NRL 2021: Wests Tigers to play nine day games in early draw quirk

Another NRL player could be on the move before his contract is up, with Wests Tigers utility Billy Walters set to join his dad for the first time.

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - FEBRUARY 28: The crowd watches on during the NRL Trial Match between the Wests Tigers and the Manly Sea Eagles at Leichhardt Oval on February 28, 2021 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)

Wests Tigers utility Billy Walters remains hopeful of playing for his old man Kevin at the Brisbane Broncos this season, saying he would “love to go back home” and be part of “something special”.

Speaking with The Daily Telegraph at Tigers HQ on Monday, 27-year-old Walters confirmed he was keen to return north immediately and be coached for the first time by the old man who doubles as a Queensland Origin legend and newly-installed Broncos head coach.

Despite being contracted at Wests Tigers until the end of this year, and still recovering from a serious knee injury, the playmaker confirmed reports suggesting dad wants him at the Broncos for 2021 - with some whispers suggesting the move could occur following Round One, so long as Tigers officials receive a suitable trade.

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Billy Walters could be set to join his dad Kevin at the Broncos in 2021. Picture: Getty Images.

Walters added that while an early move to play for his father would likely receive criticism in some quarters - “although I could be Johnathan Thurston and some people would still say he’s only picking me because I’m his son” - he tipped the reunion at Red Hill to be a smooth one.

“There is definitely an option to go back to Brisbane,” Walters confirmed.

“And I would love to go.

“While I didn’t go looking for a release - and I am happy here at Wests Tigers - an opportunity has come up that I’ve spoken with the club about.

“And they have seen it from my point of view.

“But they’ve also said that (right now) they want me here.

“So I just want to make sure everyone is happy and that the Tigers get whatever they need. If there is an opportunity to go, I don’t want to leave on bad terms.

“But if they want me to stay, I’ll stay.”

Walters, who boasts 10 first grade appearances with both the Tigers and Melbourne, added that he had no problem moving to a club where dad was both head coach and premiership hero.

West Tigers player Billy Walters during a, photo-op at the teams Concord training compound., Photo Jeremy Piper

“Because there will always be outside noise,” he said. “I just don’t listen to it.

“When the talk first started about dad coaching in the NRL, I had wanted to establish myself a little more (as a first grader) and then play under him.

“But that hasn’t been the case, because of injuries and so on.

“But still, this is an opportunity I’ve spoken about.

“Brisbane is one of my juniors club - a club I loved to watch growing up - and now dad is there coaching too, it’s something even more special.”

So no chance of a clash with the NRL coach with whom you already speak at least once a week?

“I think it would be good because we’re both fairly casual people,” the playmaker continued, grinning.

“We aren’t too serious.

“Can have a laugh.

“So there wouldn’t be too much pressure.

“Dad was obviously in the halves too as a player, so I think the opportunity would be there to learn even more off him being there full-time.”

Kevin Walters getting a hand from son Billy back in 2000.

Still, Walters Jnr admitted he had never been coached by dad before.

“No, he coached my older brother but never me,” the Tigers playmaker and hooker continued.

“As a parent, dad would always give tips here and there when we wanted them - and obviously I asked a lot - but he never forced football onto us.

“First and foremost, he was dad.

“I’ve got younger brothers who don’t take footy as seriously as I did and he is supportive of that too. He’s always been really good.”

The Tigers utility added that a return to Brisbane also had several benefits away from rugby league, too.

“I’ve been away from Brisbane three-and-a-half years now,” he said.

“My family is all up there, my partner’s family is there, so (the opportunity) is definitely something that excites me.

“But what excites me more is playing NRL ... and if that opportunity were here at the Tigers, then I think I would stay and take it.”

LUCK OF THE DRAW SETS TIGERS UP FOR FUN IN THE SUN

—Dean Ritchie

Wests Tigers are ready to seize the day – literally.

In an extraordinary quirk in the NRL draw, Wests Tigers’ first nine games this season are in the day time.

And it prompted head coach Michael Maguire to predict dry afternoon grounds would benefit his new look side, which now boasts increased speed and agility.

The Tigers are hoping their quirky draw will help them get the perfect start to the season.

It may just be the edge his club needed to end a painful nine-year finals blackout.

Wests Tigers have scheduled games in the opening nine rounds against Canberra (4.05pm), Sydney Roosters (4.05pm), Newcastle (4.05pm), Parramatta (4pm), North Queensland (4.05pm), South Sydney (5.30pm), Manly (1.45pm), St George Illawarra (4.05pm) and Gold Coast (5.30pm).

Five games will be shown on free-to-air and five of the opening nine matches will be played at the club’s two home grounds.

Wests Tigers don’t kick off under lights until a round 10 game against Newcastle during the Magic Round in Brisbane.

With speedsters Daine Laurie and James Roberts added to the roster, coupled with try-scoring winger David Nofoaluma, Wests Tigers looked light, sharp and fast in a big trial match win last weekend against Manly.

And playing day footy will, Maguire says, be a considerable advantage for his team.

“I reckon it will,” Maguire said.

Fans will get to see the Tigers plenty of times during the day in 2021.

“When you look at the team, and what we’ve got, the people we have, being able to have a dry patch will allow us to utilise the skills we have more so than at night, where you have dew and sweat on the ball.

“Nine straight day games, it doesn’t normally happen this day and age - a lot of it normally is night footy.

“It’s good to play in the day time. You don’t get the dew on the ground and your ball movement can be sharper. We’re aware of all the afternoon games we have. Even a 5.30pm kick-off is still an afternoon game.”

Nine successive day game will also allow Maguire to keep a constant and settled weekly preparation.

Asked did he tweak game plans around whether matches were played at night or day, Maguire said: “We always look at that, the time when you play and when you train.

“A lot of our training is through the day so having the day games, we have to make sure we utilise when those day matches come along. We have to make sure it becomes a positive for us.

“Sunday afternoon footy, we grew up on that so it’s nice to have it, with all three grades playing on the day. It’s good for rugby league. All the families can come to games in the day rather than at matches being played so late.”

Michael Maguire is confident the draw quirk can work in his side’s favour.

Wests Tigers chief executive Justin Pascoe said day games were also financially viable for his club.

“Day games are advantageous for us commercially,” Pascoe said. “They give us the best opportunities for families to watch Wests Tigers games.

“Personally, I am more excited about this draw than I have been for the previous five-and-a-half years I have been at the club from a commercial perspective.

“I still believe the 4pm timeslot on a Sunday, commercially, on Channel 9, is immense.
“It’s really fan friendly for our club and is really good for our playing group. I don’t think we have many five-day turns around in those first eight weeks either.

“Most of our training is done during the day so we don’t have to start thinking about going to Leichhardt Oval at night to train until round ten.”