Player of Interest – Alex Twal
He’s teased us from time-to-time with glimpses of real SuperCoach star potential, but Alex Twal has yet to elevate himself from the mid-40 PPG average FRF quagmire.
Recent Statistics
2018: Games played (21), Average (43), MPG (37), PPM (1.17)
2017: Games played (9), Average (46) , MPG (41), PPM (1.12)
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2019 Players of Interest: Read all of these here
2019 SuperCoach Club Previews: Read all of these here
Twal seemed to be headed for a massive 2018, but the recently departed Wests Tigers coach, Ivan Cleary must have missed the 2017 world cup where Twal played massive minutes for Lebanon and his workload didn’t suffer.
2017 Rugby League World Cup stats:
- Vs. France: 17 runs and 29 tackles for 66 SuperCoach points in 50 minutes
- Vs. Australia: 13 runs, 34 tackles for 50 SuperCoach points in 60 minutes
- Vs. England: 17 runs , 43 tackles and 2 tackle breaks for 72 SC points in 72 minutes
- Vs. Tonga 17 runs, 32 tackles for 57 SuperCoach points in 80 minutes
This is exactly what we want to see from a developing FRF on the world stage. What’s even more impressive is the fact that 90+% of his output is from pure base statistics.
With the exits of Tim Grant and Sauaso Sue and a new coach on the scene, Twal will hopefully be given more of an opportunity to shine in 2019. If we are to be guided by past PPM rate, which is a very consistent 1.15, and assuming that he can increase his minutes to 50-55 MPG, this could see him average between 58-64 PPG.
An average like this would certainly see him elevated out of that quagmire and into legitimate keeper territory at the FRF position.
However, it should be noted that in 2018 when he played in excess of 40 MPG his PPM dropped from 1.15 to 1.03.
He’s gathered my interest this pre-season, what about you?
Check out the rest of our Players of Interest articles below:
Nice write up on the bus i hope he gets no 13. The thing that impress me most his tackle miss tackles there very few misses . & he can bend line taylor can’t I can see big shake up at tigers they go size. Not moblie I believe you can go mobile. On back of strong returning full back. To get the opposition on the back foot so you can expose them. Or wise useless
Would like to find those stats from his big minute performance.
Ultimately think he’s being held back too much which is also reigning in his creative stats, but if he’s given the 13 and 65+ I’ll happily give up Murray / iPap for him
Sue only played 15 games, averaging 35 minutes last season Grant only played 5 games, averaging 40 minutes last season I’m not sure if the departure of those two players will lead to Twal getting more minutes, especially with the addition of Matterson who is a chance of playing 80 on an edge, and then needing to divvy up minutes for Packer, Matulino, Taylor, Eisenhuth etc in the middle. He has too many question marks over his minutes at an awkward price for me to entertain him at this stage, especially when Siro, CHN, Bateman, Stimson etc are all better… Read more »
Flock, I agree his mins are not guaranteed but who is our best forward in the pack ? Il answer you TWAL!!!! You missed that ET took about 60mpg and most tiges fans are wanting twal at no.13 , eisenhuth has been a plodder and mats has been a let down , Cleary has a man crush on ET so hopefully he takes him back to penrith aka Boyd/Bennet. Can’t hold back your talent (tpj is an example). Also note Madge loves workers , I’m not saying he will get a 55 min starting gig but the potential is there… Read more »
Your right, there’s no real standout or depth in the middle for Tigers. Eisenhuth, ET (Is he in the outer?), Matterson, (seriously, is he really a middle player?, can his body handle the workload there?), Rochow (I just threw up in my mouth), Mutalino, Musgrove, Packer & Twal. There is potential there for someone to pick up some work if they step up. The other one that interests me is Musgrove. A bit of a bad boy but has played under Madge before, great ppm. How’s he looking OTB?
Personally I would go with mikeale who should get a run on the bench , Musgrove will be great for SC but he might have to earn his spot first .
I don’t know about you
Bear but to me Matulino, ET, Packer, Eisenhuth, Twal etc is a lot of depth in the middle.
Matulino – 43 mins last season
Packer – 44 mins last season
Eisenhuth – 59 minutes last season
Taylor – 62 minutes last season
Twal – 37 mins last season
I brought up Matterson because he’ll be playing on an edge, and most likely be playing 70-80 mins, therefore, that limits the number of minutes on offer for other players in the pack.
Yeah the depth is there I guess, what I’m saying is that it’s not really that strong of a pack and besides maybe Packer and Matulino, they’re all dispensable. If a player like Twal can step it up then he can easily better his 37 minutes. Also a new coach so those minutes are debatable. It all depends on TLT, were all clutching at straws atm.
Are you assuming ET gets 60 again or will they give twal the spot and ET the bench?
Also eisenhuth could be in reserve grade mate. You are speaking like he is replacing Vaughan Fifi kapow.
Cleary made a mess of our forwards imo , hopefully Madge is more consistent
Are you assuming that Twal is going to get the minutes you think he’s going to get? Are you assuming that Eisenhuth could be in reserve grade? You are speaking like you know what Madge is going to do.
