Transfer Market: Tigers’ shock bid to snare DWZ

[happy_tiger]

NRL transfer news: Wests Tigers-Bulldogs Joey Leilua, Dallin Watene-Zelezniak player swap

A high-profile mid-season transfer swap between Wests Tigers and Canterbury is gaining serious momentum as Joey Leilua tries to reinvent his career.
Nick Campton

Joey Leilua will move to second row for Western Suburbs this weekend in a positional switch that could possibly open the door for a mid-season transfer to an NRL rival.

The enigmatic centre is under contract until the end of 2022 but has been discussed as a potential makeweight in a player swap for Canterbury fullback Dallin Watene-Zelezniak.

Negotiations between the two clubs are still ongoing and a clearer picture is expected to emerge by next week as Wests Tigers close in on the Kiwi Test skipper, but if Leilua can make a good fist of his move to the back row his versatility could make him a more attractive prospect for the Bulldogs.

After bouncing between first grade and NSW Cup for much of the season as a centre, Leilua will line up at second row for Sunday’s clash with Parramatta, the first time he’s played in the forwards since 2010.

While Leilua has endured an inconsistent season he’s still a dynamic attacking player on his day and his ability to break tackles and offload could be just what the blue and whites need given their attacking struggles so far in 2021.

Leilua has two tries in seven NRL matches this season as well as two try assists, two line breaks and 16 tackle busts.

His form in reserve grade has been stronger with two tries, four try assists and three line breaks from four matches.

The former Raider is a two-time Dally M centre of the year indicated earlier this season he was keen to move to the forwards in an effort to reinvent his career.

“I played my juniors in the back row and would love a return there sometime,” Leilua told The Daily Telegraph’s Dean Ritchie.

“It’s up to my coach where I play and I have found a home in the centres but reckon I could benefit from a change of position at this time of my career.

“I like to get the ball in the hands and keep busy on the field. I like being in the action.

“I handled back row well as a young bloke and reckon I could succeed there again. I’m only 29 so I could adapt back fairly easily.”

Reece Hoffman, a highly-rated prospect who made his NRL debut last season, and Fetalaiga Pauga will be preferred at centre.


I’m confused by the term “player swap” is this the same as Momo / Harry in 2020?
….Or am i reading to much into a Jurno having a stab in the dark

Swap is just the lazy jurno..

Switch is a more appropriate definition..both players would be released from their current contracts and sign new one's with each Club but there would be no returns..

Lazy Journo for a lazy player ...apt really

 

[PabloX]

Where does everyone get the idea that BJ is off contract at the end of the year. This was from Wests Tigers in 2020 when he signed.

"Wests Tigers are delighted to confirm the acquisition of Samoan international Joseph Leilua, who has ***agreed to terms for the coming three seasons.***

The three-year deal will see the talented outside back join Wests Tigers effective immediately from the ***start of the 2020 season through to at least the end of the 2022 season."***

I have read reports on here that there was a club option for 2022 but the initial release does not state that.

It’s listed on WT website as a club option for 2022

Where is that listed - on his official bio on the WT website is this :

"An experienced centre with over 200 games experience, Joseph Leilua joined Wests Tigers ahead of the 2020 season following successful previous stints at the Sydney Roosters, Newcastle Knights and Canberra Raiders. A former Australian Schoolboy and regular in the Samoan national side, Leilua has twice been named the Dally M Centre of the Year (2016 and 2018) and twice played in Grand Finals (2010 and 2019). ***He is signed through at Wests Tigers until the end of the 2022 season."***

I'm not doubting that it is a club option for 2022 - i just can't find it.

If you scroll down it will have all the players listed and their contract lengths.

https://www.weststigers.com.au/news/2020/11/05/wests-tigers-2021-nrl-squad/


Ok thanks. Pretty poor form by the club not to mention that in all the official releases and his bio. I know that zero project that keeps a record of all off contract players has him signed to the end of 2022 without an option.

Poor form from the club? Give me a break, it's on the clubs website...

 

[Moh]

If BJ handles the switch to backrow and shines, I'd like to keep him. Imagine if he becomes anything like Lucy - he could really trouble teams, just need him to want it.

 

[Jedi_Tiger]

are we able to use some of this year's salary cap to bump up Mmbye so we pay less the next 2 years ?

 

[TigerWest]

are we able to use some of this year's salary cap to bump up Mmbye so we pay less the next 2 years ?

He’s only here till end of next year? But good idea.

 

[hsvjones]

But at what price for DWZ.

There's no way hes to be paid Ado Carr dollars.

No more Mbye style contracts


He is getting more (reportedly) than JAC,crazy stuff

Correct but that's not we would be paying him as we are around the 300-400k for which would be a great price.

