The Wests Tigers are looking down the barrel of a tenth straight season without seeing September footy.
Their coach Michael Maguire has been upset at the team’s poor on-field performance, swinging the sword at his halves combinations throughout the year.
At the season’s end, the Tigers released eight players, including club veteran Benji Marshall. With Sam McIntyre and Josh Addo-Carr not signing – and both were priorities for the club – the Tigers will be looking for a shake-up in the spine. One substantial position the club must address is fullback.
Since the departure of local junior James Tedesco, the club has yet to lock down a long-term number one. With the release of development player Dylan Smith, the Tigers will be in the market for a fullback if they can fit one inside the cap. In the current squad, these are the contenders.
Adam Doueihi
Doueihi joined the Tigers in January after being released by Souths after the club signed prized target Latrell Mitchell. The local junior played all 20 games for the club in 2020, averaging 155 metres per game.
Doueihi has some clear talent but is fullback his position? He had a match-winning performance against Manly in Round 17, in which he played at centre, and has been touted as the long-term replacement for Benji Marshall in the halves.
He has had a few errors in the role against the Eels and Bulldogs where early kicks in the set resulted in tries. Doueihi also misses some speed, which would come in handy. For example in Round 8 against the Panthers, Doueihi was chased down by opposing fullback Dylan Edwards after picking up a grubber kick in his in goal.
(Photo by Michael Bradley/Getty Images)
Moses Mbye
Mbye has been and will be until 2022 a stone in the shoe for the Tigers. Originally coming to the club as a replacement for Tedesco, Mbye started as club captain in 2019 wearing the number one.
In 2020, he only played one full game in the role, just making 68 metres. Yes, Mbye has huge talent, which the club is yet to exploit, but his versatility to play at every position in the backs and hooker makes him the perfect number 14, where he played for the Maroons in 2019.
Maguire may start him at fullback or he may join Josh Reynolds and Russell Packer in fighting for an interchange role.
Asu Kepaoa
Kepaoa has played five games for Wests after a mid-season release from the Roosters to have an available spot for Sonny Bill Williams.
Kepaoa has looked encouraging on the left wing, scoring four tries in five games. In Round 20, Kepaoa had a brilliant match, getting past his opposing winger Blake Ferguson multiple times in the nail-biting match.
But questions are surrounding his ability under the high ball. In Round 13, Kepaoa had six handling errors and against the Eels in Round 20 he dropped a crucial kick from Mitch Moses, which almost led to a Waqa Blake try.
But Maguire sees something in him. He is signed until 2023. If he can fix his handling off kicks and being under pressure, Kepaoa could be a real threat in the Tigers’ spine.
The Tigers are missing, among several other positions, a fullback who has played consistent footy in that position.
Daine Laurie, a Panthers youngster, has had his name floated a few times, with the possibility that he is very close to signing a two-year deal. We’ll see.
Tedesco is off contract at the end of the year, but I doubt he would even consider the Tigers with their low-ball offers and ten-year finals drought.
Footlong
Guest
This team has the ingredients to come last for the next 2 seasons ...
Joe
Roar Rookie
Maybe they should make a play for Nicho Hynes. He has proved he can play 1 at NRL level but is stuck in a bench role at the Storm.
Joe
Roar Rookie
Talau doesn't look to have any kind of decent speed that most of the top fullbacks have. In fact he might be one of the slower wings going around. I think he would do better at center.
Bog
Roar Rookie
I think Laurie should cover all of them in 2022. Providing Penrith don't release him early the Tigers will have to make do with Kepaoa and Mbye
Big Daddy
Guest
Andrew, if Roberts can overcome his injuries and demons and Joey Leulai can get the garbage out of his game it's not a bad centre pairing. Benji would have a field day putting Roberts away. I think I would have kept Benji and got rid of Brooks but he still has a year on his contract. I also see they have signed young Laurie from Penrith for 2022.
Bog
Roar Rookie
Marshall is going to be a massive hole in the Tigers attack next season, but defensively I see our right edge really improving, as Doueihi, Walters and Reynolds are all solid defenders. As for hooker I reckon Madge will give young Jake Simpkin a crack, he was on a development contract this year but is full-time for the next two years, and Liddle is off-contract at the end of the year. Coincidence? I think not.
Bog
Roar Rookie
Walters is a solid defensive half. In the games, he played Marshall was really running the show. It will be interesting whether he will play a role in 2021. My guess is that he might feature on the interchange bench for some late impact like he did in rd. 3 against the Sharks.
Bog
Roar Rookie
Yes, 2021 and probably 2022 are going to be building years. A lot of Tigers cap space will free up at the end of the year with Packer and Reynolds are gone, and then Mbye in 2022.
Bog
Roar Rookie
Minimum wage deal, with a team option in 2021. Could turn out good for the Tigers. Unlikely? Yes but no real hit on the cap.
Bog
Roar Rookie
Yes, I have heard about Cini as well. Hoffman got the go over him when we play the Bunnies back in rd.9. Will be interesting whether he gets a run in first grade in 2021, Cleary might be interested in taking him back in 2022, if the Tigers don't give him a chance.
Walter Black
Guest
The tigers are one of the few teams who have gone backwards for next year. Marshall is a loss and Grant will leave a big hole. Maguire tends to rub up teams the wrong way after a few years so I can see a little team dis-harmony there if the results don't come. I have them firmly in the bottom half for next year.
Nat
Roar Rookie
I don't know, there's a light there. Walters is a decent 5/8 and I was told young Talou made his name in the halves coming through? Chee-Kam and Luciano are dynamic backrowers. I see they've signed Roberts, who will make his 3 highlghts for the season and very little else, much like his compatriot BJ. They are sans a genuine game-breaker. I don't want to sound cliche but if McGuire can get them playing to their best they can trouble the bottom half of the top 8.
Albo
Roar Rookie
Only Harry saved them from the spoon in 2020 .
Albo
Roar Rookie
I believe the Tigers have now signed Dane Laurie , but not available until season 2022 !' He is potentially a very good fullback . But I think the Tigers need to also sort out the rest of their spine, before I can see any success coming. Unless the have found another Harry Grant, I think they will battle to make any impression in 2021.
Rob
Guest
Yep I think they will be right around the bottom. When I look at last years bottom 8 the Tigers have very little upside compared to the others and a whole lot more downside.
andrew
Roar Rookie
Bog, reading today that the Tigers have signed James Roberts for 2021. Lots of luck with him.
Tony
Roar Guru
I'm afraid you're right Rob. They'll be a contender for the spoon in my opinion.
Rob
Guest
Things aren't looking good for the Tigers. I'm not sure any of them are the answers to the Tigers problems. They were pretty average last year and now that two of their best players in Marshall and Grant are gone, I can't see them improving all that much.
Tony
Roar Guru
Zac Cini, a very good centre is one that comes to mind, however if the signing of Roberts stops him getting a run, he'll head to another club in 2022 for an opportunity in first grade.
Bog
Roar Rookie
Nothing close to a top 30 position. Might have few good players coming through the junior ranks but that's a few years away at least. So the best bet for the Tigers in the short-term is to recruit another player.