2023 Wests Tigers season

2023 Wests Tigers season
NRL Rank	17th (Wooden spooners)
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.

The West Tigers became wooden spooners for the second year in a row, which was their second spoon in club history.

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]}

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

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

Main article: 2023 NRL season

Ladder

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

Results by round

Round	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13	14	15	16	17	18	19	20	21	22	23	24	25	26	27
Ground	H	H	A	A	A	H	–	H	A	H	A	H	–	H	A	H	–	A	H	A	A	H	A	H	H	A	A
Result	L	L	L	L	L	L	B	L	W	W	L	W	B	L	L	L	B	L	L	L	L	L	L	L	W	L	L
Position	16	17	17	17	17	17	17	17	17	17	17	16	15	16	16	17	16	17	17	17	17	17	17	17	17	17	17
Points	0	0	0	0	0	0	2	2	4	6	6	8	10	10	10	10	12	12	12	12	12	12	12	12	14	14	14

Source: National Rugby League
A = Away; H = Home; N = Neutral; B = Bye; W = Win; D = Draw; L = Loss

Matches

Main article: 2023 NRL season results

The league fixtures were announced on 10 November 2022. ^[23]

  Win  Draw  Loss  Fixtures

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 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 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 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

Round 4: 24 March 2023	Melbourne Storm	24–12	Wests Tigers	Melbourne
18:00 AEDT	Tries: Warbrick  18' Meaney  23' Olam  33' Munster  38' Goals: Meaney 4/6  5 pen', 25', 39', 65 pen'	[Report Report]	Tries: Kepaoa  29' Koroisau  54' Goals: Doueihi 2/2  31', 55'	Stadium: AAMI Park Attendance: 11,669 Referee: Ben Cummins

Round 5: 1 April 2023	Brisbane Broncos	46–12	Wests Tigers	Brisbane
19:35 AEST	Tries: Riki  9', 33' Capewell  14' Haas  19' Cobbo  29' Farnworth  46' Staggs  52', 78' Goals: Reynolds 7/8  16', 20', 30', 35', 48', 53', 79'	[Report Report]	Tries: Papali'i  43' Simpkin  63' Goals: Doueihi 2/2  44', 64'	Stadium: Suncorp Stadium Attendance: 27,553 Referee: Chris Sutton

Round 6: 10 April 2023	Wests Tigers	22–28	Parramatta Eels	Sydney Olympic Park
16:00 AEST	Tries: To'a  23' Kepaoa  49' Naden  64' Tupou  71' Goals: Doueihi 2/3  25', 66' Koroisau 0/1 Brooks 1/1  77 pen'	[Report Report]	Tries: Gutherson  11' Penisini  14' Cartwright  33' Sivo  45', 75' Goals: Moses 4/5  12', 16', 35', 76'	Stadium: Accor Stadium Attendance: 28,611 Referee: Ben Cummins

Round 7 (Bye for Wests Tigers)

Round 8: 23 April 2023	Wests Tigers	16–22	Manly Warringah Sea Eagles	Campbelltown
16:00 AEST	Tries: Staines  35' Koroisau  55' To'a  63' Goals: Wakeham 2/3  36', 56'	[Report Report]	Tries: Cherry-Evans  7' Olakau'atu  20' Saab  71' Goals: Garrick 5/5  9', 21', 45 pen', 72', 77 pen'	Stadium: Campbelltown Sports Stadium Attendance: 10,033 Referee: Todd Smith

Round 9: 29 April 2023	Penrith Panthers	8–12	Wests Tigers	Bathurst
19:35 AEST	Tries: Peachey  10' Goals: Crichton 2/2  12', 29 pen' Sin bin: Luke 68' to 78'	[Report Report]	Tries: Wakeham  2' Nofoaluma  49' Goals: Wakeham 2/4  4', 40 pen' Sin bin: Naden 16' to 26'	Stadium: Carrington Park Attendance: 11,055 Referee: Adam Gee

Round 10: 7 May 2023	Wests Tigers	18–16	St. George Illawarra Dragons	Brisbane
13:50 AEST	Tries: To'a  13' Nofoaluma  21' Tupou  64' Goals: Wakeham 3/4  6 pen', 15', 23'	[Report Report]	Tries: Ravalawa  9' Sullivan  31', 52' Goals: Bird 0/1 Sullivan 2/2  33', 54'	Stadium: Suncorp Stadium Attendance: 34,568 Referee: Peter Gough

