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.
2. Charlie Staines
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.
