Are The Tigers Making The Right Moves? | Thebigtip

An NRL squad has a theoretical lifespan of around three years. After which time, successful or not, the squad begins to deteriorate. As players evolve and excel, their asking price goes up and before long they are moving on for more money at a rival club. There is no issue here. It is all part and parcel of the beast that is professional rugby league. In this cycle, players must be brought into the team too.

But many have been left scratching their heads after Wests Tigers coach Tim Sheens and Waratahs rugby union player Ryan Cross were spotted in Rozelle recently having coffee. Its certain that the likes of Bryce Gibbs, Andrew Fifita and Tim Moltzen would be bemused by this meeting.

Gibbs and Fifita will join the Cronulla Sharks while Moltzen has signed with the Dragons for next year. But many Tigers fans are still restless with these moves. Most Wests fans will tell you that these men, especially Gibbs, have been a cornerstone for the Tigers through the good times and the bad.

The signing of Melbourne Storm star Adam Blair is a good move. It doesn’t matter what way you look at it. He’s big and strong and poses a threat to any side that he faces. He is also just the type of player Sheens loves. Full of skill and the ability to make things happen at the line. He can also play anywhere in the forward pack.

Tigers CEO Stephen Humphreys knows the signing of Blair is a good one.

“Adam is a world class forward who has been a key member of the very successful Storm side in recent years,” Humphreys said.

“His experience, leadership and professionalism will be great assets to our Club.”

Then came the news that the Concord club had also signed Parramatta’s Joel Reddy and Penrith’s Matthew Bell.

“The recruitment of one of the game’s best forwards in Adam Blair, along with the depth and experience provided by both Joel and Matthew, will blend very well with the existing and emerging talent we have in the Wests Tigers roster” Humphreys said.

Reddy and Bell are first grade players. Signing them almost means you have to play them. But with Chris Lawrence and the ever improving Blake Ayshford already starting centres at the Tigers, where could you possibly play Reddy? Is he even fast enough or good enough to oust Lote Tuquri, Matt Utai, Mitch Brown or Beau Ryan from the wing spots these guys are already fighting for?

Bell would have most definetely signed for less money then Gibbs would have been asking for a renewed contract. A good business decision? Maybe? It would have definetely freed up a little more money for them.

Wouldn’t you just give the Gibbs money to Fifita?

Now the Tigers have said goodbye to Moltzen, Fifita and Gibbs. They’ve signed Blair, Reddy and Bell and it seems they have more money to spend.

You would think that the club would now go after a full-back. With Wade McKinnon on the way out, surely an experienced custodian is required. There seems to be a lot of makeshift options back there for Sheens next year. But can Sheens and the Tigers gamble on such a move?

Would a Brent Webb or Clint Greenshields want to return to Australia for another crack at the big time? It’s a short term option, but one the Tigers must be thinking about.

Well that doesn’t appear to be the case. Instead, they’re going after Ryan Cross?

Cross was asked recently about a possible return to rugby league.

"It was never really something that I considered I would go back to, but now that I've been back in Sydney for 12 months it's a big possibility. Obviously, my dad played at the Tigers, and I was a supporter as a kid, so hopefully something can be worked out."

Good for Cross. Dumb and wasteful from the Tigers.