NRLW squad watch: Wests Tigers ready to cash in on investment

Wests Tigers enter the NRL Telstra Women's Premiership for the first time in history with the joint venture looking to use their success in the pathways systems and make an immediate impact. 

A total of 11 players in the squad all featured in the Harvey Norman NSW Premiership victory in 2022, highlighting the investment the club has made in transitioning those players to the NRLW. 

A further four join the club from rival NRLW sides while Botille Vette-Welsh makes a triumphant return from an ACL injury and looks set to lead the players alongside Apps in their first season. 

Like all clubs in their inaugural campaigns, Wests Tigers will take time to develop into an NRLW powerhouse but have enough talent to be competitive in 2023. 

Predicted Round 1 Team

1. Botille Vette-Welsh 2. Jakiya Whitfield 3. Rikeya Horne 4. Tess Staines 5. Leianne Tufuga 6. Losana Lutu 7. Emily Curtain 8. Sarah Togatuki 9. Sophie Curtain 10. Imogen Gobran 11. Kezie Apps 12. Christian Pio 13. Najvada George 14. Salma Nour 15. Folau Vaki 16. Taylor Osborne 17. Eliza Siilata

Other: Rebecca Pollard, Ebony Prior, Hope Tevaga, Jessica Kennedy, Bianca Bennetts, Josie Lenaz, Pauline Piliae-Rasabale

Biggest strength

The core group of players are familiar with each other at the Harvey Norman NSW Premiership level which should give the side some immediate continuity compared to other inaugural teams who are coming together for the first time. 

Likewise Wests Tigers coach Brett Kimmorley has already spent a lot of time with most of the squad when he was in charge of the team in the HNWP last year before being called up for the interim NRL job when Michael Maguire resigned midway through the season. 

Biggest question mark

The side's first choice halves pairing is the most inexperienced in the NRLW and it will be a challenge for the spine to get up to speed with taking the next steps in the senior competition.

Promising teenager Losana Lutu and Emily Curtain were the Wests Tigers' premiership-winning halves in the Harvey Norman NSW Premiership in 2022 but both missed last year's NRLW competition due to injury. 

The pair had some experience at the Eels during the 2021 NRLW season in April with Curtain's kicking game set to be crucial for the side. 

Best recruit

There's no better leader you want in your inaugural squad than Jillaroos and Sky Blues co-captain Kezie Apps, who arrives to the joint venture after five seasons at St George Illawarra. 

Apps arrives at Wests Tigers chasing her own fresh start and with a three-year deal in her favour the popular back-rower looks likely to finish her career at her new club. 

Apps had her best Origin involvement last month since 2020 and is coming off a successful World Cup campaign.

After a move to prop in the NRLW last year she produced her greatest running metre average of 118 in the competition which included 21 tackle busts.

The 32-year-old remains an imposing figure in women's rugby league and will want to continue her late flurry of form in the last years of her career.

Rookie to watch

Former Dragon Salma Nour arrives at Wests Tigers after a brief stint in Wollongong as part of the club's NRLW squad last season. Although Nour never got on the field she has impressed in her short time at Concord. Nour represented NSW in the under 19s State of Origin last year and will be pushing the likes of Sophie Curtain and Ebony Prior at dummy half in 2023.