Home Ground: Campbelltown Stadium, Leichhardt Oval

Coach: Benji Marshall

TAB odds: Premiers: $34

The 2024 season at Concord Oval was projected to mark a new beginning for the Wests Tigers, with BENJI MARSHALL succeeding Tim Sheens in an effort to revitalize the team's performance and lift them up the ladder. Despite numerous challenges, the new coach experienced a super difficult and frustrating season, culminating in the team's third consecutive wooden spoon.

Several prominent individuals will soon arrive to address the Tigers' ongoing woes, and they aren't exactly a bunch of deadbeats. JAROME LUAI will join the side at Concord Oval following his four consecutive premiership wins with Penrith. The former Panthers star player has consistently contrasted with the Tigers throughout his NRL career, and we anticipate his winning attitude will positively influence the less-experienced team. The Samoan captain will accompany rising star LACHLAN GALVIN in the halves with the duo looking good on paper. 

When you factor in that JAHREAM BULA will be out the back and API KOROISAU will be dishing out service from dummy-half, suddenly things look more promising than they have been for a long time at the Tigers. An experienced centre pairing of JUSTIN OLAM and ADAM DOUEIHI is most likely to be fielded first up, with both players expected to be fully recovered from their knee injuries by Round 1.

New signing ROYCE HUNT will replace STEFANO UTOIKAMANU in the front row after the young forward elected to jump ship to Melbourne. TERRELL MAY will join him up front after being granted a shock early release from the Roosters, with the Samoan international likely pushing DAVID KLEMMER back to the bench. MAY is now ready to embark on his new journey with his new club WEST TIGERS, and he will have a point to prove after being dumped by the Bondi Boys. Young but keen, MAY has a big body, is highly mobile and a great additional to the TIGERS front row stocks. API KOROISAU will lead the side from dummy-half but will miss the opening round after he was hit with a three-match suspension in the final game of the 2024 regular season. How BENJI turns around three years of misery is anyone's guess, but at least the club splashed out on a recruitment drive designed to strengthen the side right across the park. Got to bet they don't run last in 2025 with a much more balanced outfit, but don't hold us to that.

First five: Knights (H), Eels (A), Dolphins (A), Warriors (H), Broncos (A)

Last year's finish: 17th

Predicted 2025 finish: 11th

PREDICTED STARTING SIDE

1. JAHREAM BULA

2. SUNIA TURUVA

3. JUSTIN OLAM

4. ADAM DOUEIHI

5. BRENT NADEN

6. LACHLAN GALVIN

7. JAROME LUAI

8. ROYCE HUNT

9. TALLYN Da SILVA  

10. TERRELL MAY

11. SAMUELA FAINU

12. ALEX SEYFARTH

13. JACK BIRD

14. LATU FAINU

15. David3 KLEMMER

16. FONUA POLE

17. ALEX TWAL  

PRE SEASON: Sun 16 Feb

Bulldogs v Wests Tigers at Netstrata Jubilee Stadium 5:30pm

Fri 21 Feb

Wests Tigers v Eels at Leichhardt Oval 8:00pm