2025 finishing 13th on the ladder. Pass or Fail fro season 2025?
- Thread starter jstigers
- Start date
That’s fair.
It’s on the right trajectory at least.
In 23 we were in a game until the 20th minute then the turn of possession started a run that we couldn’t claw back.
In 24 we would show promising signs for a half in a match and be blown away in the second.
In 25 we have shown we can compete with other teams but we still don’t have the game control methods and mental resilience to win a match and those 15 to 20mins a match is where it turned.
Next year hopefully we match other sides and stay in the contest for the duration hopefully a 2009 style season is on the cards, still one of our most important seasons in my opinion as it set us up for the next couple of years.
rozelle_rudy
Well-known member
My reflections on Wests Tigers season:
*Definite improvement.
*Benji coaching, pass mark.
Highlights:
*wins over 3 top 8 sides Roosters, Bulldogs, Sharks
*Emergence of May brothers, Fainu brothers, Makasini.
*Doueihi's late season run at halfback
*some talented juniors on the horizon
*Lowlights:
* losses to bottom teams Titans and Knights (but we also beat them)
*Thrashing by Storm
*Choking against Cowboys and Titans
*The Galvin saga.
We still don't look like a 2026 finals team unless we get a couple more middle forwards and more depth.
Also need to unleash Luai and play 80 minutes.
*Definite improvement.
*Benji coaching, pass mark.
Highlights:
*wins over 3 top 8 sides Roosters, Bulldogs, Sharks
*Emergence of May brothers, Fainu brothers, Makasini.
*Doueihi's late season run at halfback
*some talented juniors on the horizon
*Lowlights:
* losses to bottom teams Titans and Knights (but we also beat them)
*Thrashing by Storm
*Choking against Cowboys and Titans
*The Galvin saga.
We still don't look like a 2026 finals team unless we get a couple more middle forwards and more depth.
Also need to unleash Luai and play 80 minutes.
Bubba
Active member
My honest assessment.
We improved, no doubt.
We have some exciting kids coming through.
We have made some good signings.
We have retained some quality players.
But.
We have not had an organising and dominant halfback since Scott Prince.
Until this is addressed, we will continue to throw away games like we did against the Cowboys, Titans, Knights and Warriors.
Signing Luai and thinking he was going to be our Cleary/Reynolds was never going to happen.
Our best players were:
Bula
Turuva
Samuela
Api
Terrell.
Next year,
Taylan will be fitter and stronger.
KPP will add a lot on the right edge.
Makasini will be boom boom!!
Jock Madden is a mystery.
We have hope ad we will improve further.
Could we see this next year?
Bula
Turuva
Taylan
To'a
Skelton
Luai
Madden
Terrell
Api
Fonua
KPP
Samuela
Doueihi
Latu
Twal
Sione
Hunt/Geyer
We improved, no doubt.
We have some exciting kids coming through.
We have made some good signings.
We have retained some quality players.
But.
We have not had an organising and dominant halfback since Scott Prince.
Until this is addressed, we will continue to throw away games like we did against the Cowboys, Titans, Knights and Warriors.
Signing Luai and thinking he was going to be our Cleary/Reynolds was never going to happen.
Our best players were:
Bula
Turuva
Samuela
Api
Terrell.
Next year,
Taylan will be fitter and stronger.
KPP will add a lot on the right edge.
Makasini will be boom boom!!
Jock Madden is a mystery.
We have hope ad we will improve further.
Could we see this next year?
Bula
Turuva
Taylan
To'a
Skelton
Luai
Madden
Terrell
Api
Fonua
KPP
Samuela
Doueihi
Latu
Twal
Sione
Hunt/Geyer
The_Patriot
Well-known member
Letting in tries 5 minutes before the half.
Being in games and giving up half way through a second half.
No defensive resolve.
Clunky redzone attack.
Depth position in squad not being up to the standard needed.
Team selection issues/ bench use issues.
It's a fail from me.
Other teams outside the 8 have shown more.
Need to recruit middles. Two or three of them ASAP as it all stems from there
Being in games and giving up half way through a second half.
No defensive resolve.
Clunky redzone attack.
Depth position in squad not being up to the standard needed.
Team selection issues/ bench use issues.
It's a fail from me.
Other teams outside the 8 have shown more.
Need to recruit middles. Two or three of them ASAP as it all stems from there
Enmore_Tiger
Well-known member
From the Dan Walsh article in the SMH today:
"NRL bench selections and team composition for finals take on Origin-level importance given the increased ball-in-play, fatigue and quality of opposition.
