Season 2024

[Tigerm]

Gallery: 2024 Pre-season Day 1

There might be a few sore bodies after day one of 2024 pre-season training.

www.weststigers.com.au

Let the hard work begin

Wests Tigers have returned for pre-season training under the watchful eye of new head coach Benji Marshall ahead of the 2024 NRL season.

www.weststigers.com.au

Preseason, let the rumours begin.

 

[Tigerm]

It’s begun lol

Woods is expected to sign a deal worth just $80,000 to prolong his 267 game career at Manly, who he joined mid-season from the Dragons last year.

Former Wallabies star eyeing NRL return; Panthers’ bid to sign veteran: Transfer Whispers

Former Wallabies star eyeing NRL return; Panthers’ bid to sign veteran: Transfer Whispers

www.foxsports.com.au

 

[gordsy]

Listening to Woods on radio gives me hope my kid will be prime minister.

 

[Nutz]

Let the hard work begin

Wests Tigers have returned for pre-season training under the watchful eye of new head coach Benji Marshall ahead of the 2024 NRL season.

www.weststigers.com.au

Development:


Kit Laulilii, Solomone Saukuru, Chris Faagutu, Alexander Lobb and Tony Sukkar.

Train & Trial:

William Craig, Sione Latoa-Vaihu, Luke Laulilii, Keenan Lawandos, Heath Mason, Iverson Matai, Cayne Nicholas and Navren Willet.

I'm looking forward to seeing Kit smash into the opposition in the second half of the season. By that time he would be in better shape than when he debuted. A full off season training with the NRL lads will be awesome too.

 

[TroyJax]

In a perfect worldI I’d like everyone to shut the f**k up about these kids and let them develop in the lower grades where they belong.
NONE of them are ready.

 

[Tigerm]

Let the hard work begin

Wests Tigers have returned for pre-season training under the watchful eye of new head coach Benji Marshall ahead of the 2024 NRL season.

www.weststigers.com.au

Development:

View attachment 81615
Kit Laulilii, Solomone Saukuru, Chris Faagutu, Alexander Lobb and Tony Sukkar.

Train & Trial:

William Craig, Sione Latoa-Vaihu, Luke Laulilii, Keenan Lawandos, Heath Mason, Iverson Matai, Cayne Nicholas and Navren Willet.

I'm looking forward to seeing Kit smash into the opposition in the second half of the season. By that time he would be in better shape than when he debuted. A full off season training with the NRL lads will be awesome too.

Is that Kit with the pig tale? Looks like a big boy, will be interesting to see how he develops over the next few years.

 

[Nutz]

Is that Kit with the pig tale? Looks like a big boy, will be interesting to see how he develops over the next few years.

Yes mate, the photo I posted above. He's developing nicely. Another year or so he'll be a gun.

 

[Nutz]

No that was our fault. Should never have offered him that much cash but I would have walked earlier If I was him too. Money isn't everything.

It is a professional sport. You get as much as you can before the many reasons why players have to rejoin the workforce like injuries, headknocks or past use by date.
He's a millionaire and still got a healthy stint at Manly.
A lot of people say he's dumb. I wonder how healthy their bank accounts are.
It's purely the club's fault. To say brooks gave it his all for the club is an understatement, he's just not a controlling ½ back and the club could not deal with that.
The club wanted a one club star ½ and persevered hoping he would come good...wrong.

 

[Vic Mackey]

In a perfect worldI I’d like everyone to shut the f**k up about these kids and let them develop in the lower grades where they belong.
NONE of them are ready.

Yep

Most are at least 2 years off regular NRL, its ridiculous that we've given like 8 of them full time contracts for next year.

 

[Nutz]

Yep

Most are at least 2 years off regular NRL, its ridiculous that we've given like 8 of them full time contracts for next year.

Starling played for Australia when he was 18.
Ideally in the modern game you want to try to get a pathways player who is a gun and have him eased into the NRL around 20-21 years of age. This way you get a potential star and sign him up long term and on low dollars, just like Bula.
20 year old lads are solid these days and it's a competition that is structured for players to be experienced and at their prime before they hit 25.
The sucess of our club rides on discovering potential stars, developing them, then signing them up.
Kit Laulilii is a classic example. He turns 19 next year and was given a taste of NRL against Manly this year..played great for the short minutes.
He now comes in on a development contract which means he trains full time with the big boys in the preseason and throughout the year. He then could play again after round 11 but more likely develop in lower grades and play in the latter rounds.
Meaning he has his second preseason with the nrl and plays in 2025 in the NRL top 30 squad at the age of 20. Perfect...if he's good enough which I believe he is.

 

[Nutz]

Alex Lobb
I've been reading about this tall solid 21 year old from St George.
10 tries from 22 games and a handy goal kicker. 2023 NSW Cup Player of the Year.
He looks imposing considering Feledy whose running near him is not small.
Hope he goes to the next level as tall wingers are a bonus these days.

 

[Tigerm]

View attachment 81640
Alex Lobb
I've been reading about this tall solid 21 year old from St George.
10 tries from 22 games and a handy goal kicker. 2023 NSW Cup Player of the Year.
He looks imposing considering Feledy whose running near him is not small.
Hope he goes to the next level as tall wingers are a bonus these days.

He needs a bit more beef on those legs hahaha You're right though, he looks a solid lad.

 

[Tigerm]

Yep

Most are at least 2 years off regular NRL, its ridiculous that we've given like 8 of them full time contracts for next year.

