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We continue our look at the 2011 NRL season (which kicks off tomorrow!)
Team: Wests Tigers
Homeground: Campbelltown Stadium, Leichhardt Oval, Sydney Football Stadium
Coach: Tim Sheens
Season 2010: Third (P24, W15, L9 34pts)
2011 squad: Nu Akeripa, Blake Ayshford, Mitch Brown, Geoff Daniela, Simon Dwyer, Gareth Ellis, Robbie Farah, Andrew Fifita, Mark Flanagan, Liam Fulton, Keith Galloway, Bryce Gibbs, Chris Heighington, Matt Hyland, Chris Lawrence, Robert Lui, Benji Marshall, Wade McKinnon, Tim Moltzen, Junior Moors, Jake Mullaney, Ben Murdoch-Masila, Todd Payten, Pat Politoni, Junior Roqica, Beau Ryan, Jason Schirnack, Lote Tuqiri, Aaron Woods.
Ins: Evander4 Waitoa, Jacob Miller, Marika Koroibete, Ratu Tagive, Tegele Nayarvovo, Matt Utai.
Outs: David Gower, Daniel Fitzhenry, Tame Tupou, Taniela Tuiaki.
Season preview: If there’s a moment for the Tigers to seriously threaten for another NRL premiership to stash in the cupboard with their 2005 trophy, it’s now.
The team heading into the 2011 season hasn’t undergone a dramatic overhaul in the off-season.
New recruits like Koroibete and Waitoa are young players with the potential to turn into the next Akuila ‘the Thriller’ Uate, racking up double-figure tries in a season, but their impact isn’t likely to be felt until a few more years down the track.
Wests have kept their organiser, Robbie Farah, and the mercurial Benji Marshall is at the point where his game can lift to a new level of focus and menace. Marshall has now led New Zealand to two consecutive international grand final wins over the Kangaroos and the leadership role has only strengthened his game.
Despite his age, Robert Lui can be the steady head Tim Sheens needs standing next to Benji. His form will also be pushed by Tim Moltzen returning from injury and breathing down Lui’s neck for the rights to the number seven jersey.
If Farah, Marshall and fullback Wade McKinnon can see out the year without major injury, the Tigers have the spine of a team in real contention. Alongside the Roosters, the Tigers provided some of the most thrilling moments in the 2010 season – on their day, their attack is unparalleled.
But the Tigers’ real asset is a very unglamorous forward pack. Gareth Ellis, Chris Heighington and Keith Galloway have the size and enough mobility to motor the Tigers into premiership contention. Liam Fulton had a break-out season last year and has only improved his lines, speed and value in attack.
With one more pre-season between them, Wests are at a point where their promise can come close to turning into a premiership. Tim Sheens’ core playmakers all have rep experience, and the team has proven their depth can withstand injury scares. It’s a combination of talent, hunger, experience and team bonding that only happens rarely, and this year, it may well lead to the ultimate prize.
X-Factor: If Wade McKinnon is mentioned as a Tigers star, it’s usually at the end of a long sentence after the names Farah, Marshall, Lawrence, Tuiaki, Tuqiri,or even Ellis. But McKinnon is an international standard fullback: gritty, fast, tough as nails, with a step that can change his direction on a blade of grass when he’s fit to play. He should relish playing off Marshall, Lui or Moltzen.
Main man: A master of the flick-pass and magic when running the ball, Benji Marshall is another man whose individual form can turn a game for the Tigers. Too often in the past Marshall has been guilty of pushing too hard to create scoring opportunities: ill-judged passes, early kicks that end up in the hands of the opposition rather than forcing a repeat set. Another season under his belt sees him reaching the point where he has to bring his brilliance to bear more often than not, and his 2010 and international form suggests he’s ready to do that.
Predicted 2011 finish: 1st
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