Full interviews with Luai, Turuva and May. Hard not to get excited hearing the way they talk about the club.
Wests Tigers Podcast - Talking everything Wests Tigers!
Yep I’m getting real excited now. Great interviews.
Bring on Pre Season!
Yep I’m getting real excited now. Great interviews.
Bring on Pre Season!
What I like is that I feel for different reasons that there’s a lot of guys that are out to prove their credentials this year, especially all the recruits.
Wests Tigers Podcast - Talking everything Wests Tigers!
May is definately a different character. I hope it ends up well for him here but he is a bit of a strange one.
Anyone read the Brent Naden interview?
Top 8 2023
@frullens no, can’t access it. Sounds like he’s put himself in a position to be considered for round one. That’s good for him and us.
Wests Tigers Podcast - Talking everything Wests Tigers!
Wests Tigers star Brent Naden reveals why Benji Marshall was ‘off’ him
After a turbulent 2024 Wests Tigers star Brent Naden has opened up on his falling out with coach Benji Marshall and addressed the speculation surrounding his future.
Brent Naden had plenty to contend with last season. There was his broken relationship with coach Benji Marshall which needed instant repairing, and the fact that he had been openly shopped around to rival clubs in Australia and England.
The speculation may have broken Naden in the past but after an up-and-down 2024, he returned to pre-season training at the Tigers refreshed and reinvigorated as he looks to resurrect his career.
Brent Naden has opened up on a turbulent 2024 season. Picture: Getty Images
RELATIONSHIP WITH BENJI
There is little doubt Marshall lost faith in Naden last year.
The Tigers coach publicly criticised the outside back following a match against the Dolphins which led to Naden being sin-binned.
Privately the pair had fallen out too with Naden refusing to shake Marshall’s hand following that game in Magic Round. He would go on to play just four more matches in the top grade.
“Benji lost a bit of trust with me,” Naden conceded.
“Benji and I had a thing but we cleared the air.
“He said what he had to say. It was a good rocket up the arse but I’m ready to go and rip in.
“I had a yarn to him just after pre-season started and the talk has been positive since.”
Naden admits coach Benji Marshall lost faith in him, but says they have cleared the air. Picture: Getty Images
SHOPPING SPREE
A host of Tigers including Naden were told they were free to leave the club last season. Two of them are already gone in Jayden Sullivan and John Bateman.
Naden has instead remained at the club and wants to see out the final year of his deal this year.
Multiple reports had him all but gone to the Super League for this year, but Naden said he never really considered moving across the globe.
“I tried to block it out,” Naden said.
“I didn’t read it. I don’t read the papers and I only have social media to keep up with family and friends. Everyone has the right to an opinion. It added fuel to my fire this year.
“My family does talk about it a fair bit.
Marshall was critical of Naden after he was sin-binned against the Dolphins in Round 11. Picture: NRL Images.
“It got hard but when I switched off from footy and refocused, I felt like I am ready now. I am not done with footy. I’ve set myself up for a good year.
“I wasn’t ready and I’m still not ready to leave the NRL. I still want to play in the NRL.
“I had a conversation with Richo (Tigers boss Shane Richardson) at the end of last year. It was a good chat and I have a point to prove that I have plenty of football left in me.
“When eventually I do leave here I don’t want to leave on bad terms.
“I’ve never left a club on bad terms. “
Naden has impressed Wests Tigers during pre-season training. Picture: Jonathan Ng
RETURNING STRONG
While Lachie Galvin continues to set the fitness benchmark at the club, Tigers insiders have been nothing but impressed by the way Naden trained before Christmas.
He was fitter and stronger than he had ever been and the 29-year-old looks prime for a strong season. Naden said the secret was simple.
“I simply switched off in the off-season,” Naden said.
“Footy is always around. If you’re not playing, you’re watching the other games. When you go out people are talking to you about footy.
“You can’t switch off but this season I’ve tried. I turned my phone off in the pre-season. I went camping and hung out with my family.