Round 11: 13 May 2023	South Sydney Rabbitohs	20–0	Wests Tigers	Sydney Olympic Park
15:00 AEST	Tries: Milne  24', 72' L. Mitchell  74' Goals: L. Mitchell 4/4  26', 51 pen', 73', 76'	[Report Report]		Stadium: Accor Stadium Attendance: 21,013 Referee: Liam Kennedy

Round 12: 20 May 2023	Wests Tigers	66–18	North Queensland Cowboys	Leichhardt
17:30 AEST	Tries: Utoikamanu  5' Tupou  9', 47' Nofoaluma  17', 72' Bula  39' Pole  44' To'a  63', 66' Ofahengaue  69' Bateman  77' Goals: Wakeham 8/8  7', 10', 18', 40', 46', 49', 65', 67' Brooks 1/1  71' Koroisau 2/2  74', 78'	[Report Report]	Tries: Feldt  23' Leilua  54' Cotter  61' Goals: Holmes 3/3  25', 56', 61'	Stadium: Leichhardt Oval Attendance: 12,247 Referee: Ben Cummins

Round 13 (Bye for Wests Tigers)

Round 14: 2 June 2023	Wests Tigers	19–20	Canberra Raiders	Campbelltown
20:00 AEST	Tries: Bula  68' Bateman  70' Wakeham  72' Goals: Wakeham 3/3  69', 71', 74' Field goals: Brooks  75'	[Report Report]	Tries: Fogarty  6', 48' Rapana  32' Goals: Fogarty 4/4  7', 34', 49', 77 pen' Sin bin: Starling 67' to 77'	Stadium: Campbelltown Sports Stadium Attendance: 11,201 Referee: Gerard Sutton

Round 15: 8 June 2023	Gold Coast Titans	28–12	Wests Tigers	Gold Coast
19:50 AEST	Tries: Brimson  10' Haas  26' Campbell  33' T. Fa'asuamaleaui  57' Sami  60' Goals: Boyd 4/5  28', 34', 58', 62'	[Report Report]	Tries: Klemmer  19' Bula  64' Goals: Wakeham 2/2  21', 65'	Stadium: Cbus Super Stadium Attendance: 10,232 Referee: Todd Smith

Round 16: 17 June 2023	Wests Tigers	6–28	Melbourne Storm	Campbelltown
19:35 AEST	Tries: Twal  22' Goals: Wakeham 1/1  24'	[Report Report]	Tries: Warbrick  3', 30', 53', 64' Wishart  36' Bradley  72' Goals: Meaney 2/6  32', 74'	Stadium: Campbelltown Sports Stadium Attendance: 8,517 Referee: Ziggy Przeklasa-Adamski

Round 17 (Bye for Wests Tigers)

Round 18: 1 July 2023	North Queensland Cowboys	74–0	Wests Tigers	Townsville
17:30 AEST	Tries: Dearden  14' Valemei  16', 43' Leilua  19' Drinkwater  23', 28' Taulagi  36', 52', 65' Holmes  39', 49' Nanai  68' McLean  79' Goals: Holmes 11/13  15', 18', 20', 24', 30', 38', 40', 50', 67', 69', 80'	[Report Report]	Sin bin: Twal 31' to 41'	Stadium: Queensland Country Bank Stadium Attendance: 20,535 Referee: Liam Kennedy

Round 19: 6 July 2023	Wests Tigers	12–36	Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks	Parramatta
19:50 AEST	Tries: Talau  27' Blore  39' Goals: Wakeham 2/2  28', 39'	[Report Report]	Tries: Katoa  15', 45', 79' Talakai  22', 67' Ramien  56' Hynes  72' Goals: Hynes 4/8  11 pen', 23', 46', 69'	Stadium: CommBank Stadium Attendance: 9,215 Referee: Todd Smith

