A full off-season of hard training laid the platform for a fine season for the Wests Tigers NRL Rookie of the Year, Tim Moltzen.

Twelve months ago, Moltzen was preparing for the Junior Kangaroos tour alongside Blake Ayshford and Wayde Dunley.

Upon his return, he was promoted to train with the NRL first grade squad under Coach Tim Sheens. There, he had a chance to train in the halves alongside John Morris and Benji Marshall. In the back of his mind was a thought he may just get a run in first grade during the season.

In between, he was also getting to know his new Toyota Cup team-mates and also training alongside them.

Moltzen got more than a run in first grade. Named on the interchange bench by Sheens for the round one, Moltzen was thrown into the fry pan when Marshall suffered a left knee injury in the opening five minutes.

He didn't let the occasion get to him and topped off a fine game when a grubber kick by hooker Robbie Farah bounced off Ben Creagh's left leg for Moltzen to dive on the ball to score on debut.

Moltzen backed it up a week later in Townsville as the starting five-eighth against the Cowboys.

Late in the game, Moltzen called for the ball, stepped off his left foot to hit a gap before beating two players to score a vital try.

Two tries in two games. Suddenly, people were talking about the kid from the Terrigal Sharks club.

Moltzen continued to learn his first grade apprenticeship after starting in the six jersey for rounds three and four before a move back to the interchange bench for round 5.

By round six, Sheens elected to go with Mathew Head as half-back with Moltzen dropping back to the Toyota Cup competition, where the experience and pace of first grade saw him stand out in the U20s.

His versatility allowed Gentle to shift Moltzen between five-eighth, half-back and full-back.

After overcoming a groin injury, Moltzen returned to first grade in the back end of the season to finish with four tries in his 10 NRL appearances.

Gentle said Moltzen prepared well in the off-season and deserved his chances in the top grade.

"Tim was one of the players who really benefited from training full-time with the NRL squad," Gentle said.

"This year, he played centre, full-back, five-eighth and half-back between the two grades and he handled everyone of them well. This gives him great utility value within the NRL squad for next year.

"There are more exciting times ahead for Tim."