 

[TigerWest]

If BJ handles the switch to backrow and shines, I'd like to keep him. Imagine if he becomes anything like Lucy - he could really trouble teams, just need him to want it.

Probably his last roll of dice, but not for us, imo. Too little to late.

 

[Snake]

If BJ handles the switch to backrow and shines, I'd like to keep him. Imagine if he becomes anything like Lucy - he could really trouble teams, just need him to want it.

No need to worry about that BJ lacks one quality only ATTITUDE.

 

[Jedi_Tiger]

are we able to use some of this year's salary cap to bump up Mmbye so we pay less the next 2 years ?

He’s only here till end of next year? But good idea.

forgot until end of 2022
if we dont get anyone this year we should use some of our cap to offset theb900k he is on next year if the nrl let you do that anymore

 

[GCfan]

I’m not convinced Hastings is better than Mbye

He's better value than Mbye and therefore better for the club.

I don't really see the point in releasing Mbye though, you won't save enough $ to get a player that is better than him.

I’m not sure why we would even think of getting rid of Mbye, atm?
Our game has improved so much since he has gone to 6? We’ve tried other combinations with no success.
Certainly not ever worth the money we pay him, but he is here and we are starting to gel as a team, keep him and let’s just see how it pans out, we are now realistically a chance of making the 8.

Me personally, I’d like to see him and the club agree to re-structure his contract so his salary next year gets split to cover 2023 as well. I got no problem with him staying on beyond next season at a reduced contract.

Agree, but why should he?

Potentially career longevity?
I agree that a contracted players is under no obligation to re negotiate an existing contract but there’s also the lure of an extension

 

[crazycat]

are we able to use some of this year's salary cap to bump up Mbye so we pay less the next 2 years ?

Why arn't we doing this for say Brooks? or Twal or Tamou or Daine Laurie?

I don't understand why we don't frontload our cap a lot more. Were probably not going to make the 8, what we have to give up on signing DWZ for 400k this year...woopie.

Frontload our spare coin on players we are going to keep. I hate that we have signed Mbye, but I have to admit putting him at 5/8 has worked and he has played his heart out. The fact that he stayed in first grade when Reynolds and Packer dropped all comes down to attitude. I would frontload anyone else but Mbye though.
Look, honestly Mbye was an 750K investment that never worked out. Sure he has sometimes played at the 200k level, sometimes at the 450k level.. But if I had to pick our backline it is:
Daine Laurie
Cini/Nofo
Doueini/James - jet-Roberts, plus we have Oliver coming from the UK.
Hastings + Brooks in the halves.

Mbye at best is NR14. OR Mbye starts at 6 and Hastings forces his way into the starting squad.

We probably won't be signing Mbye on less then 450k. No way we should be frontloading HIM, and why spend so much on NR14 when we could put up a junior. I don't see where Mbye fits, why front load?

 

[diedpretty]

Where does everyone get the idea that BJ is off contract at the end of the year. This was from Wests Tigers in 2020 when he signed.

"Wests Tigers are delighted to confirm the acquisition of Samoan international Joseph Leilua, who has ***agreed to terms for the coming three seasons.***

The three-year deal will see the talented outside back join Wests Tigers effective immediately from the ***start of the 2020 season through to at least the end of the 2022 season."***

I have read reports on here that there was a club option for 2022 but the initial release does not state that.

It’s listed on WT website as a club option for 2022

Where is that listed - on his official bio on the WT website is this :

"An experienced centre with over 200 games experience, Joseph Leilua joined Wests Tigers ahead of the 2020 season following successful previous stints at the Sydney Roosters, Newcastle Knights and Canberra Raiders. A former Australian Schoolboy and regular in the Samoan national side, Leilua has twice been named the Dally M Centre of the Year (2016 and 2018) and twice played in Grand Finals (2010 and 2019). ***He is signed through at Wests Tigers until the end of the 2022 season."***

I'm not doubting that it is a club option for 2022 - i just can't find it.

If you scroll down it will have all the players listed and their contract lengths.

https://www.weststigers.com.au/news/2020/11/05/wests-tigers-2021-nrl-squad/


Ok thanks. Pretty poor form by the club not to mention that in all the official releases and his bio. I know that zero project that keeps a record of all off contract players has him signed to the end of 2022 without an option.

Poor form from the club? Give me a break, it's on the clubs website...

it doesn't mention anything about club option in any official announcement or his bio yet it does on JTJ - do they just pick and choose who they will actually provide info on. My point is the media keep saying he is here until 2022. So you know where you can shove your give me a break.

 

[BZN]

I’m not convinced Hastings is better than Mbye

He's better value than Mbye and therefore better for the club.

