The current ‘he said, she said’ drama enveloping the Wests Tigers has provided much fodder for newspapers and sports talk shows as the team’s 2014 season slips away.
However there is a different element of the club’s off field performance that should really get attention: the clubs remarkable player retention.
First a quick anecdote. When I was admitted to law school my father told me that I now had the “responsibility of having a secured future.” What he meant was that if I didn’t now go on to put myself in a comfortable position in life, then it would be my own fault.
I had reached a position where success should in fact be easier than failure.
With that in mind, consider the list of players that the Tigers now have under contract until the end of the 2017 season: Robbie Farah, Luke Brooks, Mitchell Moses, James Tedesco, Aaron Woods, David Noafaluma and Curtis Sironen.
For those keeping score at home that is an entire presumed future Origin spine, a current starting Origin prop, a high-class finisher and the son of a legend who can play on the edge or in the halves in a pinch.
In all likelihood the younger Sironen brother, Bayley, will soon join Curtis at the Tigers on a long contract.
That is a secured future right there. With that core of players, success should be easier than failure.
Certainly there are some questions. Can Tedesco stay healthy? Does Luke Brooks know he’s allowed on the right side of the field? And most importantly, can Robbie Farah play nice with others?
However as someone who has spent far too much time on the wonderful zerotackle.com player movements page, I can guarantee you no team has a better core of players locked in for as long as the Tigers.
Add to that the talent still in the club’s Holden Cup team (currently fifth) and NSW Cup team (currently third) and the Tigers loom as a perennial finals contender for many years to come
Somehow, despite the infighting in the board and the questionable relationship between the head coach and his staff, management and the players, the Tigers have managed to secure a core that should make them competitive for years to come.
All of which only serves to underscore just how important it is for the club to make the a decision about the coaching situation sooner rather than later. The Tigers stand at an important junction right now.
Down one path they are an NRL powerhouse, down the other they risk wasting a golden generation of talent. Choose wisely, Wests.
Champ
Guest
Yeah but the Tigers have dominated the news bulletins which is a soap opera. Even NRL: people have said the Tigers have been slow to act.and whats the bet Farah is back next week and all is forgiven.....
tigerdave
Guest
Scott, Braith Anansta is past it and his injury will make sure he does not return. The balance of the side was the issue with him there. Brooks first year in top grade with Tedesco and Moses. Simona is young in the centres, that old head would have been gold in the six. I thought, even though, in my opinion Blake is a much better player, Anasta's experience, composure and options for the sixth tackle was a coaching masterstroke. I was dead set against it, but when you look at how the kids have grown, i have changed my mind (much like Robbie Farrah- tongue is cheek)
Knightblues
Guest
and Balmain, bring both back
Crosscoder
Roar Guru
What planet are you living on.There has been plenty of talk,comment and print re the Swans and Tahs ,even on NRL threads such as here. Conspiracy theory 3 must be around the corner.
Champ
Guest
Last week it was Manly issues keeping Swans off the front page - now Tigers problems keeping waratahs off front page - amazing coincidence..
Bluebag
Guest
Austin not quite an 80 min player I reckon but he's a helluva impact player off the bench and has done well at times when he's had to play longer. Agree he's certainly a better choice than Anasta, but even Braith has been more effective this year and played some of his best footy of the last 5 years of his career. I think Potter has done an outstanding job with the cards he has been dealt.
Shadow
Roar Rookie
Yep, hopefully there's no more of this Half wests half balmain crap. The club is 15 years old now it's about time we had a full WESTS TIGERS board. Hopefully the NRL makes some recommendations to move office and training facilities to Liverpool/campbelltown area as well. We are very much an inner west club but our future is in the south west.
simmo green
Guest
The front office needs a clean out. There's too much nepotism, too many ex players and either an unwillingness or inability to effect change. The membership numbers are poor, a vital connection with the south west that has failed and no obvious home.
simmo green
Guest
That's not a valid criticism in the context of what Austin brings the team. He carries the ball to the line consistently and generally makes good decisions. When he decides to run his step and acceleration constantly get him past the gain line. His kicking game needs work, but he has taken an enormous amount of pressure off young Brooks, who is no longer the sole playmaker. The addition of Moses now provides three talented ball players
Alex deLarge
Guest
Scott, I recall reading your comments that Maloney was no good. That he couldn't tackle a "weetbix". Didn't you also say that SBW should be played at 5/8? The whole Roosters spine, your wrote, was bad. Pearce couldn't organise. Friend was too slow and the number 2 hooker was better. Mini, you said, had "20 fullbacks better than him in the NRL". But now you're saying you wanted Maloney as the 5/8. Confusing.
