The Wests Tigers have revealed their expanded NSW Cup roster, which includes a number of players signed from competing NRL teams.
The Western Suburbs Magpies, the NSW Cup team, is led by Greek international center Nick Mougios. Other players on the team include future NRL playmaker Iverson Matai, utility back Samuel Loizou, a former Parramatta Eels player, and prop Nick Lui-Toso, who joins from the St George Illawarra Dragons.
He was a member of the South Sydney Rabbitohs junior program before being called up to the NSW Cup squad in 2021 and 2022.
Capable of playing a variety of positions, including centers, fullback, wing, and halves, he is remembered for scoring a memorable full-length field try for Greece at the Rugby League World Cup. In 2019, Mougios led the Rabbitohs to victory in the Jersey Flegg Cup Grand Final.
At just 25 years old, if he can have a strong season in reserve grade and possibly land a contract with the first-grade squad the following season, his entrance could make him the solution to the Wests Tigers center woes.
Wests Tigers train-and-triallists Cayne Nicholas, Declan Casey, Joshua Finau, Reuben Porter, and Sione Vaihu are also on the roster. But the Western Suburbs Magpies lost more than 20 players from their squad from the previous campaign.
2024 GAINS:
HARRADYN WILSON (MANLY SEA EAGLES), DECLAN CASEY (CANTERBURY BULLDOGS), JOHNY LEE GABRAEL (CRONULLA SHARKS), JOSHUA FINAU (CRONULLA SHARKS), NICK MOUGIOS (SOUTH SYDNEY RABBITOHS), NICK LUI-TOSO (ST GEORGE ILLAWARRA DRAGONS), NOAH RYAN (CANBERRA RAIDERS), PETELO KEPAOA (SYDNEY ROOSTERS), REUBEN PORTER (NORTH SYDNEY BEARS), RYAN GARNER (BLACKTOWN WORKERS SEA EAGLES), STEVEN TAUPAU SAKO (BLACKTOWN WORKERS SEA EAGLES), TYLER COLLEY (SYDNEY ROOSTERS), TUARAE RAWHITI (NORMANBY).
Losses for 2024
Will Saunders, Dean Blore, Jordan Hill, Kade Hill, Liam Harris (York Knights), Semisi Kioa, Sione Hopoate, Israel Ogden (North Sydney Bears), Tony Pellow (Entrance Tigers), Will Smith (Western Suburbs), Rob Miller, Lachlan Poko, Manaia Cherrington (Ipswich Jets), Aden Perry, Aitasi James (Manly Sea Eagles), Apisalome Saukuru, Bruce Ward (Blacktown Workers Sea Eagles), Christian Ma’anaima (North Sydney Bears), Cooper Talau, Jack Boyling (North Sydney Bears), James Roumanos (Toulouse Olympique), Lachlan Poko, Manaia Cherrington (Ipswich Jets),
2024 SQUAD
Bailey Hodges, Cayne Nicholas, Declan Casey, Finnley Neilsen, Gordon Whippy, Harradyn Wilson, Herman Tofaeono, Iverson Matai, James Valevatu, Jay Kirk, Jimmy Ngutlik, John Tuivaiti, Johny Lee Gabrael, Joshua Finau, Nick Lui-Toso, Nick Mougios, Noah Ryan, Petelo Kepaoa, Reuben Porter, Ryan Garner, Samuel McGregor, Samuel Loizou, Sione Vaihu, Steven Taupau Sako, Tuarae Rawhiti, Tyler Colley, Vaka Aho.
Most Likely NSW Cup Round 1 Team:
1. Casey Declan
2. Josh Feledy 3. Nick Mougios 4. Alex Lobb
5. Loizou Samuel
6. Latu Fainu
7. Samuela Fainu 8. Jordan Miller 9. Jake Simpkin 10. Iverson Matai
11. Lachlan Galvin 12. Brandon Tumeth
13. Sione Fainu
15. Reuben Porter 14. Gordon Whippy
16. Chris Faagutu 17. Nick Lui-Toso