I don't really see the point in releasing Mbye though, you won't save enough $ to get a player that is better than him.

Plus, he and Brooksy are working well together.

 

[Geo]

are we able to use some of this year's salary cap to bump up Mbye so we pay less the next 2 years ?

Why arn't we doing this for say Brooks? or Twal or Tamou or Daine Laurie?

I don't understand why we don't frontload our cap a lot more. Were probably not going to make the 8, what we have to give up on signing DWZ for 400k this year...woopie.

Frontload our spare coin on players we are going to keep. I hate that we have signed Mbye, but I have to admit putting him at 5/8 has worked and he has played his heart out. The fact that he stayed in first grade when Reynolds and Packer dropped all comes down to attitude. I would frontload anyone else but Mbye though.
Look, honestly Mbye was an 750K investment that never worked out. Sure he has sometimes played at the 200k level, sometimes at the 450k level.. But if I had to pick our backline it is:
Daine Laurie
Cini/Nofo
Doueini/James - jet-Roberts, plus we have Oliver coming from the UK.
Hastings + Brooks in the halves.

Mbye at best is NR14. OR Mbye starts at 6 and Hastings forces his way into the starting squad.

We probably won't be signing Mbye on less then 450k. No way we should be frontloading HIM, and why spend so much on NR14 when we could put up a junior. I don't see where Mbye fits, why front load?

They may do that as well as upgrade others..but they still as it stands need to either sign or promote 2 players by August 1 this year to be NRL compliant..even if it is 2 minimum wage players..

 

[PabloX]

Where does everyone get the idea that BJ is off contract at the end of the year. This was from Wests Tigers in 2020 when he signed.

"Wests Tigers are delighted to confirm the acquisition of Samoan international Joseph Leilua, who has ***agreed to terms for the coming three seasons.***

The three-year deal will see the talented outside back join Wests Tigers effective immediately from the ***start of the 2020 season through to at least the end of the 2022 season."***

I have read reports on here that there was a club option for 2022 but the initial release does not state that.

It’s listed on WT website as a club option for 2022

Where is that listed - on his official bio on the WT website is this :

"An experienced centre with over 200 games experience, Joseph Leilua joined Wests Tigers ahead of the 2020 season following successful previous stints at the Sydney Roosters, Newcastle Knights and Canberra Raiders. A former Australian Schoolboy and regular in the Samoan national side, Leilua has twice been named the Dally M Centre of the Year (2016 and 2018) and twice played in Grand Finals (2010 and 2019). ***He is signed through at Wests Tigers until the end of the 2022 season."***

I'm not doubting that it is a club option for 2022 - i just can't find it.

If you scroll down it will have all the players listed and their contract lengths.

https://www.weststigers.com.au/news/2020/11/05/wests-tigers-2021-nrl-squad/


Ok thanks. Pretty poor form by the club not to mention that in all the official releases and his bio. I know that zero project that keeps a record of all off contract players has him signed to the end of 2022 without an option.

Poor form from the club? Give me a break, it's on the clubs website...


it doesn't mention anything about club option in any official announcement or his bio yet it does on JTJ - do they just pick and choose who they will actually provide info on. My point is the media keep saying he is here until 2022. So you know where you can shove your give me a break.

Don't sweat the small stuff, mate

 

[GNR4LIFE]

I’m not convinced Hastings is better than Mbye

He's better value than Mbye and therefore better for the club.

I don't really see the point in releasing Mbye though, you won't save enough $ to get a player that is better than him.

I’m not sure why we would even think of getting rid of Mbye, atm?
Our game has improved so much since he has gone to 6? We’ve tried other combinations with no success.
Certainly not ever worth the money we pay him, but he is here and we are starting to gel as a team, keep him and let’s just see how it pans out, we are now realistically a chance of making the 8.

Me personally, I’d like to see him and the club agree to re-structure his contract so his salary next year gets split to cover 2023 as well. I got no problem with him staying on beyond next season at a reduced contract.

Agree, but why should he?

Well, he’s under no obligation to. I guess for him, it comes down to if he thinks he can get above 400k elsewhere in 2022.

 

[Jedi_Tiger]

are we able to use some of this year's salary cap to bump up Mbye so we pay less the next 2 years ?

Why arn't we doing this for say Brooks? or Twal or Tamou or Daine Laurie?

I don't understand why we don't frontload our cap a lot more. Were probably not going to make the 8, what we have to give up on signing DWZ for 400k this year...woopie.

