"I'm calling BS": Why NRL legend forecasts more pain for the Wests Tigers

SEN’s Corey Parker has launched a stunning attack at the Wests Tigers and suggested there has been little to no improvement in 2024.

The Tigers claimed their third consecutive wooden spoon after losing to Parramatta 60-26 in ‘SpoonBowl’ during Round 27.

Despite winning more games in 2024 than their previous two wooden spoon seasons and the emergence of young stars Heath Mason and Lachlan Galvin, Parker believes their defensive issues will see the Tigers remain at the bottom end of the ladder in 2025.

“I read an article the other day about the Wests Tigers and how it said their season was a success,” Parker said on SENQ.

“The article further said that it was a step forward. I understand that there’s young players who showed some greenshoots.

“They just picked up their third straight wooden spoon. You have to find some silver linings but I’m calling BS.

“It was another awful season. They won six games, only two more the year before.

“They are picking up some decent players next year (but) is that going to make the difference moving forward? I don’t think so because they are all attacking players.

“They need some hard edged defenders and experienced, old-school defenders like Cam McInnes or Kobe Hetherington.

“They have just lost their best forward Stefano Utoikamanu to the Melbourne Storm. They are losing Isaiah Papali’i and is John Bateman coming back?

“I hear this story about the Tigers having a good season but let’s call it how it is.

“SpoonBowl was one of the most watched and talked about games between the two worst teams. The Tigers had 60 points put on them against the second worst team in the competition.

“The coach then says after the game that he was happy with the effort. Hello? It was 60 points. Not sure how you can be proud of the effort.”

Tigers fans are optimistic about the 2025 season due to the pending arrival of Penrith and NSW five-eighth Jarome Luai on a lucrative five-year deal worth a reported $1.2 million per season.

Parker was adamant that whilst Luai is an excellent acquisition, he is not the player to address the serious defense failings at the club.

“It’s going to take more than Jarome Luai. It just is,” Parker added.

“Defensively, they have been awful at different times. They give away penalties and they are ill-disciplined.

“Until such time that we start to see improvement, it’s very hard to get on board the Tigers train.”