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Lote: Tigers can win title

Lote: Tigers can win title

09/07/2010 05:13:52 AM

He was part of a star-studded Brisbane side which won a premiership a decade ago and Lote Tuqiri believes the Wests Tigers possess many of those same qualities which could propel the club to this year's NRL title.

The Tigers are finally back in September action for the first time since their premiership success in 2005 and are confident they can make a genuine challenge for the title over the next month.

With seven players from that '05 title winning side still on their roster the Tigers have a squad more experienced than most in the top eight of what to expect and needs to be done to be successful in finals footy.

Tuqiri is another to have been victorious on grand final day as part of a dominant Broncos squad which featured the likes of Darren Lockyer, Gordon Tallis, Wendall Sailor, Shane Webcke and Tonie Carroll.

The Brisbane class of 2000 were an awesome proposition, winning the minor premiership by a massive six points before going on to win the decider against the Sydney Roosters.

Asked if his current side had similar traits to that all-conquering Broncos outfit, Tuqiri said: "Yeah definitely. We've got to take it week by week which is a bit of a cliche but I believe there's a lot of traits here that show we can go all the way."

"There's a good mix between the young and old and as a squad we're quite strong. We've had a few injuries and the guys that have come in have stepped up and field the void."

"I'm feeling positive about this team and where we're headed and that's a good thing."

"When I came here to play I came to be successful....I always thought the Tigers were going to do that and we proved we can go a long way."

"I did see a lot of potential in this team, the guys have showed that this year and it's up to us now to move on and go further in this competition."

While most opposition teams will try and shutdown the likes of playmaker Benji Marshall and skipper Robbie Farah to quell the Tigers threat, Tuqiri said the know-how and wealth of premiership knowledge in coach Time Sheens gives the club an edge.

"Just with his experience and how many premierships he's won, he knows what to do at this time of the year," the dual international said.

"We had a good meeting with whole squad and coaching staff yesterday going over what to do and what not to do over this week...if anyone will know he'd (Sheens) be the one."

"Plus the players here as well (that were part of 2005), they talk a fair bit about what we should do and it's good for the younger guys coming through."

Before the Tigers can start thinking about being victorious on grand final day they will need to get past a Roosters side that has beaten them on both occasions they have met this season.

"It's going to be tough but you look at the whole (top eight) and there's not a bad team in there," Tigers five-eighth Benji Marshall said about the Roosters challenge.

"We're going to have to match them in the forwards because when they get good go-forward there halves play of the back of it.

"The less time we give the likes of Todd Carney and Mitchell Pearce with

 
Photograph Copyright : Getty Images
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