Wests Tigers confirm nine players to depart

[Tigerdon]

From Zero Tackle
Wests Tigers confirm nine players to depart
Zero Tackle - September 6, 2017 - 4:32 pm
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The Wests Tigers have confirmed nine players that won’t be with the club next season.

The club held their annual awards ceremony last night and revealed a number of players who would not be returning to the Wests Tigers in 2018.
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It was already well-known that James Tedesco (Sydney Roosters), Aaron Woods (Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs) and Ava Seumanufagai (Cronulla Sharks) were leaving the club at the end of the season after signing deals with new clubs earlier in the year.

The Tigers had also previously announced that veteran hooker Matt Ballin had been forced into immediate retirement due to his knee injuries.

The club has now also confirmed that off contract players Joel Edwards, Justin Hunt, Jamal Idris, Jack Littlejohn and Kyle Lovett would not be re-signed by the club.

The Wests Tigers thanked each of the players for their individual service over the years and wish them all the best in their future endeavours.
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The playing roster for the Wests Tigers has undertaken a major overhaul for 2018, with the likes of Josh Reynolds, Russell Packer, Ben Matulino and Benji Marshall all joining the club.

The club has also re-signed a number of key players from this season with stars Luke Brooks, Elijah Taylor and David Nofoaluma all agreeing to new deals under head coach Ivan Cleary.

WESTS TIGERS 2018 PLAYER MOVEMENTS

2018 Gains: Mahe Fonua (Hull FC, 2019), Tyson Gamble (2019), Tuimoala Lolohea (New Zealand Warriors, 2019), Benji Marshall (Brisbane Broncos, 2018), Ben Matulino (New Zealand Warriors, 2020), Chris McQueen (Gold Coast Titans, 2020), Taane Milne (St George Illawarra Dragons, 2019), Russell Packer (St George Illawarra Dragons, 2021), Josh Reynolds (Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs, 2021), Robbie Rochow (Melbourne Storm, 2019), Corey Thompson (Widnes Vikings, 2019), Alex Twal (Parramatta Eels, 2020), Malakai Watene-Zelezniak (Penrith Panthers, 2018)
2018 Losses: Matt Ballin (retired), Joel Edwards (released), Justin Hunt (released), Jamal Idris (released), Jack Littlejohn (released), Kyle Lovett (released), Mitchell Moses (Parramatta Eels), Ryan Papenhuyzen (Melbourne Storm), Jordan Rankin (Huddersfield Giants), Ava Seumanufagai (Cronulla Sharks), James Tedesco (Sydney Roosters), Aaron Woods (Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs)
Re-Signed: Josh Aloiai (2019), Luke Brooks (2019), Michael Chee-Kam (2019), Matt Eisenhuth (2019), Tim Grant (2018), Jacob Liddle (2019), Matt McIlwrick (2019), Kevin Naiqama (2018), David Nofoaluma (2021), Moses Suli (2020), Elijah Taylor (2020)
Off Contract 2017: Watson Heleta

 

[Donald_Trump]

How good! I agree with all these decisions.

 

[JD Tiger]

Still don't know about Jeremy Marshall-King and Bailey Sironen. Hoping to keep both for Reserve Grade and see them step up gradually throughout next year.

Especially JMK, with only two fundamental hookers in the squad (I don't count Reynolds he's a 5/8 and ET is best suited elsewhere), surely we need a third.

 

[TIGER]

Lots off contract in 2019

 

[BalmainBoy]

Losing Ryan Papenhuyzen is suggested as a loss especially with Tedesco gone.. could end up one of the storm players that go from zero to hero… some football opinion I really rate say he is a gun.. personally I have no idea and know little about him

 

[nipper652]

Losing Ryan Papenhuyzen is suggested as a loss especially with Tedesco gone.. could end up one of the storm players that go from zero to hero… some football opinion I really rate say he is a gun.. personally I have no idea and know little about him

I'm sure lots who nothing about him will be full of negativity

 

[jirskyr]

Losing Ryan Papenhuyzen is suggested as a loss especially with Tedesco gone.. could end up one of the storm players that go from zero to hero… some football opinion I really rate say he is a gun.. personally I have no idea and know little about him

I'm sure lots who nothing about him will be full of negativity

I don't know him directly either, just the reports that he has talent but perhaps not the size. So he could go Tedesco or he could go Mullaney, Mighty Mouse, Kurtis Rowe etc.

Being behind Billy Slater for a few years could do Paps well, but there's also fair competition in the backs at the Storm, they aren't mugs when it comes to recruitment and they don't waste extra time on failed investments.

 

[ricksen]

Size is definitely an issue for him at the moment, but time is on his side.

 

[Yossarian]

I don't know - jury is out. He hasn't really come along as well as I thought he would but not going to write him off yet. My gut says he's long odds to play much NRL in the foreseeable future.

 

[Pawsandclaws]

Losing Ryan Papenhuyzen is suggested as a loss especially with Tedesco gone.. could end up one of the storm players that go from zero to hero… some football opinion I really rate say he is a gun.. personally I have no idea and know little about him

I'm sure lots who nothing about him will be full of negativity

I am still not pleased about losing him. Many suggested Curtis Scott had a size issue when he left the Sharks for the Storm.

I did read on this forum that the current Aust Schools fullback, Dylan Smith, is joining us as a development player. I am interested to see how he proceeds through the grades.

 

[balmain boy]

Pap is a small player who has had a lot of trouble with injuries over the past 2 years. And he hasn't even started playing with the big boys yet. Maybe the storm will work their magic on him but having watched him play at least a dozen times i have my doubts.

 

[Geo]

ISP feeder Clubs will still have part-time players contracted to them ..they won't necessarily be contracted to the NRL 30 man squad…

Players like Marshall-King, Watson Heleta, Jordon Grant, Wes Lolo, Jackson Williams, Ashley Nisbet and Jerry Key could all be contracted under these circumstances or they could take the chance at getting a NRL contract with other Clubs or feeder teams..they then may move into the Top 30 squad as the case may be..

 

[Guest]

Losing Ryan Papenhuyzen is suggested as a loss especially with Tedesco gone.. could end up one of the storm players that go from zero to hero… some football opinion I really rate say he is a gun.. personally I have no idea and know little about him

I'm sure lots who nothing about him will be full of negativity

I am still not pleased about losing him. Many suggested Curtis Scott had a size issue when he left the Sharks for the Storm.

I did read on this forum that the current Aust Schools fullback, Dylan Smith, is joining us as a development player. I am interested to see how he proceeds through the grades.

He's a stick figure and the fact he's been nothing but injury prone in the NYC does nothing to suggest he'll handle the rigours of FG. I don't see him as a loss. Not as special as Tedesco at the same age and his build is far too slight.

 

[upthetigers]

Glad Idris wasn't resigned. He was good defensively but offered nothing in attack. Maybe good for depth but nothing more.

 

[05TIGZ]

If JT was still here the article would read Tigers re sign Lovett, Edwards , JLJ, hunt….

 

[colmcd]

Wow we resigned Kevin Naquima?

Surprised that Jamal Idris was not resigned. Clearly Ivan did not rate him. I would like to see him play but will trust Ivan on this.

 

[GNR4LIFE]

Most of these guys served us at a time when they were all we could afford. Blame the horrendous cap managers we have had over the years, not the players themselves. It's not their fault they took the opportunity presented to them. Thankfully we finally had an entire cap at our disposal to go out and sign quality this year. Hard to sign quality when you can't afford to rub two sticks together.