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 | 
  | |||
| 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) | |||
  | ||||
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
Player movement
These movements happened across the previous season, off-season and pre-season.[12]
| 
 Gains 
 
  | 
 Losses 
  | 
Pre-Season Challenge
| Date | Round | Opponent | Venue | Score | Tries | Goals | Attendance | 
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thursday, 9 February | Trial 1 | Mount Smart Stadium, Auckland | 48 – 12 | Trey Peni 56'  Stefano Utoikamanu 59'  | 
Brandon Wakeham (2/2) | 4,000 | |
| Sunday, 19 February | Trial 2 | 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 | 
Regular Season
Ladder
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | B | PF | PA | PD | Pts | 
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 24 | 18 | 0 | 6 | 3 | 645 | 312 | +333 | 42 | |
| 2 | 24 | 18 | 0 | 6 | 3 | 639 | 425 | +214 | 42 | |
| 3 | 24 | 16 | 0 | 8 | 3 | 627 | 459 | +168 | 38 | |
| 4 | 24 | 16 | 0 | 8 | 3 | 572 | 448 | +124 | 38 | |
| 5 | 24 | 14 | 1 | 9 | 3 | 626 | 451 | +175 | 35 | |
| 6 | 24 | 14 | 0 | 10 | 3 | 619 | 497 | +122 | 34 | |
| 7 | 24 | 13 | 0 | 11 | 3 | 472 | 496 | −24 | 32 | |
| 8 | 24 | 13 | 0 | 11 | 3 | 486 | 623 | −137 | 32 | |
| 9 | 24 | 12 | 0 | 12 | 3 | 564 | 505 | +59 | 30 | |
| 10 | 24 | 12 | 0 | 12 | 3 | 587 | 574 | +13 | 30 | |
| 11 | 24 | 12 | 0 | 12 | 3 | 546 | 542 | +4 | 30 | |
| 12 | 24 | 11 | 1 | 12 | 3 | 545 | 539 | +6 | 29 | |
| 13 | 24 | 9 | 0 | 15 | 3 | 520 | 631 | −111 | 24 | |
| 14 | 24 | 9 | 0 | 15 | 3 | 527 | 653 | −126 | 24 | |
| 15 | 24 | 7 | 0 | 17 | 3 | 438 | 769 | −331 | 20 | |
| 16 | 24 | 5 | 0 | 19 | 3 | 474 | 673 | −199 | 16 | |
| 17 | 24 | 4 | 0 | 20 | 3 | 385 | 675 | −290 | 14 | |
Results by round
Matches
The league fixtures were announced on 10 November 2022.[23]
Win Draw Loss Fixtures
| Round 1: 5 March 2023 | Wests Tigers  | 
10–22 | Leichhardt | ||
| 18:15 AEDT | 
Tries:  Doueihi Laurie Goals: Doueihi 1/3  | 
Report  | 
Tries:  Sami McIntyre Brimson Goals: Boyd 3/4  | 
Stadium: Leichhardt Oval Attendance: 14,667 Referee: Peter Gough  | 
| Round 2: 12 March 2023 | Wests Tigers  | 
12–14 | Leichhardt | ||
| 16:05 AEDT | 
Tries:  Kepaoa Utoikamanu Goals: Doueihi 2/2  | 
Report  | 
Tries:  Young Fitzgibbon Goals: Hastings 1/3 Sin bin: Young Sent off: J. Saifiti  | 
Stadium: Leichhardt Oval Attendance: 13,214 Referee: Peter Gough  | 
| Round 3: 19 March 2023 | Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs  | 
26–22 | Belmore | ||
| 16:05 AEDT | 
Tries:  Perham Addo-Carr Burton Goals: Flanagan 5/5  | 
Report  | 
Tries:  Naden Brooks Pole Staines Goals: Doueihi 3/4  | 
Stadium: Belmore Sports Ground Attendance: 16,404 Referee: Todd Smith  | 
| Round 4: 24 March 2023 | Melbourne Storm  | 
24–12 | Melbourne | ||
| 18:00 AEDT | 
Tries:  Warbrick Meaney Olam Munster Goals: Meaney 4/6  | 
Report  | 
Tries:  Kepaoa Koroisau Goals: Doueihi 2/2  | 
Stadium: AAMI Park Attendance: 11,669 Referee: Ben Cummins  | 
| Round 5: 1 April 2023 | Brisbane Broncos  | 
46–12 | Brisbane | ||
| 19:35 AEST | 
Tries:  Riki Capewell Haas Cobbo Farnworth Staggs Goals: Reynolds 7/8  | 
Report  | 
Tries:  Papali'i Simpkin Goals: Doueihi 2/2  | 
Stadium: Suncorp Stadium Attendance: 27,553 Referee: Chris Sutton  | 
| Round 6: 10 April 2023 | Wests Tigers  | 
22–28 | Sydney Olympic Park | ||
| 16:00 AEST | 
Tries:  To'a Kepaoa Naden Tupou Goals: Doueihi 2/3 Koroisau 0/1 Brooks 1/1  | 
Report  | 
Tries:  Gutherson Penisini Cartwright Sivo Goals: Moses 4/5  | 
