Wests Tigers to celebrate Tommy Raudonikis OAM

Wests Tigers will celebrate the life of rugby league icon Tommy Raudonikis OAM this Saturday as the club takes on the Gold Coast Titans at Campbelltown Sports Stadium.

Saturday’s game will mark the first time that Wests Tigers will have played at Campbelltown since Raudonikis’ passing last month, with a number of unique game day initiatives set to take place in honour of the Magpies legend.

Wests Tigers will wear a specially-designed jersey for the clash which pays tribute to the talented halfback, while a stage will be set up on the North West hill including the four playing jerseys he wore throughout his career — Western Suburbs, Newtown, New South Wales and Australia.

Wests Tigers Premier Partner Neds will donate their Sternum position on the team’s playing jersey to charity organisation Smart Pups Assistance Dogs — a cause close to the heart of Raudonikis.

The grandstand on the Eastern side of the stadium will also be renamed as the Tommy Raudonikis OAM Stand.

As the players run out for the 5:30pm kickoff, 30 former Western Suburbs Magpies greats will form a guard of honour along with “Smart Pup Tommy” — a dog which Raudonikis developed a strong relationship with through his work with the charity organisation Smart Pups Assistance Dogs.

The Raudonikis family will then distribute the match ball to be used for the game.

Following full-time, each player-worn Wests Tigers jersey will be signed by the entire team and available for auction online, with proceeds raised going towards Smart Pups. The auction will be available via roarstore.com.au/auctions.