Rua Ngatikaura

[Geo]

Rua Ngatikaura joins Wests Tigers top squad​

AuthorWests TigersTimestampFri 8 Apr 2022, 02:10 PM

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Wests Tigers are pleased to confirm that Rua Ngatikaura has signed a contract to join our 30-man roster for season’s 2023 and 2024.

The 21 year old hooker captained Wests Tigers’ Jersey Flegg Cup side in 2021 and was subsequently named Player of the Year.
Following his first full pre-season with the Wests Tigers, the young dummy half says he’s delighted to be rewarded with a place in the top squad, “It’s great to get a place in the thirty having come through the lower grades.”

I'm just trying to learn more every day
Rua Ngatikaura

“It’s a big step up and training is just so intense. But I do love the professionalism.”
Rua had a taste of top-flight footy in the pre-season trials, crossing for a try which was overturned against Manly.

His efforts sparked plenty of interest among Wests Tigers fans but he says the attention is not something he thinks too much about, “I’m glad I made a good impression, but I don’t really buy in too much to that kind of stuff. I just want to focus on footy, and improve every day.”
Coach Michael Maguire expects Ngatikaura to make the most of his opportunity, ”He’s obviously a talented player. Now it’s about Rua committing to what’s required to play at the highest level in the game.”
Wests Tigers CEO Justin Pascoe congratulated Ngatikaura on his new deal,

Rua has worked hard to get to this point, and this is a wonderful opportunity for him to develop his career even further with us
Justin Pascoe

“It’s so pleasing to see yet another player come through our lower grades and be added to our top squad
“On behalf of all at Wests Tigers, well done.”

 

[Demps]

Well done Rua 🔥🔥🔥

Big wraps.
Farah said so himself.

 

[oldschooltiger]

You can see a clean out this year.

 

[Mighty_Tiger]

Rua signing on is brilliant news... Needs to be somewhere in the 17 next season

The kid has some spark but he is a mile off NRL level currently.
We have zero need to rush him with Api coming here.
I would prefer next year is a development/groom focus during SOO period as a forward utility bench role with 2024 being more his year.

 

[Pascoes_barber]

Well done Rua 🔥🔥🔥

Big wraps.
Farah said so himself.

Hope to see big boy in first grade before the year is out.

 

[Spartan117]

Great news.

Really happy about this.

 

[Geo]

Reward for effort..

 

[nrlsurvivor]

Much deserved. Let’s hope the production line continues.

 

[Tigers_Wests]

Love hearing this news! Big future ahead for him!
Matamua, Pole and now Rua all signed up....keeping some of the best talent coming through!

 

[Mighty_Tiger]

Congrats on the hard work, playing hard and getting the extension.
Was the standout of the kids during trials, let's hope he kicks on - we are well due.

 

[jadtiger]

Rua signing on is brilliant news... Needs to be somewhere in the 17 next season

Too young,i would be looking for 2024 at the earliest for much exposure to FG

 

[TieDye]

Too young,i would be looking for 2024 at the earliest for much exposure to FG

2023, he makes the squad. Watch. Very confident on this one

 

[cqtiger]

You’d think Liddle is gone next year. Simpkin has a question mark on him, too although his age might save him.

 

[balmain boy]

The kid has some spark but he is a mile off NRL level currently.
We have zero need to rush him with Api coming here.
I would prefer next year is a development/groom focus during SOO period as a forward utility bench role with 2024 being more his year.

Why? He's the same age as Simpkin, and is a bigger body. If we've given Simpkin a number of games there's no reason why Rua wouldn't.

I expect him to play a couple of games this year. Depending on the form of our current hookers, it could even be more. Pending his fitness and ability to play minutes in NSW Cup without getting injured.

 

[boonboon]

I see Rua playing the bench role behind Api because he has the versatility to play in the backrow meaning u have a hooker on the bench but still 4 genuine forwards

 

[pawsandclaws1]

Rua is a great talent but he is only young. Don't place unrealistic expectations upon him as many have done with Simpkin. Simpkin has had to come in well ahead of his time but has been subject to unfair criticism. I wouldn't like to see Rua subjected to the same scrutiny.

 

[hsvjones]

Very exciting and congrats to club for extending before others poached him..
Fingers crossed he may get a run later in the year for experience.

 

[Mighty_Tiger]

Why? He's the same age as Simpkin, and is a bigger body. If we've given Simpkin a number of games there's no reason why Rua wouldn't.

I expect him to play a couple of games this year. Depending on the form of our current hookers, it could even be more. Pending his fitness and ability to play minutes in NSW Cup without getting injured.

Why do we have a fascination to rush him? He just isn't close to ready yet. He has been struggling to be consistent and pace himself in NSW cup. He isn't ready to step up into the NRL zone and have that pressure on him yet.

Reason is I want Rua to spend a chunk of time in NSW Cup is I want him in a dedicated role at lock and to really learn that role for us, next year the flegg boys will come up a grade and he can mould with that pack as they grown through the grades.

I think he could and its a big could be our solution longer term to the lock player we need.

Simpkin has at least been training and playing with the faster/bigger guys for 2yrs despite his age & is infront of Rua development wise. Would I have played him the last 2yrs no, but we had no choice. If we have no choice then fine play Rua but they both should be in NSW Cup for the next year or so unless we are desperate NRL wise.

 

[Elderslie_Tiger]

You’d think Liddle is gone next year. Simpkin has a question mark on him, too although his age might save him.

Do we need 4 hookers???

 

[pawsandclaws1]

Do we need 4 hookers???

Liddle is a fine player and always has been. Certain of our players are singled out for unfair scrutiny and Liddle is one of them.