So that's 12 games against 2025 top 8 sides, 12 games against lower sides.
Twice against
(1st) Canberra
(3rd) Bulldogs
(6th) Warriors
(7th) Penrith
(11th) Parra
(12th) Cowboys
(15th) Dragons
(17th) Knights
Once against
(2nd) Storm
(4th) Brisbane
(5th) Sharks
(8th) Roosters
(9th) Dolphins
(10th) Manly
(14th) Souths
(16th) Titans
Importantly the first 2 months of games are mostly winnable
Despite the round 1 bye... The other 2 are well spaced. Our second bye pre game 1 origin, 3rd bye round 23, with a tough run home, last 3 games away against tough competition. But we'll be well cemented in the top 8 by then anyway 
They’ve tried to look after us but we’ll do something stupid at some point to derail the season. IT’S in our DNA‼️‼️
At least our 2 byes are spaced about as well as we could hope for. In terms of how tough it is it seems about average. I tend to look at the games v the 2025 top 4 and bottom 4 and that’s about average at 6 - 6. Not playing a team heavily affected during Origin would be nice but we miss out on that. The first 3rd of the season looks the best part of the draw and a much needed bye before the last 4 games.
It’s going to be a tough grind especially during the middle of the year but the leadership group have been through it before, the young players have a bit more experience, there’s a bit more quality with Taylan & KPP and there’s stability.
@russtutty63 As usual, I find myself agreeing with your comments, but in this case, almost all of them. Until the Bula contract is sorted I don't think there's stability, particularly with Moses as his manager.
https://www.weststigers.com.au/teams/?competition=111&team=500023
Will Craig, Makasini, Geyer and KPP added. No Bunty Afoa though.
Wests Tigers Podcast - Talking everything Wests Tigers since 2018!
@russtutty63 As usual, I find myself agreeing with your comments, but in this case, almost all of them. Until the Bula contract is sorted I don't think there's stability, particularly with Moses as his manager.
Bula looks at this stage to be the only potential distraction at this point (touch wood).
Wests Tigers Podcast - Talking everything Wests Tigers since 2018!
It’s a bit of concern isn’t it. I was hoping to hear some positive news by mid November but only Brent Read seems to think Bula will sign. I do know people at the club are thinking Jahream will be with us for a few years yet but that’s 2nd hand info. Not much else can add right now.@russtutty63 As usual, I find myself agreeing with your comments, but in this case, almost all of them. Until the Bula contract is sorted I don't think there's stability, particularly with Moses as his manager.
And, he shouldn't be and I don't think he's that type of guy to cause instability. He, supposedly, wants to stay and is, IMO, the best genuine talent in a specialist position that the club has atm. The club (aka Richardson, Marshall and Board) should be making his re-signing THE top priority and getting it sorted.@russtutty63 As usual, I find myself agreeing with your comments, but in this case, almost all of them. Until the Bula contract is sorted I don't think there's stability, particularly with Moses as his manager.
Bula looks at this stage to be the only potential distraction at this point (touch wood).
Jarome Luai once likened himself to Batman in explaining his motivation for joining Wests Tigers. Upon reflection, he feels there’s a better superhero analogy.
“I probably looked at it a bit differently back then when I was saying all of that,” Luai explains.
“Batman sort of does things on his own. He’s that kind of character. But it takes 30 guys to win a premiership, you know what I mean?
“I definitely look at it in a different light now. There’s no one-man show, there’s no one-man team in any successful team ... it’s about how I’ll make players better. How I’ll make better men around me and then ultimately that’s going to create a winning culture.”
Which is why today Luai sees himself less as the brooding Batman loner and more of an Avenger, part of a team tasked with fighting the good fight.
“Everyone’s got their superpower, everyone’s got their role to play,” Luai says. “I think that’s a lot better way to put it ... I’ve always liked Thor because of his long hair.”
Luai says this at Wests Tigers headquarters on Friday afternoon, where he is posing in the new-look 2026 jersey after the club struck an apparel deal with Canterbury of New Zealand.
It’s his first chance to reflect on a season that finished when Samoa lost the Pacific Championships final last weekend, also his first since shifting from four-peat premiers Penrith. In his absence, the Panthers finished a game short of another grand final, while Luai helped the Tigers climb off the bottom to 13th.
“The expectation for myself has always been high, I’ve got a pretty good success rate over the years and we didn’t play finals,” Luai says.
“It was probably a cross on a personal level. As a winner, as a competitor, I always want to be in that frame to compete for a championship. Until we’re there, I wouldn’t say it’s not a success, but we’re building something special here.”
The Tigers finished below where Luai is used to, but he has no regrets in his decision to join the joint-venture outfit.
“There are going to be ups and downs, and that’s all part of this journey,” he says. “It’s all about embracing it, finding little ways to get better and help the people around you get better. I’ve been here before, bro, so I know what it takes.”
It’s no secret Luai has a clause in his five-year, $6 million contract which, if activated, could result in him leaving at the end of next season.
Asked how long he wants to wear the Tigers jersey, Luai replies: “Until I’m done. I’ve always said it and hopefully I’ve shown that with my actions and how I’ve played this year.”
Luai hopes teammate Jahream Bula, another member of the Tigers spine who has a clause in his contract, is also in for the long haul.
“Yes sir, definitely,” Luai says. He’s a big part of this club, we love him here and I love playing next to him. “His future’s in his hands, but if you ask anyone here, they love to play with Reamy, so hopefully we can lock them down … He’s got it all in spades; he’s athletic, he’s young, he’s got a great head on his shoulders, he works hard.
”And you can just tell he loves the game, the way he plays it, so hopefully we just keep building on that combination, finding ways to make him better. That’s my job and my responsibility, to get him some ball. It’s a sight to see.”
With Luai at five-eighth, Bula at fullback and Apisai Koroisau at hooker, the Tigers have the makings of a formidable spine. Coach Benji Marshall hasn’t settled on a halves partner since Lachlan Galvin’s acrimonious departure, but Luai has high hopes for youngster Latu Fainu.
“I’ve spoken highly of him the past year that’s gone by,” he says. “Just a bit of luck needs to go his way with injury and stuff like that, I know he’s bouncing back again from another one, so if my brother can stay healthy, I’m sure he’ll be one of the best in the comp.”
The upcoming season will also be a defining one for Marshall. After earning the wooden spoon in his first year in charge, the club improved in his second and now the expectation is that the Tigers can make their first finals series since 2011.
Luai has no doubt Marshall is the man to take the club forward.
“Benji’s right up there with all the coaches that I’ve had,” he says.
“He’s played the game in the modern era, so he understands it. He understands what players go through on a daily basis and I think that’s sort of what separates him from some of the other coaches as well.
“He was obviously my idol, but take that out of the picture. He’s a great NRL coach, and I definitely think he’s the guy to lead this club to the promised land.”
Wests Tigers Podcast - Talking everything Wests Tigers since 2018!
Funny, Jock Madden also not on the ‘Teams’ page of the official site.
Wests Tigers Podcast - Talking everything Wests Tigers since 2018!
Funny, Jock Madden also not on the ‘Teams’ page of the official site.
Maybe his is a NSW cup contract.
Royce Hunt 2.0
