The Tigers have announced off-season recruit Api Koroisau has been appointed captain only months after his “tasteless” dig at the merger club caught the ire of chairman Lee Hagipantelis.
The day after Penrith’s 2022 premiership, Koroisau said: “Just to go out on a high like that, it’s pretty incredible, and I’ll probably do the same thing at the Tigers” before laughing.
Hagipantelis said “if he had his time again he might rethink those comments” at the time, and Koroisau has since been welcomed into the Tigers’ set-up after signing a deal worth a reported $2 million.
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Now the 30-year-old hooker has been handed the captaincy and the representative gun said it was an “honour”.
“To be asked to lead this team in my first year at the club, means a lot,” Koroisau said in a club statement.
“This is a terrific group of players, and I am honoured to be their captain.
“From the moment I joined this club, my family and I have been made to feel so welcome.
“It’s been a great start to my time as a Wests Tigers player and I look forward to helping this team and this club be the best it can be.”
Both new coach Tim Sheens and chief executive Justin Pascoe also took the time to congratulate the club’s new skipper.
“We have several very capable leaders in this team, and Api is one of them,” Sheens said.
“He is very well respected within the group, and I know he’ll do a great job.
“I congratulate him on earning the role.”
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“In the short time he’s been with us, Api has demonstrated and embraced our core values as a club,” Pascoe added.
“His leadership on the field is vitally important, as is what he does in other areas of our business.
“I think it’s a tremendous appointment and I’m sure he will thrive with the added responsibility.”
Last season, Michael Maguire implemented a five-man leadership group, naming five captains instead of the traditional singular leader.
James Tamou, Luke Brooks, Adam Doueihi, Ken Maumalo and Tyrone Peachey shared the captaincy duties after being voted in by their teammates.
Koroisau is also one of several high-profile recruits who joined the merger club over the off-season.
The two-time premiership winner joined David Klemmer, Isaiah Papali’i, John Bateman and Charlie Staines in making the move to Leichhardt.