Agree Vic, but to be fair, we are a double spoon club, probably not a lot of players knocking on our door, hopefully they will get value out of some of them?
I mean, most of us hadn't really heard of Bula until last preseason and we are a development club, I think there are plenty of good young blokes running around in the NRL already though, you would hope most of our blokes would not be required to play NRL next season, unless they are exceptional or we tank again and we want to give them a taste?

Bringing in plodders hasn't done us much good in the past?

Just out of interest, what's your thoughts on the fair dinkum squad size for a footy club? I know it's 30, and injuries are a factor, but what would we expect to use throughout the season? I was thinking somewhere around a solid 20 plus 4 or 5 next level down to cover injuries / suspensions if required?

 

[Tigerm]

Tongan trio facing ban from NRL season-opener

Three players will need to challenge charges to line up in Round 1.

www.zerotackle.com

Latu Fainu are facing one-match bans for incidents during the match

Must have been a rough game?

 

[Nutz]

Revealed: Who your team will face in round one of the NRL season

The NRL is reconsidering its opening-round draw after scheduling complaints from host broadcasters.

www.smh.com.au

Expected round one schedule
Rabbitohs v Sea Eagles (March 2 in Las Vegas)
Broncos v Roosters (March 2 in Las Vegas)
Knights v Raiders (Thursday, March 7)
Warriors v Sharks (Friday, March 8)
Storm v Panthers (Friday, March 8)
Eels v Bulldogs (Saturday, March 9)
Titans v Dragons (Saturday, March 9)
Dolphins v Cowboys (Sunday, March 10)
Bye: Wests Tigers

Pre-season schedule

February 11: Rabbitohs v Sea Eagles on Central Coast
February 16: Indigenous All Stars v Maori All Stars

Pre-season week one (February 15-18)

Dogs v Storm at Belmore
Sharks v Knights at Central Coast Stadium
Manly v Roosters at Central Coast Stadium
Warriors v Tigers at TBC
Broncos v Cowboys at Mackay
Dragons v Rabbitohs at Kogarah
Eels v Raiders at Kogarah
Dolphins v Titans at Sunshine Coast

Pre-season week two (February February 22-25)

Sharks v Bulldogs at Cronulla
Roosters v Rabbitohs at Cronulla
Dragons v Tigers in Mudgee
Manly v Broncos in Manly
Titans v Eels in Ipswich
Storm v Knights in Fiji
Raiders v Cowboys in Queanbeyan

I kinda like having a bye first up.
More prep time plus we can pick up on the style of play winning teams have adopted in the heat.

 

[Tigerm]

Revealed: Who your team will face in round one of the NRL season

The NRL is reconsidering its opening-round draw after scheduling complaints from host broadcasters.

www.smh.com.au

Expected round one schedule
Rabbitohs v Sea Eagles (March 2 in Las Vegas)
Broncos v Roosters (March 2 in Las Vegas)
Knights v Raiders (Thursday, March 7)
Warriors v Sharks (Friday, March 8)
Storm v Panthers (Friday, March 8)
Eels v Bulldogs (Saturday, March 9)
Titans v Dragons (Saturday, March 9)
Dolphins v Cowboys (Sunday, March 10)
Bye: Wests Tigers

Pre-season schedule

February 11: Rabbitohs v Sea Eagles on Central Coast
February 16: Indigenous All Stars v Maori All Stars

Pre-season week one (February 15-18)

Dogs v Storm at Belmore
Sharks v Knights at Central Coast Stadium
Manly v Roosters at Central Coast Stadium
Warriors v Tigers at TBC
Broncos v Cowboys at Mackay
Dragons v Rabbitohs at Kogarah
Eels v Raiders at Kogarah
Dolphins v Titans at Sunshine Coast

Pre-season week two (February February 22-25)

Sharks v Bulldogs at Cronulla
Roosters v Rabbitohs at Cronulla
Dragons v Tigers in Mudgee
Manly v Broncos in Manly
Titans v Eels in Ipswich
Storm v Knights in Fiji
Raiders v Cowboys in Queanbeyan

I kinda like having a bye first up.
More prep time plus we can pick up on the style of play winning teams have adopted in the heat.

Well, at least we’ll have a win at the end of round one?

 

[simmo05]

We will be 9th again!

 

[Nutz]

Revealed: Who your team will face in round one of the NRL season

The NRL is reconsidering its opening-round draw after scheduling complaints from host broadcasters.

www.smh.com.au

Expected round one schedule
Rabbitohs v Sea Eagles (March 2 in Las Vegas)
Broncos v Roosters (March 2 in Las Vegas)
Knights v Raiders (Thursday, March 7)
Warriors v Sharks (Friday, March 8)
Storm v Panthers (Friday, March 8)
Eels v Bulldogs (Saturday, March 9)
Titans v Dragons (Saturday, March 9)
Dolphins v Cowboys (Sunday, March 10)
Bye: Wests Tigers

Pre-season schedule

Pre-season week one (February 15-18)

Dogs v Storm at Belmore
Sharks v Knights at Central Coast Stadium
Manly v Roosters at Central Coast Stadium
Warriors v Tigers at TBC

Wests Tigers website now stating that the trial against the Warriors will kick off at 2pm local time on Sunday 18th February at Apollo Projects Stadium, Christchurch.

 

[Nutz]

Well, at least we’ll have a win at the end of round one?

....and we'll be in front of at least 3 of the top 8 teams from this years comp. We are on a roll.

 

[Fordy20]

Tongan trio facing ban from NRL season-opener

Three players will need to challenge charges to line up in Round 1.

www.zerotackle.com

Latu Fainu are facing one-match bans for incidents during the match

Must have been a rough game?

Do byes count towards bans?