Roster analysis: Ranking every Wests Tigers player and why they are in for more pain in 2022
Nothing highlights the massive divide of talent in the NRL than the Wests Tigers roster. And it shows why long-suffering fans can expect more disappointment next season.
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The breakdown of the entire Wests Tigers playing squad which shows exactly why they can’t compete with the NRL’s top teams.
Even though the clubs all spend the same amount of money on the salary cap, the Tigers squad doesn’t have a single superstar in it, highlighting a massive divide of talent in the NRL competition.
While the Melbourne Storm, Penrith Panthers, South Sydney Rabbitohs and the Sydney Roosters are overflowing with elite talent, at the Tigers they have Adam Doueihi as a standout, with daylight second.
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And it shows why long-suffering fans can probably expect more disappointment again next season.
From 1 to 31 we have ranked every player who took the field in the top grade this season.
It is not about judging salaries or reputations, but purely their form for 2021.
And with Michael Maguire seemingly heading out the door, the question that needs to be answered is who else at the club should be putting up their hands to take some of the responsibility if Maguire ends up getting the chop?
That goes for the players chewing up the big bucks on the salary cap, and those at board and management level who have played any part in putting this roster together.
Because while Doueihi has been a clear standout with his performances this year, at how many of the top teams playing finals this weekend would he be ranked their No.1 player?
Next on our list is Luciano Leilua.
Again, he has had a solid season. But one of the NRL’s leading forwards?
Then comes young guns Daine Laurie and Stefano Utoikamanu, with hooker Jacob Liddle rounding out our top five.
While some fans may debate our rankings, that is missing the point of this exercise.
In no way is this meant to be disrespectful to any of these players mentioned above because they have been the ones leading the way all season.
But this is the culmination of Maguire having three full seasons in charge as head coach now, while chief executive Justin Pascoe has been at the club since 2015.
Yes, Maguire was handed a time bomb with the roster he took over from Ivan Cleary (that Pascoe did play a part in).
But at what point does Maguire have to take ownership given he has now either retained or recruited all bar a couple of players on the entire roster?
Are fans happy with the direction the club is heading when they stack it up against the game’s top teams?
Here is our rankings from top to bottom:
1 Adam Doueihi Age: 23 Season games 20 (70 total) Status: Signed 2023
Did all he could to lift this team before an ACL tear ended his season. It’s unfortunate that he will now miss the start of next season but has earned the right to be the first player picked when he’s back, wearing the No 6.
2 Luciano Leilua Age: 25 Season games: 24 (87 total) Status: Signed 2022
Arguably the Tigers’ best forward this year although there’s still some work to do to iron out the rough patches. Natural ability isn’t Luciano’s issue but the challenge is to come back next season and continue working on the one percenters that separate the really good NRL backrowers from the pack. At 25 is coming into his best years.
3 Daine Laurie Age: 22 Season games: 19 (22 total) Status: Signed 2023
Given an opportunity and grabbed it both hands. From 22 games finished with seven tries, eight try assists and 71 tackle busts before suffering a broken leg.
4 Stefano Utoikamanu Age: 21 Season games 21 (24 total) Status: Signed 2023
Shown he can be one of the foundation the Tigers build their future on. Really earned his starting spot with some powerful performances. Has the size and athleticism to be anything, and in a team that lacked leadership this young fella led from the front.
5 Jacob Liddle Age: 24 Season games 20 (63 total) Status: Signed 2023
Has had a career hampered by injury but got through 20 games this season and can hold his head high. Seems to have a really good attitude and if he can get a few errors out of his game Liddle’s a player the Tigers should back for the long haul.
6 Alex Twal Age: 25 Season games: 23 (89 total) Status: Signed 2022
Gives the same every week, 100 per cent. A player with a high work rate and certainly one of the Tigers’ most consistent forwards. Has now played 89 games. Will never be the star but you’d have him in the top 17 every week at most clubs.
7 Luke Brooks Age: 26: Season games 24 (172 total) Status: Signed 2023
Hard to justify putting the underperforming halfback up near the top of this list but it points to exactly where this club is at. In fairness, Brooks gives his all every week but just lacks that composure and calmness that the best playmakers have. Whether that is coaching or he’s just not what we all thought he could one day be we might never know. I reckon he should consider a change of scenery to see if that can spark some life back into his career before it is too late.
