Wests Tigers recruits Terrell May and Sunia Turuva say coach Benji Marshall’s family first mindset was a key factor in luring them to the club.
While May is yet to start training with his new teammates, the prop was on hand for his first 'official' day on Saturday for a , and will join the squad on the field in the new year.
“Benji just told me he's going to put his family first like I do. Family first to me and then footy,” May said.
“It's amazing to hear a coach say that, it’s refreshing. I've never heard a coach say that before.
“I'm keen to play under Benji and I'm going to do everything I can for this club and for Benji to repay them.
“I was here before when I was younger and I'm glad to be back and it felt normal for me.
“I like the colours. I like the people. It kind of feels like home.”
May did not want to speak about his departure from the Roosters saying ‘I’m a Tiger now’, but did share how his signing with the club was also a chance to reunite with Marshall, who had taken him under his wing as a young player.
“Benji is amazing,” May said. “I had him when I was first here, so he was kind of my (leader) when I first came and... he looked after me as a younger guy.
“I want to pay him back because he's the reason I came here... ”
Marshall has assembled an impressive array of new faces, headlined by four-time premiership winner Jarome Luai, with May and Turuva also joined by Royce Hunt (Sharks), Jack Bird (Dragons) and Jeral Skelton (Bulldogs).
For Turuva, family connections also means linking up with his cousin Api Koroisau, a fellow Fiji international and former Panther, with the duo set to play together in club football regularly for the first time.
“Oh, he was real influential,” Turuva said of the Wests Tigers captain's input into his decision to sign with the club.
“Once he found out I was in talks with them, we’d message every day and then that just continued through, even when I signed.
“He was just letting me know that the club’s heading in the right direction here and that started well when Romey signed.
“We have got something building here pretty special, so I'm keen to see it.
“The year (Koroisau) left (Penrith), I jumped in, so it'll be pretty cool (to get to play with him).
“I know (he is) suspended Round 1, but it's just cool. Our families are so excited, every time we go over to family functions, birthdays and that, everyone just talks about how keen they are to see me and Api run out together, so I'm pretty excited for what's ahead.”
May – who has played with Luai for Samoa - was confident he could achieve his goal of ‘winning a ring’ with his new club and was also hoping to join his new clubmate in a Sky Blue jersey.
“I just want to win a ring, that's my main goal and then I'll let the accolades after that come,” May said.
“It'll be amazing just to represent New South Wales in general, it doesn't matter what colours I'm in.
“But it would be a dream come true if I could represent the Blues (but), I'll let that come along later.
“If Origin comes, it comes, if it doesn't, it doesn't.
“I just want to win in the West Tigers gear and win that ring.”
Turuva also shared that belief that the three-time wooden spooners from the past three years had what it takes to mount spectacular turn around.
Turuva: Api was a big drawcard
“I think every team should be heading into a season with wanting to win a ring, so I think that that's what we're aiming for here,” Turuva said.
"I've touched on it with Romey, even this year, the 2024 season, I know they still won the spoon, but the games that they played, they were in each game, there was no blow out.
“For myself and Romey and Terrell coming over, Jeral ... we couldn't care less what's happened in their past, for us, we just want to be winners."
Match: Wests Tigers v Knights
Round 1 -
home Team
Wests Tigers
away Team
Knights
Venue: Campbelltown Sports Stadium, Sydney
Match broadcasters:
- WatchNRL
