The Wests Tigers’ start to the season received a massive boost as John Bateman was cleared to set off for Australia and link up with his new teammates.
It might come a little late for Round 1, but Tim Sheens will surely be set to rush his star backrower into action as soon as possible with his only other option to take the 12 jumper Shawn Blore, who will have some trial footy under his belt, but is off the back of an ACL injury.
The Tigers travel to the Gold Coast for their first game on Sunday 5 March, meaning that if Bateman lands soon, he could get two weeks of training under his belt with his new teammates.
Having come off the back of the World Cup with England, followed by an extended rest, it might not be beyond him to get a start. Alternatively, Sheens may choose to start one and bench the other, managing minutes through the early rounds.
It needs to start well for the Tigers and that means having their best on deck as early as possible. After finishing 16th, it can’t get worse for them, right? Well, they could finish 17th in 2023 with the Dolphins added to the competition.
But the Tigers look to be on an upward trajectory after a bunch of key signings and a couple of their best young prospects fully fit again after a year on the sidelines.
Following the mid-season sacking of Michael Maguire and Brett Kimmorley filling in as an interim, Sheens is back as coach more than a decade after his first stint at the helm with Benji Marshall serving as his assistant for two years with a view to taking over in 2025.
CLICK HERE for a seven-day free trial for your favourite sport on KAYO
It wouldn’t be a surprise if Marshall assumes more responsibility over the course of the 2023 season and ends up taking on the post ahead of schedule the following year.
(Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)
Who’s new?
The Tigers got in early to sign Panthers hooker Api Koroisau and Eels second-rower Isaiah Papali’i more than 12 months before they’d play a game for them and both recruits have only increased their value in the time since.
Koroisau was arguably the best hooker in the NRL last season, taking over the NSW starting role from Damien Cook, while Papali’i was a powerful performer on the edge for Parramatta.
The Tigers made another late addition with the recent signing of Knights prop David Klemmer who still has a few good years left in him after just turning 29. He gives the Tigers a veteran enforcer they’ve been lacking.
They landed English second-rower Bateman on Boxing Day on a four-year deal to give their new-look pack an added dose of aggression and star power.
Charlie Staines has also been added after being deemed surplus to requirements at Penrith. He has shown flashes of brilliance out wide but also been inconsistent during his first three seasons in the top grade.
They’ve also boosted their outside backs with former Waratahs speedster Triston Reilly returning to league after playing for Newcastle and Souths in the junior representative ranks while David Nofoaluma has lobbed back at Concord following his late-season loan stint with the Storm.
Isaiah Papali’i. (Photo by Brett Hemmings/Getty Images)
Who’s gone?
Sheens offloaded Jackson Hastings to Newcastle in the Klemmer deal as he thought he could get by with Luke Brooks and Adam Doueihi in the halves. It’s a gamble because Hastings was far more consistent than those two last season.
Veteran skipper James Tamou was unwanted but has avoided retirement by picking up a one-year deal back with the Cowboys.
Second-rowers Luke Garner (Penrith) and Kelma Tuilagi (Sea Eagles) were also allowed to leave because the Tigers were confident their roles could be replaced with their recruits.
It’s been a clearing of the decks at Concord with Jacob Liddle and Zane Musgrove switching to St George Illawarra, veteran utility Tyrone Peachey released to the Panthers in the Staines deal, back-up playmaker Jock Madden joining the Broncos and Oliver Gildart linking with the Dolphins.
Former Origin star James Roberts has retired after injured curtailed his effectiveness at the Tigers.
Key spots to unlock
Fullback is the main question for Sheens with incumbent Daine Laurie facing a challenge from Staines for the role. Laurie has shown slightly more consistency than his counterpart in their first few seasons in the NRL but is yet to cement the spot long term.
Sheens views Blore and Talau as additional recruits after they didn’t play a game last year and believes they are virtually automatic inclusions in their first-choice line-up.
Now they have sorted out the deal for Bateman, he will start in the second row so Blore could end up on the bench or at lock with Ofahengaue switched into the front-row rotation.
Their depth in the halves is super skinny so Sheens will need Doueihi and Brooks to not only click as a combination but to also avoid injury with Laurie as a potential five-eighth their only other playmaking option with NRL experience.
Veteran journeyman Will Smith is on a train and trial deal so he may end up filling the back-up halves role on the roster.
Daine Laurie. (Photo by Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images)
Round 1 predicted team
1 Daine Laurie
2 Charlie Staines
3 Tommy Talau
4 Brent Naden
5 David Nofoaluma
6 Adam Doueihi
7 Luke Brooks
8 Stefano Utoikamanu
9 Apisai Koroisau
10 David Klemmer
11 John Bateman
12 Isaiah Papali’i
13 Joe Ofahengaue
Interchange
14 Jake Simpkin
15 Shawn Blore
16 Alex Twal
17 Alex Seyfarth
Other squad members: Fonua Pole, Apisalome Saukuru, Brandon Tumeth, Junior Tupou, Justin Matamua, Ken Maumalo, Rua Ngatikaura, Sione Fainu, Starford To’a, Asu Kepaoa, Triston Reilly, Tukimihia Simpkins.
