Off the back of Wests Tigers' incredible start to the season, Reni Maitua has heaped plenty of praise onto the squad.

While the club faced plenty of drama with their board during the off-season, the club have been able to put that behind them on the field.

Following their 33-14 win against Canberra on Thursday night, Tigertown is now buzzing with optimism as the club sits in 2nd place with a 5-2 record.

With the side, led by Benji Marshall, now on track for their first finals appearance since 2011, the 2004 Premiership player believes it's the best they’ve looked in 20 years.  

“They're a real threat,” Maitua said on SEN 1170 and SENQ’s The Run Home.

“I'm not gonna say premiership (but) their line speed, their aggression, their scramble, their intent, their desire.

“Everything I haven't seen for the last 20 years is there.

“No one would have picked this (with) the way Benji (has) turned it around.

“And I thought that it was a little bit corny when the Tigers put out that video about setting standards and this is what we're about, I thought, it's a great PR stunt.

“But they're backing it up. For everything that Benji's saying, his players have responded.”

Maitua would also point to an overlooked element of Marshall's coaching, pointing to his Kiwi heritage.

With the majority of their top 30 list boasting a form of Pasifika heritage, and Marshall being the only NRL head coach to share this, Maitua believes this gives a unique understanding between coach and player, making him the best coach to unlock this side.

“Another thing I'll say is that Benji being a Polynesian, the majority of his squad are Polynesian, right?” he added.

“He understands how to communicate with the players.

"I'm not saying all coaches don't know how to communicate to different cultures.

“But when there's a cultural shorthand…he knows how to put his arm around some of the Tongan, the Samoan, the Kiwi boys.

“He knows when to give them a good spray.

“If you had that squad and I had to pick a coach, Benji is the perfect person for that squad in terms of the amount of Polynesians in that club.”

Marshall will lead his Tigers against the Sharks in Round 9 on May 3 at Ocean Protect Stadium.

Kick-off takes place at 4:05pm AEST.