Shuffling a back-rower or dismantling a playmaking spine to cover – as Canterbury did to cover Bronson Xerri’s concussion against Cronulla – is less likely to fly because finals-standard teams are better at exploiting any man-on-man match-up.
In the past seven Origin series, 14 outside backs or halves have gone down injured or been taken off for HIAs.
Carrying an outside back or a utility on the bench that can genuinely defend out wide has emerged as a key consideration come Origin time – and now NRL finals, too."
What does this tell us about our squad composition for the Cowboys and Titans losses dealing with the back half of the game and what recruiting needs to be done?
"NRL bench selections and team composition for finals take on Origin-level importance given the increased ball-in-play, fatigue and quality of opposition.
Shuffling a back-rower or dismantling a playmaking spine to cover – as Canterbury did to cover Bronson Xerri’s concussion against Cronulla – is less likely to fly because finals-standard teams are better at exploiting any man-on-man match-up.
In the past seven Origin series, 14 outside backs or halves have gone down injured or been taken off for HIAs.
Carrying an outside back or a utility on the bench that can genuinely defend out wide has emerged as a key consideration come Origin time – and now NRL finals, too."
What does this tell us about our squad composition for the Cowboys and Titans losses dealing with the back half of the game and what recruiting needs to be done?
jirskyr
Well-known member
Those numbers are misleading though. Not to say it wasn't a better year for Tigers injuries, but how do you count "missed games"? It assumes the player would have played if not injured, which is not always true. It also doesn't count matches where players played injured, perhaps where the club didn't have a better alternative.
It also over-represents long-term injury, so if you do your ACL in the pre-season you count as 24 missed matches, no consideration taken of your all-season form. A season-ending ACL is obviously worse for your starting halfback than for one of your backup backrowers.
jirskyr
Well-known member
I agree - definitely not a pass but also not a clear fail.
I think we need to take into account the fact we got the spoon 3 years in a row, not just 1 bad run, but 3 times straight.
9 wins is also the most we've managed since 2019 (2020 being a reduced season). In fact, unfortunately, we've only done better than 9 wins 5 times since 2011.
So by competition-wide standards it's a failed season, same with everyone outside the 8 and including the teams that get knocked out of the finals quickly.
By Tigers standards, actually an improvement, but only comparing against a horrible record.
If we'd got the spoon again, despite all the changes and recruitment, I don't know what I would have done. Suppose lost most of my hope. There remains some hope for 2026, if we can put aside the disappointing end to 2025 and that 6-game losing streak mid-year where we copped a few injuries and lost our way.
Lastly - I don't anticipate any star up-and-coming players will weasel their way out of their contract mid-season 2026, but you never know.
Fail, the two losses against Cowboys and Titans was evidence of that.
No doubt there has been improvement, but when you consider the money spent in the off season and the injury toll, a little disappointing.
There was a definite improvement in there attitude and resolve which we can hopefully build on, for a better 2026.
No doubt there has been improvement, but when you consider the money spent in the off season and the injury toll, a little disappointing.
There was a definite improvement in there attitude and resolve which we can hopefully build on, for a better 2026.
dazza65
Well-known member
Meh.
At least not another spoon but very deflating back end.
At least not another spoon but very deflating back end.
rozelle_rudy
Well-known member
We don't have a good 14 able to cover hooker. Unless Latu can be turned into one. But his shoulder fragility is a worry. Latu's long kicking game needs some work, but it's better than Luai's.
When Latu went off against Titans, we had a terrible kicking game. Our fatigue meant they were able to keep us in our own half, and the 5th tackle kicks were helping them.
Jolls
Well-known member
We didn't make the eight so from a results based perspective the season is a fail. However, Pass/Fail is subjective and depends on what your outlook was at the start of the year - predicting Top 8, 10 wins or in my case 12th means the season is still a failure. One win more and the latter two would be considered pass marks.
For me I think we need to look at the season in more depth to understand if it is an abject failure or if it is on the growth pathway.
For me I think we need to look at the season in more depth to understand if it is an abject failure or if it is on the growth pathway.
Stats
- Finish: 13th
- Record: 9–15 (3 byes), PF/PA: 477–612, Diff: −135 → 19.9 points scored & 25.5 conceded per game (24 matches).
Key Issues
- Mid-season volatility in the spine: Galvin released (30 May), Sullivan loaned out, Doueihi moved around then suffered a fractured cheekbone late; Luai missed time (suspension/shoulder).