Round 20: 14 July 2023	Newcastle Knights	34–18	Wests Tigers	Newcastle
20:00 AEST	Tries: Marzhew  3' Best  6' Young  12', 55' D. Saifiti  25' Ponga  43' Gamble  73' Goals: Ponga 3/7  27', 57', 74' Sin bin: Hetherington 42' to 52'	[Report Report]	Tries: Bula  29', 51' Koroisau  37' Goals: Wakeham 3/3  31', 38', 52'	Stadium: McDonald Jones Stadium Attendance: 18,470 Referee: Peter Gough

Round 21: 20 July 2023	St. George Illawarra Dragons	18–14	Wests Tigers	Wollongong
19:50 AEST	Tries: Sloan  16' Lomax  22' Ravalawa  63' Goals: Lomax 3/3  17', 23', 65' Sin bin: Sloan 32' to 42'	[Report Report]	Tries: Tupou  9', 33' Koroisau  39' Goals: Wakeham 1/3  40'	Stadium: WIN Stadium Attendance: 7,246 Referee: Ben Cummins

Round 22: 28 July 2023	Wests Tigers	18–32	South Sydney Rabbitohs	Tamworth
18:00 AEST	Tries: Koroisau  8' Papali'i  43' Pole  56' Goals: Koroisau 2/2  10', 57' Brooks 1/1  44'	[Report Report]	Tries: Johnston  1', 22', 65' Tass  17' Koloamatangi  26' Murray  75' Goals: L. Mitchell 4/6  2', 27', 66', 76'	Stadium: Scully Park Attendance: 10,453 Referee: Ziggy Przeklasa-Adamski

Round 23: 6 August 2023	Canberra Raiders	22–18	Wests Tigers	Canberra
16:05 AEST	Tries: Kris  25', 44' Young  28' Timoko  63' Goals: Fogarty 3/4  30', 45', 64'	[Report Report]	Tries: Staines  35' Nofoaluma  56' Brooks  70' Goals: Koroisau 3/3  36', 58', 70'	Stadium: GIO Stadium Attendance: 12,841 Referee: Peter Gough

Round 24: 12 August 2023	Wests Tigers	22–30	New Zealand Warriors	Hamilton
19:30 NZST	Tries: To'a  16', 77' Brooks  43' Laurie  57' Goals: Koroisau 3/4  17', 19', 58'	[Report Report]	Tries: Metcalf  6' Pompey  13' Watene-Zelezniak  32' Harris  49' Fonua-Blake  76' Goals: Johnson 2/2  8', 68 pen' Pompey 3/4  15', 50', 77'	Stadium: FMG Stadium Waikato Attendance: 25,118 Referee: Chris Butler

Round 25: 19 August 2023	Wests Tigers	24–23	Dolphins	Parramatta
15:00 AEST	Tries: Pole  13' Kepaoa  22' Seyfarth  53' Simpkin  56' Goals: Koroisau 4/5  15', 24', 58', 76 pen'	[Report Report]	Tries: Isaako  17' Aitken  26' Bostock  43' Fuller  62' Goals: Isaako 3/5  18', 64', 67 pen' Field goals: Isaako  74'	Stadium: CommBank Stadium Attendance: 9,245 Referee: Ben Cummins

Round 26: 26 August 2023	Sydney Roosters	32–8	Wests Tigers	Moore Park
17:30 AEST	Tries: Walker  14' Tupou  38' May  47' Sua'ali'i  60' Radley  71' Goals: Sua'ali'i 6/6  15', 29 pen', 39', 48', 61', 72' Sin bin: Waerea-Hargreaves 64' to 74'	[Report Report]	Tries: Reilly  6' Goals: Koroisau 2/2  7', 23 pen'	Stadium: Allianz Stadium Attendance: 22,511 Referee: Todd Smith

Round 27: 1 September 2023	Manly Warringah Sea Eagles	54–12	Wests Tigers	Brookvale
18:00 AEST	Tries: Koula  0', 16' Saab  29', 31' Bullemor  38' Olakau'atu  49' J. Trbojevic  56' Vaega  60' Chan  62' Cherry-Evans  64' Goals: Cherry-Evans 7/10  2', 18', 40', 50', 57', 63', 66'	[Report Report]	Tries: Koroisau  9' Kepaoa  70' Goals: Koroisau 2/2  10', 71'	Stadium: 4 Pines Park Attendance: 16,503 Referee: Belinda Sharpe

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.
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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.
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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.
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23. "2023 NRL Draw Released". National Rugby League. 9 November 2022.