August 13, 2025 • 53 mins
Wests Tigers take their home game against Manly to the New Sydney Football Stadium and Eddie, Steve and Garry sit down to preview the critical clash.
The boys discuss all the team lineup news, includding the inclusion of Adam Doueihi at halfback and what role Latu Fainu may fill from the bench.
The team then take a look at the Wests Tigers Podcast forum's discussion around the key areas of need for 2026, will the guys agree with thoughts of the forum?
Eddie leads Steve and Garry through an indepth game preview and the pod clauses out with Yioti's quiz.
If you would like to join the discussion, head over to the Wests Tigers Podcast forum and give your thoughts on all the latest Wests Tigers news.
Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/wests-tigers-podcast--6660380/support.
The boys discuss all the team lineup news, includding the inclusion of Adam Doueihi at halfback and what role Latu Fainu may fill from the bench.
The team then take a look at the Wests Tigers Podcast forum's discussion around the key areas of need for 2026, will the guys agree with thoughts of the forum?
Eddie leads Steve and Garry through an indepth game preview and the pod clauses out with Yioti's quiz.
If you would like to join the discussion, head over to the Wests Tigers Podcast forum and give your thoughts on all the latest Wests Tigers news.
Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/wests-tigers-podcast--6660380/support.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:13):
It's West Tiger's Podcast, episode number four hundred and twenty seven,
Wednesday night before the Tigers take on Manly at Alian Stadium,
joined by Steve and Gary. Steve, sorry, there's no fancy
introduction this week.
Speaker 2 (00:25):
Oh, I was ready for a song in a dance mate,
I have to take my dancing shoes off.
Speaker 1 (00:30):
Well, Steve, I have written down because there's a lot
of ex Tigers playing at Manley. So if we do
happen to win, I might bring that fancy introduction back
next week because I'm looking at Luke Brooks, Aaron Woods
all these guys. But I don't want to jinx it.
Speaker 2 (00:44):
So what you're saying is that wiggle song can be
played no matter who wins.
Speaker 1 (00:47):
I don't know what the wiggle song is, but you
can sing it if you want. That's all right, Gary.
How are you being good?
Speaker 3 (00:55):
I'm always good? Mates.
Speaker 1 (00:56):
That's the first time I've ever asked you how you've
been so you know it?
Speaker 3 (01:00):
So you actually care today?
Speaker 1 (01:01):
Its missive? Yeah, I know. So are you refreshed after
a buye?
Speaker 4 (01:06):
No? As I said on Sunday, I really missed football
on the weekend watching the Tigers player.
Speaker 3 (01:11):
I can't wait till Sunday.
Speaker 4 (01:12):
I'm really looking forward to getting out to Alliance on
Sunday and seeing how we go against me.
Speaker 1 (01:17):
Mainly, it was good to listen to our newest teammate.
I suppose you could call him after Sunday night, Joel
Nick were joined by Zach Gary and I haven't managed
to get through the whole episode, but I listened to
the first half an hour. And I know you're a
fan of Zach.
Speaker 4 (01:32):
So Zach interested you so much you didn't even finish
The pot is that I do have a job. Look,
I guess that's what happens when you call someone up
from ron Messy cap though, isn't.
Speaker 1 (01:42):
It, Nick, you're talking about no Zach. Okay, that's just
shot across the bout Zach Zach.
Speaker 3 (01:49):
Yeah.
Speaker 4 (01:49):
I like Zach, but he can have a drive by two.
Speaker 5 (01:52):
Okay.
Speaker 2 (01:54):
I listened to half an hour as well. Any eithers
edited out all the Nick bits fair enough. Big shout
out to Nick. I know he's listing he's working on
green screens at the moment. I thought green screens were
only put up for horses after they collapsed in races, Steve,
but apparently they're used for other things as well shotguns
at five paces for Nick.
Speaker 1 (02:14):
The collab podcast Steve on Sunday Night. It's available on
YouTube on the West Tigers Life channel. It's also available
on our audio platforms at West Tiger's Podcast. I thought
Adam Dewey Steve he had a little Gary had more
spin than Shane Warn. Some of those political answers he
was giving Anthony Alberez, he would have been proud.
Speaker 3 (02:36):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (02:36):
I think Gary is still a bit nervous having robbed
opposite him. He's waiting for a few shots across the bow.
I think he's been very well behaved.
Speaker 3 (02:45):
But I've been waiting for them. They just haven't come.
Speaker 2 (02:49):
Adam do he got a fair bit of mention. I'm
sure he had a bit of mentioned tonight as well.
Speaker 1 (02:53):
You're going to have to retire from the podcast, Gary
if Adam Dewey leads us to a premiership at seven.
Speaker 4 (02:58):
No, because just like you and I can change my
opinion when new evidence presents itself interesting.
Speaker 1 (03:04):
You're using that line now, but boy, let's do it
normal sort of Wednesday podcast might be a shorter one
usual because there's not a whole lot of news around
coming off a bye, but we will obviously previ the
Manly game, and we'll do Steve's favorite segment, the quiz
at the end. But I was looking Steve at Twitter
today because I'm new to Twitter and I'm not still
(03:25):
getting my hands around how it works. But I did
see an interesting post I think it was by Tiger
Cast and he said, the last nine games off a bye,
we are zero to nine with an average score against
thirty six fourteen. What does that tell you?
Speaker 2 (03:43):
Well, that's not a very optimistic stat is it. So
let's hope. Let's hope the Tigers within the club know
that and they're going to do something about it. Can
I throw some stats at you? Is it too early
for this if you're throwing stats at me? So we've
beaten me in twenty four and twenty five when we
played them. The last five we're three from five, they're
(04:07):
two from five. The last three we're two from three.
There none for three. So I'll take those stats as
we head into Sunday rather than Tiger casts.
Speaker 1 (04:16):
Well, I'll throw another stat back at you, Steve, since
we're playing tennis at the moment. You know how many
Manly have won at Leichhart Oval in their last four
no none, none, And we are taking a game. I
know it's for a good cause. It's the second of
the Indigenous rounds and there's a carnival of football at
Alians this week. And I suppose you know, I shouldn't
(04:37):
be complaining because we were good enough to beat Cannabary
at Combak in a home game. I was wining about that.
But Manly Ozer from four at Leichart since twenty fifteen,
but taking him to Alians this week, you have a
problem with that?
Speaker 2 (04:50):
Yeah, I do, I do. I hadn't. I hadn't even
contemplated that, and I didn't realize that this was that
this would have been a like art Oval game. Look,
if I understand that we need to think about revenue,
we need to think about being financial and like, get
all that, and I agree with it, and I'm not
going to be overly negative towards what our strategy is.
(05:12):
But at some point, at some point, we've just got
to make the EP by winning football games, and we've
got to be playing at the venues that are best
going to help us get two points. And yeah, this
is an important game. Like I know, we're a very
very slight chance of the eight we're at long odds,
but this is really important this weekend. And the way
(05:36):
you've just said that take it away from Likehart doesn't
seem too sensible.
Speaker 4 (05:41):
Thoughts on that game, Yeah, I can't disagree with it,
And it's actually going to get worse because twenty twenty seven,
like Art's supposed to be out of action for the
whole year while it gets redeveloped. And my hope is
after that redevelopment, it's not going to get half the games.
It's not going to get six games a year, it's
not going to get anything like that. But hopefully they
(06:01):
can push it out to four because you have a
look at our results there recently, and it really shows
that we are a different team when we play it
like Art Oval.
Speaker 1 (06:13):
It's true, Gary, and I'm sort of on that side
of the fence, but I suppose the good sides will
argue anytime anywhere, any time zone. You can win if
you're good enough.
Speaker 4 (06:23):
Yeah, and we need to be better in that regard.
Our record down at Campbelltown is atrocious, and I think
that's a prime example of a place where we need
to play better football and not be so reliant on
having like Art Oval, but I still do think our
best performance of the year came at Kombank Stadium. So
(06:46):
we had a great performance against Cronulla out at like Art,
but I think that performance at Kombank Stadium against the
Bulldogs two weeks ago was probably the best Wa've played
all year.
Speaker 1 (06:56):
Just back to the original tweet by Tiger Cass Steve
coming off a buy, Ordinarily I would think I don't
know this, I probably should have looked it up, but
I would think that's an advantage for most sites because
you freshen up, you get away for a few days,
you have a little bit more time to study for
your opponents. Is this a little bit of a problem
(07:17):
with our coach and a roster at the moment that
we seem to everyone seems to exhale and relax after
a victory and we can't get ourselves up from that
next game.
Speaker 2 (07:27):
Well, yeah, that was said the other night in the
club pot. I think I think Gary you mentioned it.
Speaker 3 (07:32):
From many a couple of weeks ago, so I'll give
him credit for that.
Speaker 2 (07:35):
Okay, all right, So yeah, that's a bit of a pattern, right,
So we need to address that. We need that intensity.
If we have the intensity, if we go out there
at Alliance with the intensity that we showed against the Bulldogs,
then we will beat Manly. I have absolute one hundred
percent confidence in that we go out there with that intensity,
(07:55):
we will win the game on the Sunday. And the
most frustrating thing about that Bulldog's win is that we
don't get that intensity often enough. You can't get that
intensity every single week. I get that, but you've got
to get it more often than not. And yeah, there's
a pattern. We come off a win, we relax, we
come off a buy and perhaps we're not quite ready
(08:15):
to play it. Gee, we've even shown that inside of
games this year. You know, we start slow, we come
out of the sheds for the second half slow, We're
just not on the money from you know, the kickoff.
So it does need to be dressed.
Speaker 5 (08:30):
Yeah.
Speaker 4 (08:31):
I've actually the last couple of days thought a lot
about that, that trend we have of winning a game
and then being poor the next game, and I think
it might be a learned habit. We've been in a
situation as a club where every season we're gone on
multiple really poor runs of form where we've lost five, six, seven,
(08:54):
probably eight games in a row and then the pressure
builds and builds and builds around our club, and we
win a game and it releases all that tension and
the club can relax a little bit because that extra
pressure and that extra scrutiny has been removed from the club.
And perhaps with some of the players that's a learnt
(09:15):
trait at the moment that because it's been such a
relieving thing to get wins and you're able to relax
a little bit after that because the pressure's.
Speaker 3 (09:24):
Gone from the club.
Speaker 4 (09:25):
Perhaps that's become a little bit of a habit now
that now we're trying to be a more successful club
that we're still relaxing after we get those victories, even
though the pressure may not have been the same before it.
So hopefully that's something that can change soon and we
can become a club that can consistently put good football together.
Speaker 2 (09:47):
Now that's interesting, Gary, because Oregon, it's it's the way
you look at it. It's mindset like you lose eight
in a row and then you win one. Or you
can look at it one way and say, well the
pressure is off. Well you can look at another way
and say that's one from nine. And if you look
at it as one from nine. That's not pressure off.
Speaker 4 (10:07):
Yeah, but it's all that sports psychology side of it.
And I think that's something as a club we've done
really poorly over the last decade and I think that
needs to be a real focus for our club.
Speaker 3 (10:22):
Is about one win's not good enough. Like we've had
seasons where we've won.
Speaker 4 (10:27):
Four games, so every win has been relieving pressure for
the last couple of years. We've got to move past that.
Now we can't get past two wins in a row
since twenty eighteen or something it is, and that habit
needs to change because if we're going to be a
side that is playing finals football, you can't do that
by winning one two games in a row. You need
(10:50):
to get some consistency and get some performances together to
really be a successful side in this competition. And I
think that's part of the thing that our players and
our club to learn at the moment.
Speaker 1 (11:01):
I mean, Gary, it's easy to say, and it's probably
true that it's a little bit ingrained and expectations have
been low and they breathe a sigh of relief when
they win, But who's ultimately who's responsibly is it? Is
it the players responsibility? Themselves. Is it the head coach?
Is it the psychologist you mentioned?
Speaker 4 (11:18):
Then, Look, I don't know what psychology people we have
in our club, so it's really hard to place the
blame there.
Speaker 3 (11:26):
It's a coach and those expectations.
Speaker 4 (11:28):
Set around what we are as a club, and that
it's almost like if we get a win, it's almost
like as a coach, you need to walk in the
next day and you need to absolutely built the players
and really give them a hard time to show them that, look,
the pressure is not off. Now we've got to continue.
