1. Heath Mason - sponsored by Sensory Gardens Australia
2. Sunia Turuva - sponsored by Ellis Consolidated
3. Adam Doueihi - sponsored by Murray Kennedy Real Estate
4. Solomona Faataape - sponsored by Z Wealth Group
5. Jeral Skelton - sponsored by Exclusive Estate Agents
6. Lachlan Galvin - sponsored by Retro Air
7. Jarome Luai (c) - sponsored by APN Compounding
8. Terrell May - sponsored by Z Realty Group
9. Tallyn Da Silva - sponsored by KwikFlo
10. Fonua Pole - sponsored by Club Menangle
11. Samuela Fainu - sponsored by Mars Forklifts
12. Alex Seyfarth - sponsored by Ultra Building Works
13. Alex Twal - sponsored by Endacom
Interchange:
14. Tristan Hope - sponsored by One World Courier
15. Royce Hunt - sponsored by Shane’s Waterproofing
16. Jack Bird - sponsored by MJS Electrical Products & Supplies
17. Sione Fainu - sponsored by Workplace Law
Reserves:
18. Latu Fainu - sponsored by Wests Tigers Empower
19. Charlie Staines - sponsored by Wests Tigers Empower
20. Kit Laulilii - sponsored by Wests Tigers Empower
21. Tony Sukkar - sponsored by Wests Tigers Empower
22. Reuben Porter - sponsored by Wests Tigers Empower
Wests Tigers Podcast - Talking everything Wests Tigers!
Well done to Hope, good defensive attitude good rward for trial form, if he plays well off the bench might take TDS spot when Api is back. Not sure where that leaves latu
Good to see Hope on the bench. He earned that from his trial form.
Toa can’t take a trick with injuries.
Toa needs to be punted as soon as possible , the club just can not afford to carry players that are never on the park .. step up and make the decision! What is the deal carrying two specialists 9’s if TDS is not up to it make that decision, Latu would be a much better choice as a utility. I know where the go to all game is for the knights the centre pairing that has no idea how to defend !
@jedi-tiger I am not a fan of carrying two specialist 9’s ..Latu is a better choice as a utility IMO .
Im guessing if Api is 9 than we probably see Latu at 14, however TDs will not be able to handle the full 80 so probably need a specialist hooker on the bench. The fact we have Bird also gives us a bit more flexibility to carry a specialist 9 when needed.@jedi-tiger I am not a fan of carrying two specialist 9’s ..Latu is a better choice as a utility IMO .
Agreed. You can run a second 9 when you have the versatility of Jack Bird. He can cover most positions. I think Api should have a back up 9 to give him a break in round 2 as well.
I like the idea of hope to give api a rest and then allow TDS to play bigger minutes in NSW cup
I know Faatape can find the line, but his defence is scratchy. Therefore I would have preferred Staines on the wing and Turuva inside him at centre. We should have been running Turuva at centre and wing in off season for contingency and I doubt Benji’s done that. Now we have injury and we don’t know whether Turuva can be an effective centre or not.
We have 3 teenagers in our spine, the youngest 3 starters in their positions rd 1. I could be wrong about that. We also have 3 development players in our 17, more than any club rd 1. Could be wrong about that as well. Thank goodness Romey is available to play although wouldn’t shock if he pulls out at some point.
Us, Rorters & Souths only teams to go into rd 1 without 2 of their first choice spine.
That is a concern....hopefully the fact Mason, TDS, Hope and the Dev players all played solid minutes in the trials will help. Obviously Benji planned for this, esp Bula and Api being missing.We have 3 teenagers in our spine, the youngest 3 starters in their positions rd 1. I could be wrong about that. We also have 3 development players in our 17, more than any club rd 1. Could be wrong about that as well. Thank goodness Romey is available to play although wouldn’t shock if he pulls out at some point.
Yes he planned for it but not much choice either. It’s definitely the reason they’ve upgraded Hope knowing Tallyn will need a break & Hope is a more matured footy player although untested at this level. TDS & Heath are both still developing so is Lachie although he played almost all games last year & is well on his way. Just important we understand this because it’s going to be a tough ask rd 1 but could still win. It’ll be nice to start with a win but won’t be a disaster either if we don’t.That is a concern....hopefully the fact Mason, TDS, Hope and the Dev players all played solid minutes in the trials will help. Obviously Benji planned for this, esp Bula and Api being missing.We have 3 teenagers in our spine, the youngest 3 starters in their positions rd 1. I could be wrong about that. We also have 3 development players in our 17, more than any club rd 1. Could be wrong about that as well. Thank goodness Romey is available to play although wouldn’t shock if he pulls out at some point.
