The Wests Tigers managed to land an impressive signing spree in 2023 and brought a host of talent to Concord in an overhaul well overdue for the club.
Despite the Tigers struggling to lure talent for some time now, multiple big name signatures all landing in the same year was a massive positive for the struggling club.
However, the recruits have not been enough to turnaround a struggling outfit that would start the season with zero wins in their first seven games, before managing an incredible upset against defending premiers the Penrith Panthers in round 9.
The Tigers newcomers have seen mixed performances among the group so far in the season, and I will be ranking each of their impacts at the merger club below.
Grade: A
The Wests Tigers' skipper has by far had the most impact at the club of any player. The three-time premiership winner has certainly brought his wealth of experience to the club, and it is slowly but surely paying dividends.
Weirdly enough, the problem for Api at the Tigers seems to be rather than the 30-year-old playing poorly, he is still making his signature eyes up plays but now has no support to back him up. At the Panthers Dylan Edwards was constantly running to back up Api's dummy-half running game but currently at the Tigers that seems to be non-existent.
However, Koroisau is still making his mark in every game, still comparing to his stats from his 2022 premiership-winning season. Averaging a career-high 65 metres from hooker, the only stat where the captain is falling behind previous years is his assists, something hard for him to make a dent on without significant help from his team.
Also taking on more short-range kicking duties than previous years at Penrith, Koroisau has certainly added another string to the Tigers' bow presenting more opportunities for points.
It is hard to argue that he has been the best recruit at the club, but simply needs more help from his side.
Grade: C
The late arrival making his debut in round 3, John Bateman has been another positive inclusion for the club, though his efforts can sometimes go unnoticed it seems.
Signing the Englishmen hoping for a repeat of his exciting form at the Raiders in 2019-20, the Tigers have instead signed a consistent 80-minute back-rower.
While he has shown glimpses of his trademark anything-goes playstyle they have been rare with the 29-year-old often just happy to sit in the defensive line, make his tackles and run for consistent metres. While this is something the Tigers needed it is probably not what Tigers fans expected from Bateman.
However, averaging 101 metres in 2020 at the Raiders in what was still an impressive year, he currently sits at 96 at the Tigers. This shows he is more than likely playing in a very similar fashion scouting his opportunities, but has simply not had as many opportunities as he did at Canberra.
The effort from Bateman cannot be faulted though which is itself a positive in a struggling side. Often running out of the line attempting to make a big hit and rallying the troops, Bateman has still certainly been a worthwhile signing for the club.
It seems to be another case of a sleeping giant with Bateman. Starved of opportunity in 2023 the back-rower still continues to prove he deserves his 80-minutes a week.
Grade: B
The 2021 Dally M second rower of the year Isaiah Papali'i has been another recruit at the Tigers plagued by limited opportunity. While he is still putting up great and consistent numbers each week fans have come to expect more from his time at Parramatta.
While he is still averaging an impressive 127 metres, this is well behind his previous 140 in 2022 and 150 in 2021. However I feel much of this is due to not what he is doing with the ball but the type of ball he is getting.
Papali'i has not had his role within a team change at all, even in his Dally M year that was mostly due to consistent hard running. He is still doing the same thing at Tigers, though the difference through no fault of his own is the halves.
Having previously run off the classy combination of Mitchell Moses and Dylan Brown, currently finding himself with the likes of Brooks and Wakeham is objectively a downgrade for the New Zealand international.
However, as stated while he is not putting up the same flashy plays or scoring the amount of tries we are used to he is still putting up great numbers both with the ball and defending it, he just needs more direction from his halves.
From the outside looking in, it seems Papali'i has been forced to become simply a metre-eating workhorse at the Tigers rather than his usual linebreaking, tackle busting self.
Grade: B-
The former Knights enforcer David Klemmer has certainly made an impact on the previously stagnant Tigers front row in 2023. Forming a good one-two punch for the side up the middle Klemmer has certainly cemented his spot in prop alongside Stephano Utoikamanu.
Averaging a strong 160 metres in his 40-65 minute stints, and already totaling 485 running metres he has provided some much needed go-forward for the Concord based club.
However, a key factor showcasing Klemmer's impact is his defence, as the prop has missed just one tackle in his opening eight games for the club.
If we are to judge him on his role of mentoring the young forwards at the club he seems to be having a strong impact on young gun Utoikamnu in recent weeks who is stepping up to his potential more and more each week.
While not a superstar signing and unlikely to break a game open it is safe to say he has done exactly what he was brought over to do, so far in 2023.
Grade: C+
Another premiership-winning recruit from the Panthers, Charlie Staines has been pinballed around the Tigers roster from winger to fullback on multiple occasions, unable to find a permanent spot in the squad.
Staines has been strong in his performances for the Tigers to open the year but was unfortunately a part of their fullback merry-go-round between himself, Adam Doueihi, Daine Laurie and Jahream Bula.
Wherever Staines has featured however, he has been strong for the merger club. He has averaged more than 150 metres, scored two tries and set up another, all for a team who struggles to score at all even in good opportunity.
He has shown his ability to score in the corner as well as positive signs at fullback with a very strong performance against the Eels, which was sadly soured by a crucial knock-on late in the contest.
However, he did consistently force David Nofoaluma out of the side, which is no easy feat until Staines suffered a bowel perforation in round 8 forcing him out of the side for 8-12 weeks.
A solid winger and a good fill-in at the number one, I would say Staines has positively surprised me in 2023, with his impact to the Tigers.
Grade: C
A controversial signing to many Tigers fans given he effectively replaced Jock Madden, who left for the Broncos. Wakeham has been faced a trial by fire in 2023 forced into a Luke Brooks halves pairing, following a knee injury to Adam Doueihi ruling him out for the season.
Wakeham has currently appeared in five matches for the Tigers, scoring a try and managing two try assists. Already matching Luke Brooks on tries and assists in three less games is a solid effort for the thought-to-be reserve grade half.
The side has looked more controlled with him at in the six jersey. Though he is still second string to Luke Brooks, Wakeham still puts his hand up to help with kicking duties averaging 161 metres and having forced 3 line drop-outs.
By no means is the 24-year-old a superstar at the club, but he was not signed to be. Wakeham has done a respectable job in the first grade squad and deserves his spot in the squad.
Given more time we will likely see a more even partnership between Wakeham and Brooks which should only see the 30-gamer continue to grow into a solid NRL half.