Not much has gone right for Wests Tigers since round nine of the NRL premiership.
After a wonderful start to the season, the wheels slowly fell off Benji Marshall’s team.
Suspensions and injuries to key players, combined with the unsettling news of Jarome Luai’s PNG announcement, led to several big defeats, sprinkled with the odd win.
However, one of the really positive things to happen at the Wests Tigers was the debut of a young hooker, Jared Haywood, in the 32-6 loss to the Warriors at Campbelltown last Friday night.
“Jared who? That was the reaction from most club fans when he ran on to the field.
But this exciting young rake did enough in his 59 minutes on the field to convince coach Benji Marshall to name him in his starting lineup for the game against the Bulldogs this Saturday night at Accor Stadium at Homebush.
So, who is this 19-year-old who made his debut in front of his own “Haywood Army?
Born in Penrith, Haywood attended renowned rugby league school Patrician Brothers Blacktown, where his rugby league skills saw him make the 2024 Australian Schoolboys U18 team.
After rising through the Balmain Tigers pathways system, Haywood spent pre-season training with the Wests Tigers NRL squad, where he got the chance to learn from premiership winning hooker, Api Koroisau.
Three games into the Knock on Effect NSW Cup season, Haywood made his senior debut for Western Suburbs Magpies against South Sydney.
Just seven games later and some seriously impressive form, Benji Marshall handed Haywood his NRL debut.
Haywood more than delivered against the menacing Warriors pack, showing lots of creativity and flair in attack, getting the Wests Tigers forwards on the front foot with some slick passing.
Defensively, he made 33 tackles, a good effort considering experienced, hardened forwards love targeting smaller frames in the middle.
What really stood out was his confidence in every involvement he had in the game.
Despite being on the wrong end of the scoreline, Haywood could hold his head up high.
After shaking hands and getting some slaps on the back, Haywood made a beeline for family and friends at the southern end of Campbelltown Stadium.
Dressed in their custom-made Jared Haywood black t-shirts, the “Haywood Army’’ owned that end of the ground, with the young man posing for selfies in between signing shirts or anything else that resembled Wests Tigers gear.
Now, he’s in the starting line, against another fearsome pack, the Bulldogs, who are also just as desperate for premiership points as the Tigers.
This could be the real test for the young rake, who is no longer as anonymous as he was prior to the Warriors game.
WESTS TIGERS LINEUP V BULLDOGS, 7.30PM KICK OFF:
1. Jahream Bula
2. Sunia Turuva
3. Heamasi Makasini
4. Starford To’a
5. Jeral Skelton
6. Jarome Luai
7. Adam Doueihi
8. Terrell May
9. Jared Haywood
10. Fonua Pole
11. Samuela Fainu
12. Sione Fainu
13. Alex Twal
INTERCHANGE:
14. Latu Fainu
15. Ethan Roberts
16. Alex Seyfarth
17. Josese Lanyon
18. Tino Tavana
19. Kit Laulilli
