The past week has been particularly eventful for the Wests Tigers.
Star second-rower Isaiah Papali’i was given permission to negotiate with other clubs for 2025, and he was quickly signed by the Panthers.
Additionally, CEO Shane Richardson has reportedly traveled to England to explore player availability.
Though it might sound unusual, I’m thrilled with the Tigers’ recent moves.
There were rumors that Papali’i requested to explore his options for next season. If true, the Tigers made the right call by letting him go.
Will this improve results in 2025? Probably not. Papali’i is one of the club’s top three players, and his absence will be felt.
However, the Tigers are undergoing a complete rebuild, and establishing a strong culture is more crucial.
A culture where players want to be at the club.
A culture where players are targeted and signed based on need and value, not just availability.
Ultimately, a winning culture!
Despite the negativity on social media, Marshall and his team have accepted that change is necessary, embracing short-term pain for long-term gain.
Regarding Shane Richardson’s trip to England, he is reportedly offering several players to Super League clubs.
While the specifics of the list are unknown, it likely includes overpaid and underperforming players.
Despite some media prematurely writing off Benji Marshall’s coaching career, I am impressed with the rookie coach so far.
Yes, results aren’t great, and the 2024 finals seem out of reach, but expecting a dramatic change in one off-season is unrealistic.
We’ve seen the emergence of Lachlan Galvin, a better-than-expected return from Aidan Sezer, and most importantly, the signing of Jarome Luai.
Most importantly, Marshall seems to have instilled a “club first” mentality that the Tigers have lacked for years.
There were rumors of players complaining about tough training under Michael Maguire, a premiership-winning coach and current NSW Blues coach.
Players using the Tigers as a stepping stone before demanding releases. Remember Ryan Matterson?
Signing former big-name players on big contracts only to see them underperform. I won’t name names, but there are several in the current squad.
Apisai Koroisau and Jarome Luai are exceptions, but most recent signings have been players with few other options.
I don’t want to criticize the Tigers, but it’s the truth!
Again, I won’t name those players, but we all know who they are.
By showing players and fans that the club won’t cater to player or agent demands and is willing to let want-away stars go, they demonstrate self-confidence.
Confidence that they can become a destination club again. Confidence that they can be a finals team again.
How often have we seen star players sign for Melbourne, Penrith, or the Roosters for less money to play for contenders?
Meanwhile, the Tigers currently have to pay above market value to attract top players.
I hope the Luai and Api connection can spark a recruitment drive similar to that of the Bulldogs. A few years ago, the Bulldogs were struggling, but recently they’ve signed players like Matt Burton, Viliame Kikau, and Stephen Crichton.
These recruits will only come if the Tigers show they are serious.
Letting a supposed want-away star go shows they might be.
Sending your CEO to England to offload players deemed surplus also shows they mean business.
There are several Tigers players who could excel in England or at least extend their careers for a few seasons.
That said, these players are no longer at elite NRL standard, at least in the Tigers’ eyes.
Replacing Papali’i will be challenging, but it’s unlikely he’s the difference between making the top eight or not.
If it were a player like prime Cooper Cronk, of course, the Tigers wouldn’t let him go, but in Papali’i’s case, so be it.
The 2025 player market isn’t booming right now, but three days ago, we didn’t know Papali’i was leaving either.
With players and agents pushing for moves almost weekly, the Tigers can now sit on a pile of cap space and make smart, need-based choices.
You’d struggle to find a Tigers fan who wouldn’t prefer to have Papali’i in the team, but after over a decade of suffering, they would accept another down year or two if it meant long-term change.
Benji and his team have taken steps to ensure that happens.
Maybe it won’t, but at least they’ve stopped doing what hasn’t worked for the past decade.
