Written by Sydney Morning Herald | 09 March 2010
Posted in First Grade - News & Views

WHILE most footballers complain of the torture of an off-season, they can at least be reassured that it could be worse; Wests Tigers' new recruit Lote Tuqiri's off-season will consist not of a long grind, but a long flight.

Tuqiri, once named TBA by Queensland to find a way around a loophole during his first stint in the NRL with Brisbane, will today find another quirky selection story when he is named for the Tigers for their round-one clash against Manly next Monday while he is about 39,000 feet above the Middle East.

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Written by Wests Tigers Forum | 08 March 2010
Posted in First Grade - News & Views

WestsTigersForum.com understands that Lote Tuqiri will arrive in Sydney early on Wednesday morning. Whilst exact details are still being sought, Lote is expected to be landing at either 6:05am or 7:25am.
A large media presence is expected.

Written by Sydney Morning Herald | 07 March 2010
Posted in First Grade - News & Views

Wests Tigers centre Chris Lawrence says the presence of premiership-winning former coach Steve Folkes as the NRL side's conditioner has made them mentally tougher for the season ahead.

Lawrence is relishing Folkes' tough fitness regime as he aims to stay injury free and finally cement a place in the game's representative teams.

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Written by Wests Tigers Forum | 07 March 2010
Posted in First Grade - News & Views

While there has been a lot of hype surrounding the upcoming season for the Wests Tigers, it was surprising that numbers at the Balmain AGM held this morning appeared to be down on previous years. Nevertheless this didn’t prevent a wealth of information being divulged from across a range of topics. Chairman David Trodden was joined by new Wests Tigers CEO Stephen Humphreys and Coach Tim Sheens to answer questions from the members.
Please click “Read More” to read the summary of the meeting.

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Written by League Unlimited | 06 March 2010
Posted in First Grade - News & Views

Consistency, Consistency, Consistency - This is what the Tigers need for the 2010 season if they are to return to the finals for the first time since their premiership victory in 2005.

The Tigers on their day are one of - if not the - most exciting team in the competition. Their core nucleus of players in Robbie Farah and Benji Marshall, along with notorious speedster Chris Lawrence and the tank Taniela Tuiaki all create havoc for opposition teams. Unfortunately either due to injury or form slumps the Tigers have not been able to create a stable and consistent style of football that puts them in contention for the finals every season.

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Written by Sydney Morning Herald | 06 March 2010
Posted in First Grade - News & Views

AMID the hoopla surrounding Wests Tigers' acquisition of Lote Tuqiri comes a reality check. Tuqiri's arrival at Concord Oval promises to light up further a back line of unquestionable pizzazz and scoring potential, but the dual international says the Tigers must improve the other major dimension of their game if they are to qualify for the semi-finals for the first time since their premiership year of 2005.

''You can score all the tries in the world but the one thing they really need to pick up is their defence,'' Tuqiri told the Herald from Leicester before his final rugby game with the Guinness Premiership leaders this weekend. ''That's only [said] from a long way away but if we can get that right, anything is possible.''

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Written by Sydney Morning Herald | 03 March 2010
Posted in First Grade - News & Views

LOTE TUQIRI has hailed the long-term re-signing of Benji Marshall at the Wests Tigers, revealing last night that the opportunity to play alongside the New Zealand captain was one of the major attractions of joining the club.

Preparing for his final match in rugby with Guinness Premiership ladder leaders Leicester against London Irish this weekend after being granted an early release by the club, the dual international said he had been licking his lips as he watched DVDs of Marshall's line breaks and tries sent to him by Tigers coach Tim Sheens.

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Written by Sydney Morning Herald | 01 March 2010
Posted in First Grade - News & Views

Wests Tigers officials expect to learn tonight whether star signing Lote Tuqiri will be available to play in their round-one clash with Manly on March 15.

Tuqiri is playing rugby union in England for Leicester, but the Tigers have asked the defending Guinness Premiership champions to release the dual international from the final five rounds of the competition.

If Leicester agree to do so, Tuqiri will make his farewell rugby union appearance on Saturday against London Irish and then board a flight to join the Tigers next week.

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