Over the coming days, Wests Tigers coach Mick Potter will take us through the top 33-squad for the 2014 season.
The series of four articles will be released in the following groups: outside backs, halves/hookers, back-row/lock and prop forwards. Potter will then provide an insight into each group and how it is shaping up for the season ahead.
MAKE WESTS TIGERS PART OF YOUR LIFE - BECOME A 2014 MEMBER TODAY!
In the first announcement, we take a look at the outside backs with nine players out of the 33-man squad featured in this particular group.
Recruits Pat Richards and Keith Lulia will be new faces in the squad, with both players returning to the NRL following successful stints in Super League.
Richards will return home to the Wests Tigers and provides valuable experience to a youthful backline. During his time with Wigan, Richards won the 2010 Man of Steel Award and was the top point-scorer from 2007 through to 2010.
Lulia played under Potter at Bradford in 2012 and returns to the NRL after previously playing for St George-Illawarra and Newcastle.
There will be plenty of competition for the wing position, with Richards, Marika Koroibete and David Nofoaluma likely to fight it out for the two positions. Wests Tigers supporters can expect plenty of excitement down both edges with Tim Simona and Chris Lawrence forming a lethal backline with plenty of strike.
Mick Potter talks 2014 outside backs:
In the outside backs we now have Pat Richards who adds a fair bit of experience; combine that with young players such as David Nofoaluma, Tim Simona, Kurtis Rowe, James Tedesco and Marika Koroibete and we have a good mix. These players give us good strike and have plenty of potential to score tries, Potter said.
Chris Lawrence will be looking to bounce back from an ankle injury which had him sidelined for most of the 2013 season. He carried the injury throughout the year and after surgery Im hoping he can get back to the form that we have seen from him in the past.
Keith Lulia has that potential to set up and also score tries himself and will be valuable for us in 2014.
Weve got two young players in the mix; Kurtis Rowe and Taqele Naiyaravaro who have scored many tries in Under 20s and State Cup this year. Following another pre-season we are expecting them to be just that little bit more physical and will be able to handle the NRL. Im looking forward to seeing them play.
Stay tuned for the next announcement, which will feature the 2014 halves/hookers.
The series of four articles will be released in the following groups: outside backs, halves/hookers, back-row/lock and prop forwards. Potter will then provide an insight into each group and how it is shaping up for the season ahead.
MAKE WESTS TIGERS PART OF YOUR LIFE - BECOME A 2014 MEMBER TODAY!
In the first announcement, we take a look at the outside backs with nine players out of the 33-man squad featured in this particular group.
Recruits Pat Richards and Keith Lulia will be new faces in the squad, with both players returning to the NRL following successful stints in Super League.
Richards will return home to the Wests Tigers and provides valuable experience to a youthful backline. During his time with Wigan, Richards won the 2010 Man of Steel Award and was the top point-scorer from 2007 through to 2010.
Lulia played under Potter at Bradford in 2012 and returns to the NRL after previously playing for St George-Illawarra and Newcastle.
There will be plenty of competition for the wing position, with Richards, Marika Koroibete and David Nofoaluma likely to fight it out for the two positions. Wests Tigers supporters can expect plenty of excitement down both edges with Tim Simona and Chris Lawrence forming a lethal backline with plenty of strike.
Mick Potter talks 2014 outside backs:
In the outside backs we now have Pat Richards who adds a fair bit of experience; combine that with young players such as David Nofoaluma, Tim Simona, Kurtis Rowe, James Tedesco and Marika Koroibete and we have a good mix. These players give us good strike and have plenty of potential to score tries, Potter said.
Chris Lawrence will be looking to bounce back from an ankle injury which had him sidelined for most of the 2013 season. He carried the injury throughout the year and after surgery Im hoping he can get back to the form that we have seen from him in the past.
Keith Lulia has that potential to set up and also score tries himself and will be valuable for us in 2014.
Weve got two young players in the mix; Kurtis Rowe and Taqele Naiyaravaro who have scored many tries in Under 20s and State Cup this year. Following another pre-season we are expecting them to be just that little bit more physical and will be able to handle the NRL. Im looking forward to seeing them play.
Stay tuned for the next announcement, which will feature the 2014 halves/hookers.
