NRL News: Stars on the way out early as Tigers overhaul roster, Eels regain iconic sponsor

22/05/2024 23:58

Wests Tigers are looking to the Super League as they overhaul their roster with some high-profile stars on the outer.

Kiwi forward Isaiah Papali'i has been granted permission to negotiate elsewhere and he looks certain to gain an early release from the final year of his contract in 2025.

Young half Jayden Sullivan and centre Brent Naden are other Tigers in the firing line with CEO Shane Richardson flying to England to gauge interest from Super League clubs about taking over their deals.

Richardson is also looking at players in the UK that he might sign up as coach Benji Marshall tries to revamp the roster.

This season started promisingly with two wins in the opening three rounds but Wests have lost seven straight to again be in wooden spoon territory.

Papali'i is sure to attract plenty of interest with his former club Parramatta likely to throw their hat in the ring.

St George Illawarra and the Raiders are also in the market for forwards.

Sullivan is contracted until the end of 2027 after the Tigers took on his long-term deal from the Dragons but he has been leapfrogged by teenage playmaker Lachie Galvin and with Jarome Luai arriving from Penrith next season, he is becoming surplus to their needs.

Naden has failed to fire at the Tigers due to a string of injuries and suspension and the club will not stand in his way if he finds another deal elsewhere or a rival team wants to pick up the tab for his contract next year.

Canterbury have bolstered their forward ranks for 2025 with the signing of former Souths prop Tom Amone from Super League side Leigh Leopards.

“He has been the best front-row forward in the UK for the past two years and he will certainly be a boost to our forward stocks,” said Bulldogs general manager of football Phil Gould.

Parramatta go back to the future

The Eels are without a coach for next season after sacking Brad Arthur but they have already replaced their outgoing major sponsor with a throwback to their glory days.

James Hardie is coming back onto the front of Parramatta's jersey in 2025 in a return to their golden era of the 1980s when the building company was their major sponsor.

Eels CEO Jim Sarantinos told NewsCorp that James Hardie was also looking for a fresh start after the asbestos scandal related to the building products they had been using more than four decades ago.

After the Eels tried to get Wayne Bennett to replace Arthur, they are now being inundated with prospective coaches.

Former St George Illawarra mentor Paul McGregor, who was Arthur's assistant when they made the 2022 Grand Final, has declared his interest while NSW State of Origin coach Michael Maguire and assistants such as Jason Ryles (Melbourne) and Josh Hannay (Cronulla) have been linked to the job. 

Sarantinos said the incoming coach would not have total control of the club’s roster.

The Eels’ recruitment and retention had been a major talking point during Arthur’s tenure, with the club’s failure to retain several key players who helped them to the 2022 grand final seen as a trigger for Parramatta’s slide down the NRL ladder.  

Trent Barrett will take charge of the Eels until the end of the season but it is unclear if he would want to return to a head coaching role after failed stints at Canterbury and Manly.

The Eels are also adamant that they will take their time after privately pursuing Bennett in the three weeks prior to Arthur’s axing, only to be left high and dry. 

The Eels (3-7) sit 14th and, in a cruel twist after news of Bennett’s decision, face South Sydney on Saturday. 

Captain Clint Gutherson and halfback Mitchell Moses remain sidelined with injury and were not named by Barrett.

with AAP