Wests Tigers win Grand Final in 2011

Wests Tigers captain Robbie Farah says his side is ready to make amends for last year’s heartbreaking exit from the finals, without adding any new players to their roster.

The Tigers have kept the faith with the squad that missed a grand final berth when St George Illawarra pipped them with a field goal.

Farah and coach Tim Sheens insist the return of injured utility Tim Moltzen and a fully fit Wade McKinnon will provide the Tigers with two high quality additions.

“It’s a positive,” Farah said. “You tell me who a new signing is going to come in and replace. I can’t see a spot that needs to be filled. I think we’ve got a really balanced squad.”

Moltzen returns in round one after missing most of last season with a ruptured knee, while mid-season recruit McKinnon has recovered from the hamstring problems that plagued him after he left the Warriors.

Farah said that unlike 2006, when complacency crept in following the club’s fairytale premiership win in 2005, the Tigers will be fired up to make amends for last year.

“Coming so close last year and falling just short is only going to make us hungrier,” he said.

“I’ll be pushing the boys at training not to think that falling one game short is good enough, because it’s not. Last year’s experience, if anything, will be a positive for us.”

Back at training after a holiday in Thailand and Fiji following the Four Nations series, Farah ranks the Dragons loss alongside his two Origin defeats in 2009.

“Losing that game by a point when you’re so close to a grand final hurts a lot,” he said. “But you learn from those experiences and they make you a better player and, hopefully, a better team.”

Buford Balony says: I couldn’t agree more. Go the Tigers.

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