Kiwi international Isaiah Papali’i is set to ignite the NRL transfer market after the Tigers back-rower was granted permission to leave the club with rival clubs set to circle.
It is understood that Papali’i is free to leave the Tigers at the end of this season which will spark a market frenzy with clubs already sounding out the 25-year-old whose $650,000 contract with the Tigers was due to expire at the end of next season.
Discussions heated up at Magic Round in Brisbane last weekend with clubs knowing that Papali’i has now joined the open market.
It means the likes of Penrith, Manly and Canterbury could pounce on Papali’i with the Panthers still on the look-out to fill the void created by James Fisher-Harris’ impending departure to the Warriors and the unsuccessful pursuit of David Fifita.
The Roosters’ Angus Crichton is the other marquee back-rower also a free agent. What is clear though, is that Papali’i’s time at the Tigers is set to come to a premature end.
The forward is contracted until at least the end of 2025.
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He had joined the club amid much fanfare having originally signed a three-year contract to play under Michael Maguire. Papali’i will last just two seasons with the Tigers cutting him free from the final year of his deal.
While Papali’i was signed by Maguire he was never able to play for his former Kiwi Test coach. He played his first year under Tim Sheens before Benji Marshall took charge this year. Papali’i had been touted as a marquee signing for the Tigers given the success he had during two seasons at Parramatta where he won Dally M second rower of the year in 2021 which was followed by a grand final appearance the next season.
However he has not been able to replicate that same success at the Tigers. Papali’i missed the Tigers last-start loss to the Dolphins but returns to the starting team to play the Cowboys in North Queensland.
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