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Wests Tigers 2026 Fan Survey Results Ep 442

Joel Helmes
(@joel)
Wests Tigers Development Player Admin
Joined: 4 years ago
Posts: 6244
Topic starter  
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The Wests Tigers are warmed up and ready to go for season 2026, and the Wests Tigers Podcast will be along for the ride, keeping all Wests Tigers fans updated.

Ahead of the first Wests Tigers trial of the new season, this Saturday against the Roosters in Newcastle, we thought we'd see what our fellow Wests Tigers fans are thinking about a range of Wests Tigers topics.
 
Publishing a fan survey around ten days ago, we received over 200 responses, and we thank everyone who took the time to answer the questions posed. On this edition of the Wests Tigers Podcast, the fan survey takes centre stage, with the results put under the microscope, including issues such as Wests Tigers ownership, the new 2026 Wests Tigers jersey, positional weaknesses in the 2026 team, and more.
 
Joining Joel, Nick, and Declan for this deep dive into the data is a new member of the team, Josh Burnell.

Who plays this Saturday?

Also on the agenda of episode 442 of the Wests Tigers Podcast is an opinion put forward by a member of the Wests Tigers Podcast Forum, Enumerator. They believe that, with the Wests Tigers having the bye in round one of the 2026 NRL season, Wests Tigers should use this weekend's first trial to get some game time into the legs of our higher-calibre players. Is this a good idea? We chat about that on the pod, but you can also join the discussion today on our forum.

A quick-fire round of Buy, Sell or Hold also features.

Some of the topics include the chances of the "Train and Trial"-contracted Patrick Herbert getting NRL game time with Wests Tigers this season. Where the Alex's play (Twal and Seyfarth) in round two also comes up for discussion, along with the prospects of a young Wests Tigers player who might have to hit first grade sooner than we might have thought.
 
With the off-season pretty much officially over, and a whole season stretching ahead, we can't wait to share the 2026 season with you on the Wests Tigers Podcast.
 

This topic was modified 3 weeks ago 4 times by Joel Helmes

Wests Tigers Podcast - Talking everything Wests Tigers since 2018!


   
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(@Anthony)
Joined: 3 weeks ago
Posts: 1
 

Just letting Benji make all decisions im very happy with any decision he makes go Benji go west tigers go the boy and the club all grades the girls love them all cant wait



   
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Teddy_S
(@teddy_s)
Balmain Tigers SG Ball
Joined: 1 year ago
Posts: 465
 

Declan has hit the nail right on the head when it comes to his most important position to improve in. 13 and 7 for mine too. Won’t be making finals with Doueihi and Twal at 7/13. Too many 5/8th in the team and although he tries Twal offers NOTHING !!



   
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(@russtutty63)
Wests Tigers Jersey Flegg
Joined: 4 years ago
Posts: 1757
 

The point has been raised of too many 6s at the club and not an out & out 7. This is true to an extent although I’d argue that Jarome is a good 7, not great but good. But for balance he’s also the best 6 at the club. AD showed he is capable of playing 7 the last 6 rds or so last year. But when Latu is also on the field it allows AD and Jarome to push wider & have more space to play. Alternatively AD can push Latu & Jarome wider depending upon how they want to run with it. AD will also swing over to the left occasionally to push Jarome wider but it’s that ball playing 13 (or extra half who can defend in the middle  as well as create) that’ll make the greatest difference and right now it’s Latu imo. Latu could turn out to be the best impact player we have at the club right now if those 3 combine as well as we hope they do. 



   
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(@mickb)
Balmain Tigers SG Ball
Joined: 4 years ago
Posts: 685
 

@russtutty63 agree with everything you have said. We probably need some or all this to play out in order to finish mid table.



   
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(@tiger5150)
Junior Pathways
Joined: 8 months ago
Posts: 148
 

Posted by: @russtutty63

The point has been raised of too many 6s at the club and not an out & out 7. This is true to an extent although I’d argue that Jarome is a good 7, not great but good. But for balance he’s also the best 6 at the club. AD showed he is capable of playing 7 the last 6 rds or so last year. But when Latu is also on the field it allows AD and Jarome to push wider & have more space to play. Alternatively AD can push Latu & Jarome wider depending upon how they want to run with it. AD will also swing over to the left occasionally to push Jarome wider but it’s that ball playing 13 (or extra half who can defend in the middle  as well as create) that’ll make the greatest difference and right now it’s Latu imo. Latu could turn out to be the best impact player we have at the club right now if those 3 combine as well as we hope they do. 

 

My prediction is that we spend another season shuffling halfbacks. AD will play 4-5 games until Benji and 50% of the fan base start wondering whats wrong and why nothing has changed from the 6 other times we tried AD at 7. Latu will get thrown in for 2 or three games at a time, Possibly Madden a game or two.

 

Then at the end of the year a club will come along and offer Latu the 7 jersey and he will leave with his brother Samuela.

 

Bookmark this.

 



   
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Joel Helmes
(@joel)
Wests Tigers Development Player Admin
Joined: 4 years ago
Posts: 6244
Topic starter  

Posted by: @tiger5150

Posted by: @russtutty63

The point has been raised of too many 6s at the club and not an out & out 7. This is true to an extent although I’d argue that Jarome is a good 7, not great but good. But for balance he’s also the best 6 at the club. AD showed he is capable of playing 7 the last 6 rds or so last year. But when Latu is also on the field it allows AD and Jarome to push wider & have more space to play. Alternatively AD can push Latu & Jarome wider depending upon how they want to run with it. AD will also swing over to the left occasionally to push Jarome wider but it’s that ball playing 13 (or extra half who can defend in the middle  as well as create) that’ll make the greatest difference and right now it’s Latu imo. Latu could turn out to be the best impact player we have at the club right now if those 3 combine as well as we hope they do. 

