Anyone have any idea when tickets will be made available for round 1?
The Wests Tigers will be desperate to end a run of three consecutive wooden spoons in 2025.
They’ve recruited very well, headed by four-time NRL premiership winner Jarome Luai, so there’s no reason why they can’t significantly improve this season.
The poor 2024 campaign means there’s plenty of Supercoach value to be had for those believing the club will be improvers this season.
A fairly soft draw to begin the season also enhances their Supercoach credentials.
Let’s take a look at their Supercoach prospects to begin the NRL season.
- Jahream Bula
- Jeral Skelton
- Justin Olam
- Adam Doueihi
- Sunia Turuva
- Lachlan Galvin
- Jarome Luai
- David Klemmer
- Api Koroisau (Tallyn Da Silva)
- Terrell May
- Alex Seyfarth
- Samuela Fainu
- Jack Bird
- Tallyn Da Silva
- Fonua Pole
- Royce Hunt
- Alex Twal
Unavailable: Api Koroisau (suspension, round 2)
Analysis: It’s a very new-look Tigers roster heading into the 2025 season after a big recruitment drive.
There’s spots up for grabs in the backline, with Sunia Turuva to either play centre or wing.
If at centre, it could force Justin Olam out of the team and create a wing role for Luke Laulilii.
If Turuva plays wing, Olam would likely start at centre.
Jack Bird is also able to play numerous positions, but recent reports suggest he’ll look to cement a lock role this season.
If that’s the case, it’ll likely see Alex Seyfarth start on the edge.
Jarome Luai had an injury scare at training but has been cleared of anything serious and is a chance to feature in the trials.
Latu Fainu and Tallyn Da Silva will battle for the utility bench role.
Draw: Knights (H), Eels (A), Dolphins (A), Warriors (H), Broncos (A), Knights (A), Eels (H), Sharks (H)
First five round rating: 8/10
GUNS
Lachlan Galvin I 5/8 I $624,200
Galvin averaged an outstanding 64 points per game last season with 30 in base.
What’s more remarkable is that he did it as an 18-year-old in a side that won the wooden spoon.
Can he back it up or will the dreaded second year syndrome strike?
The kid looks a genuine star, so I’m fairly confident he produces another strong year.
My biggest question mark will be how he gels with Jarome Luai and how much of the attacking ball he sees.
Despite being a rookie, he had plenty of good ball when he wanted it last season which may alter with Luai leading the team at seven.
I don’t mind the play, but I’ll likely either look to lock in a proven gun in Dylan Brown or opt for value elsewhere at 5/8.
Buy rating: 4/10
Api Koroisau I HOK I $612,300
Koroisau misses round 1 due to suspension and is likely to relinquish the goal-kicking duties to Adam Doueihi.
As he misses round 1, we may not have confirmation of him goal-kicking this season even if he does retain the duties.
If goal-kicking I’ll almost certainly consider at some stage in the season.
Buy rating: 3/10
MID-RANGERS
Terrell May I FRF I $597,500
May is priced on a 61 point average from 45 minutes per game at the Roosters.
With the Tigers lacking middles, he should see a minimum of 55-60 minutes per game and potentially more.
He busts tackles, offloads and will forge a lethal combination on the line with hooker Api Koroisau.
In games of 55+ minute or more last season he averaged 81 points per game.
There were games where he played huge minutes for the Roosters so this is inflated a bit, but regardless it suggests there’s improvement to come on his 61 point average.
He looms as a potential set-and-forget FRF this season.
Buy rating: 8/10
Jarome Luai I 5/8-HFB I $582,200
Luai could take charge of the Tigers and average 75+ and be a must-have, or struggle in a poor outfit and average 45.
I don’t know what the answer is.
Stats can help guide the decision to start with or without him in NRL Supercoach, but when shifting clubs with such different performance levels, also between such different roles, I think eye test will be the only effective guide.
He’s averaged 70 points per game in recent years without Cleary at Penrith, but it’s still in an elite team.
Dual HFB-5/8 is extremely useful too.
If he dominates in trials I’ll be very tempted, but he won’t feature in my team until I see it with my own eyes.
Huge trial watch…
Buy rating: 5/10
Samuela Fainu I 2RF I $517,500
Fainu was extremely consistent in an inconsistent team last season.
With an improved squad and a full year as a starter under his belt there’s no reason why he can’t improve in 2025.
He’s priced on a 53 point average from 2024.
In 16 games of 80 minutes last season he averaged 57 points per game.
Not for me round 1, but he’s one that you could easily argue is undervalued.
Buy rating: 4/10
Jeral Skelton I CTW I $499,200
Skelton is very popular to begin the season with the nature of his football.
He has a high workrate, bust tackles, offloads and is a strong finisher.
It is an extremely friendly style of game to Supercoach, but I’m not convinced despite some very positive signs.
He’s discounted having played just four games last season for the Bulldogs.
In those games he averaged 64 points with an excellent 35.25 in base stats.
