For all their big-name recruits arguably the smartest piece of business the Wests Tigers have done in the off-season was retaining second-rower Shawn Blore.
Blore missed the entire season last year with an ACL injury - for the second time in his career - and says he owes the Tigers a debt after they threw him a contract lifeline.
With just 18 top-grade games under his belt, the 22-year-old isn't yet a household name but endeared himself to Tigers fans when he went after Parramatta's Nathan Brown early into his NRL career.
Blore has huge potential, he captained NSW U18s and now looks set to feature heavily in Tim Sheens' new-look Tigers outfit as he aims to make up for lost time.
"The fact they showed love to me and my family I am in debt to this club," Blore said.
"I love them for that - I'm unproven in the NRL, I've done nothing.
"They've thrown a kid a contract who has done two knees and I want to repay that by getting back on the field.
"Up until this point in my career I had never felt the pressure of a contract, I had one year left (before the ACL) and I didn't really know what was going to happen.
"When I got the phone call from my manager to say the Tigers wanted to re-sign me, I remember telling mum and dad, there was a feeling of relief because I'd been carrying so much weight and that was gone."
Blore has been soaking up the experience brought to the club by Sheens and has paid close attention to the work ethic of prop David Klemmer.
The back-rower claims in recent years they have lacked the aura of a forward leader such as Klemmer, who refuses to take shortcuts.
"I like Klemm because he's a bit of a nutcase," Blore said.
"The way he carries himself and the way he trains he lifts our energy, you love playing next to someone like that.
"He's going to hurt someone someday with the way he runs, it's so good to see and it's a breath of fresh air to stand next to someone like that who's going to give 110 per cent."