(11:48):
And for me, that's how you change it. You change
it by that one win isn't good enough, and you
pick out the faults from that game and you tear
that game apart, and you build that desire to that
that level of excellence that Steve's always talking about, and
you strive for that level of excellence, And I think
that's how you change that mindset.
Speaker 2 (12:08):
Yeah, that's that's I was just going to say, where
weren't we excellent this week? But I don't know that
I totally agree with what you said there, mate. Like
you said, it's the coach is responsibility. I think it
starts with the coach. You know, the coach has got
to set the expectation. But you know, like a lot
of things, mate, there's not a simple answer. It's not
just the coach. It's the players have got to buy
into that responsibility and they've got to they've got to
(12:30):
take up that challenge like he might set the challenge,
or it's not even him, it's the coaching team set
the challenge and they've got to take that challenge up
and run with it. Right, it's no good. You know,
maybe it is on the coach if the players aren't
buying into it, maybe you're right there, but it's it's everyone.
It's everyone.
Speaker 4 (12:48):
It's about that environment as well around a victory and
the coach and you're senior leadership, so you've seen your
leadership and your players as included. It's about how you
show up on a Monday morning after you've got that
victory over the weekend and what steps you take in
that time. If we're showing up and everyone it's a nice,
(13:10):
easy training session because we won on the weekend, then
that's something that needs to be changed. And we're just
speculating here, because no one's a training on a Monday
morning to see kind of what that attitude is. But
I think that attitude and that environment gets set by
your coaching stuff and senior leaders of your players.
Speaker 1 (13:29):
Probably, like I said Sunday Steeve, it's the next step
of the progression for me, Like we are clear of
the wooden spurn and that's a relief. But the season
can be viewed different prisms over these last four games,
Like if we finish on eight wins or nine wins,
you can say, well, they've improved, but the roster improved
as well, so did they really get better? But if
we hit the ground in a run and then win
(13:49):
three of the last four or four of the last
four and finish with eleven or twelve wins, I think
you can go in the next season with a lot
of momentum.
Speaker 2 (13:58):
Yeah, I agree. I think there are three very winnable
games in our last four. I think we'd have to
be outstanding to beat Canberra. It's possible, but I think,
you know, I think most people would expect us to
go to Canberra. Are we playing the matt Canberra to
go to Canberra and get beaten? But I don't think
that's the case with the other three. We can beat
(14:19):
the Titans. We can beat Manly and we can beat
the Cowboys, So Eddie, I reckon, that's very realistic for
the team to be saying three wins at least from
here on in.
Speaker 1 (14:30):
Okay, Gary confident. We're going to preview the game in
a minute. But has your confidence grown off at the
back of the Bulldogs win or do you still a
bit wary you're given our record after victories.
Speaker 4 (14:42):
Mate, Where West Tigers fans, I think the confidence always
grows after a win, where really we're almost a jackel
and Hide sort of fan base, like we start to
get really excited really quickly when our clubs show some
signs that they're starting to turn the corner, and then
when things aren't going well, we go the opposite way
really quickly as well. So there, of course there's positivity
(15:05):
around after that performance against the Bulldogs because I think,
I think that's the most complete effort sort of performance
we've seen from this team in an awful long time.
Speaker 3 (15:17):
But the results after our last victories, and I.
Speaker 4 (15:21):
Didn't really realize it until you mentioned it a couple
of weeks ago, Eddie, how poor it was this season.
Speaker 3 (15:26):
That of course, that has me worried going into this game.
Speaker 4 (15:30):
I don't want to see a letdown after that Bulldogs game,
because I think that's what we've had for the last
last ten years. We'll have a really good performance and
we start to think things are improving, and then we
turn around and we dish up some pathetic limp display
(15:51):
And it's almost harder when that performance comes after a
really good win. So I think it's really crucial that
we go out there and the team shows that it's
not just a one trick pony that can play in
the rain. And things went their way against the Bulldogs
and we've got the victory. It's really important the show
that this club is building, and I agree with Steve.
(16:13):
I think three out of the next four is possible,
but I'd be really happy if we get two out
of the next four games.
Speaker 2 (16:19):
I'm just wondering whether there's a possibility of anyone sending
Luke Brooks or Jake Simpkin a message and getting them
to file a complaint against Benji so we get a
bit of hatred against the many before the game one Sunday.
Maybe that's the motivation we need. It worked a couple
of weeks ago Adam doing Gary. We won't do it
to death tonight, but I've just read a few comments.
(16:40):
I think it might have been a Monday's paper where
he's open to playing multiple positions. He said, I feel
comfortable any positioned I'm in. I like being involved in
the middle of the field. I feel this helps a
young team. I like dictating play in the middle and
being that loud voice. I feel like my.
Speaker 1 (16:58):
Style or the style we played, he suits me today,
but didn't say, you know, I have to be a
six or a seven like in the past, that he's
opened to playing lot.
Speaker 3 (17:07):
Yeah.
Speaker 4 (17:08):
I think I mentioned the other night on the pod
that after he resigned, he said he's open to playing
that thirteen role and that you discussed with Benji over
the off season where they see him playing next season.
So yeah, I much prefer those comments than some of
the other comments we're seen from him in the past.
(17:28):
I think he's playing in the harves this weekend and
hopefully has a really strong performance there again, but I
am pleased to hear him speak about playing other positions
as well.
Speaker 1 (17:40):
I think Shane Flannigan Steve's becoming the new Madge. I
mean everyone in the NRAL off contract has met with him,
but no one's decided to sign with him, so do
He did say in the article that he met with
Flannigan a few weeks ago and I was close to
going to the Red V. But do you think that
lure of potentially being a seven at the Tigers was
the clincher or the fact that you know he's built
up relationships here and you can see the clubs on
(18:02):
the app.
Speaker 2 (18:03):
Yeah, I think it's more what he just said. Then.
I think he's built relationships. I think he does love
the club, he loves the Colors. I think he's committed
to the top, to the Tigers. I think he's committed
to Benji and his playing group. I think he's maturing.
I loved that interview, hearing him say what he said.
It was so refreshing to hear that from Adam Dewey.
Speaker 1 (18:24):
What was the refreshing part of it?
Speaker 2 (18:26):
Oh, Well, that he's prepared to He's prepared to play
multiple positions and play where you know, like Adam Dewey,
You've wanted it in the past. You've wanted to love
Adam Dewey, right, You've wanted to really get behind him.
But then he said something that just turns you off
a little bit not. I think he's learned from that.
He cocked a lot of criticism when he said he
just wanted to play six, and I think he's he's
(18:48):
grown from that and the fact that he's now saying, look,
I want to be in the middle. That's where I
think I can help this team best. But whatever it is,
it is, you know, I think that's awesome. I loved
hearing it.
Speaker 1 (18:59):
You think you'll start at seven for the rest of
the year, Gary, or you still think it's a week
to week proposition at the moment.
Speaker 4 (19:05):
Yeah, I still think it's week to week proposition. You're
surprised that I doubted that he would start in the
seven this week, But all the talk is Benji's fully
on board with Latu being the long term seven. So
I thought it was a little not a surprising, but
interesting that he was picked in the seven this week
(19:25):
because he wasn't even picked in.
Speaker 1 (19:27):
Really yeah, because I just I mean, of course Benji's
going to be praise Latu, but it's coach speak that
sort of stuff, like he's not going to say I
don't think LA two is going to be the long
term seven. He's not going to come out and say
that but I think at the moment it's an open competition.
Speaker 4 (19:46):
Yeah, but I don't think you know which way he's
going until he makes that decision. So I'm not surprised
he chose Adam Dowey at seven, but I thought it
was an interesting decision because I think it was something that,
based on what he had said, could have went way. Now,
what's important. The reason why I don't know whether Adam
Dewey is in that seven role for the rest of
(20:08):
the season. I think it's up to him. I think
he needs to show consistency performance in that role. He
needs to show the type of football he showed against
the Bulldogs two weeks ago. And if he shows that,
he's he's in the jersey right now. So the only
reason why he wouldn't be in that jersey moving forward
is if he doesn't maintain that standard.
Speaker 2 (20:30):
So is Appy going to play eighty minutes or is
Lati going to come on and relieve him and play
a little bit of nine through the game?
Speaker 4 (20:43):
I think Appy will play the eighty minutes and LA
two will be used in that locker row.
Speaker 2 (20:48):
And twelve go into the middle rotation.
Speaker 4 (20:50):
Correct, That's my expectation based on the side that's being picked.
Benji does like to have a dynamic ball player in
that role. He was trying to use Jack Burden that
sort of role earlier in the year, so I expect
him to use Latu in that role. And the one
thing I'll say about those three guys in those positions
(21:11):
is it hasn't quite geled yet. When we had Latu
playing in the seven and Dewey playing in the thirteen,
Lato got a little bit lost in those games, I thought.
So it'll be interesting to see whether this kind of
changing roles for Latu and Adam Dewey this weekend, whether
that makes that picture a little bit clearer of how
(21:32):
they work together, because I don't think the three of
them have jeweled real well at all.
Speaker 1 (21:39):
Tigers have been criticized in the past Steve for sort
of over blooding rookies and even Galvin and going back
to Luke Brooks in the day, so I don't mind
this approach with Lartuo final I wasn't expecting him to
shoot the lights out every week. He's missed football the
last two or three years. I don't think he's a
long term lock, and I think that's a bit irresponsible.
If you're starting lock when he's nineteen or twenty years old,
(22:01):
but playing off the bench and potentially starting some games
at half or having to back up at him Dewey
and be a backup half. I don't think it's a
bad plan.
Speaker 2 (22:09):
At the moment. No, I agree with that, and I
think there's something to that. I'm not convinced that he's
got the seven just because Benji's thinking, do he's going
to be our seven moving forward? I do think it's
going to be a game by game, week by weeks
of the scenario. I think that he's taking a little
bit of pressure off La Dufernu by putting him back
at at fourteen, and I don't think that's such a
(22:31):
bad thing. I've got a bit of a problem. I
think with the number of players we sent, we tend
to blood and so early. I know we've been fairly desperate,
and I know our depth isn't great and we're sort
of clutching at straws. Sometimes. I'd like to see the
other fellow what's his name, yeah, Magasine. I would like
(22:52):
to see him play the rest of the season in
reserve grad when his schoolboy stuffs finish. I don't want
to see him blood at this stage unless you know,
we were playing for an eighth spot and we had injuries,
and absolutely he was the last one. I just think
we need to be a little bit more careful bringing
these guys through.
Speaker 4 (23:11):
Going back to that point about Latu in the lock position,
I think it's fairly clear that was the kind of
plan earlier in the year until Galvin left. The plan
quite obviously was Latu playing that lock role and developing
into that position because that's what he was doing well.
Galvin was still at the club, and even after Gavin left,
(23:33):
he played quite a number of games where Latu was
still coming on and playing that thirteen role. And some
of the best attacking football we've played this year has
been with sorry, with Latu playing that thirteen role and
straightening up the attack and then feeding it out to
the halves.
Speaker 1 (23:48):
So he asked Gary Dave to ask a twenty year
old to do that consistently.
Speaker 3 (23:52):
I agree.
Speaker 4 (23:52):
I think that's why he's starting on the bench in
that role and not starting the game. It's allowing twelve
to take a little bit of heat out of the
start of the game and for him.
Speaker 3 (24:00):
To come on when it's not quite as difficult in
the middle.
Speaker 4 (24:05):
But we spoke the other day about Adam Dewey in
that thirteen role, and I spoke about Yo and his
ability to be able to run for one hundred and
fifty meters if the situation required it. LA two's not
a guy who can do that either. He's not going
to be a guy who, for example, in that wet
(24:25):
game against the Bulldogs on the weekend, if you're having
played that lock role, he's not going to be able
to just tuck the ball under under his wing and
push out hundred and fifty meters for you. So he
is more of a ballplayer than he is of an
impact runner, though he does have an attacking threat as
a runner. So that kind of helps in his role
(24:46):
as a ballplayer because and it helps your outside your
halves and five eight a little bit more because he's
a threat to run the ball attackingly. That means defenses
have to hold off your halves a little bit longer.
So think that's what the benefit you get out of
him playing that thirteen role. You don't get the ability
to run for a large amount of meters.
Speaker 1 (25:07):
You mentioned Macasini, Steve, He's obviously available now he's eighteen
years old. There was a little bit of Tuesday press
that he might be debooting this week, but that was
off the money by your mate the male. He was
off the money again, not bygh surprise.
