OFFICIAL Kai Pearce-Paul

https://www.weststigers.com.au/news...e-paul-to-join-wests-tigers-from-2026-season/
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Kai Pearce-Paul to join Wests Tigers from 2026 season​

AuthorWests TigersTimestampFri 6 Jun 2025, 10:35 AM

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Wests Tigers are pleased to announce that Kai Pearce-Paul will join the club ahead of the 2026 season on a three-year deal.

The English international edge forward has played 32 NRL games for the Knights since joining Newcastle for the 2024 season and previously played 61 games for Wigan from 2020-23.


A Super League Grand Final winner in 2023, the towering forward stands at 6’6” and weighs 108 kg.

Pearce-Paul has impressed since making the move to Australia, with the 24-year-old possessing an imposing frame and skilful offloading ability.

His performances for the English national side include appearances at the 2022 World Cup and their successful Test series against Samoa in 2024.

Kai is delighted to commit his future to Wests Tigers.

"I am excited to join the Wests Tigers in 2026. It is a fantastic opportunity, and I cannot wait," said Pearce-Paul.

"I grew up watching Benji and have always looked up to him, so being coached by him will be pretty special."

Pearce-Paul has averaged 118 running metres and 40 tackles per match in 2025.

Wests Tigers CEO Shane Richardson was pleased to secure the back-rower’s services.

"Kai is a rising talent and already an international player with England. He’s also a quality person from a great family," said Richardson.

At just 24, he brings professionalism and talent, and we see him as an important part of our future.

Shane RichardsonWests Tigers CEO

Head Coach Benji Marshall believes Pearce-Paul will prove a great addition to the squad.

"Kai is a powerful, mobile forward who really suits what we’re building here," said Marshall.

"He’s not only a great athlete but also a great person, and he’ll bring strong qualities to our team.

"I’m really looking forward to coaching him and seeing the impact he’ll have on our squad.”

 

[GNR4LIFE]

Walks straight into our team
Need to get rid of both of the Alex’s and buy hard running forward
Gee wiz we are a soft running side

Shouldn’t all forwards be hard running?

 

[craigtob]

Shouldn’t all forwards be hard running?

Correct
We are the softest team in the comp
No body runs hard, our backs are never deep enough and we seem to be so disconnected
We are so far off the pace from the top 10 teams.

 

[Alex Seyfarth's #1 Fan]

Will you will change your name when he gets here?

No I am only a fan of the superstars of our team. Guys like Luke Brooks, Asu Kepaoa, and Robert Jennings in the past, and of current players Seyfarth and Brent Naden. These are the truly special players we have had play for our club and they deserve appreciation.

 

[Twal & Seyfarth]

No I am only a fan of the superstars of our team. Guys like Luke Brooks, Asu Kepaoa, and Robert Jennings in the past, and of current players Seyfarth and Brent Naden. These are the truly special players we have had play for our club and they deserve appreciation.

Well said lad.

 

[Merlot]

KPP seems a good defender , but to use him to a teams advantage , he needs to be given a better passage and run with high knees

 

[Aussielion]

KPP is all too calm on a footy field. He needs some angry pills to get him going and make use of the gifts he has got.

 

[user118245]

KPP good
Seyfarth goof

Simple as

 

[Tigerstigerstigers]

No I am only a fan of the superstars of our team. Guys like Luke Brooks, Asu Kepaoa, and Robert Jennings in the past, and of current players Seyfarth and Brent Naden. These are the truly special players we have had play for our club and they deserve appreciation.

Well hopefully we extend Nads for 5 years , Brooksie comes home (with his bbq) along with Asu. RJ to come out of retirement too. That should fill and round out top 30 nicely

 

[Chunk]

How did he go last night, considering, anyone see the game?

He must be dying to get out of the Knights and looking forward to playing with a 'happening' club.

 

[Buttface]

How did he go last night, considering, anyone see the game?

He must be dying to get out of the Knights and looking forward to playing with a 'happening' club.

