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Kevin Naiqama off-contract but happy for attention to be on Wests Tigers 'big four'
Chris Barrett - SMH
They are the forgotten Tigers. The dozen or more players who are off-contract at the end of the season at Concord but don't qualify for membership of the so-called "big four".
As the club and the league world, and now Ivan Cleary, sweat on whether James Tedesco, Aaron Woods, Mitchell Moses and Luke Brooks will stay or go, there are a long list of others whose futures are yet to be determined.
Among them are Matt Ballin, Michael Chee-Kam, Tim Grant, Jamal Idris, Jack Littlejohn, Kyle Lovett, Matt McIlwrick, David Nofoaluma, Ava Seumanufagai and Kevin Naiqama.
Yet while the team's most high-profile quartet has been the subject of relentless headlines and speculation, the other off-contract Tigers have barely rated a mention.
For Naiqama, who played under incoming Tigers head coach Cleary at Penrith, that is the way he likes it. That being said, though, he wants to stay at a club that gave him an opportunity when they were few and far between at the Panthers.
"It's a good club. I'd love to stay here. I only grew up down the road and in regards to being close to family and stuff it's ideal," the Tigers centre said ahead of their round-five match against St George Illawarra. "But I can't control that, all I can control is what I do on the field."
Naiqama, 28, is happy for Tedesco and Co to be dominating attention on the marketplace.
"To be honest, it really doesn't bother me. If anything it would probably put more pressure on myself if they wanted to talk all about that stuff," he said.
"I actually haven't thought about it too much. My commitment is here with the club and all I can do is focus on what I can do and helping the team.
"I sort of keep myself busy outside of football so when I come here I'm fresh and ready to go."
Naiqama is talking about an apprenticeship in carpentry he has begun, along with stand-in Tigers halfback Littlejohn, at TAFE NSW in Randwick.
As serviceable a first-grader as he is, Naiqama won't be seeing the seven-figure contracts that several of his teammates will likely secure and is looking ahead to life after football.
"I'm going to start working with [a carpenter] as well on my days off just to get a bit of experience," he said. "[It's about] life after football and also just to get a balance so it's not all about football. It took me a couple of years to figure out what I wanted."
If that shapes as Naiqama's next career, in his current one he already has an association with Cleary, who will be announced shortly as Jason Taylor's full-time successor.
He played only eight games in 2014 for the Panthers when Cleary was in charge there, and all on the wing, but was left very impressed by the coach despite having departed due to limited opportunities.
"I didn't play much footy that first year under him. Nothing against him but he had the luxury of great depth in the squad, and also they had the success of the under-20s that won the grand final [in 2013] coming through as well," Naiqama said.
"But in regards to his coaching, he's real smart, definitely got a brain for the game. If he came here it'd be good. I've obviously got a relationship from before."
Chris Barrett - SMH
They are the forgotten Tigers. The dozen or more players who are off-contract at the end of the season at Concord but don't qualify for membership of the so-called "big four".
As the club and the league world, and now Ivan Cleary, sweat on whether James Tedesco, Aaron Woods, Mitchell Moses and Luke Brooks will stay or go, there are a long list of others whose futures are yet to be determined.
Among them are Matt Ballin, Michael Chee-Kam, Tim Grant, Jamal Idris, Jack Littlejohn, Kyle Lovett, Matt McIlwrick, David Nofoaluma, Ava Seumanufagai and Kevin Naiqama.
Yet while the team's most high-profile quartet has been the subject of relentless headlines and speculation, the other off-contract Tigers have barely rated a mention.
For Naiqama, who played under incoming Tigers head coach Cleary at Penrith, that is the way he likes it. That being said, though, he wants to stay at a club that gave him an opportunity when they were few and far between at the Panthers.
"It's a good club. I'd love to stay here. I only grew up down the road and in regards to being close to family and stuff it's ideal," the Tigers centre said ahead of their round-five match against St George Illawarra. "But I can't control that, all I can control is what I do on the field."
Naiqama, 28, is happy for Tedesco and Co to be dominating attention on the marketplace.
"To be honest, it really doesn't bother me. If anything it would probably put more pressure on myself if they wanted to talk all about that stuff," he said.
"I actually haven't thought about it too much. My commitment is here with the club and all I can do is focus on what I can do and helping the team.
"I sort of keep myself busy outside of football so when I come here I'm fresh and ready to go."
Naiqama is talking about an apprenticeship in carpentry he has begun, along with stand-in Tigers halfback Littlejohn, at TAFE NSW in Randwick.
As serviceable a first-grader as he is, Naiqama won't be seeing the seven-figure contracts that several of his teammates will likely secure and is looking ahead to life after football.
"I'm going to start working with [a carpenter] as well on my days off just to get a bit of experience," he said. "[It's about] life after football and also just to get a balance so it's not all about football. It took me a couple of years to figure out what I wanted."
If that shapes as Naiqama's next career, in his current one he already has an association with Cleary, who will be announced shortly as Jason Taylor's full-time successor.
He played only eight games in 2014 for the Panthers when Cleary was in charge there, and all on the wing, but was left very impressed by the coach despite having departed due to limited opportunities.
"I didn't play much footy that first year under him. Nothing against him but he had the luxury of great depth in the squad, and also they had the success of the under-20s that won the grand final [in 2013] coming through as well," Naiqama said.
"But in regards to his coaching, he's real smart, definitely got a brain for the game. If he came here it'd be good. I've obviously got a relationship from before."
