As speculation continues to mount around James Tedesco’s possible move to the Roosters, there have been various opinion pieces on the Tigers’ ‘big four’.
For my money, it seems fairly likely that Teddy will at least seriously consider moving to the Chooks next year.
For all that his career has been shaped by the presence of Luke Brooks, Mitchell Moses and Aaron Woods, there comes a time when building a future has to win out.
Add to that the Roosters’ prospects for 2017 and Tedesco may be lured by the promise of a premiership that doesn’t seem as if it will be coming any time soon at the Tigers.
Partly because of how drastically he reneged on the Raiders deal, it can seem inconceivable to Tigers fans that Teddy might ever leave Leichhardt or Campbelltown.
Or, to put it another way, it feels as if the ‘big four’ will stay they will go their separate ways – there hasn’t been a lot of discussion around who the Tigers should retain if they have to choose.
In the cold light of day, however, it’s clear that the Tigers need to be doing everything to secure Tedesco and Moses.
While Brooks is one of the most promising halves in the game as the moment, that’s pretty much all he’s delivered over the course of 2016 – promise.
People (myself included) have often said that Moses and Brooks can’t work apart, but at the end of the day that’s not really true – a good half, especially a good half, will learn to work with any partner.
And, who knows, Brooks may find a new sense of discipline working alongside another five-eighth.
Woodsy is a more difficult one. Sure he’s loveable, sure he’s a big part of the Tigers brand, sure he’s a Blues representative.
But is he really that good? I reckon that some of the Tigers backline have more mettle than Woods – he goes down so quickly and often barely seems to put up a fight.
On the other hand, Teddy is clearly crucial. Moses, too, was almost as important as Tedesco this season.
Above and beyond their playmaking skills, however, Tedesco and Moses are leaders.
On the field, Teddy has an uncanny sense for structuring the play and guiding things so that surprise endings and sudden twists emerge even when all the odds seem to be stacked against the team.
His kicking game still isn’t rock solid, but Moses offers some of the same structure, while his notoriously vocal and social persona during training has made him a clear contender for future leadership roles within the club.
Brooks, by contrast, is so withdrawn that I’ve often wondered whether he would shine best by stepping out from under Moses’ shadow.
Similarly, while Woods does offer a certain brand of leadership – affable, woolly, easygoing – I’m not sure he’s the kind of leader the club needs at the moment.
Rather than seeing Tedesco, Moses, Brooks and Woods as a big four, then, the club – and club commentators – needs to start thinking more laterally about their options.
For my money, it’s Teddy and Moses who are hungriest for a revived Wests Tigers outfit, as well as Teddy and Moses who are bound to bring the leanest and most efficient management style into place.
Once Tedesco starts to become an Origin fixture his gravity will skyrocket, and it’s only a matter of time before Moses is called up for the sky blue jersey as well, if only on the bench.
On the other hand, I’m not convinced that Brooks will be an Origin contender in the near future, while it’s starting to feel that Woods is nearing the end of his Blues tenure.
With David Nofualuma, Tim Simona and Kevin Naiqama filling out the backline, a Tigers spine and Tigers culture centred on Tedesco and Moses is what’s really needed to ensure that the team continue to build on the fits and starts they’ve made over the last few years.
steveng
Roar Rookie
'Disc' get off the grass mate! Woods is the laziest and most none shallot slob that I've ever seen in a long time, he has his on days but his off days are more apparent. Let's see what he can produce in 2017 as the Tigers are getting quite a good squad together with the addition of Jamal Dasuki Idris, who will come good maybe mid season and should add allot of dynamics to the Tigers backs with Mosses, Tedesco and Brooks giving it to him out wide. Should be interesting.
steveng
Roar Rookie
Another breaking news is that the Tigers have signed 'Jamal Dasuki Idris' for 2017, I just read that today 19 De 2016. This could be all good or all bad for the Tigers???
Bugs
Guest
The Tigers weren't tipped to be cellar dwellers in 2016??? Um, yes they were. Every single tipper had Newcastle, the Titans and the Tigers as their bottom 3.
jason connolly
Guest
what a rubbish story. no good can come from stories like these... Your way off base with woods. why would Moses go to Roosters when you look at the halves they have. Minichiello has publicly announced the backing of Latrell Mitchell to remain the club's long-term fullback amid growing speculation the Roosters are chasing Tedesco.. I know your bored Billy Stevenson but find something more constructive to write about because a majority of WT's supporters are down right sick of rubbish like this...
Donald Trump
Guest
Tedesco and Moses are awesome. Brooks and Woods are replaceable and we could buy cheaper and better players to do the same job they do.
Will Sinclair
Roar Guru
This is something you see a lot from Woods' critics. They criticise him for being something he's not rather than praising him for what he is. Aaron Woods just shows up every game and makes lots of tackles, lots of runs and lots of meters. He does it better than any other prop in the game. He's an elite level NRL forward, no doubt about it.
