FUTURE’S BRIGHT AT THE TIGERS DESPITE CURRENT WOES
Yes, they
lost convincingly to the Cowboys in Round 22.
Yes,
Stefano Utoikamanu and Isaiah Papali’i are leaving the club at the end of the season. And yes,
John Bateman may well follow them out the door at the end of the year.
But make no mistake, something special is brewing at the Wests Tigers.
Jarome Luai arrives in 2025, fresh from a career year that saw him take hold of an Origin series, play a key role in a historic Blues series win and show the rugby league world that he can function at an elite level without Nathan Cleary by his side.
He will join the Tigers side with the potential to have the same earth-shattering, cultural transforming impact as his great mate Stephen Crichton has had at the Bulldogs this year.
Sunia Turuva will also arrive, bringing a wealth of winning experiencing from the Penrith Panthers and improving the Tigers ability to bring the ball out of their own end.
But forget about what’s coming and focus what’s already within the four walls at Concord.
Lachlan Galvin (19) spearheads a young core of promising Tigers that includes Latu Fainu (19), Samuela Fainu (20), Sione Fainu (23), Jahream Bula (22), Tallyn Da Silva (19), Fonua Pole (22) and Solomona Faataape (23).
Add Reuben Porter into the mix, who at 27 would be considered an old head in the Tigers dressing room, but has played just seven first grade games.
Galvin, Bula, Samuela Fainu and Porter stood out for the Tigers against the Cowboys, despite their loss.
Bula scored twice, ran for 263 metres and had three line breaks in a performance that proved once more why he is one of the highest-rated fullback prospects in rugby league at the moment.
Fainu opened the scoring early in the game, and found the try line once again in the second half. He finished with 98 run metres and 27 tackles, with just one miss, while his combination with Galvin improves from week-to-week.
And what can be said about Galvin that hasn’t already been said. He is a delight to watch, always looking to take the game on, always looking to create something for himself and his teammates every time he gets the ball.
Imagine what he can achieve with Luai’s guidance?
Imagine that they could all achieve with Luai’s guidance? Seriously, imagine it.
For that reason Tigers fans should cast their eye towards the future not with debilitating pessimism, but with true optimism that the arrival of a serial winner in Luai, to go with the leadership of Api Koroisau, could elevate their young star’s performance levels exponentially.
Speaking post-game, Tigers coach Benji Marshall shared his belief the future is bright at Concord.
“Although we might not be getting the results I feel there’s been a lot of promise about where we are going in the future,” he said.
With the host of young talent in the walls already, and the arrivals of a serial winner in Luai, it’s easy to see why Marshall feels this way.
Woes mask scary revival brewing at Tigers; crucial step in Dragons comeback — NRL Talking Pts
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