2023 Wests Tigers season
The 2023 Wests Tigers season was the 24th in the club's history. They competed in the National Rugby League's 2023 Telstra Premiership. Head coach Tim Sheens returned to the role following his appointment in July 2022.[1] Sheens had previously coached the club from 2003 to 2012. Joining Sheens as assistant coaches were former West Tigers players Benji Marshall and Robbie Farah.
| 2023 Wests Tigers season | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NRL Rank | 17th (Round 27) | |||
| Play-off result | DNQ | |||
| 2023 record | Wins: 4; losses: 20 | |||
| Points scored | For: 385; against: 675 | |||
| Team information | ||||
| CEO | Justin Pascoe | |||
| Head Coach | Tim Sheens | |||
| Captain | ||||
| Stadium | CommBank Stadium (30,000 – 2 Games) Leichhardt Oval (20,000 – 3 Games) Campbelltown Stadium (17,500 – 3 Games) | |||
| Avg. attendance | 12,994 | |||
| High attendance | 28,611 (Round 6) | |||
| Low attendance | 12,247 (Round 12) | |||
| Top scorers | ||||
| Tries | Starford To'a (7) | |||
| Goals | Brandon Wakeham (27) | |||
| Points | Brandon Wakeham (62) | |||
| ||||
New recruit Apisai Koroisau was appointed captain.[2][3][4]
Season summary
- Pre-Season Challenge – The club would begin the season poorly, suffering a heavy defeat in the first trial match against the New Zealand Warriors in Auckland.[5][6] However they would bounce back against the Canberra Raiders in the second trial match to win 36–4 in hot conditions at the Belmore Sports Ground,[7] with coach Tim Sheens happy with his team's defence.[8][9]
- Round 9 – Wests Tigers end a 273 day, 12-match losing streak stretching back into last season, upsetting reigning champions Penrith Panthers 12–8 in torrential rain at Carrington Park in Bathurst.[10][11][12]
- Round 16 – Alex Twal scores his first NRL try after 116 matches for the Wests Tigers, ending one of the longest try-less streaks in competition history. Twal's try was the Tigers only four-pointer in the 28–6 loss to the Melbourne Storm.[13][14]
Player movement
These movements happened across the previous season, off-season and pre-season.[15]
Pre-Season Challenge
| Date | Round | Opponent | Venue | Score | Tries | Goals | Attendance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thursday, 9 February | Trial 1 |  New Zealand Warriors |
Mount Smart Stadium, Auckland | 48 – 12 | Trey Peni 56' Stefano Utoikamanu 59' |
Brandon Wakeham (2/2) | 4,000 |
| Sunday, 19 February | Trial 2 |  Canberra Raiders |
Belmore Sports Ground, Sydney | 36 – 4 | Junior Tupou 27', 74' Tommy Talau 35' Asu Kepaoa 42' Charlie Staines 45' David Nofoaluma 62' Justin Matamua 70' |
Adam Doueihi (3/5) Brandon Wakeham (1/2) |
7,800 |
Regular Season
Matches
PG = Penalty Goal
FG = Field Goal
| Date | Round | Opponent | Venue | Score | Tries | Goals | Attendance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sunday, 5 March | 1 |  Gold Coast Titans |
Leichhardt Oval | 10 – 22 | Adam Doueihi 45' Daine Laurie 64' |
Adam Doueihi (0/2) PG: Adam Doueihi (1/1) |
14,667 |
| Sunday, 12 March | 2 |  Newcastle Knights |
Leichhardt Oval | 12 – 14 | Asu Kepaoa 33' Stefano Utoikamanu 79' |
Adam Doueihi (2/2) FG: Luke Brooks (0/1) |
13,214 |
| Sunday, 19 March | 3 |  Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs |
Belmore Sports Ground | 26 – 22 | Brent Naden 21' Luke Brooks 66' Fonua Pole 69' Charlie Staines 70' |
Adam Doueihi (3/4) | 16,404 |
| Friday, 24 March | 4 |  Melbourne Storm |
AAMI Park | 24 – 12 | Asu Kepaoa 29' Apisai Koroisau 54' |
Adam Doueihi (2/2) | 11,669 |
| Saturday, 1 April | 5 |  Brisbane Broncos |
Lang Park | 46 – 12 | Isaiah Papali'i 43' Jake Simpkin 63' |
Adam Doueihi (2/2) | 27,553 |
| Monday, 10 April | 6 |  Parramatta Eels |
Accor Stadium | 22 – 28 | Starford To'a 23' Asu Kepaoa 49' Brent Naden 64' Junior Tupou 71' |
Adam Doueihi (2/3) Apisai Koroisau (0/1) PG: Luke Brooks (1/1) |
28,611 |
| 7 | BYE | ||||||
| Sunday, 23 April | 8 |  Manly Warringah Sea Eagles |
