Brisbane Tigers: Cup gains and losses for 2024

The Brisbane Tigers made history in 2023 and are on a mission to do it again in 2024.

After breaking a 32-year premiership drought last season, there is a lot of belief around Langlands that they can go back-to-back.

As coach Matt Church described it, they want to “defend our kingdom.”

They have a lot of the same faces from last year – Ryley Jacks, Leivaha Pulu, Tristan Hope, Bennett Leslie, Tommy Rafter.

But they’ve also lost a number of other key players, with fullback Corey Thompson retiring, centre Solomona Faataape picking up an NRL deal with the Wests Tigers and Charlie Murray heading south to join Burleigh.

In their bid to go back-to-back, they’ve recruited strongly.

They have experience in former Queensland Maroons forward Chris McQueen and former Dolphins NRL centre Brenko Lee.

They have brought some names up from New South Wales, with the likes of Treigh Stewart, Nathan Kegg-King and Jonty Betham-Misa tipped for big things.

And they’ve signed some promise, including former Wynnum Manly Seagulls winger, Blake Anders.

While he is not named for today’s season opener against the Sunshine Coast Falcons at Totally Workwear Stadium, Anders made his Cup debut for the Seagulls last year after a somewhat rocky start to his 2023.

“I had a pretty rough start to the year through Colts,” the young gun said.

“I played some local league as well. I had a few hard truths that I had to overcome.

“It was more personal for me. I needed to get a bit more aggression about me, have a bit more purpose in what I was doing. I was going through the motions, I suppose.

“I tried to run with it and hit a bit of form and ended up getting the call up (to Cup), which was awesome.

“It gives you a lot of confidence that your coaches and your club believes in you. I got a lot of confidence out of that.

“It’s a lot bigger boys than Colts and it was a lot faster, a lot more aggressive. It was a good challenge for me and hopefully I can build on it this year again.”

Anders played six Cup games for the Seagulls last year, including all three of their finals matches.

And then Church came knocking.

“I played Cup at the back end of last year, hit a bit of form and then the opportunity came up with Churchie,” Anders said.

“I had some positive chats with him and I liked what he was about so decided to make the move over.

“I didn’t really have any plans after last season. After Colts got cancelled, I didn’t really know what I was going to do and then Churchie gave me the opportunity and I’m glad he did.

“I can see we’re building something strong here and I’m really liking it.

“It’s a great club and they have good development here, as has been shown with boys getting opportunities elsewhere. Hopefully I can build towards that and get an opportunity down the track.”