Premiership-winning coach Michael Hagan believes Wests Tigers will still struggle for cohesion despite recruiting as well as anyone in the NRL for the 2023 season.

Writing for theroar.com.au, Hagan also sounded out his former club, Newcastle.

“The Wests Tigers have probably got the most new talent of the teams that finished down the bottom with Koroisau, David Klemmer, John Bateman and Charlie Staines coming in with Tim Sheens back as coach” he wrote.

“Teams like the Tigers and Knights, who have new recruits in key positions, may find it hard to get the cohesion going early in the season.

“In the NRL, it’s all about having a team that can execute under pressure. It’s hard to be patient when you have a new face at fullback or in the halves learning how to play with someone else.

“The bottom line is you are getting paid well to win football games. That’s all the fans care about.”

Wests Tigers play Gold Coast Titans this Sunday while Newcastle travel to Auckland.