Legends and life members have reunited at Wests Tigers Zurich Centre to launch the club’s all-new Alumni on the eve of the 2024 NRL season.
Wests Tigers Alumni has been created to reconnect past players as the club enters its 25th season in the NRL, and second season in the NRLW.
It will initially be driven by life members Chris Lawrence, Pat Richards, and John Skandalis, who were all on hand on Friday.
Wests Tigers has been represented by 275 players in the club’s first 24 seasons, who between them have played almost 10,000 NRL games in the orange, black and white.
Several past players were at the launch on Friday, trading stories and reliving old yarns, as the NRL team played a high-impact intra-club trial match ahead of its season-opener next weekend.
Among them were players from Wests Tigers very first game which was a 24-all draw against the Broncos at Campbelltown on Sunday 6th February 2000.
Skandalis, who scored the club’s very first try on that day, was joined at the launch by others from ‘game one’ including Owen Craigie and Shane Walker, as well as many more who played in Wests Tigers inaugural season.
Ten Wests Tigers ‘centurions’ were at the launch, including the likes of Keith Galloway, Ben Galea, Daniel Fitzhenry and Beau Ryan, adding to the rich DNA of the coaching staff, led by Wests Tigers legend, Benji Marshall.
Wests Tigers CEO Shane Richardson says while the WT Alumni will be run by former players, it will receive the club’s full support.
“I think it’s hugely important, even more so as we enter our 25th season, that we have an official group that represents our past players,” said Richardson.
“We have had 275 players who have worn these colours with pride, and they will forever be a part of this club.
Tradition and heritage are vastly important and very much influence who we are today.
Shane Richardson Wests Tigers CEO
"We will give Chris, John, and Pat our full support as a club to help grow the WT Alumni, because it’s an important step forward for Wests Tigers.
Lawrence says he’s delighted that so many former players wanted to be there for the launch.
“Just by looking around here today, you can see how important this initiative is to the players,” he said.
“The Alumni provides players with a forum to reconnect with each other and the Wests Tigers community.
“It also gives them a way to remember and celebrate their contribution to the Club whilst also offering support to the current playing group.
We want this group to continue to build and to help the club grow in whatever way we can.
Chris Lawrence Wests Tigers Player #104
"We also want this to be a community where retiring players can remain a big part of the club once they exit the game.”
