The 2010 Wests Tigers season was the eleventh in the joint-venture club's history. They competed in the National Rugby League's 2010 Telstra Premiership, finishing the regular season 3rd (out of 16). The Tigers then came within one game of the grand final but were knocked out by eventual premiers, St. George Illawarra.
Season summary The Wests Tigers made headlines in the pre-season with the high-profile signing of former rugby league and rugby union international, Lote Tuqiri. Back-rower Liam Fulton returned from a season in the Super League and former Sydney Roosters prop forward Jason CaylessJason Cayless signs two-year deal with Wests Tigers also joined the club after a four-year stay at St Helens R.F.C. Mark Flanagan joined the club from Super League side Wigan.
Robbie Farah, the team's hooker, retained his role as captain of the side for the second year.
With his first touch of the ball, new recruit Tuqiri scored the club's first try of 2010 in their round one win over the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles at the Sydney Football Stadium. The Tigers had an exciting start to the season, winning the first four of five games to lead the competition with St George Illawarra, Melbourne Storm and the Gold Coast Titans.
Wests eventually finished the regular season in 3rd position; the highest in the club's history. This was also their first finals appearance since winning the 2005 Telstra Premiership five years earlier. They lost to eventual premiers St George Illawarra Dragons on 25 September 2010 by a score of 13-12 to miss out on the grand final.
Head Coach, Tim Sheens, extended his contract with the Wests Tigers to the end of the 2011 season.
Regular season
Date Round Opponent Venue Result Score Tries Goals Attendance Report15 MarchRound 1 Manly-Warringah Sea EaglesSydney Football Stadium, SydneyWin26–22Ayshford, Ellis, Fulton, Lawrence, Tuqiri Marshall (3)18,42121 MarchRound 2 Sydney RoostersSydney Football Stadium, SydneyLoss32–44Marshall (2), Ayshford, Fifita, Schirnack, TuqiriMarshall (4)19,02126 MarchRound 3 Parramatta EelsSydney Football Stadium, SydneyWin23–12Marshall (2), Tuqiri (2), AyshfordMarshall (1) & (FG)21,3184 AprilRound 4 Canberra RaidersBruce Stadium, CanberraWin35–22Fulton (2), Farah, Lawrence, Marshall, Ryan Marshall (5), Farah (FG) 17,11210 AprilRound 5 North Queensland CowboysWillows Sports Complex, TownsvilleWin23–16Lawrence (2), Heighington, TuqiriMarshall (3), Farah (FG)16,27316 AprilRound 6 Canterbury-Bankstown BulldogsSydney Football Stadium, SydneyLoss4–24Tuqiri -19,49124 AprilRound 7 Penrith PanthersPenrith Park, SydneyLoss18–26Flanagan, Heighington, Lawrence Marshall (3)19,2202 MayRound 8 Sydney RoostersSydney Football Stadium, SydneyLoss8–12Heighington Marshall (2)19,90116 MayRound 10 South Sydney RabbitohsSydney Cricket Ground, SydneyLoss10–50Lawrence, Lui Marshall (1)30,68521 MayRound 11 Newcastle KnightsNewcastle International Sports Centre, NewcastleWin23–6Daniela, Ellis, Lawrence, MarshallMarshall (3), (FG)14,45828 MayRound 12 New Zealand WarriorsCampbelltown Stadium, SydneyWin50–6Daniela (3), Tuqiri (2), Farah, Flanagan, Lawrence, RyanMarshall (7) 10,0614 JuneRound 13 Canterbury-Bankstown BulldogsStadium Australia, SydneyWin19–12Dwyer, Farah, Marshall, Marshall (3), Lui (FG)11,83720 JuneRound 15 Canberra RaidersLeichhardt