Based on a small sample size of seven games in the last two seasons, he had a base + power PPM of 0.56, equating to 44.8 points per 80 minutes.
If the Tigers don’t fire will he get many attacking opportunities? Can he sustain the heavy workload at NRL level week in, week out?
While there’s plenty of upside and I could be among a host of coaches scrambling to buy him in round 2, I just want to see how the Tigers perform.
Buy rating: 5/10
Alex Seyfarth I 2RF I $435,400
I’m unlikely to start with Seyfarth, he does however present a decent case though.
I don’t love his job security, however I also don’t see a lot of edge players at the club that’ll threaten his position too much.
Seyfarth is priced on a 44 point average from 48 minutes per game.
In three games of 80 minutes on the edge last season he averaged 63PPG with 45 in base.
He could be a sneaky good pick-up, I’m just worried he doesn’t get the 80 minutes or could drop to the bench at any time.
Buy rating: 5/10
Adam Doueihi I 5/8-CTW I $431,700
Doueihi returned in round 16 last season from a lengthy injury lay-off.
In his seven games to finish the season he averaged 49 points per game, with a decent 28 in base.
Due to playing limited games he’s priced on a 44 point average.
If he wins back the goal-kicking duties he’s a genuine starting option as a dual CTW-5/8.
If he doesn’t goal-kick I wouldn’t consider him.
Buy rating: 6/10
CHEAPIES
Luke Laulilii I CTW I $288,400
Laulilii is a chance to play in round 1, but may start the season in NSW Cup.
He averaged 38 points per game last season, but is priced on a 30 point average due to limited games played.
Minus the game that he played 50 minutes he bumps up slightly to 40PPG.
I don’t really want the winger that lands on Luai’s edge, but regardless he’ll be a reasonable cheapie play if winning a starting spot.
Buy rating: 5/10 (if named)
Royce Hunt I FRF I $249,000
I’m not sold on Hunt yet, but there are minutes to be won in the Tigers middle.
I feel he’s best utilised in a Spencer Leniu type role in exploding off the bench, but perhaps he’ll get bigger game time at his new club where he may even start.
He’s not a huge worker, but he is explosive and can find some attacking stats.
If he can increase his 25 minutes per game from last season to 35+, and find the odd attacking stat off Api, he can hopefully earn a bit of cash for an upgrade.
If there’s decent cheapies at FRF by round 1 I’ll potentially avoid, but at this stage he does look a decent fourth FRF cheapie.
Buy rating: 6/10
Wests Tigers Podcast - Talking everything Wests Tigers!
The team should be named for the trial this afternoon. We can keep discussion on the game here - https://weststigerspodcast.com.au/forum/2023-game-day-information-live-wests-tigers-game-day-threads-2024-contains-spoilers/trial-one-wt-v-bulldogs/#post-56608
Wests Tigers Podcast - Talking everything Wests Tigers!
Reuben Porter added to the Māori All Stars side 👍 well done!
Wests Tigers Podcast - Talking everything Wests Tigers!
Will be interesting to see how he goes this year. I think he’s been part-time for most of his career hasn’t he? Would be full-time this year, on development.Reuben Porter added to the Māori All Stars side 👍 well done!
Will be interesting to see how he goes this year. I think he’s been part-time for most of his career hasn’t he? Would be full-time this year, on development.Reuben Porter added to the Māori All Stars side 👍 well done!
Yes, he's not top 30 so I think it must be a NSW cup deal.
Wests Tigers Podcast - Talking everything Wests Tigers!
Will be interesting to see how he goes this year. I think he’s been part-time for most of his career hasn’t he? Would be full-time this year, on development.Reuben Porter added to the Māori All Stars side 👍 well done!
Yes, he's not top 30 so I think it must be a NSW cup deal.
Porter is on a development contract.
In memory of Geoff Chisholm (1965-2022)
I love the fact he has been selected; however I wonder about the quality of the team if they are having to pick Dev players. Maybe a ton of players do not make themselves available for these games.
I love the fact he has been selected; however I wonder about the quality of the team if they are having to pick Dev players. Maybe a ton of players do not make themselves available for these games.
True, I think a few are using it to soak up a suspension? I’d imagine most NRL teams wouldn’t really like their players taking part but couldn’t say so.
Wests Tigers Podcast - Talking everything Wests Tigers!
I do recall last year or the year before we had another big fella playing...Tuki Simpkins from memory...He must have been on a dev contract at the time.
Olam injured again ? medical retirement hopefully
at this rate bird might get a run at centre
Unfortunately it looks increasingly likely as an option.
No one can genuinely question Olams dedication and integrity.
@enumerator Might hang him out until Mays court case .. if May becomes available maybe then a medical release. ! Happy Days maybe .
Olam injured again ? medical retirement hopefully
at this rate bird might get a run at centre
Ni chance for medical retirement in my opinion as it is his knees.
In memory of Geoff Chisholm (1965-2022)
