Mason is meant to be our wishart but he is a long way off. Not first grade standard.
Douhie and Latu are both very versatile players so between them you can cover the whole backline, 13 and 9. I guess I’m less interested in holding a backline cover on the bench given how versatile those two are. Our bench rotation has been our number 1 weakness this year, Sione going back to the bench is a start, hopefully pole is pushed down as well but I don’t want hope, Mason, sukkar or Murray in our starting 17 so that leaves a gap at 14
I don't necessarily agree that Heath is a long way off NRL. I do think he is not a utility, in my opinion he is a fullback and should be learning his craft in Cup. I can only go on what I saw when he played SG Ball 2023 and the bits and pieces I've seen since then. Apparently he played in the halves in Matts but from my own observations he has the makings of a good fullback, a back-up at least. I think the club have tried to use him in the utility roll to get some idea of whether or not he can handle it. My hope for him is that they decide against this and that he should play fullback and concentrate on developing his game there. He's only turned 20 this year so another full year in Cup playing fullback will only improve him as a footballer. Young Logan Brooks who played Ball and Flegg this year is another up and coming Fullback but being a year younger than Heath he can continue to develop in Flegg and, if form dictates it, perhaps play some Cup next season as well. But both players are very young and should be continuing to develop in those grades for most of 2026.Mason is meant to be our wishart but he is a long way off. Not first grade standard.
Douhie and Latu are both very versatile players so between them you can cover the whole backline, 13 and 9. I guess I’m less interested in holding a backline cover on the bench given how versatile those two are. Our bench rotation has been our number 1 weakness this year, Sione going back to the bench is a start, hopefully pole is pushed down as well but I don’t want hope, Mason, sukkar or Murray in our starting 17 so that leaves a gap at 14
Re Mason, it can’t be easy being a bit player and then getting thrown into games.
He’s also been moved around a bit into different positions and this is likely to stall development too.
in saying all that I’m not convinced about him being a longterm prospect.
Wests Tigers Podcast - Talking everything Wests Tigers since 2018!
You’re right, he played in the halves as a 17 year old then fullback as an 18 year old and as a 19 year & 20 year old fullback for a few games then halves then fullback and then a utility. This all in 2 years post SG Ball. I’ve no idea how far he might go but I think he needs to hold down one position, fullback, and get that right. Sometimes you have to keep it simple.Re Mason, it can’t be easy being a bit player and then getting thrown into games.
He’s also been moved around a bit into different positions and this is likely to stall development too.
in saying all that I’m not convinced about him being a longterm prospect.
Is he our next best fullback behind Bula though? If he’s not then what is he training there for?
Two roster spots available for 2026. What should be the priority position to target?
Wests Tigers Podcast - Talking everything Wests Tigers since 2018!
Is he our next best fullback behind Bula though? If he’s not then what is he training there for?
True. Hard to know what the club wants with him, perhaps to be a utility? I just don’t see how that works for him or us.
Wests Tigers Podcast - Talking everything Wests Tigers since 2018!
Is he our next best fullback behind Bula though? If he’s not then what is he training there for?
True. Hard to know what the club wants with him, perhaps to be a utility? I just don’t see how that works for him or us.
I would suggest Turuva would be our best backup fullback therefore who is playing in cup can have time to develop.
Yep, hard to disagree with that.Is he our next best fullback behind Bula though? If he’s not then what is he training there for?
True. Hard to know what the club wants with him, perhaps to be a utility? I just don’t see how that works for him or us.
I would suggest Turuva would be our best backup fullback therefore who is playing in cup can have time to develop.
To be fair, I think there’s a number of young players in Cup who will hopefully benefit from playing in a stronger Cup side. It remains to be seen if Cup will be better, hopefully so. But Heath, Luke, Kit, Tony Sukkar, maybe Ethan Roberts etc will all develop better if their jobs are made simple & the team is more successful. I think another depth middle is needed because looking at the Cup side right now we’re probably a bit light on. Perhaps if we can pick up a good NRL middle it’ll mean one will drop back but still would like to see a Wiremu Greig type picked up as well.Yep, hard to disagree with that.Is he our next best fullback behind Bula though? If he’s not then what is he training there for?
True. Hard to know what the club wants with him, perhaps to be a utility? I just don’t see how that works for him or us.
I would suggest Turuva would be our best backup fullback therefore who is playing in cup can have time to develop.
With Bud staying at Souths that makes 3 spots left. Move on Jack Bird which makes 4 spots then buy SILIVA HAVILI to play 14 then get SIOSIFA TALAKAI to play 17 then get NELSON ASOFA-SOLOMONA to come as an impact prop. You would have Pole or Sione fighting for a spot and back up incase of injury. The last spot can go to a centre/wing. If we get 2 backs go down with a 6-8 week injury in the opening rounds we have to rely on either Mason or Luke L which is an unknown and also puts a lot of pressure on to Masi. Probably unrealistic but something like that might work.
So the team could be:
1. Jahream Bula
2. Sunia Turuva
3. Taylan May
4. Starford Toa
5. Jeral Skelton/Heamasi Makasini
6. Jarome Luai
7. Latu Fainu
8. Terrell May
9. Api Koroisau
10. Alex Twal
11. Samuela Fainu
12. Kai Pearce-Paul
13. Adam Doueihi
14. SILIVA HAVILI
15. NELSON ASOFA-SOLOMONA
16. Sione Fainu/Fanua Pole
17. SIOSIFA TALAKAI
Not too bad.
With Bud staying at Souths that makes 3 spots left. Move on Jack Bird which makes 4 spots then buy SILIVA HAVILI to play 14 then get SIOSIFA TALAKAI to play 17 then get NELSON ASOFA-SOLOMONA to come as an impact prop. You would have Pole or Sione fighting for a spot and back up incase of injury. The last spot can go to a centre/wing. If we get 2 backs go down with a 6-8 week injury in the opening rounds we have to rely on either Mason or Luke L which is an unknown and also puts a lot of pressure on to Masi. Probably unrealistic but something like that might work.
So the team could be:
1. Jahream Bula
2. Sunia Turuva
3. Taylan May
4. Starford Toa
5. Jeral Skelton/Heamasi Makasini
6. Jarome Luai
7. Latu Fainu
8. Terrell May
9. Api Koroisau
10. Alex Twal
11. Samuela Fainu
12. Kai Pearce-Paul
13. Adam Doueihi
14. SILIVA HAVILI
15. NELSON ASOFA-SOLOMONA
16. Sione Fainu/Fanua Pole
17. SIOSIFA TALAKAI
Not too bad.
Yeah, I’m with you!
Wests Tigers Podcast - Talking everything Wests Tigers since 2018!
Storm are supposedly shopping NAS right now. Time to make a move Richo.
Storm are supposedly shopping NAS right now. Time to make a move Richo.
this single roster change I believe makes us a top 8 team. Keep everything else the same and add NAS and more money ball stuff and we are set
Hey Joel, would your "possible" team above be the most Indigenous/Pacific Islander team in the NRL if it happened? 14 out of 17 players, from my estimation? WT could be award-winning after all.