Frontload our spare coin on players we are going to keep. I hate that we have signed Mbye, but I have to admit putting him at 5/8 has worked and he has played his heart out. The fact that he stayed in first grade when Reynolds and Packer dropped all comes down to attitude. I would frontload anyone else but Mbye though.
Look, honestly Mbye was an 750K investment that never worked out. Sure he has sometimes played at the 200k level, sometimes at the 450k level.. But if I had to pick our backline it is:
Daine Laurie
Cini/Nofo
Doueini/James - jet-Roberts, plus we have Oliver coming from the UK.
Hastings + Brooks in the halves.

Mbye at best is NR14. OR Mbye starts at 6 and Hastings forces his way into the starting squad.

We probably won't be signing Mbye on less then 450k. No way we should be frontloading HIM, and why spend so much on NR14 when we could put up a junior. I don't see where Mbye fits, why front load?

the way Brooks and Moses are playing Hasting may be the 13 type of role. Forget Moses Mmbye's price tag he is playing well as a link man

 

[Milky]

are we able to use some of this year's salary cap to bump up Mbye so we pay less the next 2 years ?

Why arn't we doing this for say Brooks? or Twal or Tamou or Daine Laurie?

I don't understand why we don't frontload our cap a lot more. Were probably not going to make the 8, what we have to give up on signing DWZ for 400k this year...woopie.

Frontload our spare coin on players we are going to keep. I hate that we have signed Mbye, but I have to admit putting him at 5/8 has worked and he has played his heart out. The fact that he stayed in first grade when Reynolds and Packer dropped all comes down to attitude. I would frontload anyone else but Mbye though.
Look, honestly Mbye was an 750K investment that never worked out. Sure he has sometimes played at the 200k level, sometimes at the 450k level.. But if I had to pick our backline it is:
Daine Laurie
Cini/Nofo
Doueini/James - jet-Roberts, plus we have Oliver coming from the UK.
Hastings + Brooks in the halves.

Mbye at best is NR14. OR Mbye starts at 6 and Hastings forces his way into the starting squad.

We probably won't be signing Mbye on less then 450k. No way we should be frontloading HIM, and why spend so much on NR14 when we could put up a junior. I don't see where Mbye fits, why front load?

Because this year is technically a write off in terms of recruitment so if we front-load Mbye's contract he would be on say 500k next year. If he goes to crap and someone picks him up next year, we will only be contributing around 200k as opposed to 500k.

 

[wicked_j]

Where does everyone get the idea that BJ is off contract at the end of the year. This was from Wests Tigers in 2020 when he signed.

"Wests Tigers are delighted to confirm the acquisition of Samoan international Joseph Leilua, who has ***agreed to terms for the coming three seasons.***

The three-year deal will see the talented outside back join Wests Tigers effective immediately from the ***start of the 2020 season through to at least the end of the 2022 season."***

I have read reports on here that there was a club option for 2022 but the initial release does not state that.

It’s listed on WT website as a club option for 2022

Where is that listed - on his official bio on the WT website is this :

"An experienced centre with over 200 games experience, Joseph Leilua joined Wests Tigers ahead of the 2020 season following successful previous stints at the Sydney Roosters, Newcastle Knights and Canberra Raiders. A former Australian Schoolboy and regular in the Samoan national side, Leilua has twice been named the Dally M Centre of the Year (2016 and 2018) and twice played in Grand Finals (2010 and 2019). ***He is signed through at Wests Tigers until the end of the 2022 season."***

I'm not doubting that it is a club option for 2022 - i just can't find it.

If you scroll down it will have all the players listed and their contract lengths.

https://www.weststigers.com.au/news/2020/11/05/wests-tigers-2021-nrl-squad/


Ok thanks. Pretty poor form by the club not to mention that in all the official releases and his bio. I know that zero project that keeps a record of all off contract players has him signed to the end of 2022 without an option.

Poor form from the club? Give me a break, it's on the clubs website...


it doesn't mention anything about club option in any official announcement or his bio yet it does on JTJ - do they just pick and choose who they will actually provide info on. My point is the media keep saying he is here until 2022. So you know where you can shove your give me a break.

it's actually on the club website when they released the 2021 squad list https://www.weststigers.com.au/news/2020/11/05/wests-tigers-2021-nrl-squad/


 

[clontarfkid]

DWZ and Mbye are on the approx same $$ over the same term...which is way too much for both of them buts thats the status quo for both clubs unfortunately.All thought they were buying quality fullbacks...
theyre both at best modest NRL players on current form,and next year Hasting one way or another displaces Mbye at 6 leaving him as 14th man whereas DWZ wld definitely get a start at WTs on the wing(or centres)....and who knows, may have upside working under Madge and regain his glory days
Dogs have Naden,but still need a centre(and probably half)
So Im for a straight swap which shld work for everyone concerned!!

I'm not convinced Hastings is better than Mbye.

We'll get an opportunity to find out next year!