“(In previous years) I’d train a couple of days and then stress about making my times. When I switched off mentally I wasn’t thinking about it. I wasn’t stressed.”
In memory of Geoff Chisholm (1965-2022)
Off-season marathon steels May to be Tigers' ironman
After spending his Christmas break putting himself through the pain of running his first marathon, new prop Terrell May is prepared to be an ironman and play 80 minutes in the middle for Wests Tigers.
Shown the door by the Sydney Roosters after a standout 2024 season, May has moved to Wests Tigers with ambitions of leading the club out of the NRL doldrums and earning a NSW State of Origin call-up in 2025.
Four years ago, the Samoan prop was a train-and-triallist at the Tigers before landing at the Roosters and earning a reputation as one of the most durable front-rowers in the game.
May, now back in Tigers colours under second-year coach Benji Marshall, reckons his ability to go for longer than most props is his standout quality.
The 112kg prop further underlined his physical and mental toughness by running a marathon with friends at his local athletics track.
"I didn't prep for it and I don't suggest anyone does that because it's pretty tough," May told AAP.
"I hit (a speed of) 7min40 secs (per km) which is not the best but I just wanted to complete it.
"I'm going to try and do an official one at the end of this year and get the medal to say, 'I completed a marathon'.
"With actual prep and eating well, I'll hopefully complete it in a better time.
"I wanted to set myself a challenge like that mentally to say, 'Yeah I can do this stuff'.
"Training and games are still going to be hard but I feel like every time I'm in a hard moment I can think back about how running a marathon was harder."
May believes he can translate his endurance running into long-lasting performances for the Tigers side at a time when props are increasingly used in shorter, sharper bursts.
"My motor is very good and it's weird, I always get a second win and get better," May said.
"When other players get tired I feel I go up a level and I want to do that this year.
"I don't care about my stats, I just want to win. Whatever is best for the team, if he (Marshall) wants me to play 80 minutes or 20 minutes I'll do it as long as we get the win."
May is hopeful that if he can be the leader a "hungry and determined" young Tigers forward pack needs, then new NSW coach Laurie Daley will start to take notice.
"Last year I was close but I feel like this year I want to take my game to another level.
"Obviously that's a goal, to strive for Origin.
"If it comes (great) but if it does or doesn't my focus will be getting the wins for Wests Tigers."
In memory of Geoff Chisholm (1965-2022)
Thanks Garry
I'm really interested to see how the wing and centre positions play out over the year
The more players competing for spots the better. Good to see Naden putting himself in the frame
Top 8 2023
@frullens I think Naden has always had the skills and ability to be a standout centre/wing (more centre). But for whatever reason had failed with brain snaps. Hopefully maturity has clicked in because he is what we need in the backs. 🙏
@tigertragic56 Truth is the roster is still not great , there is no reason why Naden can not be turned around the guy can play. The guy is on the books so why not make use of him. , this is where I have an issue with the coach .. has Marshall the qualities to be able to sought these issues with certain players that are a bit problematic? This separates the good coaches from the ordinary,there is a damaging player in Naden I have no issue with him in the team it’s up to the coach to bring the best out !
@tigertragic56 Truth is the roster is still not great , there is no reason why Naden can not be turned around the guy can play. The guy is on the books so why not make use of him. , this is where I have an issue with the coach .. has Marshall the qualities to be able to sought these issues with certain players that are a bit problematic? This separates the good coaches from the ordinary,there is a damaging player in Naden I have no issue with him in the team it’s up to the coach to bring the best out !
Yep, it’s not a knock on Benji but maybe an older and wiser head might have got Naden in the right gear without wiping him? Learning curve for all.
Wests Tigers Podcast - Talking everything Wests Tigers!
@helmesy I hope it’s not a case of to much trouble there’s the door type of thing ..
@helmesy I hope it’s not a case of to much trouble there’s the door type of thing ..
That's already happened to him twice. What happens from here is all on him.
Would love for him to get his head right, as there's a damaging player in there
100%, it’s been so disappointing seeing him struggle here.
Wests Tigers Podcast - Talking everything Wests Tigers!
