Wests Tigers assistant coach John Morris is our guest on the first episode of Behind The Roar for the 2024 season. We also welcome to our new sponsor of Wests Tigers official podcast, Pro Wrestling Australia.  Morris covers plenty of ground on this episode of BTR, talking about the rigours of pre-season, about what is needed this weekend in Canberra, and giving specific detail about his role as defensive coach. Morris also talks glowingly about his ‘boss’ Benji, and how well he has brought...

In our final episode of Behind The Roar’s pre-season series we chat with rising star and former development player, Josh Feledy. Josh talks about his hopes and dreams for 2024, his pre-season goals and achievements, and how important it was to him making his NRL debut at the end of last season. A powerful centre, and one of the shorter players in the team, Feledy explains how dropping a few kilos over summer has made a sizeable difference.

On Episode 40 of Behind The Roar, we speak to Shane Richardson Recently appointed CEO Shane Richardson wants to make Wests Tigers the best sporting club in Sydney, outlining here some key changes that will form part of a new business strategy for the club. He also issues a challenge to Wests Tigers supporters who have not yet 'joined the family' as a member. 

This week we chat to Solomona Faataape, a 23-year-old centre from Brisbane who was a standout in the Queensland Cup last year, helping Brisbane Tigers win their first premiership in more than 30 years. He talks about what it means to be given this opportunity, the benefits of being able to train full time, how he was off the pace when he first joined the club, and how something as simple as a free bottle of Powerade can mean so much.

This week we chat to Solomone Saukuru, a 19-year-old centre who has played the past few seasons in Wests Tigers pathways teams, and well on the mend after post-season shoulder surgery. He talks about the challenges he faced when entering pre-season but unable to train with the main squad, his goals and aspirations over the next 12 months and beyond, his father’s influence on him as a person and a player, and how he’s enjoying training alongside the team’s most recent recruit, Justin Olam.

This week we chat to Tony Sukkar, a local junior and edge forward who has climbed his way through Wests Tigers pathways teams, and is now patiently for that next big opportunity. Tony talks about his junior footy where he played for three clubs in the Balmain district, the influence his father has had on his young career, the greatest challenges of pre-season training, and why ‘finding his voice’ is a work in progress.

This week we chat to Kit Laulilii, an exciting young lock who made his NRL debut for Wests Tigers in the final round of the 2023 season against Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles at Brookvale Oval. Captain of the premiership-winning Wests Magpies Harold Matthews team, Laulilii explains how leadership has been instilled in him from a young age.

This week on BTR we chat to Alex Lobb, a goal-kicking winger who joined Wests Tigers from the Dragons at the start of pre-season. Still living in Wollongong, Lobb wakes most mornings at 4:30 ahead of his trip to Concord. The early riser talks about his transition to his new club, how playing soccer as a kid has helped his kicking game, his burning desire to make his NRL debut, and a whole lot more.

Episode 34 of BTR is with Jordan Miller, another player who has emerged from the Western Suburbs premiership winning Harold Matthews team from 2022. Jordan talks about pre-season and his goals for 2024.

This week we chat to ball-playing forward, Justin Matamua who is preparing to enter his third season in the NRL. He talks about the growing number of pathways players in our top-30 squad, how he's handling pre-season training, his expectations for next season, and a whole lot more.

Episode 32 of BTR is with Lachlan Galvin, another player who has emerged from the Western Suburbs premiership-winning Harold Matthews team from 2022, to a top-30 contract in 2024. He talks openly about the challenges faced by an 18-year-old in his first NRL pre-season, how he loves learning off Benji, his pathways journey where he was overlooked by a rival club, and a whole lot more.

This week we chat to teenage hooker, Tallyn Da Silva who is preparing for his first full season of NRL after making his first-grade debut in 2023. It was a meteoric rise for the Campbelltown junior who went from playing park footy with his father, to playing NRL with Wests Tigers in the space of 12 months. With five NRL games under his belt the East Campbelltown Eagles junior is now part of Wests Tigers top-30 roster and throwing himself into pre-season training. Tallyn also talks about...

Wests Tigers official podcast Behind The Roar is shining the light on some of the club’s younger players over the summer, as preparations continue ahead of the 2024 NRL season.     The 10-episode pre-season series includes five players who are on NRL Development contract and five who are part of the club’s top-30 roster. Six of these players are yet to make their NRL debut, and all but one has played in Wests Tigers pathways teams.   First cab off the rank is young Queensland forward...

