2023 Wests Tigers season

2023 Wests Tigers season
NRL Rank	17th (Round 27)
Play-off result	DNQ
2023 record	Wins: 4; losses: 20
Points scored	For: 385; against: 675
Team information
CEO	Justin Pascoe
Head Coach	Tim Sheen
Captain	Apisai Koroisau
Stadium	CommBank Stadium (30,000 – 2 Games) Leichhardt Oval (20,000 – 3 Games) Campbelltown Stadium (17,500 – 3 Games)
Avg. attendance	12,994
High attendance	28,611 (Round 6)
Low attendance	12,247 (Round 12)
Top scorers
Tries	Starford To'a (7)
Goals	Brandon Wakeham(30)
Points	Brandon Wakeham (68)
←  2022 List of seasons 2024  →

The 2023 Wests Tigers season was the 24th in the club's history. They competed in the National Rugby League's 2023 Telstra Premiership. Head coach Tim Sheens returned to the role following his appointment in July 2022. ^[1] Sheens had previously coached the club from 2003 to 2012. Joining Sheens as assistant coaches were former West Tigers players Benji Marshall and Robbie Farah.

Season summary

• Pre-Season Challenge – The club would begin the season poorly, suffering a heavy defeat in the first trial match against the New Zealand Warriors in Auckland. ^{[2] [3]} However they would bounce back against the Canberra Raiders in the second trial match to win 36–4 in hot conditions at the Belmore Sports Ground, ^[4] with coach Tim Sheens happy with his team's defence. ^{[5] [6]}
• Round 9 – Wests Tigers end a 273 day, 12-match losing streak stretching back into last season, upsetting reigning champions Penrith Panthers 12–8 in torrential rain at Carrington Park in Bathurst. ^{[7] [8] [9]}
• Round 16 – Alex Twal scores his first NRL try after 116 matches for the Wests Tigers, ending one of the longest try-less streaks in competition history. Twal's try was the Tigers only four-pointer in the 28–6 loss to the Melbourne Storm. ^{[10] [11]}

Player movement

These movements happened across the previous season, off-season and pre-season. ^[12]

Gains Player/Coach Previous Club Length Apisai Koroisau Penrith Panthers 2024 [13] Isaiah Papali'i Parramatta Eels 2025 [14] Triston Reilly New South Wales Waratahs 2024 [15] David Nofoaluma Melbourne Storm (loan return) 2025 [16] Charlie Staines Penrith Panthers 2023 [17] David Klemmer Newcastle Knights 2025 [18] John Bateman Wigan Warriors 2026 [19] Will Smith Hull F.C. N/A Brandon Wakeham Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs 2023 [20]

Losses Player/Coach New Club Luke Garner Penrith Panthers Kelma Tuilagi Manly Warringah Sea Eagles Zane Musgrove St. George Illawarra Dragons Jock Madden Brisbane Broncos James Tamou North Queensland Cowboys Oliver Gildart Dolphins Jacob Liddle St. George Illawarra Dragons Tyrone Peachey Penrith Panthers Jackson Hastings Newcastle Knights

Pre-Season Challenge

Date	Round	Opponent	Venue	Score	Tries	Goals	Attendance
Thursday, 9 February	Trial 1	New Zealand Warriors	Mount Smart Stadium, Auckland	48 – 12	Trey Peni 56' Stefano Utoikamanu 59'	Brandon Wakeham (2/2)	4,000
Sunday, 19 February	Trial 2	Canberra Raiders	Belmore Sports Ground, Sydney	36 – 4	Junior Tupou 27', 74' Tommy Talau 35' Asu Kepaoa 42' Charlie Staines 45' David Nofoaluma 62' Justin Matamua 70'	Adam Doueihi (3/5) Brandon Wakeham (1/2)	7,800

