With Jason Taylor gone, what's the future for the Wests Tigers?

Totally agree mate. These halves are too wrapped up in their own hype.They are not in the top 10 pairings. When Moses comes out and wears bed socks when he hasn't earnt the right to would make me laugh if it wasn't serious. My comment on the big contracts, if all clubs tie their halves up for 5-10 years, what happens when we get another Millford or Cleary...those clubs that have tied those players to long term contracts are no chance of affording them, this will spread the talent but cripple clubs that have too many players tied to long term contracts. Doesn't eave much room for a loss of form or a big bopper like JT breaking down or sustaining injuries.

Where to now for the Tigers? 1st priority: - New coach - Not a rookie coach, not a coach promoted from the U20's, A coach that has proven 1st grade experience and team building record 2nd Priority: - Roster - Sort out the roster, Start with Tedesco as a priority as he is the best player they have. Then get Woods signed up - he may not be the best front rower in the game, but he is the best the Tigers have. This brings me to the halves... I live in NZ, so as a result I don't see much of the U20 coverage, and obviously I don't have the ability to see any lower grade footage either. So - Can someone please tell me where the 'hype' on Luke Brooks and Mitchel Moses comes from? Were they that awesome in the lower grades to justify the current hype? Their recent 1st grade form hasn't been good enough to compare with the games top halves but for some reason they think they should be paid at the same level as the rep halves? They have been in 1st grade for a couple of years now and from memory have always been talked about as the 'next big things'. Every time they have a good game they are described as 'bolters for origin', but everytime they have a bad game (which seems to be 2 out of three games) their performance is explained away as they need more experience/consistency/time - "They are young but they will be good in the next few years..." etc etc From what I have seen they are 'capable' young halves who will likely mature into a decent 1st grade halves pairing if they are coached properly over the next few years. For them to be attempting to get contracts at the $600k mark is very ambitious on their part. I know clubs will pay overs for halves, but any club that is willing to pay $600k (each) for these two would have to be pretty desperate (Knights) At present the Tigers do not have a coach at all, let alone a coach with a good enough record to hope that they will fulfil their potential. If the Tigers were to get a Bennett, Bellamy, (maybe Hasler or Cleary) type coach then we might hope to see them hit the heights Tigers fans want, but until then they should take whatever contract they can find and start showing the world what they can do. I realise that with the current uncertainty around the salary cap etc, the expected salary level for mid to lower level halves may be a bit higher now, but I think Brooks and Moses have some way to go before they can justifiably start 'demanding' the big bucks. I have just noticed that I have drifted off topic a bit but as a non Tigers fan, I think that Tigers fans are within their rights to be expecting a bit more from their halves, especially if they want more money...

Yes, unfortunately the NRL are holding up Balmain's side of the joint venture as they don't have any loot left. I think the Wests side is financially strong enough to take over 100% if need be. Delicate situation, both are foundation clubs, so from a heritage perspective, you would want them represented at the highest level whilst possible.

Sounds alarmingly familiar for tigers supporters

Like your style KT. To be Kurt, Elias was put on this Earth to fart around which he does really well.

WS (Campbeltown) Leagues Club only sponsors the Western Suburbs District Junior League (WSDJRL) in Sydney's Macarthur Region. WS (Ashfield) Leagues Club owns 100% of the Wests Magpies RLFC and 75% of Wests Tigers RLFC. WS (Ashfield) Leagues Club does NOT sponsor the Western Suburbs District Junior League (WSDJRL) but actually provide funds for the Balmain District Junior League. I find it strange that "Ashfield Leagues Club" has all the power - usually Leagues Clubs only sponsor Football Clubs - the two entities are always linked but they usually have different directors and different sets of voting members.

I agree totally. When the Tigers and the Dragons are going well crowds are up. Both these Mergers bring plenty of away fans to other teams home games also unlike the likes of Cronulla, Manly or Penrith who bring almost zero away support.

There are some interesting points here. It always seems disappointing after a team that comes out like the Tigers did in round 1 and then capitulate in round two and three. Sure, the backs can't do their jobs if the forwards don't make space and no one goes anywhere if they can't hold on to a ball, complete, their sets and kick a ball into good field position. The Tigers were atrocious in rounds 2 and 3 yet not one player has been scrutinised in the media for the performance. The team as a whole have, but there has been no direct spotlight on any player that I have read. That is also disappointing when players can't even motivate themselves to hold onto a ball for a carry. The only player out of contract worth anything in the way of good money on performance for mine is Tedesco. I personally believe Wood's comments have been a veiled threat to the board - it seems Wood's learnt that game from Farah over the years. I am no real fan of Taylor, but the guy was on a hiding to nothing. As previously mentioned he was fighting previous management's contract dramas and had the mettle to finally say to Farah his time was up. This gave the young halves the opportunity to take control of the game and dominate their positions - make the team their own. They didn't lift and the management punished Taylor for his unwavering belief in the young halves. The way I see it, the halves pair would be flat out worth $500k per year for the pair of them. Sure they showed promise a few seasons ago. They have not stood up. I agree there needs to be a strong coach to put all of these guys into line but even being strong may not be enough. I don't envy the next full time appointed coach for the Tigers.

Don't know. Never done it. Is poo in your mouth a bit of a fetish Jacko?

