of the most creative dummy halves in the comp. It's just that poor tackling technique which gives away penalties at times and the poor passes.

AD is similar in that he can really create but he makes some poor passes.

If they get that stuff out of their games they are weapons.

I am going off topic here but I thought our middles were great last night. Twal, Bunty, Pole, Murray and Sione Fainu were all really good. Seyfarth was fine as well but not at the same level as those guys.

I also thought Broederlow looked like he could give us some punch in the forwards. Maybe not now but he looked like has has something.

I'm not sold on Haywood just yet but some of the kids we have look really good. Andrews was good. Tavana on the wing is great.

​

 

[Tigerm]

Wests Tigers continue strong start to pre-season

The Wests Tigers have made it two from two in the Witzer Pre-season Challenge, running out 26-12 winners over the Penrith Panthers at Leichhardt Oval.

www.weststigers.com.au

 

[The Silverdale Phantom]

It was the worst tackle by Edwards on our winger I’ve ever seen.

The timing and technique bore all the hallmarks of hesitancy, distraction and self preservation.

You’d wait 5 seasons to see such slop from the royal highness of fullbacks.

The man who refused to testify and sell BJ out after copping a copybook coat-hanger. My neck is still sore from watching it.

 

[Wizardman]

It was the worst tackle by Edwards on our winger I’ve ever seen.

The timing and technique bore all the hallmarks of hesitancy, distraction and self preservation.

You’d wait 5 seasons to see such slop from the royal highness of fullbacks.

The man who refused to testify and sell BJ out after copping a copybook coat-hanger. My neck is still sore from watching it.

If you remember early in Edwards career, he used to get the yips and was quite error-prone. It was very much a balance between Edwards and Laurie at one point.

Then, he pretty much went for 5 years pretty much error-free.

Last year, I thought the yip in his game returned with him making a lot of errors. Last night was not a positive start towards returning to that form. I think he had hit his peak as a footballer.

 

[Wizardman]

He does some really poor passes and his discipline at times was awful last season. At the same time he is one of the most creative dummy halves in the comp. It's just that poor tackling technique which gives away penalties at times and the poor passes.

AD is similar in that he can really create but he makes some poor passes.

If they get that stuff out of their games they are weapons.

I am going off topic here but I thought our middles were great last night. Twal, Bunty, Pole, Murray and Sione Fainu were all really good. Seyfarth was fine as well but not at the same level as those guys.

I also thought Broederlow looked like he could give us some punch in the forwards. Maybe not now but he looked like has has something.

I'm not sold on Haywood just yet but some of the kids we have look really good. Andrews was good. Tavana on the wing is great.

​

I agree with you with Api. His looping passes at times really shit me.

 

[Nutz]

I agree with you with Api. His looping passes at times really shit me.

Hence why Latu could be n⁰14 as he can pass left and right. (when fit)
I also agree with both of you about Api as his service is sometimes sus and I think the use of a sub for him may help. Benji has been working on rotating dummy halves a bit over the preseason...so I believe??

 

[AKA Das Hassler]

Really liked what I seen from Madden during the trials. Really composed, looks a lot stronger body now and no doubt probably a lot wiser after playing around a quality half. He might be key to this season.

Fair enough but Madden played against reserve grade sides last week and last night

 

[The Silverdale Phantom]

If you remember early in Edwards career, he used to get the yips and was quite error-prone. It was very much a balance between Edwards and Laurie at one point.

Then, he pretty much went for 5 years pretty much error-free.

Last year, I thought the yip in his game returned with him making a lot of errors. Last night was not a positive start towards returning to that form. I think he had hit his peak as a footballer.

I’m sticking with him.

There’s some natural lethargy in his game until he gets his motor running.

 

[Wizardman]

I’m sticking with him.

There’s some natural lethargy in his game until he gets his motor running.

Club team....yes. Rep team...no

 

[Shredder]

Anyone else wondering where Latu fits back into the team with all this depth we seem to have now?
My son reckons hes going to end up in the back row, but I call hes too small for that. Plus not sure he could keep up with the defense required there as well.

On Bulla, with everyone else seeming to gel the last hit-outs, Id be looking to release him. In a perfect world, Attard would have a good 6 or 8 week crack at 1 while we still have Bulla. I reckon JBs at or close to his ceiling and is tradesman rather than a star. More than 50 games for him and I just don't see it. Personally I reckon we should spend his $ on another back rower.