References: ^{[21] [22]}

Regular Season

Matches

Main article: 2023 NRL season results

Date	Round	Opponent	Venue	Score	Tries	Goals	Attendance
Sunday, 5 March	1	Gold Coast Titans	Leichhardt Oval	10–22	Adam Doueihi 45' Daine Laurie 64'	Adam Doueihi (0/2) PG: Adam Doueihi (1/1)	14,667
Sunday, 12 March	2	Newcastle Knights	Leichhardt Oval	12–14	Asu Kepaoa 33' Stefano Utoikamanu 79'	Adam Doueihi (2/2) FG: Luke Brooks (0/1)	13,214
Sunday, 19 March	3	Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs	Belmore Sports Ground	26–22	Brent Naden 21' Luke Brooks 66' Fonua Pole 69' Charlie Staines 70'	Adam Doueihi (3/4)	16,404
Friday, 24 March	4	Melbourne Storm	AAMI Park	24–12	Asu Kepaoa 29' Apisai Koroisau 54'	Adam Doueihi (2/2)	11,669
Saturday, 1 April	5	Brisbane Broncos	Lang Park	46–12	Isaiah Papali'i 43' Jake Simpkin 63'	Adam Doueihi (2/2)	27,553
Monday, 10 April	6	Parramatta Eels	Accor Stadium	22–28	Starford To'a 23' Asu Kepaoa 49' Brent Naden 64' Junior Tupou 71'	Adam Doueihi (2/3) Apisai Koroisau (0/1) PG: Luke Brooks (1/1)	28,611
	7	BYE
Sunday, 23 April	8	Manly Warringah Sea Eagles	Campbelltown Stadium	16–22	Charlie Staines 35' Apisai Koroisau 55' Starford To'a 63'	Brandon Wakeham (2/3)	10,033
Saturday, 29 April	9	Penrith Panthers	Carrington Park	8–12	Brandon Wakeham 2' David Nofoaluma 49'	Brandon Wakeham (1/2) PG: Brandon Wakeham (1/2)	11,055
Sunday, 7 May	10	St. George Illawarra Dragons	Lang Park	18–16	Starford To'a 13' David Nofoaluma 21' Junior Tupou 64'	Brandon Wakeham (2/3) PG: Brandon Wakeham (1/1)	34,568
Saturday, 13 May	11	South Sydney Rabbitohs	Accor Stadium	20–0	/	/	21,013
Saturday, 20 May	12	North Queensland Cowboys	Leichhardt Oval	66–18	Stefano Utoikamanu 5' Junior Tupou 9', 47' David Nofoaluma 17' Jahream Bula 39' Fonua Pole 44' Starford To'a 63', 66' Joe Ofahengaue 69' David Nofoaluma 72' John Bateman 77'	Brandon Wakeham (8/8) Luke Brooks (1/1) Apisai Koroisau (2/2)	12,247
	13	BYE
Friday, 2 June	14	Canberra Raiders	Campbelltown Stadium	19–20	Jahream Bula 68' John Bateman 70' Brandon Wakeham 72'	Brandon Wakeham (3/3) FG: Luke Brooks (1/2)	11,201
Thursday, 8 June	15	Gold Coast Titans	Cbus Super Stadium	28–12	David Klemmer 19' Jahream Bula 64'	Brandon Wakeham (2/2)	10,232
Saturday, 17 July	16	Melbourne Storm	Campbelltown Stadium	6–28	Alex Twal 22'	Brandon Wakeham (1/1)	8,517
	17	BYE
Saturday, 1 July	18	North Queensland Cowboys	Queensland Country Bank Stadium	74–0	/	/	20,535
Thursday, 6 July	19	Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks	CommBank Stadium	12–36	Tommy Talau 27' Shawn Blore 39'	Brandon Wakeham (2/2)	9,215
Friday, 14 July	20	Newcastle Knights	McDonald Jones Stadium	34–18			18,470
Thursday, 20 July	21	St. George Illawarra Dragons	WIN Stadium	18–14			7,246
Friday, 28 July	22	South Sydney Rabbitohs	Scully Park	18–32			10,453
Sunday, 6 August	23	Canberra Raiders	GIO Stadium	22–18			12,841
Saturday, 12 August	24	New Zealand Warriors	FMG Stadium Waikato	22–30			25,118
Saturday, 19 August	25	Dolphins	CommBank Stadium	24–23			9,245
Saturday, 26 August	26	Sydney Roosters	Allianz Stadium	32–8			22,511
Friday, 1 September	27	Manly Warringah Sea Eagles	4 Pines Park	54–12			16,503

