Locker Room: Why Shane Richardson’s ‘best spine’ comment will haunt Wests Tigers in 2025

Shane Richardson’s declaration the Wests Tigers have the best spine in the NRL in 2025 not only raised eyebrows, but put his team under pressure, writes DAVID RICCIO. Cast your vote for the best playmaking team in the NRL.

As if Wests Tigers coach Benji Marshall wasn’t under enough pressure as it is.

Now club CEO Shane Richardson has grabbed the microphone and declared the wooden spoon club boasts the best spine — fullback, five-eighth, halfback and hooker — in the NRL.

“We’ve got the cream, there’s no doubt we’ve got the best spine in the game,” Richo declared last Thursday.

Better than Ryan Papenhuyzen, Cameron Munster, Jahrome Hughes and Harry Grant at Melbourne. Superior to Brisbane’s full-strength spine of Reece Walsh, Ezra Mam, Adam Reynolds, Ben Hunt.

Ahead of Penrith quartet Dylan Edwards, Blaize Talagi, Nathan Cleary and Mitch Kenny.

Shane Richardson has heaped more pressure on Benji Marshall by declaring the Tigers boast the best spine in the NRL.

The Tigers’ spine is super talented, no doubt.

They will add four-time Penrith premiership five-eighth Jarome Luai alongside 39-gamer Jahream Bula, 21-gamer Lachlan Galvin and former Panthers grand final-winning hooker Apisai Koroisau.

One of the problems is, they have never played a single game together as a unit.

If only the cameras had been on Marshall, as he shifted ever so slightly in his seat.

There’s not a coach in the game that would feel comfortable about their CEO pouring such a spotlight on the club and their playmakers.

I know some coaches who would have taken their CEO to task over it.

Maybe Marshall is different.

Jarome Luai will be given the keys to the Tigers in 2025.

Club captain Koroisau was at his diplomatic best when asked about Richardson’s bold statement.

“Thank you,” Koroisau said with a laugh.

“I appreciate his confidence, that’s for sure.

“Him putting something like that out there puts a target on his back.

“For him to back us is pretty special.”

It also puts a target on the backs of the players. Such significant comments don’t simply disappear over summer.

While veterans Koroisau and Luai will be used to handling hype and hyperbole, it is a different story for the younger spine members.

Galvin is still only 19 and played just one NRL season, although one which was full of merit. However, opposition teams will be more alert in 2025, already working on how to nullify his game.

Bula, 22, a fullback of enormous potential, enters his third campaign having won eight of his 39 NRL games.

On paper, the Tigers are a better team than last season. But they’re coming off three straight wooden spoons in an era where they won just 14 of their 72 matches.

That’s pressure enough. Now, Richardson’s comments will become the launch pad for dissection after every Tigers performance next season.

Originally published as Locker Room: Why Shane Richardson’s ‘best spine’ comment will haunt Wests Tigers in 2025