Alex Twal Hits Career Highs as Wests Tigers Share Competition Lead

Wests Tigers forward Alex Twal has recorded career-high per-game averages through the first six weeks of the 2026 NRL season. The 170-game veteran's performance includes a standout match against Newcastle, where he achieved personal bests in several categories. The Wests Tigers have won three consecutive matches to start the season and share the competition lead.

Recent Performance

In a Round 6 match against the Newcastle Knights on Sunday, Alex Twal played 77 minutes and recorded the following statistics:

19 runs for 182 metres (a career-high for games played at lock forward)
42 tackles with one miss
3 tackle busts
2 offloads
8 passes

Season Statistics

Through the first six weeks of the 2026 NRL season, Twal is averaging career-high numbers per game in runs, run metres, tackle busts, offloads, and tackles.

Specific improvements include a jump from 81 metres per game two seasons ago to 120 metres per game in 2026.

He has made 12 offloads in six games this season, equaling the total number of offloads he made across 72 games played between 2019 and 2022.

Player Background

Alex Twal made his NRL debut with the Wests Tigers in 2017.
He scored his first NRL try in his 116th career match during the 2023 season.
As of the 2026 season, he has played 170 NRL games over ten seasons, all with the Wests Tigers.
He is currently the club's longest-serving player and ranks in the top ten for all-time appearances for the Tigers.

Player Statements

Twal attributed part of his development to current Wests Tigers head coach and former teammate, Benji Marshall.

"Benji's put a lot of belief in me and I'm the type of player who just wants to repay that belief and trust," Twal said.

Regarding his skill work, Twal stated, "Coming through it was a bigger element of my game, but I work hard on it at every session. If I work hard, good things will come off the back of it."

"I still think I have a lot left in me. There's still elements of my game that can get better," he added.

On the team's supporters, Twal said, "Tigers fans have always been good to me, even during the dark days, even when we didn't get the results. They've always been good to me and I appreciate them so much."

Team Context

The Wests Tigers have won their first three matches of the 2026 NRL season.
A victory in their next match against the Brisbane Broncos would mark the club's first four-game winning streak since 2012. Twal is the only current Wests Tigers player who was part of the squad during the last three-game winning streak.
After six rounds, the Wests Tigers share the competition lead.