8 David Nofoaluma Age: 27 Season games: 24 (163 total) Status: Signed 2025
Just doesn’t look happy. On his day is up with the best wingers in the comp but he certainly won’t be looking back on 2021 with too many fond memories.
9 Luke Garner Age: 26 Season Games: 18 (55 total) Status: Signed 2022
The jury is still out on this bloke. Has been very effective at times but seems to ride the highs and lows like a lot of players at the Tigers. From what we’ve seen you’d be sticking with him because he has certainly shown potential.
10 Moses Mbye Age: 28 Season games: 22 (157 total) Status: Released to St George Illawarra
I feel for Mbye because I reckon he was hung out to dry by the Tigers. They signed him for way too much money in the first place and then after Ivan Cleary hit the road he was left behind as excess baggage. Another player who didn’t live up to expectations in a system where few do.
11 Tommy Talau Age: 21 Season games: 22 (35 total) Status: Signed 2022
Shocking luck to cop a knee injury in the final game but has showed a lot of promise. A big body and a good athlete, one of the genuine keepers in this squad. Some might say he hasn’t quite lived up to the hype that greeted his arrival in the NRL but remember he’s had to play out of position and to his credit he’s handled it. Down the track you get the feeling he will end up as an edge backrower.
12 Shawn Blore Age: 21 Season games: 13 (18 total) Status: Signed: 2023
An emerging enforcer capable of turning into a genuine NRL weapon. Aggressive and no nonsense. Exactly what Tigers need but still a long way from finished product.
13 Ken Maumalo Age: 27 Season games: 21 (116) Status: Signed 2023
Rocks or diamonds but has enough good points not to make him the Tigers’ biggest problem. Can do all the things the good wingers do, if they could somehow just switch him on every week.
14 Thomas Mikaele Age: 23 Season games: 19 (60 total) Status: Signed 2022
Is a better footballer than what he is showing. Potentially could really be a powerful middle but at the moment seems playing without that fire that drives the real good front rowers.
15 James Tamou Age: 32 Season games: 19 (286) Status: Signed 2022
You can’t blame Tamou for the Tigers’ woes this year. They bought him on the back of what he did at Penrith but look back at what he had around him at Penrith. He had a pack there that allowed him to just do his job and provide that bit of leadership.
16 Joe Ofahengaue Age: 25 Season games: 23 (128 total) Status: Signed 2022
Must be wondering why he was brought to the club given they just don’t seem to know what to do with him. Has switched between middle and edge and he’s just not an edge forward. The mixed messages must be confusing yet his job should be as simple as run hard, tackle hard and show a bit of mongrel.
17 Jake Simpkin Age: 19 Season games: 9 (9 total) Status: Signed 2024
You have to remember this bloke is still only 19. Copped a shoulder injury in the last game but has shown he has a lot to offer. With him and Liddle sharing the dummy half duties this is one area the Tigers have strong competition for a few years to come.
18 Michael Chee Kam Age: 29 Season games: 9 (94 total) Status: Released
Is leaving the club and has been really poorly treated. This is a guy who should have been in the top 17 every week when he’s fit. Can cover a lot of positions and crack open a game. That’s exactly the type of player the Tigers need. Why punt him?
19 Alex Seyfarth Age: 22 Season games: 12 (16 total) Status: Signed 2023
From what we’ve seen hard to be critical. Always gives it everything and more than capable.
20 Zane Musgrove Age: 25 Season games: 5 (38 total) Status: Signed 2024
This is a bloke I reckon could be an absolute wrecking machine in the right system with strong discipline around him. Had another season also interrupted by injury, played only five games due to a foot fracture. Worth the growing pains.
21. James Roberts Age: 28 Season games: 11 (160 total) Status: Signed 2021
Our lasting image of Jimmy the Jet this year was him standing on the balcony in hotel quarantine wearing his undies although he never played a game once he got to Queensland. In the end finished the season with 11 appearance and just three tries. Everyone knows that at his best he’s an absolute matchwinner, but when was the last time we saw that?
22 Jock Madden Age: 21 Season games: 3 (3 total) Status: Signed 2022
A former Australian Schoolboy halfback and captain who just didn’t get a fair shot this year and would have to be regretting signing an extension. He certainly struggled when he got a call up late in the year but in fairness he’s hardly played a game in two years.
23 Tom Amone Age: 24 Season games: 8 (17 total) Status: Signed 2021
Hard to be critical of what we have seen since he came across from Souths. Not sure he’s exactly what the Tigers needed given they have a few middles just like him.
