2024 Pre-Season

Last pre season was all positive after our best recruitment in years- "back to entertaining footy, don't want to be five hit ups and kick team "etc. - the outcome/ reality was anything but positive and if anything exposed the weaknesses in the squad all over the park. Back to simple footy and getting the fundamentals right.

I have faith in Benji to succeed as a coach but realistically it probably won't be with this squad.
A couple of injuries to key players and we are in a whole lot of pain. For a club starved of success the lack of patience has all but gone and Benji will have to wear it - deserved or not- just like the coaches with best intentions before him without the cattle to effect change.
 
AmericanHistoryX said:
Click to expand...
The Claymore Bottlo doesn’t have the metal cage anymore, with a hole just big enough to pass a box of beer through.
Perspex wall now with much bigger hole.
Must be safer than when I was last there.
A giant islander hitch a ride with me on the way out of the bottlo once, he gave me some buds for dropping him off at his street. Nice fella.
 
As an old hood rat, Raby was always a cup of tea, airds right next to rosemeadow and ambervale, never mind minto and Mac feilds, claymore, spent my whole childhood life there, the 90s police wouldnt even come to dickensroad ambervale , no exaggeration, you miss alot when you don't walk, happy you could afford a bus tho bro
watch all Spanian's videos.
Todd Packer said:
This one was a bit of an exaggeration.
I lived in Raby for 6 months. I'd catch a train to Minto, then a bus to Raby in the 90's.
Never had a problem, never felt unsafe. In general if you don't search for trouble it doesn't find you.
Edit: It was actually the late 80's, not 90's. You lose track of years after a while.
Click to expand...
 
Does not matter what country you live in or what town or Suburb you go looking for trouble it will find you no problem.
 
Kaito said:
Never talked shit on Siro, like other folks
I won't mention. I read his book a few years
ago, cop, offensive linesman at Hawaii Uni
The man is a legend I'm so glad 4 him.
Made me proud to be a Tiger how he tucked
The ball. Reprsented our club, state & country

Edit: he never talks shit on us
Click to expand...
Good post. He was a fine player and is a great man. He will be involved in the NSW Pathways for rugby league on the NSW North Coast. Let's hope he can send talent our way.

This may be of interes -

During his time in Balmain’s junior pathways the Tigers brought through local junior players including Mitch Moses, Aaron Woods, Luke Brooks, Ryan Papenhuyzen, Nathan Brown and Sironen’s sons Curtis and Bayley.
 

Farewell for Siro at Leichhardt​


He’s one of rugby league’s biggest characters, not just in stature, but popularity too.

On Friday the big fella we know as 'Siro' who played 248 games for his beloved Balmain Tigers was given a heartfelt send-off at Leichhardt Oval. Sironen called time on his role as Wests Tigers Pathways Manager (Balmain) last month in readiness for life’s next chapter, a sea change if you like, on the NSW North Coast.

And just as Siro wanted, no fanfare, no fancy cocktails, just a few cold beers at Leichhardt on a Friday afternoon.

“This is really nice, and I couldn’t think of a better way to say farewell,” Sironen said.

“The club asked me what I might like as a farewell gift, and this is exactly what I wanted.

“It’s been a huge part of my family’s life and who I am as a person but it’s time for a change.

“We’re relocating to the NSW North Coast and very much looking forward to the next phase in life.

“I’ll get to as many games as I can and obviously the Tigers will always be a part of who I am.”

Around one hundred of Siro’s mates, former teammates, and colleagues gathered in the Chairman's Lounge at Leichhardt, trading yarns and reminiscing.

Players past and present were in attendance, including the 2024 NRL squad and one of his ‘besties’, Steve Blocker Roach.

Roach and Sironen were Tigers teammates for eight seasons, both playing in the back-to-back grand final losses in 1988 and 1989.

They also packed down together on countless occasions for the Kangaroos and in Origin for NSW.

As Siro explained earlier this year on Wests Tigers official podcast, Behind The Roar, not winning a grand final is his greatest disappointment in a decorated career.

Up 12-2 at half time against the Raiders in the ’89 decider, after the big fella found himself on the end of a wonderful team try, he admits he thought the title was theirs for the taking. Sadly, it was not to be.