The Bears and Manly merger was never going to be a fight to the death. Manly held the NRL licence because the Bears had gone broke and didn't make the minimum standard to hold an NRL licence. Manly put out the hand of friendship, but over the next few seasons the Bears and their new blow-in Central Coast mate, John Singleton (when he pops-up to help your club, run! Ask Newtown and the Magpies). After a few years of debacle with Manly held back by the bumbling Bears and Singo, rightly, went to the NRL saying they would cover any debt so long as the anchors were cut free. Smart move. They went pretty well after that for a decade.

Yes the sacking of Taylor certainly leaves a bad taste. Then again spitting out poo does leave a bad taste tho doesnt it.

Good question what's the future for the Tigers. I was just analysing the three senior sides of the Tigers...they average losing by 27 points a game. There is and can be no joy there. When Woods and Tedesco play origin, where do they get replacements from. This is a failure in the culture of the club. The interim coach has been assistant coach for two basket case clubs, the Warriors and now this rabble. What sort of leadership can you expect from that appointment. The salary cap is full due to back ended payments to keep players and look at the roster...more importantly look at the results from the players they call the roster. I can't comment on JT, he needed to be tough, but was he any good? I can comment on the fact that they have had so many coaches in recent times and haven't focused oin putting a competitive side on the paddock. It's a disgrace. This team is barely up to NSW cup standard. The big "4", what big 4. Woods plays very well but with no support. Tedesco is great but can't win the game on his own. Moses, fades in and out of games and by wearing his bed half socks on the paddock, shows a real lack of respect for the game....perhaps he thinks he is too big for the game. Brooks, what a disappointment. He would be number 16 in half back ratings right now, who wants his signature on a contract. Here's what we need to do....Clean out the deadwood from the board and put some hard heads that have played footy in. Clean out the retention and recruitment department (if we have one), the results evidence they are a disgrace. Bring in a tough hard head coach...Toovey or Cleary, do Ricky Stuart's white board trick with three columns. One required players, 2 not required, 3 playing for a contract and let the players mull over that. Forget 2017, that's lost, look at recruiting for 2018. What a great buy Idris was, where is he? Why recruit Ballin when we had 3 other hookers, the salary cap balance is a joke. This team (no teams and by definition the club) has no future in its current form.

Why Leichardt? Balmain have no financial interest in the club, have the smallest junior base. The Tigers offer zero to the joint venture Campbelltown is where the money for the club comes from, it's where the juniors are and its where the supporter base is

Players come and players go, but the culture created by the board and more importantly the leadership, direction and management of the players by the coach is vital to retention, just look at the Melbourne Storm, they play for their coach and each other. The salary cap issues and long term contracts were ridiculous, 3 years is a maximum if a club was smart, this has lead to several players leaving that they should have retained, Te Maire Martin is one, Josh Addo Carr is another, they have so much potential. I am not going to defend the current halves to much, but has the club brought in somebody like Andrew Johns or Brett Kimmorley to develop them and mentor ? I don't think so. They obviously need some big mobile forwards to support Woods and a senior forward to assist with direction and game management.

The Manly Bears merger was always going to be a fight to the death. The dragons were so much stronger than the steelers that they were able to absorb them without much grief. As for the wests tigers i would not be surprised if the West dominated board werent to upset with what is happening. With Wests left with the only leagues club,, 5 out of the 9 seats on the board and a lot of bad press being put on the tigers brand (justly or unjustly being irrelevant) I wouldn't be surprised if in the next couple of years they try and force out the tigers altogether and go back to the magpies. They may lose balmain and Leichardt but have an opportunity to claim a bigger piece of Western Sydney. Another interesting fact is that the Government are anticipating 30 games a season at the new Western Sydney stadium which parramatta wont be able to deliver by themselves. With the NRL wanting to move teams to bigger stadiums at the expense of local grounds it isn't hard to fathom 2 NRL teams being based out of Western Sydney Stadium.

I don't know if we will see a case of history repeating itself with the Big 4 being signed on similarly ridiculous contracts. If so, this cycle will just continue. The CEO referring to them as the Big 4 doesn't do the club any favours with contract negotiations.

W-T is the epitome of the insane asylum being run by the inmates. So how many coaches have been sacked by the players now? So do the players play badly to eventually get their coach sacked? Who knows? For the first few people who commented here, if you want another team to disappear from Sydney than just separate Balmain and Wests as none can stand on their own!

The merger of the Tigers and Magpies is no new thing . Without each other they would have been out of the competition and with the way they have both carried on over the years maybe they should have been .However , what chance does the merger and it's fans have with people like Elias shooting his mouth off all the time . I saw him on 360 and he didn't offer anything of substance or maturity to the argument whatsoever . It was back to the old us vs them scenario , oh and btw , it's all their fault . Talk about a guy hijacking a conversation to pedal his own agenda .The Balmain half of the merger always saw themselves as the the major part of the franchise , and this may well have been true in the beginning based on how both clubs were travelling at the time ,but 17 years down the track the landscape has changed significantly . The future of the franchise , if it is to have one , is in Campbelltown and the sooner the Balmain old boys come to deal with this and get on with it the better for all concerned .

Wests Tigers don't have a brand or a culture that will attract money. I would like to see them play all their games at Leichhardt and establish a small club in a premise near the oval. Go small and get Benny, Roachy and Tommy et al developing juniors who are on long term incentive contracts that allow them to be traded. The Wests Tigers supporters I know aren't that fussed about results as long as their team plays entertaining footy with heart.

I do like that some recent articles where they referred to the former "big 4" as the "so-called big 4" it's good that the players are being scrutinized.