2026 signings

[Tigerm]

Bunty Afoa to join Wests Tigers for 2026 season

The Wests Tigers are pleased to announce the signing of experienced prop, Bunty Afoa for the 2026 NRL season.

www.weststigers.com.au

 

[Ron's_Mate]

Bunty Afoa to join Wests Tigers for 2026 season

The Wests Tigers are pleased to announce the signing of experienced prop, Bunty Afoa for the 2026 NRL season.

www.weststigers.com.au

I always liked his name

 

[The Silverdale Phantom]

I always liked his name

Andrew Moore on ABC Grandstand has said he’s his favourite named player.

 

[Tigerm]

I always liked his name

Can he play?

 

[Tiger05]

Can he play?

I think he is pretty decent. He is an impact middle forward. I think defensively he is pretty good as well. He wasn't making the Warriors team and they moved him on. I think he'll be a back-up middle forward option for us or an alternative to Hunt.

 

[The Silverdale Phantom]

All things being equal, 29 is close to peak physical development for a forward.

Then they get a few extra years in the glaring glittering sunlight before they fall into off the abyss.

He’s a massive unit, impact player, bezerk defender.

I’d bring him off the bench for the danger periods, which is 80 minutes for us I guess.

I think he will fit in with the boys pretty well. We don’t lack charisma in our side, that’s for sure. Not many bashful wallflowers.

 

[Tigerm]

Tigers sign fan-favourite Warriors prop for 2026

The 29-year-old will be a key inclusion in Benji Marshall’s forward pack.

www.zerotackle.com

The Wests Tigers saw an improved 2025 campaign, however, were somewhat light on forward depth outside of Terrell May, and were desperate to bring in another big man through the middle for 2026.

They have since done so, with the club announcing the signing of experienced prop Bunty Afoa for the 2026 NRL season, adding size, leadership and consistency to their forward pack.

Afoa, who has played 145 first-grade games for the New Zealand Warriors since debuting in 2016, joins the Tigers on a one-year deal.
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Sounds good.

 

[Tigerm]

Best 17 and full squad​

NRL 2026: Every club's current full squad, best 17, ins and outs, off-contract players

How is your club shaping up for 2026?

www.zerotackle.com

1. Jahream Bula
2. Taylan May
3. Heamasi Makasini
4. Starford To'a
5. Sunia Turuva
6. Latu Fainu
7. Jarome Luai
8. Fonua Pole
9. Apisai Koroisau
10. Terrell May
11. Kai Pearce-Paul
12. Samuela Fainu
13. Adam Doueihi
Interchange
14. Tristan Hope
15. Alex Seyfarth
16. Sione Fainu
17. Alex Twal
Rest of squad
*18. Jayden Sullivan?
*19. Kit Laulilii?
20. Solomone Saukuru
*21. Luke Laulilii?
22. Tony Sukkar
23. Royce Hunt
24. Heath Mason
25. Jock Madden
26. Javon Andrews
27. Mavrik Geyer
28. Jack Bird
29. Ethan Roberts
30. Jeral Skelton
**Roster spots open: 0
2026 development list
1. Lachlan Broederlow
2. Christian Taupau-Moors
3. Jared Haywood
4. Charlie Murray
-----------------
*The rumour is that Sullivan was staying at the bunnies and the Laulilii Bros were going to the drags, though neither have been confirmed that I am aware of.
- Bunty Afoa is not on here as well.
-So, that should leave 2 more to come, if the above rumours are correct?