Speaker 2 (25:21):
Yeah he researched that well, didn't he.
Speaker 1 (25:23):
But yeah, I don't know. I just think it's case
by case. And I'm not going to say I'm an
expert in watching him play, because I've never seen him
play a full game in my life, but I have
seen him. He's a physical He's not going to struggle
physically for one game, so I would think, and I'm
guessing I reckon they're going to have Boo him against
the Cowboys. I read something I don't know if it's
true that he had contractuably obliged to play for his
(25:46):
high school this week, you know, Newington College. That'll be
a big game against Sydney Boys or some of those
students that are studying to get ninety nine, not expecting
to come up against an NRL player. But I don't
know if that's true. But I still think he will
debut this year, and I would look to debut him,
you know, in our safe favorite at ly Ardoble against
a side that's not overly physical, and we'll have ninety
(26:09):
nine percent of the port there, so I would give
him a taste.
Speaker 2 (26:12):
Yeah, I think you're right. I think that's what's going
to happen. I'm just a little bit concerned. Just look
at our recent history of doing it. It's not working
for us. You know, there's going to be people out
there that are going to say no, when you're ready,
you're ready and just play, And they'd be able to
site lots of examples of guys that have played while
I was still at school and made a huge career.
(26:35):
I'm just thinking, you know, I just keep going back
to Harry Grant. I just think the way Harry Grant
was brought through, you know. I know Melbourne are in
a much stronger position and maybe I've had the time
to be able to blood him the way they did.
But when he arrived at first grade, he was ready
for first grade. And it just concerns me that we
burn these guys a little bit.
Speaker 1 (26:56):
Gary talent the Silver's game on the weekend was that
justification for the club in letting him go mid season
and going for Rappi Corroso and to the end of
twenty twenty eight or not.
Speaker 3 (27:08):
He was really poor on the weekend, and I can't
say I didn't enjoy it.
Speaker 4 (27:12):
I watched the end of that game sitting next to
you and Eve before he went and recorded, and it
was enjoyable to see happen. But I could only say
it would be justification if we had a better backup
than Tristian Hope, and I think we're in a difficult
spot if he's going to be our backup book for
(27:33):
next season, I think we need to go to market
and get someone to improve that spot on our roster.
Speaker 1 (27:40):
Wouldn't be the last West Tigers or ex West Tiger's
player to get a spray for Mitchell Moses. Steve he
didn't just go once. He went three times at him.
They were like, I think that's I know it's not
paramounta podcast, but that's an interesting dynamic that because Talon
de Silva is a running nine and he's now playing
with a guy who wants to all the time.
Speaker 2 (28:03):
I think it could be a real learning curve for
Talleder Silver. I don't blame Mitchell Moses for what he
did and the way he did. He's supremely competitive. Most
first go footballs are supreme competitive, and he won the
ball and didn't get it. I think Talle de Silver's
got to learn that he is a young buck and
he's playing with a bunch of players. They've got a
lot more experience in him, and sometimes he's just got
(28:25):
to pull his head in and give the ball when
he's told someone wants it. Hopefully well for his sake,
Hopefully he learns from it. As far as Tiger's is concerned,
couldn't care less.
Speaker 1 (28:36):
A few comments on the forum West Tiger's podcast forum
the last five or six days. Gary in regards to
Joel put up a topic top recruitment priority for twenty
twenty six. I'm just going to read some of them
out and then you can react to him. London Tiger said,
we need a minimum of two impactful front rowers when
he locked forward, and a bridge hooker, which would be
(28:58):
one that can get us through that is still going
and before young Haywood is ready. Mike said, we need
a physical line busting front rower, possibly two dirty redster
said middles Mister Anonymous twenty six said we need a
line busting enforcing prop maybe a lock not keen on
ad there and a utility off the bench Lorenzo reckons
(29:21):
the reality of our salary cap slash roster spots means
we probably only have room potentially for one decent middle.
Rusty sixty three mentioned a few young guys in FLEAG
that are going well that might be a couple of
years away. I won't read their names out tonight, but
I might do in a future podcast. Teddy s said
(29:43):
we still lack some leadership. His biggest bud bug bet
is our relationship of our senior players or middles with officials.
But gary fairly unanimous there from the fans and the
listeners out there.
Speaker 4 (29:57):
Yep, And I can't disagree at all that middle. That
impactful prop I think is the difference between us being
not just a general and top eight chance a proper
top eight side for next year. If we can go
get that guy who can do damage a defensive line,
(30:19):
then I'll be tipping us to make the EPE next year.
Speaker 3 (30:22):
I think it comes down to that position. I'd love
two of them.
Speaker 4 (30:25):
I don't think we're going to get two of them,
and it's really important when a guy who can make
a difference in that position becomes available that we're in
the mix to get them and there's a guy who
over the weekend said he's going to be negotiating, and
that's not for next year, but you never know. Maybe
we can do a little bit of work and get
him early. I think we should be looking at I
(30:49):
think we should be having a look at Tino. He's
going to cost a lot of money at.
Speaker 1 (30:53):
One point five I a mammoth off.
Speaker 3 (30:57):
That's just crazy.
Speaker 4 (30:59):
So if it's not him, it needs to be someone
who can damage a defensive line because that's what we're lacking.
And I think that's the difference between us being a
certainty for the top eight next year.
Speaker 1 (31:13):
Very it's all. I mean, it's always important Steve to
get your roster right, but particularly the next few years
is not going to be easy to recruit because you've
got two new clubs coming in. You've got I think
there's a new TV deal coming in a couple of years,
so players are going to be locked up long term
once that new TV deal comes in and salary cap
goes up. So I think we're in a reasonable spot
(31:37):
at the moment. But do we have to hope like
last year, Terrell May drops out of the tree in November.
Are we holding something back and hoping something like that happens,
because there's not a lot on the market in terms
of contract at the moment for next season.
Speaker 2 (31:51):
Now there's not, and maybe we have to get to
November and skippy year and by the person for the
year after. Like I've said before, I think it's important
that we get the right person, not the first person
that's available, because then that person ties up a roster
spot for the next couple of years and we can't
get the person that we actually needed. So you know,
(32:12):
I'm like Gary, I want that middle forward and I
want them tomorrow. But if we have to wait, we
have to wait. We just got to get them. We
said this before. Our back line, our back line, if
we can hold them hold over a couple of years,
is almost set. If not set, it's a good back line.
We just need that forward momentum. We just need a
(32:32):
couple of purchases in the middle. And we've got a
very and depth bit of depth, and we've got a
very competitive team. And I'm the same prop is number
one for me. You know, I'd be looking at a thirteen.
We need a backup hook and I still think I
know we've bought our two second rowers we've got Sam
Weller and then we've got kype Spot coming. I know
(32:55):
we're sort of like gone all in on them, but
I'm still still a little bit worried we're going to
lack a little bit of penetration out there. We need
someone wide running back row who's a little bit more dangerous.
Speaker 5 (33:06):
I reckon.
Speaker 4 (33:08):
I don't think we'll be looking at any one second
roll with Steve. I think we've gone with the guys
who we think are going to be able.
Speaker 2 (33:14):
Yeah, I agree, I don't think we will either, But
I'm just worried about it.
Speaker 1 (33:20):
Gary, we count you've dropped out. You're right, Gary's got
some misses. Steve, let's just continue well Gary tigertown SFS,
said keyon color Ma Tonguey. Now I'm talking about guys
that are off contract at the end of twenty twenty six.
That'd be a good signing.
Speaker 2 (33:38):
No, that would be an awesome signing if you get
in it.
Speaker 1 (33:41):
He'd be twenty nine at the end of twenty twenty
or start at twenty twenty seven.
Speaker 2 (33:46):
And he's primary. As I said, we just might have
to wait that twelve once, which is what no one
wants to do. But the way the system works at
the moment, what else do you do? Maybe get him
in November, sign him up for the year after and
try to agitate for an early release. Maybe that's the
way to do it too.
Speaker 1 (34:02):
He kamakametha Gary from the Melbourne Storm. He's off contract
at the end of twenty twenty six. A bit of
a fig in connection there with Appy and a few
of the boys.
Speaker 4 (34:11):
Yeah, hopefully you can hear me now, but it does
have that connection. So I think he's probably a guy
that we can use people at our club to at
least get in his ear.
Speaker 3 (34:21):
And I think that's what we've done with.
Speaker 4 (34:23):
Recruiting over the past twelve months. If you have a
look at the guys we've recruited, they've had links to
players at our club. So it may be an avenue
to go down. But I really believe we like we
need to go prop and then we probably need to
look prop again. So I wouldn't even be looking anywhere
(34:44):
else other than those trying to get two props heading
into next season as the first priority.
Speaker 1 (34:51):
Okay, well this might not happen next season, but Steve,
these are the guys that are free to negotiate in
November under the current rules, and I'll read them all
out there just hand Cherry picks someones out and you
tell me which ones might be realistic. Broncos pain Hass
is off contract in A twenty sixth. The Bulldogs, Villa Army,
kick Out and Kurt Man are off contract. The Sharks
(35:14):
Cameron mckinness and Talakai are off contract. The Roosters Angus
Crichton and Cisa Wong, Titans Dave for Feeder, Panthers Luke Garner, Eels,
Junior Paulo, anyone there.
Speaker 2 (35:28):
Oh, that's a list out of heaven, isn't it really? Well,
let's let's just look at Payn Hass because I mentioned
Painhass before. Why wouldn't we go after Paine Hass? You
say realistic? What's realistic? You throw a decent money, We
have got a decent squad. Now we've got guys that
(35:48):
can attract other players. Benji seems to be able to
attract these players. Why not go after the very best?
Why say, well, what's realistic? Who are the most important
player for us in that list? And go from you know,
Payne has kick Out. I'd go for Kickout tomorrow if
I could get him, whether he's a great footballer.
Speaker 1 (36:10):
The Bulldogs seem to have no salary cap because apparently
they're in the market for tinos, so someone like kick
Out surely gets squeezed out.
Speaker 5 (36:16):
Have to.
Speaker 2 (36:17):
There's there's no way they can add teen out that
roster without losing someone.
Speaker 1 (36:21):
Already getting that Newcastle pop next year. I can't remember
his name, but he's a good player as well.
Speaker 3 (36:26):
They might Senn Galvin back to where.
Speaker 1 (36:31):
Magpies boys, let's talk about before we get to the game. See,
let's go straight to the game. Sunday Alians two pm. Manly.
They've got a twenty three fifteen overall head to head
record against the West Tigers, but like I mentioned before,
they had lost their last four. It like ard Oval,
(36:53):
but this is the West Tigers game at Alian's. Last
time we met Gary, it was a disappointing performance. We
lost twenty eight, but that was just a shamozzle of
a game. We were playing musical chairs, we had guys out.
It was I think you could put a red pantry
that I'm hoping.
Speaker 3 (37:09):
And I don't think mainly were that good in that game.
Speaker 4 (37:13):
I think if we had have played any decent sort
of football, we would have won that game. That's what
gives me a bit of confidence going into this weekend.
I know our form line isn't that long, but the
performance last week it gives me hope.
Speaker 3 (37:27):
That mainly is aside that.
Speaker 4 (37:29):
We can travel trouble, not travel a side that we
can trouble and really put some pressure on Luke Brooks.
We know he doesn't perform under pressure. I think it's
a game that we can come away with a winning.
Speaker 1 (37:44):
It's one of those fellow sort of middle teams, Steve,
and I'd like to think we're starting to join that
bracket of the middle teams. We've been a bottom team
for the last five or so years, but mainly are
a team that are fringe eate, probably on the outside,
and I think that's again talk about progression is consistently
trying to beat those teams that you're going to be
competing potentially with the top eight.
Speaker 2 (38:06):
And this is a team that we line up pretty
well against player for player, like they're not going to
massively dominate us at the ruck unless unless we are
really passive. If we come out with any level of intensity,
we can at very least match them. You know, they're
they're they're starting front row pair are good solid front rowers,
(38:27):
but they're they're getting older, all right, They're going to
run out of juice a little bit earlier. If we
really take it to them with good line speed and
really run them around a little bit, we can get
on top of that four pack. And once we get
on top in the fourth and you know what happens
after that. But we've got to you know, we've got
to We've got to watch a couple of their guys
at the stars. Obviously, Turbo got to watch SA watch
(38:49):
the haves and stop them from that individual brilliance. But
I think from a matchup perspective, we can definitely get
on top of them if we come with any level
of intensity.