- Close-out pain: The Cowboys’and Titans combacks over the last fortnight sums up the game-management issues.
Roster balance & overall talent — PASS (long-term), FAIL (2025 impact)
- Blue-chip arrivals (Luai/Turuva/May brothers) add genuine ceiling, but so many changes over the last off season affected the middle/edge balance - which was still below FG standard (Seyfarth/Sukkar)
Spine stability (1/6/7/9) — FAIL
- Frequent reshuffles + Galvin’s release + Luai’s suspension + Doueihi/Latu rotation = poor cohesion.
Middle/ruck control & yardage platform — FAIL
- Lack of depth in the pack was evident throughout the season and is reflcted int he defensive performance (25.5 ppg conceded).
Edge defence & connection — FAIL
- Weak edge defence as a result of changing combinations and a lack of quality edge defenders. Seyfarth/Toa have been caught out on many occasions.
Attack/points creation — FAIL
- 19.9 ppg isn’t finals-level output with the current defensive profile (25.5ppg). This is linked to spine stability; however, our ability to create shape is limited. There are moments where we are excellent but for the main we lack attacking flair.
Kicking game (long, contestables, exits) — FAIL
- May be linked to spine instability; however, more likely this is a significant shortfall in our attacking capabilities. Our inability to win territory the territory game combined with average to poor end of set execution hampers our ability to apply and maintain pressure.
- This is a significant shortfall that needs to be addressed over the off season.
Goal-kicking — PASS (just)
- Doueihi kicking below 75% and Api kicking at 80% has Wests Tigers down the bottom of the gola kiker rankings. Work required in this area.
Discipline & availability — PASS
- Penalties and sin bins significantly reduced in comparison to 2024. This is a double edged stat - improvements here usually reflect a less effective middle defence (lack of ruck control)
- Availability of playing group best in the NRL.
Coaching — MIXED → PASS (culture/attitude), FAIL (systems & game management)
- Early signs of defensive improvement under Benji were noted, but season-long numbers and late-game control lagged behind top-8 standards.
Recruitment/retention process — PASS
- Contine to recruit well; however, we are still light on in forward quality.
- Retentained talent that align with develoment aspirations. Had to make some hard calls: Api over TDS and early release of Galvin. Despite the drain there appears to be the required depth to cover the losses.
Fan engagement & home environment — PASS
- Strong attendances (avg 15k+, 26k peak) show buy-in and a platform to leverage with improved on field results.
What moves 13th → Top-8 in 2026 (priority order)
- Lock the spine and live with it (Luai-Fainu/Doueihi-Koroisau-Bula). Identify it, develop it, protect it and live with the benefits of a stable spine. Develop the kicking game and strong kick-chase rules.
- Rebuild the middle rotation profile (one elite post-contact carrier, one high-motor link, one enforcer) to stabilise ruck speed and lower PA < 21 ppg. Failure to recruit a dominant middle and either develop AD or identify a quality lock will see us struggle again in 2026.
- Edge D system tune-up (compressed-then-release principles, clearer assignments for centres/wingers). The Cowboys/Titans collapse is the cautionary tale.
- Late-game scripts — we need to learn how to manage and close out games. Develop set packages to close out games.
Enmore_Tiger
Well-known member
In real terms what was the value of salary cap we resourced the squad with? Front loading, paying out cap problems etc? How much more cap in real terms will we play with next year?
The weak bench and middle rotation was related to cap renovation right?
upthetigers
Well-known member
Welcome to the forum mate, there are a few lunatics on here including myself but we all share support for this great club.
Jolls
Well-known member
I think it was part of the development process - but only somone on the inside knows for sure. It coudl have simply been that we just couldn't recruit the missing peices despite have $ to do so. In that case front loading contracts to enable us to buy better in the next recruiting round makes sense.
We appear to have done pretty well in the $ for capability recently. You can argue about what Luai is providing football wise but our more recent recruits seem to be good value purchases. Luai may also be good value in his ability to aid in attracting higher quality players to the club. It would be so much better if his output on the paddock matched up to what he is being paid.
I am hopeful for for 2026 - a settled spine is important and improved edge defence and depth is also something that I trust has been adddressed with the additionof KPP. My real concern is support for TDM in the middle (we need and Alpha prop) and the ability of AD to transition to 13. If he is not to be the 13 we need to recruit an NRL ready 13 over the off season.
Tito Santana
Well-known member
We got opened up in the Cowboys game and the Titans game on the right edge noting Latu was off both times. Kid is a gun defender.
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