The Wests Tigers have backflipped on letting Alex Twal walk away from the final year of his Cambelltown contract, and in an even more stunning reversal, have locked him up for an extra two seasons through to 2027.
As recently as the end of last month it looked certain Twal would be playing for another club in 2024, with the Tigers telling the one-team star that he would be allowed to walk away from the last contracted season in the tail-end of his his $525,000-a-year deal if he could find another home in the NRL.
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Instead, the club has today rubber-stamped him re-signing through to 2027 on a rejigged contract that will see him paid around $1.6 million across the next four campaigns.
The 27-year-old debuted with the Tigers in 2017 and has gone on to play 124 games. He sensationally scored his first try in 115 appearances in the rugby league top-flight competition earlier this year, breaking the drought against the Melbourne Storm in round 16.
Tigers bosses decided midway through the year that Twal was surplus to requirements.
He spoke to the Canterbury Bulldogs about a three-year deal starting in 2024, The Sporting Base has heard, while the Manly Sea Eagles and St George Illawarra Dragons were interested in him for four and two seasons respectively. Some of those conversations had gone as far as written-up contracts before Wests backflipped.
“This club means so much to me… it feels like family,” Twal said today.
Many around the Tigers regard Twal as a cornerstone of the team and fans have come to consider him a cult figure within the club. He is the longest-serving player at the joint-venture behind David Nofoaluma. Luke Brooks held the crown up until he was released to join Manly ahead of the 2024 season.
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He added: “We have so much still to achieve as a club and a team, and so do I as a player. I can’t wait to put 2023 behind us and rip into pre-season training in a few weeks.”
