The prospect of facing a full-strength Penrith Panthers side on Sunday has been welcomed by Wests Tigers Head Coach Benji Marshall.
With the minor premiership up for grabs, Penrith Coach Ivan Cleary has resisted the temptation to rest key players in the last round before next week’s final series begins.
For the Tigers, the match marks the 100th NRL game for prop Terrell May, the NRL debut of prop Vaka Aho, and the final appearance of co-captain Jarome Luai.
Aho has played 21 games in the NSW Cup this season after coming through the club's pathways at Balmain and Western Suburbs.
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Marshall paid tribute to May, saying that the experienced front-rower remains a big part of the club’s direction moving forward.
“Tyrell is a unique sort of guy, everyone knows that, but, what he brings to our team is what we love,’’ Marshall added.
“He will be the first one to put his hand up this season and say he probably could have played a bit better.
“He's a very important person amongst the group. The players love him.
“I think 100 Games is a milestone. I talked about Fonua (Pole) last week where when you get to 100 games, you can say you're actually a first grader, you know you've been around for that long. It’s hard to get.
“We’re expecting him to play another 100 here.
“The biggest thing that I like about Terrell is that he's not afraid to be himself and express who he is.
“I also love that our players and our club give him that opportunity to be himself and let him be himself. You know, that's very important.
“Leadership is about the way you act and who's following you and when he turns around, he's got a lot of guys following him and wanting to be like him. So that's very important, but we love what he brings to our club.”
Meanwhile, Marshall indicated Luai may play only part of the game against the Panthers to allow five-eighth Latu Fainu some time in his return from a hamstring injury.
Marshall said the team remains upbeat for the Panthers match and that there was plenty to still play for.
“I think the thing we've all being very clear with the last few weeks in particular is that every time you pull the jersey on, there is expectation, no matter what you're playing for, that you do your best,’’ Marshall said.
“I guess this week there's a few guys that are leaving and it's an opportunity for some guys… like you've got a guy making his NRL debut and we want to make sure that our last memory going into the end of this year is a good one.
“We're playing against a Penrith team that I'm pretty sure are keen to win the minor premiership.
“I think that's a good thing. They picked all their players and didn't rest them for us because it keeps us on our toes to make sure we turn up with the right attitude as well.”
