After an awful 2021 season that saw an ex-player hit out at the club, Michael Maguire reportedly hours away from being sacked before a last-minute push to have him retained, and a fan-base boo their not-so-roaring team off the Leichhardt ground at halftime, playing for Tommy Raudonikis, the Tigers can say goodbye to the 2021 year and look forward to a fresh start in 2022.
The biggest question mark hovering over the Tigers for 2022 is their spine and who will play where.
Fullback
One of the very few shining lights for the Wests Tigers was Daine Laurie, a third string fullback from the Penrith system biding time behind the likes of Stephen Crichton and Dylan Edwards, snapped up by the Tigers on a bargain deal considering how well he played in 2021.
(Photo by Speed Media/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
Laurie made 19 appearances for the tigers before getting injured, but was instrumental in their attack scoring seven tries, eight try assists, 71 tackle breaks, and nine line breaks.
With a big off season, I see Laurie developing his support game which we saw little of this year only weighing under 80 kgs which will see him improve immensely, easily claiming the fullback role with little or no competition.
Depth: With the loss of Moses Mbye, there are no genuine fullback options if Laurie is injured. Adam Douehi (injured) played fullback at Souths and would be the only possible replacement.
Five-eighth
Jackson Hastings is who the Tigers should be looking at to play 6. Hastings had a great year over in the UK and has the potential to play his best football as a five-eighth.
Hastings played 22 games in which he had 18 try assists, 87 tackle breaks, 297 tackles with a 93 per cent tackling efficiency also leading the league with kicks in general play. While Doeuihi played his best football wearing the 6, the squad would achieve more if they played Hastings at 6 and Doeuihi in the centres.
Deouihi is very strong defensively which would help with their edge defence, combined with the level of attack he provides, it only seems right to get the best of both worlds.
Depth: Doueihi, Tyrone Peachey, Jock Madden
Halfback
The age old question… is Luke Brooks the halfback the tTgers need? Doesn’t matter, Luke Brooks will wear the 7 jumper in 2022 and that isn’t negotiable.
The first thing Tim Sheens did upon arrival was to sit down with Luke Brooks and confirm that he will be seeing out his contract with the possibility of playing beyond 2023.
The Tigers had the opportunity to get rid of Brooks with the weeks of speculation regarding a move to Newcastle, but they were adamant he was staying.
Despite fan comments stating he should play hooker, with the salary Luke Brooks is on, there is almost a ‘need’ to play him at 7 with the hope to get a return to the high level of football he played once before and get some return on his salary.
Depth: Hastings
Hooker
It is time for some stability in the hooking role. For the past 12 months the Tigers have swapped and changed between Mbye, Jacob Liddle and Jake Simpkin but the Tigers need to achieve consistency which starts with giving Simpkin the 9 jumper.
He has recently re-signed, is highly touted by Brad Fittler, and is the future of the Tigers club. If the reports surrounding Josh Hodgson are true, then the thought of Simpkin working closely with Robbie Farah and Hodgson which should develop his game significantly is very appealing.
Depth: Liddle, Brooks
The best current spine the Tigers can choose is Laurie, Hastings, Brooks, Simpkin.
Short Memory
Roar Rookie
Hey TB - great to see you talking football again and not sucked in to trading $**t with a sock puppet :laughing: Can't argue with anything you say about Doueihi vs Hastings - but Doueihi is out for a long spell at start of the season, and Hastings can fill in, effectively auditioning for Brooks' position. When Doueihi comes back, Brooks has competition for his spot. And (based on nothing but intuition and wishful thinking) I reckon next season is his last chance to prove it before being cut loose. Peachey is a great 14, but in the current game a creative ball playing 13 is also key and he can fill that role better than anyone else on Tigers roster. So till the bye at least I think they'll line up Hastings 6, Brooks 7, Peachey 13.
The Barry
Roar Guru
I’m pretty sure he’s filled in there before… and I think he could do it pretty well. He’s a pretty smart and eyes up player. Probably fitness would be his biggest area to work on But if that’s their plan it sort of indicates more muddied thinking. They’ve got two young hookers and then pick up a utility player that they need to mould… and it makes their spine conundrum even more so…
Steven
Guest
Peachey can play lock,second row, centre. Brooks at 7 and Hastings at 6. Doueihi at centre. Peachey at 14. I'm a reluctant Panther fan these days. Peachey is awesome. He's a brilliant backup player like Edwards is for Penrith. Stefano at lock Tamou at Prop - Loyal as they come
Steven
Guest
You should spell things correctly before you post your first article, especially when it's someone's surname.
