As promised in the Round 20 review earlier this week, we now commence a series of season reviews as teams are eliminated from finals contention.
With 14 competition points required and only six games remaining, the Wests Tigers are now incapable of reaching the magic 28 points that has traditionally been the minimum required for a finals berth.
What went wrong, what were the highlights and the lowlights, and what’s the prognosis for 2016 and beyond?
What went wrong: Second-year syndrome
Just under 12 months ago, as the Wests Tigers board ummed and ahhhed about whether or not to retain coach Mick Potter, I wrote this story.
The central argument was that with an extraordinary core of young players – including Aaron Woods, Luke Brooks, Mitchell Moses and Curtis Sironen – under contract for a number of years, success should be easier than failure for the Tigers.
But the thing about young players is that they tend to be inconsistent. This year a number of those core young players have struggled for form, or struggled to get on the field altogether.
In particular, young halves Brooks and Moses have been unable to stamp themselves on games despite a forward pack that has regularly played to at least a draw. Without sufficient playmaking from the 6 and 7, the team has been unable to manufacture enough points to compete.
More importantly, both Brooks and Moses have been routinely targeted and exposed in defence. Targeting a smaller man in defence is nothing new but unless Brooks and Moses can find a way to be effective they will eventually be forced out of the league.
Best player: James Tedesco
When the Canberra Raiders unsuccessfully tried to lure Tedesco south to the nation’s capital with a reportedly colossal contract offer, it was seen by many as the act of a desperate club willing to take a risk on an injury plagued and largely unproven player.
When Tedesco then seriously injured himself soon after his about-face it seemed like the Raiders had dodged a bullet.
A season later and Tedesco looks every bit the representative-calibre player he was billed as. He leads the team in tries and is second in try assists, line breaks and line break assists. Moreover he has played every minute of every game this year to hopefully put his injury history in the past.
Season highlight: I’ll, ahh, get back to you
Honestly, not much to report here. The club did record huge, though completely out of character, wins against the Bulldogs and Rabbitohs in Rounds 8 and 14 respectively, but aside from that there was little to write home about.
Season lowlight: Watching Blake Austin
Roster management in a league with a salary cap is a tricky business, with inevitable swings and roundabouts. But that knowledge doesn’t make it any easier to stomach watching a player that you reluctantly released turn into one of the signings of the season while the players you preferred to him go into hard reverse, as Moses and Brooks did this year.
Blake Austin’s rise from handy utility to a State of Origin contender was truly remarkable and was enjoyed very much by fans of the Canberra Raiders.
Roster management
As of this writing the Tigers have announced no new signings for 2016, though they have extended the deals of Kevin Naiqama and Tim Simona.
On the other side of the transactions ledger, they will be losing two key veterans in Keith Galloway (Leeds) and Pat Richards (Catalans), as well as under 20s star Te Maire Martin (Penrith).
Both Galloway and Richards will be noticeable losses for the team. Although both on the wrong side of 30 by season’s end, each still have something to offer – if only veteran leadership.
Prognosis: All about those halves
Everything I wrote about the talent in the Tigers core squad 12 months ago remains essentially true; we’re just a year further down the road. But that doesn’t have to be the end of the world.
The question now is whether this time next year the Wests Tigers can look back at 2015 as a necessary evil in the rise to the top, or whether it’s just another lost year among many for a club that has only made the finals twice since their premiership in 2005.
In the best case scenario, this season will go down as a development year with Brooks, and particularly Moses, having adapted to the rigours of a full NRL season and propel their team into the eight in 2016.
In the worst case scenario, Brooks and Moses will continue to struggle and the club will waste yet another 12 months.
The most likely scenario is something in between, with definite improvements but not enough to put the team in the finals.
Sleiman Azizi
Roar Guru
It seems straightforward, right?
Birdy
Guest
Over night tigers 34, storm 16. It's certainly an emotional roller coaster being a tigers supporter.
Birdy
Guest
Noticed that several times Lachlan with black jumpers at Leichardt and vis versa. Bit of a worry if they can't get the colours right what chance have they got on getting the club right? Lol
Lachlan Bickley
Roar Guru
I don't know about the gold to orange but one thing that really annoys me is the complete lack of thought that goes into which jersey they wear at various stadiums. Twice this year the team has worn an all black uniform at Leichardt and then at Campbelltown they wore an orange one. Honestly i get that this is a joint venture but surely at this point we can recognize the history and wear a Balmain inspired jersey at Leichardt and a Magpies one at Campbelltown? You only need to look at how many people in the crowd rock a retro jersey to know how popular those original clubs still are
Birdy
Guest
While we're discussing the Tigers , can anyone tell me how our colours have gone from gold to orange? As a member I'd like to ask was there a vote I missed out on?
Birdy
Guest
I'd go to the next step Sleiman, I think the club will never go ahead as long as there are people still there from the start of the Tim sheens sacking. No matter who they are , players or officials, they're a cancer in the club that has to be cut out.