Stadium: Accor Stadium Attendance: 28,611 Referee: Ben Cummins  | 
Round 7 (Bye for Wests Tigers)
| Round 8: 23 April 2023 | Wests Tigers  | 
16–22 | Campbelltown | ||
| 16:00 AEST | 
Tries:  Staines Koroisau To'a Goals: Wakeham 2/3  | 
Report  | 
Tries:  Cherry-Evans Olakau'atu Saab Goals: Garrick 5/5  | 
Stadium: Campbelltown Sports Stadium Attendance: 10,033 Referee: Todd Smith  | 
| Round 9: 29 April 2023 | Penrith Panthers  | 
8–12 | Bathurst | ||
| 19:35 AEST | 
Tries:  Peachey Goals: Crichton 2/2 Sin bin: Luke  | 
Report  | 
Tries:  Wakeham Nofoaluma Goals: Wakeham 2/4 Sin bin: Naden  | 
Stadium: Carrington Park Attendance: 11,055 Referee: Adam Gee  | 
| Round 10: 7 May 2023 | Wests Tigers  | 
18–16 | Brisbane | ||
| 13:50 AEST | 
Tries:  To'a Nofoaluma Tupou Goals: Wakeham 3/4  | 
Report  | 
Tries:  Ravalawa Sullivan Goals: Bird 0/1 Sullivan 2/2  | 
Stadium: Suncorp Stadium Attendance: 34,568 Referee: Peter Gough  | 
| Round 11: 13 May 2023 | South Sydney Rabbitohs  | 
20–0 | Sydney Olympic Park | ||
| 15:00 AEST | 
Tries:  Milne L. Mitchell Goals: L. Mitchell 4/4  | 
Report  | 
Stadium: Accor Stadium Attendance: 21,013 Referee: Liam Kennedy  | 
| Round 12: 20 May 2023 | Wests Tigers  | 
66–18 | Leichhardt | ||
| 17:30 AEST | 
Tries:  Utoikamanu Tupou Nofoaluma Bula Pole To'a Ofahengaue Bateman Goals: Wakeham 8/8 Brooks 1/1 Koroisau 2/2  | 
Report  | 
Tries:  Feldt Leilua Cotter Goals: Holmes 3/3  | 
Stadium: Leichhardt Oval Attendance: 12,247 Referee: Ben Cummins  | 
Round 13 (Bye for Wests Tigers)
| Round 14: 2 June 2023 | Wests Tigers  | 
19–20 | Campbelltown | ||
| 20:00 AEST | 
Tries:  Bula Bateman Wakeham Goals: Wakeham 3/3 Field goals: Brooks  | 
Report  | 
Tries:  Fogarty Rapana Goals: Fogarty 4/4 Sin bin: Starling  | 
Stadium: Campbelltown Sports Stadium Attendance: 11,201 Referee: Gerard Sutton  | 
| Round 15: 8 June 2023 | Gold Coast Titans  | 
28–12 | Gold Coast | ||
| 19:50 AEST | 
Tries:  Brimson Haas Campbell T. Fa'asuamaleaui Sami Goals: Boyd 4/5  | 
Report  | 
Tries:  Klemmer Bula Goals: Wakeham 2/2  | 
Stadium: Cbus Super Stadium Attendance: 10,232 Referee: Todd Smith  | 
| Round 16: 17 June 2023 | Wests Tigers  | 
6–28 | Campbelltown | ||
| 19:35 AEST | 
Tries:  Twal Goals: Wakeham 1/1  | 
Report  | 
Tries:  Warbrick Wishart Bradley Goals: Meaney 2/6  | 
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 | Townsville | ||
| 17:30 AEST | 
Tries:  Dearden Valemei Leilua Drinkwater Taulagi Holmes Nanai McLean Goals: Holmes 11/13  | 
Report  | 
Sin bin:  Twal  | 
Stadium: Queensland Country Bank Stadium Attendance: 20,535 Referee: Liam Kennedy  | 
| Round 19: 6 July 2023 | Wests Tigers  | 
12–36 | Parramatta | ||
| 19:50 AEST | 
Tries:  Talau Blore Goals: Wakeham 2/2  | 
Report  | 
Tries:  Katoa Talakai Ramien Hynes Goals: Hynes 4/8  | 
Stadium: CommBank Stadium Attendance: 9,215 Referee: Todd Smith  | 
| Round 20: 14 July 2023 | Newcastle Knights  | 
34–18 | Newcastle | ||
| 20:00 AEST | 
Tries:  Marzhew Best Young D. Saifiti Ponga Gamble Goals: Ponga 3/7 Sin bin: Hetherington  | 
Report  | 
Tries:  Bula Koroisau Goals: Wakeham 3/3  | 
Stadium: McDonald Jones Stadium Attendance: 18,470 Referee: Peter Gough  | 
| Round 21: 20 July 2023 | St. George Illawarra Dragons  | 
18–14 | Wollongong | ||
| 19:50 AEST | 
Tries:  Sloan Lomax Ravalawa Goals: Lomax 3/3 Sin bin: Sloan  | 
Report  | 
Tries:  Tupou Koroisau Goals: Wakeham 1/3  | 
Stadium: WIN Stadium Attendance: 7,246 Referee: Ben Cummins  | 
| Round 22: 28 July 2023 | Wests Tigers  | 
18–32 | Tamworth | ||
| 18:00 AEST | 
Tries:  Koroisau Papali'i Pole Goals: Koroisau 2/2 Brooks 1/1  | 
