**<big>Tuimoala Lolohea leaves Warriors, joins Tigers</big>**
David Long
http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-league/league-news/tuimoala-lolohea-leaves-warriors-joins-tigers-20170526-gwe06f.html
Tuimoala Lolohea has officially left the Warriors and informed Wests Tigers that he will sign with them.
The 22-year-old, who fell out of favour with Warriors coach Stephen Kearney, had been seeking a release from the club for the past few weeks.
Tuimoala Lolohea will be ready to play against the Dragons next week.
The Warriors allowed him to talk to other NRL teams and the Tigers along with the Raiders and Cowboys all put offers to the one-test Kiwi.
Lolohea was granted the release on Friday after the Warriors completed the signing of Zac Santo from the Raiders to be his replacement.
Lolohea was then able to make his final decision on which club to join and went with the Ivan Cleary-coached Tigers, agreeing to a 2-1/2 year deal.
He has waived the 10-day cooling period and will be ready to play for the joint venture in next weekend's game against the Dragons.
Lolohea's time at the Warriors came to an unfortunate end and not one that anyone would have been expected when he signed a big contract with the club in June 2015
He was held up as a future star of the Warriors, with X-factor and great attacking abilities.
It was always anticipated that he'd eventually move into the halves and partner Shaun Johnson, however that opportunity never really arose.
In 2015 Chad Townsend was with the club, last year Thomas Leuluai switched from hooker to five-eighth and this season the Warriors brought in Kieran Foran on a one year-contract.
Warriors coach Stephen Kearney started the season with the intention of playing Lolohea on the wing, but he only got to play the first two games of the season in that position.
When Roger Tuivasa-Sheck was forced to miss the round three game against the Bulldogs Lolohea was shifted to the No 1 jersey and the following week when Foran was a late scratching he was moved to five-eighth.
That game proved to be his last ever for the club and he leaves having made 52 appearances, scoring 17 tries and kicking 18 goals.
He'll join a Tigers team that will look drastically different next year as Cleary reshapes the playing roster.
Ben Matulino and former Warrior Jacob Lillyman are also joining the Tigers. As are Chris McQueen from the Titans, Russell Packer from the Dragons and Josh Reynolds from the Bulldogs.
With James Tedesco and Mitchell Moses both leaving the Tigers, Lolohea will be a first-team regular at the club, something that was looking increasingly unlikely to happen for him at the Warriors.
They have offered a contract to Ata Hingano for next year and they are also on the look out for someone else who can play in the halves, with Te Maire Martin one of the options they're exploring.
In the meantime, the 24-year-old Zac Santo is a handy pick up as a player who can cover wing and fullback.
Although he has only played three games in the NRL, he was voted winger of the year in the NSW Cup last season and if he's willing to work hard and have a good attitude, could force his way onto the wings.
David Long
http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-league/league-news/tuimoala-lolohea-leaves-warriors-joins-tigers-20170526-gwe06f.html
Tuimoala Lolohea has officially left the Warriors and informed Wests Tigers that he will sign with them.
The 22-year-old, who fell out of favour with Warriors coach Stephen Kearney, had been seeking a release from the club for the past few weeks.
Tuimoala Lolohea will be ready to play against the Dragons next week.
The Warriors allowed him to talk to other NRL teams and the Tigers along with the Raiders and Cowboys all put offers to the one-test Kiwi.
Lolohea was granted the release on Friday after the Warriors completed the signing of Zac Santo from the Raiders to be his replacement.
Lolohea was then able to make his final decision on which club to join and went with the Ivan Cleary-coached Tigers, agreeing to a 2-1/2 year deal.
He has waived the 10-day cooling period and will be ready to play for the joint venture in next weekend's game against the Dragons.
Lolohea's time at the Warriors came to an unfortunate end and not one that anyone would have been expected when he signed a big contract with the club in June 2015
He was held up as a future star of the Warriors, with X-factor and great attacking abilities.
It was always anticipated that he'd eventually move into the halves and partner Shaun Johnson, however that opportunity never really arose.
In 2015 Chad Townsend was with the club, last year Thomas Leuluai switched from hooker to five-eighth and this season the Warriors brought in Kieran Foran on a one year-contract.
Warriors coach Stephen Kearney started the season with the intention of playing Lolohea on the wing, but he only got to play the first two games of the season in that position.
When Roger Tuivasa-Sheck was forced to miss the round three game against the Bulldogs Lolohea was shifted to the No 1 jersey and the following week when Foran was a late scratching he was moved to five-eighth.
That game proved to be his last ever for the club and he leaves having made 52 appearances, scoring 17 tries and kicking 18 goals.
He'll join a Tigers team that will look drastically different next year as Cleary reshapes the playing roster.
Ben Matulino and former Warrior Jacob Lillyman are also joining the Tigers. As are Chris McQueen from the Titans, Russell Packer from the Dragons and Josh Reynolds from the Bulldogs.
With James Tedesco and Mitchell Moses both leaving the Tigers, Lolohea will be a first-team regular at the club, something that was looking increasingly unlikely to happen for him at the Warriors.
They have offered a contract to Ata Hingano for next year and they are also on the look out for someone else who can play in the halves, with Te Maire Martin one of the options they're exploring.
In the meantime, the 24-year-old Zac Santo is a handy pick up as a player who can cover wing and fullback.
Although he has only played three games in the NRL, he was voted winger of the year in the NSW Cup last season and if he's willing to work hard and have a good attitude, could force his way onto the wings.
