Wests Tigers Set to Revamp Their Spine, Rookie on the Radar for Debut

The Wests Tigers have shown a keen interest in rookie half Javon Andrews, who was spotted training with the first-grade squad on Tuesday.

As the team gears up for their match against the Canberra Raiders this Saturday afternoon, CODE Sports caught a glimpse of Andrews wearing a black training shirt during a team scrimmage.

Andrews has made a name for himself with an outstanding performance in the NSW Cup, where he played for the Western Suburbs Magpies, contributing four try assists, four line-break assists, and executing a line dropout in their 36-30 win over the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs last Saturday.

During the scrimmage, Andrews was seen collaborating with Jarome Luai, discussing formations and strategies.

The Tigers have also experimented with their backline, including new faces like Luai, Jahream Bula, Sunia Turuva, Tino Tavana, and Patrick Herbert, while Jock Madden took on reserve duties.

If Latu Fainu and Adam Doueihi are cleared later on Tuesday, both are likely to feature in the lineup for Saturday's match.

With Jarome Luai set to join Parramatta after this season and then the PNG Chiefs in 2028, there's speculation about the possibility of bringing in the young halves early, potentially pushing the seasoned four-time premiership winner down the ranks.

Although Benji is not anticipated to make such a move, it is certainly a scenario to keep an eye on.

The suspensions of Doueihi and Fainu would probably prevent Luai from being demoted, as the club still holds aspirations for a finals appearance in September.