Why It Has Been A Positive Few Months For The Wests Tigers

On the surface sitting in 15^th 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.

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. 

Benji Marshall has been a wonderful servant to the Wests Tigers club but its time for the club to move on.

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. 

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.

Luke Brooks is the future of the Wests Tigers football club and eases the pain of Benji's departure

 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. 

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.