Wests Tigers team v Titans Rd1

Posted by: @joel

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1.  Daine Laurie - sponsored by Australian Track Services 

2.  David Nofoaluma - sponsored by Leumeah Shopping Centre 

3.  Brent Naden - sponsored by Murray Kennedy Real Estate 

4.  Tommy Talau - sponsored by APN Compounding 

5.  Charlie Staines - sponsored by The Meat Man 

6.  Adam Doueihi - sponsored by Club Menangle 

7.  Luke Brooks - sponsored by Momenta Advisors 

8.  Stefano Utoikamanu - sponsored by LP Construction 

9.  Api Koroisau (c) - sponsored by Exclusive Estate Agents 

10.  David Klemmer - sponsored by Brae Group 

11.  Isaiah Papali'i - sponsored by Spectrum Pools & Spas 

12.  Shawn Blore - sponsored by Kwikflo 

13.  Joe Ofahengaue - sponsored by Ultra Building Works 

Interchange:

14.  Jake Simpkin - sponsored by AJ Engineering Group 

15.  Alex Twal - sponsored by Mater Deion behalf of The Kirk Family 

16.  Fonua Pole - sponsored by LC Wealth 

17.  Asu Kepaoa - sponsored by Xpertise Construction

18.  Alex Seyfarth - sponsored by Wests Tigers Foundation

19.  Starford To'a - sponsored by Wests Tigers Foundation

20.  Brandon Wakeham - sponsored by Wests Tigers Foundation

21.  Justin Matamua - sponsored by Wests Tigers Foundation

22.  Junior Tupou - sponsored by Wests Tigers Foundation

Coach: Tim Sheens - sponsored by Pepper Money

I like it, with the obvious exception of John Bateman, its our full strength side. I would have had Tupou instead of Staines but so be it.

How good.....Footys back!

Pretty content with that side. No huge surprises. Never realistically thought Bateman would play round one.

Thoughts Kepaoa on the bench? 

I think Tupou is entitled to feel fairly hard done by but otherwise no major surprises.

like tupou but can't fault grand final winning winger taking his place round 1 

Hope nofo defends ok otherwise maybe tupou might end up there 

good forward pack, we have got this

I like it. Kepaoa was a nice surprise - he was very good against the Raiders. Go boys!

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Anyone know what happened to Triston Reilly not a mention in the NSW cup team either?.

Most pleased for Blore.

Tupou unlucky - could end up no.1 winger by seasons end.

Would not be surprised if Pole and Simpkin start ahead of Joffa and Api.

This is a good side and probably the best we could have realistically named this week. You could put a case forward for a couple of players but you’d be having the same conversation if it was the other way around. 

Good team. Titans also look good on paper. Should be a really good contest I think. Difficult for neutrals to tip I suspect. Since our last finals appearance we’re 50% at Leichhardt when crowd is greater than 15,000. So if it’s a sell out than we can probably feel a little more confident given our overall record since then is around the 37% mark. Mind you Titans go alright in these games so good luck if punting on this one.

Big Joe @ lock. I like it. Probably the best team that could be named.

Keen to see:

- How Blore goes and how many minutes they give him. 

- How much time Laurie spends sniffing around the ruck looking for offloads to take advantage of through the middle 

- Jake Simpkin exploit some tired forwards (even if he does get limited minutes) 

- A packed LO winning some crowd penalties 

- How the team operates with Api at 9 

- The 6 and 7 play to their strengths 

I'm just keen! 

Also I'm keen to see us run a whole heap of traffic at Foran.