Sports Nut
Roar Rookie
Staines doesn't talk enough to play FB....Laurie will be there.
Tony
Roar Guru
:laughing:
blacktown leagues
Roar Rookie
john you have four ex panthers in there who could not crack permanent nrl spots there a bit like the eels they have plenty of penrith state cup players playing nrl they wont compete for a title playing other clubs reggies
blacktown leagues
Roar Rookie
i believe bateman signing a big mistake canberras first grand final in over 30 years and he starts talking about more money then he wants to go home now he wants to come back i dont see him lasting four years and it will end in tears with the tigers doing there transfer fee they had to pay to get him here i may be wrong but i dont see any long term benefits in signing this bloke
Short Memory
Roar Rookie
I'm not saying Brooks is a top tier half. As I've said elsewhere, he's mid-level on skills, and bottom level on game management. But nevertheless he still outperforms O'Sullivan - except when O'Sullivan was fronting the Panthers machine.
Panthers
Guest
Well, there’s no reply to that . Craig can’t even really make up his mind on what does or doesn’t amaze him? :laughing:
Panthers
Guest
Couldn’t the same things be said for the halves at Melbourne? They’ve had Smith, then Smith & Grant. Few teams do wonderfully well , without a good player at hooker.
Panthers
Guest
Brooks won’t have Kikua doing any runs on the edge next year either. He will have a top player at hooker. I don’t think that O’Sullivan has been to bad at any club that he’s been at. He was also good in the NSW Cup last season. Katoa, well the Tigers don’t have any player like him. I’ve never thought anything of Brooks. I think Newcastle dodged a bullet & got the better half from West’s. Brooks wouldn’t have been kept at most clubs , other than to play NSW Cup for a year. Before being shifted off to play Super League.
Short Memory
Roar Rookie
Bored now. Going to talk to a grown up.
Dave
Guest
FaCTs :laughing:
Tom G
Roar Rookie
If they were found guilty and subsequently sanctioned, then how the hell could it be the subject of anyone’s conspiracy???
Short Memory
Roar Rookie
My opinion and the facts both it would appear.
criag
Roar Rookie
I suggest you have a look at papers other than the Nepean times.
criag
Roar Rookie
The fantasy world some of you guys live in never ceases to amaze me! (actually, it doesn't!). Funny how the teams that actually HAVE been guilty of massive rorting and penalised with loss of competition points, etc, never seem to figure in this imaginary conspiracy of yours.
Greg
Roar Pro
The few standout Tigers halves in the lower grades are still years off being first graders. I actually believe Brooks is a very good halfback in a very poor team but if the Tigers do decide to look to replace him it wont be with one of their own juniors any time soon. With some of the rumours coming out of Tigers, It would not shock me to see Laurie end up at 6 and Doueihi playing elsewhere.
Greg
Roar Pro
Apologies, i could have been more clear re. rep/rep level. I dont see Brown joining. Tigers only have one spot left in their top 30. Would expect them to leave it open to promote an injury coverage player later in the season. Point re Utoikamanu and Pole is that most clubs have a similar aged front row who is equally hyped up. But very few young forwards produce consistent high quality big minute games or have yet got the body to withstand the physical demands of such a role. The clubs with better depth can gradually increase the role of a young forward as they improve rather than rely upon them to be an exception to the general rule that forwards typically develop slowly. The Tigers needing these two, plus probably Blore, to remain on the park and producing quality, consistent footy shows they do not have the depth of other forward packs.
Dave
Guest
Literally zero care wether you think I’m convincing or not. Your opinion means nothing to me :laughing:
Short Memory
Roar Rookie
Dave it's not real convincing to trash someone else's choice of stats when you provide none at all. Most folks would agree that Run Metres and Tackles / Tackle effectiveness are key stats for forwards. If you have a genuine reason for arguing that they are not, I'd love to hear it. Try Involvements are a key stat for dummy half. If you are referring to N Brown as the player who is not signed, I concede - officially he's not yet. But word is it's done and just waiting for cap dust to settle. But let's have it your way and leave him out and compare Bateman (who is now signed) instead. Tigers starting pack: Klemmer, Offa, Papalii, Bateman, Twal Dolphins starting pack: J Brom, Gilbert, Kaufusi, K Brom, Stone Head to head / player for player the Tigers forwards have better stats across the board for Average Run Metres, Tackle Breaks, Tackles Made, Tackle Effectiveness, Offloads, and Post Contact Metres. And not just a shade better, but seriously crushing it better. I don't know what stats you think are important for forwards, but if you've got some more relevant, less "random cherry picked" stats, please share them. The greatest assets the Dolphins pack have are experience playing together, experience in a winning culture, and a great coach. But those intangibles don't really translate to directly comparable stats.
Sean Murphy
Guest
:happy:
Short Memory
Roar Rookie
See the post three down for the stats. :happy: