The Wests Tigers enter 2026 after their best finish in many years, having finally avoided the wooden spoon after several seasons at the bottom of the ladder. After finishing last multiple years in a row, the Tigers showed genuine improvement in 2025, finishing 11th and recording nine victories, including wins over strong opposition that suggested the club is beginning to turn a corner.
The acquisition of Jarome Luai on one of the richest contracts in the NRL signalled a major shift in intent for the club. Alongside recruits such as Terrell May and Sunia Turuva, and established leaders including Api Koroisau and Adam Doueihi, the Tigers now possess the framework of a competitive roster.
Young talents like Jahream Bula continue to emerge as genuine long-term building blocks, while edge additions such as Kai Pearce-Paul and returning depth signings like Jock Madden and Patrick Herbert add further balance to the squad.
Despite the improvement, 2025 was not without controversy. The club remained in the headlines for off-field instability, including administrative changes and player departures.
The exits of promising juniors Talyn De Silva and Lachlan Galvin created noise externally, yet internally appeared to galvanise the playing group around a stronger collective identity. The message became clear: commitment to the club comes first.
Defensively, the Tigers still ranked among the poorer sides in the competition, sitting near the bottom despite measurable improvement from previous seasons. A handful of heavy defeats inflated their defensive record, but overall effort and competitiveness lifted under coach Benji Marshall.
Entering 2026, expectations are rising that the Tigers can continue climbing the ladder and push toward finals contention.
For that to happen, improvement must come from within. The roster now has talent, experience and direction, but progression will depend on key individuals elevating their consistency and impact across the season.
4. Jahream Bula
Why his role is so important
Jahream Bula is considered one of the brightest young prospects in the NRL. Since arriving in first grade, he has displayed genuine X factor, the kind that can turn matches in a single moment. In a short period of time, he has already built a strong highlights reel and represented Fiji internationally, which speaks to how quickly he has risen.
Bula has an innate ability to find the try line. He combines speed, footwork and skill with enough size to be physically damaging. When he sees space, he backs himself. When he hits the line, he can break it. That confidence and natural attacking instinct give the Tigers something they have lacked for years at fullback.
In a side building toward finals football, having a dynamic fullback is essential. Bula is capable of being that player. His attacking game is already trending toward elite level, and he can change the rhythm of a contest in an instant.
What needs to improve
Defence is where Bula must improve the most. While his positional play has shown strong foundations, it needs to become more consistent. The modern fullback must anchor the defensive system, not just react to it. Communication, organisation and decision making from the back are critical.
The best fullbacks in the competition are not only attacking threats. They make try saving tackles. They commit fully in one on one situations. Their clean up work is relentless. They cover enormous distance each match, constantly talking, adjusting the line and inserting themselves where needed.
Bula must continue developing his defensive reads and communication, particularly under fatigue. As the Tigers push toward tighter contests against stronger opposition, his ability to hold structure at the back will be tested repeatedly.
Why his improvement matters
Elite teams are built around elite fullbacks. If Jahream Bula adds defensive authority and organisational strength to his already dangerous attacking game, he moves into the top tier of fullbacks in the competition.
His services are already in high demand, and contract discussions will only intensify if he continues to progress. For the West Tigers, retaining Bula is vital. But retaining him is not enough. They need him to become a complete fullback.
If he tightens his defence, sharpens his communication and continues to build his engine to handle the physical and mental workload of the role, he could be the player that elevates the Tigers from competitive to genuine finals threat. Without that defensive evolution, his game remains exciting but incomplete.
