It has been a tough season for the Wests Tigers, on and off the field. It started with questions about the coaching ability of Benji Marshall, before it all blew up when not one, but two young stars were released.
And yet, here we are now, four rounds to go, and Wests Tigers could mathematically sneak into the finals if they win their remaining four matches and other results go their way.
If that’s not resilience, I don’t know what is, because if they had none, they would finish the season with one flogging after another.
Right in the middle of this remarkable display of mental strength has been co-captain Api Koroisau.
He’s been leading by example by not just playing the full 80 minutes, but putting in inspirational performances time after time.
So when the South West Voice had an opportunity to interview the polite, mild mannered Wests Tigers hooker, that was one of the questions we put to him: where’s all that energy come from for a man who’s not exactly getting younger. [He will turn 33 on November 7]
“Well, that’s the thing, I make sure I am still like the kid that fell in love with the game, full of energy; that’s my brand of footy and I try to stick to that every time,’’ says Api.
And where has the team’s resilience come from?
“I think that there’s a real closeness the boys have, a real connection we’ve been building with one another, and that really gets you through some of the hard times,’’ is Api’s response.
“Some of the boys we have here are incredible, and they all love the jersey, and love playing for the jersey.’’
We ask him if the boys and Benji have recently raised the remote chance of making the finals this season.
“We haven’t really spoken about it, but everyone really wants to finish the year strong,’’ he says.
“We know what we can do, and what we’ve been building, and if things fall our way…’’
In Round 24 of the NRL, Api and the boys will be running onto Allianz Stadium this Sunday to face the Manly Sea Eagles [Kick off is at 2pm].
In the final three rounds Tigers will play the Cowboys, Raiders and Titans.
ROUND 24 TEAM LIST:
1. Jahream Bula, 2. Sunia Turuva, 3. Taylan May, 4. Starford To’a, 5. Jeral Skelton, 6. Jarome Luai (c), 7. Adam Doueihi, 8. Terrell May, 9. Api Koroisau (c), 10. Fonua Pole, 11. Samuela Fainu, 12. Sione Fainu, 13. Alex Twal. INTERCHANGE: 14. Latu Fainu, 15. Royce Hunt, 16. Charlie Murray, 17. Tony Sukkar, 18. Heath Mason.