Wests Tigers are pleased to confirm the squads for the upcoming Knock-On Effect NSW Cup and Jersey Flegg Cup competitions.
Both teams will be led by new head coaches in 2024, with former NRL hooker Aaron Payne taking over the Wests Magpies in the NSW Cup, and Leon Latulipe in charge of Wests Tigers Jersey Flegg team after a stint as Manly Sea Eagles U/21s coach last year.
Both teams will be bolstered by players who completed pre-season with Wests Tigers’ NRL squad heading into the 2024 season.
From the NSW Cup Magpies, Declan Casey, Josh Finau, Nick Lui-Toso, Reuben Porter and Sione Vaihu took part in the Wests Tigers NRL pre-season, as did Jersey Flegg players Cayne Nicholas and Iverson Matai.
Wests Tigers Jersey Flegg Cup kicks off their season on Saturday, March 9 when they take on newcomers Kaiviti Silktails at Lidcombe Oval.
The NSW Cup Magpies kick off their season in Canberra against the Raiders on Saturday, March 16.
Jersey Flegg Cup (Under 21s)
Zakariya Agbere, Vaka Aho, Tristyn Ball, Lachlan Broederlow, Zakauri Clarke, Joshua Coinakis, Matthew Curl, Joseph Delle, Cale Edmed, Tom Fisher, Ma’u Fonua Fotu, Fangavalu Hammond, Te Umuariki Heremia-Tukere, Bailey Hodges, John Ibrahim, Joseph Jabar, Jai Langlands Doi, Ofele Lene, Will Malloy, Iverson Matai, Adam Mehrez, Brenden Naicori, Finnley Neilsen, Cayne Nicholas, Elijah Pettit Young, Flynn Pickering, Junior Taungatua, Shaquille Tavita, Naati Teaupa, Herman Tofaeono, John Tuipolotu, Kobie Wilson, Tutonu Junior Wright
Coaching Staff:
| Head Coach | Leon Latulipe |
| Assistant Coach | Nathan Lakeman |
| Assistant Coach | Danny Constantine |
| Trainer | Simon Spears |
| Physio | Sam Nash |
| Physio | Eric Vuong |
| Strength & Conditioning | Ethan Stead |
| Manager | Daisy Zakarija |
A word from the coach: Leon Latulipe
Firstly, I am privileged to have such a solid team of staff who are so dedicated in preparing our players for the big stage. Our success as staff will be judged on what we can do to promote these players to the next level.
This squad is an even mix of contracted players and train/trialists who have all have been producing good results throughout the preseason.
Our focus in pre-season was on fundamentals, skills and being clinical with the ‘little things’.
From a physical performance perspective our players have been tracking well with the strength and conditioning work and I have been impressed with what some of our boys have produced in that area.
The emphasis now is converting that into positive efforts on the field in the season ahead.
Leon Latulipe Jersey Flegg Cup Coach
Match: Wests Tigers v Silktails
Round 1 -
home Team
Wests Tigers
4th Position
away Team
Silktails
11th Position
Venue: Lidcombe Oval, Sydney
I’m looking forward to the journey ahead, watching this squad improve as a group, and seeing players promoted to both the NSW Cup and NRL throughout the season.
Knock-On Effect NSW Cup
Declan Casey, Tyler Colley, Josh Finau, Ryan Garner, Jay Kirk, Nick Lui-Toso, Jimmy Ngutlik, Reuben Porter, Sione Vaihu, James Valevatu, Gordon Whippy
Coaching Staff:
| Head Coach | Aaron Payne |
| Assistant Coach | TBC |
| Assistant Coach/Trainer | Shannon Gallant |
| Physio | Jay McGuinness |
| Physio | Nathan Hamilton |
| Strength & Conditioning | Mark Mamo |
| Manager | Warren Hamilton |
A word from the coach: Aaron Payne
It’s great to be a part of the Wests Tigers as Wests Magpies NSW Cup head coach and I’m thoroughly looking forward to the season ahead.
With some players given the opportunity to train with the NRL squad over summer, our pre-season squad included the next crop of Jersey Flegg players and players from our feeder club, Ryde Eastwood.
I’ve been super impressed with how all of these guys have applied themselves.
Their attitude has been first class and the pre-season training they have done should give them confidence that they can compete at Cup level when called on through the year.
Coaching our second-tier side has its unique challenges with so many moving parts but I am really looking forward to the challenge.
Aaron Payne NSW Cup Coach
What’s important is that we have provide Benji and the NRL team with options at the selection table.
We all know that healthy competition for spots is so important for the NRL team to be successful.
Match: Raiders v Magpies
Round 2 -
home Team
Raiders
1st Position
away Team
Magpies
11th Position
Venue: GIO Stadium, Canberra
The players are very proud to be representing Wests Tigers and Wests Magpies, and we look forward to giving our very best at every opportunity.
