Wests Tigers official podcast Behind The Roar is shining a light on some of the club’s younger players over the summer, as preparations continue ahead of the 2024 NRL season.
BTR is available on Spotify and YouTube.
The 10-episode pre-season series includes five players who are on NRL Development contracts and five who are part of the club’s top-30 roster.
Six of these players are yet to make their NRL debut, and all but one has played in Wests Tigers pathways teams.
First cab off the rank is young Queenslander Chris Faagutu, a middle forward who this year played Origin Under 19s for Queensland.
He admits week-one of pre-season was ‘a bit out there’, in layman’s terms, it was tough.
My first week was a bit out there, it felt like I’d played a few games in just one week. It was so hard.
Chris Faagutu
The Logan Brothers junior tells us he’s super keen to play first grade but knows there’s plenty of hard work ahead.
“My number one goal for next season is to make my NRL debut for Wests Tigers,” Chris said.
To make that happen I want to be the best person I can be both on and off the field.
Chris Faagutu
Chris is hoping to follow in the footsteps of Tallyn Da Silva, Kit Laulilii and Josh Feledy after watching his pathways’ teammates rise to first grade last season.
“I’ve just got to keep doing all the right things on and off the field, all the one-percenters, and hopefully I can do what those boys have done.”
Roughly ten minutes in duration, each bitesize episode of BTR summer series will be a light-hearted chat about footy, family, pre-season, and beyond.
