Jack Bird believes Wests Tigers can make 2025 NRL finals
Jack Bird is confident the Wests Tigers can make the 2025 NRL finals, with club’s newest recruit highlighting recent signings as a key move towards change.
Bird believes the addition of premiership stars Jarome Luai and Sunia Turuva from the Penrith Panthers, along with the likes of Terrell May (Roosters), Royce Hunt (Sharks) and Jeral Skelton (Bulldogs), can help the Tigers can turn their fate around in 2025.
“You look at the signings we have made at this club,” he said.
“I see a bright future at this club.
“Our goal is to make the top eight.
“We haven’t been there for a while, it’s going to be tough ask, but we have the team to do it.”
The Tigers have won just 14 games since the end of the 2021 campaign, finishing bottom of the NRL ladder the past three seasons in a row.
But Bird says past results are irrelevant and his focus is on improving the culture at the Wests club.
“I couldn’t give two rats that they’ve won three wooden spoons,” he continued.
“I want to come here turn the culture around and try to make finals again, I think we can do that.
“I think we are going to surprise a lot of people.”
Rugby league bookmakers have the Tigers at $3.25 to make the top eight, and at $41 to win the title.
While top NRL betting sites are not giving them much chance of reaching their finals goal in 2025, Wests have shorter odds for a top-eight finish than the St George Illawarra Dragons ($4.25), Canberra Raiders ($4), Dolphins ($3.50), Newcastle Knights ($3.50) and Gold Coast Titans ($3.50).
The Tigers will begin their season at home against the Knights on Friday, March 7, and are $1.75 favourites to win at Bet365.
