Season 2026

[Tigerm]

https://www.weststigers.com.au/news/2026/02/17/261710---content---wests-tigers-team-list--pre-season-challenge-v-panthers/

1. Jahream Bula
2. Heamasi Makasini
3. Taylan May
4. Star To’a
5. Sunia Turuva
6. Jarome Luai (c)
7. Adam Doueihi
8. Bunty Afoa
9. Api Koroisau (c)
10. Fonua Pole
11. Samuela Fainu
12. Kai Pearce-Paul
13. Alex Twal
14. Jock Madden
15. Jack Attard
16. Alex Seyfarth
17. Sione Fainu
18. Patrick Herbert
19. Tony Sukkar
20. Kit Laulilii
21. Tristan Hope
22. Heath Mason
23. Luke Laulilii
24. Jared Haywood
25. Mavrik Geyer
26. Tino Tavana
27. Charlie Murray
28. Javon Andrews

That first 13 (barring Te May) is probably our starting side for R2.
Good to see Masi there, but still think Skelton will take his place when he's fit, unless of course he kills and makes it impossible to drop him. This is the beauty of having depth, perform or perish.
I think the 14 is up for grabs for R2, but Jock is certainly a candidate.
IMO, the 15-17, will be Is Fainu, Seyfarth & Hunt if they are all fit for R2 game. Though Bunty might have something to say about this haha.

 

[macnaz]

I hadn't watched a lot of KPP playing but watching this highlights reel im excited to see what he can bring to the club. He could be an absolute game changer for us.

 

[TheDefinitionOfMadness]

I don't think Newcastle's style of play last year helped him. Their game plan for the forwards seemed to be safety first at all costs. The tigers should suit him better. He seems to be a good off loader which will be encouraged here. Hopefully his passes will go to hand and create 2nd phase play and some line breaks, rather than on the ground for a 5 metre loss. Im not sure whether his defence is good or bad.

 

[Tigerm]

Bring it on.

 

[Nutz]

Waiting another 4rds for Latu to play.
Why then have they been saying he's training the house down.
Probably just not contact ready but jeez he's been out for a while.

 

[Tigerm]

 

[Tigerm]

Waiting another 4rds for Latu to play.
Why then have they been saying he's training the house down.
Probably just not contact ready but jeez he's been out for a while.

I think he will have to work his way back up to the NRL as well, there are a few in front of him now.
But he's young, everyone knows what he's capable of, there should be no mad rush to get him there.

 

[Tigerm]

 

[Nutz]

Good to see AD getting shoulders ready for gane contact.

 

[Nutz]

I see it as a positive.

 

[Nutz]

I think he will have to work his way back up to the NRL as well, there are a few in front of him now.
But he's young, everyone knows what he's capable of, there should be no mad rush to get him there.

A few? We don't have any dedicated halves except Madden.

 

[Tigerm]

Good to see AD getting shoulders ready for gane contact.

Hopefully they all are.

 

[Tigerm]

A few? We don't have any dedicated halves except Madden.

AD & Madden, Api at a pinch.
All I'm suggesting is, he doesn't need to rush, he needs to get his body right.

 

[Nutz]

AD & Madden, Api at a pinch.
All I'm suggesting is, he doesn't need to rush, he needs to get his body right.

Not Api. But fair enough Tm, I get your point.
What it does show us thiugh, is this great little half back who is our future ½ imo must have been really banged up properly last year which prevented us from seeing what he can really do.

 

[Tigerm]

Not Api. But fair enough Tm, I get your point.
What it does show us thiugh, is this great little half back who is our future ½ imo must have been really banged up properly last year which prevented us from seeing what he can really do.

I mentioned Api, because he can play 7 if needed and we have good depth at 9.

I don't think there is any question, that Latu is not our future, but he seems to go kamikaze in attack and defence, which just doesn't work all the time in the NRL.
1. Because his body isn't strong enough yet.
2. NRL players are prepared to elite levels to stop this.

From memory, I believe Benji had similar problems when he was just starting out.

I think he's 20 now, he has 12+ years ahead of him, if he learns his trade and doesn't let his ego run wild, I think his brothers will help him there.

 

[Tiger05]

How funny is Benji. He just loves it. I'm not sure if he should be on the field so much but he can't help himself.

 

[Tigerm]

In fact, we have good depth in all positions ATM

 

[Tigerm]

How funny is Benji. He just loves it. I'm not sure if he should be on the field so much but he can't help himself.

In there face, hands on coaching.
The players seem to like it.

 

[Tiger05]

I don't think there is any question, that he is not our future, but he seems to go kamikaze in attack and defence, which just doesn't work all the time in the NRL.
1. Because his body isn't strong enough yet.
2. NRL players are prepared to elite levels to stop this.

From memory, I believe Benji had similar problems when he was just starting out.

I don't think it's his body in relation to not having done enough strength training or growing. I think he is just one of those players that gets injured a lot.

At the same time I hope he grows out of those injuries because he is a potential gun. I heard him talking and he stated he wanted to prove he could be the player he was always considered to be growing up. In other words he is miles off fulfilling his potential.

As for depth I reckon we have great depth at the moment. Madden and Fainu as halves depth. Hope and Haywood for hookers. We have Skelton and Herbert in the outside backs. Fullback is a potentially an issue but they could play To'a or Turuva there.

There is depth in the forwards as well. It looks a big skinny in the middle forwards right now but May and Hunt are currently out.

I think this is a pretty good squad. The only issue is plenty of teams will have good squads as well.

 

[Tigerm]

I don't think it's his body in relation to not having done enough strength training or growing. I think he is just one of those players that gets injured a lot.

At the same time I hope he grows out of those injuries because he is a potential gun. I heard him talking and he stated he wanted to prove he could be the player he was always considered to be growing up. In other words he is miles off fulfilling his potential.

As for depth I reckon we have great depth at the moment. Madden and Fainu as halves depth. Hope and Haywood for hookers. We have Skelton and Herbert in the outside backs. Fullback is a potentially an issue but they could play To'a or Turuva there.

There is depth in the forwards as well. It looks a big skinny in the middle forwards right now but May and Hunt are currently out.

I think this is a pretty good squad. The only issue is plenty of teams will have good squads as well.

The newest arrival at the Wests Tigers, fullback Jack Attard, joins the club on a three-year contract after being granted a mutual release from the Penrith Panthers.

Once seen as Dylan Edwards' future successor at the Panthers, Attard is highly regarded among rugby league officials and the 2024 Australian Schoolboy could easily slot into the No.1 jumper if Jahream Bula either gets injured or departs the club.

Granted the opportunity to train with the Panthers' first-grade squad earlier in the year on a four-week block, Attard has been a standout performer in the lower grades and was set to play in the NRL Pre-Season Challenge in 2025 before being ruled out with a back injury.

In his only two NSW Cup matches this year, the youngster scored two tries and averaged 123 running metres per match, showing plenty of promise on the field in the fullback role.
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Not sure if he's eligible to play FG, but he will be a back up if Bula gets injured?

Rookie Watch: The TEN best young prospects yet to debut at Wests Tigers

What players are you looking forward to watching?

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