2025 Preview: Wests Tigers

Embed from Getty Images

Andrew Ferguson takes a look at what the Wests Tigers can do to 'shed the spoon' in 2025.

You would hard pressed to find a team and its fan base feeling so optimistic and hopeful of their upcoming season after having collected 3 straight wooden spoons - but here we are.

2023 saw the club have the right type of cleanout that it needed to have a long time ago, removing the inept administrators and installing people who actually know how to run a club. Installing Benji Marshall as head coach with no coaching history was an immense gamble, but it appears to be a good decision. And then the fixing of the roster.

The Tigers came into 2024 so far behind the rest of the competition that everyone was hopeful that they don't come last but quietly well aware that it was going to be a struggle to catch up that much in one year, with a rookie coach and a squad full of young talent.

But after the first half of the season, the Tigers defence, which had long been their weakness, had been remarkably consistent, keeping them in games for well into the second half. The workload though began to show on the young side in the back end of the season as the losses began to get bigger. But the evidence was there that Benji's Babes have the potential to turn this bus around.

The club then went on the best recruitment drive in their history - picking up Origin and Test half Jarome Luai from the Panthers, powerful middle forwards Royce Hunt and Terrell May, impressive wingers Sunia Turuva and Heral Skelton and utility edge player Jack Bird. These signings covered off their losses and in some cases, were huge upgrades. With the dearth of juniors that were blooded last year, the club now has young stars hungry to be in the NRL side and quality players in the 17.

Why They'll Win It

Their spine is impressive - youthful exuberance, skillful, fast, tenacious and brilliant. Having the experienced hand of Api Koroisau at hooker guiding the ship is the perfect situation to help guide these young play makers around.

The forwards are a great mix of experience in the middle and talented young players on the edges. Once they get settled and build some cohesion, this outfit will be capable of scoring points from anywhere.

Why they won't

Defence is whats needed to win titles and the Tigers have so much work to do in this area.

They've conceded an average of 29.5 points per game over their last 100 NRL matches (dating back to the last 4 rounds of 2020). It won't matter how good their attack is if they're constantly letting in that many points.

The recruits the club has secured will all contribute immensely to rectifying this issue, but it will take a while to get that defence to the point of being Premiership contender worthy.

2025 fixture list

Key Players

The acquisition of Jarome Luai is huge for the club. Not just because of his brilliance, but because he will help fellow half Lachlan Galvin take his game to the next level. Luai will also help to direct his team, especially the defensive line, which will improve the team's defensive structure. Galvin too will get better and more opportunities in attack, and given the amount of talented finishers on the edge, this could lead to more scoring opportunities.

Api Koroisau will have an easier job in 2025 as he can focus solely on managing his forwards and getting good ball out to his playmakers. In 2023 and 2024 he also had to take on a large amount of playmaking duties as well. This will see the Tigers forwards performing better in both attack and defence.

Rookie to watch

19-year-old Lachlan Galvin is set to have another strong season with the improvements to the squad around him. He ended his 2024 season with selection in the Australian Prime Ministers XIII.

Fellow teenager Heath Mason made his debut with the club last year and proved to be up to the task of being an NRL fullback.

Tallyn Da Silva is set to be the back up hooker in 2024 and is also 19 years old. He will be getting guidance from Api Koroisau, which will ensure he gets the best start to his NRL career one could ever hope to get. 

Player movement

IN: Jarome Luai, Sunia Turuva (Penrith), Jeral Skelton (Canterbury), Royce Hunt (Cronulla), Jack Bird (St George Illawarra), Terrell May (Sydney)

TOP 30: Adam Doueihi, Alex Twal, Alex Seyfarth, Apisai Koroisau, Brandon Tumeth, Brent Naden, Charlie Staines, Chris Faagatu, David Klemmer, Fonua Pole, Jack Bird, Jahream Bula, Jarome Luai, Jeral Skelton, Jordan Miller, Josh Feledy, Justin Matamua, Justin Olam, Kit Laulilii, Lachlan Galvin, Latu Fainu, Luke Laulilii, Royce Hunt, Samuela Fainu, Sione Fainu, Solomone Saukuru, Starford To'a, Sunia Turuva, Tallyn Da Silva, Terrell May, Tony Sukkar

OUT: Isaiah Papali'i (Penrith), Junior Tupou (Dolphins), Stefano Utoikamanu (Melbourne), John Bateman (North Queensland), Jayden Sullivan (South Sydney), Aidan Sezer (Hull FC), Solomon Alaimalo (rugby union)

DEVELOPMENT: Alex Lobb, Heamasi Makasini, Solomona Faataape, Reuben Porter, Heath Mason, Will Craig

Best 17

1 - Jahream Bula
2 - Sunia Turuva
3 - Justin Olam
4 - Adam Doueihi
5 - Jeral Skelton
6 - Lachlan Galvin
7 - Jarome Luai
8 - David Klemmer
9 - Api Koroisau
10 - Terrell May
11 - Samuela Fainu
12 - Jack Bird
13 - Alex Twal

14 - Royce Hunt
15 - Alex Seyfarth
16 - Fonua Pole
17 - Sione Fainu