Don
Roar Rookie
TB, do you think Peachy could make a good fist out of playing Hooker? Maybe in the Brandon Smith type mould? He's got a good passing and running game and is unafraid to get his body in front in defence.
Adam Bagnall
Roar Guru
Josh Hodgson could be a very good signing but their forward pack is average so unsure if he'll enjoy the same space he had at the Raiders. Their young fullback looks very good
Danielle Smith
Editor
Congrats on your first article Sam, and welcome! As wonderful as it is to have options and depth, if you are unsure of who the 'star' is to fill each position and who the back up is in your own team, you can just go round in circles. Until the Tigers work out who their main person is in each position of the spine is, they may make too many changes throughout the season and not build any consistancy or strong partnerships. For me though, the halves should be Douehi and Hastings.
Hairy
Roar Rookie
If I had to keep brooks in the team I would play him at 6 and Hastings at 7. Like the Titans did with Taylor, allow him to just play his natural game. Doesn't seem up to taking control of a team and making the right decisions. Hasting 7, Doueihi 6 would be better though. Spend brooks money elsewhere.
souvalis
Roar Rookie
Peachy stood out more than he had all year at the back end of the season when the coach moved him to starting 6. If we're not going to see much of Douhei or Talau till after the bye and considering the first month of the draw looks mettle testing at best, forlorn at worst, the outside backs are going to be begging for some elusiveness.
Albo
Roar Rookie
Dane Laurie has a few limitations in his game, mainly physical . He is only small / slight which can be an issue for him under the high balls and with on line defence. A bit of "Dufty " problems there. And he is playing in a team which can regularly waste opportunities for him. But on the other hand , he is brave , and reads the game well . He has good feet and good hands in attack. A bit more experience and game management confidence will see his game improve.
no one in particular
Roar Guru
plans changed when Doueihi when was ruled out for half the season
Albo
Roar Rookie
Those Doueihi attacking figures surprised me there ! I have had a similar complaint about him wasting opportunities by hanging on to the ball too much. Maybe I have been a bit harsh ? He does seem ordinary in defence at times.
mushi
Roar Guru
If Robbie Farah becomes interim coach... will he still try to get the coach fired just out of habit
Andrew01
Roar Rookie
To your point. As a fan, you want there to be a thought process behind why you sign certain players. Sure plans can change, but if they sign Hastings to be a lock and change their mind before a single training session - then it shows they are a bit rudderless and just throwing darts against a wall.
Big Daddy
Roar Rookie
The thing that intrigues me is they have signed Liddle and Simkin at 9 and are still pursuing Hodgson . The author even mentions Brooks or Hastings at 9 which gives you 5 to pick from . This is the muddling thinking that I can't get my head around . They didn't buy Hastings to sit on the bench or play 9 . With Sheen's and Farah sitting on the sidelines giving advice McGuire will have to be on his game .
Redcap
Roar Guru
When the Tigers signed Hastings, the word was they intended to play him at lock. Which makes some sense - lock is becoming a de-facto part of the spine. When they signed Peachey and were rumoured to be moving Brooks on, the implication seemed to be that Hastings would play as a half. Maybe Peachey's just depth, maybe it's more of the Tigers' muddled thinking. At least they have options. I suspect we'll see more switches. Doueihi might well end up at fullback if Brooks sticks around.
The Barry
Roar Guru
Agreed it may cost a win here or there but I don’t think having Laurie at 1 stops any of those teams from being contenders
Andrew01
Roar Rookie
I don't want to completely dismiss his ability, and note that for a first year player to not have functioning halves, will impair his development. He may get to that top echelon, but I don't think it will be for another 3 or more years and will probably need better players around him to achieve it (and the same could be said about most players). When you talk of those upper teams. If you substitute in Laurie for Papen/Hynes at the Storm, yeah i think it costs them a few of wins. Teddy didn't have his best year, but the downgrade there in ability and leadership is worth a few wins. He probably develops more at Souths than he has at the Tigers (with Walker and Reynolds), but Mitchell won several games for the Rabbits this year and was missed at the back end. And you could add Manly and the Eels in as other teams where downgrading from Gutherson/Turbo to Laurie is also worth at least three or more wins to those sides. The Panthers is probably the place it hurts least because the downgrade from Edwards isn't so significant and Laurie could be argued is better than Edwards already (though personally i would take Chrichton over Laurie at fullback). So for some of those teams it brings them back to the pack. For some, i think it drops them right out of contention.
terrykidd
Roar Pro
The Tigers have a spine ??? Oh you mean 1, 6, 7 and 9 .... sorry, my bad.
max power
Guest
you need your head read if you think Hastings is a better than than Douehii