Melbourne Storm coach Craig Bellamy has never lost the opening game of an NRL season but the Wests Tigers feel they could end his perfect record.
Before a ball has even been kicked in their NRL season opener against Melbourne, the Wests Tigers are aware that they already face an uphill battle.
The two sides get their campaign underway on Saturday night with history firmly on the Storm's side.
Since he took over as head coach of Melbourne in 2003, Craig Bellamy has never lost a season opener.
And if Bellamy's 0 is ever to go, then it might be at CommBank Stadium.
Bellamy will be missing Harry Grant and Cameron Munster due to suspension and adjusting to life without Josh Addo-Carr, Dale Finucane and Nicho Hynes may take time.
"They've got a few players out and that's lucky for us," new recruit Tyrone Peachey said.
"We have to take advantage of that because they were really good over the trials.
"I watched their games and they've got a big forward pack.
"They haven't lost the first round in years. It would be pretty special to get that win and we've got to have a good week of preparation."
The Tigers will be without James Tamou through suspension and Adam Doueihi due to injury while Luciano Leilua missed Monday's session with a stomach bug.
Peachey, Jackson Hastings and English international Oliver Gildart have been the club's best off-season recruits but their biggest signing might be off the field.
"We've added (defence coach) Nathan Cayless from the Roosters," towering winger Ken Maumalo, whose debut for the Tigers last year was a baptism of fire in a 66-16 loss to the Storm, said.
"Him being successful and coming into this club has been massive.
"They (the Storm) are tough opposition but we're ready to compete."
Maumalo, Peachey, Doueihi, Tamou and halfback Luke Brooks make up the club's new five-man leadership group which was voted for by their teammates.
While the leadership will be a shared responsibility, the role of captain and challenging on-field decisions will likely be a one-man job.
"I think Brooksy will do our challenges," forward Joe Ofahengaue said.
"He's going to be on the field most of the time and he's around the middle.
"That's just my thoughts, he's the ideal one with Jimmy (Tamou) not there."
https://7news.com.au/sport/rugby-league/tigers-aim-to-defy-storms-nrl-record-c-5960916
Wests Tigers Podcast - Talking everything Wests Tigers!
Looks like Brooksy is captain. Fantastic news!
Records are there to be broken and I believe we will win if we get 50% of refereeing calls,no bad injuries.
That’ll be a good start to putting a sock in the mouth of our critics and detractors who got the ball rolling on NRL360 last night with a few snide remarks and negative jibes re Tigers.Already in the the crosshairs before a whistle blown.
Whats is with the attitude already ...Maumalo talks about being ready to compete
Screw that ...be ready to win and win well ...he is talking like they have one foot in the grave already
Whats is with the attitude already ...Maumalo talks about being ready to compete
Screw that ...be ready to win and win well ...he is talking like they have one foot in the grave already
Yeah, the team doesn’t get it yet. Winning is what it is all about. That’s what happens when you play well as a team, you win games.