Oval, SydneyWin18–8Ryan (2), FitzhenryMarshall (3) 19,42825 JuneRound 16 St George Illawarra DragonsKogarah Oval, SydneyLoss10–34Lawrence, Tuqiri Marshall (1)16,5742 JulyRound 17 Brisbane BroncosLang Park, BrisbaneWin16–14Brown, Lawrence, Marshall Marshall (2) 30,1279 JulyRound 18 Gold Coast TitansCampbelltown Stadium, SydneyWin15–14Ayshford, Brown Marshall (3) & (FG) 14,05019 JulyRound 19 North Queensland CowboysLeichhardt Oval, SydneyWin26–16Tuqiri (2), Ayshford, Brown, Fulton, Marshall Marshall (1) 11,36425 JulyRound 20 Manly-Warringah Sea EaglesGrahame Park, GosfordLoss20–38Ayshford, Heighington, Lui, Tuqiri Marshall (2)20,05931 JulyRound 21 Cronulla-Sutherland SharksLeichhardt Oval, SydneyWin24–22Fulton (2), Brown, Lawrence, Tuqiri Lawrence (1), Marshall (1) 14,9427 AugustRound 22 South Sydney RabbitohsStadium Australia, SydneyLoss30–34Ayshford, Farah, Galloway, Lawrence, Tuqiri Marshall (5)23,29815 AugustRound 23 Penrith PanthersCampbelltown Stadium, SydneyWin43–18Ellis (2), Fifita (2), Farah, Lawrence, Lui Marshall (7), Farah (FG) 17,20822 AugustRound 24 Parramatta EelsParramatta Stadium, SydneyWin20–18Ryan (2), Fifita, Lawrence Marshall (2) 19,85429 AugustRound 25 Melbourne StormLeichhardt Oval, SydneyWin26–14Marshall (3), Farah, Fifita Marshall (3) 20,1683 SeptemberRound 26 Gold Coast TitansRobina Stadium, Gold CoastLoss18–21Ellis, Heighington, Tuqiri Marshall (3)26,103
Finals Series
Date Round Opponent Venue Result Score Tries Goals Attendance Report11 SeptemberQualifying Final Sydney RoostersSydney Football Stadium, SydneyLoss15–19Ayshford, Ryan, Tuqiri Marshall (1), Farah (FG)33,31517 SeptemberSemi Final Canberra RaidersBruce Stadium, CanberraWin26–24Ellis, Heighington, Lawrence, Tuqiri Marshall (5) 26,47625 SeptemberPreliminary Final St George Illawarra DragonsStadium Australia, SydneyLoss12–13Lui, Tuqiri Marshall (2)71,212
Ladder
Gains and losses 2010 Player Movements Gains LossesPlayerPrevious clubPlayerNew Club Mark Flanagan Wigan Warriors Shannon Gallant North Queensland Cowboys Lote Tuqiri Leicester Tigers Dean Collis Cronulla Sharks Jason Cayless St Helens R.F.C. John Morris Cronulla Sharks Liam Fulton Huddersfield Giants Danny Galea Canberra Raiders Daniel Fitzhenry Hull Kingston Rovers Peni Tagive St George Illawarra Dragons Mitch Brown Cronulla Sharks Corey Payne Canterbury Bulldogs Arana Taumata Melbourne Storm Rhys Hanbury Crusaders Rugby League Junior Moors Penrith Panthers John Skandalis (retired) Geoff Daniela Penrith Panthers
Squad Wests Tigers 2010 Squad Nu Akeripa () Blake Ayshford () Mitch Brown () Jason Cayless () Chris Corby () Josh Davis () Geoff Daniela () Simon Dwyer () Gareth Ellis () Robbie Farah (c) () Andrew Fifita () David Fifita () Daniel Fitzhenry () Mark Flanagan () Liam Fulton () Keith Galloway () Bryce Gibbs () Chris Heighington () Matt Hyland () Sam Latu () Chris Lawrence () Blake Lazarus () Robert Lui () Wade McKinnon (} Benji Marshall () Willie Mataka () Tim Moltzen () Junior Moors () Todd Payten () Rhys Pritchard () Junior Roqica () Beau Ryan () Alan Schirnack () Jason Schirnack () Taniela Tuiaki () Tame Tupou () Lote Tuqiri Aaron Woods () Sean Meaney ()Coaches Tim Sheens Head Coach Royce Simmons Assistant Coach Peter Gentle Assistant Coach Steve Folkes Conditioning and Fitness
Updated: 26 April 2010 Source: Wests Tigers Official Website
References