Two teens to make NRL debut

Both 18-year-olds have played in Wests Tigers representative teams this season, progressing from SG Ball to Jersey Flegg, and more recently playing in the NSW Cup competition.

Laulilii is 100% 'home grown' having come through Wests Tigers pathways as a junior, beginning the journey as a 5-year-old with Liverpool Catholic Club Raiders. 

He was captain of the undefeated Magpies team which last year claimed the Harold Matthews Cup premiership, joining Tallyn Da Silva as the second player from that team to make it to the NRL.

“I’m just so excited, lost for words, and so very grateful,” said Laulilii after learning that he would be making his NRL debut.

Mum and Dad are so exited after all they have done for me over the years, and I could hear the joy in their voices when I told them.

Kit Laulilii

Laulilii was born in 2005, when another crop of young stars claimed Wests Tigers maiden premiership. 

He says it wasn’t until he reached his early teens that he released that he too could, and would, make it to the big time.

“It was Wayne Lambkin (now Wests Magpies NSW Cup Coach] at Westfields who gave me my first real shot and I just fell in love with the game,” says Laulilii.

I knew I had the support crew around me, and it just goes to show, with hard work, anything can happen.

Kit Laulilii

“It’s crazy how it’s worked out for me, to be playing with the same club I have supported all my life. I couldn’t be happier.”

In the not-too-distant future there could be a handful of teammates from that Harold Matts class of ’22 playing NRL for Wests Tigers. 

Also in that side were three players who were this year selected for the Australian Schoolboys, including Lachlan Galvin, Heath Mason and Laulilii’s younger brother, Luke.

Feledy is a northern beaches junior who also started out as a 5-year-old. 

His journey to Concord started at Harbord, and quickly gathered pace this year. 

Like Laulilii, Feledy has bounced from rep team to rep team in 2023, after joining the club as an intern at the end of 2022. 

A strong-running centre with an uncanny ability to find his way to the line, Feledy scored 11 tries in 16 games this season in the Jersey Flegg Cup, before bagging two tries in as many games in the NSW Cup. 

Like Laulilii, Feledy is well-mannered and humble, taking little credit for the tries he’s scored this year.

“If I do my role for the team and that’s scoring a try or two, then I feel I’ve played my part,” he said.

And like Laulilii, Feledy is super grateful for the help he’s had along the way.

“It hasn’t fully hit me yet, it’s a dream come true, and I am just so excited,” he said.

I owe so much to my parents for this as well as my aunty who has been to every game that I’ve played this year.

Josh Feledy

While Feledy hopes to mark his debut with another ‘meaty’, he’s just thrilled to be given this opportunity.

“I just want to prove to all the boys that I’m a teammate they want to play with,” he said.

“I don’t want this to be a one-off thing and hopefully I grab a ‘meat pie’ [try] and a win, to cap a perfect night."

Come 6pm on Friday there will be seven Wests Tigers players who have made their NRL debuts this year. 

Josh Feledy will become Wests Tigers Player #274 and Kit Laulilii Wests Tigers Player #275, joining Brandon Tumeth, Jahream Bula, Tallyn Da Silva, Aitasi James and Triston Reilly as first year rookies in 2023.