Apisai Koroisau will again captain Wests Tigers in the 2024 Telstra Premiership, after being officially handed the role at the club’s season launch.
John Bateman, also in his second season at Wests Tigers, will share the leadership role as vice-captain.
The 2024 NRL squad was greeted by more than 200 guests, including directors, sponsors, elite members, player partners, staff, and other key stakeholders at a harbourside venue in Sydney on Wednesday night.
Koroisau said he’s very much looking forward to leading what he calls a very closely connected group.
“Every player has really bought in to what Benji wants and what we want as a group,” Koroisau said.
We’ve worked hard in pre-season and soon it will be time to put it all into practice.
Api Koroisau Wests Tigers NRL Captain
“I learned a lot last year in my first season as captain, and I’m looking forward to leading this group this season.
"We are all very proud to be representing Wests Tigers.”
Head coach Benji Marshall spoke about the team’s values, and about how trust and connection will form the foundation of what his team achieves.
“All the teams I’ve been in, the more you trust each other and feel like you can open up to each other, that helps build success,” Marshall said.
If you can connect as a team, built on trust, that goes a long way towards winning.
Benji Marshall Wests Tigers Head Coach
Wests Tigers CEO Shane Richardson addressed the audience and made a pledge to ‘do’ all he could to help make Wests Tigers great again.
“We’ll do, we won’t talk about doing. We’ll work hard, we won’t talk about working hard,” said Richardson.
We’ll make this a business that people can be proud of, by doing, not by talking.
Shane Richardson Wests Tigers CEO
“And I think it’s crucially important you understand that. This club is in a magnificent position going forward to build something very special.
"If you really want to support this club, and be a part of this family, and be a part of what we're building, become a member."
The club also unveiled its 2024 Heritage Jersey ahead of Wests Tigers 25th season in the NRL.
The Heritage Jersey is a replica of the very first jersey worn against Brisbane Broncos in Round 1 of the 2000 season at Campbelltown.
Twenty-five years on and the NRL team will run out in the very same jersey, against the same opposition, at the same venue, when they play the Broncos in ANZAC Round.
Several past players attended the season launch, including the club’s inaugural captain, Darren Senter.
Life Members Chris Lawrence and Pat Richards were also on hand to talk more about the new Wests Tigers Alumni, which will be launched in the coming weeks.
Wests Tigers will play their final trial this weekend against the Dragons in the NRL Pre-season Challenge in Mudgee.
They then play the Raiders in Canberra in Round 2 of the Telstra Premiership following a bye in Round 1.
NRL Squad for Season 2024:
Solomon Alaimalo, John Bateman (vc), Jahream Bula, Tallyn Da Silva, Adam Doueihi, Chris Faagutu*, Solomona Faataape*, Latu Fainu, Samuela Fainu, Sione Fainu, Josh Feledy, Lachlan Galvin, Asu Kepaoa, David Klemmer, Apisai Koroisau (c), Kit Laulilii*, Alexander Lobb*, Justin Matamua, Jordan Miller, Brent Naden, Justin Olam, Isaiah Papali'i, Fonua Pole, Solomone Saukuru*, Alex Seyfarth, Aidan Sezer, Jake Simpkin, Charlie Staines, Tony Sukkar*, Jayden Sullivan, Starford To'a, Brandon Tumeth , Junior Tupou, Alex Twal, Stefano Utoikamanu (*Development contract)
