Squad Breakdown: Wests Tigers 2023 SuperCoach analysis

1. Daine Laurie
2. Junior Tupou
3. Tommy Talau
4. Brent Naden
5. David Nofoaluma
6. Adam Doueihi
7. Luke Brooks
8. Stefano Utoikamanu
9. Api Koroisau
10. David Klemmer
11. Isaiah Papali’i
12. John Bateman
13. Joe Ofahengaue

14. Jake Simpkin
15. Fonua Pole
16. Shawn Blore
17. Alex Twal

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Team News

Trying to piece together this side before trials was mission impossible.

There are so many spots up for grabs that I’d be surprised if Tim Sheens new which way he was leaning.

Daine Laurie is likely to play fullback, although there’s been chat of Charlie Staines leaping into that spot, but I don’t think so.

David Nofoaluma and Junior Tupou/Charlie Staines are expected to play on the wings, Staines may be the unlucky man left out in the back three, while the centre position is a lottery.

Ken Maumalo was injured in week two of NRL trials

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Brent Naden, Asu Kepaoa, Tommy Talau, and Starford To’a could play there in round 1. I suspect Naden will be the one locked in along with Talau.

There’s rumours John Bateman will play 13. I don’t like it, but that’s the word. He arrived late from the UK and missed the pre-season, so he may even be eased in off the bench.

If he did, it’d mean Shawn Blore or Alex Seyfarth would likely start on the edge.

However, I’ve got Bateman on the edge for now, with Joe Ofahengaue at lock.

The smokey at lock is Justin Matamua as he could be their answer to a ball-playing lock that they lack with Jackson Hastings gone.

Let’s just reassess come Team List Tuesday because there are a few questions to be answered.

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Draw

Titans (H), Knights (H), Bulldogs (A), Storm (A), Broncos (A), Eels (H), bye, Sea Eagles (H), Panthers (A, Bathurst), Dragons (Suncorp Stadium, Magic Round).

First five round strength of schedule rating (1 toughest, 10 easiest)

7/10

2023 gains Squad changes, via NRL.com

Apisai Koroisau (Panthers), Isaiah Papali’i (Eels), Triston Reilly (rugby union, Waratahs), David Nofoaluma (return from loan), Charlie Staines (Panthers), David Klemmer (Knights), John Bateman (Wigan), Will Smith (Hull FC), Brandon Wakeham (Bulldogs).

2023 losses

Luke Garner (Panthers), Kelma Tuilagi (Sea Eagles), Zane Musgrove (Dragons), Jock Madden (Broncos), James Tamou (Cowboys), Oliver Gildart (Dolphins), Jacob Liddle (Dragons), Tyrone Peachey (Panthers), Jackson Hastings (Knights).

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Guns

Isaiah Papali’i $831,700

I can’t even consider I.Pap at a monstrous price off the back of another stunning season averaging 79 points per game.

One of his major benefits last season was the dual FRF-2RF positioning, but he’s only available at 2RF in 2023.

Dezzy Creek mentioned on a pre-season POD he’s keen on the big fella, based on the fact we said the same last year and that he couldn’t match his output, and of course he did…

I just think that cash you could be spending on someone like Nicho Hynes who can hurt you a lot more than I.Pap.

It’s going to take time to forge new combination at the Tigers, so I’m happy to wait hopefully for a decent price drop down the track.

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John Bateman $622,800

I love Bateman, and his two Supercoach seasons averaging 71 points per game reflect his ability.

But he’s had a very interrupted pre-season, only just getting clearance to come to Australia, meaning he missed both trials.

He’s also getting a little older and may not have the same output we’ve seen in the past, I’m largely thinking around tackle-busts which were a staple of his SC scoring at the Raiders.

He was also a focal point of Canberra’s attack, whereas the Tigers are pretty loaded with strike weapons.

There’s also some chat he’ll play at lock this season, which would be great for his work-rate, but may see him play 60 minutes.

Wait and watch for now…

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Api Koroisau $666,200

Much like I.Pap, I’m just happy to wait on Api for now at a new club at a fairly high price.

One argument though is that he may become an 80 minute man at the Tigers if Tim Sheens doesn’t opt to play a hooker such as Jake Simpkin on the bench, which could happen.

The other pro for Api is that he may play a greater role in attack than he did at Penrith, as so much of his game was just dishing early ball to Jarome Luai and Nathan Cleary.

But he’s also unlikely to get anywhere near the go-forward and quick play-the-balls to work off as he did at the Panthers.

He could be set for an improved year, however going from the defending premiers to the Tigers is enough for me to sit back and watch early on.

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Adam Doueihi $624,600

I’m keen on Doueihi to start the season, being such an integral element of the Tigers attack.

The main factor though is that there’s substantial evidence to support the argument that a player always improves Supercoach output two seasons after suffering an ACL injury which Doueihi did in 2021. Thank you NRL Physio…

He’s a big, strong, ball-running five-eighth, that accumulate tacklebreaks, offloads and plenty of major attacking stats along with his goal-kicking numbers.

I can comfortably see him averaging higher than his 59 last season, and importantly he has an extremely high ceiling with the potential for 130+ scores on his day.

He averaged a monstrous 77 points across 20 games in 2021.

The Tigers have a great early draw and on paper should be a vastly improved team in 2023, keen.

He looked outstanding in the trial win over the Raiders.

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Mid-Rangers

David Nofoaluma $605,300

A few are keen on Nofa, but I just want to see him up his output early in 2023.

He’s an all-time great CTW in Supercoach, evidenced by a career high average of 76 back in 202.

The major part of his outstanding SC scoring over the years was his base stats, averaging 30+ with ease a few years back.

But that’s dropped to just 24 last season.

He starts at a very expensive price for mine, and while I can certainly see him improving this year and become a potential member of the Cooma Stallions, I want to see him reinvigorated after an underwhelming past season.

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Cheapies

Stefano Utoikamanu $319,200

Stefano was handed the captaincy in the Tigers’ first trial game which says everything to me about his current standing in the club, and more importantly where they want him in the future.

In that game he was impressive, scoring a try and busting seven tackles.

Injury interrupted his 2022 campaign, limiting minutes and output, so fortunately for Supercoaches he starts dirt cheap.

Minutes will be the issue in a fairly stacked forward pack, but if he can improve on his33 MPG in 2022 which he should, he should make plenty of money.

He also has attacking up side, he loves a meat pie, and I think he can be a fairly solid play in 17s early in the season at the price.

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Tommy Talau $301,600

As mentioned above, the centre spot at the Tigers is wide open.

For this reason, job security to whoever lands the gig will be weak.

Talau has shown plenty of promise in the past, but injury has been a constant factor in the early stages of his career. I’ll likely avoid early, unless the cheapie CTW scene is poor come round one which may force the buy.