The Wests Tigers are building a five-year pathways plan to help ensure the club’s best young talent will be ready for when Benji Marshall takes over as coach.
Marshall will be an assistant and understudy to Tim Sheens over the next two seasons before taking over as coach of the Tigers in 2025.
The club’s head of pathways, Matt Betsey, said the Tigers’ focus on junior development would play a crucial role in Marshall’s success at Concord.
The Wests Harold Matthews team that won the premiership this year, they lead that group of players and we have worked hard to lock them in for the next couple of seasons. They will get a taste of NRL training over the next couple of years and be ready to go in two or three years.”
It’s understood Marshall even met with the managers of the club’s rising talent to get guarantees they would commit to the Tigers long-term.
Marshall has also taken a hands-on approach in a bid to foster a relationship with the youngsters as part of the Tigers’ cubs program.
He went to all their training sessions, he worked with all the players,” Betsey said.
“The halves in particular, just started to build a connection with them and pass on some knowledge.
“He was great. He got in there and was actually active in training sessions with players and jumped into all the drills. They are starting to respond to that. He already has relationships with the younger players that will be part of his group as an assistant coach and then as a head coach.”
Sheens, who helped guide the Wests Tigers to their first title in 2005, has also been proactive in the pathways programs and recently met with junior coaches to outline a club-wide mandate for success.
He was at a session with our junior coaching staff to outline what the expectations are and what the style of play he is looking for at NRL level, but how we drive that through the whole club,” Betsey said.
The Tigers had a forgettable NRL season, finishing last for the first time in the joint-venture’s history.
The club has made some astute signings for next year – three-time premiership-winning hooker Apisai Koroisau and Isaiah Papali’i – as part of its immediate rebuild.
However, Betsey accepts that the long-term, sustained success the club has failed to deliver can only be achieved through a dedicated investment in junior pathways.
We have a five-to-seven-year viewpoint as opposed to winning week in, week out,” Betsey said. “It does take time. We started 12 or 18 months ago and we are only starting to see the tip of the iceberg.
“We want to develop them and support them as they come through and have that long- term development plan in place, so once we do get success it’s sustainable, that we have a pipeline of talent for the NRL and NRLW.”
TIGERS’ YOUNG TALENT TIME
JORDAN MILLER
Position: Front row
After struggling to get a look into the Harold Matthews side in the past, Miller finished the season with a man-of-the-match performance in the grand final against Cronulla.
“Jordan is a big front rower with a really good engine for someone his age,” Betsey said.
He’s the player that would get the team going forward in every game, he leads from the front, literally.
“He’s able to give all of our other players time and space to do what they are good at. He was exceptional. He was called into the Australian Schoolboys side.
“He is a talented middle we want to help progress through junior football into the elite level.”
TALLYN DA SILVA
Position: Hooker
Silva is a wily dummy half, with a strong running and passing game, and an ability to read the game. He has also made strides defensively this year.
“Tallyn is a hooker with all the skills and talent. He is extremely athletic and has a really good game sense,” Betsey said.
“He’s a beneficiary of Miller’s work, with him being able to get in there and do his job and make some good choices about where the attack is going to go.
He is someone we are looking to develop long term. With Api Koroisau coming in, he’ll learn a lot from him.
“In two or three years whenever Api is done, hopefully Tallyn will be a replacement option for him at NRL level.”
LACHLAN GALVIN
Position: Backrow
Galvin started as a five-eighth and was moved onto an edge where he has excelled as a back-rower with ball skills. A move back into the halves is a real possibility in his future.
“Lachlan is a really strong back-rower. He played really well for Wests but also in the Cubs program,” Betsey said.
We took him on a tour to New Zealand, where he played against the Warriors over there, and he produced a really strong performance. He can find space on the edge. He has a bit of growing to do physically but once he grows into his body and builds a bit of muscle, he’ll be a really good option for us going forward on the edge.”
KIT LAULILII
Position: Lock
Laulilii has been the side’s captain for the last three years, where is leadership ability and come to the fore.
“Kit played lock this year and he is just a really strong runner of the ball and is really good in defence,” Betsey said.
“He’s a very strong kid with a really bright future if he continues on this track. He was also the captain of the side. Kit is a genuinely good person, and is a great leader on and off the field.”
TAJH COLQUHOUN
Position: Wing
Colquhoun is on the club’s most versatile backline prospects, the youngster can play at fullback, on the edge and even in the halves.
“Tajh scored a heap of points for us as goal kicker and on the wing, he’s a great finisher. He played with the Patrician Brothers Fairfield that won the Schoolboy Cup this year. He’s certainly a player to watch for us,” Betsey said.
