Wests Tigers official podcast Behind The Roar is shining a light on some of the club’s younger players over summer, as preparations continue ahead of the 2024 NRL season.
BTR is available on Apple, Spotify and YouTube. Episode 36 will drop on Thursday afternoon.
The pre-season series includes six players who are on NRL Development contracts and five who are part of the club’s top-30 roster. Seven are yet to make their NRL debut, and all but two have played in Wests Tigers pathways teams.
This week we chat to Kit Laulilii, an exciting young lock who made his NRL debut for Wests Tigers in the final round of the 2023 season against Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles at Brookvale Oval.
Kit talks about his role as a young leader, his pre-season goals, his strong family values, his journey through Wests Tigers pathways, his love for country music and a few other things that make him tick.
Captain of the premiership-winning Wests Magpies Harold Matthews team, Laulilii explains how leadership has been instilled in him from a young age.
“To captain that Matts team was very special and something I will remember for the rest of my life,” he said.
Another special moment in rugby league for this humble 18-year-old was making his NRL debut last season.
It was a very emotional time for me and that day was very special, despite the scoreboard.
Kit Laulilii
“Like winning the Matts [Harold Mathews] grand final, it was a moment I will cherish for the rest of my life, and it brought a tear to my eye.”
Kit is one of several players from that team in 2022 who are now a big part of Wests Tigers NRL squad.
“I played my junior footy at Liverpool Catholic Club with some of my best mates who are also here at Wests Tigers today,” he said.
“I then moved to East Campbelltown Eagles where a lot of us local juniors played, including Tallyn Da Silva who also made his NRL debut last season.
“The best part about our development is that we are all local juniors, and we know each other so well.”
Laulilii, whose younger brother Luke is also training with the top squad, says he’s been really impressed with how the younger players have handled the rigours of pre-season with the NRL squad.
“I feel a few of the younger boys are looking really good, really digging in and buying into the standards that Benji is wanting from us.”