I was just wondering the same Chunk. When I seen thread on the list of recent posts I thought here we go. But I guess most Tigers are quite content at the moment coming off a good win, a frugal re-signing of a junior, and a bye, to be bothered with a side that far down the ladder.
They seem a bit lost under AOB this year, I bet he is keen to get out, but I hope he does the professional thing and plays his best for them for the last few games. Being professional now will help him be a better person and player into the future.

Did anyone see the game?

 

[innsaneink]

Yeah I saw it...we had visitors but it was on tv anyway...hard to concentrate on tje game which was jsut all penrith...knights were hopeless and KPP a bit invisible...hardly noticeable at all with the ball...lots of 3rd man in in D.
Hope benji can find something to unlock this guy cause hes rarely impressed me

 

[GNR4LIFE]

Yeah I saw it...we had visitors but it was on tv anyway...hard to concentrate on tje game which was jsut all penrith...knights were hopeless and KPP a bit invisible...hardly noticeable at all with the ball...lots of 3rd man in in D.
Hope benji can find something to unlock this guy cause hes rarely impressed me

He had one good game immediately after he signed with us. Been pretty invisible since then.

 

[jadtiger]

How did he go last night, considering, anyone see the game?

He must be dying to get out of the Knights and looking forward to playing with a 'happening' club.

I thought he did very little to get excited about and the same thing could be said about the knights in general.

 

[SeanT]

He had one good game immediately after he signed with us. Been pretty invisible since then.

With the halves Newcastle have most players are invisible. Good defender is a start. Needs to offload with 2nd ball play. Hel be fine.

 

[vlad]

Plays with a different halves combo every week .
Ponga is out too .

Hard to shine on an edge with that going on .

 

[TYGA]

We use the right edge more than Knights. Tactical coaching is poor Dylan Lucas, Mcewon put up big stats however ball only ever goes left. KPP will be fine Will get more ball in space outside of Bula, AD, Latu.

It’s why they can’t score teams mark up on Best and the left edge.

 

[user118245]

I was just wondering the same Chunk. When I seen thread on the list of recent posts I thought here we go. But I guess most Tigers are quite content at the moment coming off a good win, a frugal re-signing of a junior, and a bye, to be bothered with a side that far down the ladder.
They seem a bit lost under AOB this year, I bet he is keen to get out, but I hope he does the professional thing and plays his best for them for the last few games. Being professional now will help him be a better person and player into the future.

Did anyone see the game?

Hopefully he’s more professional than the plodder Leo Thompson, was very high on him before signing for dogs but his form has been atrocious

 

[Mighty_Tiger]

Yeah I saw it...we had visitors but it was on tv anyway...hard to concentrate on tje game which was jsut all penrith...knights were hopeless and KPP a bit invisible...hardly noticeable at all with the ball...lots of 3rd man in in D.
Hope benji can find something to unlock this guy cause hes rarely impressed me

He made some good 1-1 tackles and a decent try saver. 48 tackles and missed 1. 3rd man in doesn’t count in for nrl stats. The Knights are rudderless & hopeless they might use him in attack once properly every few games.

For a big man his size he probably has one of the higher work effort counts this season. He hasn’t shirked since signing with us and Knights out of finals contention which to me are very good signs.

I think he will be fine for us just hope if it’s AD, Latu or someone else they actually get him mixed running onto the ball / decoy & we kick to him in the danger zone.

 

[Mighty_Tiger]

We use the right edge more than Knights. Tactical coaching is poor Dylan Lucas, Mcewon put up big stats however ball only ever goes left. KPP will be fine Will get more ball in space outside of Bula, AD, Latu.

It’s why they can’t score teams mark up on Best and the left edge.

The Knights when they use KPP often get him on the 3rd or 4th to hitup in the 40-30mtr zone then go left for some reason. I have never understood the Knights attack this season with or without Ponga.

 

[king_sirro]

We use the right edge more than Knights. Tactical coaching is poor Dylan Lucas, Mcewon put up big stats however ball only ever goes left. KPP will be fine Will get more ball in space outside of Bula, AD, Latu.

It’s why they can’t score teams mark up on Best and the left edge.

Do we? Our right edge backrower have rarely got the ball all year