Speaker 4 (39:01):
I think over the past two the three games, we've
done a really good job early in the game of
coming out of our own end by shifting the ball
to our edges and actually making yardage on our edges,
and as the games have gone on we're going away
from that. I think that's a tactic that could work
really well against the against mainly this weekend. Move therefowards
(39:23):
around a little bit. I think that will allow us
in that first twenty minute period where typically we're struggled
with yardage. I think that may be a good plan
to go with again this weekend.
Speaker 2 (39:35):
And I wonder Gary if putting on an edge is
part of that plan that they we're going to rather
than hit him through the middle, we're going to hit
him too white out on the edge, which and fanned
on the others somewhere on the other side, obviously.
Speaker 4 (39:49):
And I think she only did a really good job
of that role against the Bulldog, So I'm really interesting
to see how he can continue in that role out
on the edge. He's showing a lot of versatility this
year because I would have him a starting prop for
us right now, and and now we've moved into an
edge and he's starting on the edge show. It's been
a fantastic year for a guy who heading way into
(40:11):
the off season last year wasn't even signed.
Speaker 1 (40:15):
Looks like Stafford Tower's back Steve. I guess we'll find
out on Sunday whether he does play, but I guess
his forms dipped a bit over the past month. You'd
like to see her a reaction after Nathan put in
a pretty solid performance against Bulldogs.
Speaker 2 (40:28):
Yeah. Absolutely. I don't know whether he's been played well,
he was playing Egypt. We know he had that problem
with his arm. Wasn't his elbow or something. Yeah, So
hopefully that's rectified and he's back to full fitness and
he can get back to that early season four. But yeah, yeah,
you know, he's got a little bit of pressure on him.
But I think he's done enough this year to maintain
(40:49):
his spot.
Speaker 4 (40:50):
And I think Buller bean back Tower hasn't played with
Baller since he came back from injury, so I think
that will benefit Toer. I think in attack, he was
really struggling without the pressure that having Buller go out
onto that right edge takes away from Toyer and the
space it gives him. So I expect a better game
(41:12):
attacking lee from him. What's really important is he improves
his defense, which was quite ordinary in the last game
you played against the Panthers.
Speaker 1 (41:21):
Obviously missing suspended Steve says, a little bit of shuffling
in that pack. I think for new Polo is another
one who's going to be out for a big game
because he's been disappointing last five or six weeks.
Speaker 2 (41:31):
Yeah, as he needs to really start to start the
game strong and show us that impactful running that he
can present and he's also going to watch his den
miss a tackle in the middle quite often polo, so
he's got to be on the ball in that regard.
We've got twelve tols started at thirty, but he'll move
into the middle at some stage. And I'm really impressive
(41:51):
the way he's been playing. What worries you with our
four pack is our bench. I'm just I mentioned on
the other pod the other night in the collab pod,
you know, we've got too many players that sort of
just drop when they get hit the line, and I
sort of put Charlie Murray and Tony Sugar in that
category at the stage of their career, and I just
want them to go out there and be a little
bit more impactful.
Speaker 4 (42:13):
Yeah, Paula from me, I tend to forget that he's
only twenty two, and I think for a guy playing
in the middle and starting as he did in the season,
I think towards the back end of this season, it's
just getting a bit long for him and he's starting
to get a bit ragged, especially defensively. So I'm hoping
(42:35):
he spent the last couple of weeks coming off the bench.
I'm hoping that's going to kind of help him get
out of this slumpies in, but I think he's probably
in for a long end of the season. I think
it's just he's just at that point where he's looking
for the end of the season.
Speaker 1 (42:52):
Gary Steve mentioned the bench Latu Fino, Royce Hunt, Charlie Murray,
Tony Suka Dew Fans quite underwhelm by that bench. Could
we have done anything different there?
Speaker 3 (43:04):
It's really hard. We are light on troops.
Speaker 4 (43:06):
It's hard to say like safe at being out for
a suspension kind of meanjor calling up the likes of
Charlie Murray, and I don't think he's been very impressive
during the year. We did pick him in one of
the games he played earlier in the year, he actually
came on and played as a bench hooker.
Speaker 3 (43:25):
So that may be.
Speaker 4 (43:26):
An option for him this week too, if they're looking
to get happy a bit of a break. But we
are definitely lacking some impact on that bench, and yeah,
it's going to be a game where you probably need
someone like droll May playing that eighty minutes.
Speaker 1 (43:41):
The manly side. Steve like, I was really disappointed our
last clash against him because I thought their packs quite
weak on payment. They've got a lot of injuries and
we got dominated at Brookvale. But looking at them their
strength as their back line, they've got a lot of pace.
They got Lehigh Hoppawhadi back, they've got the Kola and
the center's turbos back at fullback. I know he's a
little bit busted, but that's the concern I have is
(44:04):
going from a really wet track against Cannonbury to potentially
a dry day against Manly. They can spin the ball.
Speaker 2 (44:10):
Yeah, if it's a dry track and the ground's not
chopped up. A lot of people saying that my time
we play, it's going to be fairly chopped up. But
if it's a dry track, then yeah, we're going to
We're going to struggle a little bit. We have to
be really on our game. That just makes it more
important to win the ruck. We need our line speed
to be fast. We need to give them as least
time as possible. And we've got to watch those weapons,
(44:33):
you know, like Travoi, which when he comes into the
back line, we've got to watch. We've got to watch
that center. Carla, don't's name Hobawadi. He's very dangerous, you know.
But that's going to be right out in the edge, right,
So we've just got to keep out on. We've got
to not get put our defensive line pushed in. We've
got to stay wide, stay straight and fast. We've got
(44:56):
to be fast line speed. That's that's how we'll negate.
That put pressure on Brooks and Cherry Evans. The other thing,
Edie is they're not a team that is playing with
any sort of confidence or togetherness manly, it's obvious that
they're not a happy camp for whatever reason, whether it's
the Cherry Evens stuff. So if we come out there
(45:16):
with intensity and really give it to them and get
them back pedaling, we can get on top early. And
then I think, no matter how fast they are they'll
lose their confidence. We can get on top and go
through them.
Speaker 4 (45:29):
Yeah, they look like a Seaball coach side at the
moment for me, Like they never see Seaball coach sides
never seen to be teams that get on well.
Speaker 3 (45:39):
They never have great harm.
Speaker 1 (45:41):
Andy talent, no substance. A little bit. I don't want
to jet it this week because they have potential to
put big scores on teams Gary, But I actually look
at the change and I think Jake TRUWOI which is
just about finished. But I still think he's a big
out for them because he's one of their few. He's
like a spirit animal for them. You know, he's a
guy who leads their line speed and without him, I
(46:04):
was happy when he was missing this game.
Speaker 4 (46:06):
Yeah, and he's the type of guy that we struggle
the handle. You've got a little bit of footwork, He's
quite powerful, and yeah, I'm not disappointed to see him
out of the game. So and his brothers are same.
So Turbo being back at fullback. I think he's He's
not the player he was a couple of years ago,
(46:27):
but he's a big guy with size and speed and
can bust the tackle. And he's the type of guy
we often struggle again, so he does worry me as well.
Speaker 1 (46:38):
Steve, I've given up on predictions. I no longer predic games.
But what do you seem fairly fairly confident if we're
at our best, we can win.
Speaker 2 (46:44):
Yeah, if we're at our best, I think I think
we can beat them. I think we can beat them
quite well. I'm going to say and I'm going to
say twenty four fourteen, but I'm going to say this.
I don't know. I'm not a better man aty. You
can help me out on this, But would be the
odds that Cherry Evans have put a kick into the
right corner for Sad to come over the top and
score it.
Speaker 1 (47:05):
Yeah, not great, the odds would be for that. But
mainly are as a favorite. They were about a four
point favorite. That's coming a little bit, Gary, So there's
a little bit of money for the Tigers. I know
it's not your money, but how do you feel confidence wise?
Speaker 4 (47:20):
I would feel a lot more confident if I wasn't
worried about our ability to the backup from a win.
This is a game that if we're serious about being
an improved side this year, I think it's a game
that we should expect to win. So what I really
want to see is a strong performance and I don't
care if we win by one point, but a strong
(47:42):
performance and get out of get out of Alliance Stadium
on Sunday night with a win.
Speaker 1 (47:47):
Quiz Time Boys, Question number one is multiple choice. Which
of these winning points have we put on the Seagulls
at Brookvale? Hint there could be one or more. A
is thirty two, B is thirty four, C is thirty
six and D is thirty eight. Gary, I'll start with
(48:09):
you thirty two, Steve, Well, it.
Speaker 2 (48:15):
Could be one or more, so i'll say C and D.
Speaker 1 (48:18):
Well, you got one of them. Steve, You've got D
thirty eight. We beat them thirty eight twelve in two
thousand and three. The other answer was B. It was
a big comeback thirty four to thirty two. I think
I remember Adam Dewey plucking a bomb in the last
few minutes to get us out of the line after
we were well behind.
Speaker 4 (48:34):
So last quiz, Steve didn't get one, right, and now
now he's he's one.
Speaker 1 (48:39):
In the thirty question, question two, true or false the
West Tigers had to buy during their infamous I don't
know why it's infamous two thousand and five eight match
winning streak. I would just say famous true. Fourth it
was true. Streak started in round sixteen and finishing round
(49:01):
twenty four, which is technically nine weeks. The buye was
in round nineteen. Remember that, all right, this one, you've
just got to throw names out there, because I reckon
you'll get a few of them. Name the nine West
Tigers players who we directly signed from the Manly Sea Eagles,
and I'll give you a clue. There was three in
(49:23):
two thousand right off the bat.
Speaker 3 (49:24):
Matt Bellen, Terry Hill Afati.
Speaker 1 (49:28):
That's three.
Speaker 2 (49:31):
The halfback.
Speaker 1 (49:34):
You have to do better than that, Steve, the halfback Seigan,
there was three. You've mentioned Hill and HOPPOWARTI from two thousand.
I don't expect your boys to get Steven Kroutz. He
played in the back row from two thousand to two
thousand and two. There was a back rower who played
a little bit of rugby who came over in two
thousand and six, a bit of a big name at
(49:55):
the time, played for the war Retars. I think played
for Harris Sam. Harris is correct, Steve. I'm sure the
halfback you were referring to was Jack little John in
twenty sixteen and twenty seven eight. Obviously that was him.
Ballen was twenty sixteen twenty seventeen. Peter Godinet, the great
(50:15):
Peter Goddonet who plays.
Speaker 5 (50:18):
Leary.
Speaker 1 (50:20):
And there's a current one who comes from Manly. He
played first grade. One of the brothers, oh Sam Mine Sam.
Finally twenty twenty four to present, Question four is nearest
to the pin? What is the lowest amount of points
we've scored on the Silver Tails and still won the game.
(50:42):
Steve six seven. It was fourteen. We beat them fourteen
twelve in twenty eleven up at Gosford Trail twelve mil
at halftime. Last question, who am I? I was born
in Sydney in nineteen seventy eight, sorry, nineteen seventy six.
Deybude with bow Main in their first NRL game. So
(51:06):
the NRL competition started in what year?
Speaker 3 (51:08):
Garynty NRL was ninety eight ninety eight?
Speaker 1 (51:15):
You're correcting that. I featured in twenty eight games for
bow Main. Made my one and only West Tiger's appearance
as the starting halfback on the night Jared McCracken got
spear tackled. I remember that game was against Mene. I
joined the Northern Eagles for their last two NRL licensed seasons.
(51:36):
I had a year's stint at their rivals, the Paramatta Eels,
so there you go. HES played for a lot of
clubs baw Main, West Tigers, Northern Eagles, Paramatta and I
finished my career at the Manly Seagulls, featuring in seventy
games and retired in two thousand and seven. Often a
halfback who could also play hooker. In two thousand and five,
(52:00):
was charged with contry conduct, supposedly spitting at Eels player
p J Marsh. Shane Dunley is my name?
Speaker 3 (52:08):
Okay?
Speaker 1 (52:10):
Yeah, very truck that. I was waiting for you to ask,
like little John Steve. You've had it, Shane away. All right, boys,
that's that's it for tonight. You you off to Alian
Stadium on the weekend.
