Rumours (signings, sackings & other NRL stuff)

[Trollhammaren]

Good riddance I say, and predict a lot will feel the same. But jeez our squad depth is abysmal and getting worse.

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.

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.

 

[Nutz]

Good riddance I say, and predict a lot will feel the same. But jeez our squad depth is abysmal and getting worse.

Agree. Oh pls swap Angus for Papa, man I would love that.
Maybe we could arrange a swap and some cash?

 

[Captain Apollo]

Non-paywall version -

Tigers boss in secret UK mission as $750k star’s shock exit just the start of brutal Benji clean out

Tigers boss in secret UK mission as $750k star’s shock exit just the start of brutal Benji clean out

www.foxsports.com.au

 

[Wizardman]

TBC.

A mate emailed me an article about it.

If he was in his Parra form, I'd be absolutely shattered. Fact is, he has been nowhere near that Parra form from the time that he has arrived here. We payed him money to be an elite backrower and he is not fulfilling that role. From all reports, it seems like the man never wanted to be here.

A strange stint.....but I hope he goes.

 

[Tigerm]

Non-paywall version -

Tigers boss in secret UK mission as $750k star’s shock exit just the start of brutal Benji clean out

Tigers boss in secret UK mission as $750k star’s shock exit just the start of brutal Benji clean out

www.foxsports.com.au

He ain’t worth $650k, not with us anyway.

 

[Captain Apollo]

He ain’t worth $650k, not with us anyway.

On this season's form, I don't think he's worth that much money with any club.

 

[Ned Kelly]

Agree. Oh pls swap Angus for Papa, man I would love that.
Maybe we could arrange a swap and some cash?

That would be so good. I'm guessing the Tigers have a replacement in mind.

 

[simmo1]

Papalii has looked really slow this season. Not sure if he is unfit or carrying an injury.

I don't get the impression he has been bludging like an Adam Blair, but we've never been able to get the best out of him.

 

[Das Hassler]

I also think he's put some good effort in but certainly hasn't lived up to what we hoped he'd bring. I'd rather Seyfath on any given day

 

[WA Tiger]

I’d spend the $$ on a top outside back.. to replace stains.

 

[Marshall_magic]

Papalii has his moments, but he is a bit of a downhill skier. When you get thumped regularly those players are a bit useless.

 

[Nutz]

That would be so good. I'm guessing the Tigers have a replacement in mind.

On 360 tonight, after reaffirming Papa is free to go, they said Richo may release more. Some of the names were Sullivan, Staines and Nado.
As with Sullivan, I can't see how this works unless another club is willing to take over his contract and the same with others still with a season/s to run...otherwise they stay on our books.
I really haven't come to grasp with the NRL contracts.
I went to the trouble of starting a thread for the NSWRL contracts which I believe the NRL follow a similar format but for the life of me I can't understand the grey areas like this.
One thing that can never be outlined properly is TPA's.
Sure there are rules but because of it's sensitive and secretive nature the full details are never disclosed. It's the reason why the sombreros are always questioned about their integrity.
The Roosters are smart operators and even though their contract dealings seem questionable they are successful in convincing the auditors that everthing is above board.
For example, next year they lose Manu, Suaali etc so there's a chunck to play with.
If we are successful in releasing Papa and players still under contract and sign someone like Angus C, I will applaud our CEO who would affirm to me that he 'is the man'

 

[TheDefinitionOfMadness]

Yet another in the long list of players that have joined the tigers post 2011 and their careers have fallen off a cliff.

He needs to go to a club with good halves that can get him decent ball and lead him into holes with their passes, unlike us who just offload to him and expect him to do all the work himself. It also helps when you have good centres who are also running good, but directionally opposite lines to create more space. We don't have those either.

If you look at Ice's stats he's always making a lot of tackles and the effectiveness of those tackles is high. He's not been bludging. We just don't have either the talent or brains to identify what made him good at Parra, and then replicate that over here.

I wish him all the best.

 

[The Silverdale Phantom]

Yet another in the long list of players that have joined the tigers post 2011 and their careers have fallen off a cliff.

