Wests Tigers coach Michael Maguire has reacted to the club’s 0-5 start to the season by telling new recruit Jackson Hastings he will be running the side.
Whether the Tigers announce Hastings in the halfback role will be revealed at 4pm when the team is announced but what is certain is the Tigers are clearly failing to get results with regular No.7 Luke Brooks.
Maguire has also wielded the axe by dropping co-captain Ken Maumalo, English import centre Oliver Gildart and hooker Jacob Liddle as the Tigers prepare for the Easter Monday round six showdown against the high-flying Eels.
Hastings has been suspended for the past three weeks yet despite his absence the Tigers coaching department have clearly decided the side needs better direction from an organising, playmaking chief.
Despite having only played two NRL matches for Wests Tigers since returning from England, UK Super League Man of Steel Hastings has been told he will be the club’s chief playmaker.
Regular halfback Brooks has previously played five-eighth during Maguire’s four-year tenure at Concord and there is a school of thought he plays his best when not burdened with the responsibility of running the entire side.
Whether Maguire hands Hastings the no.7 jumper will be revealed at 4pm but what is certain is the Tigers want the new recruit to take control of the team.
The Tigers remain the only side in the NRL yet to register a victory with coach Maguire clearly looking to extract more from the club’s roster.
Maumalo, who was named as one of the club’s five co-captains earlier this season, has been axed along with new recruit centre Gildart meaning the Tigers will field a new pairing on the club’s left edge.
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Bring on 4pm…. Hopefully at least both Brooks and Liddle are nowhere near the NRL side.
So Liddle gets dropped Brooks gets dropped and Gildart
Who goes to hooker Simpkin and Brooks off bench ?
Does Peachey slot into centre or stay at 13
Interesting times ahead, I do think we are pushing it up hill whoever we pick against parra
Dropping Brooks will destroy what little Value any other clubs would assign to him.
Get the Deal done, Pay the freight and let us see what we can do with the rest of 2022.
Madden and Hastings in the Halves Please
He had to do something different. Feel sorry for Liddle though - he hasn't been great but has worked really hard and I doubt Simpkin will do any better.
Triple m reporting on the radio that Madge is till undecided on what to do with Hastings.
In memory of Geoff Chisholm (1965-2022)
Regular halfback Brooks has previously played five-eighth during Maguire’s four-year tenure at Concord and there is a school of thought he plays his best when not burdened with the responsibility of running the entire side.
Also,
"there is a school of thought that running the side might bring the best out in Brooks".
I agree with the school of thought that he is not a captain nor someone that is capable of running a side around the park. It's just been tried over and over in all ways with the same result. We just need to find out who he combines with best as the second fiddle.
Anyway I expect Hastings and Brooks the pair up this week. The only difference is we apparently won't be getting the lip service that it's Brooks side... I'll be glad our closet Captain will finally be out and proud!
hoping Hastings to 13
or
7 Hastings
6 Brooks
we can't pay 1 million for mmbye and Brooks to play elsewhere
we have seen this story before we move Brooks on
Hastings and or Madden get season ending injuries
Douhie ends up with staph infection to knee and is out until early part of 2023
that is the wests tigers way
again how stupid that the club named Ken M as a captain instead of Hastings to begin with
surely with Api coming and Rua and Simpkin the Liddle time at wests tigers is over
Rumour Klemmer is coming as part of a swap with Newcastle for Brooks, with wests tigers kicking in some cash
We need a good front rower, Newcastle are desperate with Clune injury.
Apparently we missed Nikora but will sign Pele from sharks
hoping Hastings to 13
or
7 Hastings
6 Brooks
we can't pay 1 million for mmbye and Brooks to play elsewhere
we have seen this story before we move Brooks on
Hastings and or Madden get season ending injuries
Douhie ends up with staph infection to knee and is out until early part of 2023
that is the wests tigers way
I think I’d rather pay $500k for brooks to play elsewhere than a million to play here.
there is a school of thought that running the side might bring the best out in Brooks".
Hahahahahaha… the best of Brooks will be elsewhere and not at the Wests Tigers.
I'm glad Nofo and Brooks have kept their spots in the team. Champion players.
Rumour Klemmer is coming as part of a swap with Newcastle for Brooks, with wests tigers kicking in some cash
We need a good front rower, Newcastle are desperate with Clune injury.
Apparently we missed Nikora but will sign Pele from sharks
Who mentioned the Pele part?
