Todd Payten's signature to give Tigers bite
December 11th 2008 08:04
Although the possible departure of Benji Marshall and Robbie Farah would leave the Wests Tigers brain dead in attack, their power game upfront has improved considerably, with Premiership frontrower Todd Payten re-signing with the club for a further two seasons.
The skilful prop will stay at the Tigers until the end of the 2011 season, ending speculation that he was to be released to play in the English Super League.
His commitment to the Tigers is a significant step for the club, in their bid to keep developing a forward pack that has often been considered the weakest in the NRL.
Those thoughts won't be around for long if their present roster is anything to go by.
With Payten's services secured for the next two years, the Tigers now boost considerable depth upfront with Keith Galloway, Bryce Gibbs, Chris Heighington, Diane Laurie and Gareth Ellis all pledging their allegiance to the Tigers for the next couple of seasons as well.
Although they still boost one of the more mobile packs in the competition, the Tigers can now claim themselves to be more competitive in the muscle department.
The Tigers should be able to gain more territory off their set of six than in previous years, where they relied heavily on their ball playing skills to get them success.
Even though that component of their game will remain their great strength if Marshall and Farah decide to stay with the Tigers, their forward park for next season will provide the club with more punch up the middle of the park.
Payten is an experienced forward, while Heighington established himself into one of the best metre gainers in the competition in season 2008.
Off the bench, Diane Laurie has developed himself into one of the premier kamikaze- like players in the NRL, with his no frill charges becoming an iconic feature among Tigers and NRL fans alike.
English import Gareth Ellis will also provide the Tigers with more gusto up the middle of the park with his determined hitups earning praise back in the English Super League.
All in all, it seems the Tigers finally have the necessary muscle to match their heavyweight opposition come 2009.
If the Tigers can convince both Marshall and Farah to stay with the club with which they won a premiership in 2005, the side now has the necessary power upfront to showcase the skill that took the NRL by storm three seasons ago.
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