Under new coach Brett Kimmorley, the Tigers struggled to secure consecutive wins during the season. A first round loss to the Titans was followed up by a 24-point win over the Dragons. Two straight wins in Rounds 4 and 5 were followed by two straight losses.
By the halfway point of the season they had 6 wins and 6 losses. A three game losing streak starting in Round 17 had them in danger of missing the top eight completely but a strong finish to the season saw them not only make the eight but leapfrog the Roosters into 5th position.
The Tigers were one of the form teams heading into the post-season, winning three of their last four and drawing with a surging Warriors outfit. They defeated Canberra in the elimination final, a team who had defeated them twice in the regular season, but were knocked out a week later by Manly.
After being down by 16 points early, they fought back to lead by two at half time but couldn’t hold onto the lead. Manly scored 12 unanswered points to regain the lead and held it until full time, ending the Tigers season.
Standout Players
Te Maire Martin continually showed why he is so highly rated in 2015. The Penrith bound half lead the league in try assists (31) and line break assists (33). Prop JJ Felise was a constant metre eater for the Tigers, running for 2,959 of them at an average of 156 per game. Jacob Liddle proved to be one of the most dangerous number nines in the competition, leading the competition in dummy half runs with 158 and was the Tigers’ top tackler with 755.
Top Pointscorer
Co-captain Matthew Woods was again the Tigers’ leading pointscorer in 2015. The back rower missed the opening four rounds but still amassed two tries and 54 goals for 116 points, kicking at 75% accuracy.
Top Tryscorer
Obed Karwhin was a try scoring machine in his rookie season. The Ivory Coast-born winger scored a hat trick on debut in Round 4 and had another three weeks later. A constant threat out wide, Karwhin ended the year with 22 tries from 17 games.
Best Win
Round 16 – defeated Penrith 10-6 at Leichhardt Oval
In one of the lowest scoring NYC games in history, the Tigers gave Penrith their first loss since Round 4 and snapped their nine game winning streak. After taking a 10-0 lead, the Tigers dug deep in the second half to hang on to defeat the eventual minor premiers in an error filled game.
Graduates
Manaia Cherrington (2013-2014 – 45 games, 17 tries, 68 points)
A two-time Junior Kiwi, Cherrington captained the side in 2014. The highly-rated dummy half made his NRL debut in Round 13 and played 11 games in 2015, scoring one try.
Delouise Hoeter (2013-2014 – 38 games, 15 tries, 60 points)
Tongan-born graduate of the Keebra Park system, Hoeter played seven NRL games in 2015 after finishing Is NYC career in 2014. A Marist Saints junior.
Leva Li (2013 – 24 games, 7 tries, 28 points)
After a season with the Tigers NYC side in 2013, Li joined the Eels for 2014. He made his NRL debut for the Titans in Round 23.
Lamar Liolevave (2014-2015 – 29 games, 11 tries, 44 points)
Another Keebra Park graduate, Liolevave represented the Junior Kiwis for the second time in 2015. He only played three NYC games this year, spending the majority of the season in the NSW Cup and making his NRL debut in Round 4.
Kyle Lovett (2011-2013 – 59 games, 9 tries, 36 points)
A member of the Tigers NYC premiership winning side in 2012, Lovett played 21 games in his debut NRL season, scoring one try. A local Leichhardt junior, Lovett represented NSW under-20s in 2013.
Nathan Milone (2013-2014 – 31 games, 10 tries, 40 points)
A former captain of the Tigers’ NYC side, Milone made his NRL debut against the Titans in Round 13, playing three first grade games in 2015.
Player to Watch in 2016
18-year old Ray Stone looked right at home in the Holden Cup in 2015, playing eight games and scoring two tries. A NSW under-16 and under-18 representative, Stone is hard hitting back rower who plays each game like it’s his last. An Australian Schoolboy in 2014, he was selected again 2015 but withdrew to take part in the finals series for the Tigers.
Representative Honours
Watson Heleta – Junior Kiwis (1 try, 4 points)
Jacob Liddle – New South Wales under-20s
Lamar Liolevave – Junior Kiwis
Matthew Lodge – Junior Kangaroos (captained the side)
Te Maire Martin – Junior Kiwis (1 try, 4 points)
Marion Seve – Queensland under-20s
Ray Stone – New South Wales under-18s
18TH MAN 