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Wests Tigers Podcast

Wests Tigers Podcast

By: Joel Helmes
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About this listen

 The Wests Tigers Podcast is a long-running, fan-run podcast and community that provides weekly coverage of the Wests Tigers, the NRL team. Established in 2018, the podcast, along with its associated forum, offers in-depth discussions on game analysis, team news, roster changes, and the club's future, aiming to connect fans and foster a harmonious environment for the Wests Tigers fanbase.

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/wests-tigers-podcast--6660380/support.Copyright Joel Helmes Politics & Government Rugby
Episodes
  • Three Big Areas Wests Tigers Need To Improve in 2026

    Three Big Areas Wests Tigers Need To Improve in 2026
    Nov 23 2025
    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.

    Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/wests-tigers-podcast--6660380/support.
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    53 mins
  • Is Jack Attard a Bula Insurance Policy?

    Is Jack Attard a Bula Insurance Policy?
    Nov 4 2025
    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!

    Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/wests-tigers-podcast--6660380/support.
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    52 mins
  • Welcome To Wests Tigers Bunty Afoa!

    Welcome To Wests Tigers Bunty Afoa!
    Oct 12 2025
    The Wests Tigers have signed New Zealand Warriors cult player, Bunty Afoa. Always a strong performer when playing against our club, Afoa is coming across the ditch on a one-year deal with Wests Tigers for season 2026.

    But what does the signing of the 29-year-old front-rower mean for the 2026 prop rotation, and in particular, for existing impact prop, Royce Hunt? Joel Helmes is joined by Nick Hayes and Declan McCutcheon on this edition of the Wests Tigers Podcast to discuss the signing of Afoa and make some predictions around the impacts in 2026 on Hunt, Pole, Sione Fainu, and Twal.

    Another "off the back fence" type prop has also been linked to the Wests Tigers in recent times, Nathan Brown. Brown, who debuted with the Wests Tigers way back in 2013, could be heading back to the club as a swap for Jack Bird. Is this a good move? Does the Afoa signing put an end to this deal? And what do we expect from Jack Bird next year if he remains with the club?

    Also on the agenda of this off-season edition of the podcast is the announcement that Terrell May has won the 2025 Kelly-Barnes Award. The boys discuss the reasons why May was the standout for the award, but a few other potential winners also get a mention. There's also a look at what we might get from the 2025 Rookie of the Year, Tony Sukkar, in 2026.

    Lastly, the Wests Tigers bus has made a stop and let a few guys off. Staines, Feledy, Matamua, etc, didn't come as a great surprise. However, there was one name on the departing players list that we might not have seen coming: Brent Naden. We take a look at the reasons why Brent was put through the shredder and what that might mean for our backline next year.

    As the weather starts to heat up and the countdown to the start of pre-season training commences, we hope you enjoy this edition of the Wests Tigers Podcast. And don't forget that you are always welcome to join the conversation and engage with other Wests Tigers fans on the Wests Tigers Podcast Forum!

    Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/wests-tigers-podcast--6660380/support.
    Show More Show Less
    55 mins
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