OFFICIAL Michael Chee Kam #194

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Meet the Recruits: Michael Chee Kam

Dan Talintyre (Twitter: @dantalintyre)

Tue 3rd November, 01:00PM
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Get to know one of our new recruits for season 2016 — Michael Chee Kam!

Chee Kam joins Wests Tigers after spending two seasons with the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles, where he played five NRL games. A former Australian Schoolboys representative, Chee Kam was named in the 2012 NYC Team of the Year for the Canberra Raiders, eventually playing against Wests Tigers in the 2012 NYC Grand Final as a 20-year-old.

Primarily a back-rower, the 23-year-old joins the Club on a one-year deal in 2016, and spoke about his excitement for a new opportunity to make his mark in the NRL.

"I'm pretty excited by this new opportunity," he said. "There's a lot of exciting young players here and I can't wait to maybe have the chance to play alongside them.

"I've never really been at a Club that's got so many young players, especially in the forward — it's helpful to have so many young here to help me settle in.

"I just want to have a really good pre-season and push for a spot in the team for Round 1."

Hear more from Michael Chee Kam about his excitement to join Wests Tigers above.

http://www.weststigers.com.au/news/2015/11/03/meet_the_recruits_mi.html
 
At least he hasn't said anything negative about Jason Taylor and seems to be very optimistic about his new team. Good to hear.
 
He looks the goods and played well for Manly at the back end of last year. Stood out as a centre but got dominated in the forwards. I believe he will start as right centre next year.
 
Youngsters usually state they like older players to teach them the ropes whereas he is happy with fellow younguns - whatever and good luck to him.
 
Wests Tigers centre Michael Chee-Kam benefits from Tim Simona's deregistration

Adam Pengilly - SMH

If Tim Simona has been a sinner, Michael Chee-Kam has been a saint.

While the former's career was spiralling out of control with a flurry of bets that led to his deregistration from the NRL, the man who is now filling the position vacated by Simona was finding his faith.

And after three seasons where he had managed just 10 NRL appearances, Chee-Kam thinks it is no coincidence that opportunity now knocks.

The 25-year-old Aucklander is not the only Tiger who is deeply immersed in his religion. Chee-Kam and teammate Josh Aloiai, who has spoken of his desire to become a pastor once his playing days are over, regularly conduct Bible studies together.

"We all share that same belief in Jesus Christ," Chee-Kam said. "When we train at Campbelltown I will go to Josh's house and we have Bible studies, which is pretty good.

"It's really helped me. Before it was just about footy, footy, footy, and I put all my focus into it, but now I have this end goal I guess.

"I believe He has put me in this place for a reason and I just had to put Him first. I had a couple of missteps back at Manly, but me putting Him first has really elevated my career to the next level to be honest."

So much so that Chee-Kam is keeping Jamal Idris on the Tigers bench for the clash against the Raiders in Canberra on Sunday afternoon.

Having sat on the pine several times for the Tigers last year, Chee-Kam could have been out of the top squad altogether if Simona had not been caught betting on himself and opposition players to score tries as well as against the Tigers.

But now he's hoping the rolling one-year deals that come with being an NRL journeyman might be a thing of the past.

"I wanted to play with the likes of [James] Tedesco, Mitch Moses, Luke Brooks and Aaron Woods," Chee-Kam said. "That's what help bring me here.

"They're exciting players and hard to stop on their day, very dangerous. There's a lot of potential here. They're not really young any more – most of them have played over 50 games – and they're really starting to grow into leaders.

"I remember when I was on the fringes in [under] 20s and seeing a couple of boys come off I would get a little opportunity and you have to make the most of it. I'm trying to feed off that. This is a small opportunity to hold this position and I need to make the most of it."

It might be a small opportunity, but challenges don't come much harder than confronting Raiders centre Joey Leilua who tormented the Tigers in a final-round drubbing at Leichhardt Oval last year when the joint venture had everything to play for.

"He's a beast," Chee-Kam said. "You want to play against the top players in your position and see how you against them. I'm pretty excited to go up against him this week.

"I haven't played against him before, but he's a dangerous player. If I stick to my principles – all the coaches have been working on our defensive [techniques] – I think we will be alright."
 
