Who do we need to recruit in 2018?

[Vic Mackey]

couldn't agree more MU.
I have always thought that we could do with a sister club agreement, 1 in NSW Country and another in the UK.

There are young guys who need that bit of extra between NYC and NSW Cup and the NRL, There are guys who we can't always fit in straight away and would benefit from being able to develop away from the scrutiny of the Sydney media and 'we experts' on forums such as this. I like the idea of sending halves to the UK and back rowers to toughen up in the bush.

Saying that though, we have released players in recent years who just disappeared all together, e.g.
Blake Lazarus - I thought he was going to be our 7 for years based on expectations.
Ben Murdoch-Masila - we released him and he just never kicked on.

Lazarus was always average, he never stood out in NYC like other halves we've had did I.e Lui, TMM, miller etc. He got talked up on the old forum way, way too much.

BMM was a damaging ball runner but suspect in defence and had the handling of the Burgess brothers. Currently playing for Salford and looks like he's eaten a sheep.

Cronk for 2 years would be insane. Even if he is at 70/80% of now, purely for his professionalism he would be worth it. I reckon teddy and Moses would stay for less if we signed him too.

 

[Tiger05]

I think both Brooks and Moses are really having a go. They both put in defensively and offensively. Moses has just been better than Brooks and appears to be an NRL player right now whereas Brooks has a long way to go.

I think the biggest issue is how much they are expecting to be paid. If we pay them a fair wage and expect them to be learning their trades and not to be superstars it's all good.

I think they both may turn into class players. They are a so far off that level now but they may get there.

 

[Clifferd]

Speaking of Lui now where is he? Not saying we should sign him after his disgraceful acts, but he was probably our next best half after prince, nearly won the comp with a Marshall/Lui combo

 

[Shredder]

05 I reckon you and I are watching different games.

Brooks just goes missing for 20+ mins at a time. Its like hes taking a back seat or lost his confidence. Im not even talking about his poor defence - sometimes you have to look hard to find him.

Moses is trying to be Benji Marshall playing too much off the cuff -

Our team needs some level of structure and it comes from the halves.

 

[Tiger05]

Shredder - I hear what you are stating but I don't think it comes from a lack of effort. Brooks especially just doesn't have the game to compete at the NRL level at the moment. He tries hard. He puts his body on the line. Moses does as well but he is at this point a better player than Brooks. Moses still has a while to go. They both definitely can't win games for us at the moment or maybe better put they aren't consistent reliable performers in the NRL.

Woods and Moses are both consistent reliable performers.

 

[Vic Mackey]

Speaking of Lui now where is he? Not saying we should sign him after his disgraceful acts, but he was probably our next best half after prince, nearly won the comp with a Marshall/Lui combo

Playing with BMM for Salford

 

[betcats]

Gerard Condon said you have signed mutilino on talkin sports today

 

[BrotherJim05]

Mautilino would be immense for us. Add some much needed starch to our pack:

8. Woods
9. MM (I actually really like this guy)
10. Mautilino
11. Lawrence
12. Mcqueen
13. ET

14. Liddle
15. Sue
16. Ava
17. Grant

That is a pack that will actually be able to square up against most NRL sides

 

[Front-Rower]

Speaking of Lui now where is he?

ESL with Salford

 

[Clifferd]

If mm keeps playing the way he is, I'd keep him for next year. The minute he goes off we look lost..wish we could play him for 80

 

[Vozzy]

I still believe if Brooks goes somewhere with good coaching he will gain form and confidence and become good player. I don't know what's happened to him maybe him and moses need to swap positions . To me it looks like he has been stuck on the left i think Brooks and moses need to play next to each other rather then on either side. When they were coming through the grades they used to link up all the time. I think their game plan over last 2 years hasn't worked and has sacked all the confidence out of him.

 

[Front-Rower]

I still believe if Brooks goes somewhere with good coaching he will gain form and confidence and become good player. I don't know what's happened to him maybe him and moses need to swap positions.

Good coaching goes along way but a dominating partner in the halves and other senior players can also have a great influence on a young bloke and that is just something we don't have at the Wests Tigers.

 

[Shredder]

And havent had for a very long time if ever - that mix of youth and good experience. Rather than never was depth player experiennce

 

[lingard]

Buying Cronk would also ensure he coaches our younger players with his experience. Worth every cent imo but I wonder how he'd go outside of Melbourne structures

He goes okay in QLD structures.

 

[Clifferd]

He goes okay in QLD structures.

I reckon I'd look good in that qld team. Melbourne storm is a more telling sign

 

[Tiger Woody]

Lazarus was always average, he never stood out in NYC like other halves we've had did I.e Lui, TMM, miller etc. He got talked up on the old forum way, way too much.

BMM was a damaging ball runner but suspect in defence and had the handling of the Burgess brothers. Currently playing for Salford and looks like he's eaten a sheep.

Cronk for 2 years would be insane. Even if he is at 70/80% of now, purely for his professionalism he would be worth it. I reckon teddy and Moses would stay for less if we signed him too.

Lazarus by name=never Lazarus by nature.....
Lui was ok ....best we've had since the little master Prince.
BMM scored a try in that Salford win.
We should go after Cronk big time if the 1 ferrari,1

 

[Tiger Woody]

SUV and 2 mini minors leave..Offer him what he wants

 

[magpie guy]

Good coaching goes along way but a dominating partner in the halves and other senior players can also have a great influence on a young bloke and that is just something we don't have at the Wests Tigers.

I was going to say something similar. Brookes has looked great at times when Moses wasn't playing. I'm pretty sure that Moses calls the ball all the time and Brookes doesn't have the confidence/mouth to overcall. Playing behind a beaten pack and with a totally new left combination probably doesn't help his cause either.

Together they have looked great when they are able to combine, but our current structures from Taylor have Brookes and Moses posted left and right. We saw against Melb when Brookes went off that all the attack was directed to our right side and Melb easily defended it.

I think that either of them would perform much better with a supportive and stable halves partner. Cronk being floated would be pretty much perfect.

As it stands, they are not good enough to command the dollars that they want. It is also not in the best interests of them or the team to have both of them. We just can't carry two poor defenders that are also inexperienced.

 

[Das Hassler]

Vozzy....I hope Brooks is gone but if he stays he will BE somewhere with good coaching

 

[Tiger Woody]

Mautilino would be immense for us. Add some much needed starch to our pack:

8. Woods
9. MM (I actually really like this guy)
10. Mautilino
11. Lawrence
12. Mcqueen
13. ET

14. Liddle
15. Sue
16. Ava
17. Grant

That is a pack that will actually be able to square up against most NRL sides

Take out Lawrence....not big enough to hurt opposition.And misses too many important tackles...Also hes an Edward Scissorhands.....On the bench at best...We need to buy someone to replace him in the 13...