Refusing to put expectations on finishes and team selection, Wests Tigers coach Benji Marshall is hoping Greg Inglis's wisdom can help Jahream Bula shake off second-year syndrome.
Fullback Bula was one of the few bright lights for the Tigers in 2023 but his unlikely rise was not enough to prevent the club from picking up a second-successive wooden spoon.
Inglis has been brought in to mentor the 22-year-old Bula, who said he "felt like crying" when he was offered the chance to work with the former South Sydney and Melbourne star.
And Marshall is hoping the pair's chemistry can bring the best out of Bula, whose surge from obscurity into the spotlight is sure to make him a marked man in 2024.
"I haven't had a lot to do with Greg personally, but him and Jahream have a really good relationship," Marshall said.
"They probably remind me a lot of each other off the field, they are really quiet guys and don't like talking too much, but he will be great for Jahream off the field.
"He won't get too involved with things in the club but its been good having him around."
Marshall cut a relaxed figure at Tigers training on Thursday, dropping into drills and showing off the wicked step and soft hands that made him a household name as a player.
The 38-year-old will have to be just as sharp in the coaches' boxes as he begins his first year in the hotseat and attempts to drag the club off the canvas.
Marshall has brought former Canberra halfback Aiden Sezer and ex-Melbourne centre Justin Olam to the club this off-season, also successfully wooing Penrith five-eighth Jarome Luai to Concord in 2025.
Sezer will be handed a starting role but Marshall said it was up to youngsters Jayden Sullivan, Latu Fainu and Lachlan Galvin to make their case to partner him.
"With our team, one thing I've made really clear is no spots are guaranteed, you've got to earn it here," Marshall said.
"Trials are part of it, but over the last 14 weeks people have shown signs if they want to be in the team or not."
Marshall will be tasked with ending the club's 12-year finals drought but he is loathed to make lofty promises.
Captain Api Koroisau said "talk is cheap" and Marshall was keen to temper those expectations, even if he would love to be the man who leads the Tigers back to their past glories.
"Our fans are the greatest fans in the world … when we had success in 2005 it was rocking," Marshall said.
"I understand the frustration around not having success and how hard that can be.
"All they've heard is talk from us over the past 10 years and it's pretty clear it doesn't matter what we are saying, it's the actions we do."
John Bateman trained separately from the main group on Thursday but the English back-rower is expected to be fit to face Canberra in their round-two season opener.