He needs to go to a club with good halves that can get him decent ball and lead him into holes with their passes, unlike us who just offload to him and expect him to do all the work himself. It also helps when you have good centres who are also running good, but directionally opposite lines to create more space. We don't have those either.

If you look at Ice's stats he's always making a lot of tackles and the effectiveness of those tackles is high. He's not been bludging. We just don't have either the talent or brains to identify what made him good at Parra, and then replicate that over here.

I wish him all the best.

Yeah, if we’ve let him go, there must be a good reason, ie not confident we can we improve him.

 

[Ron's_Mate]

Wests Tigers boss flies to England on secret player clean-out mission
By Michael Chammas
May 22, 2024 — 6.48pm

Wests Tigers chief executive Shane Richardson has flown to England to begin cleaning out the club’s underperforming roster and is set to seek expressions of interest from Super League clubs for a number of his players.

Richardson flew out of Sydney on Tuesday night bound for the United Kingdom as part of a selling spree that could have major ramifications on the joint venture club.

Sources with knowledge of the situation talking under the condition of anonymity in order to speak freely said that Richardson will meet with several clubs to gauge their appetite in striking a deal with the club to release some of their players from deals.

The managers of those players are unaware of Richardson’s secret mission. Richardson could not be reached. Wests Tigers chairman Barry O’Farrell did not respond to calls.

Multiple sources told the Herald that halfback Jayden Sullivan is on top of Richardson’s list of players to offload. Sullivan is on a deal worth around $500,000 a season. That will increase to about $600,000 in the final years of his four-year deal.

Sullivan joined the club in the off-season but Richardson, who wasn’t at the club when the deal was struck, is now trying to find the halfback a new home.

Sullivan was a priority target for coach Benji Marshall, who endorsed the deal that was struck by former recruitment manager Scott Fulton. He was also given Aidan Sezer over Jack Cogger.

Richardson has since invested $1.2 million a season in Panthers star playmaker Jarome Luai for the next five years (from 2025) and has to find money to keep boom rookie Lachlan Galvin.

The club is also paying $450,000-a-season for the services of young gun Latu Fainu after he signed one of the most lucrative deals for a player who hadn’t played in the NRL.

Other players the Tigers are willing to speak to Super League clubs about are expected to include Brent Naden (contracted until 2025 on around $300,000) and John Bateman (2026 on $600,000).

Richardson will also meet with prospective players, which is likely to be used as the reason for his trip, but multiple sources confirmed that his primary objective was to try and shed money in the salary cap and make roster spots available for next year.

The Tigers have one spot remaining on their 30-man roster for 2025 and recently offered injured utility Adam Doueihi a minimum-wage contract, which he declined.

It comes as back-rower Isaiah Papali’i has been granted permission to explore options at other clubs. Richardson met Papali’i’s manager a month ago, with rival clubs informed of his availability over the past few days.

The deal he signed to join the Tigers from Parramatta was for $650,000-a-season as the Dally M back-rower of the year. However, the deal included a 15 per cent ratchet clause that has since taken his salary to around $750,000. Papali’i isn’t interested in playing in the Super League.

The Tigers have lost seven games on the trot and take on the Cowboys this weekend.

Wests Tigers boss flies to England on secret player cleanout mission

Shane Richardson flew to the United Kingdom as part of a selling spree that could have major ramifications on the joint venture club.

www.smh.com.au

 

[Tigerm]

Wests Tigers boss flies to England on secret player clean-out mission
By Michael Chammas
May 22, 2024 — 6.48pm

Wests Tigers chief executive Shane Richardson has flown to England to begin cleaning out the club’s underperforming roster and is set to seek expressions of interest from Super League clubs for a number of his players.

Richardson flew out of Sydney on Tuesday night bound for the United Kingdom as part of a selling spree that could have major ramifications on the joint venture club.

Sources with knowledge of the situation talking under the condition of anonymity in order to speak freely said that Richardson will meet with several clubs to gauge their appetite in striking a deal with the club to release some of their players from deals.

The managers of those players are unaware of Richardson’s secret mission. Richardson could not be reached. Wests Tigers chairman Barry O’Farrell did not respond to calls.

