Tigers blessing means Papali’i can join new club at end of season

The Wests Tigers have made the shocking move to grant Isaiah Papali’i permission to leave the club at the end of the season, effectively tearing up his $650,000-a-year contract 12 months early.

Papali’i, 25, is now an NRL free agent and can begin training with another club as soon as November this year. He has already begun fielding offers from several clubs.

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This move was decided by the Tigers powerbrokers some days ago and interested NRL clubs were quietly told of the 25-year-old Kiwi international’s availability at Magic Round in Brisbane last weekend, The Sporting Base heard. Penrith, Canterbury, and Manly have already begun speaking to the wantaway Wests second-rower.

While shocking the Tigers said yes, it’s no surprise Papali’i would want to leave.

The ex-Eel famously declared he was “still thinking” about joining the Tigers weeks after signing a rich three-year deal with the club in 2022 and has basically disappeared into the Wests pack since joining.

He originally agreed to join the Tigers to play under his New Zealand Test coach, Michael Maguire, but “Madge” was sacked nearly immediately after the signing was made. Papali’i then served Tim Sheens for a year before rookie coach Benji Marshall took the reigns. The second-rower has not set the world on fire, with his stint especially disappointing considering he was the Dally M second-rower of the year just three campaigns ago.

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The Sporting Base expects clubs to field offers marked at around $450,000 for the 25-year-old. Considering the price, most NRL clubs will shoot off informal offers to the Tiger soon.