Tyson Frizell revealed Benji Marshall had asked him to join the Wests Tigers on several occasions, and said there was no reason his new club could not enjoy instant success after Newcastle turned a wooden spoon into a grand final within 12 months.
Frizell has inked a one-year deal with the Tigers for 2027, which will be the forward’s 17th season in the NRL.
The 35-year-old said a big reason Marshall and the Tigers were eager to sign him was to help lead the young forwards. He said the Tigers 15-year finals drought was not a concern.
“I’m pretty good at only worrying about what’s going on in my life and my circle, and we know in rugby league how things can change quickly in 12 months,” Frizell told this masthead.
“People may have been turned off the Knights and where we finished the year before.
“A new season brings a whole new range of challenges for every club. What’s happened previously doesn’t matter, and it will be no different with the Tigers.
“Guys are coming to the club looking for a fresh start. Kurt Mann has signed, Jayden Brailey has signed; we’ll see where that takes us.”
Frizell played with Mann and Brailey at the Knights, he knows skipper Api Koroisau from NSW Origin campaigns, and is getting to know young playmaker Latu Fainu while in camp with Tonga’s World Cup squad.
He used to carpool with Marshall from Sydney to Wollongong when the pair played together at St George Illawarra.
Frizell was credited with being a supreme leader who led by his actions at the Knights.
“Leadership is something people at the Tigers want me to do – they want me to help with the next crop of players they have there,” he said.
“I don’t know if leadership comes naturally to me, but it’s come with time in the game.
“It’s a younger squad, and I need to earn the respect once I get there. I’m not going to walk in and expect people to listen to me or follow what I do. I need to lead by example, and that needs to be earned through the pre-season.”
Frizell will start with the Tigers in January before preparing for a second successive campaign in Las Vegas when the club plays Melbourne on February 27.
Provided he gets through the season well, and the Tigers are happy with him, Frizell refused to automatically shut the door on playing on an 18th season.
“Clubs out there can see I’ve got a lot to offer, I feel that way, too; if I get to the point I can’t do it any more, or nobody wants me, I’ll give it up,” Frizell said.
“At the end of the day, I need to go out and perform every weekend, and the rest takes care of itself.
“You don’t sign anything longer than a one-year deal at my age. I’m only focused on next year.”