Ten years on the Tigers can challenge again

The 2015 NRL season marks 10 years since the Wests Tigers won their first, and so far only premiership in the joint venture club’s 15-year history. This season Tigers fans can dream again, with a playing roster similar to the class of 2005.

Back in ’05 the Tigers had a wonderful halves pairing in Benji Marshall and Scott Prince, as well as a superb fullback in Brett Hodgson and two young, versatile and hard-working hookers in Robbie Farah and Dene Halatau.

A strong spine is crucial for any club serious about winning a premiership.

Fast-forward to the present day, you see Robbie Farah and Dene Halatau still kitting up for the Tigers, with the latter now captain. There’s a dangerous young fullback in James Tedesco and a halves pairing with arguably as much potential as the Prince and Marshall combination in Mitchell Moses and Luke Brooks.

Also just like in 2005, the squad has some quality juniors mixed in with astute buys from other clubs in the forward pack. Curtis Sironen is the man tasked with leading the forward pack, much like his father Paul did in the 80s for the Balmain Tigers. Keith Galloway and Martin Tapau have both been excellent pick ups from Cronulla and Canterbury respectively, and gives coach Jason Taylor a headache when it comes to naming his staring front rowers each week, as he can also call on the service of local lad Aaron Woods.

Woods is a gifted front rower who seems to channel former great Steve ‘Blocker’ Roach. He has represented NSW and Australia as well, and is still only 24. You could argue that he is the John Skandalis of the 2015 squad.

In the backs, fan favourite Pat Richards returned last year and reassumed his mantle of being the club’s leading try and point scorer. He will never be forgotten for his try in the 2005 grand final, receiving that gem of a flick pass from Benji Marshall. He is another key player for the current squad as shown by his performance in Round 1 against the Gold Coast Titans where he scored 15 points, including a last-minute field goal to win his team the match.

Tim Simona and David Nofoaluma would no doubt remind Tigers fans of Paul Whatuira and Daniel Fitzhenry. Both sets of players are and were wonderful finishers and a joy for the halves inside of them to have. It always makes a half’s job easier when they have players outside of them who know where the try line is.

Tim Sheens was the man responsible for building the 2005 premiership-winning squad. It all started two years prior when he first took over at the Tigers following his ill-fated spell at the North Queensland Cowboys, where he struggled to gel his young squad together. He no doubt helped lay the foundations for a fruitful period for the Cowboys after he left.

His protégé at the Cowboys Scott Prince was a vital buy for the Tigers. He became a key figure in the premiership-winning side.

Sheens enjoyed a successful period at the Tigers before he seemed to run out of fresh ideas towards the end of his 10-year spell at the club and was sacked in 2012.

The Tigers employed Mick Potter, who learnt his wares in England as head coach of three different clubs. He was sacked at the end of last season, as the Tigers descended into turmoil both on and off the field.

Taylor took over the vacant role and appears to have brought some fresh ideas. The major worry for Tigers fans is that he has not been a head coach since his 2009 sacking at the South Sydney Rabbitohs. He was, however, part of the coaching staff at the Sydney Roosters when they won the premiership in 2013.

Taylor has the analytical mind of a rugby league halfback. He will no doubt shake things up at the Tigers, which should help a side that has looked bereft of ideas since 2011. He will have to make sure that the spine of his side – Tedesco, Richards, Moses, Brooks, Woods and Farah – stay injury and suspension-free if they are to make a serious run in this season’s race for the premiership.

It would be a nice anniversary present for Tigers fans if they could repeat the feat of 2005. They’ve certainly got a good enough squad to do it.