Campbelltown Stadium | 16 – 22 | Charlie Staines 35' Apisai Koroisau 55' Starford To'a 63' |
Brandon Wakeham (2/3) | 10,033 |
| Saturday, 29 April | 9 |  Penrith Panthers |
Carrington Park | 8 – 12 | Brandon Wakeham 2' David Nofoaluma 49' |
Brandon Wakeham (1/2) PG: Brandon Wakeham (1/2) |
11,055 |
| Sunday, 7 May | 10 |  St. George Illawarra Dragons |
Lang Park | 18 – 16 | Starford To'a 13' David Nofoaluma 21' Junior Tupou 64' |
Brandon Wakeham (2/3) PG: Brandon Wakeham (1/1) |
34,568 |
| Saturday, 13 May | 11 |  South Sydney Rabbitohs |
Accor Stadium | 0 – 20 | 21,013 | ||
| Saturday, 20 May | 12 |  North Queensland Cowboys |
Leichhardt Oval | 66 – 18 | Stefano Utoikamanu 5' Junior Tupou 9', 47' David Nofoaluma 17' Jahream Bula 39' Fonua Pole 44' Starford To'a 63', 66' Joe Ofahengaue 69' David Nofoaluma 72' John Bateman 77' |
Brandon Wakeham (8/8) Luke Brooks (1/1) Apisai Koroisau (2/2) |
12,247 |
| 13 | BYE | ||||||
| Friday, 2 June | 14 | Canberra Raiders |
Campbelltown Stadium | 18 – 19 | Jahream Bula 68' John Bateman 70' Brandon Wakeham 72' |
Brandon Wakeham (3/3) FG: Luke Brooks (1/2) | 11,201 |
| Thursday, 8 June | 15 | Gold Coast Titans |
Cbus Super Stadium | 12 – 28 | David Klemmer 19' Jahream Bula 64' |
Brandon Wakeham (2/2) | 10,232 |
| Saturday, 17 July | 16 | Melbourne Storm |
Campbelltown Stadium | 6 – 28 | Alex Twal 22' | Brandon Wakeham (1/1) | 8,517 |
| 17 | BYE | ||||||
| Saturday, 1 July | 18 | North Queensland Cowboys |
Queensland Country Bank Stadium | ||||
| Thursday, 6 July | 19 |  Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks |
CommBank Stadium | ||||
| Friday, 14 July | 20 | Newcastle Knights |
McDonald Jones Stadium | ||||
| Thursday, 20 July | 21 | St. George Illawarra Dragons |
WIN Stadium | ||||
| Friday, 28 July | 22 | South Sydney Rabbitohs |
Scully Park | ||||
| Sunday, 6 August | 23 | Canberra Raiders |
GIO Stadium | ||||
| Saturday, 12 August | 24 | New Zealand Warriors |
FMG Stadium Waikato | ||||
| Saturday, 19 August | 25 |  Dolphins |
CommBank Stadium | ||||
| Saturday, 26 August | 26 |  Sydney Roosters |
Allianz Stadium | ||||
| Friday, 1 September | 27 | Manly Warringah Sea Eagles |
4 Pines Park |
Ladder
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | B | PF | PA | PD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Penrith Panthers (P) |
24 | 18 | 0 | 6 | 3 | 645 | 312 | +333 | 42 |
| 2 | Brisbane Broncos |
24 | 18 | 0 | 6 | 3 | 639 | 425 | +214 | 42 |
| 3 | Melbourne Storm |
24 | 16 | 0 | 8 | 3 | 627 | 459 | +168 | 38 |
| 4 | New Zealand Warriors |
24 | 16 | 0 | 8 | 3 | 572 | 448 | +124 | 38 |
| 5 | Newcastle Knights |
24 | 14 | 1 | 9 | 3 | 626 | 451 | +175 | 35 |
| 6 | Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks |
24 | 14 | 0 | 10 | 3 | 619 | 497 | +122 | 34 |
| 7 | Sydney Roosters |
24 | 13 | 0 | 11 | 3 | 472 | 496 | −24 | 32 |
| 8 | Canberra Raiders |
24 | 13 | 0 | 11 | 3 | 486 | 623 | −137 | 32 |
| 9 | South Sydney Rabbitohs |
24 | 12 | 0 | 12 | 3 | 564 | 505 | +59 | 30 |
| 10 | Parramatta Eels |
24 | 12 | 0 | 12 | 3 | 587 | 574 | +13 | 30 |
| 11 | North Queensland Cowboys |
24 | 12 | 0 | 12 | 3 | 546 | 542 | +4 | 30 |
| 12 | Manly Warringah Sea Eagles |
24 | 11 | 1 | 12 | 3 | 545 | 539 | +6 | 29 |
| 13 | Dolphins |
24 | 9 | 0 | 15 | 3 | 520 | 631 | −111 | 24 |
| 14 | Gold Coast Titans |
24 | 9 | 0 | 15 | 3 | 527 | 653 | −126 | 24 |
| 15 | Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs |
24 | 7 | 0 | 17 | 3 | 438 | 769 | −331 | 20 |
| 16 | St. George Illawarra Dragons |
24 | 5 | 0 | 19 | 3 | 474 | 673 | −199 | 16 |
| 17 |  Wests Tigers |
24 | 4 | 0 | 20 | 3 | 385 | 675 | −290 | 14 |
2023 squad
| Top 30 squad - 2024 NRL season | Development list | Coaching staff | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|
|
Head coach Assistant coaches
Updated: 13 October 2023 | ||||||
References
- "Tigers confirm Sheens and two club legends to coach as Benji succession plan locked in". foxsports.com.au. News Corporation Australia. 14 July 2022. Retrieved 16 April 2023.
