The injury curse that decimated the Wests Tigers' ranks in Mick Potter's first year as senior coach in 2013 has carried over into the new NRL season.
The joint venture had Tim Moltzen, Braith Anasta, Chris Lawrence, Keith Galloway, Lote Tuqiri and Blake Ayshford all sidelined for extended periods last season and Potter was hopeful his luck would change in 2014.
But that hasn't been the case.
Moltzen fractured his kneecap at training in December, with a mid-year return the best-case scenario, while Dene Halatau is out for at least four months after suffering an ankle injury in the Tigers' 32-8 trial win over Penrith last week in Camden.
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Things became even worse for the Tigers at the NRL Nines in Auckland with utility Curtis Sironen out for six weeks after fracturing his foot on the tournament's opening day.
Before the tournament even began, young flyer David Nofoaluma was ruled out with a hamstring injury.
Young gun Mitchell Moses joined Sironen on the sidelines for the Nines' final day after suffering a shoulder injury on Saturday.
Moses will have precautionary scans on the shoulder when he returns to Australia on Friday, while the Tigers are hopeful Nofoaluma's injury won't rule him out of their round-one clash with St George Illawarra.
NSW prop Aaron Woods, who signed a new three-year deal with the Tigers last week, said the club had the depth to cover for their injury problems.
"We have lost two back-rowers in Dene Halatau and Curtis Sironen but we are confident we have players who can step up and fill that gap," Woods said.
"The back-row is one position where we have the most depth.
"We will head back to training, we have got a trial against the Sharks next week and then rip in round one against the Dragons."
The joint venture had Tim Moltzen, Braith Anasta, Chris Lawrence, Keith Galloway, Lote Tuqiri and Blake Ayshford all sidelined for extended periods last season and Potter was hopeful his luck would change in 2014.
But that hasn't been the case.
Moltzen fractured his kneecap at training in December, with a mid-year return the best-case scenario, while Dene Halatau is out for at least four months after suffering an ankle injury in the Tigers' 32-8 trial win over Penrith last week in Camden.
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Things became even worse for the Tigers at the NRL Nines in Auckland with utility Curtis Sironen out for six weeks after fracturing his foot on the tournament's opening day.
Before the tournament even began, young flyer David Nofoaluma was ruled out with a hamstring injury.
Young gun Mitchell Moses joined Sironen on the sidelines for the Nines' final day after suffering a shoulder injury on Saturday.
Moses will have precautionary scans on the shoulder when he returns to Australia on Friday, while the Tigers are hopeful Nofoaluma's injury won't rule him out of their round-one clash with St George Illawarra.
NSW prop Aaron Woods, who signed a new three-year deal with the Tigers last week, said the club had the depth to cover for their injury problems.
"We have lost two back-rowers in Dene Halatau and Curtis Sironen but we are confident we have players who can step up and fill that gap," Woods said.
"The back-row is one position where we have the most depth.
"We will head back to training, we have got a trial against the Sharks next week and then rip in round one against the Dragons."
