Tigers happy as underdogs in battle of the big cats

In the battle of the big cats, Wests Tigers say there's no shame in taking on the underdog status as the bottom-placed side welcome the top-of-the-table defending premiers to town.

With seven of Ivan Cleary’s Origin stars rested ahead of the clash, Wests Tigers will still be up against it — having lost eight of their last nine matches — but are happy to embrace the challenge that lies ahead of them.

“I think when you’re sitting at 16th, you're always going to be the underdog," Luke Garner told pan66.com.

"It’s not the worst thing in the world. There’s no pressure on you with other people looking at you to not perform, but we’re confident in our abilities so I think the underdog status isn’t the worst.

“We’re sitting at the bottom of the ladder now so it can only go up from here.”

Penrith are taking no chances on their their Origin stars, resting Nathan Cleary, Isaah Yeo, Liam Martin, Jarome Luai, Brian To'o, Stephen Crichton and Api Koroisau after Game Three on Wednesday night, but Garner said the Tigers are prepared for the premiers ‘next man up’ mantra.

“It does give us a little bit of confidence…we upset them a couple of years ago when they were in the same situation but we know they’re a strong side with plenty of depth,” Garner said.

“You only have to look at how many players they have in Origin and I know their reserve grade team is doing really well.

“So it’ll be next man up for them and I think they’ll fill the shoes well and it’ll be a tough test for us.”

The North Coast junior will also be out to impress his future club after inking a two-year deal with Penrith, where he will reunite with former coach Ivan Cleary.

“It will be interesting playing my new club for next year, it will be exciting to see how I go up against them,” he said.

“I’ll obviously have to earn my spot in that team but Penrith are enjoyable to watch and I’m sure they’ll be enjoyable to play against.

“But it’s just another game, I’m excited now, probably get nervous a couple of days before and then I’ll be ready to go come game day.”