Dogs Of War
Roar Guru
Only problem with Austin is that he seems to make a couple of silly basic mistakes each week, generally looking at the defence before he has fielded the ball successfully.
ScottWoodward.me
Roar Guru
NOTE: Roar Editors: Brian Smith is a Roar Expert and it would be ideal if he wrote a piece on the paper that he presented to the Wests Tigers CEO. I have no doubt that Blake Austin is a much better alternative at 6 than Braith Anasta and it is only since an injury that young Austin has been given his chance to start. I had the same view of Anasta when Brian coached him at the Roosters and believed the team improved under Maloney. Potter has received good reviews for dropping Benjy but he has kept selecting Anasta and refused to pick Moses when Teddy was injured. I would love to know Brian's thoughts on the Tigers list management.
Crosscoder
Roar Guru
Board infighting regardless of which club,does little for the morale of fans ,and must play on the minds of players.Manly players seem to switch off and concentrate on what is on the field. To me from an outsiders perspective Potter has done a reasonable job,losing Tedesco,and Farah et al to SOO at times.He has a side filled with some of the most exciting young talent to emerge in the game,and they need to be nurtured to mature players.That doesnt happen overnight. I may be imagining things,but some of the boards issues stem back to the ongoing issue of the Rozelle development.That is a bottomless pit,that would also be creating the friction with the board of Tigers/Wests people. And there appears to be a "5th columnist" within the club,who is doing a bit of undermining. If the club gets into the semis,and makes an impression there,surely Potter is entitiled to a bit of longetivity.
tigerdave
Guest
Maybe not,he hasn't had a lot of time oin the NRL to prove himself, but the following clubs would benefit froma change of coach and he would be a good fit. Titans Cronulla Canberra. Of those that haven't appointed yet, Rick Stone is a great fit for Newcastle, Mary McGregor is doing a fine job at St George.
Haberfield Tiger
Guest
If released & free from the Tigers would another NRL club sign Mick Potter? IMO no.
Parrafan
Guest
Agree with you tigerdave. Although Parra are doing a fairly good job getting their house in order after the last chairman was voted out and is now undergoing a criminal investigation into his time running the club. It has been very illuminating. Can only hope that both teams get their front office in tip top shape, if they both can I can see a bright future for both Tigers and Eels in the coming years.
Parrafan
Guest
Agree with you tigerdave. Although Parra are doing a fairly good job getting their house in order after the last chairman was voted out and is now undergoing a criminal investigation into his time running the club. It has been very illuminating. Can only hope that both teams get their front office in tip top shape, if they both can I can see a bright future for both Tigers and Eels in the coming years.
curaeus
Guest
Hopefully our new board will have more brains than the current bozos and move immediately to give Potter a new deal and a decent pay rise. He's still the worst paid coach in the NRL!
curaeus
Guest
Tiger dave, couldn't have said it any better. NRL must get off their butt and install the new board members NOW! A new CEO might be a good idea too!
tigerdave
Guest
I am sick and tired of the infighting. I was very empathetic to Parra supporters with their basket case of a board. We have no board. Who has the authority to sack anyone? What w eneed is integrity and a moral compas. What all this is doing to a good man, and in my voew an excellent coach, is boardering on criminal. Lets look at Potters record. He took over a team that wouldn't operfornm on the firel. Even teir so called stars were not performing. This year, hiis first full off season, and he has them beating the top teams in the competition. A team can't beat the top 4 teams one day and lose by a cricket score the next time they meet because of coaching. There is an attitudinal issue here. Apart from the inconsistency of the kids that are inexperienced, this attitudinal issue would frustrate anyone. He can coach. The team themselves can make the top 8, they are capable of beating any team. It's time for the players to pull their heads in and play footy. That's what hthey are paid to do. I would suggest that by winning games the kids will catch the habit and beconme better footballers. Potentially we do have th SOR spine, the prop and Sironen as a backrower. Potential and $1 won't buy you a bottle of water.