It’s also interesting that Sheens has come out and publicly supported Hastings a few times but hasn’t really mentioned Gildart which could explain why the club wants Cotric
@avocadoontoast I thought the info on him was he had a down year last year ? Did you watch him prior to that ? Do you agree ?
There’s going to be a lot of creativity around the ruck next year I think . Peaches , Nofa darts , cotric is good in yardage play as well (if he signs) , Ken is very good at initiating sets , and then of course the 9s who really can take advantage of that .
this was our real issue last year . We never seemed to take advantage of retreating defences .
Hastings kicking game , might allow brooks running game to maximise .
Hastings chip into the corner at a retreating defence to a rampaging backline especially .
@avocadoontoast I thought the info on him was he had a down year last year ? Did you watch him prior to that ? Do you agree ?
Absolutely, and he was coming back from injury so happy to give him the benefit of the doubt. I really hope he works out to be a good signing as we need centres desperately.
There’s going to be a lot of creativity around the ruck next year I think . Peaches , Nofa darts , cotric is good in yardage play as well (if he signs) , Ken is very good at initiating sets , and then of course the 9s who really can take advantage of that .
this was our real issue last year . We never seemed to take advantage of retreating defences .
Hastings kicking game , might allow brooks running game to maximise .Hastings chip into the corner at a retreating defence to a rampaging backline especially .
Realistically if we get Cotric I think our squad for 2022 is an improvement. Assuming Gildart has a good preseason and we get Cotric would this be more or less the likely lineup? Also assuming Leilua is moved on.
1. Laurie
2. Ken
3. Gildart
4. Cotric
5. Nofo
6. Hastings
7. Brooks
8. Stef
9. Liddle
10. Twal
11. Blore
12. Tuilagi
13. Peachey
14. Simpkin
15. Joe O
16. Mikaele
17. Seyfarth/Musgrove?
https://www.sen.com.au/news/2021/12/01/tigers-a-big-chance-to-lure-cotric-away-from-belmore/
“With a salary worth $650,000 per year, The Daily Telegraph’s David Riccio says the Tigers are the only buyer that are willing to pay his full wages to get him out of Belmore.”
Not sure how I feel about paying full freight.
Hoops: Tigers’ $600k play for teen sensation in move that could trigger Leilua swap deal
OCTOBER 03, 2021
The Wests Tigers have made an audacious play designed to hit back at North Queensland’s poaching of Luciano Leilua by offering young gun teenager Jeremiah Nanai a $600,000 two-year deal for 2023 and 2024.
Nanai, 18, is regarded by good judges as one of the best emerging backrowers in the NRL and made his debut last season playing four games for the Cowboys.
The Cowboys are continuing to monitor the Leilua situation at Wests Tigers with early reports suggesting the backrower may request an immediate release.
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Wests Tigers have so far refused this request but if coach Michael Maguire and director of football Tim Sheens were to land the signature of Nanai then the clubs would look to open negotiations about an immediate swap.
Tigers’ director of football Sheens confirmed to Fox Sports the club had made an offer for Nanai to move to the Concord-based club in 2023 and 2024.
Since the arrival of Sheens the Tigers have landed the signature of Dally M back-rower of the year Isaiah Papali’i for 2023 and are currently in a race with the Canberra Raiders to sign Canterbury-Bankstown outside back Nick Cotric.
The Tigers are also deep in negotiations to try and extend the contract of rising front-rower Stefano Utoikamanu as the club sets about overhauling its roster.
MORE NRL NEWS
Sheens has gone to great lengths to point out coach Maguire is still the figurehead of the club while the newly-arrived director of football is simply assisting Wests Tigers in solving the stigma of being a club players try to avoid joining.
Whereas Canterbury-Bankstown general manager of football Phil Gould has immediately made some major plays in the NRL’s open market the Tigers are aiming for a more measured rebuild.
Premiers Penrith are a recent example of a club who were widely regarded as being no threat to the competition before emerging as one of the Sydney power clubs in the last two seasons.
If anyone knows about rebuilding clubs and overhauling rosters it is four-time premiership-winner Sheens.
If there’s an area the Tigers were in need of a major overhaul it was the club’s recruitment and retention with the experienced Warren McDonnell also returning to Concord to help fix the mess.
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Sheens and McDonnell were part of the Wests Tigers’ one and only premiership in 2005 when the pair utilised an outstanding crop of local juniors headed by Robbie Farah, Brett Hodgson, Dene Halatau, Bryce Gibbs and Liam Fulton.
Wests Tigers’ favourite son Benji Marshall was also integral and has since returned to Concord this year after a bitter fallout saw him play a farewell season with South Sydney in 2021.
Farah and fellow 2005 grand final hero Pat Richards are now working with the Tigers NRL side while Marshall is working in pathways and as a Wests Tigers ambassador.
Watch ‘Wild Wests: Tales from Tiger Town’ an exclusive Fox League behind-the-scenes production on demand on Kayo > Click here to watch
There’s going to be a lot of creativity around the ruck next year I think . Peaches , Nofa darts , cotric is good in yardage play as well (if he signs) , Ken is very good at initiating sets , and then of course the 9s who really can take advantage of that .
this was our real issue last year . We never seemed to take advantage of retreating defences .
Hastings kicking game , might allow brooks running game to maximise .Hastings chip into the corner at a retreating defence to a rampaging backline especially .
I heard cameron Smith & kemp talk on SEN about the importance of the metres the back 5 make. They showed that the top teams for back 5 collective metres were also the top teams on the ladder.
Smith said that back 5 now make the metres in your own half not the forwards. The forwards aim to save energy for defence and power runs in their half.
I think the size of our back 5 has been too small. If we get cotric, I wouldn't be surprised to see nofa replaced by talau or someone bigger
Top 8 2023
Trading Leilua for Nanai on a smaller contract is great business if they can get it done.
@frullens hmmm not sold on that . Nofa whilst having a meh year last year , primarily is a yardage eater in our own half .
his drifting across field , can be dangerous , as long as he straightens late , and with explosiveness , between the defenders .
last year he would drift , and very often , wouldn’t straighten , and many times when he actually did ,with no explosiveness. .
I wonder if it was a lack of engagement , a form slump , frustrations with the game plan , personal issues , feeling himself ? I dunno .
But he needs to have a long hard look at himself , because if he isn’t providing that , his value to the team is extremely diminished , and like you said , if he isn’t performing , is talau/AJ the better option .
Zero Tackle reporting the Wests Tigers-Cotric discussions progressed further today.
Wests Tigers Podcast - Talking everything Wests Tigers!
Zero Tackle reporting the Wests Tigers-Cotric discussions progressed further today.
I would be happy with this signing.
In memory of Geoff Chisholm (1965-2022)
Zero Tackle reporting the Wests Tigers-Cotric discussions progressed further today.
I would be happy with this signing.
Me too, he’s not a world beater but he’s a first grader.
Wests Tigers Podcast - Talking everything Wests Tigers!
@helmesy We don't have enough of those mate.
In memory of Geoff Chisholm (1965-2022)
