Wests Tigers forward Josh Aloiai spoke to the media on Sunday after making his first starting appearance for the Club in over three months against the Sydney Roosters.
The 2016 Club Rookie of the Year was sensational on the edge, scoring a try and proving a handful for the Roosters defence, and says he felt he settled in well to a high-quality contest.
"It was a hard game, a very physical game," he said.
"We were just trying to work really hard for each other throughout the game, and I think that was evident. We came so close, and it just hurts to not quite be able to get it done.
"They're a top-four side so it's good to be able to stretch them.
"But having said, it would have been much better to get the win.
"We're not happy with it, but there's definitely positives for us."
Having re-signed at Wests Tigers until the end of 2019, Aloiai also reitterated comments made by Coach Ivan Cleary post-game about the progress within the squad throughout the season.
"I think there's been a lot of growth within our playing group," he enthused.
"The culture of our team is changing.
"These close losses — it's not a matter of effort, it's just execution and game managament."
See what Josh Aloiai had to say in full ahead of this week's Round 25 game in the video above!
Be there for our final Campbelltown game of season 2017 as we take on the North Queensland Cowboys on August 25!