Speaker 2 (52:22):
Steve, Yeah, absolutely.
Speaker 1 (52:24):
There for the corporate boxes.
Speaker 2 (52:26):
Again, I don't think so.
Speaker 1 (52:28):
Not a good stage, good change, not at this stage,
he said, there, Gary, did you notice that?
Speaker 3 (52:34):
Yeah, he's fishing for an invite, but it sounds all right.
Speaker 1 (52:37):
Boys. Well I hope we can get a victory and
Joel and the boys will be back Sunday night. So
thank you for tonight.
Speaker 5 (52:45):
Thanks boys, I think
It's West Tiger's Podcast, episode number four hundred and twenty seven,
Wednesday night before the Tigers take on Manly at Alian Stadium,
joined by Steve and Gary. Steve, sorry, there's no fancy
introduction this week.
Speaker 2 (00:25):
Oh, I was ready for a song in a dance mate,
I have to take my dancing shoes off.
Speaker 1 (00:30):
Well, Steve, I have written down because there's a lot
of ex Tigers playing at Manley. So if we do
happen to win, I might bring that fancy introduction back
next week because I'm looking at Luke Brooks, Aaron Woods
all these guys. But I don't want to jinx it.
Speaker 2 (00:44):
So what you're saying is that wiggle song can be
played no matter who wins.
Speaker 1 (00:47):
I don't know what the wiggle song is, but you
can sing it if you want. That's all right, Gary.
How are you being good?
Speaker 3 (00:55):
I'm always good? Mates.
Speaker 1 (00:56):
That's the first time I've ever asked you how you've
been so you know it?
Speaker 3 (01:00):
So you actually care today?
Speaker 1 (01:01):
Its missive? Yeah, I know. So are you refreshed after
a buye?
Speaker 4 (01:06):
No? As I said on Sunday, I really missed football
on the weekend watching the Tigers player.
Speaker 3 (01:11):
I can't wait till Sunday.
Speaker 4 (01:12):
I'm really looking forward to getting out to Alliance on
Sunday and seeing how we go against me.
Speaker 1 (01:17):
Mainly, it was good to listen to our newest teammate.
I suppose you could call him after Sunday night, Joel
Nick were joined by Zach Gary and I haven't managed
to get through the whole episode, but I listened to
the first half an hour. And I know you're a
fan of Zach.
Speaker 4 (01:32):
So Zach interested you so much you didn't even finish
The pot is that I do have a job. Look,
I guess that's what happens when you call someone up
from ron Messy cap though, isn't.
Speaker 1 (01:42):
It, Nick, you're talking about no Zach. Okay, that's just
shot across the bout Zach Zach.
Speaker 3 (01:49):
Yeah.
Speaker 4 (01:49):
I like Zach, but he can have a drive by two.
Speaker 5 (01:52):
Okay.
Speaker 2 (01:54):
I listened to half an hour as well. Any eithers
edited out all the Nick bits fair enough. Big shout
out to Nick. I know he's listing he's working on
green screens at the moment. I thought green screens were
only put up for horses after they collapsed in races, Steve,
but apparently they're used for other things as well shotguns
at five paces for Nick.
Speaker 1 (02:14):
The collab podcast Steve on Sunday Night. It's available on
YouTube on the West Tigers Life channel. It's also available
on our audio platforms at West Tiger's Podcast. I thought
Adam Dewey Steve he had a little Gary had more
spin than Shane Warn. Some of those political answers he
was giving Anthony Alberez, he would have been proud.
Speaker 3 (02:36):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (02:36):
I think Gary is still a bit nervous having robbed
opposite him. He's waiting for a few shots across the bow.
I think he's been very well behaved.
Speaker 3 (02:45):
But I've been waiting for them. They just haven't come.
Speaker 2 (02:49):
Adam do he got a fair bit of mention. I'm
sure he had a bit of mentioned tonight as well.
Speaker 1 (02:53):
You're going to have to retire from the podcast, Gary
if Adam Dewey leads us to a premiership at seven.
Speaker 4 (02:58):
No, because just like you and I can change my
opinion when new evidence presents itself interesting.
Speaker 1 (03:04):
You're using that line now, but boy, let's do it
normal sort of Wednesday podcast might be a shorter one
usual because there's not a whole lot of news around
coming off a bye, but we will obviously previ the
Manly game, and we'll do Steve's favorite segment, the quiz
at the end. But I was looking Steve at Twitter
today because I'm new to Twitter and I'm not still
(03:25):
getting my hands around how it works. But I did
see an interesting post I think it was by Tiger
Cast and he said, the last nine games off a bye,
we are zero to nine with an average score against
thirty six fourteen. What does that tell you?
Speaker 2 (03:43):
Well, that's not a very optimistic stat is it. So
let's hope. Let's hope the Tigers within the club know
that and they're going to do something about it. Can
I throw some stats at you? Is it too early
for this if you're throwing stats at me? So we've
beaten me in twenty four and twenty five when we
played them. The last five we're three from five, they're
(04:07):
two from five. The last three we're two from three.
There none for three. So I'll take those stats as
we head into Sunday rather than Tiger casts.
Speaker 1 (04:16):
Well, I'll throw another stat back at you, Steve, since
we're playing tennis at the moment. You know how many
Manly have won at Leichhart Oval in their last four
no none, none, And we are taking a game. I
know it's for a good cause. It's the second of
the Indigenous rounds and there's a carnival of football at
Alians this week. And I suppose you know, I shouldn't
(04:37):
be complaining because we were good enough to beat Cannabary
at Combak in a home game. I was wining about that.
But Manly Ozer from four at Leichart since twenty fifteen,
but taking him to Alians this week, you have a
problem with that?
Speaker 2 (04:50):
Yeah, I do, I do. I hadn't. I hadn't even
contemplated that, and I didn't realize that this was that
this would have been a like art Oval game. Look,
if I understand that we need to think about revenue,
we need to think about being financial and like, get
all that, and I agree with it, and I'm not
going to be overly negative towards what our strategy is.
(05:12):
But at some point, at some point, we've just got
to make the EP by winning football games, and we've
got to be playing at the venues that are best
going to help us get two points. And yeah, this
is an important game. Like I know, we're a very
very slight chance of the eight we're at long odds,
but this is really important this weekend. And the way
(05:36):
you've just said that take it away from Likehart doesn't
seem too sensible.
Speaker 4 (05:41):
Thoughts on that game, Yeah, I can't disagree with it,
And it's actually going to get worse because twenty twenty seven,
like Art's supposed to be out of action for the
whole year while it gets redeveloped. And my hope is
after that redevelopment, it's not going to get half the games.
It's not going to get six games a year, it's
not going to get anything like that. But hopefully they
(06:01):
can push it out to four because you have a
look at our results there recently, and it really shows
that we are a different team when we play it
like Art Oval.
Speaker 1 (06:13):
It's true, Gary, and I'm sort of on that side
of the fence, but I suppose the good sides will
argue anytime anywhere, any time zone. You can win if
you're good enough.
Speaker 4 (06:23):
Yeah, and we need to be better in that regard.
Our record down at Campbelltown is atrocious, and I think
that's a prime example of a place where we need
to play better football and not be so reliant on
having like Art Oval, but I still do think our
best performance of the year came at Kombank Stadium. So
(06:46):
we had a great performance against Cronulla out at like Art,
but I think that performance at Kombank Stadium against the
Bulldogs two weeks ago was probably the best Wa've played
all year.
Speaker 1 (06:56):
Just back to the original tweet by Tiger Cass Steve
coming off a buy, Ordinarily I would think I don't
know this, I probably should have looked it up, but
I would think that's an advantage for most sites because
you freshen up, you get away for a few days,
you have a little bit more time to study for
your opponents. Is this a little bit of a problem
(07:17):
with our coach and a roster at the moment that
we seem to everyone seems to exhale and relax after
a victory and we can't get ourselves up from that
next game.
Speaker 2 (07:27):
Well, yeah, that was said the other night in the
club pot. I think I think Gary you mentioned it.
Speaker 3 (07:32):
From many a couple of weeks ago, so I'll give
him credit for that.
Speaker 2 (07:35):
Okay, all right, So yeah, that's a bit of a pattern, right,
So we need to address that. We need that intensity.
If we have the intensity, if we go out there
at Alliance with the intensity that we showed against the Bulldogs,
then we will beat Manly. I have absolute one hundred
percent confidence in that we go out there with that intensity,
(07:55):
we will win the game on the Sunday. And the
most frustrating thing about that Bulldog's win is that we
don't get that intensity often enough. You can't get that
intensity every single week. I get that, but you've got
to get it more often than not. And yeah, there's
a pattern. We come off a win, we relax, we
come off a buy and perhaps we're not quite ready
(08:15):
to play it. Gee, we've even shown that inside of
games this year. You know, we start slow, we come
out of the sheds for the second half slow, We're
just not on the money from you know, the kickoff.
So it does need to be dressed.
Speaker 5 (08:30):
Yeah.
Speaker 4 (08:31):
I've actually the last couple of days thought a lot
about that, that trend we have of winning a game
and then being poor the next game, and I think
it might be a learned habit. We've been in a
situation as a club where every season we're gone on
multiple really poor runs of form where we've lost five, six, seven,
(08:54):
probably eight games in a row and then the pressure
builds and builds and builds around our club, and we
win a game and it releases all that tension and
the club can relax a little bit because that extra
pressure and that extra scrutiny has been removed from the club.
And perhaps with some of the players that's a learnt
(09:15):
trait at the moment that because it's been such a
relieving thing to get wins and you're able to relax
a little bit after that because the pressure's.
Speaker 3 (09:24):
Gone from the club.
Speaker 4 (09:25):
Perhaps that's become a little bit of a habit now
that now we're trying to be a more successful club
that we're still relaxing after we get those victories, even
though the pressure may not have been the same before it.
So hopefully that's something that can change soon and we
can become a club that can consistently put good football together.
Speaker 2 (09:47):
Now that's interesting, Gary, because Oregon, it's it's the way
you look at it. It's mindset like you lose eight
in a row and then you win one. Or you
can look at it one way and say, well the
pressure is off. Well you can look at another way
and say that's one from nine. And if you look
at it as one from nine. That's not pressure off.
Speaker 4 (10:07):
Yeah, but it's all that sports psychology side of it.
And I think that's something as a club we've done
really poorly over the last decade and I think that
needs to be a real focus for our club.
Speaker 3 (10:22):
Is about one win's not good enough. Like we've had
seasons where we've won.
Speaker 4 (10:27):
Four games, so every win has been relieving pressure for
the last couple of years. We've got to move past that.
Now we can't get past two wins in a row
since twenty eighteen or something it is, and that habit
needs to change because if we're going to be a
side that is playing finals football, you can't do that
by winning one two games in a row. You need
(10:50):
to get some consistency and get some performances together to
really be a successful side in this competition. And I
think that's part of the thing that our players and
our club to learn at the moment.
Speaker 1 (11:01):
I mean, Gary, it's easy to say, and it's probably
true that it's a little bit ingrained and expectations have
been low and they breathe a sigh of relief when
they win, But who's ultimately who's responsibly is it? Is
it the players responsibility? Themselves. Is it the head coach?
Is it the psychologist you mentioned?
Speaker 4 (11:18):
Then, Look, I don't know what psychology people we have
in our club, so it's really hard to place the
blame there.
Speaker 3 (11:26):
It's a coach and those expectations.
Speaker 4 (11:28):
Set around what we are as a club, and that
it's almost like if we get a win, it's almost
like as a coach, you need to walk in the
next day and you need to absolutely built the players
and really give them a hard time to show them that, look,
the pressure is not off. Now we've got to continue.
(11:48):
And for me, that's how you change it. You change
it by that one win isn't good enough, and you
pick out the faults from that game and you tear
that game apart, and you build that desire to that
that level of excellence that Steve's always talking about, and
you strive for that level of excellence, And I think
that's how you change that mindset.
Speaker 2 (12:08):
Yeah, that's that's I was just going to say, where
weren't we excellent this week? But I don't know that
I totally agree with what you said there, mate. Like
you said, it's the coach is responsibility. I think it
starts with the coach. You know, the coach has got
to set the expectation. But you know, like a lot
of things, mate, there's not a simple answer. It's not
just the coach. It's the players have got to buy
into that responsibility and they've got to they've got to
(12:30):
take up that challenge like he might set the challenge,
or it's not even him, it's the coaching team set
the challenge and they've got to take that challenge up
and run with it. Right, it's no good. You know,
maybe it is on the coach if the players aren't
buying into it, maybe you're right there, but it's it's everyone.
