Wests Tigers is excited to announce its elite transition squads for the club’s 2023 Cubs & Roar programs, as NRLW pre-season training begins.
The Cubs (male) and Roar (female) programs are designed to help players progress to their next stage of development within Wests Tigers pathways system, providing a block of elite level training from June through to August.
The respective programs bring together our best young players from the club’s three junior leagues, namely Wests, Balmain and Macarthur, providing specialist coaching in readiness for next season.
Wests Tigers Cubs Program has three squads - Black, Orange, and White, catering for different pathways’ stages.
Black Cubs is for players looking to transition into Jersey Flegg in 2024, who have been identified through the SG Ball Cup competition.
The program will culminate in a Development and Cultural tour of New Zealand with a match against the Warriors later in the year.
Orange Cubs is for players transitioning to SG Ball Cup in 2024, who have been identified through the Harold Matthews Cup competition.
This program will culminate in a Community and Development tour of Tamworth with a curtain-raiser to be played at Scully Park prior to our NRL Round 22 match against South Sydney Rabbitohs.
White Cubs is for players aiming to progress from Development programs to Harold Matthews Cup in 2024. This program will focus on education and skill development culminating in a tour of Northern NSW and a game against the Titans later this year.
Brett Kimmorley will again be heavily involved in delivering the Cubs & Roar programs, also overseeing the Spine & Kicking Academy for our best halves and ball players, with assistance from other NRL team coaches including Benji Marshall.
2023 CUBS SQUADS
CUBS (Black)
Lipina Ata, Lachlan Broederlow, Lachlan Bush, Michael Coady, Levi Conti, Will Craig, Harry Delaney, Kian Edmed, Sosefo Finau, James Folaumatou'I, Lachlan Galvin, Aiden Harb, Cameron Kanaan, Luke Keppie, Keenan Lawandos, Jeremiah Leatigaga, Zaid Lehn, Ofele Lene, Heath Mason, Adam Mehrez, Brendan Naicori, Velangi Otahaha, Elijah Petit-Young, Ryan Polsen, Heith Pritchard, Jekope Sovau, Tino Tavana, Masei Tavui, Harrison Velevatu, Daniel Waqa, Navreen Willet, Ewan Xuereb
CUBS (Orange)
Malik Amine, Javon Andrews, Jordan Bunt, Cooper Clarke, Alex Conti, Archie Duncombe, Sonny Edwards-Moeke, Nate Gallagher, Jared Haywood, Aaron Keppie, Edwin Langi, Luke Laulilii, Byron Laupepa, Kohan Lewis, Kimball Liufau, Callum McMenemy, Mikey Nassar, Riley Oitmann, Joey Raad, Lucas Rossi, James Safi, Adrien Safi, Denzel Shaafhausen, Marc Tannous, Dougie Tuala, Jonah Watson
CUBS (White)
Elahlio Atoni, James Bengura, Joey Beshara, Tyler Birnie, Michael Boustany, Lorima Cosgrave, Rabie Dandan, Zeke Edmed, Hayden Elkris, PJ French, Maddax Fui, Glassie Glassie, Pheonix Godinet, Antonio Harb, Lee Howlett, Jayden Innes, Alex Isdale, Will Jenkins, Paul Johnson, Jake Jones, Kayden Kanaan, Ali Karnib, Onitoni Large, Malcolm Mailo, Heamasi Makasini, Jaxon Maniaci, Brooklyn Milford, Isaac Orji, Amran Paito-Pepo, Will Stone, Peter Taai, Tomasi Tavui
Wests Tigers Roar Program is being launched as the club prepares for its inaugural season in the NRLW.
Like the Cubs Program, the Roar Program will help transition players as they progress through Wests Tigers female pathways teams.
The Roar Program also has three tiers - Black, Orange and White, catering for different pathways’ stages. There is also the opportunity for players to be added to each Roar squad based on performances at local club and school level during the season.
