The Wests-Tigers game was a game where we had a signfiicant number of backs out. With Inglis on origin duty, Champion, Walker, Gray already out and then late withdrawls of Reddy and Goodwin. This challenged our center depth when you also consider regular center backups McQueen and Teo were on Origin duty, with second rowers Turner in FG and Jackso nWilliams in RG switching to the centers. But it was the return of the 4 Burgess boys that helped turn the match as they helped set a forwards platform that was not challenged. This was only the second premiership game the 4 brothers have played together.

Sam Burgess has powered his way to the top of the Dally M leader board joining Jarrod Hayne and is a clear leader in the RLW player of the year. Sam's good form is proving to be a great for team.

It was good to see Luke Keary back on the paddock last weekend. Luke warmed up for Fg but didn't play and then turned out for the Bears and will have another RG run this week as he eases his way back into football after his pec injury in the Auckland Nines.

With U18 team mates Tevita Cottrell away on Origin duty, fellow U18 team mate Liam Coleman the son of club legend Craig Coleman, made his U20's debut from the interchange bench. It was easy to he will be a future quality player with good crisp passing game.

Rugby League has been addressing the top level, but we need a find a way to support grass roots football. One such method could be the introduction of a Junior Transfer Fee system up until the age of 22. How this would work is as follows any player who signs a contract would have 5% of the value of the contract issued to the previous Junior club from the new club, so they can develop the next player and improve junior facilities. For the case of Junior scholarships the 5% junior transfer fee would go to their existing junior club from the club who offers teh scholarship. With any club at all levels limited to signing a maximum of 400 junior scholarships.

Statistically awe dropped a level after the Warriors game but our forwards still dominated the game, and Madge performed significant volume of set plays. Completion rates dropped back to 76% but our errors were poor at 12 and conceeded 5 penalties. Souths Effective 1st tackle for the match very good at 28.8m. Missed tackles improved to 13 missed tackles this week. And we reduced our opposition offloads back to 2 or best result all year.

Looking at our left side defence - Tuqiri-Auva'a-Sutton-Picker/Lowe (1-0-1-1) was improved to 3 from 10 missed tackles. On the right side Johnston-Turner-Reynolds-SBurgess (0-0-2-2) also improved from 6 to 4 missed tackles this week.

Our go forward dropped back to 1331m. Sutton and Johnston leading the way in the go forward all making 10+m per run. With George, Sam, Tom Burgess and Johnston making more that 100+m in the match. Defensively Lowe was our best in the tackling raking up 44 tackles. With George and Tom Burgess, Luke, Picker, Koroisau, Auva'a, Turner and Johnston not missing a tackle.