Michael Maguire has scrapped Ivan Cleary's five-captain blueprint for the 2019 season, anointing fullback Moses Mbye as his sole skipper.
The selection comes as a shock given Mbye only joined the club midway through the 2018 season as Canterbury alleviated salary cap pressure, playing just nine games in orange and black.
The five captains who shared the role last year - Benji Marshall, Chris Lawrence, Josh Reynolds, Russell Packer and Elijah Taylor - will join a newly-formed leadership group including veteran Robbie Farah and star halfback Luke Brooks, excluding the injury-hit Reynolds.
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Mbye labelled the assignment as "one of the proudest moments of my career".
“Growing up, it was a dream of mine to simply play one game in the NRL, so I consider myself extremely fortunate to have had the career I have so far, and to now be recognised in this way by my teammates and coaches,'' Mbye said.
“Ever since I joined Wests Tigers, I have felt extremely comfortable and have learned so much off the players here.
"I feel like I’ve been here for a lot longer than I have with how well I’ve settled in and I’m looking forward to representing this club for many more years.
“I’m also incredibly grateful to be part of a team with such a strong leadership group, and I look forward to working with them to drive not only our team but our club in the right direction.''
Maguire said he believes in Mbye's leadership qualities and the newly-appointed skipper has the full support of the club.
''To captain a club with the shared history of Wests Tigers is a tremendous privilege and we are equally confident and proud to have him lead us in 2019.
“Moses is incredibly well respected by his teammates and carries himself extremely well both on and off the field.
"He is a great role model for all young players in the game and is more than capable of leading us forward in to an exciting time in Wests Tigers history.''
Mbye's first challenge has already been set, with NRL.com reporting the former Bulldogs tore his PCL at training last week.
But many athletes are able to play without their posterior cruicate ligament and Mbye has returned to full training.
Since making his debut in 2014, the Noosa Pirates junior has played 103 first grade games and is contracted to the Tigers until the end of 2022.
The 25-year-old has represented the Prime Minister's XIII and World All Stars, also sitting on the brink of Origin selection as he took part in Queensland's 2018 camp.