Roar Black is for players looking to transition into the NSWRL Harvey Norman Women’s Premiership, Roar Orange is for players transitioning into the NSWRL Tarsha Gale Cup competition, and Roar White is for players progressing to the NSWRL Lisa Fioala Cup competition.
The launch of Wests Tigers Roar program coincides the start of pre-season training for the club’s NRLW team ahead of its inaugural season.
The Roar Program will bring together the best young talent across all pathways team, enhancing opportunities as players progress to the NRLW in future years.
2023 ROAR SQUADS
ROAR (Black)
Jess Whelan, Georgia Nies, Sofaia Vaki, Imogen Lowe, Claire Kennedy, Mia Taylor, Ashanti Pennell, Abby Crane, Chantel Lee, Ella Fielding, Emily Hodge, Taytana Pati Ah-Cheung, Myracle Matara
ROAR (Orange)
Abbie Hamilton, Afi Fauese, Angel Schaafhausen, Breanna Cunningham, Charntelle Haenga, Chelsea Blankenstein, Dianne Palu, Elarnay Pele-taula, Elsie Gray, Emily Wooden, Grace O’Reilly, Greta Alama, Hope Lepou Polata Fuava’a, Jenna Kostewicz, Jorja Simpson, Katie Stevens, Kiera Hol, Kristen Grima, Kristen Haskins, Leilani Alofia, Lily Davis, Lourdez Luamanu-Leitaua, Madison Russell, Ma'u Halatoa, Mia Tonga, Mikaela Finch, Olivia Hind, Onetea Waaka, Oriana Tulemau, Skye Southon, Sophia Nassif, Stephanie Goodworth
ROAR (White U/16s)
Agnews Faaui, Alavina Tu'ifua, Ana Taviliniu, Annelise Hall, Calae Dunmore, Charlotte Stimson, Elanor Ward, Ella Ropata, Ellie Barnett, Faith Masina, Felila Fakalelu, Hayley Firman, Isabel Fitzpatrick, Isabel McMenemy, Isabella James, Izabel Williams, Jordan Hughes, Jorja Borg, Lilah LuamanuLeiatau, Liliola Ward, Lily Hall, Lily McGannon, Lofia Alone, Lucy LuamanuLeiatau, Lusinita Tavalinui, Mariah Alone, Mikayla Faletau, Naomi Cowley, Paige Attard, Rhiannon Bonner, Scarlett Newton, Shante Taumata, Sienna Robertson, Summer Stewart, Veronica Sefo
ROAR (White U/14s)
Addison Roelandts, Alexis Hughes, Amira Bajouri, Brianna Nassar, Caitlyn Parata, Charlotte Withers, Cherish Peni, Dawn Tui, Ellie Szczerbanik, Emily Putland, Halo Fatai, Jaylah Middlemiss, Kalani Godinet, Katana Couchman, Khiarna Munro, Lara Edwards, Lata-Rose Faamasa, Liliea Seville, Llisapesi Strahan, Maddison Cloutt-Richey, Melissa Taiatu, Mia-Laylahnii Laupepa, Mia Zakarija, Miranda Commane, Neveah Mafi, Olivia Larg, Peyton Cobby, Piper Phillips, Riley Maroun, Ruby Marks, Tabbi Spiller, Tayla Meagher, Tiana Lobo, Tupou Fakalelu, Zion Sumeo
General Manager Women’s and Pathways, Matthew Betsey, is confident the Cubs and Roar programs will provide long term benefits to the club.
“What these squads provide is further opportunities for our elite players as they progress through our pathways,” Betsey said.
“The programs will offer specialist coaching drawing on a wealth of rugby league knowledge from people like Brett Kimmorley, Shannon Gallant and Paul Sironen.
"Our programs will also lean on the experience of new NRLW recruits Kezie Apps and Sarah Togatuki.
We have already seen players progress to Wests Tigers NRL team who were in last year’s Cubs program and the majority of our NRLW squad comes from our pathways teams as well.
Matthew Betsey
“The next few months is a really exciting time for all players who have been selected in our Cubs and Roar squads, and of course for our NRLW squad, which begins pre-season training today.”