- "Koroisau to captain Wests Tigers" (13 February 2023). weststigers.com.au. 13 February 2023. Retrieved 16 April 2023.
- "'What's done with a few beers...': Sheens defends Api captaincy call despite 'tasteless' jab at new club" (13 February 2023). foxsports.com.au. News Corporation Australia. 14 February 2023. Retrieved 16 April 2023.
- Gates, Zac (13 February 2023). "Prized recruit Apisai Koroisau appointed Wests Tigers captain despite mocking embattled club". Nine's Wide World of Sport. Nine Media. Retrieved 16 April 2023.
- "NRL 2023 trials as it happened: RLPA action delayed as Warriors belt Tigers". smh.com.au. Nine Media. 9 February 2023. Retrieved 16 April 2023.
- McCartney, Damien (9 February 2023). "Warriors v Wests Tigers trial AS IT HAPPENED: Tigers' woes roll into 2023; Charlie Staines hammered by rampaging Marcelo Montoya". Nine's Wide World of Sport. Nine Media. Retrieved 16 April 2023.
- Newton, Alicia (19 February 2023). "Wests Tigers complete pre-season with big win over Raiders". NRL.com. Retrieved 16 April 2023.
- "Raiders mauled by Tigers in trial". canberraweekly.com.au. 19 February 2023. Retrieved 16 April 2023.
- Pengilly, Adam (19 February 2023). "Is it 2005 all over again? Tigers turn it on in big win as Sharks hand Dogs reality check". smh.com.au. Nine Media. Retrieved 16 April 2023.
- "Wests Tigers pull off upset of the season with epic win over Penrith, Titans down Sea Eagles at Brookvale". abc.net.au. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 29 April 2023. Retrieved 30 April 2023.
- Chamberlain, Rachel (30 April 2023). "More than 11,000 fans watch Wests Tigers triumph over Penrith Panthers in Bathurst". Western Advocate. Retrieved 30 April 2023.
- Sullivan, Matthew (30 April 2023). "Wests Tigers shock the Panthers to end 273-day losing streak". news.com.au. News Corporation Australia. Retrieved 30 April 2023.
- Bruce, Jasper (17 June 2023). "Twal breaks try drought but Storm spoil the party". smh. Nine Media. Retrieved 19 June 2023.
- McMurty, Andrew (17 June 2023). "Wests Tigers forward Alex Twal scores first try in his 117th game". news.com.au. News Corporation Australia. Retrieved 19 June 2023.
- "2023 Tigers Signings". NRL.com. 5 March 2023.
- O'Loughlin, Liam; Chisholm, Ed (12 March 2021). "Api Koroisau to join Wests Tigers in 2023 as another premiership star exits Penrith". The Sporting News. Retrieved 16 April 2023.
- Walsh, Dan (4 October 2022). "'I'm all in': Papali'i's promise to Tigers fans after dodging contract commitment". smh.com.au. Nine Media. Retrieved 16 April 2023.
- "Triston Reilly joins from Waratahs". weststigers.com.au. 16 June 2022. Retrieved 16 April 2023.
- Pryde, Scott (4 September 2022). "Nofoaluma confirms future after Storm loan". Zero Tackle. Retrieved 16 April 2023.
- "Panthers and Tigers confirm player swap for 2023". nswrl.com.au. 21 October 2022. Retrieved 16 April 2023.
- Pengilly, Adam (9 March 2023). "'I feel like a kid again': Why Klemmer has no hard feelings against Knights". smh.com.au. Nine Media. Retrieved 16 April 2023.
- "England international John Bateman signs with Wests Tigers on four-year deal". abc.net.au. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 26 December 2022. Retrieved 16 April 2023.
- Keating, Mitch (24 January 2023). "Tigers reveal new signing with addition of former Bulldogs half". Zero Tackle. Retrieved 16 April 2023.
- "2023 NRL Pre-Season Challenge". NRL.com. 5 March 2023.
- "RESULTS: 2023 NRL Pre-Season Challenge Week 1" (12 February 2023). leagueunlimited.com. 12 February 2023. Retrieved 16 April 2023.
- "2023 NRL Regular Season/Telstra Premiership". NRL.com. 5 March 2023.
- "NRL 2023 - Wests Tigers". Rugby League Project. Retrieved 16 April 2023.
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