You’re speculating again – you’re hopeful that Madge is more consistent – you don’t really know if he will be.
I don’t know what the minutes are going to be for all the middle forwards, I’m just pointing out the minutes they played last season to illustrate the depth they’ve got.
Flock ET was told not renewing his contract. I saw it NRL universe. In dec or jan magde llike size
But just because Tigers fans want him, doesn’t mean it will happen. What is been happening at pre-season? My mail is that Eisenhuth will start at lock with EJ on the bench.
My mail is 1 experience and one rookie rotating at prop as well wenin.
Let’s wait for TLT before we debate this further , until then we can agree that tiges pack will get a reshuffle
That’s ok Wenin. I feel point is no ET I trying to say from what i read
As WeninRome pointed out, it doesn’t matter what the fans want, or who you believe is the best forward in the pack. All of what you’re saying is based on what you want to happen, which is fine, but it has little relevance when discussing what is actually going to happen. I know I’d much rather spend my money on players in the same price range (or cheaper) who’re going to start and get significant minutes, rather than speculate on players who may or may not start, and may or may not get significant minutes. Twal fits into the latter… Read more »
That’s half the battle but Flock. Last year everyone said that Cook, TPJ, Matterson, Tevega, Kikau, Arrow weren’t good options because their minutes were to speculative. Players like Latu, Smith, Carty, Gallen, were good options. If you picked the first lot of mentioned players over the others, then you were killing it. What is actually going to happen? No one knows so we have to consider the Twals and other diamonds in the rough who MAY get more minutes.
I’m by no means saying not to consider the likes of Twal, I’m just pointing out that there are players around his price range who ARE going to get way more minutes, and do have stronger job security.
I’m not speculating at all, I’m 2017 he had more mins than he did in 2018 so he will improve on those mins mate
You’re most definitely speculating. You don’t know what Madge is going to do.
I don’t see how bringing up the point of him averaging more minutes in 2017 than he did in 2018 means he’s going to play more minutes in 2019. That’s not the pattern. And look, I’m not starting he won’t or he will play more minutes than last season, all I’m saying is, you’re speculating on how many minutes he is going to get, especially when there’s seemingly a lot of competition for minutes in the middle.
Flock don’t bring up last year then
How will the bench mins pan out if it’s a different bench and Liddle taking a spot. Eisenhuth at lock and ET bench leaves 2 spots 1 twal and say rookie prop……I can’t see ET playing 56 off the bench just doesn’t make any sense to me
8. Packer 10. Matulino 13. Eisenhuth 15. Twal 16 Mikaele (???) 17. ET
Still leaves <40 per player on the bench: poison
Twal mike Liddle alioa
Sounds pretty close i say
There were 4 games and a demotion midseason that dropped his AVG mins otherwise his AVG mins would have been over 40, that’s an extra 4-5 pts in itself .
Anyway flock is quick to point out CS9 playing a 30 min game but not twal.
My opinion is he is 12-15 pts undervalued ,there’s no reason why he can’t score 55-58 if he does get his mins up from 36.8mpg to 47 min at 1.2ppm.
It is just a POI article and not a must have guys
Just throwing my two cents in whats to say Madge sticks with Matulino and Packer to start?? Could Twal start? should def see bigger min then?
Packer is aggressive , mats just hadn’t been great since the warriors days .
Madge likes go forward and twal runs 100+ every game .
Flock is just bitter because twal destroyed the Eagles Last year with that magical run and assist 🙂
If that were the case, I’d be bitter towards every Tigers player, considering your entire team destroyed us in R6 last season.
We’ll be getting payback in R1.
🙂
In my short SC experience, I’ve found the game is more than just numbers, sometimes it’s about going with gut feel – that could be through seeing a little something in a player most others had missed or just plain luck.
In saying that sometimes numbers speak louder than words. I’ll have an eye on Twal but won’t be grabbing him early season.
Selections are most definitely more than just numbers, however, I’m not entirely sure
OnTheBus would still be making this POI if this was another forward on another team in a similar situation.
Seems to be a little bit of orange and black in this “gut feel”. 😉
Flock I rated him at the eels and kept a close eye on him, last year I was on alvaro. We can agree all teams need someone who can score 55+ base stats next to your beast like kapow /Fifi type. Now do you spend the $$$ on a Tolman or Alvaro or take twal if his starting? Last year it was Alvaro and we backed of PS I’ve got us to finish 15th mate so I’m not bias 🙂 Regarding marsters and nofo this year they could get the chance with a few forwards who can make metres. Players… Read more »
Theres a lot of potential in that tigers pack, and I will be keeping a very close eye on them early to see who Madge favours. But picking out that one with only trials to go on seems a risk not worth it for me.
The problem with Tigers forwards is by the time we really see who would be the best option in that pack it’s probably gonna be Rd 6-7 and the fact they don’t play the first bye puts them in that awkward stage of done get them or just let them slide
Twal could be another on an ever growing watchlist lol
Hopefully Madge is more decisive than Cleary was.
Yes that watchlist has now hit triple figures lol
The capacity of an excel spreadsheet will be getting put to the test by the end of this preseason haha