After three-straight wooden spoons, Wests Tigers are holding out for new heroes

The Wests Tigers have endured losses in the past three games in various unbelievable ways, including high-scoring shootouts and low-scoring stalemates. They've been defeated not only by last-second turnovers and refereeing errors but also by their own ineptitude. These losses are like islands in a sea of pain, especially some that have gone down in history.

In the past three years, the Wests Tigers have twice been one of only 12 teams in league history to concede 70 or more points in a single game. They have lost 58 games since the start of 2022, a number almost double the amount of losses that new signing Jarome Luai has suffered in his seven-year career. For the Wests Tigers, shedding these heavy burdens and ending their tenure at the bottom of the league is a monumental challenge.

Despite this, they are optimistic about the new season. However, past experiences have made them cautious about this optimism, including failed nostalgia strategies, recruitment drives that failed to deliver, and promises that "this time will be different." While photos of players losing or gaining weight during the summer have captured the attention of fans and fueled hopes for a brighter future, it's hard to be hopeful after so much failure.

The Wests Tigers have placed their bets on Luai, hoping he can lead the team towards the light. While this hope didn't seem obvious after their "wooden spoon bowl" thrashing against the Eels, the Wests Tigers have indeed made some progress in the 2024 season. They won more games than in the previous two "wooden spoon seasons," developed a crop of young players, and cleared out some players who failed to live up to their high-paying contracts. These moves have injected some life into the club, and now it's Luai's job to lead them to a true resurgence.

On the field, Luai has shown more control over the past two seasons and has been utilizing the abilities he has always possessed more. He has played more time at halfback in the 2024 season than ever before and has been running the ball more often and more effectively. This has allowed him to create more opportunities for himself and his teammates. His organizational skills will bring immediate benefits, not only in how he directs the team but also in the space he creates for players like Samuela Fainu, the club's player of the year, who is expected to pair with Luai on the left side.

Fainu stated, "Playing alongside him, you don't have to do anything, he'll do everything for you, he'll tell you what he wants. I don't know how to describe it. I want to bring success to the club, and if he's going to be the one in charge of that, I have to do everything I can to help him."

Beyond the 80 minutes of the game, Luai's impact at other times may be even more profound. Just as James Fisher-Harris brought a powerful drive to Penrith's four consecutive premierships, Luai has infused Penrith with boundless energy and unwavering confidence. Luai's performance in game highlights is impressive, but he is more of a spiritual leader. He is brave, fearless, and doesn't bow down to anyone. He has demonstrated this spirit for years with Penrith, New South Wales, and the Samoan national team, and has passed it on to others. For players like Luke Laulilii, Luai's success makes him a living legend. Laulilii was the youngest player in the league last season.

When Luai and the Panthers began their rise in 2020, Laulilii was only 13 years old. He grew up watching Luai stand at the top of the world, so he described the feeling of being with the new organizer as "surreal." Laulilii said, "I can't believe he's standing right there. Our energy is different now. We have winners in our team now, and I can see the changes."

Api Koroisau, who won two championships with Luai, witnessed Luai's transformation into a leader firsthand and knows what this can bring to the Wests Tigers. Koroisau said, "I first met him at Manly when we played against Penrith at Brookvale. He kicked me hard with his left foot, so I started yelling at him. I officially met him at Penrith's preseason in late 2019, and when you meet him, you understand why everyone likes him. When I first got there, he was a total clown, he was only 19 or 20 years old, a young and flamboyant guy. He's still that person, but he also has another side, which is leadership, and he knows how to switch between the two. He can be a fun, lovable person, but when it's time to work? He's a great competitor, and that's what this team needs, a leader who leads by example in everything. His leadership and the way he talks about football are the most important. He will express his feelings in meetings, and you need someone like him. He never shuts up, never hesitates, he's always ready to work, and his ideas are helping the team."

Placing all hope on one player to turn things around can ultimately be heartbreaking, but beyond Luai, the signs in Concord are also encouraging. There has been a lot of talk about Lachlan Galvin's performance in the preseason, but he is not alone. Koroisau nominated Tallyn da Silva and Laulilii as two other young players who have stood out. In addition, there are recruited players beyond Luai, most notably the wing duo Sunia Turuva and Jeral Skelton, as well as the tireless prop Terrell May.

On paper, this is the most complete and exciting roster the Wests Tigers have had in years. The same preseason optimism has returned, but this optimism has turned into poison for three consecutive years. The summer dreams always feel real, but this time there's a slight difference, with an expectation both inside and outside the club that this time they can do better than before. At least that's what the players expect, because that's what the coaching staff is demanding. When you climb a mountain, you are first told not to look at the summit, but this time the Wests Tigers are determined to lift their heads. Koroisau said, "The expectation for this team is to perform well. But that's just the result of hard work throughout the year, you have small wins, and I'm not just talking about winning games, but also winning in training. So you have to take it slow and live in the moment. There are still a lot of things that can happen, and you have to work hard to get better every day. The young players are becoming more comfortable, and they're starting to express themselves, which is exactly what you need to be successful. The coaches are very picky, and that's a good thing for us. From day one, they made it clear that they won't accept anything, the standards have been raised, and that's how it should be. The players have responded very well. What the results will be, we'll have to wait and see, but we've already turned a corner."