References: ^{[23] [24]}

Round 1: 5 March 2023	Wests Tigers	10–22	Gold Coast Titans	Leichhardt
18:15 AEDT	Tries: Doueihi  45' Laurie  64' Goals: Doueihi 1/3  3 pen'	Report	Tries: Sami  13', 23' McIntyre  41' Brimson  69' Goals: Boyd 3/4  14', 24', 43'	Stadium: Leichhardt Oval Attendance: 14,667 Referee: Peter Gough

Round 2: 12 March 2023	Wests Tigers	12–14	Newcastle Knights	Leichhardt
16:05 AEDT	Tries: Kepaoa  33' Utoikamanu  79' Goals: Doueihi 2/2  36', 79'	Report	Tries: Young  10', 60' Fitzgibbon  15' Goals: Hastings 1/3  12' Sin bin: Young 29' to 39' Sent off: J. Saifiti  64'	Stadium: Leichhardt Oval Attendance: 13,214 Referee: Peter Gough

Round 3: 19 March 2023	Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs	26–22	Wests Tigers	Belmore
16:05 AEDT	Tries: Perham  4' Addo-Carr  13', 28' Burton  54' Goals: Flanagan 5/5  6', 15', 30', 40 pen', 55'	Report	Tries: Naden  21' Brooks  66' Pole  69' Staines  70' Goals: Doueihi 3/4  23', 69', 70'	Stadium: Belmore Sports Ground Attendance: 16,404 Referee: Todd Smith

Ladder

See also: 2023 NRL season

2023 NRL season v t e
Pos	Team	Pld	W	D	L	B	PF	PA	PD	Pts
1	Penrith Panthers (P)	24	18	0	6	3	645	312	+333	42
2	Brisbane Broncos	24	18	0	6	3	639	425	+214	42
3	Melbourne Storm	24	16	0	8	3	627	459	+168	38
4	New Zealand Warriors	24	16	0	8	3	572	448	+124	38
5	Newcastle Knights	24	14	1	9	3	626	451	+175	35
6	Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks	24	14	0	10	3	619	497	+122	34
7	Sydney Roosters	24	13	0	11	3	472	496	−24	32
8	Canberra Raiders	24	13	0	11	3	486	623	−137	32
9	South Sydney Rabbitohs	24	12	0	12	3	564	505	+59	30
10	Parramatta Eels	24	12	0	12	3	587	574	+13	30
11	North Queensland Cowboys	24	12	0	12	3	546	542	+4	30
12	Manly Warringah Sea Eagles	24	11	1	12	3	545	539	+6	29
13	Dolphins	24	9	0	15	3	520	631	−111	24
14	Gold Coast Titans	24	9	0	15	3	527	653	−126	24
15	Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs	24	7	0	17	3	438	769	−331	20
16	St. George Illawarra Dragons	24	5	0	19	3	474	673	−199	16
17	Wests Tigers	24	4	0	20	3	385	675	−290	14

2023 squad

Wests Tigers 2023 squad

Top 30 squad - 2023 NRL season						Development players		Coaching staff
John Bateman – SR, LK Shawn Blore – SR Luke Brooks – HB Jahream Bula – FB Adam Doueihi – FE, FB Sione Fainu – PR Asu Kepaoa – CE, SR, WG David Klemmer – PR Apisai Koroisau (c) – HK, HB Daine Laurie – FE, FB		Justin Matamua – LK Brent Naden – CE Rua Ngatikaura – HK David Nofoaluma – WG Isaiah Papali'i – SR Fonua Pole – LK, PR Triston Reilly – CE, WG Apisalome Saukuru – SR Alex Seyfarth – PR, SR Jake Simpkin – HK		Tuki Simpkins – PR Charlie Staines – WG, FB Tommy Talau – CE Starford To'a – CE, FE Brandon Tumeth – SR Junior Tupou – WG Alex Twal – PR, LK Stefano Utoikamanu – PR Brandon Wakeham – FE, HB		Josh Feledy – CE Christian Ma'anaima – PR Brandon Mansfield – SR Extended squad Tallyn Da Silva – HK Aitasi James – PR Kit Laulili'i – LK Will Smith – FE, HB		Head coach Tim Sheens Assistant coaches Benji Marshall Robbie Farah David Furner Wayne Lambkin (NSW Cup Coach) Peter Moussa (Head of High Performance) Legend: (c) Captain(s) (vc) Vice-captain(s) Updated: 3 March 2023 Source(s): Tigers team profiles, 2023 season