 

[Nutz]

Best 17 and full squad​

NRL 2026: Every club's current full squad, best 17, ins and outs, off-contract players

How is your club shaping up for 2026?

www.zerotackle.com

1. Jahream Bula
2. Taylan May
3. Heamasi Makasini
4. Starford To'a
5. Sunia Turuva
6. Latu Fainu
7. Jarome Luai
8. Fonua Pole
9. Apisai Koroisau
10. Terrell May
11. Kai Pearce-Paul
12. Samuela Fainu
13. Adam Doueihi
Interchange
14. Tristan Hope
15. Alex Seyfarth
16. Sione Fainu
17. Alex Twal
Rest of squad
*18. Jayden Sullivan?
*19. Kit Laulilii?
20. Solomone Saukuru
*21. Luke Laulilii?
22. Tony Sukkar
23. Royce Hunt
24. Heath Mason
25. Jock Madden
26. Javon Andrews
27. Mavrik Geyer
28. Jack Bird
29. Ethan Roberts
30. Jeral Skelton
**Roster spots open: 0
2026 development list
1. Lachlan Broederlow
2. Christian Taupau-Moors
3. Jared Haywood
4. Charlie Murray
-----------------
*The rumour is that Sullivan was staying at the bunnies and the Laulilii Bros were going to the drags, though neither have been confirmed that I am aware of.
- Bunty Afoa is not on here as well.
-So, that should leave 2 more to come, if the above rumours are correct?

Bird?
Do you think Skelton will be squeezed out. I wonder if he could be a forward?
If Skelton is at the top of his game, he offers a lot more than just scoring tries in the corner. A bit like To'o who's like an extra forward for Panthers.

 

[Tiger05]

Bird?
Do you think Skelton will be squeezed out. I wonder if he could be a forward?
If Skelton is at the top of his game, he offers a lot more than just scoring tries in the corner. A bit like To'o who's like an extra forward for Panthers.

It's hard to pick the top team right now.

I don't think you can start with Makasini. Do you start with Latu in the halves and AD at 13 ? There is no impact middle forward on that bench and we always seem to say it's a hole in our team. Surely you give Hunt or Afoa one bench spot.

Heaps of questions.

 

[Nutz]

It's hard to pick the top team right now.

I don't think you can start with Makasini. Do you start with Latu in the halves and AD at 13 ? There is no impact middle forward on that bench and we always seem to say it's a hole in our team. Surely you give Hunt or Afoa one bench spot.

Heaps of questions.

Yep, I think that's why he's getting rid of bird and going for an impact fwd, either Hunt or Afoa. Latu just had shoulder surgery so he'll need a fair bit of impact work and trials. I think AD will be the starting half.
Agree with Makasini. No need to rush him.

 

[The Silverdale Phantom]

Starting side always looks fiercer on paper…

But It’s not as if injuries won’t be knocking on the door.

So I’m not really worried about who starts at any given time.

But some players we are better off starting- even playing out of position, because they are good players per se.

And interestingly, it’s not always physical attributes than can deliver.

A player like Munster has no special physical value, but he’s a fine player.

And paps game awareness in the gf to throw that near miracle pass. A superb specimen, but not too far in front of colleagues.

What they both have is a good ahead of the curve understanding of the game. And we need all of the boys, thinking and focused like them.

And there’s plenty of examples of rough footy players who are Nobel prize winners at the sport!

Renno is an example. Not the brightest human in the sense that he’s, blown a lot of opportunities off the field, but he’s a true craftsman when he runs out.

Souths made the worst recruitment decision in 50 years letting him walk for a few extra drinks.

 

[Tigerm]

Bird?
Do you think Skelton will be squeezed out. I wonder if he could be a forward?
If Skelton is at the top of his game, he offers a lot more than just scoring tries in the corner. A bit like To'o who's like an extra forward for Panthers.

I certainly think Skelton is a keeper, at his best (free of injury), he's a starter imo.
Not sure about Bird, he has a contract here for '26 and we need depth & experience. He's on $400k (per ZT), but I don't think he will be kept after that, though I'm sure they have allowed him to look around already.
$400k should buy a decent depth player.

 

[Tigerm]

It's hard to pick the top team right now.

I don't think you can start with Makasini. Do you start with Latu in the halves and AD at 13 ? There is no impact middle forward on that bench and we always seem to say it's a hole in our team. Surely you give Hunt or Afoa one bench spot.

Heaps of questions.

I think the Afoa signing has answered that question. Bearing in mind, he wasn't on that list at the time they wrote it.

