Wests Tigers can eat each other alive in 2016 or play some football

MATTHEW JOHNS SCOUTING REPORT: Wests Tigers have been handicapped in recent seasons by club politics, at board level and between coaches and players. But they do have talent in 2016.

THESE Tigers have talent.

They have been handicapped in recent seasons by club politics, at board level and between coaches and players. The bottom line for the Tigers is that they have a decision to make.

They can continue to battle away and eat each other alive, or they can resolve whatever the major issues are and knuckle down to the business of beating opposition teams rather than themselves. Another 12 months of infighting will ruin careers.

Where will the Tigers land in 2016?

Let’s have a look at what the Tigers have going for them. Firstly, a creative spine which has a mile of potential. At fullback, the brilliant James Tedesco, the halves Mitchell Moses and Luke Brooks, and hooker Robbie Farah.

Sharing minutes with Farah at dummy-half will be the honest Matt Ballin, or the young, explosive Manaia Cherrington.

But Moses and Brooks need to fire. Moses struggled with the physicality of the NRL for most of last season but showed some very positive signs towards the end of it, which tells me he could be headed for a strong year.

Brooks looks best when he plays up on the advantage line at first receiver rather than getting balls on the deep block plays which force him sideways and down one-way streets.

The pack will really miss Marty Taupau but Tim Grant could be a very handy pick-up.

The Tigers also need Aaron Woods to have a huge year and everyone would love to see the reliable Curtis Sironen remain injury free and reach his enormous potential.

The pack, though, really lacks depth and a few key injuries would be disastrous for the Tigers.

Tigers James Tedesco and Robbie Farah hope to string a better 2016 together.

BEST 13

1 James Tedesco 2 David Nofoaluma 3 Tim Simona 4 Kevin Naiqama 5 Justin Hunt 6 Mitch Moses 7 Luke Brooks 8 Aaron Woods 9 Robbie Farah 10 Sauaso Sue 11 Curtis Sironen 12 Chris Lawrence 13 Dene Halatau. Interchange: 14 Matt Ballin 15 Jack Buchanan 16 Ava Seumanufagai 17 Kyle Lovett.

INS

Tim Grant (South Sydney Rabbitohs), Jack Littlejohn (Manly Sea Eagles), Michael Chee-Kam (Manly Sea Eagles), Jesse Parahi (rugby union), Justin Hunt (St George Illawarra Dragons), Jordan Rankin (Hull FC), Josh Addo-Carr (Cronulla Sharks), Joel Edwards (Canberra Raiders), Rod Griffin (Ipswich), William McConnachie (Ipswich), Josh Aloiai (Parramatta Eels), Matt Ballin (Manly Sea Eagles)

OUTS

Pat Richards (Catalan Dragons), Keith Galloway (Leeds Rhinos), Shannon McDonnell (St Helens), Te Maire Martin (Penrith Panthers), Tim Moltzen (Manly Sea Eagles), Joel Luani (released), Marty Taupau (Manly Sea Eagles), Sitaleki Akauola (Penrith Panthers), Kurtis Rowe (Burleigh), Matthew Woods (Parramatta Eels), Salesi Funaki (Brisbane Broncos), Delouise Hoeter (Townsville Blackhawks)

DRAW

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Originally published as Wests Tigers can eat each other alive in 2016 or play some football