It's everyone.
Speaker 4 (12:48):
It's about that environment as well around a victory and
the coach and you're senior leadership, so you've seen your
leadership and your players as included. It's about how you
show up on a Monday morning after you've got that
victory over the weekend and what steps you take in
that time. If we're showing up and everyone it's a nice,
(13:10):
easy training session because we won on the weekend, then
that's something that needs to be changed. And we're just
speculating here, because no one's a training on a Monday
morning to see kind of what that attitude is. But
I think that attitude and that environment gets set by
your coaching stuff and senior leaders of your players.
Speaker 1 (13:29):
Probably, like I said Sunday Steeve, it's the next step
of the progression for me, Like we are clear of
the wooden spurn and that's a relief. But the season
can be viewed different prisms over these last four games,
Like if we finish on eight wins or nine wins,
you can say, well, they've improved, but the roster improved
as well, so did they really get better? But if
we hit the ground in a run and then win
(13:49):
three of the last four or four of the last
four and finish with eleven or twelve wins, I think
you can go in the next season with a lot
of momentum.
Speaker 2 (13:58):
Yeah, I agree. I think there are three very winnable
games in our last four. I think we'd have to
be outstanding to beat Canberra. It's possible, but I think,
you know, I think most people would expect us to
go to Canberra. Are we playing the matt Canberra to
go to Canberra and get beaten? But I don't think
that's the case with the other three. We can beat
(14:19):
the Titans. We can beat Manly and we can beat
the Cowboys, So Eddie, I reckon, that's very realistic for
the team to be saying three wins at least from
here on in.
Speaker 1 (14:30):
Okay, Gary confident. We're going to preview the game in
a minute. But has your confidence grown off at the
back of the Bulldogs win or do you still a
bit wary you're given our record after victories.
Speaker 4 (14:42):
Mate, Where West Tigers fans, I think the confidence always
grows after a win, where really we're almost a jackel
and Hide sort of fan base, like we start to
get really excited really quickly when our clubs show some
signs that they're starting to turn the corner, and then
when things aren't going well, we go the opposite way
really quickly as well. So there, of course there's positivity
(15:05):
around after that performance against the Bulldogs because I think,
I think that's the most complete effort sort of performance
we've seen from this team in an awful long time.
Speaker 3 (15:17):
But the results after our last victories, and I.
Speaker 4 (15:21):
Didn't really realize it until you mentioned it a couple
of weeks ago, Eddie, how poor it was this season.
Speaker 3 (15:26):
That of course, that has me worried going into this game.
Speaker 4 (15:30):
I don't want to see a letdown after that Bulldogs game,
because I think that's what we've had for the last
last ten years. We'll have a really good performance and
we start to think things are improving, and then we
turn around and we dish up some pathetic limp display
(15:51):
And it's almost harder when that performance comes after a
really good win. So I think it's really crucial that
we go out there and the team shows that it's
not just a one trick pony that can play in
the rain. And things went their way against the Bulldogs
and we've got the victory. It's really important the show
that this club is building, and I agree with Steve.
(16:13):
I think three out of the next four is possible,
but I'd be really happy if we get two out
of the next four games.
Speaker 2 (16:19):
I'm just wondering whether there's a possibility of anyone sending
Luke Brooks or Jake Simpkin a message and getting them
to file a complaint against Benji so we get a
bit of hatred against the many before the game one Sunday.
Maybe that's the motivation we need. It worked a couple
of weeks ago Adam doing Gary. We won't do it
to death tonight, but I've just read a few comments.
(16:40):
I think it might have been a Monday's paper where
he's open to playing multiple positions. He said, I feel
comfortable any positioned I'm in. I like being involved in
the middle of the field. I feel this helps a
young team. I like dictating play in the middle and
being that loud voice. I feel like my.
Speaker 1 (16:58):
Style or the style we played, he suits me today,
but didn't say, you know, I have to be a
six or a seven like in the past, that he's
opened to playing lot.
Speaker 3 (17:07):
Yeah.
Speaker 4 (17:08):
I think I mentioned the other night on the pod
that after he resigned, he said he's open to playing
that thirteen role and that you discussed with Benji over
the off season where they see him playing next season.
So yeah, I much prefer those comments than some of
the other comments we're seen from him in the past.
(17:28):
I think he's playing in the harves this weekend and
hopefully has a really strong performance there again, but I
am pleased to hear him speak about playing other positions
as well.
Speaker 1 (17:40):
I think Shane Flannigan Steve's becoming the new Madge. I
mean everyone in the NRAL off contract has met with him,
but no one's decided to sign with him, so do
He did say in the article that he met with
Flannigan a few weeks ago and I was close to
going to the Red V. But do you think that
lure of potentially being a seven at the Tigers was
the clincher or the fact that you know he's built
up relationships here and you can see the clubs on
(18:02):
the app.
Speaker 2 (18:03):
Yeah, I think it's more what he just said. Then.
I think he's built relationships. I think he does love
the club, he loves the Colors. I think he's committed
to the top, to the Tigers. I think he's committed
to Benji and his playing group. I think he's maturing.
I loved that interview, hearing him say what he said.
It was so refreshing to hear that from Adam Dewey.
Speaker 1 (18:24):
What was the refreshing part of it?
Speaker 2 (18:26):
Oh, Well, that he's prepared to He's prepared to play
multiple positions and play where you know, like Adam Dewey,
You've wanted it in the past. You've wanted to love
Adam Dewey, right, You've wanted to really get behind him.
But then he said something that just turns you off
a little bit not. I think he's learned from that.
He cocked a lot of criticism when he said he
just wanted to play six, and I think he's he's
(18:48):
grown from that and the fact that he's now saying, look,
I want to be in the middle. That's where I
think I can help this team best. But whatever it is,
it is, you know, I think that's awesome. I loved
hearing it.
Speaker 1 (18:59):
You think you'll start at seven for the rest of
the year, Gary, or you still think it's a week
to week proposition at the moment.
Speaker 4 (19:05):
Yeah, I still think it's week to week proposition. You're
surprised that I doubted that he would start in the
seven this week, But all the talk is Benji's fully
on board with Latu being the long term seven. So
I thought it was a little not a surprising, but
interesting that he was picked in the seven this week
(19:25):
because he wasn't even picked in.
Speaker 1 (19:27):
Really yeah, because I just I mean, of course Benji's
going to be praise Latu, but it's coach speak that
sort of stuff, like he's not going to say I
don't think LA two is going to be the long
term seven. He's not going to come out and say
that but I think at the moment it's an open competition.
Speaker 4 (19:46):
Yeah, but I don't think you know which way he's
going until he makes that decision. So I'm not surprised
he chose Adam Dowey at seven, but I thought it
was an interesting decision because I think it was something that,
based on what he had said, could have went way. Now,
what's important. The reason why I don't know whether Adam
Dewey is in that seven role for the rest of
(20:08):
the season. I think it's up to him. I think
he needs to show consistency performance in that role. He
needs to show the type of football he showed against
the Bulldogs two weeks ago. And if he shows that,
he's he's in the jersey right now. So the only
reason why he wouldn't be in that jersey moving forward
is if he doesn't maintain that standard.
Speaker 2 (20:30):
So is Appy going to play eighty minutes or is
Lati going to come on and relieve him and play
a little bit of nine through the game?
Speaker 4 (20:43):
I think Appy will play the eighty minutes and LA
two will be used in that locker row.
Speaker 2 (20:48):
And twelve go into the middle rotation.
Speaker 4 (20:50):
Correct, That's my expectation based on the side that's being picked.
Benji does like to have a dynamic ball player in
that role. He was trying to use Jack Burden that
sort of role earlier in the year, so I expect
him to use Latu in that role. And the one
thing I'll say about those three guys in those positions
(21:11):
is it hasn't quite geled yet. When we had Latu
playing in the seven and Dewey playing in the thirteen,
Lato got a little bit lost in those games, I thought.
So it'll be interesting to see whether this kind of
changing roles for Latu and Adam Dewey this weekend, whether
that makes that picture a little bit clearer of how
(21:32):
they work together, because I don't think the three of
them have jeweled real well at all.
Speaker 1 (21:39):
Tigers have been criticized in the past Steve for sort
of over blooding rookies and even Galvin and going back
to Luke Brooks in the day, so I don't mind
this approach with Lartuo final I wasn't expecting him to
shoot the lights out every week. He's missed football the
last two or three years. I don't think he's a
long term lock, and I think that's a bit irresponsible.
If you're starting lock when he's nineteen or twenty years old,
(22:01):
but playing off the bench and potentially starting some games
at half or having to back up at him Dewey
and be a backup half. I don't think it's a
bad plan.
Speaker 2 (22:09):
At the moment. No, I agree with that, and I
think there's something to that. I'm not convinced that he's
got the seven just because Benji's thinking, do he's going
to be our seven moving forward? I do think it's
going to be a game by game, week by weeks
of the scenario. I think that he's taking a little
bit of pressure off La Dufernu by putting him back
at at fourteen, and I don't think that's such a
(22:31):
bad thing. I've got a bit of a problem. I
think with the number of players we sent, we tend
to blood and so early. I know we've been fairly desperate,
and I know our depth isn't great and we're sort
of clutching at straws. Sometimes. I'd like to see the
other fellow what's his name, yeah, Magasine. I would like
(22:52):
to see him play the rest of the season in
reserve grad when his schoolboy stuffs finish. I don't want
to see him blood at this stage unless you know,
we were playing for an eighth spot and we had injuries,
and absolutely he was the last one. I just think
we need to be a little bit more careful bringing
these guys through.
Speaker 4 (23:11):
Going back to that point about Latu in the lock position,
I think it's fairly clear that was the kind of
plan earlier in the year until Galvin left. The plan
quite obviously was Latu playing that lock role and developing
into that position because that's what he was doing well.
Galvin was still at the club, and even after Gavin left,
(23:33):
he played quite a number of games where Latu was
still coming on and playing that thirteen role. And some
of the best attacking football we've played this year has
been with sorry, with Latu playing that thirteen role and
straightening up the attack and then feeding it out to
the halves.
Speaker 1 (23:48):
So he asked Gary Dave to ask a twenty year
old to do that consistently.
Speaker 3 (23:52):
I agree.
Speaker 4 (23:52):
I think that's why he's starting on the bench in
that role and not starting the game. It's allowing twelve
to take a little bit of heat out of the
start of the game and for him.
Speaker 3 (24:00):
To come on when it's not quite as difficult in
the middle.
Speaker 4 (24:05):
But we spoke the other day about Adam Dewey in
that thirteen role, and I spoke about Yo and his
ability to be able to run for one hundred and
fifty meters if the situation required it. LA two's not
a guy who can do that either. He's not going
to be a guy who, for example, in that wet
(24:25):
game against the Bulldogs on the weekend, if you're having
played that lock role, he's not going to be able
to just tuck the ball under under his wing and
push out hundred and fifty meters for you. So he
is more of a ballplayer than he is of an
impact runner, though he does have an attacking threat as
a runner. So that kind of helps in his role
(24:46):
as a ballplayer because and it helps your outside your
halves and five eight a little bit more because he's
a threat to run the ball attackingly. That means defenses
have to hold off your halves a little bit longer.
So think that's what the benefit you get out of
him playing that thirteen role. You don't get the ability
to run for a large amount of meters.
Speaker 1 (25:07):
You mentioned Macasini, Steve, He's obviously available now he's eighteen
years old. There was a little bit of Tuesday press
that he might be debooting this week, but that was
off the money by your mate the male. He was
off the money again, not bygh surprise.
Speaker 2 (25:21):
Yeah he researched that well, didn't he.
Speaker 1 (25:23):
But yeah, I don't know. I just think it's case
by case. And I'm not going to say I'm an
expert in watching him play, because I've never seen him
play a full game in my life, but I have
seen him. He's a physical He's not going to struggle
physically for one game, so I would think, and I'm
guessing I reckon they're going to have Boo him against
the Cowboys. I read something I don't know if it's
true that he had contractuably obliged to play for his
(25:46):
high school this week, you know, Newington College. That'll be
a big game against Sydney Boys or some of those
students that are studying to get ninety nine, not expecting
to come up against an NRL player. But I don't
know if that's true. But I still think he will
debut this year, and I would look to debut him,
you know, in our safe favorite at ly Ardoble against
a side that's not overly physical, and we'll have ninety
(26:09):
nine percent of the port there, so I would give
him a taste.
