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In 2014 Wests Tigers will boldly head in a new direction, a direction which contains more unanswered questions than sureties.
Gone is the mercurial marquee man Benji Marshall, who unofficially became the identity by which Wests Tigers were known by, replaced by an identity that remains an unknown at this point.
Not all has become unknown though at Concord, there are a fair few familiar names throughout the roster in 2014.
Seasoned veterans lead the way, such as captain Robbie Farah, Adam Blair, Liam Fulton Braith Anasta and Keith Galloway and they’ll be complemented by an experienced list including Chris Lawrence and Aaron Woods.
The biggest talking point though will come from the return of two players from the 2005 premiership winning class, Pat Richards and Dene Halatau.
The return of Richards and Halatau is more significant than it may appear on the surface. The experienced duo have been brought back as much for what they can bring off the field as on it, both being known for their high levels of professionalism.
In a season where the Tigers’ squad will contain less experience than ever before, finding the right kind of experience is critical. The example the likes of Halatau, Richards, Farah and any of the older heads in the squad decide to set will reflect on the younger players in the squad.
The Tigers will boast one of the youngest squads in 2014 and their top 17 will feature a fair smattering of youth on a week-to-week basis but there is serious potential throughout the younger players at Wests Tigers.
Halfback Luke Brooks will command the most scrutiny as the young buck who looks to take control of the halves after the departure of Benji Marshall.
Tim Simona and David Nofoaluma were mightily impressive in the second half of 2013 and Tigers fans have every confidence the talented duo can continue their NRL education with further positive results.
Fullback James Tedesco and back rower Sauaso Sue were dependable and showed toughness in their debut seasons. Both also both showed enough class to get the Tigers’ faithful excited about their futures.
Furthermore, Curtis Sironen will surely make his anticipated shift to the backrow, a move which potentially adds another dimension to the Tigers’ game.
All the different dimensions in the Tigers’ squad will rely on the leadership, experience and mentoring of the likes of Richards, Farah, Halatau and Anasta. Their importance here cannot be overstated!
The Tigers’ 2004 season had similarities with 2013 in terms of rebuilding, new coaches and even the win/loss ratio.
So can Wests Tigers turn the competition on its head once more? Can 2014 be the new 2005?
It’s highly unlikely but it’s safe to say, with the talent at hand, the Tigers should fare better in 2014 than they did in 2013.
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