Magnus M. Østergaard
Roar Guru
Alex and TB, some players just have bad luck. It's the nature of the game. I do agree you can't say its Tedesco's fauly he got smashed high and got a broken jaw, but a lot of players get forearmed smashed without a broken jaw as well, it is a contact sport after all.
The Barry
Roar Guru
Agree Alex L. You can't call someone injury prone when they get their jaw broken by a swinging arm while fielding a kick.
The Barry
Roar Guru
To be fair to Woods, you're comparing him with not only the Dally M winner from last year but a player that plays a completely different role. I don't imagine many props compare with Taumalolo's line break and tackle break stats.
andrew
Guest
First off, they weren't tipped to be cellar dwellers, the Titans were along with the Knights. They didn't improve that much on the previous year, infact, they only scored 12 more points than 2015 and gave up 45 more, so their for and against was worse. How were or are they any more exciting than any other team? They had no style?! They had a winger coming in and playing hooker which meant they could only attack to one side of the field. They got beaten by double digits on 7 or 8 occasions. I was at the 8-0 loss to Parra at ANZ which was the worst game of rugby league in 2016. They had a chance to win and make the finals in Rd 26, playing at the vaunted Leichhardt Oval and managed two tries while giving up 50 points to their out of town opponents. Yes Tedesco looks the goods, so does Moses, and i have no problem with Aaron Woods like others do, but other than that they are just an okay team with a less than impressive coach with no track record of success. Listen, good luck to the Tigers, but in 2017 who will you leap frog from the 2016 ladder? Maybe the Titans? Maybe. And have a look below you - Most would expect the Eels, Roosters, Souths, Manly and Warriors to all be better and have better luck and in all likelihood, finish above the Tigers.
Birdy
Guest
Epiquin If the tigers put a winning team on the field with a few stars the fans would turn up at campbelltown. They turned up in their droves to watch a finals fight out with the titans and possibly a glimpse at local hero hayne.
Disc
Guest
This bloke hasn't got a clue .. woodsy is in the top five best props in the nrl, makes big metres consistently, good footwork at the line. One of the first picked for Australia or NSW... Saying he hadn't got the mettle is a low blow and totally delusional.. tigers can and will keep all there players .. if broncos can have a team stacked with internationals there no reason why tigers can't maintain those four players ... And I'm not a tigers fan ...
Alex L
Roar Rookie
Sometimes it's just luck, sometimes it's something more attributable to a players body or style -- the entire Stanley family for instance seem to have knees made out of tissue paper. His injuries last year seemed to have been more bad luck than anything -- Ryan James going full tilt clocks someone on the jaw and they're probably not going to be in great shape, and I'm fairly sure his shoulder injury came when he basically copped all of his own weight and a tackler on the shoulder standing height which is not an insignificant impact.
CALM CHEEN
Guest
No Will , it would be sensational . The free market system .
Alex L
Roar Rookie
Good honest player, not much more, and every club needs one. I think the complaints with him are more to do with the fact that at rep level he tends to be the weak cog in the machine -- doesn't win too many collisions, break many tackles, win a lot of quick ball, or slow the ball in defence.
Stuart McLennan
Expert
Woods is currently one of the best front rowers in Australia. His numbers back that up. Not sure where the issue with Woods is coming from? Moses and Tedesco are must keeps but I could live with Brooks finding another club. Still hasn't realised the potential he showed as a junior in the Balmain system.
Magnus M. Østergaard
Roar Guru
I agree, but injuries are injuries, some people are just prone to them
Magnus M. Østergaard
Roar Guru
They should fix up Campbelltown and play 9 matches out of there. a Sunday arvo a Leichardt and 2 blockbusters at ANZ
Alex L
Roar Rookie
Vincent; since his running action got reworked his injuries have been to the shoulder and head respectively which is difficult to anticipate, prevent, or actually attribute to Tedesco in any meaningful way. BlakeW; all true, but he spent quite a bit of time either physically struggling, or out on the wing.
Wolly
Roar Guru
No that'a not what I meant. Yes the Roosters beat them but at least Tigers were in with a shot to get in the 8 right up until the final round. You obviously disagree but I found the Tigers style of play exciting and love seeing their backline in action when in form. Don't forget this is a team that was tipped to be cellar dwellers at the start of the season and also had the Taylor-Farah saga going on as well. They have improved from their previous season and should continue to get better. They aren't going around trying to sign game-winners but have recognised the players they want to build the team around and are persevering with them. I can respect that and best of luck to them. If you believe good defence is what makes a team exciting to watch you must get thrills watching the Dragons 09-11 team. Many league supporters I know find it hard to go past the 74-75 Roosters in terms of exciting footy. Guess what they were renowned for?