As the 2023 season ends for a number of clubs, we look back on the highs and lows for every club, their best player, the changes they need to make for next season and an early prediction for where they will finish in 2024.
In this instalment, we look at the bitterly disappointing seasons of the bottom two teams; the Wests Tigers and the St George Illawarra Dragons.
Wests Tigers – 4 wins, 20 losses, -290
Ladder: 17th
After finishing 16th in 2022, the Wests Tigers managed to go one worse in 2023, securing their second straight wooden spoon and managing to drop one place in the process. The season was almost over before it began as they went about losing the first six games and only getting their first points courtesy of the bye.
Gaining just one win from their final 13 games, the Tigers’ 2023 season was plagued by another year of off-field drama and on-field performances that failed to live up to the standards of the once proud club.
Highlight
Beating the Penrith Panthers and the 66-18 win over the North Queensland Cowboys
Surprisingly, the Tigers managed to pull off some of the biggest upsets of the season, starting with a stunning victory over the Panthers in Bathurst. On the back of a Luke Brooks masterclass, the Tigers took down a near full-strength Penrith side 12-8 in treacherous conditions.
Just four rounds after the win, the Tigers inflicted more punishment on an ill-disciplined Cowboys side, putting up a club-record 66 points on a memorable night. The win for the Tigers gave the fanbase a glimmer of hope for the season but it quickly vanished when the two sides met later in the season.
Honourable mention: Alex Twal’s first try.
Lowlight
Losing 74-0 to the Cowboys.
Six weeks after humiliating North Queensland, the Tigers had the script flipped on them in an incredible manner. Hungry for revenge, a resurgent Cowboys side, led by former Tiger Luciano Leilua went to town on the joint venture. 13 unanswered tries across the 80 minutes typified the position of the Tigers found themselves in and cast serious doubt over the club’s five-year plan with Tim Sheens and Benji Marshall. It is the worst loss in the NRL era.
Best player
Api Koroisau
Is it a surprise that the NSW Blues incumbent hooker and former Penrith Panther stood out in a team that won the wooden spoon? To Koroisau’s credit, his performances were consistently amongst the elite of the NRL as he constantly dragged his side through some of the toughest stages of the season. Stepping up in the absence of experienced spine members, Api controlled both the Tigers' attack and defence.
Honourable mention: Jahream Bula.
What they need for 2024
Consistency in the spine.
The Tigers’ season saw Tim Sheens change his spine several times throughout the season. Although injuries played their part throughout the year, there is a serious need for some familiar faces in the key positions.
Next season the emergence of the Latu Fainu along with Koroisau and Bula could see the Tigers drastically improve attacking the line. If the aforementioned can form a solid connection with new signing Jayden Sullivan, the Tigers could very well be a team to watch in 2024.
Early 2024 prediction
10th.
The Tigers are once again up against it to return to the finals but 2024 beckons to be a year of improvement. As has been the case for the Tigers in the last couple of years, the start of the season will likely dictate where the club finishes in 2024.
Grade: F
St George Illawarra Dragons - 5 wins, 19 losses, -199
Ladder: 16th
Much like the Wests Tigers, the season was over before it started. The Red V had its season plagued by off-field drama. It started with Anthony Griffin’s future immediately thrown up into the air before eventually ending in an ugly standoff at Dragons HQ. Griffin’s departure was followed by a bombshell request to leave from captain Ben Hunt. The Dragons never got a chance to get off the mark in 2023 and were very lucky not to have finished last.
Highlight
Beating the Roosters in Ryan Carr’s first game.
Match Highlights 🎥 - #NRLDragonsRoosters
— NRL (@NRL) May 19, 2023
A Mathew Feagai try on the very last play of the game saw the Dragons put a tumultuous week behind them and snap a six-game losing streak with a 24-22 victory over the Roosters. pic.twitter.com/BWYhCj6Dy8
After finally putting the Anthony Griffin debacle to rest, the pressure was firmly put on the Dragons to start showing some genuine pride and effort in their performances. Interim coach Ryan Carr was tasked with the job of getting the club its first win in six games and he delivered in the most dramatic circumstances. A sensational solo run from Ben Hunt followed by a perfect kick from Tyrell Sloan saw Matthew Feagai cross over untouched to complete an unbelievable comeback from the Red V.
Lowlight
Griffin and Hunt drama.
It wouldn’t be a Dragons’ season without off-field drama. The club’s decision to make Griffin re-apply for his job was met with immediate criticism with many suggesting the Red V should bite the bullet and relieve him of duties. Griffin’s departure was shortly followed by Ben Hunt’s public request to leave, which was met with the same consensus view by the NRL community. Forcing an unhappy player to stay at the club wasn’t the greatest look but was justified by Hunt’s contractual status.
Best player
Ben Hunt.
Once again, Ben Hunt single-handedly carried the Dragons through another disappointing season. Wearing his heart on his sleeve in every game, Hunt’s effort was never questioned and it’s a scary prospect to think where they would’ve been without his skill and experience. Even after making it known he wanted to leave, Hunt was easily the best player on the field in every game he donned the famous Red V.
What they need for 2024
A clear vision for the future.
The Dragons have been in a strange spot for the last couple of years and it will continue to linger into 2024. Boasting some of the brightest young players in the league whilst holding onto some ageing veterans, St George Illawarra are stuck in a tricky position. Does the club embrace the youth movement and accept that poor results will come with that? Or do they push their development to the side in order to make a run for the finals?
Early 2024 prediction
14th.
Unfortunately, the Red V faithful could be in for another year of pain under new coach Shane Flanagan. As currently constructed the side doesn’t look like a finals contender and will need to make major changes in order to come close to a top eight finish in 2024.
Grade: E