Seven Questions: Which player will be the most improved in 2017?

Author: Wests Tigers Media
Timestamp: Sat 25 Feb 2017, 10:00 AM

weststigers.com.au staff debate seven key questions heading into 2017.

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WHICH PLAYER WILL BE THE MOST IMPROVED IN 2017?

For me, it has to be Elijah Taylor. While ET certainly didn’t disappoint anyone in 2016, expect the former Panther to go to another level this year with a full pre-season at Wests Tigers under his belt. His combination with halves Mitch Moses and Luke Brooks as a ball-playing lock forward will be key to the Club’s hopes of returning to finals football in 2017.

Dan Talintyre, Digital & Social Media

Last season, David Nofoaluma went from being a good winger to a great winger, scoring a team-high 14 tries and making his international debut at the end of the year as well. He’s an excellent finisher and one of the strongest runners in the competition coming out of his own end — he led the entire NRL in tackle breaks last season — and I’m looking for him to continue that progression again in 2017. Playing on a dangerous right edge with Mitchell Moses, expect Nofa to find the line time and time again this year and establish himself as one of the top wingers in the game by season’s end. I’d even go as far to say that if the Blues are looking for a winger to replace the injured Josh Mansour this year, they’d do much worse than to look to City representative Nofoaluma.

John Skandalis, Wests Tigers Life Member

I reckon Josh Aloiai is really going to improve again this year. Obviously he had an incredible year last year but I think he’s going to be even better again this year and really build on what he’s already done. Especially watching him in the trials, he seems to have continued his 2016 form so I think he’ll be one of our biggest improvers.