I hope he cements a spot and becomes the best defensive centre in the game with the ability to set up his winger.
 
With the amount of missed tackles by him last week you would have suspected he was betting with Simona.
Let's hope he doesn't repeat that today.
 
@ said:
With the amount of missed tackles by him last week you would have suspected he was betting with Simona.
Let's hope he doesn't repeat that today.
Click to expand...

Anyone defending near Brooks has his work cut out for him!
 
Michael Chee Kam commits to Wests Tigers

Wests Tigers are pleased to announce that Michael Chee Kam has extended his playing contract with the Club until the end of the 2019 season.

The 25-year-old has played a total of 14 first-grade games since making his debut for the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles in 2014, with his past two seasons in Wests Tigers colours.

The former Australian Schoolboy has featured every NRL match so far this season for Wests Tigers, and said he was extremely excited to commit to the Club long-term.

“I’ve really enjoyed my time at this Club so it’s great to be able to stay here,” he said. “It’s great to have that security sorted now so I can just concentrate fully on my footy.

“I feel like I’ve made a family here,” he said. “I’m really close with all the boys and have made some great friendships and it’s exciting to know I’ll be here for a while longer.

“I’ve been around a few teams now and I don’t want to go anywhere else. I want this to be my last club and I’m really grateful and blessed to have been given this opportunity.

“Speaking with the boys and with the management too, it’s clear that this Club has a great future and I really want to be a part of that in the years to come,” he said.

Wests Tigers CEO Justin Pascoe said he was pleased to see Chee Kam extend his deal with the Club and commit his future to Wests Tigers.

“Since joining the Club, Michael has really bought in to what we are trying to achieve here and it’s pleasing to see him remain here for a further two seasons,” Pascoe said.

“On and off the field, he continually demonstrates the core values of this Club and we are excited to have a player of Michael’s character commit his future to Wests Tigers.

“It’s a great sign that players are on board with what we are building at this Club.”

Wests Tigers General Manager Football Kelly Egan also added his praise for Chee Kam’s hard work over the off-season to secure his place in the NRL team this year.

“Michael has added great versatility to our NRL squad this season,” Egan said, “and I’m very pleased to see him commit to the Club for the next two seasons.

“His progress over last year and throughout the pre-season has been excellent, and we’re delighted to have players with his work ethic want to stay at this Club.

“I’m looking forward to watching him progress further over the next two years.”

After starting all four games so far this season, Chee Kam has been named on the interchange bench for Sunday’s match against the St. George-Illawarra Dragons.

LINK…http://www.weststigers.com.au/news/2017/04/01/michael_chee_kam_com.html
 
This is a good signing. Always puts in, does seem to go sideways at times but is versatile.

Now we have 8 contracted players for next year.
 
Kelly Egan is alive…woooooo..

I guess when you build you start with the bottom up...

Chee-Kam is a solid start..Welcome aboard...
 
@ said:
Kelly Egan is alive…woooooo..

I guess when you build you start with the bottom up...

Chee-Kam is a solid start..Welcome aboard...
Click to expand...

He's been aboard since last year
 
Apart from a couple of defensive lapses against the Panthers, he's probably one player that has actually improved notably since last year - always looks some sort of threat running the ball.

Well, it's a start. Good signing.
 
Good 18th man to have in that he provides decent cover at centre or 2nd row. I still think he's got it in him to be a quality first grader but he's not there yet.
 
Its important we ensure we have some solid depth and don't wait till everyone else is signed to keep those we want.

MCK has been solid for us this year so happy he is staying.
 
Runs the ball with gusto , just needs to defend a lot better than he has

Any bloke who can play centre back row is a welcome signing in my opinion
 
Good re-signing. Love his comments.

I'd like to see how he goes in the second row for 80 mins. We will never know til he gets his chance, he could be a budget McQueen.
 
No complaints with this. Fingers crossed we're so active in the player market that he'll be depth next year. In the space of a couple days we've released a player and re-signed another. Makes you wonder if Cleary is already pulling some strings.
 
@ said:
No complaints with this. Fingers crossed we're so active in the player market that he'll be depth next year. In the space of a couple days we've released a player and re-signed another. Makes you wonder if Cleary is already pulling some strings.
Click to expand...

You'd hope so.
 
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