On the surface sitting in 15th position, your marquee player asking for a release and 1/3 of your financial backers withdrawing from the club doesn’t appear all that positive for the Wests Tigers football club. But far from the disaster it appears A View From the Top believes that Tigers fans will eventually look back on 2013 fondly in much the same way South Sydney fans have come to view the 2006 season in which they only one three games.
It’s no secret that A View From the Top has had the Concord
Tigers club in its sight over the past 12-18 months. But far from being
personal the barbs have been well directed and warranted as the club has
lurched from one disaster to the next after starting last season as heavy
premiership favourites. The club’s recruitment policy led largely by previous
coach Tim Sheens has been nothing short of diabolical failing to address the
three weaknesses of an otherwise very strong roster; the front row, halfback
and fullback.
While there are no signs that the clubs recruitment is
getting any better, Braith Anasta anyone, the club has had some entirely
positive news fortuitously forced upon them by a footballer with delusions of grandeur.
Benji Marshall announcing he is leaving the Wests Tigers and Rugby league to
chase his All Blacks dream would be like me up and moving to Canada to propose
to Kristin Kreuk. In fact I’m backing my smouldering good looks and charm to
woo before Smallville’s Lana Lang before Benji makes even a preliminary All
Blacks squad.
It has been said that Benji makes Quade Cooper look like Trevor Gilmeister which is perhaps a little harsh but nonetheless it is not his defence that will be an issue in changing sports but his once fabled attacking arsenal which has been reduced by an injury prone body, diminishing reflexes and the absence of a willingness to commit the defensive line and take a hit while ball playing. Can you imagine how bad he is going to be with the defence in his face all day? I feel sorry for whoever the inside centre is that will be forced to run outside him all day.
It has been said that Benji makes Quade Cooper look like Trevor Gilmeister which is perhaps a little harsh but nonetheless it is not his defence that will be an issue in changing sports but his once fabled attacking arsenal which has been reduced by an injury prone body, diminishing reflexes and the absence of a willingness to commit the defensive line and take a hit while ball playing. Can you imagine how bad he is going to be with the defence in his face all day? I feel sorry for whoever the inside centre is that will be forced to run outside him all day.
For the money that Wests reportedly offered Benji over the
next two seasons the simple fact is he isn’t even close to being worth it with
Wests roster. Much like Chris Sandow at Parramatta offering such ludicrous
money to a front foot half without the forward pack to lay an adequate platform
is just plain stupid. On the other hand the new reality for Wests Tigers will
be easing some of the games most talented halves into first grade over the next
few seasons.
Luke Brooks and Mitchell Moses will be Wests next long term halves
partners and Benji’s release has already paid dividends in the shape of long
term extensions for the two 19 year olds. Brooks is perhaps ready for an
introduction to NRL football against the Eels this weekend while Moses with a
rangier frame and some injuries this season will probably be in a similar spot
around this time next season.
 |
| Benji Marshall has been a wonderful servant to the Wests Tigers club but its time for the club to move on. |
Next season I see Brooks starting and finishing the season at halfback with Braith Anasta his scrumbase partner and Curtis Sironen moving into the backrow spending time on the edge and ball playing around the ruck. Mitchell Moses will eventually force his way onto the interchange bench and spend the first 12-18 months of his career floating from position to position filling gaps in the outside backs before eventually settling as a fullback or five eighth once Anasta is finished at the club.
While I don’t have a huge opinion of Anasta in 2013 he is a
player capable of taking the pressure off Brooks and playing a simple
percentage style of football while Brooks settles. Continuing to play Sironen
in the halves alongside Brooks would leave Wests short in direction, composure
and consistency which are qualities that the experienced Anasta should at least
be able to provide to compliment Farah and Brooks. Throwing Brooks and Moses to
the wolves early on would be equally as counter-productive. To continue with a
Sironen/Anasta halves combination would be a continuation of the Tim Sheens
pursuit of an all backrow NRL side that has proved so damaging for the club in
recent times.
If their fans allow themselves to look forward to 2015 the
Tigers could put a side on the field that includes Tedesco, Moses, Brooks and
Farah in the key spine positions. With the Toyota Cup winning side of 2012
still coming through the ranks and solid first graders such as Curtis Sironen,
Aaron Woods, Keith Galloway, Liam Fulton and Chris Lawrence alongside 2013’s
breakout players Tim Simona, Marika Koriobete and David Nofoaluma it is not
quite as bad for Tigers fans as it is their fellow cellar dwellers the Eels.
Politically the withdrawal of financial backing from Wests
Campbelltown Leagues Club in the three way merger is a positive for Wests
Tigers if not Rugby League in the Macarthur region. While it is
incomprehensible that Wests continue to base themselves in Concord instead of
Campbelltown that is a debate for another day.
 |
| Luke Brooks is the future of the Wests Tigers football club and eases the pain of Benji's departure |
The funding hole created by Campbelltown’s withdrawal will be covered by the uber-rich Wests Ashfield club who will also seize Campbelltown’s relinquished seat on the board. Campbelltown have bizarrely voted in line with the Balmain bloc on the joint venture board and it is hoped this structural change at board level will bring parity and an improved sense of togetherness from the two foundation clubs.
While there’s nothing great about being second last and
getting lapped most weeks Wests Tigers fans can take heart from the off field
circumstances which have them in a good position for an improved 2014 if not
2015 and beyond.
Much like Russell Crowe and Peter Holmes a Court at South Sydney in 2006 the recent off field changes at the TigPies give reason for their fans to be optimistic of brighter times ahead. All that’s left now is to get their recruitment right and go out and sign their own ‘2006 Roy Asotasi’ to lead the march up the table.
Much like Russell Crowe and Peter Holmes a Court at South Sydney in 2006 the recent off field changes at the TigPies give reason for their fans to be optimistic of brighter times ahead. All that’s left now is to get their recruitment right and go out and sign their own ‘2006 Roy Asotasi’ to lead the march up the table.