NRL 2024: Wests Tigers eye St George Illawarra veteran Jack Bird | Market Watch

Having added some depth to their playing ranks with some young prospects, the Wests Tigers have now turned their attention to veteran Dragon Jack Bird. See the latest transfer news.

(L-R) Spencer Leniu and Connor Watson.

The Wests Tigers have entered the race to sign St George Illawarra star Jack Bird as the club continues its roster rebuild under coach Benji Marshall.

It’s understood the Tigers have met with Bird and have discussed a multi-year deal from 2025.

It comes just 24 hours after Marshall confirmed the cashed-up Tigers are looking to add experience to the top-30 roster for 2025 and beyond.

Bird took up a mutual option to remain at the Dragons for next season but has since been given permission to talk to other clubs.

The Dragons are open to releasing Bird from the final year of his deal in 2025 if the 29-year-old can secure a deal elsewhere.

Jack Bird. Picture: NRL PHOTOS

St George Illawarra coach Shane Flanagan does not want to lose Bird to a rival club but it’s understood the Dragons are not in a position to offer the former NSW Blues representative a deal beyond 2025.

Bird has been in high demand since being granted permission to test the market and has already met with a number of Sydney-based clubs.

On Wednesday, Marshall hinted the club was keen to add much needed experience to its playing ranks, and Bird, a premiership winner and former NSW Blues representative fits that bill.

Bird would also add versatility to Marshall’s young roster given he can play in a number of positions including centre, five-eighth and second row.

Only last week, the Tigers added Jeral Skelton to the club’s outside back stocks, signing the damaging Canterbury winger on a two-year deal.

TIGERS BUILD ROSTER DEPTH

Wests Tigers coach Benji Marshall is planning to spend the club’s $2 million salary cap war chest on much needed experience in the top 30 roster, as the club announced a seven player signings spree.

The cashed-up Tigers will hit the open market to bolster Marshall’s rebuild in the coming months after losing rising prop Stefano Utoikamanu to Melbourne from 2025.

In the meantime, the club has added depth to its playing ranks, securing some of the Tigers’ most promising prospects including prop Tim Johannssen and backrower Lachlan Broederlow.

Johannssen, 22, made his NRL debut in round 22 against North Queensland and will remain at the club for the next two seasons on a full-time deal outside of the Top 30.

Broederlow, a highly regarded local junior, has also signed a two-year extension after impressing at Jersey Flegg (under 21’s) and NSW Cup level this year.

Benji Marshall has gone on a signing spree, announcing seven new player signings. Picture: Getty Images

The damaging edge forward will progress into the NRL development squad in 2026.

“Building for the future is not just about strengthening the top 30, but also about adding quality to the next tier,” Tigers CEO Richardson said.

“Most of these players are being rewarded for what they have shown in our pathways program, and we have also reached outside our own system to add another layer of quality.

“I firmly believe that to have a successful NRL team, there must be healthy competition within the broader roster.”

Dundas Shamrocks junior Jaxson Rahme, a tough lock forward and former Australian Schoolboys star, will return to the Tigers in 2025 after defecting to the Newcastle Knights in 2024.

Vaka Aho, 21, is a powerful young prop and pathways player that has been elevated into the NSW Cup side this year.

Tim Johannssen made his NRL debut for the Tigers in Round 22 and will now stay at the club for another two-years. Picture: Getty Images

The club has also moved to bolster their dummy-half stocks, locking in Jersey Flegg rake Kobi Wilson, 21, and Tristan Hope, 27, from the Brisbane Tigers in the Queensland Cup on full time deals.

Five-eighth Eiden Ackland will join the Tigers after playing for the Mount Albert Lions in New Zealand in 2024. The 26-year old had stints with Manly and New Zealand, playing 24 NSW Cup games over two seasons.

While none of the signings announced on Wednesday are NRL deals, Marshall is still expected to be active on the open market.

Marshall was coy when asked what positions the Tigers needed to shore up in the top 30 roster but he tinted at targeting experienced NRL stars in a bid to help guide the club’s crop of rising youngsters including the likes of Lachlan Galvin, Heath Mason and Sameula Fainu.

The rookie coach will have plenty of money to lure his targets with the departure of Utoikamanu boosting the Tigers’ coffers to the tune of $2 million.

“Part of my job as coach and Richo’s as CEO is finding ways to improve and find out what that is,” Marshall said.

“But I think we have a good batch of young guys coming through and what we need is some experience around them a little bit. But we are happy with where we are going.”

TITANS RELEASE UTILITY TO WARRIORS

—Travis Meyn, Michael Carayannis

Des Hasler has made his first roster shake-up at the Titans after releasing forward Erin Clark to the Warriors.

Clark will depart the Gold Coast at season’s end to take up a multi-year contract in his native New Zealand.

Clark, 26, resurrected his NRL career at the Titans from 2020 after playing a sole match for the Warriors in 2017.

A playmaker in his younger days, Clark switched to hooker and then became a middle forward at the Titans.

He became a mainstay in Gold Coast’s 17 over the past five seasons and will play his 93rd NRL game against the Roosters on Sunday.

But that will be Clark’s final appearance at Cbus Super Stadium in a Titans jersey after he was released from his 2025 deal to join the Warriors.

Erin Clark will join the Warriors in 2025. Picture: NRL Imagery

Clark will beef-up Andrew Webster’s forward pack following the departure of superstar prop Addin Fonua-Blake to Cronulla.

Earlier this week, the Titans announced Clark’s mother Temepara Bailey will vacate her position as the club’s head of netball to return to New Zealand.

Bailey will become head coach of the Northern Stars in New Zealand’s ANZ Premiership and Clark will also follow her home to Auckland.

ARTHUR EXITS EELS

—David Riccio

Newcastle have signed Matt Arthur from Parramatta on a three-year deal.

The NSW under-19’s hooker will join the Knights from next season after agreeing to become the club’s future No. 9.

Arthur’s move to the Knights is in the wake of his release from his 2025 contract at the Eels on “compassionate grounds” following the sacking of his father and head coach Brad Arthur.

The Knights signing of Arthur is problematic given that starting hooker Jayden Brailey and back-up dummy-half Phoenix Crossland are also contracted through until the end of 2025 and 2026 respectively.

It’s reason as to why Brailey has been given permission to negotiate with rival club for next season.

Matt Arthur playing NSW Cup for the Eels. NRL Imagery

CHOOKS LOCK DOWN LENIU AND WATSON

—Tyson Jackson

Sydney Roosters stars Connor Watson and Spencer Leniu have both recommitted to the Tricolours, with the pair signing two-year extensions to keep them at the club until at least the end of the 2027 season.

As revealed by this masthead last month, the Roosters confirmed the new deals for the NSW Blues stars on Tuesday.

“I’m grateful for the opportunity to keep working with such a talented group of players and staff and I’m excited to continue to bring my best every day,” Watson said.

(L-R) Spencer Leniu and Connor Watson.

Former Panther Leniu has settled in well at the Bondi Junction club and couldn’t see himself playing anywhere else.

“I’m grateful to be part of such a prestigious club like the Roosters, and I’m so proud to continue my time here. It’s felt like home since day one,” said Leniu.

Originally published as NRL 2024: Wests Tigers eye St George Illawarra veteran Jack Bird | Market Watch