The Wests Tigers finally managed to move away from the wooden spoon in 2025, with Benji Marshall’s rebuild of the Concord-based outfit in full swing.
That doesn’t mean they are going to become overnight premiership contenders, but the Tigers, for a change, look like a club more likely to be heading in the right direction than the wrong one.
In recent years, they have expressed their desire very publicly to become a ‘development’ club, utilising their own backyard to bring talent into first-grade.
Those efforts are starting to bear fruit, and combined with a relatively stable roster, things are looking positive for the joint-venture.
They will still need to head outside the club to find re-enforcements though, new faces who can bring a winning culture.
We have seen exactly what has happened at the Canterbury Bulldogs in recent years – an almost entire roster flip.
That’s not to say the Tigers need to do the same, but with Jahream Bula and Jarome Luai yet to commit for 2027, there are areas of work needed when it comes to the contract front once the November 1 deadline ticks over.
Current Wests Tigers 2027 squad
Javon Andrews, Adam Doueihi, Latu Fainu, Samuela Fainu, Phoenix Godinet, Jared Haywood, Royce Hunt, Apisai Koroisau, Jock Madden, Heamasi Makasini, Taylan May, Terrell May, Kai Pearce-Paul, Fonua Pole, Ethan Roberts, Alex Seyfarth, Starford To’a, Sunia Turuva, Alex Twal
Off-contract at the end of 2026
Bunty Afoa, Jack Bird, Jahream Bula (mutual option) Sione Fainu, Maverik Geyer, Tristan Hope, Kit Laulilii, Luke Laulilii, Jarome Luai (player option), Heath Mason, Solomone Saukuru, Jeral Skelton, Tony Sukkar
Current best 17 for 2027
1. Sunia Turuva
2. Starford To’a
3. Heamasi Makasini
4. Taylan May
5. No player signed.
6. Javon Andrews
7. Latu Fainu
8. Terrell May
9. Apisai Koroisau
10. Fonua Pole
11. Samuela Fainu
12. Kai Pearce-Paul
13. Adam Doueihi
Interchange
14. Jock Madden
15. Royce Hunt
16. Alex Twal
17. Alex Seyfarth
Not in 17: Phoenix Godinet, Jared Haywood, Ethan Roberts
As it stands, the Tigers have 20 players locked up for 2027, leaving ten spots to fill over the next ten months.
They will be hoping two of those wind up with Jahream Bula and Jarome Luai, who will both need to take up options in their current contracts to remain with the Tigers beyond the end of 2026.
Bula appears to be the more likely of the two to depart, leaving a vacancy in the backline, while the Tigers will also be likely looking to the forward pack to sign new faces.
The pack needs refreshment even after a stronger than expected return in 2025, led by the surprise signing of Terrell May from the Sydney Roosters.
He will continue to lead the forward pack, but Royce Hunt is likely to leave, and others haven’t quite hit the mark expected.
Apisai Koroisau has also re-signed at hooker, but a back up to him long-term could also be on the menu for the black and gold.
Option 1: Reuben Garrick (Manly Sea Eagles)
As mentioned, the most pressing issue for the Tigers is likely to be in the back five.
Even if Jahream Bula does re-sign, there are still question marks. Heamasi Makasini is seen as one of the most talented young players in the game, but has played one first-grade game, while Starford To’a may well only wind up on the fringes of the first-grade side in the years to come.
Taylan May has made an excellent start to his time at Tiger Town, but will also need to prove himself again at the start of 2026.
That leaves queston marks, and with money to spend, the Tigers may well thrown some of it at the best outside back on the market in Reuben Garrick.
A tall, fast and agile player, Garrick goal kicks and can play any of centre, wing or fullback.
His versatility, experience and talent should be the exact thing the Tigers are looking for when they head to the open market on November 1, and it wouldn’t surprise if they are one of the first clubs to throw money and an offer at Garrick.
Option 2: Lindsay Smith (Penrith Panthers)
The Tigers certainly need to bring re-enforcements into the side in the middle third of the park.
That’s not a huge knock on the way the club handled things in 2025, but it certainly is acknowledgement that without improvements, they are not going to improve a whole lot more than they already have.
With spots open, and big minutes up for grabs, the Tigers could well join the multi-club race for Lindsay Smith.
The Kangaroos prop has been tabled a monster offer by the Panthers, but it’s unclear if he will accept and remain at the foot of the mountains.
Perth are likely to join the race for the Kangaroos squad member, but so too should the Tigers.
He is the best prop on the market, and that, in a nutshell, is what the Tigers need.
Option 3: Cameron McInnes (Cronulla Sharks)
The Tigers need experience and attitude as much as they need anything else.
This is a club looking to bring through a number of their own young talents, but one still searching for its identity.
Cameron McInnes is quite easily the best player in the forwards on the open market when it comes to those two criteria.
The lock forward who can still slot in at dummy half as required makes a huge number of tackles at high efficiency, runs the ball strongly and simply doesn’t take no for an answer.
He will need to recover from his current ACL injury ahead of 2026, but don’t be surprised to see a number of clubs have a look at his services as he potentially weighs up leaving Cronulla to finish his career elsewhere.
Option 4: Tyran Wishart (Melbourne Storm)
While the expectation is that Jarome Luai will still be a Tiger in 2027, there is absolutely, at the time of writing, no guarantee of that being the case.
Tyran Wishart is going to attract plenty of interest on the open market given his ability to play multiple positions, whether that be in the halves, fullback, or at hooker.
The Tigers have long-term question marks over all three positions.
Luai has player options as far as the eye can see, Jahream Bula hasn’t re-signed yet, and Apisai Koroisau’s career is heading towards the end.
The Tigers would likely need to throw considerable money at Wishart given there is no guarantee around role, but with the exception of Perth, they’d likely be able to outspend every other club in the mix for his services.
Option 5: Cory Paix (Brisbane Broncos)
Apisai Koroisau will still be the first-choice dummy half for the Tigers heading into 2027, but as it stands, there is no conceivable back-up option within the 20 signed players.
They could well look to promote out of their own system, but they will want a first-grade ready and capable option. It’s unlikely they will have that in their own ranks by 2027.
That means they could look outside the club, with Cory Paix potentially the best option for a player who would settle for that back-up status, or potentially a week in and week out bench role.
The former junior Queensland State of Origin player was out of favour at Brisbane in 2024, but rebounded under Michael Maguire in 2025.
He is a talent, but is going to be behind Blake Mozer long-term at Red Hill. He could well look for a way out to eventually land a starting number nine jumper, and the Tigers could offer him just that as Koroisau’s career winds down.
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