Wests Tigers Podcast

Happy New Year, Wests Tigers 2026 fans! The Wests Tigers Podcast is relaxed and recharged, ready for a big and enjoyable NRL season.On this edition of the podcast, Joel and Declan discuss all the most recent Wests Tigers News, including a detailed look back at the protest action held in December. This rally was not just a sign of frustration but a testament to the passionate support of the Wests Tigers community, illustrating the deep connection fans have with the team. The Pratten Park rally was a defining moment for the club, showcasing the unwavering dedication of the fans. Despite some individuals attempting to sow division, the collective spirit of the fan base has never been stronger, indicating a hopeful future for the club. Such moments of solidarity remind us that the Wests Tigers are more than just a team; they are a community brought together by a shared passion for rugby league and a commitment to supporting one another.Aside from that action, which we hope we never have to see again (are you paying attention, HBG?), we discuss the ongoing dramas around the Jahream Bula contract situation. His potential departure has raised many questions among fans about the club's strategy and future direction, making this a hot topic ahead of the new season.Rumours just won't go away that the Bulldogs are keen on our young fullback, and that's despite signs of optimism from Wests Tigers management that he would be staying long-term with us. The stakes are high, and fans are eager to see how this will unfold, especially with Bula's talent shining through last season.We discuss some important points regarding the situation, including the implications of Bula’s contract on the team dynamics and future performance. His contributions to the squad have been invaluable, and losing him could be a significant setback for our ambitions this season and beyond.
Is Bula the guy you break the bank for? With his skill set and on-field performance, many fans believe investing in him is essential for the team’s future.
Can the new-look Wests Tigers admin afford to lose him? The impacts on team morale and performance could be profound if key players leave.
Why did high-touted young fullback Jack Attard come to Wests Tigers on a three-year deal? 
Also on this edition of the Wests Tigers Podcast, we discuss our 2026 NRL recruits. Of the recruits, including Bunty Afoa, Kai Pearce-Paul, and Ethan Roberts, we name the player that we expect to have the biggest impact on the Wests Tigers team in season 2026. Then there's a round of Buy, Sell, or Hold with topics up for discussion, including:
Does the long-term contract for Benji Marshall set him up for success?
Will Jack Bird play NRL for Wests Tigers in 2026? 
Will the Wests Tigers win ten or more games this season? 
We hope you enjoy this first pod of 2026, and we look forward to talking about everything Wests Tigers right through the season. Let’s keep the conversation going! Feel free to join in the discussion today on the Wests Tigers Podcast Forum. Your insights and opinions are invaluable to the community.

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It's been a sad day for Wests Tigers with highly-regarded CEO Shane Richardson walking away from the club.

The man they call 'Richo' had been doing a sterling job in getting Wests Tigers back on track and things we're genuinely looking up for 2026.

But then that selfish bunch at the Holman Barnes Group decided to pull the rug out from all Wests Tigers fans.

We now have no CEO and no Chair. Fans are walking away and memberships are being cancelled.

On this bleak day, Nick and Declan take the reins of the Wests Tigers Podcast and have their say on this raw edition of the pod.

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Well, they've done it again! Just when it felt like the Wests Tigers had turned the corner, here comes the HBG hatchet men!

That's right, our old "friends" from the Holman Barnes Group (HBG) have orchestrated their latest power play to again make the Wests Tigers the NRL laughing stocks.

After we fought so hard to initiate change at Wests Tigers board level, and based on the advice of an independent governance review, the four independent Wests Tigers board members have been sacked.

This includes our chairman, Barry O'Farrell. The HBG, the majority shareholders of Wests Tigers, say their knives were sharpened after the Wests Tigers board didn't adequately communicate with the HBG board, and there was a misalignment between the organisations.

We fear, but strongly suspect, the majority orange home jersey selected by Wests Tigers for 2026 and beyond was the tipping point. What a mess!

On this emergency edition of the podcast, Joel Helmes is joined by Zac Kels from Tiger Town, and Joe McCord from Wests Tigers Faithful. The boys are showing cross-podcast unity in the face of a really disappointing situation.

Topics up for discussion include: Will Wests Tigers CEO Shane Richardson now resign? How will this latest storm affect player negotiations? What actions can fans take to convey their dissatisfaction? Should, or will, the NRL get involved? Are the HBG moves about deeper issues?

We hope you enjoy this edition of the Wests Tigers Podcast, and we welcome your comments on this topic on the Wests Tigers Podcast Forum.

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The Wests Tigers need to play finals football in 2026; it's as simple as that. But what does the club need to do on the field to make that happen? How do we do something that we haven't done in 15 years?

On this edition of the Wests Tigers Podcast, we identify our areas of improvement that the club and team need to make. Joel Helmes and Nick Hayes suggest improvements that should and could be made in important aspects, such as bench rotations and impact.

We also identify consistency in the halves and arrest a worrying trend that has crept into many failed or frustrating Wests Tigers seasons, a long mid-season run of outs!

Watch or listen to this edition to see what else the club needs to do to see finals footy once again, finally!

What has us worried heading into the 2026 NRL season? Joel and Nick also list a few factors that have them concerned at this point in the Wests Tigers' preseason. These concerns include positional question marks, key contract discussions, and a reliance on some inexperienced and untested young players.

As always, feel free to agree or disagree with the boys on the Wests Tigers Podcast Forum. Other topics up for discussion on this edition of the Wests Tigers Podcast included:
Is Royce Hunt ready to turn the corner and hit a new high?
Why aren't a couple of key 2026 recruits listed on the 'Teams' page of the official Wests Tigers website?
And the brand-new Wests Tigers jersey design also comes up for discussion, with a Wests Tigers legend also being mentioned in that discussion.

It's the latest big edition of the Wests Tigers Podcast. We hope you enjoy it and that you're surviving another long Wests Tigers off-season! We hope to be back again with another podcast edition soon. 

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The 2025-26 Wests Tigers pre-season is just commencing, with players starting to return to training this week. One of the players set to sweat it out at Concord over the summer months is young fullback Jack Attard.

Considered the heir apparent to champion Penrith fullback Dylan Edwards, Attard has ditched the Panthers and come across to our club on a three-year deal. On this edition of the Wests Tigers Podcast, we dive into what this means for our current fullback Jahream Bula.

Bula, managed by Isaac Moses (who has a rocky history with the Wests Tigers), is in the midst of contract negotiations, and there are concerns that he may be heading elsewhere. So, is Attard a contingency? An insurance plan? We take a deep dive into that issue on this edition.

Joining Joel on this podcast are the boys from Tiger Town, Zac and Toby, as well as Jordan, Declan, and Nick.

Other topics up for debate include the new gear supply deal with Canterbury Sportswear. With Steeden moving on, Canterbury will soon have a new-look Wests Tigers jersey for us, and we've already seen a fresh training shirt look as well. The boys discuss expectations and hopes for the new-look Wests Tigers jersey.

Nathan Brown also pops up for a bit of a discussion with reports continuing to link the veteran prop to a farewell season or two with the Tigers.

And then we get into the meat and potatoes topic of this podcast - the 2026 Wests Tigers team. With a full house of contributors on board, we look at the contentious selection areas for round one and beyond, including Wing, Lock, Prop, and Bench Utility.

There are also a couple of bold predictions, including the potential inclusion of highly touted young Wests Tigers stars, such as Ethan Roberts, Javon Andrews, Phoenix Godinet, and Heamasi Makasini.

It's an exciting time to be a Wests Tigers fan! Don't forget to join in the discussion today on the Wests Tigers Podcast Forum!

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