Multiple sources told the Herald that halfback Jayden Sullivan is on top of Richardson’s list of players to offload. Sullivan is on a deal worth around $500,000 a season. That will increase to about $600,000 in the final years of his four-year deal.

Sullivan joined the club in the off-season but Richardson, who wasn’t at the club when the deal was struck, is now trying to find the halfback a new home.

Sullivan was a priority target for coach Benji Marshall, who endorsed the deal that was struck by former recruitment manager Scott Fulton. He was also given Aidan Sezer over Jack Cogger.

Richardson has since invested $1.2 million a season in Panthers star playmaker Jarome Luai for the next five years (from 2025) and has to find money to keep boom rookie Lachlan Galvin.

The club is also paying $450,000-a-season for the services of young gun Latu Fainu after he signed one of the most lucrative deals for a player who hadn’t played in the NRL.

Other players the Tigers are willing to speak to Super League clubs about are expected to include Brent Naden (contracted until 2025 on around $300,000) and John Bateman (2026 on $600,000).

Richardson will also meet with prospective players, which is likely to be used as the reason for his trip, but multiple sources confirmed that his primary objective was to try and shed money in the salary cap and make roster spots available for next year.

The Tigers have one spot remaining on their 30-man roster for 2025 and recently offered injured utility Adam Doueihi a minimum-wage contract, which he declined.

It comes as back-rower Isaiah Papali’i has been granted permission to explore options at other clubs. Richardson met Papali’i’s manager a month ago, with rival clubs informed of his availability over the past few days.

The deal he signed to join the Tigers from Parramatta was for $650,000-a-season as the Dally M back-rower of the year. However, the deal included a 15 per cent ratchet clause that has since taken his salary to around $750,000. Papali’i isn’t interested in playing in the Super League.

The Tigers have lost seven games on the trot and take on the Cowboys this weekend.

Wests Tigers boss flies to England on secret player cleanout mission

Shane Richardson flew to the United Kingdom as part of a selling spree that could have major ramifications on the joint venture club.

www.smh.com.au

Didn't honest Shane say that he was not looking at any roster change, not too long ago?
I'm all for it, something is just not gelling, but it hasn't been for over a decade.
Looks like we start again, again
I like the thought of one of these coaches just sacked (preference would be Arthur) coming in to look at the attack, its fallen off a cliff.

 

[The Silverdale Phantom]

Didn't honest Shane say that he was not looking at any roster change, not too long ago?
I'm all for it, something is just not gelling, but it hasn't been for over a decade.
Looks like we start again, again
I like the thought of one of these coaches just sacked (preference would be Arthur) coming in to look at the attack, its fallen off a cliff.

Yeah I think he was talking about building juniors and so forth but at the same time, I don’t think he was ready for the extent of underperformances.

Still confident in Benji, no doubt he’s been consulted.

It’s interesting that he’s taking care of business personally to move this all along. Cutting all the red tape.

I would have poached the Broncos recruitment team for next year by now.

They’ve been outstanding.

 

[Rabbits20]

Yeah I think he was talking about building juniors and so forth but at the same time, I don’t think he was ready for the extent of underperformances.

Still confident in Benji, no doubt he’s been consulted.

It’s interesting that he’s taking care of business personally to move this all along. Cutting all the red tape.

I would have poached the Broncos recruitment team for next year by now.

They’ve been outstanding.

Hey mate what’s the latest with Galvin? Talk around Api trained at halfback today and Simpkin 9 with Galvin in the reserves what’s the go there? Galvin has been good I think and he’s only 18 seems harsh to drop him. The other rumour is Galvin has a hand injury. Interesting to know if he’s injured or has he indeed been dropped? Both rumours going around on social media tonight. Do you know what the go is mate?

 

[WA Tiger]

Well I did say Richo wouldnt fk around and now he’s off to England to offload the rot..
It’s hard being right all the time..it’s a heavy burden to carry

 

[WA Tiger]

Btw, Who was it that said the Sullivan loving Fulton was fabulous and dropping him was a mistake?