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The Tigers are set to grant Tui Lolohea an early release to pave way for a move to the Super League just a fortnight after Bulldogs recruit Moses Mbye made his club debut at fullback.
Lolohea - who still has a year remaining on his NRL contract - headlines a group of NRL talent making the jump overseas alongside Warrington-bound Blake Austin.
League Express reports Lolohea has been earmarked as a five-eighth - a position he starred in for Tonga - and is expected to sign with one of England’s top five clubs.
He isn’t the only Tiger to pack their bags, following Kevin Naiqama out the door after the centre signed a multi-year deal with St Helens to put months of speculation to rest.
Lolohea joined Ivan Cleary’s bus midway through the 2017 season after falling down the pecking order in New Zealand, partnering Luke Brooks in the halves before Benji Marshall and Josh Reynolds arrived.
Starting the year at fullback, the Tongan international has since been in and out of first grade, playing just six games in 2018 with his last appearance coming in Round 14.
Mbye’s signing all but confirmed Lolohea’s position at the club, mainly featuring in fourth-placed NSW Cup side Western Suburbs Magpies.
The club stocked up on outside backs over the pre-season, adding exciting duo Mahe Fonua and Corey Thompson to their starting line-up.
At just 23 years of age, Lolohea has covered a number of positions in the halves and edges, racking up 71 first grade appearances along with seven caps for Tonga and one appearance for the Kiwis.
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Pretty sure he signed till end of 2019….not fussed by his departure
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Sad to hear i loved him, but he never really lived up to his hype.
Good Luck to him
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He’ll love the pork pies up north !
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sounds like Ivans building a ware chest for 2019……but who is he targeting I wonder…
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Shame he never lived up to his potential. I don’t think he was a fullback though, ever really only showed his potential at five eighth.
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Ultimate dud.
Byeeee. -
What a fall from grace. In 2017 he played some awesome footy for us but his spark was short-lived.
As a former Tigers coach once said “players are like used cars, you’re usually just buying someone else’s problem”.
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went well in 2017 as a 5/8. wanted to be fullback not quite up to scratch.
good luck in the UK
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I am fairly sure that he was on a $400,000 a year contract.
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I’m afraid the Experiment Did Not Work out.
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Bus has blown a couple of tyres and Ivan has asked a couple of players to hop off while the new wheels are being fitted
I wonder how long it’s going to take before Ivan has the new tyres fitted
I hope Ivan is waiting for some brand new Pirelli’s to be fitted this time and not second hand used ones -
He was too fat for the bus
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Time to retire the bus - literally.
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@:
Bus has blown a couple of tyres and Ivan has asked a couple of players to hop off while the new wheels are being fitted
I wonder how long it’s going to take before Ivan has the new tyres fitted
I hope Ivan is waiting for some brand new Pirelli’s to be fitted this time and not second hand used onesWow you have got one very big Christmas list.
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