Speaker 2 (26:12):
Yeah, I think you're right. I think that's what's going
to happen. I'm just a little bit concerned. Just look
at our recent history of doing it. It's not working
for us. You know, there's going to be people out
there that are going to say no, when you're ready,
you're ready and just play, And they'd be able to
site lots of examples of guys that have played while
I was still at school and made a huge career.
(26:35):
I'm just thinking, you know, I just keep going back
to Harry Grant. I just think the way Harry Grant
was brought through, you know. I know Melbourne are in
a much stronger position and maybe I've had the time
to be able to blood him the way they did.
But when he arrived at first grade, he was ready
for first grade. And it just concerns me that we
burn these guys a little bit.
Speaker 1 (26:56):
Gary talent the Silver's game on the weekend was that
justification for the club in letting him go mid season
and going for Rappi Corroso and to the end of
twenty twenty eight or not.
Speaker 3 (27:08):
He was really poor on the weekend, and I can't
say I didn't enjoy it.
Speaker 4 (27:12):
I watched the end of that game sitting next to
you and Eve before he went and recorded, and it
was enjoyable to see happen. But I could only say
it would be justification if we had a better backup
than Tristian Hope, and I think we're in a difficult
spot if he's going to be our backup book for
(27:33):
next season, I think we need to go to market
and get someone to improve that spot on our roster.
Speaker 1 (27:40):
Wouldn't be the last West Tigers or ex West Tiger's
player to get a spray for Mitchell Moses. Steve he
didn't just go once. He went three times at him.
They were like, I think that's I know it's not
paramounta podcast, but that's an interesting dynamic that because Talon
de Silva is a running nine and he's now playing
with a guy who wants to all the time.
Speaker 2 (28:03):
I think it could be a real learning curve for
Talleder Silver. I don't blame Mitchell Moses for what he
did and the way he did. He's supremely competitive. Most
first go footballs are supreme competitive, and he won the
ball and didn't get it. I think Talle de Silver's
got to learn that he is a young buck and
he's playing with a bunch of players. They've got a
lot more experience in him, and sometimes he's just got
(28:25):
to pull his head in and give the ball when
he's told someone wants it. Hopefully well for his sake,
Hopefully he learns from it. As far as Tiger's is concerned,
couldn't care less.
Speaker 1 (28:36):
A few comments on the forum West Tiger's podcast forum
the last five or six days. Gary in regards to
Joel put up a topic top recruitment priority for twenty
twenty six. I'm just going to read some of them
out and then you can react to him. London Tiger said,
we need a minimum of two impactful front rowers when
he locked forward, and a bridge hooker, which would be
(28:58):
one that can get us through that is still going
and before young Haywood is ready. Mike said, we need
a physical line busting front rower, possibly two dirty redster
said middles Mister Anonymous twenty six said we need a
line busting enforcing prop maybe a lock not keen on
ad there and a utility off the bench Lorenzo reckons
(29:21):
the reality of our salary cap slash roster spots means
we probably only have room potentially for one decent middle.
Rusty sixty three mentioned a few young guys in FLEAG
that are going well that might be a couple of
years away. I won't read their names out tonight, but
I might do in a future podcast. Teddy s said
(29:43):
we still lack some leadership. His biggest bud bug bet
is our relationship of our senior players or middles with officials.
But gary fairly unanimous there from the fans and the
listeners out there.
Speaker 4 (29:57):
Yep, And I can't disagree at all that middle. That
impactful prop I think is the difference between us being
not just a general and top eight chance a proper
top eight side for next year. If we can go
get that guy who can do damage a defensive line,
(30:19):
then I'll be tipping us to make the EPE next year.
Speaker 3 (30:22):
I think it comes down to that position. I'd love
two of them.
Speaker 4 (30:25):
I don't think we're going to get two of them,
and it's really important when a guy who can make
a difference in that position becomes available that we're in
the mix to get them and there's a guy who
over the weekend said he's going to be negotiating, and
that's not for next year, but you never know. Maybe
we can do a little bit of work and get
him early. I think we should be looking at I
(30:49):
think we should be having a look at Tino. He's
going to cost a lot of money at.
Speaker 1 (30:53):
One point five I a mammoth off.
Speaker 3 (30:57):
That's just crazy.
Speaker 4 (30:59):
So if it's not him, it needs to be someone
who can damage a defensive line because that's what we're lacking.
And I think that's the difference between us being a
certainty for the top eight next year.
Speaker 1 (31:13):
Very it's all. I mean, it's always important Steve to
get your roster right, but particularly the next few years
is not going to be easy to recruit because you've
got two new clubs coming in. You've got I think
there's a new TV deal coming in a couple of years,
so players are going to be locked up long term
once that new TV deal comes in and salary cap
goes up. So I think we're in a reasonable spot
(31:37):
at the moment. But do we have to hope like
last year, Terrell May drops out of the tree in November.
Are we holding something back and hoping something like that happens,
because there's not a lot on the market in terms
of contract at the moment for next season.
Speaker 2 (31:51):
Now there's not, and maybe we have to get to
November and skippy year and by the person for the
year after. Like I've said before, I think it's important
that we get the right person, not the first person
that's available, because then that person ties up a roster
spot for the next couple of years and we can't
get the person that we actually needed. So you know,
(32:12):
I'm like Gary, I want that middle forward and I
want them tomorrow. But if we have to wait, we
have to wait. We just got to get them. We
said this before. Our back line, our back line, if
we can hold them hold over a couple of years,
is almost set. If not set, it's a good back line.
We just need that forward momentum. We just need a
(32:32):
couple of purchases in the middle. And we've got a
very and depth bit of depth, and we've got a
very competitive team. And I'm the same prop is number
one for me. You know, I'd be looking at a thirteen.
We need a backup hook and I still think I
know we've bought our two second rowers we've got Sam
Weller and then we've got kype Spot coming. I know
(32:55):
we're sort of like gone all in on them, but
I'm still still a little bit worried we're going to
lack a little bit of penetration out there. We need
someone wide running back row who's a little bit more dangerous.
Speaker 5 (33:06):
I reckon.
Speaker 4 (33:08):
I don't think we'll be looking at any one second
roll with Steve. I think we've gone with the guys
who we think are going to be able.
Speaker 2 (33:14):
Yeah, I agree, I don't think we will either, But
I'm just worried about it.
Speaker 1 (33:20):
Gary, we count you've dropped out. You're right, Gary's got
some misses. Steve, let's just continue well Gary tigertown SFS,
said keyon color Ma Tonguey. Now I'm talking about guys
that are off contract at the end of twenty twenty six.
That'd be a good signing.
Speaker 2 (33:38):
No, that would be an awesome signing if you get
in it.
Speaker 1 (33:41):
He'd be twenty nine at the end of twenty twenty
or start at twenty twenty seven.
Speaker 2 (33:46):
And he's primary. As I said, we just might have
to wait that twelve once, which is what no one
wants to do. But the way the system works at
the moment, what else do you do? Maybe get him
in November, sign him up for the year after and
try to agitate for an early release. Maybe that's the
way to do it too.
Speaker 1 (34:02):
He kamakametha Gary from the Melbourne Storm. He's off contract
at the end of twenty twenty six. A bit of
a fig in connection there with Appy and a few
of the boys.
Speaker 4 (34:11):
Yeah, hopefully you can hear me now, but it does
have that connection. So I think he's probably a guy
that we can use people at our club to at
least get in his ear.
Speaker 3 (34:21):
And I think that's what we've done with.
Speaker 4 (34:23):
Recruiting over the past twelve months. If you have a
look at the guys we've recruited, they've had links to
players at our club. So it may be an avenue
to go down. But I really believe we like we
need to go prop and then we probably need to
look prop again. So I wouldn't even be looking anywhere
(34:44):
else other than those trying to get two props heading
into next season as the first priority.
Speaker 1 (34:51):
Okay, well this might not happen next season, but Steve,
these are the guys that are free to negotiate in
November under the current rules, and I'll read them all
out there just hand Cherry picks someones out and you
tell me which ones might be realistic. Broncos pain Hass
is off contract in A twenty sixth. The Bulldogs, Villa Army,
kick Out and Kurt Man are off contract. The Sharks
(35:14):
Cameron mckinness and Talakai are off contract. The Roosters Angus
Crichton and Cisa Wong, Titans Dave for Feeder, Panthers Luke Garner, Eels,
Junior Paulo, anyone there.
Speaker 2 (35:28):
Oh, that's a list out of heaven, isn't it really? Well,
let's let's just look at Payn Hass because I mentioned
Painhass before. Why wouldn't we go after Paine Hass? You
say realistic? What's realistic? You throw a decent money, We
have got a decent squad. Now we've got guys that
(35:48):
can attract other players. Benji seems to be able to
attract these players. Why not go after the very best?
Why say, well, what's realistic? Who are the most important
player for us in that list? And go from you know,
Payne has kick Out. I'd go for Kickout tomorrow if
I could get him, whether he's a great footballer.
Speaker 1 (36:10):
The Bulldogs seem to have no salary cap because apparently
they're in the market for tinos, so someone like kick
Out surely gets squeezed out.
Speaker 5 (36:16):
Have to.
Speaker 2 (36:17):
There's there's no way they can add teen out that
roster without losing someone.
Speaker 1 (36:21):
Already getting that Newcastle pop next year. I can't remember
his name, but he's a good player as well.
Speaker 3 (36:26):
They might Senn Galvin back to where.
Speaker 1 (36:31):
Magpies boys, let's talk about before we get to the game. See,
let's go straight to the game. Sunday Alians two pm. Manly.
They've got a twenty three fifteen overall head to head
record against the West Tigers, but like I mentioned before,
they had lost their last four. It like ard Oval,
(36:53):
but this is the West Tigers game at Alian's. Last
time we met Gary, it was a disappointing performance. We
lost twenty eight, but that was just a shamozzle of
a game. We were playing musical chairs, we had guys out.
It was I think you could put a red pantry
that I'm hoping.
Speaker 3 (37:09):
And I don't think mainly were that good in that game.
Speaker 4 (37:13):
I think if we had have played any decent sort
of football, we would have won that game. That's what
gives me a bit of confidence going into this weekend.
I know our form line isn't that long, but the
performance last week it gives me hope.
Speaker 3 (37:27):
That mainly is aside that.
Speaker 4 (37:29):
We can travel trouble, not travel a side that we
can trouble and really put some pressure on Luke Brooks.
We know he doesn't perform under pressure. I think it's
a game that we can come away with a winning.
Speaker 1 (37:44):
It's one of those fellow sort of middle teams, Steve,
and I'd like to think we're starting to join that
bracket of the middle teams. We've been a bottom team
for the last five or so years, but mainly are
a team that are fringe eate, probably on the outside,
and I think that's again talk about progression is consistently
trying to beat those teams that you're going to be
competing potentially with the top eight.
Speaker 2 (38:06):
And this is a team that we line up pretty
well against player for player, like they're not going to
massively dominate us at the ruck unless unless we are
really passive. If we come out with any level of intensity,
we can at very least match them. You know, they're
they're they're starting front row pair are good solid front rowers,
(38:27):
but they're they're getting older, all right, They're going to
run out of juice a little bit earlier. If we
really take it to them with good line speed and
really run them around a little bit, we can get
on top of that four pack. And once we get
on top in the fourth and you know what happens
after that. But we've got to you know, we've got
to We've got to watch a couple of their guys
at the stars. Obviously, Turbo got to watch SA watch
(38:49):
the haves and stop them from that individual brilliance. But
I think from a matchup perspective, we can definitely get
on top of them if we come with any level
of intensity.
Speaker 4 (39:01):
I think over the past two the three games, we've
done a really good job early in the game of
coming out of our own end by shifting the ball
to our edges and actually making yardage on our edges,
and as the games have gone on we're going away
from that. I think that's a tactic that could work
really well against the against mainly this weekend. Move therefowards
(39:23):
around a little bit. I think that will allow us
in that first twenty minute period where typically we're struggled
with yardage. I think that may be a good plan
to go with again this weekend.
