Anything less than a finals berth would be a "dead set failure" for Wests Tigers in the 2010 NRL season, says prop Keith Galloway.

The joint venture team have made the finals only once since their inception in 2000 - when they won the premiership in 2005.

The fans' fallback of never having lost a finals match sounds more hollow with each passing season.

Now, having finished the 2009 season strongly and bought well for 2010, Galloway says a top eight berth is essential.

"I think if we don't make the finals this year, it'll pretty much be a dead-set failure," Galloway said.

"I think we've been so close too many years in a row to miss out now.

"I thought we finished last season pretty well. This year we're all a bit older..we've had a younger team for a long time but we're all around 25 now, so hopefully with a few older senior guys there too, I think we'll go pretty good.

"You can't afford to drop close games, because the end of the season is so close. We missed out on the eight by one point last year."

Although backline players Benji Marshall and new signing Lote Tuqiri will get the headlines, Galloway is part of the Tigers' real strength, their forward pack.

New Zealand Test forward Jason Cayless brings his experience to Sheens' outstanding pack, which includes dynamic Robbie Farah, hard-workers Gareth Ellis and Chris Heighington, the skilful Todd Payten and Galloway, who has been spoken about as a NSW Origin player this year.

"Our forward pack should be pretty strong, hopefully we all stay injury free and get a good rotation and form going," Galloway said.

"(Cayless) definitely brings a lot of experience to our forward pack, he's a big man too so hopefully he helps us out a lot there.

"Gareth Ellis was outstanding last year."

Galloway is also keen to push his career ahead and realise his potential on the State of Origin arena.

After playing in the City-Country fixture last year, an untimely injury may be all that kept him out of the NSW sky-blue.

Former Tigers legend Steve Roach has endorsed the giant red-head for State honours this season, and Galloway is keen to prove him right.

"It's an honour getting a mention from (Roach) because of how great he was, but that's not going to get me in the team. I have to play good and prove that I'm good enough," he said.

"I felt like my form was pretty good last year. I felt like if I was there, I probably would have deserved it, but I was injured so I can't really dwell on that.

"This year, fingers crossed I don't get injured and that will be a dead set goal for me."

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