Young guns impress in opposed session

Wests Tigers players had the opportunity at pre-season training today to familiarise themselves with the interpretations of the new rules from last year.

NRL referees Luke Phillips and Alan Shortall oversaw the opposed session at Concord Oval. Wests Tigers Assistant Coach Royce Simmons said the session was important leading into next month’s trials.

The NRL squad was split into two groups and full contact was the order of the day with players wearing protective pads to prevent injury.

“It's to get used to the referees calls and the change in interpretations from last year to this year,’’ Simmons said.

"As we have been doing for the last few weeks, it's very important to get a bit of defensive contact in so when you go into game one you've got things down pat and you're ready to roll.

"It also gives you good game conditioning."

Simmons said he was impressed with some of the younger players in the NRL squad.

"The young players continue to get better and better,’’ Simmons said.

“I think there's probably seven or eight of them who week to week get a bit better, they learn a bit more and they get a bit fitter.

"The more they are here and the more they work with the senior players, the more they feel a part of the team.

"It is very important they feel a part of the team so if they're called into first grade, the first time they get a run, they feel like they should be there."

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