The Tigers will be wanting to shutdown Blake Austin when they face Canberra on Sunday

THE Tigers are among the rare few that have not been surprised by Blake Austin’s transformation into a match winning playmaker for Canberra.

Blake Austin of the Raiders during the Manly Sea Eagles v Canberra Raiders game in Albury. pic Mark Evans

THE WESTS Tigers are among the rare few that have not been surprised by Blake Austin’s transformation into a match winning playmaker for the Canberra Raiders.

“Oh we know what he can do,’’ said Tigers prop Keith Galloway.

“He is a very good player.’’

And that is why the Tigers have made it priority No. 1 to shut down their former teammate on Sunday when Austin returns to Leichhardt Oval as a Raider with a mission to upset his old team.

Blake Austin in action for his former club, the Tigers.

Austin has emerged as the No. 6 who is spearheading Ricky Stuart’s Raider’s revival and the Tigers will be out to make it a homecoming to forget for the NRL journeyman who left Leichhardt at the end of last year for a playmaking opportunity in Canberra.

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“We all know what he can do and we were sad to see him go,’’ Galloway said.

“He had an exceptional year last season and it is no surprise to any of us how well he is going down there this year. He will be a hard man to stop and I am sure he will be pumped up to play against his old club. He is a player that give it all and he will be especially motivated coming back to play at Leichhardt.

‘’We will have to make sure we make it tough for him.’’

Austin said he had no regrets with his decision to leave the Tigers despite enjoying his time with the club.

The former Panthers quit with a year left to go on his contract after being offered a permanent home in the halves at Canberra while the Tigers could only suggest he be transformed into a centre with Luke Brooks and Mitchell Moses guaranteed playmaking roles.

He credits the Wests Tigers for giving him the opportunity to establish himself as an NRL player, even though he plans to pay them back by beating them today.

“I think I had a really good run there,’’ Austin said.

“I had an opportunity to play about 20 NRL games and that gave me the chance to prove myself on the field. It is a great place but I don’t regret the move. I just had an opportunity to come to Canberra and I am trying to make the most of it.’’

The Tigers are looking to return to the winners circle after failing to bid the Warriors last week in a game that was up for grabs.

Blake Austin celebrates after the Raiders score a try.

“We have been in every game but we have only won three of them,’’ Galloway said.

“It is time to put the foot down and get some more wins on the board. That will come if we keep on improving.

“The Raiders look like they are going pretty well.

“They are a good side and they have dangerous players all over the field. They will be tough to beat.’’

Originally published as The Tigers will be wanting to shutdown Blake Austin when they face Canberra on Sunday