 

My prediction is that we spend another season shuffling halfbacks. AD will play 4-5 games until Benji and 50% of the fan base start wondering whats wrong and why nothing has changed from the 6 other times we tried AD at 7. Latu will get thrown in for 2 or three games at a time, Possibly Madden a game or two.

 

Then at the end of the year a club will come along and offer Latu the 7 jersey and he will leave with his brother Samuela.

 

Bookmark this.

 

I hope that’s not the way it plays out, but agree we will probably chop and change 7s this year.

 


Wests Tigers Podcast - Talking everything Wests Tigers since 2018!


   
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(@russtutty63)
Wests Tigers Jersey Flegg
Joined: 4 years ago
Posts: 1757
 

Posted by: @joel

Posted by: @tiger5150

Posted by: @russtutty63

The point has been raised of too many 6s at the club and not an out & out 7. This is true to an extent although I’d argue that Jarome is a good 7, not great but good. But for balance he’s also the best 6 at the club. AD showed he is capable of playing 7 the last 6 rds or so last year. But when Latu is also on the field it allows AD and Jarome to push wider & have more space to play. Alternatively AD can push Latu & Jarome wider depending upon how they want to run with it. AD will also swing over to the left occasionally to push Jarome wider but it’s that ball playing 13 (or extra half who can defend in the middle  as well as create) that’ll make the greatest difference and right now it’s Latu imo. Latu could turn out to be the best impact player we have at the club right now if those 3 combine as well as we hope they do. 

 

My prediction is that we spend another season shuffling halfbacks. AD will play 4-5 games until Benji and 50% of the fan base start wondering whats wrong and why nothing has changed from the 6 other times we tried AD at 7. Latu will get thrown in for 2 or three games at a time, Possibly Madden a game or two.

 

Then at the end of the year a club will come along and offer Latu the 7 jersey and he will leave with his brother Samuela.

 

Bookmark this.

 

I hope that’s not the way it plays out, but agree we will probably chop and change 7s this year.

 

I see no reason to believe that will happen injuries aside. The most important thing now is to maintain stability especially in the spine. And unless injury occurs or there is some very poor form chopping & changing won’t happen. There’s plenty of experience in the key playmakers, a good kicking game and a fullback who is ready to go to another level. 

 



   
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(@tgrzmn)
Balmain Tigers SG Ball
Joined: 3 years ago
Posts: 440
 

Comments from Jerome (definitely playing at 6) about AD seem to indicate he is confident in him playing as first choice at 7 this year but that Latu is definitely valued and needed in the side somewhere as well. I think Latu will be on the 6 man bench for sure. Also believe that Jock Madden is here to run the KO side for the season unless injuries demand a change to this plan. 



   
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Teddy_S
(@teddy_s)
Balmain Tigers SG Ball
Joined: 1 year ago
Posts: 465
 

@tgrzmn I’m a huge AD fan but I’d rather see how Maden would go beside Luiai



   
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London-Tigers
(@london-tigers)
Junior Pathways
Joined: 7 months ago
Posts: 92
 

Been starved of Wests Tigers content for ages, many thanks for the upload guys. 



   
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Skippa13
(@skippa13)
Balmain Tigers SG Ball
Joined: 4 years ago
Posts: 700
 

Posted by: @tiger5150

Posted by: @russtutty63

The point has been raised of too many 6s at the club and not an out & out 7. This is true to an extent although I’d argue that Jarome is a good 7, not great but good. But for balance he’s also the best 6 at the club. AD showed he is capable of playing 7 the last 6 rds or so last year. But when Latu is also on the field it allows AD and Jarome to push wider & have more space to play. Alternatively AD can push Latu & Jarome wider depending upon how they want to run with it. AD will also swing over to the left occasionally to push Jarome wider but it’s that ball playing 13 (or extra half who can defend in the middle  as well as create) that’ll make the greatest difference and right now it’s Latu imo. Latu could turn out to be the best impact player we have at the club right now if those 3 combine as well as we hope they do. 

 

My prediction is that we spend another season shuffling halfbacks. AD will play 4-5 games until Benji and 50% of the fan base start wondering whats wrong and why nothing has changed from the 6 other times we tried AD at 7. Latu will get thrown in for 2 or three games at a time, Possibly Madden a game or two.

 

Then at the end of the year a club will come along and offer Latu the 7 jersey and he will leave with his brother Samuela.

 

Bookmark this.

 

haha, 100%

 



   
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Skippa13
(@skippa13)
Balmain Tigers SG Ball
Joined: 4 years ago
Posts: 700
 

Posted by: @tiger5150

Posted by: @russtutty63

The point has been raised of too many 6s at the club and not an out & out 7. This is true to an extent although I’d argue that Jarome is a good 7, not great but good. But for balance he’s also the best 6 at the club. AD showed he is capable of playing 7 the last 6 rds or so last year. But when Latu is also on the field it allows AD and Jarome to push wider & have more space to play. Alternatively AD can push Latu & Jarome wider depending upon how they want to run with it. AD will also swing over to the left occasionally to push Jarome wider but it’s that ball playing 13 (or extra half who can defend in the middle  as well as create) that’ll make the greatest difference and right now it’s Latu imo. Latu could turn out to be the best impact player we have at the club right now if those 3 combine as well as we hope they do. 

 

My prediction is that we spend another season shuffling halfbacks. AD will play 4-5 games until Benji and 50% of the fan base start wondering whats wrong and why nothing has changed from the 6 other times we tried AD at 7. Latu will get thrown in for 2 or three games at a time, Possibly Madden a game or two.

 

Then at the end of the year a club will come along and offer Latu the 7 jersey and he will leave with his brother Samuela.

 

Bookmark this.

 

haha, 100%

 



   
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