 

[Shredder]

I know we all want success now, its been a lean 20 years, but I can see and appreciate what they are building.

Luia I think was mainly brought here as a magnet for other players. I dont think we would have got the two Mays if it wasnt for him.

As someone said earlier, spine stability is what we need. And I think we need to stop shunting AD around to be a Mr Fixit. The other issue we have is Latu's health. Can remember him playing three games in a row.

Id like to see AD play all year at 13. Gives us another ball playing option if Latu goes down and we then have a goal kicker on the field for the full game. This means to me, Jock Madden needs to start at 7 next year. I honestly think we brought him back specifically to cover Latu injuries. For mine, Madden is not a first choice 7, but hes great depth.

Im also hoping that Afoa coming gives Hunt a kick up the arse, because having them both playing well off the bench would be awesome.

Im also fairly excited about KPP coming and hope that we are going to use him as a ball playing edge forward, rather than what Newcastle were doing.

Our backs are starting to look the goods and with another off season, that will help.

This year we are supplementing what we have with what we need. I think KPP and Bunty are good pickups.

Watching the grand final this year you see how far behind we are.

Hopefully the bears picking clubs clean means that the pack will come back to us a little.

 

[Tiger05]

I think the Afoa signing has answered that question. Bearing in mind, he wasn't on that list at the time they wrote it.

Maybe. Personally I think Hunt has to be on the bench if we don't have Afoa or some other player needs to come into the squad off the bench.

 

[Tiger05]

Im also fairly excited about KPP coming and hope that we are going to use him as a ball playing edge forward, rather than what Newcastle were doing.

I'm looking forward to see how he goes. I'm not sure he is a ball player but I think he'll give us impact on one edge. Samuela will give us impact on the other edge.

I don't see any real concerns with the squad this year.

I think the big questions are how we play Latu and AD.

 

[Nutz]

I certainly think Skelton is a keeper, at his best (free of injury), he's a starter imo.
Not sure about Bird, he has a contract here for '26 and we need depth & experience. He's on $400k (per ZT), but I don't think he will be kept after that, though I'm sure they have allowed him to look around already.
$400k should buy a decent depth player.

I only put his name there because I thought he was gone. So at this stage it's only permission, is that right?
I think he'll be given some cash and release him.

 

[The Silverdale Phantom]

I know we all want success now, its been a lean 20 years, but I can see and appreciate what they are building.

Luia I think was mainly brought here as a magnet for other players. I dont think we would have got the two Mays if it wasnt for him.

As someone said earlier, spine stability is what we need. And I think we need to stop shunting AD around to be a Mr Fixit. The other issue we have is Latu's health. Can remember him playing three games in a row.

Id like to see AD play all year at 13. Gives us another ball playing option if Latu goes down and we then have a goal kicker on the field for the full game. This means to me, Jock Madden needs to start at 7 next year. I honestly think we brought him back specifically to cover Latu injuries. For mine, Madden is not a first choice 7, but hes great depth.

Im also hoping that Afoa coming gives Hunt a kick up the arse, because having them both playing well off the bench would be awesome.

Im also fairly excited about KPP coming and hope that we are going to use him as a ball playing edge forward, rather than what Newcastle were doing.

Our backs are starting to look the goods and with another off season, that will help.

This year we are supplementing what we have with what we need. I think KPP and Bunty are good pickups.

Watching the grand final this year you see how far behind we are.

Hopefully the bears picking clubs clean means that the pack will come back to us a little.

All strong points.

 

[The Silverdale Phantom]

Maybe. Personally I think Hunt has to be on the bench if we don't have Afoa or some other player needs to come into the squad off the bench.

I’d like to see Hunt shed the excess and get himself to 80 mins.

If I’m Richo I’m offering him more cash based on fitness levels and stamina.

Give him extra financial motivation to upgrade.

He’s blessed with a fine frame and I appreciate it’s really hard for these big guys to stay at 100, but I’d incentivate them.

Terrell is leading the way.