Speaker 2 (39:35):
And I wonder Gary if putting on an edge is
part of that plan that they we're going to rather
than hit him through the middle, we're going to hit
him too white out on the edge, which and fanned
on the others somewhere on the other side, obviously.
Speaker 4 (39:49):
And I think she only did a really good job
of that role against the Bulldog, So I'm really interesting
to see how he can continue in that role out
on the edge. He's showing a lot of versatility this
year because I would have him a starting prop for
us right now, and and now we've moved into an
edge and he's starting on the edge show. It's been
a fantastic year for a guy who heading way into
(40:11):
the off season last year wasn't even signed.
Speaker 1 (40:15):
Looks like Stafford Tower's back Steve. I guess we'll find
out on Sunday whether he does play, but I guess
his forms dipped a bit over the past month. You'd
like to see her a reaction after Nathan put in
a pretty solid performance against Bulldogs.
Speaker 2 (40:28):
Yeah. Absolutely. I don't know whether he's been played well,
he was playing Egypt. We know he had that problem
with his arm. Wasn't his elbow or something. Yeah, So
hopefully that's rectified and he's back to full fitness and
he can get back to that early season four. But yeah, yeah,
you know, he's got a little bit of pressure on him.
But I think he's done enough this year to maintain
(40:49):
his spot.
Speaker 4 (40:50):
And I think Buller bean back Tower hasn't played with
Baller since he came back from injury, so I think
that will benefit Toer. I think in attack, he was
really struggling without the pressure that having Buller go out
onto that right edge takes away from Toyer and the
space it gives him. So I expect a better game
(41:12):
attacking lee from him. What's really important is he improves
his defense, which was quite ordinary in the last game
you played against the Panthers.
Speaker 1 (41:21):
Obviously missing suspended Steve says, a little bit of shuffling
in that pack. I think for new Polo is another
one who's going to be out for a big game
because he's been disappointing last five or six weeks.
Speaker 2 (41:31):
Yeah, as he needs to really start to start the
game strong and show us that impactful running that he
can present and he's also going to watch his den
miss a tackle in the middle quite often polo, so
he's got to be on the ball in that regard.
We've got twelve tols started at thirty, but he'll move
into the middle at some stage. And I'm really impressive
(41:51):
the way he's been playing. What worries you with our
four pack is our bench. I'm just I mentioned on
the other pod the other night in the collab pod,
you know, we've got too many players that sort of
just drop when they get hit the line, and I
sort of put Charlie Murray and Tony Sugar in that
category at the stage of their career, and I just
want them to go out there and be a little
bit more impactful.
Speaker 4 (42:13):
Yeah, Paula from me, I tend to forget that he's
only twenty two, and I think for a guy playing
in the middle and starting as he did in the season,
I think towards the back end of this season, it's
just getting a bit long for him and he's starting
to get a bit ragged, especially defensively. So I'm hoping
(42:35):
he spent the last couple of weeks coming off the bench.
I'm hoping that's going to kind of help him get
out of this slumpies in, but I think he's probably
in for a long end of the season. I think
it's just he's just at that point where he's looking
for the end of the season.
Speaker 1 (42:52):
Gary Steve mentioned the bench Latu Fino, Royce Hunt, Charlie Murray,
Tony Suka Dew Fans quite underwhelm by that bench. Could
we have done anything different there?
Speaker 3 (43:04):
It's really hard. We are light on troops.
Speaker 4 (43:06):
It's hard to say like safe at being out for
a suspension kind of meanjor calling up the likes of
Charlie Murray, and I don't think he's been very impressive
during the year. We did pick him in one of
the games he played earlier in the year, he actually
came on and played as a bench hooker.
Speaker 3 (43:25):
So that may be.
Speaker 4 (43:26):
An option for him this week too, if they're looking
to get happy a bit of a break. But we
are definitely lacking some impact on that bench, and yeah,
it's going to be a game where you probably need
someone like droll May playing that eighty minutes.
Speaker 1 (43:41):
The manly side. Steve like, I was really disappointed our
last clash against him because I thought their packs quite
weak on payment. They've got a lot of injuries and
we got dominated at Brookvale. But looking at them their
strength as their back line, they've got a lot of pace.
They got Lehigh Hoppawhadi back, they've got the Kola and
the center's turbos back at fullback. I know he's a
little bit busted, but that's the concern I have is
(44:04):
going from a really wet track against Cannonbury to potentially
a dry day against Manly. They can spin the ball.
Speaker 2 (44:10):
Yeah, if it's a dry track and the ground's not
chopped up. A lot of people saying that my time
we play, it's going to be fairly chopped up. But
if it's a dry track, then yeah, we're going to
We're going to struggle a little bit. We have to
be really on our game. That just makes it more
important to win the ruck. We need our line speed
to be fast. We need to give them as least
time as possible. And we've got to watch those weapons,
(44:33):
you know, like Travoi, which when he comes into the
back line, we've got to watch. We've got to watch
that center. Carla, don't's name Hobawadi. He's very dangerous, you know.
But that's going to be right out in the edge, right,
So we've just got to keep out on. We've got
to not get put our defensive line pushed in. We've
got to stay wide, stay straight and fast. We've got
(44:56):
to be fast line speed. That's that's how we'll negate.
That put pressure on Brooks and Cherry Evans. The other thing,
Edie is they're not a team that is playing with
any sort of confidence or togetherness manly, it's obvious that
they're not a happy camp for whatever reason, whether it's
the Cherry Evens stuff. So if we come out there
(45:16):
with intensity and really give it to them and get
them back pedaling, we can get on top early. And
then I think, no matter how fast they are they'll
lose their confidence. We can get on top and go
through them.
Speaker 4 (45:29):
Yeah, they look like a Seaball coach side at the
moment for me, Like they never see Seaball coach sides
never seen to be teams that get on well.
Speaker 3 (45:39):
They never have great harm.
Speaker 1 (45:41):
Andy talent, no substance. A little bit. I don't want
to jet it this week because they have potential to
put big scores on teams Gary, But I actually look
at the change and I think Jake TRUWOI which is
just about finished. But I still think he's a big
out for them because he's one of their few. He's
like a spirit animal for them. You know, he's a
guy who leads their line speed and without him, I
(46:04):
was happy when he was missing this game.
Speaker 4 (46:06):
Yeah, and he's the type of guy that we struggle
the handle. You've got a little bit of footwork, He's
quite powerful, and yeah, I'm not disappointed to see him
out of the game. So and his brothers are same.
So Turbo being back at fullback. I think he's He's
not the player he was a couple of years ago,
(46:27):
but he's a big guy with size and speed and
can bust the tackle. And he's the type of guy
we often struggle again, so he does worry me as well.
Speaker 1 (46:38):
Steve, I've given up on predictions. I no longer predic games.
But what do you seem fairly fairly confident if we're
at our best, we can win.
Speaker 2 (46:44):
Yeah, if we're at our best, I think I think
we can beat them. I think we can beat them
quite well. I'm going to say and I'm going to
say twenty four fourteen, but I'm going to say this.
I don't know. I'm not a better man aty. You
can help me out on this, But would be the
odds that Cherry Evans have put a kick into the
right corner for Sad to come over the top and
score it.
Speaker 1 (47:05):
Yeah, not great, the odds would be for that. But
mainly are as a favorite. They were about a four
point favorite. That's coming a little bit, Gary, So there's
a little bit of money for the Tigers. I know
it's not your money, but how do you feel confidence wise?
Speaker 4 (47:20):
I would feel a lot more confident if I wasn't
worried about our ability to the backup from a win.
This is a game that if we're serious about being
an improved side this year, I think it's a game
that we should expect to win. So what I really
want to see is a strong performance and I don't
care if we win by one point, but a strong
(47:42):
performance and get out of get out of Alliance Stadium
on Sunday night with a win.
Speaker 1 (47:47):
Quiz Time Boys, Question number one is multiple choice. Which
of these winning points have we put on the Seagulls
at Brookvale? Hint there could be one or more. A
is thirty two, B is thirty four, C is thirty
six and D is thirty eight. Gary, I'll start with
(48:09):
you thirty two, Steve, Well, it.
Speaker 2 (48:15):
Could be one or more, so i'll say C and D.
Speaker 1 (48:18):
Well, you got one of them. Steve, You've got D
thirty eight. We beat them thirty eight twelve in two
thousand and three. The other answer was B. It was
a big comeback thirty four to thirty two. I think
I remember Adam Dewey plucking a bomb in the last
few minutes to get us out of the line after
we were well behind.
Speaker 4 (48:34):
So last quiz, Steve didn't get one, right, and now
now he's he's one.
Speaker 1 (48:39):
In the thirty question, question two, true or false the
West Tigers had to buy during their infamous I don't
know why it's infamous two thousand and five eight match
winning streak. I would just say famous true. Fourth it
was true. Streak started in round sixteen and finishing round
(49:01):
twenty four, which is technically nine weeks. The buye was
in round nineteen. Remember that, all right, this one, you've
just got to throw names out there, because I reckon
you'll get a few of them. Name the nine West
Tigers players who we directly signed from the Manly Sea Eagles,
and I'll give you a clue. There was three in
(49:23):
two thousand right off the bat.
Speaker 3 (49:24):
Matt Bellen, Terry Hill Afati.
Speaker 1 (49:28):
That's three.
Speaker 2 (49:31):
The halfback.
Speaker 1 (49:34):
You have to do better than that, Steve, the halfback Seigan,
there was three. You've mentioned Hill and HOPPOWARTI from two thousand.
I don't expect your boys to get Steven Kroutz. He
played in the back row from two thousand to two
thousand and two. There was a back rower who played
a little bit of rugby who came over in two
thousand and six, a bit of a big name at
(49:55):
the time, played for the war Retars. I think played
for Harris Sam. Harris is correct, Steve. I'm sure the
halfback you were referring to was Jack little John in
twenty sixteen and twenty seven eight. Obviously that was him.
Ballen was twenty sixteen twenty seventeen. Peter Godinet, the great
(50:15):
Peter Goddonet who plays.
Speaker 5 (50:18):
Leary.
Speaker 1 (50:20):
And there's a current one who comes from Manly. He
played first grade. One of the brothers, oh Sam Mine Sam.
Finally twenty twenty four to present, Question four is nearest
to the pin? What is the lowest amount of points
we've scored on the Silver Tails and still won the game.
(50:42):
Steve six seven. It was fourteen. We beat them fourteen
twelve in twenty eleven up at Gosford Trail twelve mil
at halftime. Last question, who am I? I was born
in Sydney in nineteen seventy eight, sorry, nineteen seventy six.
Deybude with bow Main in their first NRL game. So
(51:06):
the NRL competition started in what year?
Speaker 3 (51:08):
Garynty NRL was ninety eight ninety eight?
Speaker 1 (51:15):
You're correcting that. I featured in twenty eight games for
bow Main. Made my one and only West Tiger's appearance
as the starting halfback on the night Jared McCracken got
spear tackled. I remember that game was against Mene. I
joined the Northern Eagles for their last two NRL licensed seasons.
(51:36):
I had a year's stint at their rivals, the Paramatta Eels,
so there you go. HES played for a lot of
clubs baw Main, West Tigers, Northern Eagles, Paramatta and I
finished my career at the Manly Seagulls, featuring in seventy
games and retired in two thousand and seven. Often a
halfback who could also play hooker. In two thousand and five,
(52:00):
was charged with contry conduct, supposedly spitting at Eels player
p J Marsh. Shane Dunley is my name?
Speaker 3 (52:08):
Okay?
Speaker 1 (52:10):
Yeah, very truck that. I was waiting for you to ask,
like little John Steve. You've had it, Shane away. All right, boys,
that's that's it for tonight. You you off to Alian
Stadium on the weekend.
Speaker 2 (52:22):
Steve, Yeah, absolutely.
Speaker 1 (52:24):
There for the corporate boxes.
Speaker 2 (52:26):
Again, I don't think so.
Speaker 1 (52:28):
Not a good stage, good change, not at this stage,
he said, there, Gary, did you notice that?
Speaker 3 (52:34):
Yeah, he's fishing for an invite, but it sounds all right.
Speaker 1 (52:37):
Boys. Well I hope we can get a victory and
Joel and the boys will be back Sunday night. So
thank you for tonight.
Speaker 5 (52:45):
Thanks boys, I think
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