OFFICIAL Kai Pearce-Paul

https://www.weststigers.com.au/news...e-paul-to-join-wests-tigers-from-2026-season/
Signings

Kai Pearce-Paul to join Wests Tigers from 2026 season​

Author Wests Tigers
Timestamp Fri 6 Jun 2025, 10:35 AM

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.”

 

[orange&black]

KPP looks like a confidence guy to me. Benji needs to get him running on to the ball and running into gaps. We need to use him differently than he has been used at Knights and what we’re seeing of him to date. He starts using his frame and his skills and we could see a more confident guy who understands how big he is. Needs to keep up the intensity and aggro. I am hopeful he could be good for us.

 

[Alex Seyfarth's #1 Fan]

He went ok in a team that had no attacking ability,with the right coaching he could be a plus for us in 2026.Over to you Benji earn your money.

This guy has a knack of playing in teams with no attacking ability. Hopefully we can finally unlock him, otherwise it's the "Luke Brooks unleashed" meme again. Matty Johns said that he was a weapon in super league so let's see.

 

[crazycat]

This guy has a knack of playing in teams with no attacking ability. Hopefully we can finally unlock him, otherwise it's the "Luke Brooks unleashed" meme again. Matty Johns said that he was a weapon in super league so let's see.

He is not going to be LB Unleashed.

He will either go gangbusters and Benji will do a Sheenius and get a highly mobile second rower,
OK and in our 2026 team add a lot of forward pack relief OR
be the next Russell Packer...

It will take a little time for Api, Luai and our forwards to work out what lines he is running and where he is stepping. I reckon he will start OK, then move to very good by the end of the year.

 

[Rock Hopper Steve]

He is not going to be LB Unleashed.

He will either go gangbusters and Benji will do a Sheenius and get a highly mobile second rower,
OK and in our 2026 team add a lot of forward pack relief OR
be the next Russell Packer...

It will take a little time for Api, Luai and our forwards to work out what lines he is running and where he is stepping. I reckon he will start OK, then move to very good by the end of the year.

Having a two pronged attack with KPP and Sam is really going to help to worry defences, they are big guys on both sides.

It was looking for a while that the smaller mobile packs was going to make a comeback but with recent recruits it looks like we are going against the grain and I like it.

 

[Tiger Stripes]

tell me you haven't watched Kai in this series without telling me. he is the only Pom that has risen to the standard of the Kangaroos. offloading at will and hurting people in defence.

He's an upgrade.
That’s the important thing. Get used to it.

 

[westtigers]

He's an upgrade.
That’s the important thing. Get used to it.

IF Bula is here and needs to run off this guy and young Sam on the other edge as both guys can pass the ball before and after the line up to you bungie

 

[Masterton]

KPP looks like a confidence guy to me. Benji needs to get him running on to the ball and running into gaps. We need to use him differently than he has been used at Knights and what we’re seeing of him to date. He starts using his frame and his skills and we could see a more confident guy who understands how big he is. Needs to keep up the intensity and aggro. I am hopeful he could be good for us.

I think he'll be good, but he'll disappoint plenty because he's really not a hole-runner. His greatest attacking attribute is his offloading, and we need to have runners lurking.

Over 100m and 30-odd tackles up against a damned good aussie pack is a decent performance.

 

[Odessa]

I think he'll be good, but he'll disappoint plenty because he's really not a hole-runner. His greatest attacking attribute is his offloading, and we need to have runners lurking.

Over 100m and 30-odd tackles up against a damned good aussie pack is a decent performance.

KPP was on fire two years ago had an amazing season

I think Newcastle just had a bad or average 2025 for most of there players and I think it had more to do with back of house and coaching

 

[Tim Sheens]

I think he'll be good, but he'll disappoint plenty because he's really not a hole-runner. His greatest attacking attribute is his offloading, and we need to have runners lurking.

Over 100m and 30-odd tackles up against a damned good aussie pack is a decent performance.

He does that basically every match that he plays, and with few missed tackles too. Yet still not good enough for some when supposedly signed for not much more than average salary.

 

[Batmans Parents]

People criticising this signing are acting like hes been called a star signing.

No, he’s not a star but he is a huge improvement on the steaming pile of shit that Seyfarth is in the second row or frankly, any position.

 

[Odessa]

People criticising this signing are acting like hes been called a star signing.

No, he’s not a star but he is a huge improvement on the steaming pile of shit that Seyfarth is in the second row or frankly, any position.

Yes he greatly improves the squad and his best football is in front of him I think he's a great buy at a very low price and will had some punch and very dangerous on an edge just because he is so big and has a off load