Lote Tuqiri came to the Wests Tigers for a reason, to win his second NRL premiership.

And after a year dominated by injuries, the dual international is feeling a sense of urgency about achieving that goal in 2011, before it's too late.

Tuqiri will be 32 by the time the grand final comes around, and after 19 weeks spent on the sidelines this season, the winger has had plenty of time to think.

For the majority of his career Tuqiri has been injury free, but the back-to-back blows of a broken arm, high ankle sprain and quad strain have made him appreciative of the chance to even be lining up against St George Illawarra in Friday's qualifying final.

Tuqiri, who won a premiership with Brisbane in 2000, has conquered more than most in 13-years across league and union, but revealed fitness frustrations have now made him hungry for more success.

"Yeah, 100 per cent. I chose the Tigers (in his return to league last season) because I thought they were a chance and we certainly are," Tuqiri told AAP.

"We play a good brand of footy and that was a big thing for me to come here and play, and I haven't been disappointed.

"You appreciate it more, you certainly do. Being an older bloke and certainly after the year I've had, you just want to get out there and play some decent footy and not leave anything in the tank."

While Tuqiri was on the sidelines, the Tigers suffered a mid-year form slump which included a month without a win.

With key players signing elsewhere and rumours circulating about the future of several others, Tuqiri admits the Tigers were in a tough spot.

Although their eventual fourth-place finish suggests things were always in hand, Tuqiri said that wasn't really the case.

It's not often that a team with a golden shot at a premiership could be described as having a difficult season, but that's exactly how Tuqiri sees it.

"It wasn't always in control, there were probably outside influences that I guess were saying things that weren't true at times but it's nothing we could control," he said.

"We've come through it now, we've finished fourth and we're just thankful we're here and we've got another crack at it.

"It's been a tough year for the club and I guess personally as well with injury, but I'm here and I'm playing footy and we're in with a chance."

Tuqiri credits five-eighth Benji Marshall as one of the main catalysts for the Tigers dramatic turnaround in form.

The Fijian-born star says he'll wait until he writes his autobiography before revealing who the best player he ever played with is, but Marshall is on the short list.

"He's certainly up there, I'll probably appreciate it more when I finish footy," he said.

"When you're playing with him you do appreciate it, but it seems it's pretty much a norm.

"But when you watch the replays the bloke's just a freak, and it's not the norm."

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