Team Talk: Wests Tigers 2023 overview, best 17, squad update
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A new coach and a host of big-name recruits signal the start of a new era for the Wests Tigers in 2023, coming after a horror past season which ended in them collecting the wooden spoon.
Believing the answer to the future sits with figures from the past, the Wests Tigers have brought back their premiership-winning coach from 2005, Tim Sheens, with club legends Benji Marshall and Robbie Farah as his assistants.
The signing of six new players, five of whom have played in NRL Grand Finals previously, is a good start as they seek to bounce back from last year's 20-loss disaster.
Match: Wests Tigers v Titans
Round 1 -
home Team
Wests Tigers
12th Position
away Team
Titans
2nd Position
Venue: Leichhardt Oval, Sydney
Predicted Round 1 team
- Daine Laurie
- David Nofoaluma
- Tommy Talau
- Brent Naden
- Charlie Staines
- Adam Doueihi
- Luke Brooks
- Stefano Utoikamanu
- Api Koroisau
- David Klemmer
- Isaiah Papali’i
- Shawn Blore
- Joe Ofahengaue
- Jake Simpkin
- Alex Twal
- Fonua Pole
- John Bateman
Other: Ken Maumalo (injured), Brandon Wakeham, Alex Seyfarth, Apisalome Saukuru, Asu Kepaoa, Brandon Tumeth, Junior Tupou, Rua Ngatikaura, Sione Fainu, Star To'a, Triston Reilly, Tukimihia Simpkins, Will Smith, Christian Ma’anaima (development), Justin Matamua (development), Josh Feledy (development), Kitione Kautoga (development).
Brooks expecting bright season ahead for Wests Tigers
Squad watch
Squad spots filled: 30/30
Wests Tigers filled their squad to full capacity in January with the signing of Brandon Wakeham on a one-year contract.
The club is loaded with talent in the forwards for 2023, with Stefano Utoikamanu - tipped by many as a future representative player - the only member of their likely starting pack who hasn't played either Origin or Test football for a tier one nation.
Aside from the new faces they have signed, the club will regain the services of forward Shawn Blore and versatile back Tommy Talau, who both failed to play a single minute of football last season due to serious injuries.
They have good depth in the backline, with Charlie Staines - who was a scorer in last year's Grand Final win for Penrith - pushing for the fullback spot.
Despite losing a glut of talent to rival NRL clubs, including seven players who were regulars in their side last year, it's hard to argue that the Wests Tigers haven't improved their squad significantly for 2023.
Health watch
Ken Maumalo (knee) is in doubt for the early rounds after re-injuring his leg against the Raiders in the Pre-season Challenge.
Api Koroisau (calf), Luke Brooks (calf) and Joe Ofahengaue (rested) all missed the Pre-season Challenge matches but are expected to be available for Round 1.
John Bateman will have less than a fortnight in Australia after delays due to visa issues and is in doubt for the season opener. Although Bateman has been training in the UK, he could come off the bench in the early stages of the season.
With a shimmy and a step, Talau has his second
Most contentious position
There wasn't a standout option at centre last year for the Wests Tigers, and again for 2023 it's hard to know who will emerge at the first-choice pairing.
Versatile back Star To'a started 14 games at centre last year in a season which saw him play a career-high 21 games, while Brent Naden impressed at the back end as a winger, and has plenty of centre experience under his belt.
The departure of Oliver Gildart (Dolphins) is offset by Talau's return from a season-long injury layoff, and if he can stay fit Sheens has indicated he's likely to be part of the 17 somewhere.
The battle for the fullback spot is also on with Daine Laurie facing stiff competition alongside premiership-winner Charlie Staines, who arrives from Penrith.
Koroisau keen to be part of something special
Biggest strength
This forward pack will cause issues for plenty of sides in 2023.
The addition of Api Koroisau, Isaiah Papali'i and John Bateman, plus former Blues enforcer David Klemmer, to a group already featuring some quality veterans and promising forwards, means the engine room should hum.
In Koroisau they have a proven winner, with three-straight Grand Final appearances to his name, while Papali'i was one of the competition's best back-rowers last year, playing every game for the Eels and scoring 10 tries, with 140 average run metres per game.
Bateman too has shown he belongs in the competition's elite in his position, having been judged to be the NRL's best second-rower back in 2019 with the Raiders.
That talent on the edge should improve the Wests Tigers on both sides of the footy, while there will be no lack of punch through the middle, with the aggressive David Klemmer, who averaged 155 metres per game last year, joining Joe Ofahengaue, Alex Twal and Stefano Utoikamanu.
Biggest question mark
How long will it take this new-look coaching setup to find their feet, and will their relative lack of experience as modern-day NRL coaches matter?
Sheens is a premiership-winning coach and a club legend. But it's also been 11 years since he did it at NRL level, and in that time the game has changed drastically.
In Benji Marshall and Robbie Farah he has two assistants with recent playing experience, but next to no experience as top-flight coaches.
How they manage this roster and make the adjustments needed throughout a grueling NRL campaign will be crucial to deciding where the Wests Tigers land this coming season.
