The Wests Tigers have officially opened their new centre of excellence at Concord.
The facility, which opened on Monday morning, cost $78 million to build with many believing the hub is the best in all of rugby league.
According to SEN’s Michelle Bishop, the centre was inspired by the MLB and NFL facilities with players able to access a raft of high-performance facilities as well as an in-house barber, barbecue area and juice bar.
“The Wests Tigers are sitting last on the table, but they’re set to walk through their brand-new Centre of Excellence for the first time at Concord today,” Bishop said on SEN 1170 Breakfast.
“It’s a $78 million structure, it’s inspired by a visit to the LA Dodgers and New York Giants.
“As you enter, there’ll be a life-size Benji Marshall poster plastered there for a bit of inspiration.
“But there’s ice baths, heat baths, steam rooms, a sauna, a multi-layered swimming pool with a mosaic Wests Tigers logo, a gym that’s arguably the biggest of all in the NRL now, they’ve got a mini scale league field, a theatre, sleeping room, mental health hub, barbecue area, juice hub and a barber.
“That is a real thing, the Wests Tigers have put three or four people through TAFE to become barbers.
“So absolutely, that’s a thing.”
With the barber perhaps being the most unique aspect of the facility, rugby league great Cameron Smith understands why the modern-day player would be thrilled to have that resource at their fingertips.
“I won’t say it (the barber) is a necessity,” Smith joked on SEN 1170 Breakfast.
“But just watch closely over the weekend and how manicured most of the NRL players are these days.
“They get a fresh haircut each week, every game is live, they need to look good (laughs).”
The complex will also include a second stage which is under construction that’ll house basketball, netball and indoor soccer courts.
Photo: NSW Government.