NRL 2021: Wests Tigers’ rebuilt pack to break ‘ninth place’ curse

Despite talk Michael Maguire’s tough approach was causing player unrest at Concord, boom rookie Shawn Blore knocked back several NRL rivals to re-sign with the club.

Wests Tigers hit the training track at the start of pre season at St Lukes Park in Concord. Shawn Blore 20 pictured after training. Picture: Toby Zerna

Wests Tigers young gun Shawn Blore shudders at the memory of the pain that comes with tackling former Parramatta behemoth Stefano Utoikamanu.

It’s one of the reasons Blore is relieved Utoikamanu is now a teammate at Concord.

Penrith product Blore played against Utoikamanu all through the junior grades and has experienced the devastation of the prop’s power first hand.

“I grew up playing with Stefano and I hated tackling him,” Blore said.

“Every time I slipped on an opposition jersey against him I hated it because I knew he’d be running at me and he’s that hard to tackle.

“Bro, he’s massive and weighs like 116kg and is already the second-fittest forward in the team. He’s a freak.

“Wait until he finds his feet in the NRL — he is going to be something special.”

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Wests Tigers hit the training track at the start of pre season at St Lukes Park in Concord. Shawn Blore 20 pictured after training. Picture: Toby Zerna

Blore believes the acquisition of Utoikamanu, Brisbane’s Joe Ofahengaue and former Penrith skipper and teammate James Tamou will transform the Tigers’ forward pack into one of the NRL’s most formidable in season 2021.

The kind of forward pack that can end the Tigers’ finals exile and end the “ninth place” taunts that Blore, 20, has had enough of reading on social media. The Concord club has finished 9th on the NRL ladder three times since last making a finals appearance in 2011.

“Once he (Utoikamanu) finds his feet in the NRL our forward pack is going to be pretty tough to stop,” Blore said.

Shawn Blore during his NRL debut against the Eels. Source: NRL Photos

“I know a lot of people on socials are saying ‘oh the Tigers and the ninth spot’ and stuff like that but I truly believe that we are on the rise.

“With Stefano and Joffa (Ofahengaue) and the guys we already have, we are going to have a great forward pack once we get some time in together.

“Reading that stuff about being written off is going to be good for us, we can really prove a point in 2021 because we have a lot of talent here.

“That talk motivates me and I hope it motivates the other boys.”

Tigers forward Stefano Utoikamanu during training. Photo: Wests Tigers

Blore, 20, made a memorable NRL debut back in round 11 against the Eels earlier this year.

Faced with the task of taking on Parramatta enforcer Nathan Brown, Blore refused to be intimidated by the more seasoned campaigner and delivered a rousing display of aggression and tenacity.

With five NRL games now under his belt, all off the bench, Blore has set himself a lofty goal of snaring a starting edge spot.

Luciano Leilua is expected to again start on the left edge and the inside word from Concord is that Blore, a Junior Kangaroo, is on course to snaring the second-row spot on the right spot as he continues to impress during the pre-season.

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“In our annual coach’s meeting I spoke to Madge (Maguire) about what I want to do next year and about goals for myself. I want to put good consistent footy together because I know I have a lot more in the tank.

“This pre-season is about getting fit and nailing a starting spot.

“I’ll play wherever Madge wants me but I do love playing in the back row. I grew up playing there.”

Late last month, the rising forward extended his time at the Tigers until the end of season 2023.

It was a show of faith in coach Maguire, who’s tough love tactics had come under scrutiny at Concord.

“Madge is Madge. I see the stuff people write and say all the time. It doesn’t make sense to me,” Blore said.

“I’ll back him no matter what, I’ve got his back no matter what anyone has to say.

“I feel like he is the kind of coach that can take my game to the next level and I truly believe that. I know it’s a club on the rise and I want to be a part of that success.”

Originally published as NRL 2021: Wests Tigers’ rebuilt pack to break ‘ninth place’ curse