“I want to be on that winning team because this club hasn’t had much success.”
The Wests Tigers are hoping to improve their lot in 2025 and get out of the lowest tier after three straight wooden spoons.
A significant portion of their future success will rely on their domestic talent, like Luke Laulilii, even though they have made significant transfer efforts to acquire players like Terrell May, Jarome Luai, and Sunia Turuva.
Laulilii is one of the youngest players on the Tigers roster and has gradually advanced through the club’s pathways system, becoming an Australian Schoolboy and a member of the renowned Western Suburbs Magpies team that won the Harold Matthews Cup title in 2022.
The 18-year-old, who made his debut against the Raiders in Round 16 and went on to play four more first-grade games, had flashes of genius during the previous season but also demonstrated that he still has a lot of work to do and is far from reaching his full potential.
Since Jahream Bula locked up the No. 1 shirt and Heath Mason was employed as his understudy, the Westfields Sports High School graduate, who was primarily a fullback rising through the ranks, has gradually moved into playing on the wing.
Lauliliil, who averaged 104 running metres and scored two tries in five games, may struggle to establish himself as a winger in 2025 but is eager to pick up tips from newcomers Jeral Skelton and Sunia Turuva.
“Obviously, I’m still getting used to this role and have some screws that require tightening. “I want to be on that winning team because this club hasn’t had much success,” Laulilii said to Zero Tackle.
“I’m quite interested in them, and I’m looking forward to learning from Turuva in that wing position.They’re professional wingers, and since I’m still learning, I’d like to pick their brains as well and absorb their knowledge.”
He acknowledged that, although being up in Campbelltown, he was a Brisbane Broncos supporter as a child after seeing them play against the North Queensland Cowboys in the 2015 Grand Final and idolising Kalyn Ponga.
Alongside his older brother Kit Laulilii, he is a junior at Liverpool Catholic Club and has a two-year contract with the team. He is renowned for his fantastic kick returns from the back of the pitch and is destined for great things because of his amazing attacking talent.
“I adore this place. Growing up, I wasn’t a Tigers fan. I absolutely adore this club, but I chose the Broncos,” Laulilii continued.
Playing alongside my brother meant a lot, and it was particularly memorable to watch my mother cry the one time we played together and I made my debut.
“Seeing the Magpies boys’ faces is a little unpleasant. Jokes, no. I adore each and every one of them, and I’m very close to several of them.
