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Tigers boom rookie Jahream Bula’s stunning $2.7m payday confirmed

The Wests Tigers have thrown the chequebook its star discovery of the year as rookie sensation Jahream Bula will get a big payrise.

Jahream Bula and Benji Marshall.
Jahream Bula and Benji Marshall.

Finally, some good news for the legion of Wests Tigers members and fans.

The Tigers have landed one of the most significant signatures in the club’s recent history with young gun fullback Jahream Bula agreeing to a new four-year extension.

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The untested Wests Tigers rookie might have started the season as an unknown fullback on a development contract worth $60,000 but will now finish it with a $2.7 million four-year deal.

In a huge vote of confidence for what new coach Benji Marshall is aiming to achieve the Tigers rising star is poised to put pen to paper on an upgraded deal until the end of 2027.

Despite the club collecting back-to-back wooden spoons the emergence of Bula was one of the rare victories for the Tigers in season where the club notched only four wins.

Bula, 21, scored five tries in 18 games and along with captain and hooker Api Korisau the fullback was consistently among the club’s best players.

Bula was initially only on a development contract outside of the Wests Tigers top 30 this year before the club opted to upgrade his contract in order for the fullback to make his NRL debut in round eight this year against Manly.

Jahream Bula has re-signed. (Photo by Brett Hemmings/Getty Images)
Jahream Bula has re-signed. (Photo by Brett Hemmings/Getty Images)

When he was upgraded to the Wests Tigers top 30 the club extended his deal until the end of 2025.

But after announcing himself as a star and given the Wests Tigers have got money to spend under the salary cap it makes sense they upgrade and extend Bula even further.

Bula’s career has followed a similar path to Wests Tigers new head coach Benji Marshall moving from New Zealand as a teenager to attend Keebra Park State High School on the Gold Coast.

“I want to stay here as long as I can,” said Bula in a club statement.

“The club blessed me with this opportunity and I’m not in this position without them.

“I want to hopefully win a championship here one day, that’s my goal.”

“We are super excited to be able to sign Jahream to a long-term deal,” added Marshall.

“He has been an exciting young talent and proven his toughness in first grade in his debut season.

“This is only the beginning for Jahream and we look forward to him being a massive part of our future at the Wests Tigers.

“He is a humble and hard-working young man who displays all the attributes I want our club to look like in the future.”

Originally published as Tigers boom rookie Jahream Bula’s stunning $2.7m payday confirmed

Original URL: https://www.couriermail.com.au/sport/nrl/tigers-boom-rookie-jahream-bulas-stunning-27m-payday-confirmed/news-story/15d808f9a9f44588898ea8b0935b558f