Written by Stuart McLennan

Three weeks into pre-season training and a rugby league miracle has appeared.

Positive pieces about our beloved but battered and bruised Wests Tigers are surfacing in the media and yes, it’s an early Christmas miracle. Bulldogs’ supremo Phil Gould came out on his X account and said “Wests Tigers … They have done really well … That’s now a Top 8 NRL roster … That’s my first tip for 2025 …” Well, I never Gus!

For what seems like a lifetime the club has been kicked, ridiculed and bullied into adopting the fetal position.

The ammunition hasn’t been difficult to find. No finals since 2011, three wooden spoons in a row, constant leaks to a swarming local press hungry for click bait headlines and senior management who appeared out of their depth and lacking the street smarts necessary to run an NRL club.

Shane, ‘I’ve been down this road before’, Richardson strode into the vacant CEO role at the end of last year and set about shaking up an underperforming roster.

Richo and coach Benji Marshall have gone big to capture half Jarome Luai and more recently front rower Terrell May. Add those to impact middle forward Royce Hunt, Panthers flyer Sunia Turuva and the young but hugely talented outside back Heamasi Makasini and hey is that a top 8 spot I see shining in the distance.

How long this shift in perception lasts depends on Richo keeping a tight rein on what became the loosest sporting club on this island. Then of course Wests Tigers actually need to perform on the field when it matters next year.

Richardson, on the official club podcast this week said we have a good draw and no excuses. On the same day Wests Tigers extended Fonua Pole’s contract, fending off the Melbourne Storm in the process.

Shane continued to deal out positive vibes, declaring we already have larger sponsorship revenue than last year in the bag with more announcements on the way. He mentioned negotiations in the new year with rising superstars Lachie Galvin and Samuela Fainu.

While the roster is still not perfect, we are light on with centres and back rowers and there are players on large contracts likely to spend the majority of the season in NSW Cup, this is now Benji Marshall’s squad and we get to see if his coaching ability matches anywhere near his talent as a player.

With Koroisau, Luai, Galvin and Bula there is a spine that at least matches any in the competition.

For the first time in many years fans are looking ahead and daring to believe that we can be a competitive club again. After being let down more times than I care to count I’m optimistic but will proceed with caution at least until March next year.