Where to from here?

Last night's 36-18 loss to Manly has extinguished the flame of finals football for Wests Tigers. Before hand it had been described as a "pipe dream", especially with remaining matches against the Sea Eagles (last night), Souths and the Roosters. That flame was well and truly doused last night by a Manly side well below their best, but with their experience and guile more than enough to roll past an inconsistent Tigers outfit.

The question now stands: Where to from here for Wests Tigers? Coach Mick Potter this morning on Sydney radio suggested he may now take a look at few more youngsters, or at the very least start thinking 2014 mode. One thing this season has proven is that the Tigers will not be down in the nrl sewers for too long. A wealth of talent has suggested better days lie ahead. Yesterday we heard all about that future with the news that a key cog in Mitchell Moses and Luke Brooks had signed long terms deals. Beyond them though lies a list of talented prospects.

For me, i'd like to see the Tigers take a very real shift towards 2014 now. Below is a list of changes I would make over the final rounds of the season:

- First i'd like to view Tim Simona in the centres. This is where he made his debut back in 2011. Yes, it's noted that he has shone brilliantly on the wing since moving there but in my opinion his form has improved due to the self belief found since his breakout game against the Panthers back in R13. He's a more confident player within himself now and feels he belongs in this arena. Potter will know that Simona, Pat Richards, Keith Lulia or  David Nofoaluma are the guys tasked to take over the departing Blake Ayshford's centre position. Simona stands as the best option at this moment. Go for it I say!

- Now assuming Simona  were to move to the centres, this would also allow Marika Koroibete a path back into the top grade. He needs more experience. His potential is incredible. He has SO much upside to his potential. In doing this, the Tigers would  also be using a player from their top 25, which brings me to a much questioned next point.

- The case for Luke Brooks. From what is known, Brooks still needs to gain a clearance from the NRL in order to play top grade. No one yet has ruled him out of the equation even though the Tigers have surpassed their second tier salary cap. In order for Brooks to play, they will need to gain an exemption. Weather the Tigers who are now out of finals reckoning could now gain one remains to be seen.

The Case for Brooks though is not just about chucking him in. Potter may well decide to start him. I feel though he would be best served starting from the bench in a move not too dissimilar to what Souths have done with Luke Keary and John Sutton. In this case Curtis Sironen would start in the halves and at some point Brooks would come on moving Sironen into the second row, a position he'll likely permanently move into in the near future.


The Tigers can't do too much here in relation to preparing for next season. Partly due to the fact they still need to keep the side competitive, but also due to the fact that there are very few young players they haven't used yet who may get a call up. Koroibete and Brooks appear the two most likely to see time over the final rounds. Taqele Naiyaravoro, Sitaleki Akaoula and perhaps James Gavet are the only other guys who could come into contention here.

One thing is certain though, this is the beginning of an end. And with every end comes a new beginning.