2023 Pre Season

Wests Tigers’ 2023 pre-season has officially commenced at the club’s new Centre of Excellence, with players clocking on for day one of the team’s pre-Christmas block of training.

The 2023 squad is among the youngest in the club’s 24-year history, with eight players in the top-30 having played no more than 10 NRL games, and five yet to get a taste of first grade football.

Stepping up from development contracts last season and yet to play NRL are Brandon Tumeth (Concord Burwood Wolves), Apisalome Saukuru (Hurstville United), and Sione Fainu (former NSW U/18’s prop). 2022 Rookie of the Year, Fonua Pole is also elevated to the top-30 after being on a development contract last season.

The other two players in the top-30 who are yet to play first grade are hooker, Ngatikaura and outside back, Triston Reilly.

Reilly joined the club mid-season this year from the NSW Waratahs, and played nine games for the Magpies in the NSW Cup. Ngatikaura signed a two-year deal to join the senior squad in April, before suffering a season-ending ankle injury in May.

There are a couple of other young players in the squad itching to make a return from injury, who could add significant punch to the side. Shawn Blore and Tommy Talau both missed the entire 2022 season through injury but have recently signed one-year contract extensions.
Campbelltown junior Justin Matamua, who made his NRL debut last season, is one four players to be handed development contracts in 2023.

The club’s other three development players include Kitione Kautoga, who also made his NRL debut last season, former Manly junior representative captain Josh Feledy, and former Junior Kiwi, Christian Ma’anaima.

Pre-season training will also involve several ‘train and trial’ players, some of whom are on short term deals, and others, like Wests Magpies Harold Matthews premiership-winning prop Jordan Miller, are locked in for the season.

Much has changed with the playing roster leading into the new season, and so too the coaching and performance staff.

Four-time premiership winning coach Tim Sheens returns as head coach and will be assisted by fellow Wests Tigers Life Members, Benji Marshall and Robbie Farah, as well as former Canberra player and coach, David Furner.

Wayne Lambkin is also part of the senior coaching team. He'll continue to coach our NSW Cup side, and also take on a new role as ‘transitions coach’, helping younger players make the step up to full time training.

Former club physio Peter Moussa is also back on deck as head of high performance and is joined by a new-look team of rehab and sports science staff.


2023 Development Players
Josh Feledy
Kitione Kautoga
Christian Ma'anaima
Justin Matamua

Train & Trial (full season)
Jahream Bula
Zane Camroux
Tallyn Da Silva
Kit Laulili'i
Brandon Mansfield
Jordan Miller
Trey Peni
Tony Sukkar

Train & Trial (pre-season)
Jordan Hill
Kade Hill
Ben Houston
Atiasi James
Luke Knight
Livai Saukuru
Keenan Tempest
Bruce Ward
 
Trey Peni is an interesting one. Personally dont think he's shown a lot but seems highly rated by the club. Small for a modern outside back too. Will see how he goes after another full season.
 
Ben Houston, captain of Randwick Rugby Union Club, one to keep an eye on. A big, mobile prop/second-rower, made the most tackles in the Shute Shield last season and has decided to try his hand at league. Sheens mentioned at this stage he is on a train and trial contract but is fitting in very well.

He has a minimal league background but is big, mobile and aggressive… we can see a bit there.
We will see how he goes in the trials.
 
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