After challenging for a finals spot in 2023, Western Sydney struggled to find the same consistency throughout last season.

Despite that, coach Sailosi Tagicakibau appears confident a new look and noticeably fitter Two Blues outfit has the potential to move right up the ladder this season.

Overview with Sailosi Tagicakibau:

“Last year was a really disappointing season for us,” Sailosi Tagicakibau told Rugby News. 

“We pride ourselves on our standards and we set ourselves some goals that we wanted to achieve last year and we didn’t get there. 

“It’s always a difficult gig out here and we had a few disruptions, but we just weren’t good enough. 

“We started the season well but we just tapered off too much towards the end. 

“But we’ve identified a few reasons behind why that occurred and we’ve identified some key areas that we’re looking to improve this year. 

“We’ve continued to invest in our rugby program to make sure that we have the people behind the scenes to get the club to where it needs to be. 

“If you’ve got a good program, players will want to join you and the results will follow. 

“We’ve welcomed a fantastic new coach in Travis Church. He coached the Waikato FPC women’s team and has coached professionally over in Europe. He also played in the Shute Shield back in the day, so he knows what this competition is all about. 

“We’ve also added a new S&C coach in Emily Wilson who is making a big impact. She has worked with GWS in the AFL and spent plenty of time around the Shute Shield. 

“She’s a fresh voice with very high standards and the boys have reacted really well to her involvement over the summer.”

2024: 8th (7 wins, 11 losses)

Ins: Darius Mafileo (Kiama) Metui Niu Fuka (Randwick), Harry Valevatu (Randwick), Andre Ahovelo (Randwick), Satisi Likiafu (Eastwood), Wes Alofi (Eastwood), Ryan Connolly (Eastwood), Johnny Connolly (Eastwood) Zak Hickey (Eastwood), Josh Hickey (Eastwood), Peter Tagaloa (Easts), Bosco Tagaloa (Easts), Tim Lilomaiava (Campbelltown), Lepani Tuirua (Perth),  Meli Sifa (Perth/France), Mio Fuimaono (Perth), Tom Kwok (Blue Mountains), Leo Carella (France), Donald Brighouse (Moana Pasifika), Christian Sanele (Melbourne), Fionn Clifford (Melbourne), Josh Potdevin (Melbourne), Nic Snyman (New Zealand), Cruise Dunster (New Zealand), Simione Ofa (New Zealand), Tyrone Mahutariki-Fakalelu (New Zealand),  Liam Udy-Johns (New Zealand), Latrell Ah-Kiong Smiler (New Zealand), Cody Nordstrom (New Zealand), Cam Scott (England).

Outs: Otu Mausia (Gordon), Tali Lea (Warringah), David Meki (New Zealand), Marcel Faaofo (Spain), Nik Vikena, Taqele Naiyaravoro (France), Danny Silivelio (New Zealand), Johnny Kawau (Italy – returns in May), Heremoni Nepo (France – returns in April), Likau Alatini (Netherlands), Ethan Staddon (Bath, England), Jesse Leota (France), Kurt Heatherley (England), Hunter Cowan (Ireland), Amulone Ika (MLR), Dan Faleafa (retired), Filipo Sefo (New Zealand).

What sort of rugby will we see from Western Sydney this year? 

“We’re really working hard around our set-piece and that’s probably a key area that we want to use as a weapon this year. 

“We’ve got plenty of physical boys around and now we’ve got a coach with the expertise to help us turn our scrum into a key part of our game. 

“In the halves, we’ve got good game drivers in the Suesue brothers who allow us to play a physical style with plenty of flair, then we’ve got Christian Papa at the back, who was the top try scorer last season.

“So we want to develop the way we’ve played in recent years but we need to make sure that our set-piece is solid so we can unleash our talent around the park. 

Player(s) to watch:

“Darius Mafileo is in his second year in Australia and was supposed to play with us last season but decided to spend a year playing with his family down at Kiama. 

“He’s been training hard and is a big boy with plenty of explosive power. He’s also been working closely with Travis on his set piece work. 

“I’m excited to see what he’ll do back in a top-tier competition. He played ITM Cup with Manawatu so he’s one to keep an eye on.”

Which two teams will play in this year’s grand final?

“The Rats had a really strong season last year and ended up getting knocked out by the eventual champions,” Tagicakibau, a former Warringah centre said. 

“They’ll improve again this year. They’ve kept the core of their group, they’ve got the same coaches and from what I’ve heard, they’ve recruited really well again. 

“So hopefully, it’s us and them in the final. We want to be there and I think that’d be a pretty exciting grand final to watch.”