The final episode of Behind The Roar for 2023 features this year’s Kelly-Barnes Medallist, Jahream Bula. We cover plenty of ground and reflect on a remarkable debut season which saw the 21-year-old collect the Player of the Year, Players’ Player, and Rookie of the Year awards. He talks openly about his strong Christian faith, the influence of Benji Marshall, and his desire to remain at Wests Tigers for many years to come. Jahream’s journey to Wests Tigers is not dissimilar to that of his...

This week’s guest on Behind The Roar is Darren Flindell, a diehard Wests Tigers fan who also happens to be the ‘voice of racing’ in Sydney. Yes, something a little different on this week’s edition of Behind The Roar. Whether you’re into horse racing or not, there’s a good chance you’ll find Darren Flindell’s journey a captivating one. It’s a story about an ardent Tigers’ fan who as a kid dreamed of becoming Sydney’s No.1 race caller.  All that and more on this week’s Behind The Roar.

This week’s guest on Behind The Roar is former Wests Tigers utility back Tim Moltzen. Moltzen played 90 NRL games across six seasons at the club before his career was cruelly cut short by a chronic knee injury. We chat about a range of topics including the new coaching set-up at the club next season, the problems he faced when injury forced him out of the game as a 26-year-old, the talents of his former housemate, Benji – both on and off the field, and the future opportunities for Wests...

This week’s guest on Behind The Roar is two times premiership winner and Kiwi international, Paul Whatuira. We catch up with the former Wests Tigers centre at the team hotel in Hamilton ahead of last Saturday’s Round 24 match against the Warriors.   He talks about the highs and lows in his football career, and in life.  He recalls the ‘key ingredients’ that took Wests Tigers all the way in 2005 and offers some sage advice to others who might be starting out on their rugby league journey. ...

This week’s episode of Behind the Roar has a New Zealand flavour ahead of this weekend’s home game against the Warriors in Hamilton. We chat to two proud New Zealanders, Isaiah Papali’i and Starford To’a, who are both now carving their NRL careers in Australia, here at the Wests Tigers. Wests Tigers are the first NRL club to take a home game to New Zealand following the Covid pandemic, as a gesture of appreciation for the sacrifices made by the Warriors, and rugby league fans across the...

In this week’s episode of Behind the Roar we chat to Wests Tigers NRLW Co-captain, Kezie Apps. One of the game’s highest profile female players, Apps tells her story of how a young girl from a dairy farm on the NSW South Coast, grows into a rugby league icon.   The 32-year-old forward also recounts the day she decided to turn a dream into reality.  Sitting on her couch in Bega at the age of 22, Apps marvelled at the success of the Australian Jillaroos when they claimed the 2013 Women’s...

This week’s episode of Behind the Roar features former NRL star Feleti Mateo who these days is doing a terrific job with Wests Tigers in wellbeing and education. We talk about his stellar career, his struggles with depression, his unique playing style, his brief dash to London, and his willingness to help Polynesian players feel more connected with their culture. All that and a whole lot more on this week’s Behind The Roar.

This week’s episode of Behind the Roar celebrates Wests Tigers entry into the NRLW, ahead of Sunday’s very first against the Eels. We talk to three of our NRLW team’s key recruits ahead of Sunday’s season-opener - Sarah Togatuki, Rikeya Horne and Jakiya Whitfeld. We hear some truly inspiring stories from these ladies who somehow manage to juggle work, life and football. All that and plenty more on this episode of Behind The Roar.

In Episode 21 of Behind The Roar, we speak to Wests Tigers player #264 David Klemmer.

This week’s episode of Behind the Roar gives us a glimpse into the future, with Wests Tigers General Manager - Women’s and Pathways, Matthew Betsey. We take a deep dive into the strategic importance of pathways and development, and the unique opportunities we have as a club with three strong catchment areas. All that and more on this week’s edition of Behind The Roar.

This week’s guest on Behind the Roar is Wests Tigers try scoring hero Alex Twal ahead of this weekend’s trip to Townsville. He’s been one of our team’s most consistent forwards for many years, but until Round 16 against Melbourne Storm, Twal was still chasing that elusive first NRL try.  After waiting seven seasons and 116 first-grade games in the NRL, he finally crossed for his ‘maiden meat pie’ on a chilly Saturday night at Campbelltown Sports Stadium. It’s a light-hearted chat about...

In this episode of Behind The Roar podcast we speak to NRL assistant coach Wayne "Chops" Lambkin, who is also the NSW Knock On Effect head coach for the Western Suburbs Magpies. We speak to Chops about his playing career and his transition into coaching.