NRL 2022: Rising Wests Tigers stars that could define Benji Marshall’s career as a head coach

Wests Tigers are hoping key signing Api Koroisau can transform their on-field results - but they’ve already got the building blocks in place for the premiership-winning hooker’s successor.

Benji Marshall's next generation of Wests Tigers talent.

The Wests Tigers are building a five-year pathways plan to help ensure the club’s best young talent will be ready for when Benji Marshall takes over as coach.

Marshall will be an assistant and understudy to Tim Sheens over the next two seasons before taking over as coach of the Tigers in 2025.

The club’s head of pathways, Matt Betsey, said the ­Tigers’ focus on junior development would play a crucial role in Marshall’s success at Concord.

It will start with the development of the joint-venture’s premiership-winning Harold Matthews side, which has some of the hottest rising prospects in the game, including Tallyn Da Silva, Jordan Miller, Jeremiah Leatigaga, Kit Laulilii, Lachlan Galvin and James ­Folaumoetui.

“We’re looking at the 17 and 18-year-olds, so when Benji takes over in a couple of years he has the best of our local talent, the best on offer to build the roster he needs at the NRL level,” Betsey said.

Wests Magpies forwards Tallyn Da Silva, Jeremiah Leatigaga, Jordan Miller, Lachlan Galvin, James Folaumoetui and Kit Laulilii. Picture: Richard Dobson

“The Wests Harold Matthews team that won the premiership this year, they lead that group of players and we have worked hard to lock them in for the next couple of seasons. They will get a taste of NRL training over the next couple of years and be ready to go in two or three years.”

It’s understood Marshall even met with the managers of the club’s rising talent to get guarantees they would commit to the Tigers long-term.

Marshall has also taken a hands-on approach in a bid to foster a relationship with the youngsters as part of the Tigers’ cubs program.

“He went to all their training sessions, he worked with all the players,” Betsey said.

“The halves in particular, just started to build a connection with them and pass on some knowledge.

“He was great. He got in there and was actually active in training sessions with players and jumped into all the drills. They are starting to respond to that. He already has relationships with the younger players that will be part of his group as an assistant coach and then as a head coach.”

Sheens, who helped guide the Wests Tigers to their first title in 2005, has also been proactive in the pathways programs and recently met with junior coaches to outline a club-wide mandate for success.

“He was at a session with our junior coaching staff to outline what the expectations are and what the style of play he is looking for at NRL level, but how we drive that through the whole club,” Betsey said.

The Tigers had a forgettable NRL season, finishing last for the first time in the joint-­venture’s history.

The West Tigers’ coaching team of Tim Sheens and Benji Marshall. Picture: David Swift

The club has made some ­astute signings for next year – three-time premiership-winning hooker Apisai Koroisau and Isaiah Papali’i – as part of its immediate rebuild.

However, Betsey accepts that the long-term, sustained success the club has failed to deliver can only be achieved through a dedicated investment in junior pathways.

“We have a five-to-seven-year viewpoint as opposed to winning week in, week out,” Betsey said. “It does take time. We started 12 or 18 months ago and we are only starting to see the tip of the iceberg.

“We want to develop them and support them as they come through and have that long- term development plan in place, so once we do get success it’s sustainable, that we have a pipeline of talent for the NRL and NRLW.”

TIGERS’ YOUNG TALENT TIME

JORDAN MILLER

Position: Front row

After struggling to get a look into the Harold Matthews side in the past, Miller finished the season with a man-of-the-match performance in the grand final against Cronulla.

“Jordan is a big front rower with a really good engine for someone his age,” Betsey said.

“He’s the player that would get the team going forward in every game, he leads from the front, literally.

“He’s able to give all of our other players time and space to do what they are good at. He was exceptional. He was called into the Australian Schoolboys side.

“He is a talented middle we want to help progress through junior football into the elite level.”

Jordan Miller is making strides at the Wests Tigers. Picture: Liam Kidston

TALLYN DA SILVA

Position: Hooker

Silva is a wily dummy half, with a strong running and passing game, and an ability to read the game. He has also made strides defensively this year.

“Tallyn is a hooker with all the skills and talent. He is extremely athletic and has a really good game sense,” Betsey said.

“He’s a beneficiary of Miller’s work, with him being able to get in there and do his job and make some good choices about where the attack is going to go.

“He is someone we are looking to develop long term. With Api Koroisau coming in, he’ll learn a lot from him.

“In two or three years whenever Api is done, hopefully Tallyn will be a replacement option for him at NRL level.”

Tallyn Da Silva could be the man to succeed Api Koroisau at hooker. Picture: Jonathan Ng

LACHLAN GALVIN

Position: Backrow

Galvin started as a five-eighth and was moved onto an edge where he has excelled as a back-rower with ball skills. A move back into the halves is a real possibility in his future.

“Lachlan is a really strong back-rower. He played really well for Wests but also in the Cubs program,” Betsey said.

“We took him on a tour to New Zealand, where he played against the Warriors over there, and he produced a really strong performance. He can find space on the edge. He has a bit of growing to do physically but once he grows into his body and builds a bit of muscle, he’ll be a really good option for us going forward on the edge.”

Lachlan Galvin is a versatile ball runner. Picture: Jonathan Ng

KIT LAULILII

Position: Lock

Laulilii has been the side’s captain for the last three years, where is leadership ability and come to the fore.

“Kit played lock this year and he is just a really strong runner of the ball and is really good in defence,” Betsey said.

“He’s a very strong kid with a really bright future if he continues on this track. He was also the captain of the side. Kit is a genuinely good person, and is a great leader on and off the field.”

Kit Laulilii is growing into a leader at the Wests Tigers. Picture: Richard Dobson

TAJH COLQUHOUN

Position: Wing

Colquhoun is on the club’s most versatile backline prospects, the youngster can play at fullback, on the edge and even in the halves.

“Tajh scored a heap of points for us as goal kicker and on the wing, he’s a great finisher. He played with the Patrician Brothers Fairfield that won the Schoolboy Cup this year. He’s certainly a player to watch for us,” Betsey said.

WILLIAM CRAIG

Position: Centre/Fullback

Craig had mostly played at fullback before moving to centre this year, where he excelled on the edge.

“Will performed really well in the centres, he really came along this year. He went really well defensively but he’s also a young lad that can break some tackles on the edge there. He’s another one of our really solid players out wide,” Betsey said.

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Originally published as NRL 2022: Rising Wests Tigers stars that could define Benji Marshall’s career as a head coach