As their golden era retreats further into the past, Wests Tigers are on the hunt for a new future

The struggles of the Tigers in recent years have made plenty of their fans feel old before their time – back-to-back wooden spoons and the longest finals drought in the league can do that. A free-running hooker who is among the best of a fine crop of Tigers juniors coming through the grades, da Silva became one of the youngest players in club history when he made his NRL debut midway through last season just a couple months past his 18th birthday. Photo shows West Tigers assistant coach Benji Marshall looks on ahead of the NRL trial match between New Zealand Warriors and Wests Tigers at Mt Smart Stadium on February 09, 2023 in Auckland, New Zealand. Earlier this year, Benji Marshall was bouncing around Wests Tigers like he could still play. There is a lot to prove, many hearts to win and a generation of fans who are desperate for a new legend to believe in, and Marshall's Tigers are fixing to give it to them.