When Wests Tigers achieved success, we had a mix of youngsters and a sprinkling of older heads to guide them.
Are we on the cusp of repeating that in 2026? Do we have a new generation of young talent to come through and make a mark on the NRL?
We thought we would reach out to a podcast team that has done an excellent job of covering all that's going on through the lower grades at the Wests Tigers, the Wests Tigers Faithful podcast.
On this edition of the Wests Tigers Podcast, Joel is joined by Joe McCord (aka 'Mac') from Wests Tigers Faithful for a chat.
Mac has identified five young players in the Wests Tigers system that he believes are standouts and gives us a rundown on what we might get from names like Phoenix Godinet, Logan Brookes, and Jarod Haywood in the coming years.
He even believes at least one of the five players he has named will debut for the club in season 2026.
One of the five in particular has Mac really excited, reminding him of a former young Wests Tigers star many of us have fond memories of.
It's not just homegrown talent that looks promising
Mac also gives us a rundown on what we might get from Brisbane recruit, Javon Andrews, and the young Rooster coming across to our club, Ethan Roberts.
Joel and Mac also discuss the recent announcement that Taylan May has re-signed with the club for two more seasons, and Mac gives his thoughts on how the season ended for the team.
While he also makes a really interesting observation around why the Wests Tigers struggled at times this year, and it's a point, and a statistic that hasn't widely been discussed.
We hope you enjoy this latest cross-podcast collaboration, and we hope to hear more insights about the young Wests Tigers players from Wests Tigers Faithful in 2026.
Listen to "Top Five Next Generation Wests Tigers Stars" on Spreaker.
Wests Tigers Podcast - Talking everything Wests Tigers since 2018!
Very good Joel, I love watching the pathways teams play & trying to judge who might be players to make that next step. Some will surprise & make it, others will stagnate or just not make it for one reason or another when they looked for sure like they could.
I’m not sure Phoenix will debut next year seeing as he’ll turn 19 at some stage next year, it’ll probably depend on injuries, the form of others & himself & how the team is going. I think Jared will debut. In terms of Luke Laulilii I don’t think he’s quite as small as Joe suggests, 6cm less than To’o. Not unless To’o is 6ft tall which I doubt he is. Luke is about 5’10”. He Is definitely a winger in my book although having first caught my eye playing fullback for Wests Matts I thought he was one to watch then. But you need a vocal fullback & one who can organise well, not sure that’s Luke’s strength. But he runs hard and is competitive & tough. Looking at To’o he didn’t debut until the year he turned 21, he was 20 going on 21. Next season Luke will be 19 going on 20. I’m hopeful the coaching staff will stop moving guys like him & Heath around and give them stability now & time to develop in their best positions.
In terms of moving Samuela back to the middle I was suggesting this mid season however unless you can bring in a Talakai or someone similar I can’t see it happening. Sam will still take hit-ups when needed but the combination on that left edge is starting to blossom into one of the best left edges in the comp’. I think for the Tigers Benji has had time to look at what works & who should play where, now it’s time for stability and improving the combinations we have. Another middle would be what I’d be looking at to supplement what we have.
I enjoyed Mac take on all the kids coming through, very informative.
The discussion of Samuela moving to the middle blew my mind. IMO it is a crazy suggestion. just because the guy is strong and big does not mean you want him in the middle. the skills that Samuela has for the edge are specific and he has been developing gradually at an age appropriate rate. he is just starting to develop into an elite 2RF and it would be a tragedy to set fire to that by moving him into the middle.
Also IMO comparing his tackle efficiency to the tackle efficiency of Terrell & Twal exhibits a lack of RL knowledge and totally disregards the lateral distance that Samuela covers in defence, not only effectively, but with intent that has oppositions looking sideways.
Crazy talk.
Very informative chat you had with Mac there Joel. I tend to agree and disagree with some views. But throughout the chat my childhood was being relived. And Joel ‘if you know, you’ll know what I mean.
But really have enjoyed the crossovers along with the regular pods this year.
Cheers and keep up the good work. Yip yip yip yip 😜
100% agree - leave Samuela where he is, we have started developing him nicely onto the left edge. Would be nuts to ruin that.I enjoyed Mac take on all the kids coming through, very informative.
The discussion of Samuela moving to the middle blew my mind. IMO it is a crazy suggestion. just because the guy is strong and big does not mean you want him in the middle. the skills that Samuela has for the edge are specific and he has been developing gradually at an age appropriate rate. he is just starting to develop into an elite 2RF and it would be a tragedy to set fire to that by moving him into the middle.
Also IMO comparing his tackle efficiency to the tackle efficiency of Terrell & Twal exhibits a lack of RL knowledge and totally disregards the lateral distance that Samuela covers in defence, not only effectively, but with intent that has oppositions looking sideways.
Crazy talk.