Sleiman Azizi
Roar Guru
And it took some guts to do that and Potter did it. Again, as I mentioned earlier, the club erred when they dumped Mick Potter.
peeeko
Guest
i wouldnt think that a second row of Sironen and Lawrence is going to get you into the top 8. Taupau is so inconsistent, on his day, he is unstoppable
Muzz
Guest
No rioting tomorrow night. The Tigers roster is better than 16th. Questions need to be asked.
Sleiman Azizi
Roar Guru
I never understood the argument against Potter. After what he did for Bradford when that club was under the hammer, I cannot fathom why a club wouldn't want Potter at the helm.
catcat
Roar Rookie
Marty Taupau has had a good season too, up until his outburst at the roosters game and that shot on maloney, take that game out and he was playing well. He was on the bench at the Dogs and when given the opportunity as a starter with the Tigers has led the pack.
DT
Guest
What went wrong? Robbie Farrah
Will Sinclair
Roar Guru
Sigh... Difficult season, after the team promised so much early in the year (easy to forget now they won their first two, and were very competitive close losses to the Dogs and Warriors and (to a lesser extent) Souths in those early weeks). The team looks great when things go their way, but have absolutely no ability to deal with difficult periods / penalties / repeat sets. They completely lack the fortitude to tough their way through and hang in the game. In addition, they have seemingly fallen into the referees bad books, losing recent penalty counts 12-5 (v Roosters), 7-3 (v Broncos), 12-4 (v Parra) and 10-5 (v Manly), as well as being on the wrong end of some truly lamentable (and crucial) video refereeing decisions. But the talent is definitely there. Absolutely no doubt about that. Just have to keep believing... but it's not easy.
Tiger
Guest
Sironen is massively overrated.. Brooks and Moses will fire eventually.. Blake Austin was not the only dumb decision to have been let go..Koroibete was another..both playing fantastic footy at different clubs!
Lachlan Bickley
Roar Guru
Cheers Scott, yep more reviews as teams get eliminated. So potentially both Knights and Titans next week
Benedict Arnold
Guest
On a lighter note, remember when Benji Marshall was benched? Remember the uproar? Seems like such a long time ago..
Tiger fan up North
Guest
No matter how the Tigers are going these year, I still look to a brighter season next year. The team according to my observation, have the right mixture of players. I just think the young players need good leadership on the field from the captain and senior players. The young halves need to be protected. Overall, the players on field need to maintain their consistency in attack and defence for 80 minutes. And please can they do something about the penalty counts against them week in week out? Discipline on the field is a great asset. As a die hard fan, the saying comes naturally " Go Tigers in 2016 "
Benedict Arnold
Guest
Farah on too much coin. Lawrence, Galloway, Halatau, Richards in the samne boat. Far too many old guys on too much coin when there is other guys who could do the same job out on the field for far less moolah. Because of this the tigers have all these young guys playing first grade, and while they show promise, they are inexperienced. It's good to see that some are leaving but their roster management hasn't been good either. They let go of Austin and koroibete choosing to go with 2 unproven halves and an ageing winger. Look at those blokes now. Club loyalty is great but really, you should be putting the best team on the park. All the top coaches do it. I look at what has happened at Newcastle with Gidley. Bloke is past it and was getting picked ahead of Mata'utia because he is 'experienced' 'he is a 450k player'. The problem with Wests is they can't really put them on notice because they don't have the depth.
chivasdude
Guest
Agree with this analysis. We have a playing roster better than our current last place position and, let's face it, we are clearly headed for the Wooden Spoon. That is unacceptable. We can argue about the playing roster all we like. There are clearly problems there. While the pack is young it has held its own in parts. Just too inconsistent and unable to "maintain the rage" for a full 80 minutes. With Galloway moving on (a fine servant, but it is time...) youngsters like Sue, Suemanufagai, Akauola and Tupao need to step up more, Lawrence going to the pack makes sense and with Curtis Sironen, there should be a good back row. The problem is definitely in the halves/backs. Yes it was tragic to let Blake Austin go as I felt Moses was not ready. But that is spilt milk. With Tedesco finally delivering on his promise, and players like Simona and the decent wingers, we just need a hard centre to firm up the backline defence. We also need to kick better. Too much aimless high ball kicking all year (kick to a contest)! The biggest mistake was sacking Mick Potter. Why? Because subconsciously it gave everyone (including Tigers Management) someone else to blame for their poor performances. Look at the salary cap problems we have (and we are still running last). an embarrassment. That is all Management. Potter was a decent coach, he deserved another year. But this is the NRL, fire the coach, call it a re-build and start again. Just an excuse for underperforming management and players to avoid their own problems. Do you think that Taylor was any better this year? I never thought he would be. Roll on 2016.
Birdy
Guest
All I can say is , as a tiger supporter there is always next year , and then there's the year after and if all else fails then there's the year after that. But looking at the bright side of things we always have something that no other club has, we always have 2 coaches on our books .