Kiwi connection helps put bite back into Tigers
When the Warriors run out to face the Wests Tigers tonight there will be no shortage of familiar faces.
While Russell Packer and Tuimoala Lolohea are injured, there are still three former Warriors players in the Tigers’ starting 13 with Ben Matulino, Elijah Taylor and Pita Godinet.
But there are no less than 11 New Zealand-born players in their first grade squad, spearheaded by exKiwis skipper Benji Marshall.
Along with the Warriors, the fifth-placed Tigers have been one of the surprise stories of the season and the strong Kiwi contingent has played a major part in the Sydney club’s resurgence under Ivan Cleary.
Cleary, of course, has strong ties to the Warriors after spending almost a decade combined as a player and coach at Mt Smart.
The 47-year-old was appointed Tigers head coach early last season after Jason Taylor was sacked. While several New Zealanders were already on the books before he arrived, Cleary’s strategy of signing players he shared a history with meant that number was always bound to grow.
‘‘In some ways it was,’’ Cleary told Stuff when asked if he had a deliberate plan to recruit New Zealand players.
‘‘Guys like Russell Packer and Ben Matulino are two good examples. I’ve obviously coached them before and felt they could really add something to our club.
‘‘It’s nice to have people in your team you can trust and have good relationships with. Those guys were both keen to jump on board too, so it’s worked out well.’’
Much has been made of Marshall’s form since rejoining the club where he became a household name.
And after a six-year exile from the national side, Cleary said there was ‘‘no doubt’’ that the 33-year-old playmaker was deserving of a Kiwis recall.
But Marshall has benefited from playing behind a hard-working forward pack, which Matulino has been a cornerstone of, particularly as Packer recovers from a knee injury.
The Tigers arrived in Auckland on the back of two-straight defeats – albeit both by two points – which has led to suggestions across the Tasman that they might be on the wane.
‘‘If we get our game on we can limit anyone in their team, so that’s been our main focus,’’ he said.