Report  | 
Tries:  Johnston Tass Koloamatangi Murray Goals: L. Mitchell 4/6  | 
Stadium: Scully Park Attendance: 10,453 Referee: Ziggy Przeklasa-Adamski  | 
| Round 23: 6 August 2023 | Canberra Raiders  | 
22–18 | Canberra | ||
| 16:05 AEST | 
Tries:  Kris Young Timoko Goals: Fogarty 3/4  | 
Report  | 
Tries:  Staines Nofoaluma Brooks Goals: Koroisau 3/3  | 
Stadium: GIO Stadium Attendance: 12,841 Referee: Peter Gough  | 
| Round 24: 12 August 2023 | Wests Tigers  | 
22–30 | Hamilton | ||
| 19:30 NZST | 
Tries:  To'a Brooks Laurie Goals: Koroisau 3/4  | 
Report  | 
Tries:  Metcalf Pompey Watene-Zelezniak Harris Fonua-Blake Goals: Johnson 2/2 Pompey 3/4  | 
Stadium: FMG Stadium Waikato Attendance: 25,118 Referee: Chris Butler  | 
| Round 25: 19 August 2023 | Wests Tigers  | 
24–23 | Parramatta | ||
| 15:00 AEST | 
Tries:  Pole Kepaoa Seyfarth Simpkin Goals: Koroisau 4/5  | 
Report  | 
Tries:  Isaako Aitken Bostock Fuller Goals: Isaako 3/5 Field goals: Isaako  | 
Stadium: CommBank Stadium Attendance: 9,245 Referee: Ben Cummins  | 
| Round 26: 26 August 2023 | Sydney Roosters  | 
32–8 | Moore Park | ||
| 17:30 AEST | 
Tries:  Walker Tupou May Sua'ali'i Radley Goals: Sua'ali'i 6/6 Sin bin: Waerea-Hargreaves  | 
Report  | 
Tries:  Reilly Goals: Koroisau 2/2  | 
Stadium: Allianz Stadium Attendance: 22,511 Referee: Todd Smith  | 
| Round 27: 1 September 2023 | Manly Warringah Sea Eagles  | 
54–12 | Brookvale | ||
| 18:00 AEST | 
Tries:  Koula Saab Bullemor Olakau'atu J. Trbojevic Vaega Chan Cherry-Evans Goals: Cherry-Evans 7/10  | 
Report  | 
Tries:  Koroisau Kepaoa Goals: Koroisau 2/2  | 
Stadium: 4 Pines Park Attendance: 16,503 Referee: Belinda Sharpe  | 
References
- ^ "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.
 - ^ "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.
 - ^ 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.
 - ^ Newton, Alicia (19 February 2023). "Wests Tigers complete pre-season with big win over Raiders". NRL.com. Retrieved 16 April 2023.
 - ^ "Raiders mauled by Tigers in trial". canberraweekly.com.au. 19 February 2023. Retrieved 16 April 2023.
 - ^ 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.
 - ^ "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.
 - ^ 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.
 - ^ 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.
 - ^ Bruce, Jasper (17 June 2023). "Twal breaks try drought but Storm spoil the party". smh. Nine Media. Retrieved 19 June 2023.
 - ^ 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.
 - ^ "2023 Tigers Signings". NRL.com. 5 March 2023.
 - ^ 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.
 - ^ 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.
 - ^ "Triston Reilly joins from Waratahs". weststigers.com.au. 16 June 2022. Retrieved 16 April 2023.
 - ^ Pryde, Scott (4 September 2022). "Nofoaluma confirms future after Storm loan". Zero Tackle. Retrieved 16 April 2023.
 - ^ "Panthers and Tigers confirm player swap for 2023". nswrl.com.au. 21 October 2022. Retrieved 16 April 2023.
 - ^ 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.
 - ^ "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.
 - ^ Keating, Mitch (24 January 2023). "Tigers reveal new signing with addition of former Bulldogs half". Zero Tackle. Retrieved 16 April 2023.
 - ^ "2023 NRL Pre-Season Challenge". NRL.com. 5 March 2023.
 - ^ "RESULTS: 2023 NRL Pre-Season Challenge Week 1" (12 February 2023). leagueunlimited.com. 12 February 2023. Retrieved 16 April 2023.
 - ^ "2023 NRL Draw Released". National Rugby League. 9 November 2022.