References

1. "Tigers confirm Sheens and two club legends to coach as Benji succession plan locked in". foxsports.com.au. News Corporation Australia. 14 July 2022. Retrieved 16 April 2023.
2. "NRL 2023 trials as it happened: RLPA action delayed as Warriors belt Tigers". smh.com.au. Nine Media. 9 February 2023. Retrieved 16 April 2023.
3. McCartney, Damien (9 February 2023). "Warriors v Wests Tigers trial AS IT HAPPENED: Tigers' woes roll into 2023; Charlie Staines hammered by rampaging Marcelo Montoya". Nine's Wide World of Sport. Nine Media. Retrieved 16 April 2023.
4. Newton, Alicia (19 February 2023). "Wests Tigers complete pre-season with big win over Raiders". NRL.com. Retrieved 16 April 2023.
5. "Raiders mauled by Tigers in trial". canberraweekly.com.au. 19 February 2023. Retrieved 16 April 2023.
6. Pengilly, Adam (19 February 2023). "Is it 2005 all over again? Tigers turn it on in big win as Sharks hand Dogs reality check". smh.com.au. Nine Media. Retrieved 16 April 2023.
7. "Wests Tigers pull off upset of the season with epic win over Penrith, Titans down Sea Eagles at Brookvale". abc.net.au. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 29 April 2023. Retrieved 30 April 2023.
8. Chamberlain, Rachel (30 April 2023). "More than 11,000 fans watch Wests Tigers triumph over Penrith Panthers in Bathurst". Western Advocate. Retrieved 30 April 2023.
9. Sullivan, Matthew (30 April 2023). "Wests Tigers shock the Panthers to end 273-day losing streak". news.com.au. News Corporation Australia. Retrieved 30 April 2023.
10. Bruce, Jasper (17 June 2023). "Twal breaks try drought but Storm spoil the party". smh. Nine Media. Retrieved 19 June 2023.
11. McMurty, Andrew (17 June 2023). "Wests Tigers forward Alex Twal scores first try in his 117th game". news.com.au. News Corporation Australia. Retrieved 19 June 2023.
12. "2023 Tigers Signings". NRL.com. 5 March 2023.
13. O'Loughlin, Liam; Chisholm, Ed (12 March 2021). "Api Koroisau to join Wests Tigers in 2023 as another premiership star exits Penrith". The Sporting News. Retrieved 16 April 2023.
14. Walsh, Dan (4 October 2022). "'I'm all in': Papali'i's promise to Tigers fans after dodging contract commitment". smh.com.au. Nine Media. Retrieved 16 April 2023.
15. "Triston Reilly joins from Waratahs". weststigers.com.au. 16 June 2022. Retrieved 16 April 2023.
16. Pryde, Scott (4 September 2022). "Nofoaluma confirms future after Storm loan". Zero Tackle. Retrieved 16 April 2023.
17. "Panthers and Tigers confirm player swap for 2023". nswrl.com.au. 21 October 2022. Retrieved 16 April 2023.
18. Pengilly, Adam (9 March 2023). "'I feel like a kid again': Why Klemmer has no hard feelings against Knights". smh.com.au. Nine Media. Retrieved 16 April 2023.
19. "England international John Bateman signs with Wests Tigers on four-year deal". abc.net.au. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 26 December 2022. Retrieved 16 April 2023.
20. Keating, Mitch (24 January 2023). "Tigers reveal new signing with addition of former Bulldogs half". Zero Tackle. Retrieved 16 April 2023.
21. "2023 NRL Pre-Season Challenge". NRL.com. 5 March 2023.
22. "RESULTS: 2023 NRL Pre-Season Challenge Week 1" (12 February 2023). leagueunlimited.com. 12 February 2023. Retrieved 16 April 2023.
23. "2023 NRL Regular Season/Telstra Premiership". NRL.com. 5 March 2023.
24. "NRL 2023 - Wests Tigers". Rugby League Project. Retrieved 16 April 2023.