WILLIAM CRAIG
Position: Centre/Fullback
Craig had mostly played at fullback before moving to centre this year, where he excelled on the edge.
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“Will performed really well in the centres, he really came along this year. He went really well defensively but he’s also a young lad that can break some tackles on the edge there. He’s another one of our really solid players out wide,” Betsey said.
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Lets hope that all the expectations place upon this young crop of players coming through the WTs Jnr system pans out seeing as the people running the club see them as it’s saviour.
Can only imagine the fan base in 5 yrs time if we are still in the same predicament.
Lets hope that all the expectations place upon this young crop of players coming through the WTs Jnr system pans out seeing as the people running the club see them as it’s saviour.
Can only imagine the fan base in 5 yrs time if we are still in the same predicament.
It’s a good point, we’re going to need to find some results/competitiveness in the next couple of years to give the youngsters a chance. Penrith had the five year plan, it took 7, I reckon we should be patient and expect at least a few years before the hopeful big leap ahead.
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Agreed we definitely need that balanced roster though with more in-form and experienced players to blend in with these younger guys and relieve the pressure these kids will feel coming into the NRL.
Can only hope Sheens and crew get it right.
@helmesy Matt Betsey seems an impressive person. Any chance of interviewing him for a future pod?
@helmesy Matt Betsey seems an impressive person. Any chance of interviewing him for a future pod?
Funny enough, I reached out to him yesterday to see if he is interested. fingers crossed, I think he would be great.
In memory of Geoff Chisholm (1965-2022)
@helmesy Matt Betsey seems an impressive person. Any chance of interviewing him for a future pod?
Funny enough, I reached out to him yesterday to see if he is interested. fingers crossed, I think he would be great.
Good work, fingers crossed 🤞
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Having hit rock bottom with a wooden spoon to show for it, this is really the most sustainable way forward. It's going to take time & patience, but with Sheens & Benji setting up pathways for tomorrow's NRL stars the Club has a realistic chance of becoming a genuine premiership contender in 4-5 years. It wasn't that long ago that Penrith were in a similar position & Gould saw "development" as the way forward - that strategy is bearing fruit now & likely to continue to do so for some time yet. We just need to be patient, stay the course, & hopefully emulate Penrith's rise to power.
If we sign Klemmer and Leniu, what does it mean for these up and comers? Not saying we shouldn't but they would both want to start but I would count Stefano as a starter and in the next few years we would have a few wanting to start as well wouldn't we?
If we sign Klemmer and Leniu, what does it mean for these up and comers? Not saying we shouldn't but they would both want to start but I would count Stefano as a starter and in the next few years we would have a few wanting to start as well wouldn't we?
It’s a good point, but you’d think one will come at the expense of Musgrove. Maybe Twal and Ofahengue might not be long term prospects too.
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@canberratiger I think that would be an ideal way to come into grade for some of these younger matts forwards in a few years. Either drip feeding their experience over an extended period of time like we tried to do at stages this year or coming off the bench after some aggressive, damaging props have laid a platform. I also think a better age structure in the forwards will be a good move. Penrith seem to be the exception to this as far as recent successful teams, with a largely youthful side. I feel like we haven't got this right for a while. Either too many aging forwards at once or exposing the junior forwards too early in an inexperienced engine room.
If we sign Klemmer and Leniu, what does it mean for these up and comers? Not saying we shouldn't but they would both want to start but I would count Stefano as a starter and in the next few years we would have a few wanting to start as well wouldn't we?
If they are good enough they will make it to the top grade. We have lacked competition in positions and experienced players to guide them. Can only be a good thing.
In business I want people underneath me to be good enough to take my job. It should be no different here.
I like reading tigers content but I find it weird when the club puts out these tigers juniors articles. These guys are kids and everything will need to go right for them to end up genuine career NRL players. Are we the only club that does these articles? Are we just telling other clubs which players to poach?
I like reading tigers content but I find it weird when the club puts out these tigers juniors articles. These guys are kids and everything will need to go right for them to end up genuine career NRL players. Are we the only club that does these articles? Are we just telling other clubs which players to poach?
The club was recently told that we are pushing the line that we are a development club but due to Covid no one really knows who these junior guys are. I think this article was an attempt to partially address that. I'm hoping we will see better profiles on the website etc next season. I am someone that is extremely interested in the young guys we have coming through as a view the Wests Tigers as a football club and not just an NRL franchise, it is one of the reasons I am against a rookie draft.
Interestingly the NRL is investigating a Rookie Draft at the moment.
In memory of Geoff Chisholm (1965-2022)
Good answers guys and whilst I do agree, I guess I haven't got much faith in the higher ups being able to identify and keep the young guns. I can see us keeping a thrashed out Klemmer and losing a Pole, then he going on to kill it.
