The Wests Tigers' 2026 season is slowly disintegrating into a bit of a tragedy after such a strong start to the season.
On Friday night, it was the New Zealand Warriors who were the latest opposition team to thrust another dagger into the poor old Tigers.
Beating our boys 32-6 at Campbelltown Stadium, the weekend was also full of negative headlines with confirmation that Jarome Luai would exit at the end of this season.
But is it all doom and gloom? There are, at least according to some members of the Wests Tigers Podcast team, some reasons to keep our heads up.
On this edition of the podcast, you'll hear (or see) a bit of a different take on the departure of Luai and some ideas on what needs to be done to make the team more dynamic and successful.
Some of the other main talking points also include:
- The fine debut of young hooker, Jared Haywood
- The worry about Wests Tigers' poor red zone attack in recent times
- Missed opportunities against the Warriors
- How Pole stood up and made a real impact off the bench
And, naturally, there's a whole heap of 'One Word' submissions from the Wests Tigers Podcast Forum as well.
Chin up, Wests Tigers fans! Thanks for your support of the pod; it is very much appreciated.
Wests Tigers Podcast - Talking everything Wests Tigers since 2018!
@joel Your SER acronym is a sound response to what has and is happening at WST St present. My issue with it is that there are constant announcements of players being offered around, released to negotiate or coming of contract almost everyday now and we ate not mentioned in any of yhe articles as a potential landing point for any of them. I think the recruitment we are after is out there but we are not looking to be active in the market st the moment.
It could be the Luai situation needs to die down before anyone would look favourably at WST as their next move. Maybe paying a half million to move hom on has left us cash strapped too? Wish that deal could have been negotiated a bit better in our favour.
The key issue here is that when players look to come to us we’re constantly paying overs AND that’s never going to change now because we’re a constant BASKETCASE!!@joel Your SER acronym is a sound response to what has and is happening at WST St present. My issue with it is that there are constant announcements of players being offered around, released to negotiate or coming of contract almost everyday now and we ate not mentioned in any of yhe articles as a potential landing point for any of them. I think the recruitment we are after is out there but we are not looking to be active in the market st the moment.
It could be the Luai situation needs to die down before anyone would look favourably at WST as their next move. Maybe paying a half million to move hom on has left us cash strapped too? Wish that deal could have been negotiated a bit better in our favour.
The key issue here is that when players look to come to us we’re constantly paying overs AND that’s never going to change now because we’re a constant BASKETCASE!!@joel Your SER acronym is a sound response to what has and is happening at WST St present. My issue with it is that there are constant announcements of players being offered around, released to negotiate or coming of contract almost everyday now and we ate not mentioned in any of yhe articles as a potential landing point for any of them. I think the recruitment we are after is out there but we are not looking to be active in the market st the moment.
It could be the Luai situation needs to die down before anyone would look favourably at WST as their next move. Maybe paying a half million to move hom on has left us cash strapped too? Wish that deal could have been negotiated a bit better in our favour.
Completely correct. No one person from another club is coming to “save us”. The chances of landing generational talent from another club (think Tedesco, Benji, Tom T etc.) is 1000/1.
We have to build from within, be patient and consistent, but then only strengthen around that.
Wests Tigers Podcast - Talking everything Wests Tigers since 2018!
Completely correct. No one person from another club is coming to “save us”. The chances of landing generational talent from another club (think Tedesco, Benji, Tom T etc.) is 1000/1.
We have to build from within, be patient and consistent, but then only strengthen around that.
Not sure how we can Strategically Externally Recruit but still be patient and build from within. It sounds a bit contradictory. We need an impact forward and we don't have one in the pipeline. We need a lock but if not Twal then external recruitment. Based on the players you named we should not resign we will need to buy plenty. Even if we elevate the current younger players we will need depth players to cover for them. We need to go to market. IMO.
I find that we have been and still are barking up the wrong tree when it comes to developing and keeping young talent. Now I could get incorrectly wrong and slightly controversial here but, I do believe we have too much of a bro/brah club going on. And it’s only increased season after season, especially after our current coach has been appointed. It has got to do with the catchment area but I don’t see the same trend %wise going on at Penrith, Parramatta and Canterbury.
Now I think this is the nicest way of getting my point across. Can understand if it’s wrong in a way and I’m sorry if it offends. But it’s my understanding of proceedings that has occurred over the last 10/15 years.
Not sure how we can Strategically Externally Recruit but still be patient and build from within. It sounds a bit contradictory. We need an impact forward and we don't have one in the pipeline.
Perfect example, it’s something we don’t have, and don’t have in the pipeline, so that is a selective recruitment move.
Wests Tigers Podcast - Talking everything Wests Tigers since 2018!
Our squad is the strongest it’s been in the last 10 years in my view. We just need some stability, luck with injuries, incremental development from our younger players (and the ability to let them develop im lower grades rather than needing to be promoted to first grade too soon) and opportunistic recruitment as other clubs rebuild. The head coach and the CEO seem stable, we might need a bit of a shuffle in our support coaching.
Adam douhie is probably the most unresolved issue. You look at Burton and he has been more accomodating to the team than Adam. In the short run we have no other senior options in the halves but in the medium term I’m not convinced he is the player we need in that position when we are a top 8 side
Two seasons ago I was calling for Twal and Doueihi to be punted because they were cod ordinary. That we somehow breathed a sigh of relief when they returned from injury with an expectation of better results beggars belief.
Yes, they've "improved" but not to the point of being consistent game changers. They're not unlike Jock Madden who, somehow, played out of his skin over those first 7 weeks, but has gradually reverted to type since then. And, like Madden, Junior Tupou has now found his way back to the WT fold; I assume with us hoping for something better than he gave us (and his subsequent two other clubs) before returning to WT.
Add the recruitment of fringe first graders,at best, over the last couple of seasons in the likes of Toa, Herbert, and Skelton, and we find ourselves back at 13th.
In a recent presser Marshall said that the 2026 Tigers have definitely improved. They're currently 13th and finished 13th last season. I'm not convinced. And I'm struggling to see 2027 being any better.
Looks like Latu and Doueihi are out against the raiders…. Luai and McGregor halves combo.
@teddy_s 🤣 It took me a little while to work out who this McGregor player was and we haven't had "him" in the conversation before.
The big question is will Benji put in Javon Andrews or revert back to Jock Madden. There truly is nothing to lose now. All hope of finals are lost, most of the players are now suspended or broken or both and all the fans have given up as well. So roll the dice Benji.