24 Zac Cini Age: 21 Season games: 4 (4 total) Status: Signed 2021
Burst onto the scene against the Dragons and watching him lapping it up with his own cheer squad was one of the highlights of the season for Tigers fans. Only played a few games but looks to be another young bloke who gives it his all.
25 Joey Leilua Age: 29 Season games: 7 (225 total) Status: Released
Why did Canberra let him go? Why did Newcastle let him go? Look at the history. What were the Tigers thinking? If you get an answer for this you might get to the root of the problem. Not what this club needed.
26 AJ Kepaoa Age: 21 Season games: 5 (10 total) Status: Signed 2022
Brought across from the Roosters last year and suffered an ACL knee injury this year. Hard to judge at this point.
27 Kelma Tuilagi Age: 22 Season games: 5 (5 total) Status: Signed 2022
Has played a handful of games and looks promising. A big second rower who came up from Melbourne and is still only 22. Might be worth keeping an eye out for next year.
28 Tui Simpkins Age: 19 Season games; 5 (5 total) Status: Signed 2023
Still a teenager with five NRL games to his name. A big strong New Zealander who was chased by the All Blacks at one point and the Tigers apparently spent a good whack of money getting him from North Queensland. Could be a real good player in time.
29 Billy Walters Age: 27 Season games: 2 (12 total) Status: Released to Brisbane
Played only nine games in 18 months at the Tigers due to a knee reconstruction. Is now going to play under his father Kevvie at Brisbane on a one-year deal.
30 Junior Pauga Age: 25 Season games: 2 (2 total) Status: Signed 2021
An outside back who started out at the Warriors and then made a name for himself playing for Wynnum in the Queensland Cup. Joined the Tigers on a NSW Cup contract and has played two NRL games.
31 Russell Packer Age: 31 Season games 1 (184 total) Status: Retired
Has now retired and that’s the best thing you could say about Packer’s last couple of years.
Maguire convinced young Tigers are on right track
By Nick Campton
Michael Maguire is adamant the Tigers have a bright future, but will the coach be there to see it unfold?
With the Tigers finals drought now entering its 10th season, on the surface the club has little to play for on Sunday against Canterbury.
But with the entire football department to come under an internal review, and Maguire’s position reportedly up in the air, the result against the wooden-spooners shapes as a crucial one for the club’s future.
In three seasons with the Tigers, Maguire has failed to take the club to the playoffs but the former premiership-winner believes the right steps have been taken for his ultimate goal of bringing long-term success to the club.
“Everyone wants to talk about winning competitions, but we’ve really looked at the organisation, every single part of it, to see where we need to improve every single day,” Maguire said.
“Sometimes the short-term can be something people focus on. I came to the club with everyone in the mindset for longevity for what the Wests Tigers is.
“One thing I do know, with the youth we’re bringing through, if we stick to the daily routines of acting and believing in what it takes to be at the top we’ll get to where we want to get to.
“To change a club, it takes the departments coming together at the right time.
“We need to make sure we have a good look at all areas of our game to propel us into the better place and that’s moving towards a winning team.
“We know what that looks like. We know what we need to do.”
The Tigers have uncovered some young talent this season, including fullback Daine Laurie and backrower Shaun Blore, but prop Stefano Utoikamanu is perhaps the best of the lot.
The 21-year old has become the club’s best forward since arriving from Parramatta and is expected to push for Origin selection after he was part of the Blues extended squad this year.
Maguire believe’s the experience Utoikamanu and his fellow rookies have gained this year from playing NRL week-to-week is the club’s silver lining for 2021.
“Stefano is a great example of that, I could go through quite a few more. That experience is what we need to take forward,” Maguire said.
“When he went into Origin camp, he came back a different player. I think it was great for a lot of our younger players, the boys who are experiencing first grade, that the change in your belief is something that can change a game.
“Stefano has really come on, and it’s good to have players like that who are hungry to improve. Everyone can see the players we have coming through.”
One of those players who will enter the match against the Bulldogs with plenty to play for is cult hero Zac Cini, who is yet to be signed for 2021, replacing Moses Mbye at fullback.
“It was a big decision for him. It’s a tough one, it would have been nice to have him play one last game,” Maguire said.
“But it’ll give Zac Cini a chance to go out there and show what he’s about.”
The club will farewell Mbye, Joey Leilua, Russell Packer, Michael Chee Kam and Billy Walters but are yet to make a call on Cini, James Roberts or Tom Amone.
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