A man-mountain of Finnish descent, Sironen has given plenty to the game since those heady days in the 80’s when he was one of the chosen few to star in the ARL’s Simply The Best campaign.

He’s also dedicated much of his life to the Tigers, both the Balmain and Wests variety. In fact, the 58-year-old bit-part Lowes Menswear actor has been tied to the club for more than half his life. Siro played more games than any other in the history of Balmain Tigers before filling various roles over two decades at Wests Tigers, including board member and pathways manager.

Wests Tigers CEO Justin Pascoe paid tribute Sironen at Leichhardt Oval on Friday afternoon saying his contribution to the club has been invaluable.

"Paul's transition from a stellar playing career to nurturing young talent has been a testament to his commitment to our sport and this club," Pasco said.

"We wish Paul and his family all the happiness in the world in their next phase in life."

Thank you Sirro. Not goodbye. Just farewell.


Blocker sharing a yarn with Benji Marshall, John Skandalis and Bronson Harrison


Siro and Blocker embrace



Anyone seen Siro?


Look at the scoreboard: Most ever games for Balmain Tigers
 
Tiger_Fanatic3 said:

Farewell for Siro at Leichhardt​


He’s one of rugby league’s biggest characters, not just in stature, but popularity too.

On Friday the big fella we know as 'Siro' who played 248 games for his beloved Balmain Tigers was given a heartfelt send-off at Leichhardt Oval. Sironen called time on his role as Wests Tigers Pathways Manager (Balmain) last month in readiness for life’s next chapter, a sea change if you like, on the NSW North Coast.

And just as Siro wanted, no fanfare, no fancy cocktails, just a few cold beers at Leichhardt on a Friday afternoon.

“This is really nice, and I couldn’t think of a better way to say farewell,” Sironen said.

“The club asked me what I might like as a farewell gift, and this is exactly what I wanted.

“It’s been a huge part of my family’s life and who I am as a person but it’s time for a change.

“We’re relocating to the NSW North Coast and very much looking forward to the next phase in life.

“I’ll get to as many games as I can and obviously the Tigers will always be a part of who I am.”

Around one hundred of Siro’s mates, former teammates, and colleagues gathered in the Chairman's Lounge at Leichhardt, trading yarns and reminiscing.

Players past and present were in attendance, including the 2024 NRL squad and one of his ‘besties’, Steve Blocker Roach.

Roach and Sironen were Tigers teammates for eight seasons, both playing in the back-to-back grand final losses in 1988 and 1989.

They also packed down together on countless occasions for the Kangaroos and in Origin for NSW.

As Siro explained earlier this year on Wests Tigers official podcast, Behind The Roar, not winning a grand final is his greatest disappointment in a decorated career.

Up 12-2 at half time against the Raiders in the ’89 decider, after the big fella found himself on the end of a wonderful team try, he admits he thought the title was theirs for the taking. Sadly, it was not to be.

A man-mountain of Finnish descent, Sironen has given plenty to the game since those heady days in the 80’s when he was one of the chosen few to star in the ARL’s Simply The Best campaign.

He’s also dedicated much of his life to the Tigers, both the Balmain and Wests variety. In fact, the 58-year-old bit-part Lowes Menswear actor has been tied to the club for more than half his life. Siro played more games than any other in the history of Balmain Tigers before filling various roles over two decades at Wests Tigers, including board member and pathways manager.

Wests Tigers CEO Justin Pascoe paid tribute Sironen at Leichhardt Oval on Friday afternoon saying his contribution to the club has been invaluable.

"Paul's transition from a stellar playing career to nurturing young talent has been a testament to his commitment to our sport and this club," Pasco said.

"We wish Paul and his family all the happiness in the world in their next phase in life."

Thank you Sirro. Not goodbye. Just farewell.


Blocker sharing a yarn with Benji Marshall, John Skandalis and Bronson Harrison


Siro and Blocker embrace



Anyone seen Siro?


Look at the scoreboard: Most ever games for Balmain Tigers
Click to expand...
Surely Sirro is older than 58 ......I'm 54 .....
 
How far up the coast they going?

One rainy day happened to pop into a Cafe in Newcastle and block and sirro were having breakfast together.
 
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